EP0722686A1 - Suspension assembly for curtains and the like - Google Patents

Suspension assembly for curtains and the like Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0722686A1
EP0722686A1 EP96200149A EP96200149A EP0722686A1 EP 0722686 A1 EP0722686 A1 EP 0722686A1 EP 96200149 A EP96200149 A EP 96200149A EP 96200149 A EP96200149 A EP 96200149A EP 0722686 A1 EP0722686 A1 EP 0722686A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rail
suspension element
suspension
slot
assembly according
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP96200149A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jozeph M.L. Vaessen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Thomas Regout International BV
Original Assignee
Thomas Regout BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Thomas Regout BV filed Critical Thomas Regout BV
Publication of EP0722686A1 publication Critical patent/EP0722686A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H15/00—Runners or gliders for supporting curtains on rails or rods
    • A47H15/04—Gliders

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an assembly of a curtain rail and a number of curtain suspension elements, wherein the rail defines a slot and the suspension elements are each in a first position in the slot suspended from the rail and are displaceable in the longitudinal direction thereof.
  • Such an assembly is known from practice and is supplied by the firm of Thomas Regout B.V. at Maastricht, the Netherlands.
  • the known assembly comprises a rail and a series of suspension elements to be referred to as runners, from which inter alia a curtain can be suspended by means of hooks.
  • the rail has bearing edges on both sides of the slot.
  • the runners comprise bearing means such as projections or wheels borne in the rail on the bearing edges, with the runners extending at least partly through the slot.
  • the runners can be slid into the rail from an open end, whereupon the curtain can be suspended.
  • the rail is closed at both ends by means of a cap and/or the rail is fittingly mounted between two walls or the like.
  • This known assembly entails the drawback that the runners can be removed from the rail again only via an open end. Hence, if one of the runners no longer functions properly, for instance because of wear or breakage, or if a runner is positioned wrongly or fitted redundantly, all other runners located on one side of the relevant runner should be removed from the rail before the relevant runner can be removed and, if necessary, replaced. The same applies if a curtain is replaced by a curtain having fewer hooks. In most cases, this moreover means that before the runners can be removed, the entire rail should be detached so as to release at least one of the ends of the rail. This means that with the known assembly, replacement or removal of a runner is time-consuming and therefore costly, and that it moreover involves the risk of damage to the surroundings and to the assembly.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an assembly of the type described in the opening paragraph, wherein the drawbacks mentioned are avoided.
  • an assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 1.
  • each suspension element can be brought into two different positions, and the suspension element can in the second position be removed from the rail via the slot, while the suspension element is in the first position borne by the rail. Because the suspension element can be removed from the rail via the slot, a suspension element can for instance be removed in a central part of the rail without requiring that other suspension elements on both sides thereof should first be removed, if any, and/or that the suspension element should first be slid to an end of the rail which is to be released. Consequently, the removal of the suspension element can be carried out quickly and without damages.
  • an assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 2.
  • each suspension element is placeable in the rail independently of the position thereof relative to the rail and/or other suspension elements, if any, an adjustment of the number of suspension elements or replacement thereof can be carried out in a particularly simple and safe manner.
  • an assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 3.
  • the suspension element is brought from the first into the second position and vice versa through rotation.
  • the axis of rotation is substantially at right angles to the direction of displacement, as a result of which the change of position can be realized in a simple manner. If the axis of rotation is moreover approximately at right angles to the plane of the slot, the forces exerted on the rail during rotating are readily taken up by the rail, and during normal use, i.e. when a curtain is being slid open or to, each suspension element will always stay in the first position.
  • an assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claims 4 and 5.
  • the suspension element in the first position hangs in the rail on both sides of the slot by the parts of the bearing part which extend outside the body part. Because neither in the first position, nor in the second position, the body part is wider than the slot, it is in both positions clear of the edges of the slot. This renders the suspension element slidable in the slot in both positions. As the bearing part in the second position has a smaller width than the slot, the bearing part in the second position of the suspension element can be moved through the slot, permitting the suspension element to be placed into and taken out of the rail.
  • the rail clamps the suspension element in the third position. Consequently, in order to rotate the suspension element into and beyond that third position, a relatively great force is required, greater than the force required for displacing the suspension element.
  • the suspension element is in an optimum manner prevented from moving unintentionally from the first into the second position and vice versa.
  • the assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claims 7, 8 and 9.
  • the curled longitudinal edges of the U-shaped rail section have the advantage of increasing the stiffness of the rail. Because the suspension elements, and in particular the wing parts, are substantially undeformable and hence always retain the same form both during placing and during normal use, a relatively great load of the suspension elements is possible. Moreover, the operative position of the suspension elements is unequivocally defined, in particular by the spherical bearing projections which are received within the troughed, curled longitudinal edges. This renders rotation of the suspension element from the first position in the direction of the second position even more difficult. As the bearing projections are slightly spherical, the suspension element can swing slightly within the slot, about an axis extending transversely to the direction of displacement. Consequently, when a curtain suspended therefrom is slid open and to, the power transmission to the suspension element is favorable, so that the assembly can be operated smoothly.
