US2554106A - Curtain accessory - Google Patents

Description

May 22, 1951 G. F. HEUBECK CURTAIN ACCESSORY INVENTOR GeoRef-1 E Hawai-:CK BYS/ TORNEY G. F. HEUBECK CURTAIN ACCESSORY May 22, 1951 Filed March 17, 1947 INVENTOR @50mila F HEUBECK BY f mm ZORNEY Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFCE CURTAIN ACCESSORY George F. Heubeck, Baltimore, Md.

Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,074

(Cl. 1GO-349) 4 Claims. 1 An accessory embodying the invention is particularly adapted for use with a bathtub shower curtain and it is so shown and described. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily so limited.

In the use of a bathtub shower curtain, water or spray from the shower ordinarily escapes, sometimes in considerable quantities, through the spaces between the edges of the curtain and the adjacent walls of the room. This is obviously objectionable and the principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive accessory or device which can be associated with the curtain and its supporting rod and which will serve to hold one edge of the curtain close to or against the adjacent wall s that Water cannot escape. Ordinarily two devices are used at the respective edges of the curtain.

An accessory or device incorporating the present invention includes a member adapted to be clamped to the curtain rod and also includes a bar extending downwardirom the said member and adapted to releasably hold the corresponding edge of the curtain. Preferably the device can be manually released from its clamping engagement with the curtain rod and can be moved along the rod carrying a portion of the curtain with it, thus opening the curtain for entrance or egress of the user.

In the drawings I have shown in detail three embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the constructions shown, and that the drawings are not to be construed as dening or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view showing a bathtub, a shower curtain, together with the supporting rod therefor, and an accessory or device incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an, enlarged front view of the device as shown in Fig. 2, together with a portion of the curtain, a portion of the supporting rod and a portion of the adjacent wall.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the device as shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the device-as shown in Fig. 3.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views similar respectively to Figs. 3., Ltand 5, but showing an alternative embodiment "of the'nvention.

Figs. 9, l0 and 1l are views similar respectively to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, but showing another alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, It) represents a bathtub which is shown as located in the corner of a room in contact with the vertical walls i2 and I4. Secured to the walls i2 and Il. is a horizontal L-shaped curtain supporting rod I6. The shower curtain is shown at i8, this being provided with a plurality of uniformly spaced hooks or rings 20, 2B which engage the rod I6.

The accessory or device to which the invention more particularly relates is indicated generally at 22. Two devices are provided near the respective ends of the rod' IB and adjacent the respective walls l2 and ifi. The two devices may be identical in construction, but they are mounted on the rod in relatively reversed positions.

As shown in detail in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, each device comprises a member 2li at the top which is engageable with and supported by the curtain rod l5. A means generally indicated at 26 is provided for clamping the member 24 on the rod to hold it in fixed relation thereto. Depending from the member 24 is a generally vertical bar 28 which is immediately adjacent the corresponding wall, as for instance the wall i4. The bar 28 is adapted to releasably engage an edge portion of the curtain to hold it against movement relatively to the bar. The resiliency of the bar is such that the curtain is thus firmly gripped and held throughout a substantial portion of the length of the bar.- The bar 28 is provided adjacent its lower end with means for more iirmly engaging the edge portion of the curtain. The last said means may be varied, but preferably and as shown, it comprises knurling 3l) on the bar, the said knurling tending to prevent any slippage of the curtain. The bar 28 is shown at the outer side of the curtain and the edge of the curtain extends outward between the bar and the wall. However, the bar may be at the inner side of the curtain and in that case the curtain would extend inward between the bar and the wall. While the bar 28 may be at the outer side of the curtain as shown, the clamping means is at the inner side of the curtain so as to be conveniently accessible.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each device 22 is preferably mounted between two of the curtain rings 2i?, 2Q. When the clamping means 25 is released lthe member 24, and in fact the entire devcamay be moved along the rod carrying the U edge portion of the curtain with it. This enables the curtain to be opened to permit convenient entrance or egress of the user.

