EP4252596A1

EP4252596A1 - A tool and a method for inserting curtain gliders arranged sequentially on a string into a track of a curtain rail

Info

Publication number: EP4252596A1
Application number: EP22164714.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Bjerre Bjørklund
Original assignee: Stilling AS
Current assignee: Stilling AS
Priority date: 2022-03-28
Filing date: 2022-03-28
Publication date: 2023-10-04
Also published as: WO2023186780A1

Abstract

A tool and a method is provided for inserting curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) having a head part (13,13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f) and an opposite eyelet (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f) and being arranged sequentially on a string (12) into a track (86) of a curtain rail (85). A glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57) has a circumferential wall (2;67) that delimits a guideway (3;60) for the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) on the string (12), a slanted inlet section (4;50;61) has a slanted inlet opening (5;55a), an outlet section (6;16;54;59), and an axially extending first slot (8) that extends along at the outlet section (6;16;54;59), in which axially extending first slot (8) the eyelets (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f) of the curtain gliders can slide.

Description

The present invention relates to a tool configured for inserting curtain gliders that are arranged sequentially on a string into a track of a curtain rail, wherein the curtain gliders are of the kind having a head part inserted into the track and an opposite exposed eyelet for attachment of curtain hooks.
US patent no. 4,282,630 discloses a stiff molded plastic curtain glider unit, wherein the curtain gliders are interconnected with one another by means of a stiff plastic tear strip integrally molded to the curtain gliders when the curtain gliders are formed. Instead of requiring each curtain glider to be individually placed into the track of a curtain rail it is only necessary to push a coherent unit of curtain gliders into the track of a curtain rail and then remove the interconnections between the curtain gliders.
European patent application no. 1116565 A1 also relates to a curtain glider strip provided with a number of aligned curtain gliders connected with each other by means of a strip.
European patent application no. 3434156 A1 discloses a similar unit having curtain gliders detachable arranged in a row one behind the other in a carrier running on the underside of the glider eyelets.
The known units and devices are stiff and self-supported to enable the curtain gliders to be pushed into the track of a curtain rail. The carrier or strip connects the eyelets and hinders the attachment of curtain hooks to the curtain gliders. Furthermore, the stiffness of the strip or carrier of these curtain glider units prevents a suspended curtain from folding or pleating. So it is essential that the carrier or strip is removed after the curtain gliders have been inserted into the track of the curtain rail so that each curtain glider eyelets are set free for hooking and the curtain can fold. A substantial pulling force is however needed to achieve the detachment. A further disadvantage is that the pulling action unintentionally may pull one or more of the curtain gliders out of the curtain track. Yet a disadvantage is that the pulling action may deform any of the strip, carrier or curtain gliders so that the track of the curtain rail becomes blocked or the curtain gliders cannot be detached the strip.
To avoid these disadvantages curtain gliders are, as an alternative, secured permanently to a thin, flexible string or cord, one after another at same distance. The string or cord is thus soft, which allows the curtain to make uniform folds, however lacking the helpful stiffness of the afore-mentioned prior art units to facilitate insertion into the track of the guide rail. Curtain gliders on a string or cord, in the following stringed curtain gliders, cannot maintain same orientation and entangles easily. It is a challenging task to insert the head parts of the stringed curtain gliders by one in the track of the curtain rail. Today it is done manually, and because the string is soft the operator must turn each and every curtain glider into the right position for its insertion into the track, - it takes time and it is fiddling work. The process is strenuous, time-consuming, and thus expensive.
It is a main aspect of the present invention to provide a tool for fast insertion of curtain gliders on a string into the track of a curtain rail.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tool by means of which curtain gliders on a string can be inserted into the track of a curtain rail in a smooth, substantially continuous, operation.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tool by means of which a plurality of curtain gliders on a string can be inserted into the track of a curtain rail without each curtain glider needs to be attended to manually and turned individually.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tool by means of which a plurality of curtain gliders on a string can be inserted in same operative step into the track of an already suspended curtain rail.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tool and a method to simplify insertion of curtain gliders on a string into the track of a curtain rail.
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a tool and a method to align curtain gliders on a string and consecutively position said curtain gliders in same upright position for direct transition into the track of the curtain rail.
The novel and inventive features whereby these and other aspects are achieved according to the present invention consists in that the tool comprises a glider guide body, which glider guide body has

a circumferential wall that delimits a guideway for the curtain gliders on the string,
a slanted inlet section having a slanted inlet opening,
an outlet section having an outlet end, and
an axially extending first slot that extends along at least the outlet section, which axially extending first slot is configured for slidingly receiving at least a free end of the eyelets of the curtain gliders.

