GB2031716A - Curtains - Google Patents

Abstract

In a curtain assembly an elongate stiffening member (33) is so arranged as to ensure that the curtain folds in a predetermined manner. The stiffener may comprise stiff regions alternating with less stiff regions (35) (which form hinges which fold in zig-zag concertina fashion. The stiffening member (33) may be threaded into a hem (38) at the head of a curtain, and is attached to a curtain track (11) by runners (15, 16, or 40, 42). A chain 29 secured to the runners determines the spacing between folds of the zig-zag stiffening member 33, which constrains the curtain to hang in predetermined folds. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to curtains The present invention relates to apparatus for use in hanging a curtain and to a curtain assembly and method of hanging a curtain.

It is a known requirement in hanging curtains to endeavour to arrange the curtains with pleasing folds, for example with deep, evenly spaced folds in the fall of the material.

However, known systems which have previously attempted to provide predetermined folds have either been excessively complicated, and therefore costly, or have been ineffective or unreliable in operation.

It is also known to provide sliding doors having elongated, vertically aligned portions of relatively greater stiffness linked together by elongate, vertically aligned portions of relatively lesser stiffness which form hinge-like links. The whole door is then opened by folding the relatively stiff portions against each other concertina-fashion in a stack. In these previously known doors, the relatively stiff members extend down the entire length of the door and constitute substantially the whole area of the door. Thus although these doors form a zig-zag or concertina configuration with the alternately directed portions of equal width, the door does not include a hanging curtain, and does not provide a relatively soft flexible material hanging under its own, or added, weight in folds of natural appearance, as is required in hanging a curtain.

It is an object of the present invention, in accordance with certain preferred features thereof, to provide apparatus for use in hanging a curtain in which there can be formed in the curtain folds of predetermined form, prefera by deep, evenly spaced folds, of even depth, by means of simple apparatus which can be provided, when required, in a kit form for assembly into a curtain assembly.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for hanging a curtain comprising an elongated support means for suspending a curtain, a plurality of coupling devices for coupling a curtain to the support means and for allowing movement of the curtain along the support means, and stiffening means for attachment to the curtain for urging the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

According to the present invention in another aspect there is provided apparatus for use in hanging a curtain comprising a plurality of coupling devices for coupling a curtain to an elongated support means for suspending the curtain and for allowing movement of the curtain along the elongated support means, and stiffening means adapted for attachment to a curtain in cooperation with the coupling devices in such a manner as to urge the curtain in operation to hang in predetermined folds.

According to the present invention in a further aspect there is provided a curtain assembly comprising a curtain, an elongated support means suspending the curtain by means of a plurality of coupling devices coupling the curtain to the support means and allowing movement of the curtain along the support means, and stiffening means attached to the curtain and arranged to urge the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

According to the present invention in a yet further aspect there is provided apparatus for erecting into a curtain assembly comprising a curtain, an elongated support means for suspending the curtain, a plurality of coupling devices for coupling the curtain to the elongated support means and for allowing movement of the curtain along the elongated support means, and stiffening means for attachment to the curtain for urging the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

There will now be set out a number of preferred features and convenient arrangements which may be adopted in accordance with the various aspects of the invention set out above.

Conveniently the stiffening means is arranged for attachment along an upper region of a curtain and defines in operation a series of regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the upper region of the curtain for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness. Preferably the regions of differing stiffness are regularly spaced along the stiffening means. Preferably the regions of greater stiffness are of greater length along the length of the stiffening means than the regions of lesser stiffness.

Preferably the stiffening means comprises an elongate stiffening member for attachment along an upper region of a curtain, the elongate stiffening member having regions of relatively lesser stiffness for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness. The stiffening member is preferably a continuous integral member but alternatively may comprise separate stiffening elements joined together by linking strips which are flexible relative to the stiffness of the stiffening elements. Alternatively the stiffening means may comprise a plurality of separate, discrete stiffening elements adapted to be spaced apart along an upper region of a curtain in an arrangement such that when in position along the curtain, the stiffening ele ments urge the curtain to hang in folds predetermined by the discrete stiffening elements and the spaces between them.In such an arrangement, the discrete stiffening elements may conveniently be held in place simply by the securing of the stiffening elements to the coupling devices for suspending the curtain.

In preferred arrangements according to the invention, the stiffening means is attached to a curtain by being threaded into a hem formed along the top of the curtain.

