The present invention relates to tracks, in particular tracks from which curtains may be suspended and used to provide temporary dividing screens.

In many buildings, curtains are used to provide temporary partitions to divide large rooms into smaller spaces . For example, in hospitals, curtains are often used to divide a single ward into a plurality of cubicles, each cubicle having one patient bed.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of part of a typical hospital ward in which the partitions between the individual cubicles are provided by curtains 100. The curtains are suspended from curtain tracks 102, which are themselves suspended from the ceiling of the ward.

Fig. 2 shows a known curtain track 102 for a hospital ward cubicle curtain. The curtain track 102 comprises a channel 104 for holding a set of roller hooks 106 from which a curtain may be suspended. The roller hooks 106 are movable along the curtain track 102 in the longitudinal direction of the track, in order to allow the position of the curtain (not shown, but held at the lower end of the roller hook 106) to be changed.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded schematic view of part of a curtain track system for suspending curtains from a ceiling. The curtain track 102 is suspended by means of a ceiling strut

112. The ceiling strut 112 is connected to the track 102 by a strut connection member 114.

Other devices may also be suspended from the ceiling of the hospital ward, in addition to curtain tracks 102. For example, Fig. 1 shows an overhead suspension system 108, which runs along its own dedicated track system 110 mounted on the ceiling. The overhead suspension system may be used to carry e.g., an intravenous drip unit. By suspending the intravenous drip unit from the ceiling of the cubicle via the overhead suspension system 108, the intravenous drip unit may take up less space in the ward than a unit that is mounted on a self- supporting base.

Typically, a gap is provided in the curtain track 102 to allow an overhead suspension system (or, alternatively, a self- supporting unit) to be moved from one side of the track to the other, e.g., from one cubicle to another.

The present inventors have found that providing a permanent gap in a track to allow, e.g., an overhead suspension system to be moved from one side of the track to another, results in a number of disadvantages. For example, the curtains suspended on either side of the gap typically do not meet, and so only an incomplete screen or partition is provided. Thus, in a hospital, for example, patient privacy is reduced.

Furthermore, since curtains cannot be pulled across the gap in the track, a plurality of curtains is generally required to provide, e.g., a partition for a cubicle. It is also generally not possible to draw all the curtains back in a tidy fashion, e.g., to draw all the curtains to one end of the track, possibly against a wall of the ward.

In general, the present invention provides a gate portion in the track.

In a first preferred aspect, the present invention provides a track for a moveable curtain, the track having a first portion, a second portion and a gate portion, the gate portion being moveable relative to the first and second portions to provide the track with an open configuration and a closed configuration . By providing a track that may be opened and closed by means of the gate portion, it is possible to suspend a curtain from the track, so as to provide a single partitioning screen, e.g., for a cubicle in a hospital ward. A temporary gap may thus be created in the track to allow, e.g., an overhead suspension system to be moved from one side of the track to the other. The temporary gap may be created by pushing the object to be moved (e.g. the overhead suspension system) against the gate to cause the track to take up its open configuration. The track may then be returned to its closed configuration. Then the curtain may be extended so as to provide a screen, e.g., to ensure patient privacy.

The track may include biasing means to bias the gate portion towards the closed configuration. Thus, for example, if the gate portion is opened by an operator, the gate portion may self-close without additional action by the operator.

More than one curtain may be used, e.g., two curtains that meet at or near the gate portion. In this way, the curtains need not necessarily be drawn fully back when the gate portion is opened.

The track is configured to engage at least one curtain connection element (and preferably a plurality of similar curtain connection elements), from which a curtain may be suspended, the curtain connection element being moveable along a longitudinal direction of the track.

The curtain connection element typically includes a hook for threading through an eyelet in a curtain. The track may engage the curtain connection element by means of a channel capturing a portion of the connection element. Alternatively, the track may be for use with curtain connection elements that are configured to be suspended from an upper surface of the track. Typically, the track is configured such that in its closed configuration, it allows a captured curtain connection element to travel in a longitudinal direction of the track from the first portion to and along the gate portion. Preferably, the track is configured to allow an engaged curtain connection element to travel from the first portion to the second portion, via the gate portion.