The curtain gliders are arranged sequentially and substantially at same distance on the string. Each curtain glider has a head part to which the string is attached. The head part engages slidingly into the track of the curtain rail thereby exposing the eyelets of the curtain gliders for connecting with curtain hooks. As the curtain gliders are provided at even distance on the string a curtain suspended to the curtain gliders forms uniform folds.
The tool according to the present invention has a glider guide body that consist of a slanted inlet section having a slanted inlet opening, a guide section that extends lengthwise axially, and an outlet section.
Due to the slanted inlet section having a slanted inlet opening the longest part of the circumferential wall of the slanted inlet section serves as an initial guide support surface for the curtain gliders upon their way into the guideway. The cross-section of the circumferential wall of the slanted inlet section defines a sector of a circle having increasing length the closer the slanted inlet section gets to the outlet section.
So the circumferential length of a cross-section of the slanted inlet section increases towards the transition into the remainder of the glider guide body, at which transition the cross-section forms a full circle, which however is intersected by the axially extending first slot.
Due to the above design of the slanted inlet section the closer the curtain gliders comes to the outlet section the more guidance the inlet section provides due to circumferential wall increasing in circumference. So the movement of the curtain gliders, which are pulled through the guideway by pulling at the string at the outlet section, gets more and more restricted the more wall of the circumferential wall of the slanted inlet section. The only way the curtain gliders can pass further towards the outlet section along the guideway is by passing the free ends of the eyelets into the axially extending first slot whereby all the curtain gliders become arranged in the same orientation, - thus with the free ends guided by the axially extending first slot. The axially extending first slot controls the movement of the erected curtain gliders and keeps the curtain gliders in the given orientation. By aligning the outlet section with the track of the curtain rail the head parts of the curtain gliders can in a simple manner be transferred to said track, simply by pulling the string along the track. By pulling the string the tool automatically has arranged the curtain gliders in the proper position for the transfer into the track, thus when the string is pulled the eyelets comes along, out of the outlet section and directly into the track.
A guide section may extend lengthwise axially between the slanted inlet section and the outlet section to make the travel of the curtain gliders between the slanted inlet section and the outlet section longer, optionally to allow more than one or two curtain gliders being brought in erected position at the same time. The circumferential length of a cross-section of the slanted inlet section then increases towards the transition into the guide section, at which transition the cross-section forms a full circle, which is also where the inlet to the axially extending first slot starts.
The free inlet end of the slanted inlet section may follow an inlet end curvature of at least half a convolution of a cylindrical helix. Within the context of the present invention the term "cylindrical helix" means a curve generated by a point moving around and along the surface of a circular cylinder with a uniform velocity in the direction of the axis of the circular cylinder. The "pitch" of a cylindrical helix is the length or height of one convolution.
In one embodiment of the tool according to the present invention the wall thickness of the slanted inlet section may be the same along its full length and an interior diameter of the guideway be the same as an interior diameter of the slanted inlet section, which interior diameters preferably are smaller than the height of a curtain glider but not smaller than the head parts can pass through and the eyelets enter the axially extending first slot.
Preferably the slanted inlet section may follow an inlet end curvature of one convolution of a cylindrical helix, which has been established as an appropriate length of the slanted inlet section for turning the curtain glider eyelets into a position to enter the axially extending first slot.
Preferably the pitch of the cylindrical helix is at least twice the interior diameter of the guideway, more preferred at least three times the interior diameter of the guideway, more preferred four times the interior diameter of the guideway, thereby defining an appropriate length of the slanted inlet section. The pitch, the length of the glider guide body, in particular the guide section, may also be selected in accordance with the distance between the curtain gliders on the string.
If the interior diameter of the guideway is smaller than the maximum height of a curtain glider, a curtain gliders can in a very simple manner be forced to turn into an orientation that does not hinder its forward movement, which sole orientation is the orientation that pulls the eyelet of the curtain glider into the axially extending first slot. The interior diameter of the guideway does not allow other orientation. As the slanted inlet section is open along its longitudinal axis until its transition into the outlet section, optionally via a guide section, the curtain gliders have plenty of space for making a full turn of up to 360° if needed, thus turning one full convolution.
In another embodiment of the tool according to the present invention the wall thickness of the slanted inlet section may increase towards the guide section whereby the slanted inlet section delimits a funnel converging towards the guideway by having interior funnel wall section surfaces having inlet end curvatures of about half a convolution of a cylindrical helix.
In such an embodiment the slanted inlet section may be comprised of

a first axially extending half-section that may have a first free inlet end, and
a second axially extending half-section that may have a second free inlet end, which second axially extending half-section may be laterally reversed in relation to the first axially extending half-section,
the first half-section delimits a first slide surface that follows a first inlet curvature of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix, and which first slide surface follows a curvature selected from a first inlet curvature or another curvature of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix, or the first slide surface is shaped as an axial section of a funnel, optionally a first free inlet end of the first half-section has the same curvature as the first slide surface, and
the second half-section delimits a second slide surface that follows a second inlet curvature of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix, and which second slide surface follows a curvature selected from a second inlet curvature or another curvature of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix, or the second slide surface is shaped as an axial section of a funnel, optionally a second free inlet end of the second half-section has the same curvature as the second slide surface.

