GB2065456A

GB2065456A - Curtain support systems

Info

Publication number: GB2065456A
Application number: GB7939248A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRENT VALLEY PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: TRENT VALLEY PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-13
Filing date: 1979-11-13
Publication date: 1981-07-01
Also published as: GB2065456B

Abstract

A suspension system for curtains has a track 1 supported along its length by mounting blocks 2 each of which has a cam member 12 with lobes 13, 14 that engage in upper and lower trade channels and which can be rotated between a position in which the lobes are wedged in the channels to lock the track and a position in which the track is freely movable relatively to the cam. Runners slide on the outer track surface. End stops 37 are provided for retaining the track hooks on the track. A cording set is described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Support systems The present invention relates to support systems for suspended articles and has particular but not exclusive reference to curtain suspension systems.

Curtain suspension systems comprise a rail from which the curtains are suspended and mounting blocks which support the rail on a vertical surface for example that of a window frame lintel or a wall. The blocks must hold the rail firmly in a selected position and prevent lengthwise movement of the rail once in the selected position but must nevertheless permit the rail to be moved easily into that position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a support system which meets the requirements just set out, and to provide compo nents for such a system.

According to the present invention, a mounting block for a suspension system comprises à body portion adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and a cam member movable between a first position in which the cam member is locked to the track and a second position in which the track is movable relatively to the block.

Alternatively, the present invention comprises a suspension system comprising a track of shallow channel form, and a plurality of mounting blocks each having a body portion adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and a cam member shaped to locate in the channel and movable between a first position in which the cam member is locked in the channel in such manner as to prevent movement of the track relatively to the mounting block and a second position in which the cam member is unlocked and the track is movable relatively to the mounting block.

By way of example only, a curtain suspension system embodying the invention and components thereforwill now be described in greater detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view, on a slightly reduced scale, of certain components of the system, Fig. 2 is a section of a curtain track in a plane transverse to the length of the track, Fig. 3 is a section of a curtain track mounting block, Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a curtain track hook, Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a curtain track hook, Fig. 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a curtain track end stop, Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, front and rear elevation of the end stop, Fig. 10 is a section on line X-X of Fig. 7, Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a guide for a cord set, Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a modified form of curtain track hook, Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a mounting block on which a cord guide is mounted, and, Fig. 14 is a schematic representation of a curtain track fitted with a cording set.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the main components shown of the curtain suspension system are a length of curtain track 1, a plurality of curtain track mount ing blocks of which only one is shown in Fig. 1 and indicated at 2, and a number of curtain track hooks one only being shown in Fig. 1 at 3.

The curtain track 1 is shown in transverse cross section in Fig. 2 and may consist of extruded material, for example a plastics material which may be that known as UPVC which may be that known under the Trade Mark "WELVIC". The track 1 has main wall 4 whose upper and lower edges, as seen in Fig. 2, are contoured to form inwardly-open upper and lower channels 5, 6 with out-turned flanges 7, 8 respectively. The flanges 7,8 are inclined towards one another as can be seen clearly from Fig. 2.

As can also be seen from Fig. 1, the main wall 4 does not lie in a vertical plane but is slightly bowed.

The track is of constant wall thickness.

Each curtain track mounting block 2 has a hollow body 9 of cylindrical form substantially open at one end and closed at the other end by a wall 10 apertured centrally as at 11. At its other end, the block is formed with an integral cam member 12 having upper and lower (as seen in Fig. 1 infulllines) lobes 13, 14 projecting diametrically from the longitudinal axis of the body 9.

Each lobe has side edges 15, 16 which converge slightly towards an arcuate end edge 17. Each lobe also has an aperture 18 adjacent the edge 17, the contour of the aperture 18 and its closeness to the edge 17 leaving a web 19.

Extending radially from the body 9 of the block 2 is a tab 20 seen only in Fig. 1. The dimensions of the tab 20 are such that it can be grasped by an installer as will be described below.