In this case, it may be possible to provide a track that may be opened and closed, while at the same time allowing curtains to be moved along the full length of the track when the track is in the closed configuration. Thus, a situation may be avoided in which the movement of the curtains is restricted to either of the first or second portions of the track.

Therefore, as mentioned above, it may be possible to use a single curtain to provide a partitioning screen, e.g., for a cubicle in a hospital. The curtain may be drawn back to allow the gate portion to be opened when necessary. If more than one curtain is used to provide the partitioning screen, it may be possible to draw back these curtains, so that they lie in a space-saving array, e.g., pulled back against the wall of the ward.

There may be a small gap between the gate portion and the first portion of the track, and between the gate portion and the second portion of the track. This can interrupt the smooth movement of a curtain connection element along the track. In one aspect, the present invention provides a curtain connection element engageable with a track to be moveable along the track in a longitudinal direction of the track, the curtain connection element having a curtain suspension portion (e.g. a hook) and at least two support members spaced apart in the movement direction of the curtain connection element. Providing two or more support members _{u ^}

improves the smoothness of the movement of the curtain connection element across the small gaps in the curtain track.

Preferably, each support member is a pair of rollers, each pair of rollers being rotatable about an axis, wherein the axes are spaced apart in the movement direction of the hook. In a further aspect, the curtain connection element may be provided as part of a kit of parts, the kit also comprising a track according to the present invention. The kit may include a plurality of curtain connection members .

Preferably, the gate portion is reversibly detachable from the second portion of the track. Typically, the gate portion is hingedly connected to the first portion of the track. In this case, the gate portion remains connected to the first portion when the track is in its open configuration, that is, when a gap is provided between the first and second portions. Thus, when the curtain is held from both the first portion and the gate portion of the track, it may not be necessary to draw the curtain and the curtain connection elements (e.g., curtain hooks) back from the gate portion and onto the first portion when opening the track.

Alternatively, the track may be configured such that the gate portion is reversibly removable from both the first and second portions of the track. However, this is not preferred.

In another configuration, the gate portion may be moveable in a longitudinal direction of the track to provide the open configuration and closed configuration of the track. For example, the gate portion may be telescopically connected to the first portion of the track.

As mentioned above the track may include biasing means to bias the gate portion towards the closed configuration. When the gate portion is hingedly connected to the first portion, the biasing means may comprise a rising hinge. In this case, the gate portion tends to self-close under the action of gravity. The hinge may rise in two opposing opening directions from the closed position.

The self-closing tendency of the gate portion may be provided or assisted by a resilient member, such as a spring. For example, the spring may be a torsional spring, such as a coiled spring, arranged to bias the gate towards its closed position. Where the gate may open in two opposing opening directions, the spring may be arranged to bias the gate closed in two opposing closing directions. The resilient member, e.g. the coiled spring, may be held within the hinge. The resilient member may cooperate with the hinge to provide biasing of the gate towards its closed position, particularly where the hinge is a rising hinge.

Additionally or alternatively, the biasing means may be magnetic. When the track is in its closed configuration, the gate portion may be magnetically coupled to the first and/or second portions of the track. That is, at least one of the gate portion and the first and second portions of the track may include a magnet for allowing magnetic coupling with another portion of the track. In this case, the biasing means may be considered also to be latching means.

In certain embodiments, magnetic coupling between the gate portion and one of the first and second portions may be used to maintain the track in the open configuration.

Other methods for achieving reversible connection of the gate portion with the first and/or second portions of the track are also possible. For example, one of the first and second portions of the track may have a protrusion for mating engagement with a depression on the gate portion.

Alternatively, the gate portion may have a protrusion for mating engagement with a depression on one of the first and second portions of the track. The gate portion may have a hook for engaging with an aperture in one of the first and second portions of the track. Alternatively, the hook may be located on one of the first and second portions of the track and the aperture may be provided in the gate portion.