Preferably the coupling devices are attached directly to the stiffening means, preferably the coupling devices being attached one to each of the said regions of relatively greater stiffness. Most preferably each coupling device is attached to its associated relatively stiff region substantially at the centre of the length thereof.

Thus in accordance with one preferred aspect of the invention there is provided a curtain having a hem along an upper portion thereof; an elongate support means for suspending the curtain; a plurality of coupling devices for coupling the curtain to the support means and for allowing movement of the curtain along the elongate support means; and an elongate stiffening member threaded in the said curtain hem and having regions of relatively greater stiffness separated by regions of relatively lesser stiffness, said regions being regularly spaced along said stiffening member, and said coupling devices being coupled one to each of said relatively stiff regions for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness.

There is also provided in accordance with the present invention apparatus for use in hanging a curtain comprising an elongate stiffening member for insertion into a hem of a curtain, the stiffening member having a series of regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the length of the stiffening member for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness.

Preferably the elongate stiffening member comprises a continuous member having a substantially uniform thickness over most of its length but having regions of reduced thickness spaced along its length and forming the said regions of relatively lesser stiffness. Also preferably the elongate stiffening member is of uniform width.

Also preferably the elongate stiffening member is provided with at least one aperture through each region of relatively greater stiffness substantially at the centre of the length thereof for co-operation with a coupling device for coupling the stiffening member to an elongate support means for suspending a curtain.

There is yet further provided in accordance with the invention a method of hanging a curtain comprising the steps of forming a hem along an upper region of a curtain, inserting into the hem an elongate stiffening member having a series of regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the length of the stiffening member, engaging with each of the said regions of relatively greater stiffness a coupling device, attaching the coupling devices to an elongate support means for suspending the curtain, and spacing the coupling devices at an even predetermined spacing with succeeding relatively stiff regions of the stiffening member inclined to each other in opposite senses in zig-zag configuration to urge the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

Conveniently the coupling devices include curtain hooks, and the method includes the step of inserting a curtain hook through an aperture in each relatively stiff region of the stiffening member by piercing the curtain hook through the hem portion of the curtain and through the aperture in the said relatively stiff region of the stiffening member.

Preferably the coupling devices are adapted to allow a degree of rotary movement of the stiffening means relative to the elongated support means, preferably the degree of rotary movement being limited to a predetermined amount for urging the curtain to hang in evenly spaced folds. Conveniently the coupling devices may be adapted to be fixedly secured one to each of the said stiff regions and to be attached to the said elongated support means in such a manner as to allow rotary movement of the coupling devices relative to the support means.

The coupling devices may be constructed in a number of different forms, depending inter alia upon the form of the elongated support means with which the coupling devices are to cooperate in operation. In a preferred form each coupling device comprises a U-shaped or stirrup-shaped portion straddling the upper edge of a stiffening member and secured to the stiffening member, and an upper runner portion adapted to cooperate with a track consituting or forming part of the elongated support means. Conveniently the upper runner portion comprises a flange adapted to be horizontal in use and to be within a cavity in a hollow-section track for the curtain to run along. Conveniently the flange may be circular to allow rotary movement of the coupling device relative to the track.

In other arrangements, the coupling devices may comprise simple curtain hooks of known kind, and the elongated support means may comprise a track assembly comprising a track for the curtain to run along, and runners for receiving the curtain hooks.

In yet other arrangements, the elongated support means may comprise a simple rod along which curtain rings slide and the coupling devices may be adapted to link the stiffening member to the rings and, preferably, to provide the rotary movement set out above.

Where a degree of rotary movement of the stiffening means is provided for, there may conveniently be provided a control line (such as a chain or cord) running along the top of the curtain and coupled to the coupling de vices in such a manner that upon tensioning of the control line, a constraint is placed upon the angular position of each coupling device about a horizontal axis thereof. Conveniently each coupling device has a channel therein, the control line passing through the channel, and the said constraint being effected by the turning couple of the line on the walls of the channel when tension is applied to the line.

It is also prefered that the said coupling devices are connected together along the top of the curtain by a spacing line (which may be constituted by the control line mentioned in the preceding paragraph), each coupling device being fixed relative to the spacing line and the devices being spaced along the line from adjacent coupling devices at equal intervals, the arrangement being such that when the curtain is extended along the elongate support means the spacing line is tensioned and limits the maximum spacing between the coupling devices to give an evenly spaced array along the elongate support means.