While the bar 28 is generally vertical, as already stated, it is preferably provided with an offset 3| which serves to position the main portion of the bar directly below the center of the rod I6. The bar 28 is also preferably provided with an offset 32 which enables the upper portion thereof to readily clear a ledge 33 such as is commonly provided in tiled bathrooms. When the offset is provided, the upper portion of the bar readily clears the ledge, but the lower portion thereof is closely adjacent the main surface of the vertical wall so as to be adapted to engage the edge portion of the curtain as already stated. k

The device may be varied widely as to details, but preferably and as shown, the bar 28 .and the rod engaging member 24 are formed integrally. The upper portionof the bar is bent to form a loop 34 in whichA the rod E8 is received. From the lower end of the loop 34 there extends a generally longitudinal portion which joins a second-loop. 38 in which the rod li; is also received. Beyondthe loop 38 there is another longitudinally extending portion fifi. The longitudinally extending portions 36 `and 4G are shaped to provide upward opening recesses in Vwhich a portion of the clamping means is seated.

The-clamping. means, is ,shown yas vcomprising an element 2 havingtrunnions at the end which are seatedjn the recesses in the said longitudinal portions 36 and di). The element 42 has a threadedaperture therein through which extends a vertical screw M. The screw lil is shaped at its lower end to provide a handle 4@ by means of which it can be readily turned manually. Supported on the upper end of the screw d is a shoe 48 which is shaped to engage the bottom ofthe rod, I6. It will be understood that the screw.44 is rotatable relativelyto theshoe 58. It will be seen that when the screw 4 is turned by means` ofthe handle 46, the shoe 43 is pressed upward against the bottom of the rod i6 to effect clamping.

Preferably the top of the loop 34 which is nearer the wall is slightly lower than the top of the other loop 38. Thus when .theparts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3, the top of the loop 38 is out of engagementfwith the rod. When clamping pressure is applied the member 2Q Vis tilted in the counterclockwise direction, with the top of the loop 34. acting asa fulcrum. This tilting serves to more firmly press the lower end of the bar-28iagainst the curtain i8. The pivotal connection of the clamping means to the member 24 facilitates the tilting action.

With the curtain open the member `2l! is loosely supported on the rod I6. When it is desired to close the curtainv the device is moved toward its` adjacent wall until the bar 28 comes into position-forcontact with the'wall, the curtain being moved with the device. Ordinarily the edge portion of the curtain is automatically caught and held between the rod and the wall, and then the screw 44 is turned to lightly clamp the device in place on the rod. If the edge portion of the curtain is not fully engaged automatically, it may be manually adjusted so as tobe satisfactorily held. The knurling 3i! serves to provide additional resistance at the bottom to relative movement of the curtain. If more secure holdingY of the curtain is desirable after any necessary man-14 ua:aousmenwhaeofahis@erweisenfurther tightening the clamping device so as to tilt the member 24 as already described and press the lower end of the bar more rmly against the curtain. When the curtain is to be opened it is merely necessary to release the clamping means and to move the device away from the wall carrying the curtain with it.

The device as shown in Figs. 6 to 8 is in many respects similar in construction and in function to that shown in Figs. 3 to 5, and repetition 0f the detailed description is unnecessary. The parts 23, 3|, 32, 34 and 38 are or may be the same as the similarly numbered parts as shown in Figs. 3 to 5.

The lower portion of the bar 28 as shown in Figs. 6 to 8, in addition to being provided with a knurled end 30, is provided with a pin 52 which extends beyond the ring and is pointed to engage the curtain and more rmly hold it.

In lieu of the longitudinal portions 36 and di), as shown inFigs. 3 to 5, somewhat different longitiudinal portions 54 and 56 are provided which are shaped to provide semi-circular upward opening recesses. Seated in the recesses in the longitudinal portions 5d and 56 are centrally apertured. grooved discs Eiland G0. Postioned between the discs 58 and 6D is an element E2 which is shaped to fit the bottom of the rod i6 and which is provided with trunnions 64 and G6 extending through the apertures in the discs 58 and 59. The element t2'i`s eccentrically mounted with respect to its trunnions, as indicatedl in Fig. 6, and it carries a lever 'i6 by means of which it may be turned about the axis of the trunnions. Fig. 6 shows the lever lilvertical with the e1ement 52 in clamping engagement with the rod i6. When the lever l' is swung toward the left, the element E2 is rotated sufficiently to disengagethe bar I6, thus permitting free movement of the device along the rod.

It will be observed that Fig. 6 shows'the barv 28 at the inner side of the curtain instead of at the outer side thereof.

the curtain or at the outer side.