In such an embodiment the first half-section and the second half-section that together form the slanted inlet section may be joined axially lengthwise in a common ridge that makes the slanted inlet section look like a pagoda roof having two joined eaves delimiting concavities with slide surfaces having the above-mentioned interior curvatures.
Preferably at least the outlet section, and optionally the guide section, of the glider guide body can be symmetrical along a longitudinal axis to provide even space on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis for passage of a complementarily shaped, optionally likewise symmetrical, curtain glider.
A shape of a curtain glider is "complementary" if the convex surfaces and the concave surfaces match the interior profiles of the guide section and the outlet section.
To facilitate exit of the curtain gliders from the outlet section at least an outlet end part of said outlet section may have an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider. Optionally the entire outlet section may have an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider. Yet an option may be that the entire guideway has an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider so that the curtain gliders are arranged in the exact position that allows them to be pulled directly into the track of the curtain rail. So by making the interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider the curtain gliders are all aligned for the smooth transfer into the track of the curtain rail.
The axially extending first slot may expediently extend along the circumferential wall of the glider guide body, either as an interior radiating recess in the circumferential wall, in which case the thickness of the circumferential wall may be rather thick and selected in accordance with the height of the curtain glider eyelets, or through the circumferential wall of the glider guide body, in which case the thickness of the circumferential wall can be made rather small as the height of the curtain glider eyelets does not constitute a design limitation. The first embodiment having a confined hidden interior recess allows the operator to hold his/her hand onto the tool during use, but the operator cannot follow the progress of the curtain gliders visually to same extents as with an open circumferential wall as for the embodiment having an axially extending first slot through the circumferential wall of the glider guide body.
The glider guide body may be integral with or detachably accommodated in a guide block that may serve for securing the glider guide body to a subjacent support to avoid that the glider guide body vibrates and/or oscillates when the stringed curtain gliders are pulled through. The advantage of making the glider guide body integral with the guide block is that the entire tool can be finished in same molding operation. The disadvantage is that such a tool can only be used for one specific curtain glider and one specific curtain rail.
The guide block may have an inlet funnel to the inlet section of the glider guide body to further aid in guiding the curtain gliders into the guideway.
If instead the glider guide body and the guide block are separate parts, various glider guide bodies can be used with same guide block, and the tool is easily adapted for different curtain gliders and curtain rails without the need of remounting a new guide block to a subjacent support each time a different size or shape of curtain glider is to be inserted in a track of a curtain rail.
To further avoid vibration and/or oscillations, in particular when inserting curtain gliders in long curtain rails, the guide block may include a fastening means for securing the guide block to a support surface. Such fastenings means may include any kind of fasteners, including but not limited to, screws, bolts and clamps, or even be a heavy weight of the guide block.
An axially extending second slot of the guide block may advantageously be alignable or aligned with the axially extending first slot to allow the string to which the curtain gliders are secured to be accessible for pulling when the curtain gliders are inside the glider guide body.
If the glider guide body is integral with the guide block the axially extending first slot and the axially extending second slot can simply be the same and no further upfront alignment of said first and second slots are required before us of the tool.
At least the first slot has a width, which is larger than the thickness of the eyelets of the curtain gliders so that said eyelets can pass into the axially extending first slot and move freely. Both the axially extending first slot and the axially extending second slot may have a width, which is larger than the thickness of the eyelets of the curtain gliders, whereby also the axially extending second slot allows passage of the eyelets of the curtain gliders. Emphasize is made that for the embodiment wherein the glider guide body and the guide block are integral parts both the axially extending first slot and the axially extending second slot may have a width, which is larger than the thickness of the eyelets of the curtain gliders, for proper passage of said curtain gliders. In particular in embodiments in which the glider guide body is detachable arranged inside the guide block it is less important that the second slot is as wide as the first slot if the string can pass out of the axially extending second slot, at least at the outlet section.
To facilitate the transfer of the curtain gliders from the outlet section of the tool into the track of the curtain rail a guide rail body in extension of the glider guide body may be provided. The guide rail body may have a first coupling means that mate with second coupling means of a curtain rail to arrange the track of the curtain rail aligned in extension of the guideway. Optionally the guide rail body is detachable from the glider guide body thereby making the tool a modular structure. Any of the guide block, the glider guide body, as well as the various lengthwise extending axial sections of the glider guide body, can be individual components of a modular tool of the present invention. Such modules can e.g. be assembled by means of snap-fittings or screws, or even be glued together.
The present invention also relates to a method of inserting curtain gliders arranged sequentially on a string into a track of a curtain rail using the above described tool, wherein the curtain gliders are of the kind having a head part and an opposite eyelet.
The method comprises the steps of

a) providing the tool,
b) providing the stringed curtain gliders,
c) coupling the track of the curtain rail in alignment with the outlet section of the tool,
d) pulling the stringed curtain gliders through the guideway to move those into the track of the curtain rail one after the other until the string extends extends at least a part of the length of the curtain rail, optionally the full length of the curtain rail,
e) cutting the string, and
f) decoupling the curtain rail from the tool.

The tools and its individual components can be made of any suitable material, including wood and metal. Plastic materials may however be preferred, as a plastic molding process, such as injection molding or batch molding, are fast and inexpensive.
The invention will now be described in further details with reference to the drawing in which several different exemplary embodiments of the tool and its individual components are shown.