The gate portion typically co-operates with the second portion of the track to be supported by the second portion when the track is in its closed configuration. This arrangement may help to ensure alignment of the gate portion and the second portion, in particular horizontal alignment of these portions, when the track is suspended from the ceiling.

For example, the gate portion may have a protruding element for resting on the second portion when the track is in its closed configuration. In this case, it is desirable that the gate portion and the first portion of the track are connected by a rising hinge. This allows the protruding element to be lifted off the second portion when the track is moved to its open configuration, and so may ensure smooth opening and closing of the track.

Preferably the protruding element has a rounded surface for contacting the second portion when the track is in its closed position. For example, the protruding element may have a circular cross-section. This may help to ensure smooth movement of the gate portion relative to the second portion of the track. In general, the protrusion is an elongate protrusion .The track of the first aspect of the invention is typically suspended from the ceiling of a room by means of ceiling struts. In general, a connecting member connects each ceiling strut to a given location on the track.

During installation of the track of the first aspect of the invention, i.e. while suspending the track via the ceiling struts, care is required to align the first, second and gate portions of the track. The present inventors have realised that it is desirable for a connecting member to be configured to allow the track to be connected to the ceiling strut even in cases where the ceiling strut is not in exact alignment with the connection site on the track.

Therefore, another aspect of the invention provides a track system for a moveable curtain comprising:

a track according to the first aspect, having a track connection site;

a ceiling strut having a longitudinal principal axis; and

a strut connection member for connecting the ceiling strut to the track connection site,

wherein the strut connection member is adjustable to provide a plurality of different positions of the ceiling strut relative to the track connection site, said positions being displaced from each other along at least a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal principal axis of the ceiling strut.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the strut connection member is adapted to be rotatably connected to one of the track connection site and the ceiling strut about a first axis of rotation. The strut connection member further has an engagement site for engaging the other of the ceiling strut and the track connection site. The engagement site is off-set from the first axis of rotation.

The strut connection member may have a threaded bore to allow it to be rotatably connected to one of the track connection site and the ceiling strut. Typically, the strut connection member is adapted to be rotatably connected to the track connection site. The engagement site of the strut connection member may be a smooth bore for engaging an elongate element, the axis of the smooth bore being off-set from the first axis of rotation. Typically, the engagement site of the strut connection member is for engaging the ceiling strut.

Therefore, by rotatably adjusting the orientation of the strut connection member relative to the track, it may be possible to bring the bore of the strut connection member into alignment with the ceiling strut.

Preferably, surface relief, or texture, is provided on the external surface of the strut connection member, to improve grip. For example, the external surface of the strut connection member may be patterned, e.g., castellated or knurled. Preferably, the external surface of the strut connection member is castellated.

In an alternative embodiment of this aspect of the invention, one of the strut connection member and the ceiling strut may have a bore for accommodating at least a first elongate portion of the other of the ceiling strut and the strut connection member, the position of the first elongate portion being adjustable within the bore in a lateral direction of the bore .

Typically, the bore is provided by the strut connection member and the elongate portion is provided by the ceiling strut. The bore and the elongate portion may each have a circular cross-section.

The dimensions of the bore and the elongate portion are such that the elongate portion is initially loosely accommodated within the bore, thus allowing it to be moved in a lateral direction of the bore. Thus, connection between the ceiling strut and the track is facilitated even in cases where the ceiling strut is not precisely aligned with the connection site on the track. Typically, the position of the elongate portion is fixed within the bore by means of screws that are insertable in a lateral direction of the bore, so as to protrude into the bore by varying amounts .