  • the rail is preferably manufactured by extrusion, in particular from aluminum, because this at least yields good running properties with a dimensionally stable rail which can be bent in a relatively simple manner.
  • the suspension element is preferably manufactured from plastic, through injection molding. Such a suspension element is, inter alia, particularly simple and cheap in production, is dimensionally stable, provides a good freedom of design, and has excellent operating characteristics.
  • the assembly according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 14.
  • a detent element comprising a hook
  • sew-in hooks are hung in an eye of the suspension element
  • a strip is sewn in a pleat of the curtain to be hung.
  • Such a sew-in hook is for instance known from Dutch laid-open application 75.07991. Consequently, when such a known sew-in hook is used for hanging curtains, apart from the suspension element at least two additional components are in each case required, viz. the strip and the detent element. This involves extra costs, both for material and in the production, fixing, and maintenance.
  • the number of components is reduced by at least one, and possibly even two, so that the above-mentioned drawbacks of the known sew-in hooks are avoided.
  • this assembly is characterized by the features of claim 15.
  • suspension element and the strip form one integrated component.
  • this assembly is characterized by the features of claims 16 and 17.
  • the suspension height of the curtain is adjustable at each point of suspension.
  • the strip preferably remains removable from the suspension element, allowing a curtain having strips that are sewn in or attached otherwise to be cleaned, or treated otherwise, separately from the suspension elements.
  • a mechanical processing of the strips during the production of the curtains can be realized in a particularly simple manner.
  • the invention moreover relates to a suspension element for use with an assembly according to the invention.
  • Fig. 1 shows in bottom view a portion of a rail 1 containing a series of suspension elements 2.
  • the rail 1 has a substantially U-shaped section, defined by a base body 3 and two legs 4.
  • the free longitudinal edges 5 of the legs 4 are flanged over inwards and form troughed bearing edges 7 on both sides of the slot 6.
  • the free longitudinal edges 5 are rounded.
  • the rail 1 may also have differently shaped bearing edges.
  • the rail 1 is mounted in the position shown in Fig. 2, so that the slot 6 is located at the lower end.
  • the suspension element 2 is shown in its operative position, to be referred to as the first position.
  • a vertical position of the suspension elements is started from. Accordingly, the thickness of the suspension elements is defined as lying in the longitudinal direction of the rail 1, the height as lying in the vertical direction and the width as lying horizontally, transversely to the direction of displacement V.
  • Each suspension element 2 shown in more detail in Fig. 3, consists of a body part 8, a bearing part 9 connected thereto at the top end, and a bearing eye 10 connected to the body part 8 at the bottom end thereof.
  • the body part 8 has an approximately square section, having a thickness and width A slightly smaller than the width B of the slot 6.
  • the diagonal dimension C is slightly greater than the width B of the slot 6.
  • the bearing part 9 comprises a wing part 11 extending outside the body part 8.
  • each wing part 11 comprises a bearing projection 12 which extends in the direction of the bearing eye 10 and has such dimensions that the two bearing projections 12 can simultaneously be received in the troughed bearing edges 7.
  • Each bearing projection 12 has a surface 13 which is slightly spherical in at least two directions, and connects to the body part 8 via a concave part 14.
  • the width of the bearing part 9 is slightly less than the intermediate distance of the legs 4, while the thickness of the bearing part 9 substantially corresponds to the thickness of the body part 8.
  • the top face 19 of the bearing part 9 is substantially concave and the height of the bearing part 9 is at least slightly less than the distance between the free longi-tudinal edge 5 and the base body 3.
  • the bearing eye 10 consists of a base plate 15 which abuts against the body part 8 and has at least a width approximately corresponding to the width of the bearing part 9.
  • the base plate 15 preferably extends outside the body part 8 on all sides. Included between each bearing projection 12 and the base plate 15 is a space 20 into which the bearing edge 7 can be slid with clearance. Viewed in side elevation (Fig. 3), the base body 15 has a surface 21 having a flat center part 22 and two downwardly bevelled longitudinal edges 23. Accordingly, the intermediate distance between the projections 12 and the base body 15 is minimal at the center and maximal ajacent the outer sides. As a matter of fact, this surface can of course also be bent or have more facet faces, or be flat.
  • two parallel extending sidewalls 16 are provided, connected at the bottom side by a cross bar 17.
  • the intermediate distance between the sidewalls 16 is in the order of magnitude of the thickness A of the body part 8, the height of the sidewalls is preferably greater.
  • the opening 18 is of such dimensions that a curtain hook can be readily attached thereto in the usual manner.
  • the sidewalls 16 of the bearing eye 10 are provided at one side of the center of the body part 8 and the base plate 15 and taper off slightly to the bottom.
  • the sidewalls 16 include an angle with the vertical plane in such a manner that the cross bar 17 is located approximately right below one of the projections 12.
  • An assembly according to the invention can be used as follows.
  • a rail 1 is fastened to for instance a ceiling by means of suspension brackets, and the ends can for instance abut against sidewalls or casings.
  • the rail can be straight as well as bent.
  • a suspension element 2 is gripped by the bearing eye 10 and inserted with the bearing part 9 into the slot 6.
  • the suspension element is held in the second position II, as shown in Fig. 1, the right-most position.
  • the suspension element is moved upwards far enough for the bearing projections 12 to be located above the free longitudinal edges 5, with the base plate 15 approximately abutting against the rail 1.
