Trackless extendable curtain

Abstract

A telescoping panel assembly comprises a coaxial arrangement of telescoping segments. At least one segment supports at least one associated panel, and at least one of the segments is configured to be mountable to a support surface. The telescoping panel assembly comprises the advantages of both a panel curtain and a telescoping curtain.

1 . A telescoping panel assembly comprising:
 a coaxial arrangement of telescoping segments, at least one of the segments supporting at least one associated panel, and at least one of the segments configured to be mountable to a support surface.   
     
     
         2 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable encloses the other segments when the arrangement is collapsed. 
     
     
         3 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable is surrounded by the other segments when the arrangement is collapsed. 
     
     
         4 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein segments extend telescopically in opposite directions from the at least one segment configured to be mountable. 
     
     
         5 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the assembly further comprises an extension mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 5 , wherein said extension mechanism comprises at least one of a wand, a draw, a pulley system, and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel further comprises a spool assembly for storing an unused portion of said panel. 
     
     
         8 . A telescoping panel support comprising:
 a coaxial arrangement of telescoping segments, at least one segment configured to support at least one associated panel, and at least one of the segments configured to be mountable to a support surface.   
     
     
         9 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable encloses the other segments when the arrangement is collapsed. 
     
     
         10 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable is surrounded by the other segments when the arrangement is collapsed. 
     
     
         11 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein segments extend telescopically in opposite directions from the at least one segment configured to be mountable. 
     
     
         12 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the telescoping panel support further comprises an extension mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 12 , wherein said extension mechanism comprises at least one of a wand, a draw, a pulley system, and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         14 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one panel further comprises a spool assembly for storing an unused portion of said panel. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel comprising:
 a plurality of nestable segments, at least one segment being configured to support at least one associated panel, at least one of the segments configured to be mountable to a support surface, wherein   said segments are connectable to form a coaxial arrangement of telescoping segments.   
     
     
         16 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one panel. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 15 , further comprising an extension mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 17 , wherein said extension mechanism comprises at least one of a wand, a draw, a pulley system, and a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 15 , further comprising at least one spool assembly for storing an unused portion of said at least one panel. 
     
     
         20 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly comprises at least two coaxial arrangements of telescoping segments, said at least two arrangements being adjacently connected. 
     
     
         38 . A telescoping panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable to a support surface is an outermost segment having a first bracket attachable to a second bracket, the second bracket being configured to be mountable to a wall or a ceiling and having gripping features on an upper surface for gripping the ceiling, and the second bracket having a receptacle for a support pole. 
     
     
         39 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the telescoping panel support comprises at least two coaxial arrangements of telescoping segments, said at least two arrangements being adjacently connected. 
     
     
         40 . A telescoping panel support according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable to a support surface is an outermost segment having a first bracket attachable to a second bracket, the second bracket being configured to be mountable to a wall or a ceiling and having gripping features on an upper surface for gripping the ceiling, and the second bracket having a receptacle for a support pole. 
     
     
         41 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 15 , wherein said segments are connectable to form at least two coaxial arrangements of telescoping segments, said at least two arrangements being adjacently connected. 
     
     
         42 . An assembly kit for a telescoping panel according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one segment configured to be mountable to a support surface is an outermost segment having a first bracket attachable to a second bracket, the kit further comprising:
 a second bracket configured to be mountable to a wall or a ceiling, the second bracket having gripping features on an upper surface for gripping the ceiling and having a receptacle for a support pole.