It is a disadvantage of known forms of sliding door of the type described in the introduction to this specification that although the relative stiff portions of the door are of equal width, the angles adopted by the stiff portions of the door are not necessarily equal when the door is in its extended or partially extended configuration. Thus the door may be "bunched" at one region along its length with portions of the door relatively close together, and may be unnecessarily drawn out at other portions.

It is also preferred that the said coupling devices are connected together along the top of the curtain by a spacing line (which may be part, preferably no more than one eighth, of the length of the curtain when in operation.

The stiffening means may extend only at an upper part of the curtain, but in some arrangements a further stiffening means may be applied along the foot of the curtain to cooperate with the stiffening means at the top of the curtain. This is in contrast to known forms of sliding door (as set out hereinbefore) in which the relatively stiff portions of the door extend for the entire height of the door.

The present invention is also distinguished from the said forms of known sliding door in that the apparatus according to the invention is intended for use with curtaining material which is relatively soft and flexible compared with the, or parts of the, stiffening means, and which is intended to hang in folds of natural appearance for a hanging curtain. In contrast, the sliding doors of the kind described are constituted almost wholly by the relatively stiff portions thereof and give the appearance of an angular, concertina type of construction rather than naturally hanging material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a curtain track for use in an embodiment of the invention; Figures 2(a) to 2(d) show respectively plan, side, edge, and perspective views of a coupling device for use in cooperation with the track shown in Fig. 1; Figures 3(a) to 3(d) show respectively plan, side, edge and perspective views of a nonrotating leading coupling device for use in cooperation with the track shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing in exploded form a twin-pulley end stop for use with the track shown; Figures 5(a) to 5(d) show respectively plan, side, edge, and perspective views of a singlepulley end stop for use with the track shown in Fig. 1;; Figures 6(a) and 6(b) show diagrammatic side and plan views respectively of a stiffening member for use in embodiments of the invention; Figure 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the stiffening member of Figs. 6(a) and 6(b); Figure 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a curtain having the stiffening member of Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view showing in exploded form the attachment of the coupling device of Fig. 2 to the stiffening member of Fig. 6; Figure 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing an assembly of the components shown in previous Figs. the material of the curtain being omitted for simplicity; Figure ? 7 shows a curtain assembly comprising components shown in the preceding Figs. and illustrating the manner of folding of a curtain; and Figures 12(a) and 12(b) show perspective and sectional diagrammatic views of an alternative means of supporting a curtain having the stiffening member shown in Figs. 6(a) and 7.

Referring generally to the figures, there will first be listed the various components which together may be erected to form a curtain assembly embodying the invention. The as sembly includes a length of track 11 shown in Fig. 1 which is a hollow section track having an internal cavity indicated generally at 12.

Access to the cavity 1 2 is available through an opening 1 3 on the underside of the track, and the track can be secured to a ceiling or other fixing means by wood screws passing through holes 1 4 in the upper surface of the track 11.

The curtain assembly also comprises a plu rality of coupling devices as shown initially in Figs. 2(a) to (d) and Figs. 3(a) to (d) which will be referred to in this description as run ners, and which comprise a majority of rotata ble runners 15, and two non-rotating leading runners 1 6. Each runner 1 5 comprises an upper runner portion consisting of a circular flange 17, and a lower stirrup portion 1 8. The upper and lower portions 1 7 and 1 8 are connected by an intermediate stem portion 1 9. The upper flange 1 7 has a channel 20 extending through the centre thereof and adapted to be horizontal in operation, the channel 20 having inwardly extending gripping lugs 21 positioned over the central axis of the stem portion 1 9. The lower ends of the stirrup portion 1 8 have apertures 22 aligned along an axis 22' at right angles to the flat sides of the stirrup portion 1 8. As shown in Fig. 2(a) the channel is inclined at 30 degrees to the axis through the apertures 22 in the stirrup portion 1 8. The purpose of the various features of the runners 1 5 will be described hereinafter with reference to the completed assembly.