Fig. 1a is a perspective oblique view of a first embodiment of a glider guide body seen from the inlet section,
Fig. 1b is an end view of the same seen from the inlet section,
Fig. 1c is a top view of the same,
Fig. 1d is a side view of the same,
Fig. 2 shows the same in a use mode with six curtain gliders on a string being pulled through the glider guide body seen in figs 1a - Id,
Fig. 3a is a perspective side view of a second embodiment of a glider guide body,
Fig. 3b shows the same but from the outlet section,
Fig. 3c is a sectional view taken along line IIIc-IIIc in fig. 3a,
Fig. 4 is an enlarged scale perspective side view of a curtain glider for use with any of the first or the second embodiment of glider guide bodies,
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a guide block and a first embodiment of a guide rail body for use with any of the first and second embodiments of a glider guide body, and seen from the first embodiment of a guide rail body,
Fig. 6 shows the same in a side view seen from the guide block,
Fig. 7 is an end view seen of the guide block and the first embodiment of a guide rail body seen in figs. 5 and 6 in assembled state, and seen from the first embodiment of the guide rail body,
Fig. 8 shows the same seen from the first embodiment of a guide block,
Fig. 9 is a perspective view seen from a second embodiment of a guide rail body of a tool according to the invention, which tool includes a second embodiment of a guide block having an integrally formed third embodiment of a glider guide body, which guide block is aligned with the detached second embodiment of a guide rail body, and
Fig. 10 shows the same from the inlet section of the glider guide body,
Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line XI - XI in fig. 9,
Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII - XII in fig. 10,
Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII - XIII in fig. 10,
Fig. 14 is a perspective view seen from the inlet section of a fourth embodiment of a glider guide body of a tool according to the invention, which tool includes a third embodiment of a guide block having the integrally formed fourth embodiment of a glider guide body, which third embodiment of a guide block is shown detached from the second embodiment of a guide rail body,
Fig. 15 shows the same seen from the second embodiment of a guide rail body,
Fig. 16 shows the combined third embodiment of a guide block and the fourth embodiment of a glider guide body seen in figs. 14 and 15, but from above,
Fig. 17 shows the same from the side,
Fig. 18 shows the same from below the base of the third embodiment of a guide block,
Fig. 19 is a perspective view seen from the outlet section of a lightweight tool according to the invention, which tool includes a fourth embodiment of a guide block having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body and integrally formed third embodiment of a guide rail body,
Fig. 20 shows the same from the inlet section,
Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along line XXI - XXI in fig. 19,
Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along line XXII - XXII in fig. 20,
Fig. 23 shows in perspective view, a fifth embodiment of a guide block having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body and a detached fourth embodiment of a guide rail body,
Fig. 24 shows the same oblique from the top part of the fifth embodiment of a guide block,
Fig. 25 shows the same oblique from the base of the fifth embodiment of a guide block,
Fig. 26 shows in perspective, seen from the slanted inlet section an example of a modular structured tool, and
Fig. 27 shows the same seen from the opposite end.

