GB2115687A

GB2115687A - Curtain suspension systems

Info

Publication number: GB2115687A
Application number: GB08303837A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Konrad Bratschi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-23
Filing date: 1983-02-11
Publication date: 1983-09-14
Also published as: ES265387Y; DE8204999U1; GB8303837D0; IT8234887V0; JPS58131783U; CH658985A5; GB2115687B; ES265387U

Abstract

The curtain device comprises a curtain rail (1) with two cord channels (5, 6). Cord guide elements (16, 17) are mounted at the ends of the rail. The cord (13) guided in the cord channels (5, 6) forms a closed loop and comprises at least one master runner. The visible edge (9) of the curtain rail (1) is extended downwards and bent round at the free end (10) to form the slide channel (11), there thereby being defined between the said free end (10) and the other edge of the rail or elongated slot (46) which is hidden by the visible edge (9). The curtain slides (42, 50) can be clipped laterally through the slot 46 into the slide channel (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Curtain device with curtain rail and cord drawing means The invention relates to a curtain device with a curtain rail and of the type which comprises two cord channels and a slide channel, and at the ends of which there are disposed cord guide elements, wherein a cord drawing means is provided which is guided in the cord channels, forms a closed loop and comprises at least one precursor.

In a known curtain device of this type, the curtain rail, which is curved in the form of a semicircle in cross-section, comprises two cord channels which are separate from one another and between which there is disposed the slide channel for the sliding elements to which the curtain is secured. The cord drawing means forms a closed loop which is reversed at one end of the rail and at the other end is taken down in order to form the actuating drawing means.

The rail section is relatively low and wide and the slide channel disposed between the cord channels is very narrow which leads to various disadvantages. The sliding or rolling elements for the curtains have small dimensions and have little clearance in the slide passage. The requirements regarding the manufacturing tolerance are high and the running characteristics are poor if there is a drop below the tolerances. The curtain slides can only be inserted in the rail from the ends thereof; it is not possible to introduce the slides laterally into the rail at any point.

As a result of the low rail section, the carrying capacity and the resistance to torsion are low so that many securing points have to be provided.

Finally, the known rail is also unsatisfactory from the aesthetic point of view because the slide channel and the precursors are not hidden.

It is the object of the invention to provide a curtain device of the type mentioned above in which these disadvantages are avoided.

According to the present invention there is provided a curtain device with a curtain rail which comprises two cord channels and a slide channel, and at the ends of which there are disposed cord guide elements, wherein a cord drawing means is provided which is guided in the cord channels, forms a closed loop and comprises at least one precursor, characterised in that the visible edge of the curtain rail is extended downwards and is bent round at the free end to form the slide passage, and that in the other edge of the curtain rail, an elongated slot is hollowed out which is hidden by the visible edge and in which the curtain slides can be engaged.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view, partly in section, of a curtain rail with cord drawing means, Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a plastics end piece in an exploded view, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the plastics end piece of Figure 2 with cover removed, Figure 4 shows a cross-section through a curtain rail mounted on a ceiling, the snapping in of a slide being illustrated, Figure 5 shows a plan view of a curtain slide, Figure 6 shows a longitudinal section through a rolling element for securing the curtains, Figure 7 shows a cross-section through the curtain rail in which a precursor serving as an entrainment means is accommodated, Figure 8 shows a cross-section through the curtain rail with a precursor serving as a connector, Figure 9 shows a side view of the precursor of Figures 7 and 8, partly in section, Figure 10 shows a plan view of the housing of an end piece for a corner guide, the cover being removed, and Figure 11 shows a cross-section through a curtain rail which is hidden by an upright fold.

The light-metal curtain rail 1 is mounted on a ceiling 4 by means of holders 2, known per se, which engage in the webs of a mounting channel 3. The rail 1 is provided with two parallel cord channels 5, 6 which are arranged spaced apart and which each comprise a longitudinal slot 7, 8 at the bottom so that the curtain actuating cord 13 can be introduced.

The visible side of the curtain in rail 1 comprises a curved portion 9, which is bent downwards and the end 10 of which is bent upwards in the form of a hook and forms, internally, the sliding channel for the curtain slides 42. As a result of the downwardly curved portion 9, the sliding channel 11 is invisible from the room side, which is very advantageous from the aesthetic point of view. The steep from edge of the curved portion 9, in combination with the slight sectional width of the rail, ensures the complete hiding of the curtain rail 1 by upright end folds 14 of the curtain 1 5 (Figure 11), if the folds are taken up to the ceiling for decoration purposes. The upright end folds 14 are prevented from being bent outwards excessively.

A further advantage of the curtain rail according to the invention is to be seen in that it is considerably more robust and torsion-resistant in construction than the known curtain rail mentioned in the introduction to the specification.

A few holders therefore suffice for the ceiling mounting. Despite the larger volume, the expenditure on material for the curtain rail is no greater than in the known rail.

Mounted at both ends of the curtain rail 1 are end pieces 16, 1 7 of plastics material. The curtain cord 13 is taken, in one of the cord channels 5, from the first end piece 1 7 to the second end piece 16, there deflected through 1 80C and brought back in the other cord channel 6. In the first end piece 27, the loop of cord is deflected vertically and hangs down as an actuating loop 18.

