US2480360A - Window shade and curtain fixture - Google Patents

Description

Aug. so, 1949. c@ DOTY 2,480,360

WINDOW' SHADE AND CURTAIN FIXTURE Filed oct. 27, 1947 INVENTOR.

43 /42 CHESTER c. DOTY WA/1m ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 3, 1949 UNITED PATENT OFFICE 2,480,359 wIpNnow snnnn kAND CURTAIN-FIXTURE Chester fC- Doty, Dunkirk, N- Y. Application Qctoher 27, 194?, r` Serial No. '182,361 1i claims.. 01, einem 1 This invention relates generally to window fixtures of the type designed lto support roller shades, curtains and other draperies.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide `a xture of vthe character stated wherein lthe use of bolts and screws for securing together adjustably connected parts of the fixture, -is done away with, the said adjustably connected parts 'being joined in a novel interlocking manner whereby desired adjustments may be made easily and quickly and at the same time a strong, firm and durable construction is had. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide a window xture wherein a novel coupling is pro;- vided between a base plate which is permanently secured to the window frame and a forwardly *projecting arm, by means 'of which the Iarm ymay 'be removed and replaced easily and quickly withlout the employment of Asecuring'elements other then a irictional binding ymeans forming a Ipart of the supporting base plate.

Still another object of the invention is to v.provide in a window xture `o'f the character stated, a novel connecting support between ,the ends of a shade roller and adjacent forwardly extending lImS.

Still another object of the invention is :to pro.- vide in a wall fixture of the character stated, va novel pole support `and anovel means detachably coupling the pole support with `the 'forwardly extending wall attached arm.

A still further object of the invention is Ito provide -in a window xture of the character stated, an extensible wall .attached arm wherein Anovel means is employed for Isecuring the two relatively movable parts of said arm together after the desired adjustment has been made fier lengthening or shortening the karm, witholltthe employment-of screws or other securing devices,

Other objects andadvantagesof the invention will become apparent as the description lof the vsame proceeds and the invention twill be best understood from a consideration 'of the .following detailed description taken in connection with the specification, with the understandinghowever, that the ,invention is not' to be limited `to the exact details of construction shown'andide- 4Vscribed since obvious modifications will '139 i.

the accompanying drawing formi-ng Va part .of

directin than the I y nightly itstcpenii bottom edgesvbvcnd the YFigure 2 isa rviewsintransverse section through the bracket arm and .shade'roller support.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective .of thevfbasc plate.

Figure 4 is a view Vin perspective of the sta,- tionary arm part.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the inner lend .ofthe shiftable arm part. I.

Figure 6 Yisa view in elevation, Awithiparts ,blicken away, of the inner nr rear side oithe extensible curtain rod.

yFigure 7 is a view in .perspective of the lower part of .a drape sunpcrting saddle. Referring vnewimore particularly to the drawing the numeral l0 generally designates a window siixture or bracket 'constructed in accordance with the present invention which, in association with a similar bracket, forms a `C Ooplating pair lfor mounting upon the frame-of a window erdoor, :such framebeinggenerally designated l i.

'The bracket fixture Vlil A,cilrlfllirises the base plate t2 which is designed to b e secured vagainst the iaiceof 'the frame -H by screws It. This base plate :hasi'acentraliopening l4 and above and belowthis central opening are parallel openings li5 'formed by pressing `out a. portion of the metal, which ,pressed .cut portion of the metal is angled .t0 form a rguide i6. These guidesl have their :open sides .directed toward one vanother as 'shown for the reception of a portion of the hereinafter ,described bracket arm. Asshown the formation `or" fthe openings I4 and I5 provides adjacent to Veach guide, 2a relatively narrow Strip 0f material which is designated I1. Each of these strips l1 fare nutward'ly orjforwardly bowed to provide Va friction Spring `fcrithc'iiullillasc :hereinafter Stated- :fnetaehably ccnnectcd with the fixed Ol has@ mate iz is a forwardly .er-tendine erm unit which vfis 'generallyIdesig-nat ud .l 9. [This arm unit is made yup ofthe :two parts 2!) and A21. Both of these parts 29 `and 2li-are in the form of a relatively long straight-istrip .offmaterial the rari A2li! -Wlflliv Will be referred to as the stationary rari beine Slightly lwider than the part 2 1 which will be .referred to =as :the shifta'ble part.

