Abstract:
A panelized, reusable barrier system allowing for containment of construction areas in hospitals and other clean room environments. Panels are adjustable in height from 92″ to 120″. Panels are available in 12″, 24″, 36″ and 48″ widths. Door panels consist of a 44″ wide door mounted in a 48″ wide panel. Custom clips secure the top of the panels to suspended ceiling grid. Custom camlock fasteners fasten the panels to each other. Hinged corner posts allow for wall transitions ranging from 10° to 90°. Porting options are available to allow for HEPA filtered air discharge and for monitoring differential air pressure between the work area and the public area.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Remodel work in hospitals and other clean room environments is common place. Prior to this invention, barrier systems separating the work area from the public area consisted of either a soft type barrier or a hard type barrier. 
     Soft type barriers consist of a poly sheet material extending from the floor to the ceiling. These barriers should be limited to one day construction projects where the work is completed and the barrier is removed before the workers leave at the end of the day. It&#39;s difficult to get a good seal between soft barriers and existing walls, floors and ceilings. Usually the seal is created using tape. Passage through the barrier is typically accomplished with a zipper opening. Workers and material passing through the zipper opening often get caught up and pull the tape loose. The poly material is subject to cuts and tearing. The work area air pressure should be negative to the public area. Negative air pressure causes the poly sheeting to balloon into the work area often breaking the tape seal. 
     Hard type barriers typically consist of walls built on site with metal studs and drywall. Construction of these walls creates dust so a soft barrier needs to be installed prior to building the hard barrier. Hard barriers require several man hours to build including carpenters, laborers, tapers/painters and possibly an electrician. These barriers can have doors installed in them to allow for workers and material in and out of the work area. Usually the door consists of a hollow metal frame with a wood or steel door. The combination of drywall and a solid door creates a dangerous situation for the public when workers exit the construction area due to the lack of vision. A worker may rapidly open the door into a patient or staff member. The solid wall prevents ambient light from entering the enclosure so temporary lighting is usually required. 
     At the completion of the project a soft barrier must be reinstalled because of the dust generated by the demolition of the hard barrier. Hard barrier removal requires several more man hours and the material is usually scrapped. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the problems encountered with the soft barrier and hard barrier wall systems. This wall system consists of individual panels, in a variety of widths that quickly fasten together without creating any dust or noise. The panels are constructed with an extruded aluminum frame and a tough polycarbonate lens. This panel system typically may be assembled with less than one man hour. Ambient light passes through the panels, creating a pleasant work environment, eliminating the need for temporary lighting. A prefabricated door panel allows for the quick installation of a door with a locking handle and a hydraulic closer. As workers exit the enclosure, patients and staff on the public side can be seen, preventing collisions. Panels adjust in height from 92″ to 120″. They have gasket material around all edges and around the door creating a fully sealed enclosure. Panels are ridged and very tough. Differential air pressure has no effect on these panels and they will hold up to impacts from hospital carts and beds. This containment system is esthetically pleasing and doesn&#39;t require any type of paint or finish. Panels are easily cleaned with a damp cloth and sanitizer. Enclosure removal is very simple and takes less time than the installation. The panels are completely reusable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing an enclosure assembly commonly used as an anteroom type entrance from a public corridor into a construction area. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view showing details of how the sliding top panel interacts with the stationary lower panel to allow for panel height adjustment. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view showing grid clip assembly details. 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view showing camlock assembly details. