US3218017A

US3218017A - Curtain rod bracket

Info

Publication number: US3218017A
Application number: US310036A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Butler
Original assignee: Kenney Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Kenney Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1963-09-19
Filing date: 1963-09-19
Publication date: 1965-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-16

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 H. E. BUTLER CURTAIN ROD BRACKET Filed Sept. 19, 1963 Div INVENTOR. HAROLD E. BUTLER ATTORNEYS United States Patent "ice 3,218,017 CURTAIN ROD BRACKET Harold E. Butler, Levittowu, Pa., assiguor to Keuney Manufacturing Company, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 310,036 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-263) The invention relates to a bracket for supporting a flanged rod, such as a curtain rod.

Curtain rod brackets presently available support a single size of curtain rod. Thus, a stock of brackets for each size of curtain rod must be manufactured and maintained. Also, present brackets require independent attachment to the supporting surface, such as the head casing of a window or a wall surface, even though often they are positioned adjacent another bracket, such as a traverse rod bracket. The independent attachment required for each bracket doubles the damage done to the supporting surface by the fasteners. A further desirable interchangeable feature is provided by some brackets presently available; that is, a single bracket may be used to support either the right or the left end of a curtain rod.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a bracket which will support more than just a single size of curtain rod, and which may be attached to the supporting surface by the same fasteners attaching an adjacent bracket, and which is also interchangeable.

The bracket of the present invention comprises a generally rectangular base plate, and an outwardly projecting prong formed at one side edge of the base plate. The prong includes a hook projecting upwardly from the top edge of the prong. The base plate includes at least one slot in the side edge opposite the prong, the slot extending inwardly from the side edge. The base plate also includes spaced openings through it positioned between the top and bottom edges receiving the fasteners for attaching it to a supporting surface. Preferably the bracket includes two prongs both formed at the same side edge of the base plate, the prongs being spaced apart from one another and the hook on each prong extending away from the other prong. Preferably the bracket also includes at least two slots extending from the side edge opposite the prongs towards the prongs, the slots being spaced at distance corresponding to the standard spacing of fasteners for another bracket.

A preferred embodiment of the bracket will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the bracket of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of a portion of a curtain rod and traverse rod attached by brackets to a supporting surface, and

FIGURE 3 is a view in perspective of the bracket of the present invention underlying a curtain rod bracket.

The bracket of the present invention includes a generally rectangular base plate 12 and two

prongs

14 and 16 formed at one side edge of the base plate and spaced from one another, the prongs projecting outwardly from the plane of the base plate. Preferably, the base plate and prongs are stamped from a single sheet of metal, although the bracket may be formed of other materials or by other methods if so desired. Each prong includes a hook 18 projecting in a direction away from the other prong, the hook being formed at the outer side edge of the prong. The illustrated construction of the prong is generally similar to the construction of the prong set forth in William C. Kenney United States Patent No. 2,162,674 issued June 13, 1939.

Three slots 20 are provided at the side edge of the base plate opposite the prongs, the slots extending towards the prongs. Adjacent slots are spaced a distance correspond- 3,218,017 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 ing to the standard spacing of the two fasteners attaching a small curtain rod or traverse bracket to a supporting surface, as shown in FIG. 3, while the outer two slots are spaced a distance corresponding to the standard spacing of the two fasteners attaching a large curtain rod or traverse rod bracket to a supporting surface, as shown in FIG. 2. Each slot diverges outwardly adjacent the side edge of the base plate to provide a mouth for guiding the body of a fastener into the slot. Two openings 22 are provided through the body of the base plate between its top and bottom edges for receiving fasteners, such as screws, to independently attach the bracket to a supporting surface when desired.