The reversal for the drawing means end piece 1 7 is identical in construction to the end return end piece 16. The two end pieces each comprise a housing 1 9 from which a lug 20 projects horizontally which is pushed into the mounting channel 3 of the curtain rail and is held there firmly by the webs. Below the lug 20 there is an upper transverse slot 21 for the introduction of the cord loop 1 3 into the interior of the housing. A lower transverse slot 22 provided in the bottom of the housing serves to guide the actu tion lop 1 8 after its deflection downwards. After the insertion of the bearing block 24, this transverse slot 22 is divided into two component slots so that the two strands of the actuating loop cannot cross over.

A guide member 23, likewise made of plastics material, comprises a bearing block 24 which is U-shaped in cross-section and from which three spindles project, namely an upper vertical spindle 25 and two lateral transverse spindles 26.

Mounted for rotation on the upper spindle 25 is an upper guide roller 27 and on the transverse spindles 26, two lateral guide rollers 28. The ends of the spindles are upset in order to secure the rollers on the spindles. During the assembly, the rollers are pressed or clipped onto the spindles.

Then the guide member 23 is introduced into the interior of the housing 1 9. Provided in the latter are two lateral guides 29 into which the ends of the transverse spindles 26 penetrate. The U-shaped opening of the bearing block 24 engages resiliently round a pin 30 in the interior of the housing, as a result of which the guide member 23 is held with a resilient clamping action and the two component slots are formed.

The housing is closed by a cover 38 which comprises projections 39 which snap into corresponding recesses 40 in the housing. A recess 41 disposed at the bottom on the cover 38 engages round the end of the upper spindle 25 to hold the bearing block 24 stable.

Mounted on the cord drawing means 13 are one or two precursors 31, both of which are identical in construction. Each precursor 31 comprises an elongated body 32 from which two wings 33 project laterally. Further disposed on the body 32 is an elongated hollow cylinder 34 with a longitudinal slot 35. Three transverse bores 36, parallel to one another, are adapted to receive the attachment screws.

One of the two precursors 31 serves as a connector for the two ends of the cord which are introduced into the hollow cylinder 34 and are pierced by means of two attachment screws screwed into the lateral transverse bores 36.

The second precursor serves as an entrainment means. The cord 13 is forced through the slot 35 in the hollow cylinder 34 and held in the centre transverse bore 36 by a screw. This has the advantage that it is possible to ascertain immediately, by the number of attachment screws, whether the particular precursor is the connector or the entrainment means (see Figure 1). The latter can be adjusted on the curtain cord in a simple manner. As a result of the portion 9 of the curtain rail which is drawn downwards, the precursors are hidden from the visible side.

Figures 7 and 8 show how the precursors 31 are mounted in the curtain rail 1. The connector (Figure 8) hangs vertically in the cord channel 6 and one of its wings 33 bears from the outside against the slide channel 10. The precursor acting as an entrainment means (Figure 7) is disposed obliquely in the curtain rail 1 and one of its wings 33 is guided in the slide channel 10.

The curtain slide 42 consists of a sliding portion 43 which is guided in the slide channel 11 and the downwardly projecting eye portion 44 to which the curtain is secured. The sliding portion 43 and the eye portion 44 lie in the same plane and are connected to one another by a projecting intermediate portion 45.

The length L of the sliding portion 43 is somewhat greater than the width B of the opening slot 46 of the curtain rail 1. The slide 42 can either be pushed into the sliding channel 11 from the end of the curtain rail 1 or be snapped laterally in at any desired point. In the latter case, it is set obliquely against the wall of the sliding channel 11, then pressed against the curtain rail 1 in the direction of the arrow 48 and then pivoted in the direction of the arrow 47. A resilient lug 49 of the slide 42, which lug bears against the wall 10 of the slide channel, is resiliently deformed in the course of this and springs back into its original position after the snapping in of the slide.

Instead of a slide 42, a rolling element 50 consisting of an eye portion 44, an intermediate portion 45 and a roller portion 51 could also be provided. The roller 51 is mounted on a rivet 53 which is anchored in the roller portion. A resilient lug is again provided and the roller diameter D is somewhat greater than the width B of the slot.

The introduction into the curtain rails is effected in the same manner as with the slide 42.

The cord 1 3 can be mounted as a closed loop in the curtain rail 1, being first pressed into the cord channels 5, 6. The end of the loop is introduced into the housing 19 of the end piece 1 6, 1 7 through the upper transverse slot 21. In the case of the end return, the loop is laid over the upper roller 25 of the guide member 23 which is then pushed into the housing. In the case of the reversal for the drawing means, the cord 1 3 is laid round the two lateral rollers 26 and the end of the loop is taken downwards out of the housing 1 9 through the lower slot 22. Then the guide member 23 is again inserted in the housing and the latter is closed with the cover 38.

The curtain rail described is also suitable for fitting a corner guide. For this purpose, the end piece 54 as shown in Figure 10 is provided. This end piece 54 comprises two horizontal lugs 20 so that a further piece of curtain rail can be mounted beside the actuai curtain rail 1 for the curtain, at an angle of 900 in order to form the lateral termination towards the wall. Apart from this, the end piece 54 is similar in construction to that with only one lug.