Figs. 1a - 1d show a first embodiment of a glider guide body 1. The glider guide body 1 has a circumferential wall 2 that delimits a guideway 3. The glider guide body 1 has three main lengthwise extending sections: a slanted inlet section 4 having a slanted inlet opening 5, an outlet section 6, and a guide section 7 that extends lengthwise axially between the slanted inlet section 4 and the outlet section 5. An axially extending first slot 8 extends along the guide section 7 and the outlet section 6. The guide section 7 and the outlet section 6 of the glider guide body 1 are symmetrical along a longitudinal axis X.
The slanted inlet section 4 has a free inlet end 9 that follows an inlet end curvature C of one convolution of a cylindrical helix and having a pitch P being four times the diameter D of the guideway 3. The slanted inlet section 4 can be created by cutting a cylindrical pipe along a helix curvature C, and for the first embodiment of a slanted inlet section 4 it does not matter if the cylindrical helix is left-hand or right-hand.
As seen best in the perspective view of fig. 2 of six curtain gliders 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f on a string 12 being pulled inside the guideway 3 of the glider guide body 1, each of the six curtain gliders 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f have a respective eyelet 11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f opposite a respective head parts 13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f.
A first curtain glider 10a is about to enter the slanted inlet section 4. The upstream second curtain glider 10b has already entered the slanted inlet section 4, and is, due to its contact with the interior slide surface 14 of the inlet section 4, being turned about 90° about the longitudinal axis X of the glider main body 1. The further upstream third curtain glider 10c is turned additionally 90° about said longitudinal axis X in relation to the second curtain glider 10b. The further upstream fourth curtain glider 10d is turned additionally 90° about said longitudinal axis X in relation to the third curtain glider 10c, and the further upstream fifth curtain glider 10f is turned additionally 90° about said longitudinal axis X in relation to the fourth curtain glider 10e, and is positioned just about to enter the axially extending first slot 8. The further upstream sixth curtain glider 10f has its eyelet 13f sliding in the axially extending first slot 8.
In this manner the eyelets 11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f of the curtain gliders 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f are efficiently guided into the axially extending first slot 8 when the string 12, to which the head parts 13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f of the curtain gliders 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f are secured at equal distance, is pulled at, as said heads parts 13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f of said curtain gliders 10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f slide inside the guideway 3 guided by the axially extending first slot 8, after a sliding, translatory, turning motion on the interior slide surface 14 of the slanted inlet section 4.
Figs. 3a - 3c show a second embodiment of a glider guide body 15. The second embodiment of a glider guide body 15 corresponds substantially to the first embodiment of a glider guide body 1 and for like parts same reference numerals are used.
The second embodiment of a glider guide body 15 differs from the first embodiment of a glider guide body 1 in that the outlet section 16 has an outlet end part 17 that has an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider 10a-10f. The interior slide surface 14 of the slanted inlet section 4 extends, optionally via a short guide section 7, into the outlet section 16, which has an interior outlet slide surface 18 having lengthwise extending guide projections 19a,19b that projects radially towards each other from the circumferential wall 2 of the outlet section 16. The guide section 7 may be part of the outlet section 16, or just be a short tubular section that has a short first slot 8 starting at the transition end of the convolution of the slanted inlet opening 5 opposite the start of the convolution, thus where the first slot 8 starts.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged scale perspective side view of a curtain glider 10 having a cross-section complementary to the cross-section of the at least the outlet end part 17 of the outlet section 16, wherein the cross-section of the curtain glider 10 is taken in central plane P, as indicated by dotted line in fig. 3, which central plane P extends through the height of the curtain glider 10 perpendicular to the central axis of the eye opening 20 of the eyelet 11, and thus substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the glider guide body 15.
The curtain glider 10 has two opposite arms 21a,21b between the head part 13 and the eyelet 11. When passing through the outlet end part 17 of the outlet section 16 of the glider guide body 15 the head part 13 runs in an interior channel 22 of the outlet section 16 farthest from the axially extending first slot 8, and the opposite arms 21a,21b run in an exterior channel 23 of the outlet section 16 closest to the axially extending first slot and in open communication with said axially extending first slot. The interior channel 22 and the exterior channel 23 are in open communication with each other via the space 24 delimited between the guide projections 19a,19b, so that the opposite side walls 25a,25b, that connect the head part 13 to the eyelet 11 and define the distance between said head 13 and said eyelet 11, can pass. The shape of the cross-section of the outlet end part 17 of the outlet section 16 substantially is, or resembles, the figure eight. The configuration of the curtain glider 10 seen in fig. 4 and fig. 2 is conventional and commercially obtainable. Glider guide bodies can be made with outlet sections adapted for other kinds of curtain gliders, simply by selecting a cross-section of the outlet section that is complementary to the cross-section of the curtain glider, as orientated for passage through the guideway. So the cross-section of the outlet section 16 of the second embodiment of a glider guide body 15 described above should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The lengthwise extending guide projections 19a,19b may have any appropriate configuration, such as nose, bead or rib, suited to be slidingly received in the opposite spaces 26a,26b between the eyelet 11 and the head part 13 when the arms 21a,21b rides on the lengthwise extending guide projections 19a,19b upon the travel of the curtain glider 10 along the part of the guideway 3 defined along the outlet section 16.
Figs. 5 - 8 show a first embodiment of a guide block 27 and an aligned first embodiment of a guide rail body 28 in various orientations.
The first embodiment of a guide block 27 has a substantially triangular cross-section. The first embodiment of a guide block also 27 has an axially extending bore 29 with an axially extending second slot 30. The axially extending bore 29 is dimensioned to receive a glider guide body, e.g. the first embodiment of a glider guide body 1 or the second embodiment of a glider guide body 15. In the use position of the tool according to the present invention a glider guide body 1;15 can easily be fitted inside the axially extending bore 29 so that the axially extending first slot 8 is aligned with the axially extending second slot 30 that runs the full length of the guide block 27 from the bore inlet end 31 to the bore outlet end 32, whereby the eyelets 11 can pass unhindered through an axially extending first slot 8, which is a aligned with an axially extending second slot 30, and run freely along the length of both the glider guide body 1;15 and the guide block 27. The axially extending second slot 30 is accessible from outside the guide block 27 and has a lengthwise opening through which the eyelets 11 and/or the string 12 can pass.