Each prong 14 is shaped to receive and support the end portion of a small curtain rod, the hook 18 extending through an aperture adjacent end portion of the curtain rod, as shown in FIGURE 2, and holding the curtain rod in a horizontal, outwardly projecting position. Because the hooks of the prongs extend away from one another, the bracket is interchangeable and will support the left end of a curtain rod when positioned as illustrated, or the right end of a curtain rod when turned in the plane of the base plate While the base plate is illustrated in FIGURE 1 as extending inwardly in the same direction as the body of the curtain rod, the bracket may be turned so that the base plate extends outwardly and still supports the curtain rod, thereby providing an additional advantage in that it may be attached to the supporting surface by the fasteners attaching a bracket either inwardly or outwardly of the desired position of the curtain rod. The two prongs 14 and 16 are spaced from one another a distance such that the prongs together will receive and support the end of a large curtain rod, the bottom portion of the curtain rod slipping under and bearing against the bottom hook 18. Thus, not only is the bracket interchangeable but it will support either a small or a large size curtain rod if desired.

The bracket 10 is illustrated in FIGURE 2 as being supported by the fasteners 24 attaching a traverse rod,

bracket 26 to a supporting surface 28, illustrated as the head lintel of a window. The base plate of the bracket extends under the base of the traverse rod bracket, the outer two slots 20 in the bracket 10 receiving and extending about the body of fasteners 24. The fasteners force the base of the traverse rod bracket against the surface of the base plate, holding it to the wall and thereby also supporting it. If desired, as when a curtain rod carrying a heavy curtain is to be supported by the bracket 10, an additional fastener extending through one of openings 22 in the base plate may be employed to support the bracket. However, ordinarily this is not necessary. Should the bracket be used alone, then it may be fastened to a supporting surface by fasteners, such as screws, extending through openings 22 in the base plate, and through slots 20 if desired.

The bracket is illustrated in FIGURE 3 in conjunction with a small curtain rod bracket 30, such as is illustrated in the Kenney patent supra, the bracket being supported by the fasteners attaching the small curtain rod bracket to the supporting surface.

Thus, the bracket of the present invention will support either end of either a small or a large size curtain rod, or a similar flanged rod. It may be used in conjunction with an adjacent bracket, and attached to the supporting surface by the fasteners of the adjacent bracket, or it may be attached to the supporting surface by its own fasteners. Accordingly, the bracket of the present invention materially reduces manufacturing and inventory expenses, since only it need be manufactured and stocked.

While a preferred embodiment of the bracket of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various modifications within the skill of the art may be made in the details of the bracket without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim: a

1. A bracket for supporting a flanged rod comprising a generally rectangular base plate, two outwardly projecting prongs integral with one side edge of the base plate and spaced from one another, each prong including a hook at its outer side edge projecting away from the other prong, the base plate including a plurality of inwardly extending slots formed in the side edge opposite said one side edge for receiving the body portion of fasteners attaching the bracket to a supporting surface whereby a second bracket may be mounted by said fasteners over said base plate.

2. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 including openings through the base plate between the top and bottom edges of the base plate for receiving the body of the fasteners attaching the base'plate to a supporting surface.

3. A bracket as set forth in claim 1 in which there are three of said slots, adjacent slots being spaced from one another at a distance corresponding standard spacing of fasteners attaching a small curtain rod bracket to a supporting surface, the outer two slots being spaced a distance corresponding to the standard spacing of fasten- &

ers attaching a large traverse rod bracket to a supporting surface.

4. A bracket as set forth in claim 3 formed of a single sheet of metal, the prongs extending outwardly at substantially right angles to the plane of the base plate, the base plate including two openings extending through it and spaced between the top and bottom edges of the base for receiving the body of fasteners attaching the base plate to a supporting surface.

References (Zited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,480,800 1/1924 Wait 248262 1,490,824 4/1924 Hauser 248262 1,574,632 2/1926 Moller 248-262 1,621,243 3/1927 Eagan 248-262 1,713,531 5/1929 Henry 248-262 1,799,802 4/ 1931 Marczukowski 248-263 1,953,450 4/1934 Thompson 248-263 2,783,014 2/1957 Kenney 248263 2,809,798 10/1957 Kenney 24S-263 3,090,588 5/1963 Monette 248216 CLAUDE A. LE ROY Primary Examiner.