US2527860A - Fixture for supporting and traversing drapes and the like - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 31, 1950 w C TROY 2,527,860

FIXTURE FOR SUPOTING AND TRAVERSING DRAPES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 17, 1947 INVENTOR ATTORNE Patented Oct. 31, 1950 'UNIT-ED; STATES Pa'rlezlarff OFFICE FIXTURE FOR SUPPORTING AND TRAVERS- ING DRAPES AND THE LIKE Walter C. Troy, Pittsburgh, Pa. l

' Application January 17, 1947,'Serial No. 722,553 "4 3 Claims. (Cl. 16H- 343) This invention relates to fixtures suitable for supporting drapes, curtains and the like and for traversing them uniformly to Vopen and closed positions. Y

It isdesirable to support movable drapes, curtains and the like in such a manner that they are folded into similar neat folds in both open and closed position, or in any intermediate partly open position. Furthermore, the mechanism for traversing the drapes should be simple in construction, easy to operate and reliable. It is well'known that many drapery fixtures do not meet these requirements, since they often catch or bunch, requiring considerable tugging to free the drapes or, on occasion, the operator must mount a ladder to untangle jammed parts. The prime object of this invention is to provide a drapery xture capable of satisfactorily meeting these requirements.

Another object of this invention is to provide a fixture for supportingand traversing drapes, curtains and the like uniformly by means of va single operating element. 2 y A A further object of the invention is to provide a ixture for traversing drapes, curtains and the like easily without binding or bunching of the drapes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide supporting brackets for supporting La tubular xture with an overhang at any desired location. Y

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part appear hereinafter.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description and drawing,inwhich:

Figure l is a broken view in elevation partly in section,

g Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of the operating elements of the Xture, Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of one of the slider elements of the xture,

rFig. 4 is an enlargedv sectional View taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 1 showing the supporting bracket, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation form of supporting bracket. Y f Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, there is `vview of a modified illustrated the fixture I0 arranged for supportf ing and traversing two drapes I2 and i3 to open section. It has been found that the square tube shapeshown in the drawing is particularly suitable. The tube I4 is -provided with a longitudinal slot I6 in the iront vertical face extending from substantially one end of the tube to the other. Disposed Within the tube I4 are a plurality of slider members I8 fitting closely, but freely for relatively easy longitudinal movement. A right-hand group of slider members supports the right drape I2 and the left drape I3 is supported on a corresponding left-hand group of slider members. The number of slider members I8 is determined by the number of points of support deemed desirable for each of the drapesV I2 and` I3.. Furthermore, `ifthe drapes in open or gathered .position are to have a large number offolds,n then a proportionately large number of sliderV members will be emand closed position. The fixture I0 comprises I ployed.- `Ifthe drapesvv are to fold with a few relativelyflarge folds, then a smallerv number of slider members may. be employed.

VReferring toFig- 3v of the drawing, there is illustrated in more detail one of the. slider membersY I8. Each -slider member comprises a flat bottom ZILand-twoflanged sides 22 and 24 fitting at leastthree of thesides of the' square tube closelyv butslidably.- The front flanged side 24 is provided. with a lug l2S formed by punching andstriking outra portion.v of the side. The lug is perforated at 23 for supporting one drape hook 30. The lug 26 is so proportioned and positioned as to slide freely in the longitudinal vslot IS preferably,though not necessarily, withoutv `contacting the sides of the slot.

The .weight of -the drape is transmitted throughY the lug 26 to the-anges Y22 and 24 and bottom 26 which butt against the walls of the tube I4 Without binding. The at sides of the tube cooperating-with-the bottom 20 and sides 22V rand 24 resist twistingof the slider Vunder the weight of the drape. rIThe sliders will reciprocate easily in the -tube even under heavy loads.

Each slider-member I8` is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting tab means 32 for tting between the helices of an extension helical spring 34. In tting between the helices the' tab means 32 separate them, a distance equal to the thickness of the tabs. It has been found that it is necessary tohave the tabs 32 nt into the spring 34at two .diametrically opposite portions, in order to prevent kinking or warping of the spring with a resultant undesirable binding action occurring. Thespring 34 in unstretched condition -isA of .a diameter slightly less than the distance between the slider walls 22 andv24. VThe a slider members may be slipped readily over the spring 34 between helices at regular intervals prior to placing the sliders and coil spring within the tube I4.

