Patent Publication Number: US-2011061819-A1

Title: Room privacy track system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a track system for room dividers, hospital cubicles, curtains, window treatments, and other such privacy applications. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Description of Prior Art and Related Information 
     Curtain tracks are commonly employed in hospitals, offices, and rooms where privacy is desired for a particular space. In the prior art, an entire set of rigid hangers must be loaded at one of the two ends of each track. If a particular hanger is broken, the entire set of hangers must be removed from one of the ends of the track in order to access the broken hanger. In hospitals where staff members are often rushing to deal with critical health issues, there is a shortage of time and availability in dealing with a tedious and time-consuming task of fixing a curtain track. 
     Rails on conventional tracks also include external vertical walls in order to retain the wheels on the hangers. Such external vertical walls block access to the center portion of the track, thereby preventing the track from being cleaned. This can lead to unsanitary conditions which are particularly undesirable in a hospital setting. 
     Rigid vertical walls on conventional tracks not only add to the weight and expense in manufacturing, but also makes it more difficult to bend the track when a curvature is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides structures and methods which overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. 
     In one aspect, a track system is provided. The system comprises a track and a plurality of carriers, each of which is individually removable from the track. The track includes a first vertical surface and a second vertical surface, a first lower horizontal rail extending from the first vertical surface, and a second lower horizontal rail extending from the second vertical surface. Substantially all of the first and second vertical surfaces are accessible for cleaning. 
     Each carrier comprises a flexible frame and a pair of wheels configured to roll on the first and second rails. The flexible frame comprises a pair of arms that extend upwardly and surround the first and second lower horizontal rail. A base is coupled to the pair of arms. The carrier defines a space between the wheels and the base that is large enough to slidingly receive the horizontal rails. 
     The track may be metallic. By including less metal than conventional tracks, the metallic track may be more easily curved to provide a track assembly with bends as desired to facilitate privacy. An antimicrobial coating may disposed on at least a portion of the track. 
     In a further aspect, a track system comprises a first track connected to a second track, each of which may be metallic. The first track comprises a first vertical spine and a first pair of lower horizontal rails. The second track is curved and connected to the first metallic track. The second metallic track comprises a second vertical spine and a second pair of lower horizontal rails. A first carrier is removably coupled to the first metallic track. A second carrier is removably coupled to the second metallic track. An antimicrobial coating may be disposed on the first metallic track and the second metallic track. 
     The first carrier may be interchangeable with the second metallic track. Each carrier comprises a flexible frame and a pair of wheels. The flexible frame comprises a pair of arms that extend upwardly and surround the first pair of lower horizontal rails. The frame comprises a base coupled to the pair of arms. The carrier defines a space between the wheels and the base that is large enough to slidingly receive the horizontal rails. 
     In a further aspect, a track system comprises a metallic track comprising a first vertical surface, a second vertical surface, and a pair of horizontal rails. Each of the vertical surfaces are substantially accessible. Individually removable carriers are coupled to the track. Each carrier comprises a flexible frame and a pair of wheels configured to roll on the rails. The track may be metallic and curved. An antimicrobial coating may be applied on the metallic track. The flexible frame of the carrier comprises a pair of arms that extend upwardly and surround the pair of horizontal rails. The frame comprises a base coupled to the pair of arms. The carrier defines a space between the wheels and the base that is large enough to slidingly receive the pair of horizontal rails. 
     In a further aspect, a track system includes a track having a central vertical member with opposing vertical surfaces. A pair of lower horizontal rails extend from the vertical member and do not block the vertical surfaces. Flexible carriers are individually removable from the track. Each carrier includes a flexible frame coupled to a pair of wheels configured to roll on the rails. The carriers may each include a hanger or other connector for supporting privacy structures such as curtains, drapes, window treatments, and dividers. The tracks may be bent and coupled end to end to form a complete assembly for facilitating privacy in a room. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first preferred embodiment of a track system; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a preferred carrier; 
         FIG. 3  is a view of the preferred track system illustrating carriers being individually removed from and assembled onto the track; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a preferred track system operating as a room divider; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a preferred method of facilitating privacy in a room. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first preferred embodiment of a track system is illustrated in  FIG. 1  and designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The system  10  comprises one or more tracks  20  preferably composed of metal. Each track  20  comprises a central vertical member, or spine,  22  having a pair of opposing vertical surfaces  24 . A pair of lower horizontal rails  31  extend outwardly, or laterally, from the medial vertical member  22 . Each track  20  defines a length “L” and a width “W.” 
     Both rails  31  preferably extend horizontally and laterally from the vertical surfaces  24  to an outer, or lateral, edge  35 . In the preferred embodiment, each rail  31  omits any outer vertical walls which would block access to the vertical surfaces  24  of the central vertical member  22 . The horizontal rails  31  preferably comprise horizontal surfaces which expose the vertical surfaces  24  of the spine  22 , thereby making them substantially accessible for cleaning, for example. A pair of upper grooves  37  are formed along the length of the track  20  for receiving brackets  39  and other connectors for coupling the system  10  to a ceiling or building structure. From an end view, the preferred track  20  comprises an “I” profile as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     An antimicrobial coating  42  may be disposed on the track  20  which would be particularly desirable when the system  10  is used as a hospital room divider, for example. In particular, the coating  42  is preferably applied to the vertical surfaces  24  and the horizontal rails  31 . As an example and not by way of limitation, the coating  42  may inhibit the growth of fungi, algae and bacteria. End caps  44  may be coupled to an open end of an assembly of tracks  20 . Brackets  46  may be used to couple the tracks  20  to a structure above, such as a ceiling. 