  • the suspension element is rotated about a vertical axis, towards a central position, as shown in Fig. 1, middle position.
  • the suspension element In this central position, the suspension element is slightly clamped in the slot 6, the body part 8 being slightly compressed or at least elastically deformed.
  • the suspension element 2 is further rotated into the first position I, rotated approximately 90° relative to the second position II.
  • the first position I shown in Fig. 1 as the leftmost position, the bearing projections 12 are received in the bearing edges 7 and the suspension element drops slightly.
  • the bearing projections 12 are received in the bearing edges 7, unintended rotation of the suspension elements 2 is prevented.
  • the diagonal dimension C prevents rotation beyond the central position, so that the suspension element 2 cannot accidentally come off the rail 1.
  • a curtain can be suspended from the bearing eye 10 in the usual manner.
  • the curtain can be slid open and to by sliding the suspension elements.
  • the suspension element 2 tilts about the bearing projections maximally until one longitudinal edge 23 of the base plate 15 abuts against the rail. Because the suspension element can tilt, an ideal force transmission is obtained, as a result of which the suspension elements keep sliding smoothly and, moreover, less wear occurs.
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross section of a suspension assembly according to the invention, wherein the suspension element 102 is integrated with a generally known sew-in strip 130.
  • the suspension element 102 which as far as the bearing part 109 is concerned substantially corresponds to the embodiment shown and described hereinabove, comprises a detent element 131 fixedly connected thereto, instead of the bearing eye 10.
  • the detent element 131 comprises two wall parts 132 which extend parallel to each other and at right angles to the base plate 115 and which are connected to the base plate 115 via a connecting wall 135 and a corner plate 136. From each wall part 132, at least one resilient finger 133 extends in the direction of the opposite wall part 132 and inclined in the direction of the bearing part 109.
  • the sew-in strip 130 is fittingly slidably included.
  • the sew-in strip 130 is provided with a series of recesses 134 located one above the other, into which the fingers 133 can slip. Accordingly, the sew-in strip 130 is slidable in upward direction only (i.e. in the direction of the base plate 115) and is in opposite direction borne by the fingers 133 between the wall parts 132.
  • Fig. 4 The embodiment according to Fig. 4 can be used as follows.
  • the sew-in strip 130 which may or may not be included in the detent element 131, is sewn in a pleat of a curtain. Then, the bearing part 109 is fitted into a rail 1 in the manner described hereinabove. After that, the height of the curtain above for instance a floor surface is set through displacement of the sew-in strip 130 relative to the detent element 131.
  • the sew-in strip 130 and the detent element 131 can be designed in any desired and suitabe, mating form. Moreover, the sew-in strip can be replaced by a different connecting element. Further, the sew-in strip or a like connecting element can be fixedly connected to the bearing part 109.
  • the advantage of this embodiment is that the curtain is connected to the suspension element 102 in an unequivocal manner and that no separate intermediate parts are required, as is conventional with the known sew-in hooks.
  • a suspension element 2 can be removed by reversing the above-described positioning steps, or a suspension element can be added in the above-described manner. Because the suspension elements are removable and placeable via the slot, the other suspension elements need not be removed from the rail, so that the adjustment of the number of suspension elements takes only little time. As a matter of fact, the suspension elements can of course also be removed or inserted in the conventional manner via a free and open end of the rail. For such a manner of placing, a series of suspension elements 2 may be interconnected, at the side located adjacent the cross bar 17, by a connecting strip which can be broken off. This allows the series to be fitted at once, whereupon the strip is withdrawn and the suspension elements can be moved freely and independently of one another.
  • suspension element As the suspension element is in the first position I supportingly suspended in the rail and can in the second position II be placed and removed without involving a change of the shape of the suspension element, it is possible to use an element which is particularly simple in production and use. After all, neither the suspension element nor the rail needs to comprise moving parts. This moreover yields the advantage that the suspension element is robust and no fatigue of moving parts occurs, for instance in the case of changing loads.
  • the suspension element can be manufactured in one piece from plastic in a cheap manner.
  • Such a suspension element has optimum sliding properties, the more so because the bearing projections provide a small contact surface.
  • the rail is preferably manufactured through extrusion from aluminum, but may also be manufactured from steel or plastic, for instance from strip steel, and may moreover be manufactured in a different manner, for instance through welding or folding.
  • As the cross bar 17 of the bearing eye 10 is offset relative to the center of the suspension element, a so-called projecting bearing eye 10 is obtained. This has the advantage that the curtain can be suspended substantially in front of the front side of the rail, so that a better finish is obtained.
  • wheels may be provided having a diameter not larger than the width of the slot. It is true that this in principle increases the cost price of the suspension elements, but when the occasion arises, the running properties of the suspension elements are improved, in particular with relatively heavy curtains.
  • the bearing projections and/or the base plate may be formed differently and the body part may have a different section, for instance round. Accordingly, the clamping action in the central position is lost, but damage upon repeated insertion and removal is prevented in an efficient manner.
  • the rail may have a section other than U-shaped. Moroever, the bearing eye may be formed and/or positioned differently.
  • the bearing eye may extend approximately horizontally in such a manner that the cross bar extends next to the rail, or the cross bar may extend practically in the slot or within the rail.
  • a suspension hook may be fitted in the body part, from which a curtain with a pleat can be suspended directly.