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing details of the exhaust port and the panel leveling channel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the present invention is made up of modular panels with unique functions. The panels may be configured in several ways to create barrier systems for blocking off areas or to create an ante room type enclosure, as shown.  101  depicts a 48″ wide solid panel,  102  is a door panel,  103  is the hinged corner post,  104  is a 24″ panel which may be a solid panel or configured with porting options,  105  is the porting option for HEPA filtered air discharge (detailed in  FIG. 5 ),  106  is the porting option for a differential pressure gauge. Closure strips  107  are 1/16″ thick polycarbonate angles with a 1″ leg and a 4″ leg. The 1″ leg has a ¾″×¾″ soft gasket adhered to it that forms a seal to the existing facility wall, the 4″ leg is secured to the enclosure system side rails with double sided polyethylene tape and screws. This creates an airtight seal between the enclosure system and the facility walls.  201  and  202  depict handrail and crashrail that are often encountered in hospital corridors. They are not part of the invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , one of the key features of this invention is having the ability to easily adjust to different ceiling heights. This is accomplished by having an adjustable upper panel assembly  124  that slides up and down on a lower fixed panel assembly  123 . The total height adjustment range is 92″ to 120″. The adjustable upper panel assembly  124  contains an upper panel frame  133 . Upper panel frame  133  includes an upper frame top rail  160  and an upper frame side rail  161 . A hole opens through the upper panel side rail  161 . The lower fixed panel assembly  123  contains a lower panel frame  150  constructed of extruded aluminum. The lower panel frame  150  includes a lower frame top rail  170 , a lower frame side rail  171 , and a lower frame bottom rail  172  (shown in  FIG. 5 ), where a face of the lower frame top rail  170  defines a lower frame face  175  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The lower panel frame  150  has continuous slots that encase 6 mm twin wall polycarbonate panels. Upper frame side rail  161  and lower frame side rail  171  have foam gasket material  127  inserted into their outer slots to form a seal with the adjoining panels. The lower frame bottom rail  172  (detailed in  FIG. 5 ) floats in a channel and is supported by a bolt which serves as a pivot point creating a self-leveling channel  130  which conforms to the floor. The bottom of the self-leveling channel  130  has a ⅛″×1″ neoprene gasket  132  adhered to it creating a seal between the floor and the self-leveling channel  130 . The upper panel frame  133  is constructed of the same extruded aluminum material  133  as the lower panel frame  150 , a 1/16″ clear polycarbonate sheet  141  is fastened to an upper frame face of the upper panel frame  133  with double sided foam tape and screws. The adjustable upper panel assembly  124  is engaged with the lower fixed panel assembly  123  by mating a tee nut and threaded stud assembly  126  and a knob  112  which has internal threads, as follows: The tee nut of the tee nut and threaded stud assembly  126  is inserted into a lower vertical guide slot  191  of lower frame side rail  171 . The adjustable upper panel assembly  124  engages with the lower fixed panel assembly  123  by inserting the threaded stud of the tee nut and threaded stud assembly  126  on lower frame side rail  171  through the hole on upper frame side rail  161  and mating the knob  112  to the tee nut and threaded stud assembly  126 . A polyethylene guide block  125  on the upper frame side rail  161  facing the lower fixed panel assembly  123  aids in keeping the adjustable upper panel assembly  124  and the lower fixed panel assembly  123  aligned. The outer side of the upper frame side rail  161  has foam gasket material  127  inserted to form a seal with an adjoining panel. The top of the upper frame top rail  160  has a ¼″×¾″ soft foam gasket  128  adhered to it to create a seal with a ceiling tile. The panel height is adjusted by loosening the knob  112  from the tee nut and threaded stud assembly  126 , and sliding the adjustable upper panel assembly  124  up to a ceiling. When the adjustable upper panel assembly  124  is adjusted to match the ceiling height, the knob  112  is tightened. This creates a seal between the lower frame face  175  of the lower frame top rail  170  and the 1/16″ polycarbonate sheet  141  on the upper frame face of the upper panel frame  133 . Grid clip assembly  122  (detailed in  FIG. 3 ) secures the adjustable upper panel assembly  124  to a ceiling grid. A camlock fastener assembly  120  (detailed in  FIG. 4 ) locks the side