The Stationary :eert 1.20 9i :the afm al 'Ofic @iid shas A4formed :integral therewith, the `foot plate 22 which .is of siiehtlvgreeier YWidth the vertical raft VVl0 S0 ihatit projects top vand rettori edges .of the 'stationair raft 2.0-

vipp@ :foot plate 2;2 is vadapted to be disposed the freni ,ieee ,0i .the xed plate l2. the ng -top d v1bottom portions :of the yfoot prgiec @ne beheerste engaged in ythe genes 16.

The vertical width of the stationary part 20 is substantially equal to the distance between the opposing edges of the guides I6 as shown and it will be readily apparent that when the foot plate 22 is in mounted position upon the plate I2, compressive force will be applied to the spring holders |'I whereby to tightly bind the foot plate in the guides to prevent accidental movement of the bracket arm.

At the opposite end of the stationary part 29 from the foot plate 22, the part 20 is bent to provide the inwardly directed flange 23. This ilange has formed therein the vertical slot 24V which is of the proper length to slidably receive the shiftable part 2| Adjacent to the flange 23 the stationary part 20 is provided in its top edge with the slot 25 which cooperates with correspondingly formed slots 26 cut into the top edge of the shiftable part 2|, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In order to hold the shiftable part 2| in any one of the several positions to which it may be adjusted with respect to the part 20, whereby a selected one of the slots 26 is maintained by the side of and in cooperative relation with the slot 25, the bottom edge of the shiftable part 2| is provided with the notches 2l which engage over the bottom edge of the slot 24. It will, of course, be understood that the slot 24 must be of a length slightly greater than the vertical width of the shiftable part 2| to permit such part to be lifted in order to disengage the notch 2l from the lower edge of the slot 24 when an adjustment of the two parts of the arm is called for.

The inner or back end of the shiftable part 2| of the arm is maintained against up and down movement, without hindering the longitudinal movement of the part 2| for the making of the several requined adjustments, by the provision of a slot 28 which is formed longitudinally in the stationary part 20 and which is enlarged at its inner end as indicated at 29, and a T-shaped head or key 39 which is formed at the inner end of and projects laterally from the side of the shiftable part 2I. This key 3U has the reduced neck portion 3| which engages in the guide slot 28 after the head of the key is passed through the enlarged open end 29 of the slot 28.

Positioned forwardly from the foot plate 22, the stationary part of the adjustable arm carries at its top and bottom edges, the upwardly and downwardly directed lugs 32. These lugs provide a means for detachably securing to the bracket arm an auxiliary bracket, which is generally designated 33, for connecting an end of a shade roller, to the bracket arm.

The auxiliary shade roller supporting bracket 33 is formed from a single strip of material which is bent transversely on two spaced parallel lines to form the divergent legs 34 connected by the straight intermediate portion 35 in which is formed an opening 36. This opening for one auxiliary bracket will be rectangular as shown to receive the squared gudgeon at one end of a curtain shade roller while the corresponding and cooperating auxiliary bracket will be provided with a circular opening for the round gudgeon at the other end of the shade roller. However, use may be made of two brackets having the rectangular opening here shown as the round gudgeon can rest in such an opening and function as eciently as in a circular opening.

The auxiliary bracket 33 is mounted upon the stationary part 2U by the extensible arm by' spreading the legs 34 so as to receive between them the oppositely positioned lugs 32 and each leg 34 adjacent to its free end is provided with an aperture 37 for the reception of a lug, in the manner illustrated.

For the support of curtains between a pair of the arms I9 use is made of the two-part extensible rod which is generally designated 38 and which comprises the two angle strips 39'and 4I) which are disposed in side by side relation. One of the strips, here shown as the strip 43, has at the opposite longitudinal edge from the right angularly extending flange 40', the inturned guide strip 4I in which the longitudinal edge of the other strip, here shown as the strip 39, slidably engages with the flange portion 39 of this other strip slidably engaged under the ilange portion 40. The remote ends of the strips 39 and 4D have the transversely directed slots 42 formed therein from the edges opposite the flanges. This curtain bar 38 performs the double function of providing a support for a curtain such, for example, as a lace curtain, and a connecting and bracing means between the outer ends of a pair of the arms I9. When disposed between a pair of the arms an end of the bar portion is inserted into two adjacent slots 25 and 26 and the slot 42 receives the lower halves of the arm parts 2U and 2|.

For the support of a curtain pole and/or draperies, at the outer ends of a pair of the extensible arms I9, there are provided two saddle units of tire character here illustrated and generally designated 43. Such saddle unit is preferably formed of a single strip of metal of suitable character by bending the strip intermediate it ends to form a tongue part 44 of an over-all length substantially equal to the vertical width of the shiftable arm part 2|. This tongue part comprises two thicknesses of the strip of material and is provided from its bottom edge with the vertical slot 45 which extends substantially half the height of the tongue.