A further aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for a track system for moveable curtains comprising:

a track according to the first aspect, having a track connection site;

a ceiling strut having a longitudinal principal axis; and

a strut connection member for connecting the ceiling strut to the track connection site,

wherein the strut connection member is adjustable to provide a plurality of different positions of the ceiling strut relative to the track connection site, said positions being displaced from each other along at least a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal principal axis of the ceiling strut.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of suspending a track from a ceiling, comprising the steps of:

providing a kit of parts according to the third aspect of the invention;

connecting the strut connection member to the track connection site;

connecting the strut connection member to the ceiling strut; and

adjusting the strut connection member to vary the position of the ceiling strut relative to the track connection site, in a direction perpendicular to the principal longitudinal axis of the ceiling strut. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a large room divided into smaller spaces by curtains suspended from a known track.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a known track.

Fig. 3 shows an exploded schematic view of a known system for suspending curtains from a ceiling.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a track according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a track according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of a track according to the present invention for ensuring horizontal alignment of the gate portion with the rest of the track.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the gate portion of a track according to the present invention.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a strut connection member according to the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of another strut connection member according to the present invention.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a curtain connection member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the track according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a curtain track 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The curtain track 2 has a first portion 4 and a second portion 6. The curtain track 2 shown in Fig. 4 is in its closed configuration, i.e. the first and second portions 4,6 are connected by a gate portion 8.

Each of the first and second portions 4,6 and the gate portion ) 8 has a channel (not shown) for holding curtain connection elements, e.g., roller hooks, from which a curtain may be suspended. This channel has a similar configuration to channels in known curtain track systems (see, for example, Fig. 2) . The first and second portions 4,6 and the gate ) portion 8 each have an aluminium body.

The first portion 4 and the gate portion 8 of the curtain track 2 are connected by means of a hinge 10. The hinge 10 is a rising hinge (or rising butt hinge), i.e. it is configured such that when the first portion 4 and the gate portion 8 are

) rotated relative to each other about the hinge axis, the gate portion 8 and the first portion 4 also move relative to each other along the hinge axis. When the curtain track 2 is in use and is suspended from the ceiling, the gate portion 8 moves upwards relative to the second portion 6 of the curtain

) track when the gate portion 8 is rotated in either direction away from this second portion 6.

The curtain track 2 has a closed configuration in which the gate portion 8 spans the gap between the first and second portions 4,6. In this case, the channels provided in each of 3 the first and second portions 4,6 and in the gate portion 8 are in alignment and a roller hook for a curtain may travel directly from the channel provided in the first portion 4, through the channel provided in the gate portion 8 and then through the channel provided in the second portion 6.

3 The curtain track 2 has an open configuration in which the gate portion 8 is open, i.e. the gate portion 8 is rotated relative to the first portion 4 by means of the hinge 10, such that a gap is provided between the first and second portions 4,6 of the curtain track 2.

The gate portion 8 has an elongate protruding element 12 that is provided on the same face as the hinge 10, but at an end of

) the gate portion distal to the hinge 10. When the curtain track 2 is in its closed configuration, the protruding element 12 rests on the second portion 6 of the curtain track 2. The protruding element 12 therefore helps to ensure that the gate portion 8 and the second portion 6 remain in horizontal

) alignment when the curtain track 2 is in its closed configuration.

When the gate portion 8 is rotated relative to the first portion 4 in order to bring the curtain track 2 into the open configuration, the rising hinge 10 causes the gate portion j simultaneously to move along the axis of the hinge 10. That is, when the gate portion 8 is rotated away from the second portion 6, the gate portion 8 also moves away from the second portion 6 in an axial direction of the hinge 10. Thus, friction between the protruding element 12 and the second

) portion 6 is reduced and smooth opening and closing of the curtain track 2 is achieved.

When the curtain track 2 is suspended from the ceiling of a cubicle, the gate portion 8 moves in an upward direction as the curtain track is moved into its open configuration. When 5 the curtain track is closed, the protruding element 12 comes to rest on the upper surface of the second portion 6 of the curtain track.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the curtain track 2, in which the curtain track 2 is shown in both its open and closed configurations . Fig. 6 shows a detailed perspective view of the gate portion 8 and the second portion 6 when the curtain track 2 is in its closed configuration.

The protruding element 12 extends in a longitudinal direction j of the gate portion 8 and has a circular cross-section. The protruding element 12 is attached to a triangular base 14 extending from the gate portion 8 in a lateral direction of the gate portion 8.