One end of each coil spring 34 is held in a iixed position within the tube I4 by a terminal member. The assembly of the sliders, coil springs and terminal members is shown in detail in Figure 2 of the drawing. At the' right-hand end of the fixture is a terminal member 35 which conveniently is an inverted slider member without a lug, though the terminal member may take any other desirable configuration. The tab means 32 on the terminal member 36 passes between diametrically opposite helices of the spring with at least two turns of the springbeing engaged. The terminal member 3B is xed by the pin 30 carrying the pulley 40, the pin passing through the walls of the tube I4 thereby xing it with respect to the tube. At the left end of the tube is another terminal member 42 which'may be similar in shape to a slider member, but having no tab thereon, the left endl terminal member being fixed by the pin 44 passing through it and the walls of the tube, The pin 44 carries a second pulley 46. Y

The right-hand open end of the tube I4 is` provided with a closure 48 which may be aiiixed to the tube by means of a machine screw or other suitable retainer. The closure 48 has a depending lip 50 provided with a wedge shaped slot 52 whose use will be described hereinafter. The left-hand end of the tube I4 may be closed by a U-shaped cap 54 conveniently held in place by the pin 44 passing through the legs of the U. The pins 44 and 38 may be cotter pins.

Referring to Fig` 2 of the drawing in particular, there is illustrated the flexible cord mechanism for operating both right and left-hand groups of the slider members. The innermost sliders attached to each of the coil springs 34 are provided with a clamping portion 5B suitable for engaging an operating cord 58. The end of the cord 58 is attached to the innermost slider member I8 on the right-hand spring, then passes through the left-hand spring 34 over the pulley 46, then returns within the same coil spring for engagement at the clamping portion 55 of the innermost slider member on the left-hand spring and then passes through the right-hand spring to the pulley 40. It terminates as a beaded chain B0. The chain BI] is adapted to be held, by engagement of the beads in the tapered slot 52 in the lip 50 in any position of adjustment.

It will be apparent that on disengaging the beaded chain 50, as shown in Fig. l, from the slot 52 and pulling downwardly on the chain, the cord 58 will pull the terminal slider I8 attached to the left-hand spring thereby extending the .entire spring. Each of the sliders in the left-hand group will move in accordance with the extension of the spring, in an amount proportional to their distance from the terminal 42, and, accordingly, the lugs 2E will be separated an equal distance from each other and thereby the left-hand drape I3 will be spread into an open position. The end of the cord 58 passing over the pulley 45 will also be moved and will -pull on the end slider I8 attached to the right-handspring to extend the spring and similarly separate each slider member of the right-hand group, thereby spreading the right-hand drape I2 a similar amountA The chain 50 may be pulled any selected distance and then fixed in such position by passingthe beaded chain into the wedge slot 5'2. If it is desired to 4 open the drapes, the chain 60 is simply pulled and swung clockwise out of the wedge slot 52 to be released and the contracting tendency of the springs will pull each set of sliders to the ends of the tube, thereby gathering the drapes.

The traversing xture shown in Fig. l has proved to be of an extremely simple and reliable construction. In one test, the mechanism was operated 8,000 times, which is an amount equal to better than l0 years normal service, with complete satisfaction.

Because of the flat sided cooperating construction of the tube I4 and slider members I8 land the resulting feature of easy longitudinal A sliding without twisting or binding even with heavy drapes, the drape supporting lugs 26 ex- 'tend laterally thereby making a compact xture.

Accordingly, only a short stiff heading 'I0 on the drapes I2 and I3 will.v be suiiicient to conceal completely the tube I4 when the drapes are drawn. Furthermore', the exposed portions of the fixture I0 consist ofonly the tube I4 and chain 60, thereby it is not inartisticeven when the drapes are opened. The fixture is'ea'sily cleaned since itdoes not gather dust readily"` It will be appreciated that while the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is adapted for handling two drapes'or curtains or the like simultaneously,- it may be desirable to employ a similar mechanism for opening and closing a single curtain, for'example a shower curtain. In that case, only a single unit corresponding for example, to the right half Vof Fig. 1 alone, comprising a single spring 34 and the desirable number of slider members I8 will be placed within a tube. Furthermore, for use in showers or the like, the longitudinal slot I6 need not be placed in a vertical or side surface of the tube I4, but may be located so that the slotl is at the bottom thereof.