Referring to Figs. 3(a) to (d), the leading runners 1 6 are constructed in similar fashion to the rotating runners 15, except for the upper runner portion thereof. Corresponding portions of runners 1 5 and 1 6 are indicated by like reference numerals. The runner portion 1 7 of each leading runner 1 6 comprises a square flange 23 arranged with its sides parallel to the flat sides of the stirrup portion 1 8 and having gripping lugs 24 and 25 defining a channel-like path 1 6 aligned generally parallel to the open faces of the stirrup portion 1 8.

The functions of the features of the leading runners 1 6 will also be described hereinafter.

Further components of the curtain assembly comprise one twin pulley end stop 27 shown in Fig. 4, one single pulley end stop 28 shown in Figs. 5(a) to (d), two lengths of chain 29 shown in Fig. 10, one length of cord 30 also shown in Fig. 10, and either two cord weights or one cord tensioner of conventional arrangement for a curtain assembly and not illustrated in the figures. By way of example the cord 30 may comprise a 4 mm cord, and the chain 29 may comprise a 3 mm ball chain.

Yet further components of the curtain assembly comprise the curtain itself indicated at 31 in Figs. 8 and 11, and stiffening means which in accordance with the present invention are provided for the curtain and which are indicated generally at 32 in Figs. 6 to 10.

As shown in Figs. 6(a), 6(b) and 7 the stiffening means 32 comprises an elongated integral stiffening member 33 having regions 34 of relatively greater stiffness separated by regions 35 of relatively lesser stiffness. Each stiff region 34 has an aperture 37 at the centre thereof and a smaller aperture 37' positioned at the middle of the length of the stiff region 34 but positioned close to the top of the region 34 above the central aperture 37. Conveniently the stiffening member 33 is formed of a continuous strip of synthetic plastics material of uniform width but having a thickness which is reduced in narrow bands at the regions 35 across its width occurring at regular intervals along the length of the mem ber. The reduced width regions 35 form hinge-like regions which permit the stiffening member 33 to fold in a zig-zag, concertina fashion.Conveniently the stiffening member 33 may be formed by extrusion and the regions 35 may be formed by bringing towards each other heated pinch rollers which periodically squeeze the extruded strip and form the regions 35 of reduced thickness.

The purpose of the central apertures 37 is to allow the stiffening member 33 to be coupled to the runners 1 5 and 16, and one convenient arrangement is shown in respect of a runner 1 5 in Fig. 9. Fig. 8 illustrates in general form the attachment of the runner 1 5 to the stiffening member 33 with the curtain 31 in position, but for simplicity the curtain has been omitted from Fig. 9. As can be seen in Fig. 9, the stirrup portion 1 8 straddles the stiffening member 33 and the curtain covering the stiffening member 33, and a rivet 36 is inserted through holes in the curtain and through the aperture 37 and through the aperture 22 in the stirrup portion 18.

The square-ended runners 1 6 are secured in similar fashion to the stiffening member 33 over the curtain material as is shown generally in Fig. 10.

The purpose of the second aperture 37' is to allow an alternative form of support of the stiffening member 33 and curtain material by conventional curtain hooks, as will be described hereinafter with reference to Figs.

12(a) and 12(b).

There will now be described the general manner of construction and operation of the components set out in the preceding paragraphs. Fig. 10 shows diagrammatically a whole assembly except that the curtaining material 31 is omitted for simplicity. As can be seen in Fig. 10, the purpose of the circular flanges 1 7 is to allow the stiffening member 33 (and hence also the curtain attached thereto) to perform both a translational movement along the curtain track 11 and a rotary movement of the flanges 17' in the track 11. This rotation allows the stiffening member 33 to adopt a parallel, stacked configuration when the curtain is in its contracted position, and to adopt a zig-zag configuration when the curtain is fully extended. It will be appreciated that although the stiffening member 33 adopts ar angular zig-zag configuration, the curtain which is carried by the stiffening member 33 adopts a natural folded configuration with deep evenly spaced folds produced by the fall of the material. As can be seen in Fig. 10, the general purpose of the cord 30 is to cooperate with the non-rotating leading runners 1 6 and with the single and double pulley end stops 27 and 28 to allow opening and closing of the curtains. The general purpose of the chain 29 is to ensure even spacing of the regions 34 and regular positioning of the regions 34, as will be described hereinafter.