of the panel to other panels and components. Top rail slot  151  and upper vertical guide slot  190  are cut into the upper frame top rail  160  and upper frame side rail  161 , respectively, to allow tee nuts to be inserted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the grid clip assembly  122  secures the upper panel top rail  160  to a suspended ceiling grid. The grid clip body  137  is made of aluminum. The grid clip assembly  122  fastens to the upper frame top rail  160  with a threaded stud  139 , tee nut  134  and thumbscrew  138 . A top rail slot  151  is machined into the upper panel top rail  160 . The tee nut  134  is inserted into top rail slot  151 . Tee nut  134  then inserts into the grid clip body slot  152  and attaches to grid clip body  137 . Consequently, when grid clip body  137  and tee nut  134  attaches together, grid clip body  137  is also attached to upper frame top rail  160 . Thumbscrew  138  attaches to tee nut  134  to secure the grid clip body  137  to upper frame top rail  160 . Once the grid clip assembly  122  is attached with the upper panel top rail  160  the grid clip assembly  122  may be positioned at any point along the length of the upper panel top rail  160 . The top of the grid clip body  137  hooks onto a ceiling grid and has a low profile as to not raise the ceiling tile. A thumbscrew and threaded stud assembly  139  inserts into the grid clip body  137  from the bottom. A PVC block  140  inserts into grid clip hook  153 . The thumbscrew and threaded stud assembly  122  inserts from the bottom of the grid clip body  137  and applies force to a PVC block  140  which applies pressure to the ceiling grid where the ceiling grid is secured between the PVC block  140  and the top of the grid clip body  137 . The PVC block  140  prevents damage to the ceiling grid. A top rail soft gasket material  128  having dimensions of ¼″×¾″ is adhered to the top of the upper panel top rail  160  which creates a seal with the ceiling tile. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the camlock fastener assembly  120  fastens adjoining panels together. The camlock fastener assembly  120  includes a camlock body  135 , threaded stud tee nut  183  and camlock thumbscrew  182 . The adjoining panel side rail contains a similar combination of a threaded stud tee nut and thumbscrew. The camlock body  135  is made of aluminum. Upper vertical guide slot  190  is machined into upper frame side rail  161  to allow for insertion of threaded stud tee nut  183 . Threaded stud tee nut  183  inserts into upper vertical guide slot  190  and attaches to upper panel side rail  161 . Threaded stud tee nut  183  and camlock thumbscrew  182  are threaded through camlock slot  181  of camlock body  135 . Once inserted into the upper frame side rail  161  the camlock fastener assembly  120  may be positioned at any point along the length of upper panel side rail  161 . The camlock body  135  has a radial slot  180  which is not concentric to its pivot point. An adjoining upper panel assembly  200  having an adjoining upper frame rail  204  is placed to the side of upper panel side rail  161 . As the radial slot  180  of the camlock body  135  is pushed onto a threaded stud tee nut and thumbscrew assembly  220  of the adjoining upper frame rail  204  it draws the two panels together (detailed in  FIG. 1 ). The upper panel side rail  161  and the adjoining upper frame rail  204  have foam gasket material  127  to create a seal. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the exhaust port  203  is an optional feature that allows air to be discharged from the contained work space creating negative air pressure compared to the public or clean side of the contained space. The exhaust port ring  105  accepts an 8″ diameter exhaust hose internally and a 10″ exhaust hose externally. There is a port ring on the inside and outside of the enclosure allowing for different hose connection options. A plug  129  may insert into the exhaust port ring  105 .  FIG. 5  also shows a self-leveling channel  130  that is typical to all panels other than the door panel. The self-leveling channel  130  fits around the lower panel bottom rail  152  of the lower fixed panel  123 . There is a ½″ space between the bottom of the lower panel bottom rail  152  and the top side of the horizontal leg of the self-leveling channel  130 . A pivot bolt  131  passes through the self-leveling channel  130  and the lower panel bottom rail  152  creating a pivot point. In the event of an unlevel floor the panel may be erected level or plumb and the channel will follow the floor. ⅛″ neoprene gasket material  132  is adhered to the bottom side of the self-leveling channel  130  creating a seal between the self-leveling channel  130  and the floor.