Referringl to Fig. 4, there is illustratedl asupport for holding the-tube I4 of the xture in position on a wall 90, window? frame or the like. The support comprises cooperating lower bracket IDU and upper bracket IDB. The lower bracket |00 is provided witha vertical arm IIlZl which may be fastened by means of screws |06 and' IIl'I to the wall 90. A horizontal flange I04 is formed at an angle of greater than to the vertical arm I02. An angle of to 105 has been found satisfactory. The bracket IDU is initially-iastened by the screws |06 and IIl'I to a position where the flange I04 is horizontal'.

The upper bracket IBB comprises a vertical portion IIB to be fastened against the wall 9B, a right angled horizontal arm II2 iitted to extend over the top Side of tube I4, and a lip II4 to clamp over the edge to hold the tube I4 when screw I I6 is tightened.

A method of employing the support is to fasten the lower bracket |00 to the wall 90 to a position where the flange |04 is horizontal, the tube I4 being then rested on it, and then to fasten the upper bracket |48 in place by screw IIB. The lowermost screw IBB will have but little play, while screw IlII will have considerable travel before it is snug. By driving `screws I 0l and IIJE the bracket IUD will be drawninto the wall 90 and the horizontal 'flange I 04 Will cam up the tube I4 tightly against bracket |08.

Fig. 5 of the drawing illustrates a modifiedform of 'unitary support |20 functioning similarly to that of Figure 4. The SupportY |20 comprises a back portion I22I to t against awall or frame. A lower bracket portion is formed from-an up- Wardly bent portion |24 disposed at an angle of to 20 to the back |22 and carrying a horizontal flange |26 forming an angle of from 100 to 110 thereto. Screws |23 are applied to the bent portion |24 both to fasten the support to the wall as well as to draw the bent portion towards the back portion. From the upper end of the back portion |22 is an upper bracket portion comprising a parallel downwardly extending vertical portion |39 having a horizontal arm |32 and a lip |34 for holding a tube in place when screw |36 is applied to the vertical portion |39.

It will be apparent that the angle between flange |04 and arm |62 or flange |24 and arm |26 in Fig. 5 may be varied within a considerable limit-to as much as 135. Also, the bracket |08 in Fig. 4, or the upper horizontal arm |32 in Fig. 5, may be shaped to conform to the shape of the tube |41 if it has other than a square' section.

The tube i4 may overhang the supports of Figs. 4 and 5. This enables the drapes l2 and |3 to completely conceal a window or other opening.

Since certain changes may be made in the above apparatus and different embodiments of the invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shown in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a xture for traversing drapes and the like, in combination, a tube provided with a longitudinal slot, a single extension helical spring disposed within the tube, means for fixing one end of the helical spring adjacent one end of the tube, a plurality of slider members disposed about the helical spring and tting the interior of the tube with a relatively easylongitudinal sliding fit, each slider member having a bottom portion conforming to and resting on the tube and ange portions conforming to and fitting the sides of the tube for carrying the load of a drape, each slider member having a pair of inwardly extending tab means passing between and detachably affixed to the helices of the spring at two points on diametrically opposite portions thereof, the tab means providing for movement of the slider member in correspondence with the expansion and contraction of the helical spring, a lug attached to each slider member extending through said slot for supportingl a flexible drape member for longitudinal motion, and a flexible pull member attached to a slider member nearest the free end of the helical spring.

2. The iixture of claim 1 wherein the tube has a polygonal cross-section and the bottom and the ange portions of the slider members are of similar polygonal crosssection.

3. A fixture comprising, in combination, a tube having two opposed dat sides and provided with a longitudinal slot, two extension helical springs vmembers having wall portions fitting the major cross-section of the interior walls of the tube closely with a relatively easy longitudinal sliding t, the wall portions of the slider members tting against and cooperating with the iiat sides of the tube to withstand twisting, 'each slider member having a pair of inwardly extending tab means passing between and detachably aiiixed to the helices of the spring 'at two points on diametrically opposite portions thereof, the tab means connecting each slider member to the spring for movement in correspondence with the expansion and contraction of the spring, a lug attached to each slider member extending through said longitudinal slot, a flexible member connected to thev terminal slider member adjacent the free end of each spring,-a pulley disposed at one end of the tube, and the flexible member passing from the point of connection to the terminal slider on the spring fixed' to the end of the tube opposite the pulley, over the pulley and returning, thence to the terminal slider on the spring adjacent the f pulley and thence to the opposite end of the tube to a point outside the tube whereby a pull on the flexible member will operate the springs simultaneously.

WALTER C. TROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS' Great Britain June 27, 1946

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