Between the cam member 12 and the end wall 10 and adjacent the member 12, the body 9 has an external peripheral flange 21.

The mounting block is a one-piece moulding of a plastics material for example that known underthe Trade Mark MARANYL A100. Other suitable materials can be used and the block may be of a multi-part construction.

A curtain track hook is shown in more detail in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As can be seen from Fig. 4, the hook of approximately C shape having a main limb 22 whose upper and lower ends are turned over to form upper and lower (as seen in Fig. 4) subsidiary limbs 23, 24. The limbs 23, 24 each have an inner arcuate surface 25 contoured to conform closely with the outer curved surface of the channels 5,6 of the curtain track 1. Each limb 23, 24 terminates with inturned ends 26, 27 respectively. End 26 has a face 28 inclined in such mannerthat it will engage the outer surface of the flange 7 of the track 1.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, the surfaces 25 are of a width considerabiy less than the overall width of the limbs 23, 24. This facilitates movement of the track hooks 2 along the track 1 as will be explained below.

Extending from the front face of the limb 22 is a hook 29 open upwardly as seen in Figs. 4 and 5. The hook 29 has a base 30 and an outer limb 31 extending from the lower (as seen in Fig. 4) part of the base 30 and spaced from the latter by a narrow gap 32.

The upper (as seen in Fig. 4) end of the limb 31 terminates in an inclined, wedge-shaped member 33.

Adjacent the member 33, the base 30 has a small projection 34. As can be seen frorn Fig. 5, the width of the hook 29 is very much less than the overall width of the limb 22.

Depending from the lower (as seen in Fig. 4) end of the main limb 22 is a ring 35 formed integrally with the remainder of the curtain hook. The ring 35 is joined to the limb 22 by a bridging piece 36. The ring 35 is not a complete annulus but is in the form of a split ring with overlapping ends as is shown most clearly in Fig. 1.

The system also includes end stops and one, 37, of these is shown in Figs. 7-10. The end stop is of closed form when seen in side elevation as in Fig. 7.

The stop has a main limb 38, upper and lower (as seen in Fig. 7) limbs 39,40 and a rear limb 41.

Limbs 39,40 have inner surfaces of which portions 42,43 are arcuate and contoured to engage closely the outer surfaces of the channels 5 and 6 of the track 1. Additionally, portion 42 merges into an inclined surface 44 contoured to engage the outer surface of flange 7 as will be described later. The surfaces 42, 43 and 44 are of a width that is considerably less than the width of the end stop in the vicinity of the surfaces.

Extending from the main limb 38 is a hook 45 having a base portion 46 substantially co-extensive with the main limb 38, and a limb 47 extending from the mid-part of the base portion 45 and separated from the latter by a narrow gap 48.

The upper (as seen in Fig. 7) end of the limb 47 terminates in a wedge-shaped member 49 adjacent which is a small projection 50 formed on the base portion 45.

The rear limb 41 has a central aperture 51. As can be seen from Figs. 8 and 9, the rear limb is of a width greater than the overall width of limb 38 overthe major part of its length, the width of the rear limb 41 increases from the junctions with the end limbs 39, 40 to a maximum at the mid-point of the length of the limb 41. The end limb 41 also increases in thick ness towards its mid-point reaching a maximum in the vincinity of the aperture 51.

Depending from the lower (as seen in Fig. 7) end of the limb 38 and connected thereto by a bridging piece 52 is an annulus 53.

The end stop is also a one-piece moulding of a plastics material for example that known underthe Trade Mark MARANYL A100. Other suitable materi als can be used and the stop may be formed from two or more parts.

To assemble the system, a number of mounting blocks 2 are first fixed at spaced points along a hori zontal line. Fixing is effected by means of screws inserted into the hollow body 9 and through the aper ture 11 in the end wall 10 and screwed into a sup porting surface. One such screw 54 is shown in Fig.