Summing up, the advantages of the area curtain device described are listed below.

- Closely adjacent cord channels situated at the top. The sectional cross-section is sufficient to place the drawing-means and guide rollers.

Therefore slight width of the curtain rail, high profile, statically greater strength, fewer attachment points to mount the curtain rail.

- Large guide rollers in the end elements, therefore less friction and operation without problems.

- Two identical precursors, one of which serves as a connector and the other as an entrainment means. The entrainment means can be adjusted without taking down the curtain. The cord connector is invisible because of the drawndown front edge of the curtain rail.

- The curtain slides or the rolling elements can be snapped in laterally without dismounting the rail.

-The slides and the rolling elements have a smail projection and are therefore suitable for narrow curtain rails.

- As a result of the high sliding channel, the rolling element can be provided with a large roller which ensures satisfactory running characteristics and low friction. The rolling element has much clearance in the channel so that the requirements regarding the manufacturing accuracy are relatively low.

- As a result of the steep front edge, decorative upright folds can be mounted without problems.

- The mounting channel for the ceiling mounting of the curtain rail serves at the same time as an attachment channel for the end pieces for the drawing means and guiding.

- The end pieces for the drawing means and guiding are symmetrical in construction which ensures an economical production.

-The curtain rail section can also be bent for certain applications.

- The slide channel is invisible from the room side which has a very advantageous effect from the optical point of view.

- The guide members are accommodated in a space-saving manner in the housings of the end pieces.

-The curtain device can be extended as a system, for example by fitting corner guides.

-The curtain cord can be introduced, in endless form, into the section.

- The draw cord is taken out of the reversal for the drawing means in two separate openings.

- Despite a larger volume of the curtain rail, this is not more material-intensive than the known rail mentioned in the introduction to the specification. It can be produced economically.

- Each end of the curtain rail can be used as a drawing or reversing end.

- As a result of the pin 30, the bearing block can be turned through 900 in the housing if it is used for the corner guides.

Claims

1. A curtain device with a curtain rail which comprises two cord channels and a slide channel, and at the ends of which there are disposed cord guide element, wherein a cord drawing means is provided which is guided in the cord channels, forms a closed loop and comprises at least one precursor, characterised in that the visible edge (9) of the curtain rail is extended downwards and is bent round at the free end (10) to form the slide passage (11), and that in the other edge of the curtain rail (1), an elongated slot (46) is hollowed out which is hidden by the visible edge (9) and in which the curtain slides (42, 50) can be engaged.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that, disposed at both ends of the curtain rail (1) are plastics end pieces (16, 17, 54) which serve both as an end return and as a reversal for the drawing means.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each end piece (16, 17, 54) comprises a housing (19) in which a guide member (23) is inserted and that this guide member (23) comprises one upper and two lateral guide rollers (27 and 28).

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the guide member (23) is provided with a bearing block (24) which comprises an upper and two lateral stub shafts (25 and 26) which are thickened at the ends and on which the rollers (27, 28) are pressed for free rotation.

5. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the housing (19) comprises, at the end and underneath, transverse slots (21, 22) for the introduction of the endless cord drawing means (13).

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the lower transverse slot (22) is divided into two component slots after the insertion of the bearing block (24).

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a precursor (31) is provided, which is intended as a connector and/or entrainment means and which has a body (32) on which a hollow cylinder (34) for the cord (1 3) is disposed and that the body (32) comprises three transverse bores (36) to receive attachment screws for locating the cord (13).

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that disposed on the body (32) of the precursor (31) are two laterally projecting wings (33) which bear against the wall of the slide channel (10).

9. A device as claimed in claims 7, characterised in that the hollow cylinder (34) is provided with an elongated slot (35) in which the endless cord can be introduced.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a sliding or rolling element (42, 50) comprises a sliding head or a rolling portions (43, 52) which is connected to an eye portion (44) through a projecting intermediate portion (45).

11. A device as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the length (L) of the sliding head (43) or the diameter (D) of the roller (52) is greater than the width (B) of the curtain-rail slot (46) in such a manner that a resilient expansion of the slot (46) and/or a resilient deformation of the element (42, 50) is necessary for the introduction of the sliding head or of the roller into the rail (1).

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that, disposed on the sliding or rolling element (42, 50) is a resilient lug (49) which is resiliently deformable when the head or the roller (43 or 52) is snapped into the rail (1).

13. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that both end pieces (16, 17) are alike in construction.

14. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that at least one of the end pieces is constructed in the form of a corner guide (54) to receive a lateral portion of curtain rail as wall termination.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the cord channels (5, 6) are disposed above the slide channel (11).

16. A device as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the housing (1 9) of the end pieces (1 6, 17, 54) is closed by a cover (38) which can be snapped on.

1 7. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the visible edge (9) is curved at the bottom.

18. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that disposed on the end pieces (16, 17) is at least one tongue (20) which is introduced with a wedging action into a mounting channel (3) of the curtain rail.

19. A curtain device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.