GB2097242A

GB2097242A - A curtain supporting and sliding device

Info

Publication number: GB2097242A
Application number: GB8206352A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BUSI GIACOMO TAIL
Current assignee: BUSI GIACOMO TAIL
Priority date: 1981-03-06
Filing date: 1982-03-04
Publication date: 1982-11-03
Also published as: DE8206209U1; GB2097242B; FR2501030A3; ES263736U; FR2501030B3

Abstract

Two sliding blocks intended to glide in opposite directions along a track 7 carried by a rod 8 each comprise a body 1 having two seats 2 at opposite ends thereof for receiving two rings 5 as a force fit therein. In addition a respective pin 3 positioned centrally of each seat 2 engages within a corresponding hole in the ring 5 received within that seat 2 so as to prevent any relative rotation between the ring 5 and the body 1. Two pairs of wheels or rollers 9 are attached to each body 1 for engaging the track 7; and two suspension elements 11 for supporting the two curtains, each carried by the pair of rings 5 associated with a respective one of the bodies 1. Such a device serves to reliably support the curtains whilst providing very low frictional resistance to drawing of the curtains. Cord arrangements for drawing the curtains are also described. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A curtain supporting and sliding device This invention relates to a curtain sliding and guiding device applicable, for example, to windows, French windows and the like.

In such devices of the prior art, sliding blocks are provided sliding on guides, supporting the rings forming parts of means to which the curtains are connected.

Said sliding blocks glide over said guides by rather wide contact surfaces and therefore with substantial friction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for substantially reducing the friction that a sliding block experiences when moving on a guide.

In such conventional types of system, the rings are secured to the sliding blocks by means of screws. Thus, it is another object of the present invention to provide securing means for the rings to the sliding blocks, which are particularly simple and rational and such as to effectively clamp or block the ring to the sliding block, that is to prevent any rotation of the ring with respect to the sliding block.

Thses and further advantages, as will become apparent from the following description, are attained by a device according to the present invention, which device is essentially characterized by comprising two sliding blocks intended to slide in opposite directions on a track carried by rod or similar support, the latter being preferably arranged in a horizontal direction, each of said sliding blocks comprising a body having at two distinct spaced apart positions two seats, each of which is designed for receiving and holding a ring which is pressure inserted in said seat, and ring means being also provided for further restraining said ring to the seat, so that no rotation of any kind are allowed between said ring and sliding block body, two elements or "surmounts" being also provided for respectively carrying the two curtains, each of which is supported by a corresponding pair of rings, in turn supported by a corresponding sliding block.

In order to better show these and further features of the device according to present invention, an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a sliding block; Figure 2 is a plan view of said sliding block, that is a view rotated through 90" relative to Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged view according to a plane, the line of which being indicated by Ill-Ill in Fig. 2; Figure 4 is an elevational view showing a support element, which in this description is referred to as "surmount"; Figure 5 is a plan view showing said "surmount" rotated through 90 relative to Fig. 4; Figure 6 is a view showing a piece comprising two wheels or rollers;; Figure 7 is an elevational view showing a minor sliding block; Figure 8 is a further elevational view showing said minor sliding block rotated through 90 relative to Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a perspective view showing a track piece or section; Figure 10 is an elevational view showing an assembly comprising sliding blocks, surmounts and means for supporting and guiding said sliding blocks; Figure 11 is a plan view showing said assembly rotated through 90 relative to Fig.

10; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along plane XII-XII of Fig. 10; Figure 13 is an enlarged view showing a detail of Fig. 10; Figure 14 is an enlarged view showing a detail of Fig. 11; Figure 15 is an enlarged view showing a further detail of Fig. 11; Figure 16 is an elevational view showing a detail of the element shown in Figs. 4 and 5, some parts of the element being omitted in this Fig. 1 6 for the sake of simplicity; Figure 1 7 is a view showing a spacing element; Figure 18 is a further view showing said spacing element; Figure 19 is a further view showing said spacing element; Figure 20 is an elevational view showing a piece or element forming a part of a device for the cord transmission; Figure 21 is a plan view showing said piece of element of Fig. 20;; Figure 22 is a plan view showing another piece or element of the device for the cord transmission; Figure 23 is an elevational view of said piece or element shown in Fig. 22; Figure 24 is a sectional view showing the device for the cord transmission as assembled; Figure 25 is a view showing a portion of a device with two pulleys for the two lengths of cord for opening and closing the curtain; Figure 26 is a view showing another portion of said device; Figure 27 is a view showing a sectional detail; Figure 28 is a side view of the detail shown in Fig. 27; Figure 29 is a vertical sectional view showing the device as applied to the wood stick; Figure 30 is a sectional view taken along line XXX-XXX of Fig. 29; and Figure 31 is a sectional detail view taken along line XXXI-XXXI of Fig. 29.

The device shown in Figs. 1 to 1 9 com prises two sliding blocks gliding on a track.

Each of such sliding blocks comprise essen tially a body, designated as a whole at 1, which body is a unitary piece or element made of plastics material or metal.

At the two ends, said body 1 comprises two parts, both indicated at A, Each of which have a housing or seat 2 and a small pin 3 centrally of said housing or seat 2. Moreover, each part A has a second seat indicated at 4.

Said body 1 is for supporting two rings, each of which are indicated at 5. Each ring 5 is provided with a hole (see Fig. 14), at the position indicated at 6, for receiving a small pin 3.

By some pressure each of said rings 5 are inserted in a corresponding seat 2 of part A of body 1 and care is taken so that by such an insertion said small pin 3 penetrates into the ring hole 6.

The insertion of said ring 5 in seat 2 requires some pressure to slightly spread apart the two parts Al which then clamp said ring therebetween.