1. A washer 55 is located on the screw between the end wall 10 and the supporting surface. The washer 55 is of a material with a low coefficient of friction for example a plastics material which may be polypropylene. The purpose of the washer 55 is to facilitate rotation of the mounting block 2 about its longitudinal axis by means of a tab 20. Afterthe blocks have been secured in position, they are rotated, using the tabs 20 to a position in which the cam members 12 lie horizontally, i.e. in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

An end stop 3 is then fixed to the track 1 at one end thereof by ierserting the track into the stop so that the surfaces 42,43 and 44 engage the outer surfaces of the channels 5 and 6 and the flange 7 respectively. A grub screw (not shown) is then screwed through the aperture 51 and into contact with the limb 4 to hold the stop in position.

The requisite number of curtain track hooks 3 is then slid or clipped onto the track 1, the hooks 3 being mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 1 with the surfaces 25 engaging the outer curved surfaces of the channels 5, 6 of the track 1 and the surface 28 engaging the upper surface of the flange 7.

Finally, a second end stop is mounted upon the other end of the track and fixed thereto in a manner similar to that described above for the first end stop.

It will be appreciated that if the curtain hooks are clipped onto the track, both the end stops can be fitted first and will prevent the hooks sliding off the track.

The curtain track 1 is then positioned over the blocks 1 with the cam member 12 located within the inturned flanges 7, 8. One-by-one, the tabs 20 are then rotated to bring the lobes 13, 14 into the channels 5 and 6. As the cam member 12 reaches the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1,the end edges 17 of the lobescontactthe inner surfaces of the channels 5 and 6 and the webs 19 are flexed inwardly slightly. In this manner the track 1 is firmly locked in a selected position in which it has been located by the installer prior to rotating the tabs 20 as just described.

It will be appreciated that movement of the track 1 with the cam members 12 in the position shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines is unhindered and the installer has no difficulty in readily moving the track to a selected position.

The track 1 now being in position, the curtains can be suspended from the hooks 3 using eitherthe hooks 29 engaged in loop tape for example that known under the Trade Mark "RUFFLETTE" or by means of rings fixed to the curtain and locked into the rings35 on the hooks.

The wedge-shaped members 33 facilitate entry of the hooks 29 into the loops in the tape whilst once in position, the projections 34 tend to hold the loops in position.

It will be appreciated that it is possible to attach the curtains to the hooks before the track is mounted upon the mounting blocks.

When used to suspend curtains, the system may also include a cording set to enable the curtains to be drawn more easily. The cording set includes cords secured to the curtain track hooks at the inner ends of the curtains if two are used and passed over pul leys or guides at the ends of the curtain track.

Fig. 11 shows one form of guide 56 suitable for the system described above. The guide consists of an open-ended hollow cylinder gapped at 57 and with its curved surface formed with two circumferential recesses 58.

The guide 56 is mounted upon a block identical with that shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the gap 57 in the guide enabling it to be pushed on to the body part 9 of the block. Fig. 13 shows the guide mounted upon a mounting block.

There is a guide at each end of the curtain track, each of these being supported upon its own block.

The blocks used to support the guides are used to support the ends of the curtain track.

When a cording set is to be used, curtain track hooks adapted to allow the ends of the cord to readily be attached are used at the inner ends of the curtains when two are used or at one end if there is only a single curtain.

Fig. 12 shows a curtain track hook 59 adapted to receive a cord. In general, the hook is similarto that shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and described above.

The cording set hook shown in Fig. 12 has an arm 60 that extends rearwardly away from the upper (as seen in Fig. 12) end of the main limb 22 of the hook.

The arm 60 is somewhat longer than the limb 23 and is apertures adjacent its end as indicated at 61. The aperture 61 is clear of the outer extremity of the limb 23.

Fig. 14 shows schematically the way in which the cording set is assembled and the cord is fixed to the adapted track hooks 59.