Turning now to various details of the construction and operation of the apparatus, the track 11 (Fig. 1) is of a continuous section, its length being determined by the width of the area to be covered by the curtains. As has been mentioned, the track 11 can be secured either to the upper valance area of a window or door, or to the undersurface of a pelmet top-board. The track 11 is secured by means of wood-screws which are passed through the lower opening 1 3 of the track 11 and through the holes 1 4 situated at regular intervals along the centre line of the track.

The runners 1 5 (Fig. 2) are arranged as runners of two different types, namely runners 1 5 which have a round head 1 7 with a crosscut 20 at 30 from the centre line 22' of the rivet holes 22 taken in one sense relative to the track 11, and runners 1 5 having a crosscut 20 at 30 from the centre line 22' taken in the opposite sense relative to the track 11.

The reason for this difference is to ensure that the curtain folds hang at an angle of 60 in relation to each other when the assembly is erected with the round headed runners being used alternately along the track. A third class of runner is provided by the two leading runners 1 6 each of which has a square head flange 23 which prevents the partial rotation which is required of the round headed runners 1 5. The reason for this configuration is to ensure that the two leading folds of the curtains remain at 90 to the line of the track and thus abut together when closed, and that the leading edges of the curtain hang on the same side of the track as shown in Fig. 11.

That is to say that the leading edges turn towards the same direction, usually towards the window rather than to the room, thus concealing the curtain linings.

To hang the curtains, the stiffening member 33 is first passed into the inside of a hem 38 which is sewn along the top edge of the curtain 31 (see for example Fig. 8). The apertures 37 in the stiffening means 33 are then located, for example by a bodkin or other pointed instrument, and the runners 1 5 and 1 6 are secured to the stiffening member 33 through the curtain material 31 as has been described with reference to Fig. 9.

Referring to Fig. 10, the next step in erecting the assembly is that the ball chain 29 is pressed down to the lowest point of the crosscuts 20 on the round headed runners 1 5 and secured to the stem 1 9 of the square headed lead runner 1 6 by means of a ring or clip.

The chain 29 maintains a predetermined distance between the curtain folds, and also serves as a tow-line when closing the curtains.

The cord 30 is then secured to the squareheaded lead runners 1 6 by pressing it into the lugs 24 8 25 which surmount the squareheaded flange 23. The offset location of the lugs 24 8 25 permits free passage for the returning cord. The cord 30 is passed round the single pulley end stop 28 and through the twin pulley end stop 27.

The twin pulley 27 is designed with a wood-screw 40 securing pulley wheels 41 on a shaft 42 so that removal of the pulleys 40 will enable the pulley axle to be released and so release the pulleys 41. This facility is useful when it is required to secure the two ends of the cord 30 to the square-headed lead runners 1 6 rather than permitting them to hang freely by the side of the curtain tensioned by weights. When a particularly long cord is required however, it is preferable to have a loop of cord by the side of the curtains tensioned by a spring pulley secured to the skirting board, thus preventing the cord from sagging out of the track mid-way along its length.

Both the twin pulley end stop 27 and the single pulley end stop 28, are designed to be inserted partially into the end of the track 11 and to fit over, and thus secure the first runners 1 5 as shown in Fig. 10.

The angle of the curtain folds in relation to each other is predetermined by the angle of the cross-cuts or channels 20 in the round headed runners 1 5. The depth and width of each fold however can be changed by changing the length of the stiff regions 34 and the length of chain 29 between each of the runners 15 and 16.

As an alternative to the specially designed runners 1 5 and 1 6 which have been described above, it is possible in accordance with the present invention to suspend the stiffening member 33 shown in Figs. 6 and 7 (with the curtain supported thereby) in the same general manner as shown in Fig. 10, but by use of conventional curtain hooks.

Such an arrangement will now be described with reference to Figs. 12(a) and 12(b). In such an arrangement a conventional S-shaped curtain hook 40 is passed firstly through the curtain material and through the smaller upper aperture 37' in the stiffening member 33.

Conveniently the curtain hook 40 has a sharp pointed end which facilitates entry through curtaining material. Next a link chain 41 is threaded onto the curtain hook 40, with a spacing such as to perform the same function as the ball chain 29 in the embodiment of Fig. 10, and finally the curtain hook 40 is threaded onto a conventional curtain runner 42 which runs on a conventional curtain track (not shown). Although in the arrangement of Figs. 12(a) and 12(b) there is no specific provision for rotary movement of the runner 42 (as has been described with reference to the preceding Figures) it is found in practice that there is sufficient difference in the aperture of the curtain runner 42 relative to the hook 40 to allow sufficient twisting movement of the hook 40 in the curtain runner 42.It will be appreciated that this arrangement using conventional curtain hooks has advantage of cheapness and simplicity relative to the arrangement shown in the preceding Figures which is specifically designed for an embodiment of the present invention. In practice, the folding and unfolding of the curtain under the constraint of the stiffening member 33 operates for the embodiment of Figs. 12(a) and 12(b) in the same manner as that described with reference to the preceding Figures.