Landscapes

  • Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
EP96200149A 1995-01-23 1996-01-22 Suspension assembly for curtains and the like Withdrawn EP0722686A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9500119 1995-01-23
NL9500119A NL9500119A (nl) 1995-01-23 1995-01-23 Ophangsamenstel voor gordijnen en dergelijke.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0722686A1 true EP0722686A1 (en) 1996-07-24

Family

ID=19865482

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96200149A Withdrawn EP0722686A1 (en) 1995-01-23 1996-01-22 Suspension assembly for curtains and the like

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0722686A1 (nl)
NL (1) NL9500119A (nl)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202011000065U1 (de) 2011-01-12 2012-04-17 Nodeko Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Aufhängen einer Gardine oder dergleichen
CN102646365A (zh) * 2012-04-19 2012-08-22 长沙理工大学 一种用几何图形表示书籍页码的方法
DE102011001014A1 (de) 2011-03-02 2012-09-06 Nodeko Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Aufhängen von Gardinen, insbesondere Schlaufengardinen

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5170531A (en) * 1990-03-12 1992-12-15 Hang-Well Corporation Carrier for a baton traversing drapery system
CH681852A5 (en) * 1991-01-22 1993-06-15 Erwin Flury One piece curtain fitment for slide rail of C-shaped cross-section - has head fitting into slide-rail which has lengthwise slot with side walls and slot flanges
CH681953A5 (en) * 1990-09-20 1993-06-30 Heinrich Stauffacher Curtain runner with shackle shaped fastening with pin
NL9200489A (nl) * 1992-03-16 1993-10-18 Bosgoed Groothandel B V Gordijnophangstelsel, herinpasbaar gordijnophangorgaan, rail geschikt voor het stelsel en werkwijze voor het buigen van de rail.
EP0619971A1 (en) * 1993-03-24 1994-10-19 Forest Group Nederland B.V. Curtain rail glider

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5170531A (en) * 1990-03-12 1992-12-15 Hang-Well Corporation Carrier for a baton traversing drapery system
CH681953A5 (en) * 1990-09-20 1993-06-30 Heinrich Stauffacher Curtain runner with shackle shaped fastening with pin
CH681852A5 (en) * 1991-01-22 1993-06-15 Erwin Flury One piece curtain fitment for slide rail of C-shaped cross-section - has head fitting into slide-rail which has lengthwise slot with side walls and slot flanges
NL9200489A (nl) * 1992-03-16 1993-10-18 Bosgoed Groothandel B V Gordijnophangstelsel, herinpasbaar gordijnophangorgaan, rail geschikt voor het stelsel en werkwijze voor het buigen van de rail.
EP0619971A1 (en) * 1993-03-24 1994-10-19 Forest Group Nederland B.V. Curtain rail glider

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202011000065U1 (de) 2011-01-12 2012-04-17 Nodeko Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Aufhängen einer Gardine oder dergleichen
EP2476351A2 (de) 2011-01-12 2012-07-18 Nodeko GmbH Vorrichtung zum Aufhängen einer Gardine oder dergleichen
DE102011001014A1 (de) 2011-03-02 2012-09-06 Nodeko Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Aufhängen von Gardinen, insbesondere Schlaufengardinen
CN102646365A (zh) * 2012-04-19 2012-08-22 长沙理工大学 一种用几何图形表示书籍页码的方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL9500119A (nl) 1996-09-02

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