The first embodiment of a guide rail body 28 is detachable or permanently secured at the bore outlet end 32 of the guide block 27 and is aligned so that a curtain rail (not shown) mounted onto the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28 has its track aligned to continuously receive the stringed curtain gliders 10 that exits the guideway 3 at the outlet section 6 of the glider guide body 1;15. For this purpose the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28 is configured with a longitudinal, axially extending, T-shaped coupling profile 33 lengthwise joined at its longitudinal, axially extending, stem 33a to a parallel longitudinal, axially extending, securing part 34 that has an end profile matching the end profile of the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28 at overlapping free ends, as seen best in fig. 7. The longitudinal, axially extending head 33b, of the T-shaped coupling profile 33 fits engagingly inside a track of the curtain rail (not shown) for connecting the curtain rail (not shown) in alignment with the guideway 3. Within the scope of the present invention the end profiles need not match exactly as long as the longitudinal securing part 34 does not overlap the guideway 3 or negatively affects the ability of the curtain rail to be mounted to the longitudinal T-shaped coupling profile 33 and allow unobstructed exit of curtain gliders 10 into the track of the curtain rail.
The curtain rail (not shown) is coupled to the T-shaped coupling profile 33 by sliding a groove or track of said curtain rail onto said T-shaped coupling profile 33 in the direction towards the guide block 27. Thus the male T-shaped coupling profile 33 mates into the groove or track of the curtain rail. In this position of the curtain rail the track of the curtain rail for the curtain gliders is axially aligned with the guideway 8 so that the head parts 13 of the curtain gliders 10 can pass directly into the track of the curtain rail.
As seen in figs. 7 and 8 the longitudinal, axially extending, head 33b of the T-shaped coupling profile 33 has a height h whereby the male T-shaped coupling profile 33 protrudes a distance d radially in front of the outlet opening 35 of the axially extending bore 29 of the guide block 27. The distance d corresponds to the wall thickness of the glider guide body 1;15 so that the head parts 13 of the curtain gliders 10 obtain a smooth transition from the guideway 3 into the track of the curtain rail.
In the alternative the glider guide body 1;15 may be made integral with the guide block, as exemplified by the embodiments shown in subsequent figs. 9 - 13.
Figs. 9 and 10 show, in perspective, and seen from opposite ends, another tool according to the present invention implementing a second embodiment of the guide rail body 36. The tool combines the second embodiment of a glider guide body 15 and the first embodiment of a guide block 27 into a second embodiment of a guide block 37 with an integrally formed third embodiment of a glider guide body 38, as seen best in the sectional views of figs. 11 -13, that show the curvature and wall of the guideway 3, and that the third embodiment of a glider guide body 38 has a slanted inlet section 4 that extends directly into the outlet section 16 that also serves as a guide section. The second embodiment of a guide block 37 is aligned with a second embodiment of a guide rail body 36 to receive stringed curtain gliders 10 into a track of a curtain rail (not shown).
The second embodiment of a guide rail body 36 corresponds substantially to the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28, and for like parts same reference numerals are used. The guide rail body 36 and the guide block 37 are aligned as described in relation to figs. 7 and 8, but in contrast to the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28, which is made, e.g. by molding it as one unit with the first embodiment of a guide block 27, the second embodiment of a guide rail body 36 is detachable secured to the second embodiment of a guide block 37 by means of screws (nor shown). In order for passage of such screws the guide rail body 36 has two lengthwise extending first holes 39a,39b and the guide block 37 has two corresponding axially aligned second holes 40a,40b, of which only one is visible in fig. 9. One or more aligned first and second holes are foreseen within the scope of the present invention.
The third embodiment of a glider guide body 38, which is formed as a passage inside the guide block 37, is, as mentioned above, structured identical to the second embodiment of the glider guide body 15, and operates in similar manner. For like parts same reference numerals are used in the drawing.
The second embodiment of a guide block 37 has an inlet funnel 41 with an interior funnel surface that tapers into the slanted inlet section 4 of the guideway 3 to serve as a further guide means before the curtain gliders 10 enters the guideway 3 at said slanted inlet section 4. The second embodiment of a guide block 37 has a base 42 and a tapering top part 43. The apex 44 of the tapering top part 43 has the axially extending second slot 30 that is aligned with the axially extending first slot 8. The base 42 has traverse third holes 44a,44b arranged in cavities 45a,45b along the longitudinal edges 46a,46b of the base 42 for securing the second embodiment of a guide block 37 to a subjacent support face, e.g. using bolts, screws or clamps. As seen in fig. 13 the base 42 has fourth holes 47a,47b extending perpendicular into the guide block 37 and crosswise the second holes 40a,40b. A nut (not shown) or similar female screw means can be arranged in the fourth holes 47a,47b for the free ends of screws through the aligned first holes 39a,39b and second holes 40a,40b to be screwed into said nuts to obtain a reliable and solid fastening together of the second embodiment of a guide block 37 and the second embodiment of the guide rail body 36.
Figs. 14 and 15 show a tool that includes a third embodiment of a guide block 48 having an integrally formed fourth embodiment of a glider guide body 49. Figs. 16 and 17 shows that the third embodiment of a guide block 48 and the fourth embodiment of a glider guide body 49 is combined into one single unit. As seen in figs. 14 and 15 the guide block 48 is aligned with a detachable second embodiment of a guide rail body 36. For like parts of the previously described embodiments same reference numerals are used.
The slanted inlet section 50 to the glider guide body 49 also constitutes the inlet section 50 to the guide block 48. The slanted inlet section 50 has a first axially extending half-section 50a having a first free inlet end 51a, and a second axially extending half-section 50b having a second free inlet end 51b. The interior wall 52a of the first half-section 50a defines a first slide surface 53a that follows a first inlet curvature C_R of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix. The interior wall 52b of the second half-section 50b defines a second slide surface 53b that follows a second inlet curvature C_L of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix delimits. Said slide surfaces 53a,53b converge into the outlet section 54 of the glider guide body 49.
The guide block 48 and the integrally combined glider guide body 49 are symmetrical along the longitudinal axis. So the curvature C_L of the second axially extending half-section 50b is laterally reversed in relation to the curvature C_R of the first axially extending half-section 50a, whereby the slide surfaces 53a,53b meet in a ridge 55 that are parallel to said longitudinal axis. When a stringed curtain glider 10 enters the slanted inlet section 50 via a slanted inlet opening 55a to the outlet section 54 on its way to the guideway 35 it is swirled either clockwise or counter-clockwise depending on which slide surface 53a,53b the curtain glider 10 hits to be positioned upright so that the eyelets can slide along the outlet section 54 the that has the axially extending first slot 8, which is lengthwise closed from above. So the inlet section 50 extends directly into the outlet section 54.
