Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Portable
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-03-27
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Portable
C160S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206079
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to both a frame and a curtain barrier assembly that can be used to support such curtain barriers as welding screens and curtain barriers.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In the past, curtain barrier assemblies have used complicated attachment schemes for the frame and the curtain barrier that require tools and/or threaded fasteners. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,035 discloses an assembly 10 of a pair of space dividers, that can be used as welding screens. A screen 10 is composed of a pair of frames 11 and 12 pivotally interconnected by hinge assemblies 13. A frame 11 may include a top corner frame member 14, a bottom corner frame member 15, an interconnecting top corner frame member 16 and an interconnecting bottom corner frame member 17. The corner frame members 14, 15, 16 and 17 are attached to each other by vertical and horizontal straight tube sections 29 that are telescopically received in the outer end portions 18 and 19 of the corner frame members. The tube sections 29 are retained in the corner frame members by rotating the thumb screws 25 through a threaded nut 20 so that they engage the telescoped ends of the straight tubes 29.
The bottom frame members 15 and 17 are designed to have either leg members 31 alone or conventional platform legs 34 support the frame 11. In the latter case, the upstanding leg portion 36 of each platform leg is telescopically received in leg member 31 of each corner frame member 15. Thumb screws 25 are then threadedly advanced through weld nuts 20 to engage the leg portions 36.
Once a frame 11 or 12 is assembled, a screen material 27 is attached by ties 28 to frames 11 and 12.
The above-mentioned use of thumb screws can provide complications during assembly. For example, it is often difficult to create enough torque on the thumb screws to adequately tighten the frame members and so some type of pliers may be needed to properly tighten the thumb screws. In addition, the thumb screws often prove incapable of preventing the platform legs from moving no matter the amount of torque applied to the thumb screws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention regards a frame having a top frame piece, a bottom frame piece with a receptor, a first side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece and a second side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece. A foot is attached to the receptor, wherein the receptor has a structure such that the foot can be attached to the receptor only at n predetermined positions, where n is ≧2.
A second aspect of the present invention regards a curtain barrier assembly having a frame including a top frame piece, a bottom frame piece with a receptor, a first side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece and a second side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece. The frame further includes a foot attached to the receptor, wherein the receptor has a structure such that the foot can be attached to the receptor only at n predetermined positions, where n is ≧2. A curtain barrier is attached to the frame, wherein the attached curtain barrier is not attached to the male member.
A third aspect of the present invention regards a curtain barrier assembly having a frame that includes a top frame piece, a bottom frame piece, a side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece. The frame includes a male member that attaches the side frame piece and one of the top frame piece and the bottom frame piece wherein the male member has an appendage that protrudes externally from the side frame piece. A curtain barrier attached to the frame, wherein the attached curtain barrier is not attached to the male member.
A fourth aspect of the present invention regards a frame that includes a top frame piece, a bottom frame piece, a side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece, wherein the side frame piece has an end that is telescopically received within an end of either the top frame piece or the bottom frame piece and abuts a stop portion located within the end of either the top frame piece or the bottom frame piece. A male member attaches the side frame piece and one of the top frame piece and the bottom frame piece wherein the male member has an appendage that protrudes externally from the side frame piece.
A fifth aspect of the present invention regards a curtain barrier assembly having a frame that includes a top frame piece, a bottom frame piece, a side frame piece attached to the top frame piece and to the bottom frame piece, wherein the side frame piece has an end that is telescopically received within an end of either the top frame piece or the bottom frame piece and abuts a stop portion located within the end of either the top frame piece or the bottom frame piece. The frame includes a male member that attaches the side frame piece and one of the top frame piece and the bottom frame piece wherein the male member has an appendage that protrudes externally from the first side frame piece. A curtain barrier is attached to the frame.
Each of the above aspects of the present invention provides the advantage of a simple attachment scheme for a frame and a curtain barrier assembly that does not require tools and/or threaded fasteners and yet provides an adequately attached frame and curtain barrier assembly.
Each of the above aspects of the present invention provides the advantage of an scheme for a frame and a curtain barrier assembly that does not require the use of thumb screws for either the frame or support legs while at the same time providing adequate attachment of the frame and the support legs to prevent movement.
Further advantages and details of the frame and the curtain barrier assembly according to the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 158217 (1874-12-01), Low
patent: 377732 (1888-02-01), Adams
patent: 1238646 (1917-08-01), Dennis
patent: 2229475 (1941-01-01), Redmer
patent: 2357819 (1944-09-01), Greer
patent: 2571382 (1951-10-01), Raven
patent: 2609043 (1952-09-01), Dubinsky
patent: 2823744 (1958-02-01), Garris
patent: 3428108 (1969-02-01), Singer
patent: 3502330 (1970-03-01), Cheftel
patent: 3583466 (1971-06-01), Dreyer
patent: 4063585 (1977-12-01), Stanley
patent: 4085789 (1978-04-01), Steiner et al.
patent: 4134439 (1979-01-01), Scott
patent: 4465262 (1984-08-01), Itri et al.
patent: 4842035 (1989-06-01), Thompson
patent: 5414950 (1995-05-01), Johnson, Sr.
patent: 5501051 (1996-03-01), Harlan
patent: 5553648 (1996-09-01), Goharjou
patent: 5779386 (1998-07-01), Eichorn
patent: 528142 (1940-10-01), None
patent: 2 081 338 (1982-02-01), None
Singer Safety Products, Inc. Catalog No. 502, published by Singer Safety Products, 1973, pp. 1-8.
Steiner Industries Catalog No. 201, published by Steiner Industries, 1985, pp. 16-19.
“Quiet Times” Information Bulletin, published by Industrial Noise Control, Inc., vol. 1, Issue 3, 1986, pp. 1-4.
“Noise Screens” published by Industrial Noise, Inc., pp. 1-4. While publication date is unknown, it is believed that the literature was available to the public prior to Nov. 30, 1998.
“Capabilities Profile” published by Industrial Noise, Inc., pp., 1-4. While the publication date is unknown, it is believed that the literature was available to the public prior to Nov. 30, 1998.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Industrial Noise Control, Inc.
Lev Bruce A.
LandOfFree
Curtain barrier assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Curtain barrier assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Curtain barrier assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2513244