The outer end of the extensible arm part 2| is provided with a relatively wide slot 46 from its top edge downwardly so that the upper part of the tongue 44 will be received in the slot 46 and the slot 45 will receive the lower half of the part 2| below the slot 46.

Above the tongue portion 44, the two sides are curved outwardly and upwardly as indicated at 41 and cooperate to form a substantially semicircular space in which may be received an end of a curtain pole. These two side portions 41 rcontinue into the second upwardliy and outwardly curving parts 48. Thus the coacting curved parts 4'I and 48 form a relatively deep and wide saddle in which may be laid one side of a window drape.

It will be readily seen that since the two portions of the tongue of the drape supporting saddle are in slightly convergent relation, when the tongue is inserted into the slot 46 such portions will be forced together and thus a tight frictional connection will be established between the saddle and the outer end of the arm portion or part 2|.

A further novel feature and advantage of applicants invention resides in the horizontal adjustability of the entire bracket in a direction transversely of the window frame, by reason of the novel connection between the base plate and the foot plate 22 of the bracket arm. By reason of this horizontal adjustable connection between the base plate and the bracket arm foot plate it will be seen that the job of mounting shade rollers u'remlove'd and reset.

4.present invention, -prcperlysetso that the shade ro'llelsn@ m9991615 escasas vis greatly facilitated.- :the fstandardftype :of shade roller-supporting bracket. where thexarm and 'the plate lwhich -is .secured tothe frame are in one .piece,it is necessary'to make-careful measurements so as 'ato get'lthe supporting. .brackets .properlylspaced apart fito rece-ivewthe :shade roller.

mounted therebetween with the roller gudgeons engaged in the, `openings 36 of the (auxiliary 'brackets y33, it is impossible for the shade roller to be accidently displaced ,as is the case in .connection with the use oi those mounting brackets whle'relone of the, 'brackets is provided with an open slot in which a roller gudgeon is positioned. With the last named vtype :of brackets the rapid .or Careless rolling up of ,the shade on the ,roller or the application of an upward force to 'the roller usually results in the roller jumping `out of the brackets .and ialling. n 4the present case this cannot occur since theygudgeons at the ends of Lthe roller are completely enclosed.

I -t will be readily apparent `that this enclosing of the gudgeons on the ends of the rollenisacr`complished easily and quickly by rst properly` separating 'the arms I' to permit the roller 'to be put into proper position and then moving the arms l together so as to introduce the gudgeons into the auxiliary bracket apertures.

A -construction of the type described is of particular advantage and constitutes a safety feature especially where used in a nursery or some other room where there are children who might play with the shade and cause it to fall.

While in the illustration of the invention only a single extensible curtain bar 38 has been illustrated it is to be understood that a plurality of such bars may be readily mounted between a pair of arms lll if desired. Where it may be desired to use more than one of the extensible bars 38, suitable space can be provided between the extensible bars by lengthening the arms Ill in the manner described.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention a novel shade and curtain fixture in which the parts may be readily stamped from suitable sheet metal and wherein connections and adjustments between the parts may be easily and quickly made without the use of screws, bolts or other securing elements of a similar nature. At the same time there is produced a fixture which is strong and rigid and which will support a considerable weight without bending, twisting or in any way breaking down.

I claim:

1. In a shade and curtain xture of the character described, a two-part extensible arm in which the parts are in juxtaposition, means for securing an end of one arm part to a fixed support, means coupling the parts to facilitate adjustable movement of the other arm part relative to the said one part for lengthening and shortening the arm, a curtain supporting rod, means for coupling an end of the rod with the itwe `arm parts, :said coupling .means-forming' a locking connection between the arm parts, yand "an auxiliary bracketsupported `onzthe sinner Aside or the said .one farm part and adapted to :support v an v'end Voir a shaderoller. Y

2. Afs'hade fandfcurtainxture :of :the character fstatedin claim 1, wherein the said means for coupling :an end of the .rod with the. .two varm parts, comprises a slot formed in the tcp vedge nf the said one arm part, a plurality of slots formed in thetop edge of the lsaid other .arm part, `'one' of said plurality :of slots; being positioned :at

the side gci the first slot, and `a slot formed fthe bottom edge of the said-end of the rod, the

'rodsslot being .engageable with the two adjacent :slots ci the arm parts.

