Disposable curtain system, attachment therefor and method

Abstract

Disclosed is a disposable curtain system, attachment therefor and method. The disposable curtain system is for use in health care facilities to maintain a clean environment. An attachment for a curtain system having a hook on a track includes a plurality of extensions extending from the track and a plurality of post members affixed to the curtain or the plurality of extensions. Extensions and post members are selectively connected through a housing having a quick connect and release assembly. The quick connect and release assembly may be actuated by a force applied to an exterior of the quick connect and release assembly by a user and/or a tool applying a force to an exterior of the release assembly.

1 . An attachment for a curtain system having a track, comprising:
 a plurality of extensions adapted to connect to the track via a plurality of sliding members;   a plurality of post members adapted to extend from one of a curtain or the plurality of extensions;
 and 
 a quick release system for connecting and disconnecting said plurality of post members from one of said curtain and said plurality of extensions, said quick release system comprising a mechanical release mechanism disposed within a plurality of housing members, wherein said plurality of post members are released from said housing by a force applied from a position external to said plurality of housing members, wherein plurality of said housing members do not have a keyway or tool for a keyway for extending through said keyway. 
   
     
     
         2 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a release tool for imparting said force applied from a position external to said plurality of housing members. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the release tool imparts a magnetic force to said plurality of housing members to release said plurality of post members from said plurality of housing members. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment of  claim 2 , wherein the release tool imparts said force to a hinged latch disposed within each of said plurality of housing members to release said plurality of post members from said plurality of housing members. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising a button disposed on each said plurality of housing members for releasing said plurality of post members from said plurality of housing members, wherein a user imparts said force to said button. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment of  claim 5 , wherein said button is a spring-loaded actuator for engaging and disengaging a hook member within each of said plurality of housing members with a groove disposed on each of said plurality of post members. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening on each of said plurality of housing members, each said opening adapted to receiving a respective one of said plurality of post members, wherein each said plurality of post members engages a respective latch disposed with each said plurality of housing members. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of housing members is provided with at least one alignment tang and at least one associated alignment slot, said at least one alignment tang adapted to mate with an adjacent alignment slot to nest adjacent housing members with one another. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein each said plurality of extensions is formed as a pair of telescoping rod members that mate with each other to provide an adjustable length for each said plurality of extensions. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein each said plurality of extensions is formed as a pair of overlapping rod members that engage each other through a connector to provide an adjustable length for each said plurality of extensions. 
     
     
         11 . A method for connecting and releasing a curtain system from a track, wherein said curtain system having a plurality of extensions connected to a track attached to a ceiling, a plurality of post members connected to one of said plurality of extensions and said curtain, and a plurality of housing members selectively connecting said plurality of post members to said plurality of extensions, wherein said method comprising:
 providing a quick connect and release mechanism within each of said plurality of housing members;   connecting each of said plurality of post members to a respective one of said plurality of housing members;   releasing each of said plurality of post members from said respective one of said plurality of housing members, wherein plurality of said housing members do not have a keyway or tool for a keyway for extending through said keyway.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of applying a magnetic force to said plurality of housing members to initiate said step of releasing, said force being a magnetic force. 
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising the step of engaging each of said plurality of housing members with said release tool thereby applying said force to initiate said step of releasing. 
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 11 , further comprising the step of mating said plurality of housing members with at least one adjacent housing member during said step of releasing. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the post members have a head on the end thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment of  claim 17 , wherein the head of the post members attach to an opening of the housing 
     
     
         19 . The attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sliding members are a plurality of rollers. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of rollers operatively attached to each of the extensions. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the post members have a head on the end thereon. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment of  claim 21 , wherein the head of the post members attach to an opening of the housing.