A cord 62 is run behind the track 1 and over the guides 56 at each end thereof and the ends allowed to hang down at one end of the track as indicated at 63. One cord run is attached to the aperture 61 in one of the hooks 59 and the other run is attached to the aperture 61 in the other hook 59. The ends of the cord may be joined to form a continuous loop which passes round a tensioning device or the ends may have weighted handles secured to them to keep the cord in tension.

A pull on one or other of the cord runs will open or shut the curtains.

If required, a curtain support strip slidable along the track may be provided to allow the inner edges of the curtains of a pair to overlap slightly when drawn together.

It will be appreciated that the support system described above may be used to support articles other than curtains. It can be used to support tapestries or pictures although in these two examples it may not be necessary to employ track hooks if movement of the article along the track is not required.

It will also be understood that the components described above may be of light alloy or aluminium and extrusion techniques can be used where appropriate for the manufacture of the components for such material.

Claims

1. A mounting block for the track of a suspension system comprising a body portion adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and a cam member movable between a first position in which the cam member is locked to the track and a second position in which the track is movable relatively to the block.

2. A suspension system comprising a track of shallow channel form, and a plurality of mounting blocks each having a body portion adapted to be secured to a supporting surface and a cam member shaped to locate in the channel and movable between a first position in which the cam member is locked in the channel in such manner as to prevent movement of the track relatively to the mounting block and a second position in which the cam member is unlocked and the track is movable relatively to the mounting block.

3. A block as claimed in claim 1 in which the cam member is an integral part of the mounting block.

4. A block as claimed in claim 3 in which the block as a whole is rotatable to move the cam member between the first and second positions.

5. A block as claimed in claim 4 in which the body portion is of cylindrical form and the cam member includes two cam lobes extending diametrically from the axis of the body portion.

6. A block as claimed in claim 5 in which each cam lobe includes an aperture adjacent its outer end, the aperture being so dimensioned and located that there is provided a flexible web portion across the outer end of the lobe.

7. A block as claimed in claim 5 in which the cylindrical portion is adapted to receive a cord guide.

8. A block as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2 to 7 and further comprising a member adapted to enable the cam memberto be moved between the first and second positions.

9. A block as claimed in claim 8 in which the member is a tab extending diametrically from the body portion of the block and in which the cam member is an integral portion of the body portion.

10. A system as claimed in claim 2 in which each mounting block is as claimed in any one of claims 2-9.

11. A system as claimed in claim 10 in which the track has inwardly open channels along each edge, each channel having a wall portion comprising an out-turned flange.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 and further comprising curtain track hooks movable along the track, each hook being of approximately C-shape, the upper and lower limbs of the C being adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the channels, and in which the upper limb has a surface contoured to engage the surface of one of the out-turned flanges.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12 in which each hook includes a ring located at its normally lower end.

14. A system as claimed in claim 11,12 or 13 in which each hook includes a hook member including an upwardly converging end portion and separated over part of its length from the remainder of the hook by a narrow gap, the entrance to which is partially obstructed by a small projection.

15. A system as claimed in any one of claims 11-13 in which one at least of the track hooks includes an arm extending from the hook adjacent the upper limb thereof, the arm being adapted to be secured to the cord of a cording set.

16. A system as claimed in any one of claims 2, 10, and 11-15 and further comprising end stops each of which includes an aperture shaped to receive the curtain track and including means for securing the end stop to the track.

17. Asystem as claimed in claim 16 when appended to claim 11 and in which each end stop has surfaces adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the channels and a further inclined surface adapted to engage one of the flanges.

18. A system as claimed in claim 16 or 17 in which each end stop includes a hook and a ring for supporting an article.

19. A system as claimed in claim 18 in which the hook having an upwardly converging end portion is separated over part of its length from the remainder of the stop by a narrow gap, the entrance to which is partially obstructed by a small projection.

20. A mounting block substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A suspension system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 -10 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A suspension system substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1-14 of the accompanying drawings.