IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680325
Granted Patent B2
US 12680325 · App. 18/570,250 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Support system

Inventor: Jeffrey P. Whittemore (Arlington, MA)
Assignee: Zipwall, LLC
E04G21/243E04G21/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680325
App. No.
18/570,250
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A partition support system comprising a first pole along a first axis, a second pole along a second axis, a first support pole along a third axis, and a second support pole along a fourth axis, wherein the third and fourth axes run transvers to the first and second axes. The first support pole has a first adapter to connect the first end of the first support pole to the first pole, and a second adapter to connect the second end of the first support pole, to the second pole. The second support pole has a first adapter to connect the first end of the second support pole to the first pole, and a second adapter to connect the second end of the second support pole to the second pole.

Claims (65)

1 . A system, comprising:

a first pole elongated along a first axis;

a second pole elongated along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel with the first axis;

a first support pole elongated along a third axis, the third axis being transverse to the first axis and the second axis, the first support pole comprising a first end coupled to the first pole and a second end coupled to the second pole; and

a first adapter coupled to the first end of the first support pole and the first pole, the first adapter comprising a base comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the base comprises:

a concave interface region on the lower surface constructed and arranged to interface with at least a portion of the first pole;

a first sidewall and a second sidewall extending from the upper surface; and

at least one connection region on the upper surface between the first and second sidewalls constructed and arranged to couple to the first support pole.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis extend in a first plane.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first support pole is removably coupled to the first adapter.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first support pole is coupled to the first adapter with a ball-and-socket joint.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first support pole is rotatably coupled to the first adapter.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall constructed and arranged to limit rotation of the first support pole about a first axis of rotation.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter comprises a friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and the first pole.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the friction pad comprises at least two raised regions constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and the first pole.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter comprises a hook-and-loop strap constructed and arranged to couple with the first pole.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter comprises a clamp constructed and arranged to couple with the first pole.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter comprises an open region.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter extends around a portion of the first pole.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adapter, comprising:

the base extending along a first axis,

the first sidewall and the second sidewall extending from the upper surface and extending parallel to the first axis;

the connection region comprising at least one socket coupled to the upper surface, the at least one socket constructed and arranged to mate with a corresponding connector to form a ball-and-socket joint; and

a friction pad coupled to the lower surface, the friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and a pole.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the friction pad comprises at least two raised regions constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and the pole.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first sidewall and the second sidewall being spaced apart from each other.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the socket is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.

17 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second adapter, the second adapter coupled to the second end of the first support pole and the second pole.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first support pole is removably coupled to the second adapter.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first support pole is coupled to the second adapter with a ball-and-socket joint.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second end of the first support pole is rotatably coupled to the second adapter.

21 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the second adapter comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall constructed and arranged to limit rotation of the support pole about a first axis of rotation.

22 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second adapter comprises a friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the second adapter and the second pole.

23 . The system of claim 22 , wherein the friction pad comprises at least two raised regions constructed and arranged to create friction between the second adapter and the second pole.

24 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second adapter comprises a hook-and-loop strap constructed and arranged to couple with the second pole.

25 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the second adapter comprises a clamp constructed and arranged to couple with the second pole.

26 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first support pole comprises a compression mechanism.

27 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the first support pole comprises an internal compression mechanism.

28 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first pole is arranged between a floor and a ceiling.

29 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second support pole elongated along a fourth axis, the fourth axis being transverse to the first axis and the second axis, the second support pole comprising a first end coupled to the first pole and a second end coupled to the second pole.

30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the first axis, the second axis, the third axis, and the fourth axis extend in a first plane.

31 . The system of claim 30 , further comprising a third adapter, the third adapter coupled to the first end of the second support pole and the first pole.

32 . The system of claim 31 , further comprising a fourth adapter, the fourth adapter coupled to the second end of the second support pole and the second pole.

33 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the second support pole is extendable.

34 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first support pole is extendable.

35 . A system, comprising:

a first pole elongated along a first axis;

a second pole elongated along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel with the first axis;

a first support pole elongated along a third axis, the third axis being transverse to the first axis and the second axis, the first support pole comprising a first end coupled to the first pole and a second end coupled to the second pole; and

a first adapter, the first adapter coupled to the first end of the first support pole and the first pole, wherein the first adapter comprises a friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and the first pole and wherein the friction pad comprises at least two raised regions constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and the first pole.

36 . A system, comprising:

a first pole elongated along a first axis;

a second pole elongated along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel with the first axis;

a first support pole elongated along a third axis, the third axis being transverse to the first axis and the second axis, the first support pole comprising a first end coupled to the first pole and a second end coupled to the second pole; and

a first adapter, the first adapter coupled to the first end of the first support pole and the first pole, wherein the first adapter, comprising:

a curved base extending along a first axis, the curved base comprising an upper surface and a lower surface; the curved base constructed to extend around at least a portion of a pole,

at least one sidewall extending from the upper surface and extending parallel to the first axis; and

at least one socket coupled to the upper surface, the at least one socket constructed and arranged to mate with a corresponding connector to form a ball-and-socket joint.

37 . The system of claim 36 , wherein the first adapter further comprises a friction pad coupled to the lower surface, the friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the first adapter and a pole.

38 . A system, comprising:

a first pole elongated along a first axis;

a second pole elongated along a second axis, the second axis being substantially parallel with the first axis;

a first support pole elongated along a third axis, the third axis being transverse to the first axis and the second axis, the first support pole comprising a first end coupled to the first pole and a second end coupled to the second pole;

a first adapter, the first adapter coupled to the first end of the first support pole and the first pole; and

a second adapter, the second adapter coupled to the second end of the first support pole and the second pole, wherein the second adapter comprises a friction pad constructed and arranged to create friction between the second adapter and the second pole and wherein the friction pad comprises at least two raised regions constructed and arranged to create friction between the second adapter and the second pole.