The fourth holes 47a,47b and the traverse third holes 44a,44b that extend into the modified base 42a opposite the modified top part 43a are seen in fig. 18.
Figs. 19 - 22 show a lightweight tool including a fourth embodiment of a guide block 56 having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body 57 and an integrally formed third embodiment of a guide rail body 58. This embodiment of a lightweight tool can be molded in one and the same molding process in a single molding step using minimum of raw plastic material.
In contrast to the previously described guide blocks, the guide block 56 has a generally square appearance. The cross-section of the guide block cross-wise the outlet section 59 of the glider guide body 57 is substantially square. As visualized in figs. 21 and 22 the guide block 56 is hollow to save goods, and the guideway 58 is not divided in channels. Furthermore the guide block 56 does not have an axially extending second slot.
The guide rail body 58 is a protruding short length of a C-shaped profile situated aligned with its longitudinal axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the guideway 60 of the glider guide body 57 below said guideway 60 at the outlet section 59.
As for the third embodiment of a guide block 48 the inlet section to the guide block 56 is also the slanted inlet section 61 to the glider guide body 57. The slanted inlet section 61 has a first axially extending half-section 62a having a first free inlet end 63a, and a second axially extending half-section 62b having a second free inlet end 63b. The interior wall 64a of the first half-section 62a defines a first slide surface 65a that follows a first inlet curvature C_R of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix. The interior wall 64b of the second half-section 62b defines a second slide surface 65b that follows a second inlet curvature C_L of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix. Said slide surfaces 64a,64b converge into the guideway 60 of the outlet section 59 of the glider guide body 57.
The guide block 56 and the integrally combined glider guide body 57 are symmetrical along the longitudinal axis. So the curvature C_L of the second axially extending half-section 62b is laterally reversed in relation to the curvature C_R of the first axially extending half-section 62a, whereby the slide surfaces 64a,64b meet in a ridge 66 that are parallel to said longitudinal axis.
The fourth embodiment of a guide block 56 having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body 57 allows passage end erecting of curtain gliders in substantially same way as described for the third embodiment of a guide block 48 having an integrally formed fourth embodiment of a glider guide body 49.
The hollowness of the fourth embodiment of a guide block 56 having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body 57 is delimited interiorly by the guideway 60 and the slide surfaces 64a,64b, and exteriorly by an exterior circumferential wall 67 and outlet face 68 at the outlet section 59.
The guide block 56 has no holes for its mounting to a subjacent surface. Instead a substantially perpendicularly extending protrusion 70, which is provided along the free edge 71 of the slanted inlet section 61 protruding away from the base 69 opposite the top part 72, serves to properly locate the guide block 56 on a subjacent surface, and to prevent it from sliding on said subjacent surface when a string 12 with curtain gliders 10 are forcibly pulled through the guideway 60. So in use the base 69 is placed on the subjacent surface with the protrusion 70 overhanging and abutting a free edge of the subjacent surface, whereby the force applied in the pulling directions forces the protrusion 70 against said free edge and prevents the guide block 56 form moving along.
Since this tool with the fourth embodiment of a guide block 56 is very light it may be preferred to insert stringed curtain gliders 10 in an already suspended curtain rail (not shown).
Fig. 23 shows a fifth embodiment of a guide block 73 having an integrally formed fifth embodiment of a glider guide body 57 and a detached fourth embodiment of a guide rail body 74.
The fifth embodiment of a guide block 73 corresponds substantially to the fourth embodiment of a guide block 56 and for like parts same reference numerals are used.
The guide block 73 differs from the guide block 56 in being solid. Furthermore the guide block 73 has laterally protruding securing ears 75a,75b at the end of the base 69 opposite the protrusion 70. Each securing ear 75a,75b has fifth holes 76a,76b for securing the guide block 73 firmly to a subjacent surface (not shown). The securing ear 75a,75b are in the present embodiment constituted by opposite end of bar 78, which is counter-sinked in the base 69, so that it does not protrude beyond the plane of said base 69.
The guide rail body 74 consist of a guide rail coupler part 77, which serves the same purpose of coupling into a track of the curtain rail, as previously described in relation to the above discussed embodiments, and a coupling plate 79 at the end of the guide rail coupler part 77 facing guide block 73. The coupling plate 79 serves for coupling the guide rail body 74 firmly to the outlet face 68 at the outlet section 59.
The outlet opening 80 of the guideway 60 which ends in the outlet face 68 at the outlet section 59 has a cross-section that is duplicated to an axially aligned through hole 81 through coupling plate 79, thereby extending the guideway 60 and facilitating smooth, unobstructed passage of the stringed curtain gliders 10.
For the securing purpose each corner of the coupling plate 79 has a sixth holes 82a,82b,82c,82d aligned with a seventh holes 83a,83b,83c,83d through the outlet face 68 and into a corner of the outlet section 59 to receive e.g. assembling screws.
Figs. 26 and 27 show an example of how the components of the different embodiment can be use as individual modules to be assembled into a tailor-made modular structured tool.
The tool seen in figs. 26 and 27 is composed of the inlet funnel 41 of the second embodiment of a guide block 37, the slanted inlet section 4 the of second embodiment of a glider guide body 15, the first embodiment of a guide block 27, the outlet section 16 of the second embodiment of a glider guide body 15, and the first embodiment of a guide rail body 28.
In figs. 26 and 27 the components of the modular tool is aligned axially so that a C-shaped first track 84 of a curtain rail 85 can be fitted onto the T-shaped coupling profile 33 of the guide rail body 28 and exposing a second track 86 of the curtain 85 for sliding receiving the head parts 13 of the curtain gliders 10 on the string 12.
The components of the different embodiments can be combined in any imaginable way to obtain a special tool for at special task. As an example all guide blocks can have axially extending second slots, protrusions to hold on to a edge of e.g. work table, and axially extending bore can have large diameters to receive glider guide bodies of various wall thicknesses, whereby one guide block can be used with a multiplicity of glider guide body having different guideway diameters for use with different heights or configurations of curtain gliders. The profile of the guide rail body can be selected in accordance with any kind of curtain rail.
The present invention thus provides a tool and a method for inserting curtain gliders having a head part and an opposite eyelet and being arranged sequentially on a string into a track of a curtain rail. A glider guide body has a circumferential wall that delimits a guideway for the curtain gliders on the string, a slanted inlet section has a slanted inlet opening, an outlet section, and an axially extending first slot that extends along at the outlet section, in which axially extending first slot the eyelets of the curtain gliders can slide.

