GB2399001A

GB2399001A - Connector for curtain poles

Info

Publication number: GB2399001A
Application number: GB0305122A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daryl Ford
Original assignee: OLD FORGE Co
Current assignee: OLD FORGE Co
Priority date: 2003-03-06
Filing date: 2003-03-06
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-06
Also published as: WO2004078007A1; GB2399001B; GB0305122D0

Abstract

A connector 1 for use in a curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which curtains are suspended in use, for joining a pole section 2 to another pole section 3 or other item. The connector includes a flat longitudinally-slotted strip 10 which can be bent to permit angular adjustments to be made. The opposite ends of the strip have transition sections 11, 12 to abut the ends of two interconnected pole sections 2, 3 and which are of the same cross-sectional profile as the pole sections. Spigots 15, 16 may be provided for insertion into sockets at the end of the pole sections. The upper margin of the strip is substantially continuous with the upper surfaces of two interconnected pole sections, permitting the smooth passage of curtain rings or hooks between the sections.

Description

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239900 1 The Old Forge Company (Devon) Limited

CURTAIN POLES

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to curtain hanging systems of the kind which include curtain poles.

BACKGROUND

Curtain poles are currently very fashionable. The poles are normally secured to a wall or other surface by means of brackets, and the curtains are suspended by rings or hooks which travel along the poles. When the curtains are required to extend around a bay it is usually necessary to bend the poles. This is normally carried out off-site using special bending equipment, but the angles must be accurately measured to achieve a good fit. Although attempts have been made to facilitate the bending of poles on- site the results have not been very satisfactory either from the aesthetic or the functional point of view.

The are also circumstances when it is necessary to join two poles on a common axis, e.g. if the overall length of the poles is very long. In such cases it may also be an advantage to provide for small angular adjustment À Àee.

e e À À À À . . . À À . ..

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À e À À À e e e Àe À À P1117 between the pole sections if the wall is not perfectly straight for example.

In other circumstances it may be desirable to connect other items to a curtain pole in such a way that the item is angularly adjustable relative to the pole.

For example, a finial may be affixed at each end of the pole, out of axial alignment with the pole.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive curtain pole system which facilitates the connection of pole sections with other further pole sections or other items in an aesthetically acceptable manner, and which furthermore provides for angular adjustment if required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which curtains are suspended in use, in which the system incorporates a connector for joining a pole section to another pole section or other item and which includes a flat strip which can be bent to permit angular adjustments to be made.

In most cases the flat strip will be orientated substantially vertically. The strip preferably has an upper margin which is substantially continuous with the upper surfaces of two interconnected pole sections, permitting the smooth passage of curtain rings or hooks between the sections.

The flat strip preferably has a portion which includes one or more slots which extend substantially longitudinally of the strip. The slotted portion thus forms À A- À À . . .. . ..

. ÀÀ À À À - À À À À À À À À À À À. À À P1117 a slightly weaker area which ensures that the strip bends in the desired position. The slot or slots is/are preferably formed in a mid section of the strip which is disposed between two non-slotted sections.

The opposite ends of the strip may have transition sections to abut the ends of two interconnected pole sections and which are of the same crosssectional profile as the pole sections.

The connector may include spigots for insertion into sockets at the end of the pole sections or other interconnected items.

The strip is preferably formed of stainless steel, which tends to bend in a smooth curve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a curtain pole connector for a curtain hanging system in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of the connector.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The connector 1 which is shown in the drawings is intended for connecting two round tubular curtain pole sections 2 and 3. The poles and connector are preferably formed of stainless steel, although other materials may be used. The connector has a flat metal strip 10, the width of which is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the pole sections 2 and 3. The ends of the strip are joined to two cylindrical transition sections 1 1 and 12 of the same external diameter as the pole sections 2 and 3. The ends adjacent to the strip 10 are chamfered at 13 on opposite sides of the strip 10 while the opposite ends form shoulders 14 leading to respective cylindrical spigots 15 and 16 for reception in sockets formed by the open ends of the pole sections 2 and 3. The outer diameter of the spigots is slightly less than the inner diameter of the pole sections, and each spigot has a pair of spaced rubber O-rings 18 and 19 located in circumferential grooves to provide a friction at and ensure that the joints are arm.

The connectors may be used to join two pole sections in an aesthetically attractive manner. In addition, it is possible to bend the strip 10 in a direction perpendicular to its plane to make small angular corrections between the two pole sections or form a deliberate bend at an internal or external corner of a bay for example. Connectors may also be used to form French-style poles, where the ends of the pole curve back towards a wall. The use of stainless steel assists in forming a smooth curve using moderate manual effort.

However, it may be an advantage to provide one or more longitudinal slots in the mid section of the strip 10 to ensure that the bend forms symmetrically in the mid section rather than at one end of the strip. À . .

c e À e, t e ee ret- À Or a 1 e P1117 Although the foregoing description refers to tubular metal poles it will be appreciated that the connector could equally be used to connect solid poles formed of wood, resinimpregnated glass fibres, plastics etc., with suitable sockets attached to the ends of the poles. Also, other means of joining the connectors to the pole sections could be used. For example, the spigots 15 and 16 could be replaced by screw-threaded elements for insertion into the ends of wooden poles. Equally, the connectors could be used to attach another item such as a finial to a section of curtain pole. The finial can be provided with a socket to receive one of the spigots 15, 16. The connector strip could thus be bent through 180 to position the finial in front of curtains which are suspended from the pole.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

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Claims

1. A curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which curtains are suspended in use, in which the system incorporates a connector for joining a pole section to another pole section or other item and which includes a flat strip which can be bent to permit angular adjustments to be made.

2. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 1, in which the flat strip is orientated substantially vertically.

3. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 2, in which the flat strip has an upper margin which is substantially continuous with the upper surfaces of two interconnected pole sections.

4. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the flat strip has a portion which includes one or more slots which extend substantially longitudinally of the strip.

5. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 4 in which the slot or slots is/are formed in a mid section of the strip which is disposed between two non-slotted sections.

6. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which opposite ends of the strip have transition sections to abut the ends of two interconnected pole sections and which are of the same crosssectional profile as the pole sections. P1117

7. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the connector includes a pair of spigots which can each be inserted into a socket at the end of the pole section or other item.

8. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 7, in which the spigots are provided with friction elements for retaining the spigots in the respective sockets.

9. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the flat strip is formed of stainless steel.

10. A curtain hanging system which incorporates a connector substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

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