In a further alternative arrangement, the integral, synthetic plastics stiffening member 33 may be replaced by a stiffening means formed of a plurality of discrete stiffening members, each comprising a generally rectangular piece of card, and two lengths of flexible linking material conveniently consisting of two strips of 1,000 guage polythene material. The strips of polythene form linking strips linking together the individual stiffening members.

Each individual stiffening member is conveniently secured to the linking strips by a rivet passing through an aperture in the individual stiffening member which conveniently can be a rivet corresponding to the rivet 36 shown in the preceding Figures. Thus in this alternative arrangement the stiffening means consists of a number of hard board stiffeners that are situated at regular intervals along the length of the stiffening means between the linking strips. The polythene linking strips have an equal total length, but when assembled in the stiffening means the length of the linking portions between the vertical edges of the hardboard stiffeners are made unequal, and longer and shorter linking portions are alternated at succeeding stiffening members.The purpose of this arrangement is to allow for the varying angle between the hardboard stiffeners as the curtains are closed and opened, and also to provide support for the curtains on their folds. In a further modification, the linking strips may be omitted entirely. In such an arrangement (not shown) each of the individual stiffeners may be inserted separately into the hem of the curtain and may be located individually by the rivets of the runners passing through the material. As with the other embodiments described previously, a significant advantage of the invention is that the stiffening means are concealed by the hem of the curtain so that no unsightly equipment is visible in operation.

In an alternative arrangement of the form of runners 1 5 and 1 6 and track 11, the runners 1 5 and 1 6 may be attached to the stiffening member 33 before the stiffening member is inserted into the hem 38 of the curtain 31.

Such an arrangement is particularly suitable where heavy curtaining material is used which may make it difficult for the stirrup portions 1 8 of the coupling devices to straddle both the stiffening member 33 and the thickness of curtain material. In the alternative arrangement (not illustrated) there are provided along the upper portion of the curtain before the hem is turned a series of openings, for example button holes or eyelet holes, at the intended spacing of the coupling devices. The hem is then turned so that the holes are positioned along the upper fold line of the hem.The stiffening member 33 is then inserted with the coupling devices 1 5 and 1 6 already rivitted in place, and the flange portions 1 7 of the coupling devices 1 5 and 1 6 are pushed through the ready-made holes so as to protrude ready for threading on the track. An advantage of this form of coupling is that the coupling devices are more completely concealed by the hem of the curtain. This may be particularly advantageous with heavy curtains where large heavy duty coupling devices 1 5 and 1 6 are required.

Thus to summarise the preferred forms of suspension of curtains which have been described, there are two main forms of stiffening means for creating a zig-zag configuration of the curtain and three main methods of coupling the stiffening means to the curtain track.

The stiffening means may comprise an elongate stiffening member which has alternating regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness and which can be inserted as a whole into the hem of the curtain, or the stiffening means may comprise a number of separate stiffening elements which may be inserted individually into the hem and which are then held in place by being coupled to the coupling devices. With regard to the arrangements of coupling devices, firstly coupling devices may be of the form shown at 1 5 and 16, and may be secured to the stiffening means by straddling the stiffening means and the curtain material. Secondly the coupling devices may be of the same form but may straddle only the stiffening means and may be inserted into the hem with the stiffening means. As a third alternative, the coupling devices may be conventional curtain hooks inserted by piercing the curtain material and by passing through apertures in the elongate stiffening means. It will be appreciated that various combinations of these alternatives may be utilised. Indeed it is to be appreciated that the invention is not restricted to the particular details described above but that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (21)

1. Apparatus for hanging a curtain comprising an elongate support means for suspending a curtain, a plurality of coupling devices for coupling a curtain to the support means and for allowing movement of the curtain along the support means, and stiffening means for attachment to the curtain for urging the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

2. Apparatus for use in hanging a curtain comprising a plurality of coupling devices for coupling a curtain to an elongate support means for suspending the curtain and for allowing movement of the curtain along the elongate support means, and stiffening means adapted for attachment to a curtain in cooperation with the coupling devices in such a manner as to urge the curtain in operation to hang in predetermined folds.