The device as shown in Figs. 9 to l1 is also in many respects similar in construction and in.

`be the same as .the similarly numbered parts as shown in Figs.Y 3 to 5.

The knurling 3i) at the lower end of the bar 28 may be provided with a pointed pin 52 similar in function to the pointed pin shown in Figs. 6 to 8. This serves to engage thecurtain and more firmly hold it.

In lieu of the longitudinal portions 3G and 49 as shown in Figs. 3 to 5, somewhat different longitudinal portions M and i6 are provided which are straight. Resting on the longitudinal portions 'M and To is an element i8 having a threaded aperture therein. A vertical screw 853 extends through the aperture in the element ".13 and carries at its upper end a shoe 82 shapedto engage the bottomy of the rod lil. It will .be understood that the screw SQ is rotatable relatively to the shoe B2. The screw Sil has .a knurled enlargement or.head 25. by which it may be manually turned. It will be seen that ..vhenthe I have described the device Vin connection with ashower curtain. for .whiclrf it is .particularly i As already stated, it isv optional whether the bar be at the inner side of l adapted. However, it will be understood that the device is not necessarily limited for use with a shower curtain and may be used with any curtain which is supported on a rod.

What I claim is:

1. A device for use in conjunction with a curtain, a horizontal supporting rod therefor and a vertical wall adjacent one end of the rod, the said device comprising in combination a member having a portion engageable with the top of the curtain rod adjacent the wall, a resilient bar rigidly connected with the curtain rod engaging member and extending downward therefrom, the said bar being adapted for engaging an edge portion of the curtain to press it against the wall and thus hold it against movement rela-- tively to the bar, and clamping means carried by the curtain rod engaging member and engageable with the bottom of the rod to hold the said member in fixed relation to the rod, the last said means tending to tilt the member downward about the said rod engaging portion and thereby tending to swing the downward extending bar toward the wall to more firmly engage the curtain.

2. A device for use in conjunction with a curtain, a horizontal supporting rod therefor and a vertical wall adjacent one end of the rod, the said device comprising in combination a member engageable with the curtain rod adjacent the wall, the said member having at the top two longitudinally spaced rod engaging portions with the portion nearer the wall lower than the other portion when the member is horizontal, a resilient bar rigidly connected with the curtain rod engaging member and extending downward therefrom, the said bar being adapted for engaging an edge portion of the curtain to press it against the wall and thus hold it against movement relatively to the bar, and clamping means carried by the curtain rod engaging member and engageable with the bottom of the rod to hold the said member in xed relation to the rod, the last said means tending to tilt the member downward about the rod engaging portion nearer the wall and thereby tending to swing the downward extending bar toward the wall to more rmly engage the curtain.

3. A device for use in conjunction with a curtain, a horizontal supporting rod therefor and a vertical wall adjacent one end of the rod, the said device comprising in combination a generally vertical bar adapted to be positioned closely adjacent the wall for releasably engaging an edge portion of the curtain to press it against the wall and thus hold it against movement relatively to the bar, the said bar having its top portion bent to form two integral curtain rod receiving loops spaced longitudinally of the rod with the loop nearer the wall lower than the other, and means connected with the said loops and adapted to engage the bottom of the rod to prevent longitudinal movement along theV rod and to tilt the bar about the lower loop so as t0 swing the lower end of the bar toward the wall.

4. A device for use in conjunction with a curtain and a horizontal supporting rod therefor, the said device comprising in combination a generally vertical bar serving to engage an edge portion of the curtain to hold it against movement relatively to the bar, the said bar having its top portion bent to form two integral curtain rod receiving loops spaced longitudinally of the rod with a longitudinal connecting portion between the loops and with a second longitudinal portion extending from the second loop toward the first loop, an element connected with the two said longitudinal portions and provided with a substantially vertical threaded aperture, a manually operable vertical screw extending through the threaded aperture in the said element, and a shoe at the top of the screw engageable with the bottom of the rod and serving when the screw is turned to clamp at least one of the loops in firm engagement with the rod to prevent longitudinal movement therealong.

GEORGE F. HEUBECK.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 562,966 Michelfelder June 30, 1896 2,092,426 Riddell Sept. 7 1937 2,188,163 Sherman Jan. 23, 1940 2,357,553 Schwinn Sept. 5, 1944 2,419,486 Dixon Apr. 22, 1947

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