Claims

A tool configured for inserting curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) arranged sequentially on a string (12) into a track (86) of a curtain rail (85), wherein the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) are of the kind having a head part (13,13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f) and an opposite eyelet (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f), characterised in that the tool comprises a glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57), which glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57) has
- a circumferential wall (2;67) that delimits a guideway (3;60) for the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) on the string (12),

- a slanted inlet section (4;50;61) having a slanted inlet opening (5;55a),

- an outlet section (6;16;54;59), and

- an axially extending first slot (8) that extends along at the outlet section (6;16;54;59), which axially extending first slot (8) is configured for slidingly receiving at least a free end of the eyelets (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f) of the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f).
A tool according to claim 1, characterised in that a guide section (7) extends lengthwise axially between the slanted inlet section (4;50;61) and the outlet section (6;16;54;59).
A tool according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that a free inlet end (9) of the slanted inlet section (4;50;61) follows an inlet end curvature (C) of at least half a convolution of a cylindrical helix, preferably one convolution, preferably the pitch (P) of the cylindrical helix is at least twice the interior diameter (D) of the guideway (3;60), more preferred at least three times the interior diameter (D) of the guideway (3;60), more preferred four times the interior diameter (D) of the guideway (3;60).
A tool according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the interior diameter (D) of the guideway (3;60) is smaller than the maximum height of a curtain glider (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) .
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the slanted inlet section (50;61) is comprised of
- a first axially extending half-section (50a;62a) having a first free inlet end (51a;63a), and

- a second axially extending half-section (50b;62b) having a second free inlet end (51b;63b), which second axially extending half-section (50b;62b) is laterally reversed in relation to the first axially extending half-section (50a; 62a),

- the first half-section (50a;62a) delimits a first slide surface (53a;65a) that follows a first inlet curvature (C_R) of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix, and which first slide surface (53a;65a) follows a curvature selected from a first inlet curvature or another curvature of half a convolution of a right-hand cylindrical helix, or the first slide surface (53a;65a) is shaped as an axial section of a funnel (41), optionally a first free inlet end (51a;63a) of the first half-section (50a;65a) has the same curvature as the first slide surface (53a;65a), and

- the second half-section (50b;62b) delimits a second slide surface (53b;65b) that follows a second inlet curvature (C_L) of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix, and which second slide surface (53b;65b) follows a curvature selected from a second inlet curvature or another curvature of half a convolution of a left-hand cylindrical helix, or the second slide surface (53b;65b) is shaped as an axial section of a funnel (41), optionally a second free inlet end (51b;63b) of the second half-section (50b;62b) has the same curvature as the second slide surface (53b;65b).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims 2 - 5, characterised in that at least the outlet section of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57) is symmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57), optionally the guide section (7) is also symmetrical along a longitudinal axis of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least an outlet end part of the outlet section (6;16;54;59) has an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f), optionally the entire outlet section (6;16;54;59) has an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f), optionally the entire guideway (3;60) has an interior cross-section substantially complementary to the cross-section of a curtain glider (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the axially extending first slot (8) extends along the circumferential wall (2;67) of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57), optionally through the circumferential wall (2;67) of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57) is integral with or detachably accommodated in a guide block (27;37;48;56;73).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide block (37;48;56;73) includes a fastening means for securing the guide block (37;48;56;73) to a support surface.
A tool according any of the preceding claims, characterised in that an axially extending second slot (30) of the guide block (27;37;48;56;73) is alignable or aligned with the axially extending first slot (8), or constitutes the axially extending first slot (8) if the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57) is integral with the guide block (27;37;48;56;73).
A tool according to claim 11, characterised in that at least the first slot (8) has a width, which is larger than the thickness of the eyelets (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f) of the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f), optionally both the axially extending first slot (8) and the axially extending second slot (30) has a width, which is larger than the thickness of the eyelets (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f) of the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f).
A tool according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in comprising a guide rail body (36;58;74) in extension of the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57), wherein the guide rail body (36;58;74) has first coupling means that mates with second coupling means of a curtain rail (85) to arrange the track (86) of said curtain rail (85) aligned in extension of the guideway ((3;60), optionally the guide rail body (36;58;74) is detachable from the glider guide body (1;15;38;49;57).
A method of inserting curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) arranged sequentially on a string (12) into a track (86) of a curtain rail (85), wherein the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) are of the kind having a head part (13,13a,13b,13c,13d,13e,13f) and an opposite eyelet (11,11a,11b,11c,11d,11e,11f), characterised in comprising the steps of
a) providing a tool according to any of the preceding claims 1 - 13,

b) providing the stringed curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f),

c) coupling the track (86) of the curtain rail (85) in alignment with the outlet section (6;16;54;59) of the tool,

d) pulling the curtain gliders (10,10a,10b,10c,10d,10e,10f) through the guideway (30;60) to move those into the track (86) of the curtain rail (85) one after the other until the string (12) extends at least a part of the length of the curtain rail (85), optionally the full length of the curtain rail (85),

e) cutting the string (12), and

f) decoupling the curtain rail (85) from the tool.