Partition mount

• US 6,209,615 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 04/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zipwall LLC
• Original Assignee: Zipwall LLC
• Inventors: Whittemore, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/302,122
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 160/350, 160/351, 160/368.1, 160/330, 160/338, 160/329, 160/379, 160/380, 160/399, 160/402, 248/200.1, 248/354.1, 403/109.4, 403/109.5, 403/326, 403/329, 24/92, 24/113 R, 24/113 MP, 24/114, 24/459, 24/563, 24/570
• US Class Current: 160/368.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 21/00 Curtain shields
• CPC Class Codes: A47H 2201/02 Hook-and-loop fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2021/248 Tarpaulins specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2025/006 Heads therefor, e.g. pivotable
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 2025/047 which telescoping action effected by a piston
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/24 Safety or protective measures preventing damage to building parts or finishing work during construction as auxiliary structures for scaffolds E04G, E04G5/12
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/243 for creating a temporary partition in a closed room
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 21/30 against mechanical damage or dirt, e.g. guard covers of stairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 52/12 Temporary protective expedient
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3606 Cloth shanks and covers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3672 Metal or plastic caps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4406 Resilient channel or bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44923 Clasp, clip, or support-clamp cut or shaped from a single sheet of resilient, uniformly thick, planar material

Abstract

In a spring-loaded curtain mount, the mount includes a pole interface at a proximal end, a compressive mechanism, and a head at a distal end. The pole interface is adapted to receive the end of a standard length adjustable pole or a painter'"'"'s pole. The compression mechanism is disposed between the proximal end of the mount and the head. The mount includes a coupling device adapted to receive a portion of a curtain. During installation, the curtain mount is coupled to the end of an extension pole and the length of the pole is adjusted such that the combined length of the pole and mount is slightly longer than the distance between the floor and ceiling. At ground level, a portion of the curtain is attached to the head of the curtain mount. The curtain and mount are raised to the ceiling and the mount and pole are compressed between the floor and the ceiling. This compressive force operates to urge the head toward the ceiling, securing the mount in place.

Claims

1. A mount attachable to an extension pole for installing a curtain comprising:

an interface at a proximal end of said mount adapted for coupling the mount to an extension pole;

a compression mechanism along a longitudinal axis of said mount;

a head at a distal end of said mount having an upper first engaging surface extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, said head and said interface coupled to opposite ends of said compression mechanism, said compression mechanism biased to urge said head away from said interface;

a clip having a lower second engaging surface adapted to substantially interface with said first engaging surface, and an upper surface; and

a retaining member for removably securing the first and second engaging surfaces, such that when in an engaged position, the first and second engaging surfaces substantially interface, and such that when in a disengaged position, the first and second engaging surfaces separate.

2. The mount of claim 1 further comprising a friction material applied to the upper surface of the clip.

3. The mount of claim 1 further comprising a universal joint between said head and said compression mechanism.

4. The mount of claim 1 wherein said interface comprises a hole having an internal thread.

5. The mount of claim 4 wherein said thread comprises ¾

inch diameter thread.

6. The mount of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a hole having a rim comprising tapered fingers having an external thread formed thereon;

and further comprising a clamp nut having internal threads adapted to interface with said external thread.

7. The mount of claim 1 further comprising an extension loop coupled to the head.

8. The mount of claim 1 wherein the compression mechanism comprises a spring.

9. The mount of claim 1 further comprising a length adjustable extension pole adapted to mate with the mount interface.

10. The mount of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a hole.

11. The mount of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a pin.

12. The mount of claim 1 wherein the retaining member comprises a pin extending from one of the first and second engaging surfaces, and further comprising a keyhole and slot adapted for mating with the pin formed in the other of the first and second engaging surfaces such that the pin is insertable into the keyhole and slideable along said slot, for removably securing the first and second engaging surfaces.

13. The mount of claim 12 further comprising a knob on the end of the pin preventing release of the clip from the head when the pin is positioned in the slot.

14. The mount of claim 1 wherein the first and second engaging surfaces are substantially planar.

15. The mount of claim 1 wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of legs extending from one of the clip and head, the legs including tabs which removably engage the other of the clip and head.

16. The mount of claim 15 wherein the legs extend from the clip and removably engage the head.

17. The mount of claim 1 further comprising a hinge rotatably coupling said clip and said head.

18. The mount of claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the clip is substantially planar.

19. A mounting system for installing a curtain comprising:

a pole having proximal and distal ends, said pole having a longitudinal axis;

a foot coupled to said proximal end of said pole;

a head having an upper first engaging surface extending transverse to said longitudinal axis, said head coupled to said distal end of said pole;

a compressive mechanism between said foot and said head; and

a clip having a lower second engaging surface adapted to substantially interface with said first engaging surface, and an upper surface; and

a retaining member for removably securing the first and second engaging surfaces, such that when in an engaged position, the first and second engaging surfaces substantially interface, and such that when in a disengaged position, the first and second engaging surfaces separate.

20. The mounting system of claim 19 further comprising a universal joint between said head and said pole.

21. The mounting system of claim 19 wherein said pole is adjustable in length.

22. The mounting system of claim 19 wherein the retaining member comprises a pin extending from one of the first and second engaging surfaces, and further comprising a keyhole and slot adapted for mating with the pin formed in the other of the first and second engaging surfaces such that the pin is insertable into the keyhole and slideable along said slot, for removably securing the first and second engaging surfaces, and further comprising a knob on the end of the pin preventing release of the clip from the head when the pin is positioned in the slot.

23. The mount of claim 19 further comprising a friction material applied to the upper surface of the clip.

24. The mount of claim 19 further comprising an extension loop coupled to the head.

25. The mount of claim 19 wherein the compressive mechanism comprises a spring.

26. The mount of claim 19 wherein the first and second engaging surfaces are substantially planar.

27. The mount of claim 19 wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of legs extending from one of the clip and head, the legs including tabs which removably engage the other of the clip and head.

28. The mount of claim 27 wherein the legs extend from the clip and removably engage the head.

29. The mount of claim 19 further comprising a hinge rotatably coupling said clip and said head.

30. The mount of claim 19 wherein the upper surface of the clip is substantially planar.