:.A shade and curtain nature of the character :described in claimffl, in which the said auxiliary bracket iszconneetedrwith the top and bottom edges :of the :said one'arm part and projects lat.-

erally inwardly from `the vextensible arm.

e, @shade and curtain fixture ci the character described. comprising ra two-'part ,extensible arm "in which theparts :are in the form of relatively lens flat strips -cf material disposed in juxtaposi- 'tieameans for securing anfend `of une part vt :a fixed support. the Iother end-.ei the said che part having a laterally turned slotted ilange through which the other arm part is rslldablv eX- terlded. interlocking sliding connection between the-'inner end of the said ether armrest the said ene arm par-t wh febr the saidether Ygru-.1-fpart is elsif-.table thrQr-iah :the slotted ilaria-e with respect@ the said. enema :para Said sh' tablearmesart hav-ias a plural-href siV ts cut-vertically therein its te@ edge. the, saisi one arm part having a single slot cut vertically therein from its top edge adjacent to said flange, the shiftable arm part having notches in its lower edge engageable with the lower edge of the flange slot whereby any one of the slots formed in its top edge may be brought into side by side relation with the slot of the said one arm part, and an extensible two-part curtain rod in the form of a relatively long at strip of material having a vertical slot cut in its bottom edge adjacent to each end, the slot at an end of the rod being adapted for interlocking engagement with the said adjacent slots of the two arm part-s.

5. A shade and curtain fixture of the character described in claim 4, in which the said shiftable arm part has an additional slot cut vertically therein from the top edge and adjacent to its free end, and a drapery pole and drapery supporting unit having a slotted tongue designed for interlocking connection with the last mentioned slot of the said other arm for the support of the unit in vertical position at the outer end of said last named arm part.

6. In a shade and curtain fixture of the character described, a shade roller and curtain rod supporting arm, a foot plate at one end of and in a plane perpendicular to the arm, and mounting means for the arm comprising a base plate having a pair of spaced parallel outstruck guide anges, the base plate between the guide flanges having a central cut out area leaving between each guide ange and the area a relatively narrow strip of material paralleling the guide flange, the said narrow strip of material adjacent to each guide flange being outwardly bowed to form a spring member, and said foot plate having a vertical dimension to facilitate the slidable engagement of its top and bottom edges in said guides, the foot plate when slidably engaged in the guides having friotional contact with said outbowed strips.

7. A shade and curtain fixture of the character described, comprising a two-part extensible arm in which the parts are in the form of relatively long flat strips of material disposed in juxtaposition, means for securing an end of one arm part to a iixed support, means slidably coupling the arms together whereby the other arm part may be shifted longitudinally of the said one arm part for lengthening and shortening the arm, means for locking the shiftable arm part in an adjusted position on the said one arm part, a curtain rod, means for coupling an end of the curtain rod with the arm parts, a drapery supporting unit carried upon the outer end of the shiftable arm part, and a shade roller supporting bracket coupled to the top and bottom longitudinal edges of the said on'e arm part between the curtain supporting rod and the secured end of the said one arm part and extending inwardly from the arm.

8. In a shade and curtain fixture of the character stated, a relatively long arm, means for securing an end of said arm to a xed support, said arm including a long iiat strip of material, lugs integral with the top and bottom longitudinal edges of said strip of material and a shade roller supporting auxiliary bracket comprising a strip of at material having divergently related side arms and a short straight intermediate connecting portion, said connecting portion having an opening for the reception of a gudgeon of a shade roller, the free ends of the diverging arms of the auxiliary bracket having slots each designed to receive a lug whereby said auxiliary bracket eX- tends inwardly from the said xed arm with the said intermediate apertured portion in spaced parallel relation with the supporting arm.

9. In a shade and curtain xture of the character described, a relatively long arm member including a at long strip of material, means for securing one end of the arm member to a fixed support, said flat strip of material having a vertical slot formed therein from the top edge, and a drapery supporting unit in the form of an upwardly opening substantially U-shaped saddle, said saddle having a bottom tongue portion having a vertical slot therein from its lower edge, the tongue portion being insertable in the rst mentioned slot and the slot of the tongue portion receiving the lower part of the said at strip of material.

10. A shade and curtain fixture of the character stated in claim 9, wherein said drapery supporting unit has the tongue portion thereof formed as two connected upwardly diverging parts which are pressed together upon insertion into the rst mentioned slotl to establish a friction lock with the said strip of material.

CHESTER C. DOTY.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 736,467 Wiggins et al Aug. 18, 1903 919,703 Drish Apr. 27, 1909 947,240 Johnson Jan. 25, 1910 1,173,082 Ayers Feb. 22, 1916

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