3. A curtain assembly apparatus comprising a curtain, an elongate support means suspending the curtain by means of a plurality of coupling devices coupling the curtain to the support means and allowing movement of the curtain along the support means, and stiffening means attached to the curtain and arranged to urge the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the stiffening means is arranged for attachment along an upper region of a curtain and defines in operation a series of regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the upper region of the curtain for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4 in which the regions of differing stiffness are regularly spaced along the stiffness means.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5 in which the stiffening means comprises an elongate stiffening member for attachment along an upper region of a curtain, the elongate stiffening member having regions of relatively greater stiffness separated by regions of relatively lesser stiffness for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the region of different stiffness.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6 in which the stiffening member comprises a continuous member having a substantially uniform thickness over most of its length but having regions of reduced thickness spaced along its length and forming the said regions of relatively lesser stiffness.

8. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim in which the stiffening means is arranged to be attached to a curtain by being threaded into a hem formed along the top of the curtain.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim in which the coupling devices are arranged to be attached to the stiffening means one to each of the said regions of relatively greater stiffness.

1 0. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim in which the coupling devices are adapted to allow a degree of rotary movement of the stiffening means relative to the elongate support means.

11. Apparatus according to Claim 10 in cluding means for limiting the degree of ro tary movement to a predetermined amount for urging the curtain to hang in evenly-spaced folds.

1 2. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim in which each coupling device com prises a stirrup-shaped portion for straddling the upper edge of the stiffening means and a part of a curtain attached to the stiffening means.

1 3. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim including a control line running along the top of the curtain and coupled to the coupling devices in such a manner that upon tensioning of the control line, a constraint is placed upon the angular position of each coupling device about a horizontal axis thereof.

14. Apparatus according to any preceding Claim in which the said coupling devices are connected together along the top of the cur tain by a spacing line, each coupling device being fixed relative to the spacing line and the devices being spaced along the line from adjacent coupling devices at equal intervals, the arrangement being such that when the curtain is extended along the elongate support means, the spacing line is tensioned and limits the maximum spacing between coupling devices to give an evenly spaced array along the elongate support means.

1 5. Apparatus for use in hanging a curtain comprising an elongate stiffening member for insertion into a hem of a curtain, the stiffen ing member having a series of regions of relatively greater and relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the length of the stiffening member for urging the curtain to hang in folds determined by the regions of different stiffness.

1 6. Apparatus according to Claim 1 5 in which the elongate stiffening member com prises a continuous member having a substan tially uniform thickness over most of its length but having regions of reduced thickness spaced along its length and forming the said regions of relatively lesser stiffness.

1 7. Apparatus according to Claim 1 5 or 1 6 in which the elongate stiffening member is provided with at least one aperture through each region of relatively greater stiffness sub stantially at the centre of the length thereof for co-operation with a coupling device for coupling the stiffening member to an elongate support means for suspending a curtain.

1 8. A method of hanging a curtain com prising the steps of forming a hem along an upper region of a curtain, inserting into the hem an elongate stiffening member having a series of regions of relatively greater and V relatively lesser stiffness spaced apart along the length of the stiffening member, engaging with each of the said regions of relatively greater stiffness a coupling device, attaching the coupling devices to an elongate support means for suspending the curtain, and spacing the coupling devices at an even predetermined spacing with succeeding relatively stiff regions of the stiffening member inclined to each other in opposite senses in zig-zag configuration to urge the curtain to hang in predetermined folds.

1 9. A method according to Claim 1 8 in which the coupling devices include curtain hooks, and in which the method includes the step of inserting a curtain hook through an aperture in each relatively stiff region of the stiffening member by piercing the curtain hook through the hem portion of the curtain and through the aperture in the said relatively stiff region of the stiffening member.

20. Apparatus for use in hanging a curtain substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings, or with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings as modified in accordance with Figs. 12(a) and 12(b).

21. A method of hanging a curtain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings or with reference to Figs. 1 to 11 as modified by Figs. 12(a) and 12(b) of the accompanying drawings.