Granted Patent B2

US 12,313,200 · App. 17/416,644 · Granted May 27, 2025

Inventor: Jeffrey P. Whittemore (Arlington, MA)

Assignee: Zipwall, LLC

F16L5/00E04G21/243E04G21/30F24F13/0254F24F13/0218F24F13/06

Abstract

Claims (129)

1. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail, and

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion is moveable relative to the curtain rail in the first horizontal direction of extension, and

wherein the first connector portion is movable on an upper surface of the base of the channel.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a curtain positioned at the upper surface of the base.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a pole platform positioned in the channel, wherein a curtain is positioned between the upper surface of the base and a lower surface of the pole platform.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a width of the pole platform in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction is greater than one half a width of the channel in the second horizontal direction.

5. The system of claim 3 , further comprising a pole positioned on the pole platform, the pole extending in a third direction of extension transverse to the first and second horizontal directions of extension.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector portion is moveable relative to the curtain rail.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector portion is fixed relative to the curtain rail.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second connector portion is constructed and arranged to mate with the first connector portion of a neighboring rail to thereby secure positions of the neighboring rails.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one rail head.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a width of the channel in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction is at least as wide as a width of the at least one rail head.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein a width of the channel in a second horizontal direction perpendicular to the first horizontal direction is at least as wide as a combined width of two rail heads.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls comprise at least one lip.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the curtain rail comprises a friction material at a lower surface.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a rail clip positioned at the channel of the curtain rail, the rail clip comprising:

at least one side panel; and

a base coupled to the at least one side panel.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one side panel extends in a direction transverse to the first horizontal direction of extension of the base.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the rail clip is coupled to the curtain rail via an attachment mechanism.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising a curtain positioned between the rail clip and the curtain rail.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein rail clip comprises at least one protrusion.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the curtain rail comprises at least one hole constructed and arranged to couple with the at least one protrusion.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one hole is at the at least one of the first and second sidewalls.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the at least one protrusion is at the at least one side panel of the rail clip.

22. The system of claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one side panel is bendable.

23. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first connector portion comprises at least one claw and the second connector portion comprises at least one seat constructed and arranged to mate with a claw of a neighboring rail.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the second connector portion is fixed in position relative to the curtain rail and the first connector portion is moveable in the first horizontal direction of extension.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the second connector portion is fixed in position relative to the curtain rail.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the first connector portion and second connector portion are moveable in the first horizontal direction of extension.

27. The system of claim 1 , wherein the curtain rail comprises a first curtain rail and further comprising:

a second curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the second curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the second curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the second curtain rail, and

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the second curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion of the first curtain rail and the second connector portion of the second curtain rail are constructed and arranged to mate.

28. The system of claim 1 , further comprising first and second rail heads are positioned in the channel of the first curtain rail.

29. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end, and

a pole platform positioned in the channel, wherein a curtain is positioned between the upper surface of the base and a lower surface of the pole platform.

30. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end;

a rail clip positioned at the channel of the curtain rail, the rail clip comprising:

at least one side panel; and

a base coupled to the at least one side panel; and

a curtain positioned between the rail clip and the curtain rail,

wherein the rail clip is coupled to the curtain rail via an attachment mechanism.

31. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end, and

a rail clip positioned at the channel of the curtain rail, the rail clip comprising:

at least one side panel; and

a base coupled to the at least one side panel,

wherein the rail clip is coupled to the curtain rail via an attachment mechanism,

wherein rail clip comprises at least one protrusion,

wherein the curtain rail comprises at least one hole constructed and arranged to couple with the at least one protrusion, and

wherein the at least one hole is at the at least one of the first and second sidewalls.

32. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end, and

a rail clip positioned at the channel of the curtain rail, the rail clip comprising:

at least one side panel; and

a base coupled to the at least one side panel,

wherein the rail clip is coupled to the curtain rail via an attachment mechanism,

wherein rail clip comprises at least one protrusion,

wherein the curtain rail comprises at least one hole constructed and arranged to couple with the at least one protrusion, and

wherein the at least one protrusion is at the at least one side panel of the rail clip.

33. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end, and

a rail clip positioned at the channel of the curtain rail, the rail clip comprising:

at least one side panel; and

a base coupled to the at least one side panel,

wherein the rail clip is coupled to the curtain rail via an attachment mechanism,

wherein rail clip comprises at least one protrusion, and

wherein at least one of the at least one side panel is bendable.

34. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail,

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion is moveable relative to the curtain rail in the first horizontal direction of extension, and

wherein the second connector portion is constructed and arranged to mate with the first connector portion of a neighboring rail to thereby secure positions of the neighboring rails.

35. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a curtain positioned at the upper surface of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail, and

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion is moveable relative to the curtain rail in the first horizontal direction of extension.

36. A system, comprising:

a curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension, the curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the curtain rail, and

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion is moveable relative to the curtain rail in the first horizontal direction of extension, and

wherein the curtain rail comprises a first curtain rail and further comprising:

a second curtain rail extending in a first horizontal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the second curtain rail comprising a channel extending along the length of the second curtain rail in the first horizonal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the channel comprising:

a base comprising opposed upper and lower surfaces; and

first and second side walls along opposite edges of the base, the first and second side walls parallel to the first horizontal direction of extension of the second curtain rail, the upper surface of the base and the first and second walls defining the channel that extends along the length of the base;

a first connector portion positioned at a first end of the channel of the second curtain rail, and

a second connector portion at a second end of the channel of the second curtain rail opposite the first end,

wherein the first connector portion of the first curtain rail and the second connector portion of the second curtain rail are constructed and arranged to mate.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (301)