The circular cross-section of the protruding element 12 ) contributes to the smooth motion of the gate portion 8 relative to the second portion 6, when the curtain track 2 is moved between the open and closed configurations.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of one end of the gate portion 8. The protruding element 12 is mounted on a triangular base 5 14 that forms part of a plate- 16 that engages with the gate portion 8. The upper face of the channel forming the gate portion is cut away enabling the plate 16 to be fixed within the channel flush with the end of the gate with the triangular base 14 extending above the face.

A permanent magnet 18 is mounted in a circular recess provided in the plate 16. The magnet 18 is configured to engage with a corresponding magnetisable element of the second portion 6 of the curtain track 2, in order to order to secure the curtain track 2 in the closed configuration.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a strut connection member for a curtain track system according to the present invention. The strut connection member 20 has a tubular body. At a first end, the tubular body has a first, threaded bore for engaging a screw (not shown) that passes through the upper surface of the curtain track 2, i.e. the surface of the curtain track 2 that is distal from the channel for engaging roller hooks. At its second end, the strut connection member 20 has a second, smooth bore 22 for accommodating a ceiling strut (not shown) that hangs from the ceiling. The strut connection member 20 is tapered at its second end. The cylindrical portion of the strut connection member 20 has a castellated external surface to improve grip.

The first, threaded bore of the strut connection member has a longitudinal axis that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the strut connection member 20. However, the longitudinal axis of the second, smooth bore 22 does not coincide with the longitudinal axis of the strut connection member 20, the longitudinal axes of the smooth bore 22 and the strut connection member 20 being off-set by approximately 1.5 mm.

Thus, when the strut connection member is connected to the track connection site, the position of the smooth bore 22 relative to the curtain track 2 may be adjusted in a longitudinal and/or lateral direction of the curtain track by rotating the strut connection member. This allows easier alignment of the bore 22 and the ceiling strut.

The bore 22 of the strut connection member 20 may have a diameter greater than that of the ceiling strut. Thus the bore may accommodate the ceiling strut even when the longitudinal axes of the bore and the ceiling strut do not correspond exactly.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a strut connection member for a curtain track system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the strut connection member 30 has a concentric bore 32. The bore has a diameter greater than that of the ceiling strut (not shown) .

This means that the ceiling strut may be accommodated within the bore even if the longitudinal axes of the bore and the strut do not correspond exactly. Thus suspension of the curtain track from the ceiling is simplified. The ceiling strut is secured within the bore 32 of the strut connection member 30 by screws that pass through apertures 34 that extend in a lateral direction of the strut connection member 30. The depth of penetration of the screws within the strut connection member may be varied in order to allow the position of the ceiling strut within the strut connection member to be adjusted and optimised.

Fig. 10 shows a curtain connection member intended for use with the tracks of the preferred embodiments. The connection member is a roller hook 36 which has a hook 38 and two pairs of rollers 40a and 40b rotatable about two spaced apart axes. This construction facilitates smooth passage of the roller hook 36 across any small gap which may exist between the gate portion and the first portion of the track, and/or between the gate portion and the second portion of the track. Alternatively, a conventional roller hook 106 as shown in Fig. 2 may be used with the track of the present invention.

Fig 11 shows a perspective view part of a track which is a modification of the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5. Hinge 10 is shown in exploded view to illustrate its components. The hinge 10 includes a coiled spring 42 which is located in a pocket formed in the hinge 10, such that the axis of the spring 42 coincides with the axis of rotation of the hinge 10. The spring 42 is retained in the pocket of the hinge 10 by a bush 44 secured by a screw 46. This construction enables the spring to be removed and replaced if necessary. The spring 42 acts to bias the gate portion 8 into the closed configuration. The spring 42 acts to bias the gate portion 8 closed whichever way the gate portion 8 is opened. The spring 42 and gravity acting on the rising hinge construction of hinge 10 cooperate to bias the gate 8 towards the closed configuration.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.