     The system  10  also comprises carriers  50  coupled to the track  20  and configured for supporting curtains, drapes, dividers, and all types of window treatments, etc. In the preferred embodiment, each carrier  50  is individually removable from the track  20 . In  FIG. 2 , each carrier  50  preferably comprises a flexible frame  52  coupled to a pair of wheels  54 . As an example, the flexible frame  52  may be composed of a bendable plastic material such as polyoxymethylene (POM), high density polyethylene (HDPE) and thermoplastic polyurethane, just to name a few examples. The flexible frame  52  preferably comprises a U-shaped structure having a horizontal base  56  and a pair of vertical arms  58  extending upwardly from the base  56 . In the default unbent position, the pair of arms  58  define an internal width  59  that is greater than the width W of the horizontal rails  31  shown in  FIG. 1 , while the pair of wheels  54  define an internal space, or width, therebetween  61  that is wider than the thickness of the spine  22  of the track  20 . These features of the carrier, along with the space  63  between the bottom of the wheels  54  and the top of the base  56 , facilitate smooth travel of the carrier  50  on the track  20 . A hanger  60 , or other such connector configured for hanging vertically oriented structures to facilitate privacy, is connected to (e.g., suspended from) a pivot member  62  which is coupled to the base  56 . 
     When assembled as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pair of wheels  54  are configured to roll freely on the horizontal rails  31  along the axis A while each carrier  50  remains secured to the track  20 . Accordingly, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , sufficient space  63  is provided between the bottom of the wheels  54  and the top of the base  56  to slidingly receive the horizontal rails  31  of the track  20 . By omitting any outer vertical walls on the rails  31 , the pair of arms  58  extending upwardly over the rail edge  35  and surround the rails  31 . In effect, the base  56 , pair of arms  58  and pair of wheels  54  of each carrier  50  collectively surround the pair of rails  31  when assembled. 
     Furthermore, by omitting any vertical retention structures on the rails  31 , each carrier  50  may be individually removed from the track  20  by simply bending the flexible frame  52 , namely, by bending the arms  58  away from each, to separate the wheels  54  from the track  20 . Alternatively stated, each pair of wheels  54  on a carrier  50  may be independently and separately removed from and installed onto the track  20  without interfering with any other installed carrier  50 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , it will be appreciated that making each carrier  50  individually removable adds greater flexibility to the system  10 , particularly in removing, repairing or substituting a broken carrier, for example. Instead of having to remove all carriers from one end of a track in order to access a broken carrier in the prior art, the broken carrier  50 - 1  in the preferred embodiment can be removed directly and independently of the other carriers  50 - 2  which can remain assembled on the track  20 . Thus, the broken carrier  50 - 1  in the preferred embodiment need not be rolled along the length of the track  20  to an end in order to be removed. 
     Furthermore, a new or substitute carrier  50 - 3  need not be inserted at one end of the track  20 , but can simply be installed at the desired location between other already assembled carriers  50 - 2 . The lack of prior art retention means in the preferred track  20 , such as outer vertical walls, enables each carrier  50  in the preferred embodiment to be independently disengaged from the track  20  without requiring the removal of any other carriers  50 . Alternatively stated, each carrier  50  in the preferred embodiment may be individually removed from, or installed onto, the track  20  in a direction  67  generally perpendicular to an axis “A” defined by the track  20 . 
     Each track  20  and corresponding set of assembled carriers  50  form a sub-assembly  65 . In  FIG. 4 , the system  10  may comprise multiple sub-assemblies  65  coupled end to end to form a complete assembly, or boundary, for segregating a space, e.g., a section of a hospital room. Privacy structures  70 , such as curtains, drapes, dividers, etc., are hung from the carriers  50  to facilitate privacy, such as dividing a section of a hospital room. By omitting outer vertical walls in the preferred tracks  20 , each track  20  has less metal than those in the prior art, thereby making each track  20  more easily bendable. This is highly advantageous in forming curved tracks which are typically required in hospital and office room applications. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a preferred method  100  of facilitating privacy in a room. The method  100  comprises the step  110  of providing a track, preferably composed metal, having rails without vertical retention means. Step  110  may also comprising bending the track to provide a curved metallic track. Step  120  comprises applying an antimicrobial coating on the track. 
     Step  130  comprises assembling carriers onto the track without having to insert from the carriers from either end of the track. Step  130  is made possible by the combination of providing the carriers with flexible frames and omitting any vertical retention walls on the track that would otherwise require each carrier to be inserted from one of the two ends of the track. Step  140  comprises hanging privacy structure(s) from the carriers. 
     If a particular carrier needs to be removed or replaced, step  150  comprises removing and/or replacing an individual carrier without having to remove other carriers already assembled onto the track. Step  150  thus comprises bending the flexible frame of the subject carrier and removing said carrier from the track without having to roll said carrier axially to one of the two ends of the track. Therefore, step  150  may comprise removing the subject carrier in a direction generally perpendicular to the length of the track. Step  150  also comprises assembling a new carrier onto the track. 
     Step  160  comprises cleaning the track, particularly wiping the substantially accessible vertical surfaces of the medial vertical member of the track. This step  160  is made possible by making the opposing vertical surfaces substantially accessible, such as by omitting carrier retention means (e.g., outer vertical walls) found in prior art tracks. 
     Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of examples and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations. 
     The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species. 
     The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to not only include the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination. 
     Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements. 
     The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptionally equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.