It clearly appears that said ring 5 inserted in seat 2 with said small pin 3 in turn inserted in hole 6 remains blocked or clamped therein, or is prevented from any rotation.

Two pairs of wheels or rollers are also provided for the gliding of the sliding block on a track 7 attached to a rod 8, generally made of wood which carries or supports the whole assembly.

Each pair of wheels or rollers in a single unit of plastics material or metal, comprising both the wheels or rollers designated at 9 and a pin designated at 10 (see Fig. 6).

Still with some pressure this pin 10 is inserted in said seat 4 of part A, and thus the wheels or rollers 9, or a pair of wheels or rollers are associated with said part A.

Obviously, a corresponding pair of wheels or rollers 9 is associated with each part A.

When the sliding block is assembled on said track 7 and the assembly is under the conditions of normal operation, said wheels or rollers 9 bear on the flat surfaces S of the track. When the sliding block is mounted on the track, said wheels or rollers can no more move out of the seat thereof.

In addition, adjacent said surfaces S on which the wheels or rollers bear, said track 7 also has relief surfaces 51 for retaining said wheels or rollers, that is for avoiding side skids.

Provision is also made for tabs 52, so that the contact with the sliding block occurs along an extremely reduced area, whereby friction is considerably reduced.

An element 11, which in the present disclosure is referred to as "surmount", is provided for each sliding block. The surmount 11 is intended to support a curtain, that is to say the two surmounts 11 coupled to the two sliding blocks respectively support the two curtains.

More particularly, the surmount 11 comprising a body made of plastics material or metal includes two parts 12, each of which have a shaped seat or cavity 1 5 for receiving a ring 5.

Said ring 5 is slipped into the seat 1 5 by some pressure, or is built in joined. Therefore, each surmount 11 is thus built in associated with the two rings 5 which in turn are also built in secured in said parts A of the sliding block.

The shape of each surmount is such that in the approach movement of the curtains the surmounts can be placed side by side, which allows the curtain crossing.

At its part 21, a surmount 11 comprises needles 22, and the curtain is connected to such needles 22 by a tape of the like.

Owing to the above described wheels or rollers 9, a sliding block or each sliding block readily glides on the track 7 with an extremely reduced friction.

Moreover, the above described shape of the track also contributes in reducing the friction, in addition to providing an effective supporting and guiding means.

Also effective and rational are the connecting means for the rings to the sliding block and the connecting means for the surmount to the rings.

In addition, the sliding block is passed through by a hole 13, at the top surrounded by a cylindrical wall 1 4 provided with two cuts designated at 1 5.

Said hole 13 with said wall 14 and cuts 15 is used for connection with the sliding block of the wire or rope for controlling the movements of said sliding block.

The wire or rope 1 6 for controlling the sliding blocks (two sliding blocks) forms a closed ring or loop.

The two ends of this wire or rope 1 6 are both attached to one of the two sliding blocks located at position M and shown in Fig, 11.

One of the two rope lengths branching off from said sliding block, to which the two ends of the rope are attached, passes through a tranmission to the end R1 of stick 8, and is then connected to said other sidling block located at position N. Said rope 16 enters the hole 1 3 of said sliding block at position N, passes to the two cuts 1 5 and through said hole 1 3 emerges directed to the other end R2 of stick 8, where the two rope lengths pass on pulleys or sheaves and downward move as parallel and spaced apart under tension by a proper weight.

By pulling either of the two vertical lengths of rope, the two sliding blocks move near or away, however in opposite directions.

In addition to the two above described sliding blocks which with the respective surmounts 11 support or carry the two curtains, small sliding blocks are provided, such as that shown at 17, also suitable to receive a ring, 5 which is pressure inserted in a seat 1 9 similar to seat 2.

These small sliding blocks 1 7 also have seats 1 8 suitable to receive the pins 10 of wheels or rollers 9 for the sliding of said small sliding blocks 1 7 on the track 7.

Said small sliding blocks 1 7 along with the rings carried thereby also contribute to the support of the curtains.

A spacing element 20 also sliding on said track 7 is provided between said small sliding blocks 17.

A possible embodiment of the spacing element 20 is shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19.

The particular shape of the spacer 20, shown in Figs. 17, 18 and 19, is such that when mounted in the guide it can be simply removed, if required, by a slight pressure.

The particular shape of surmount 11 with said part 21 is such that, when the curtain is mounted, no part of the surmount is exposed.

Generally, the stick 8 is carried in horizontal position. However, the above disclosed inventive concepts are also applicable to vertical guides.

The device according to Figs. 20 to 24 comprises two parts, respectively indicated at 101 and 105, which can be interconnected.

The part 101 integrally made of plastics material comprises a pin 102 extending at the top in a length 1 02A of minor diameter. This part 101 comprises a wall 103 carrying a seat 104 preferably of dovetail shape. The part 105, also made of a single body of plastics material, comprises a part 107 of dovetail shape, corresponding to said seat 104 of part 101 and has a hole 106 for receiving said pin length 102A.

A pulley 108 is slipped or inserted on pin 102 and the parts 101 and 105 are interconnected by the insertion of element 107 in the seeat 104 and pin 102A in the hole 106. The whole is inserted under pressure on the track carrying and guiding the sliding blocks for the support and gliding of the curtains.

Th cord 1 6 is caused to pass about the pulley 108 forming the transmission element.

The assembly comprising said two interconnected parts 101 and 105 has a contour which particularly matches the inner contour of the track.

Said assembly is inserted at one end of the track and remains secured thereto both because of pressure insertion and by being retained by said cord 1 6 passing on or wrapping about the pulley 108.

The device shown in Figs. 25 to 31 will now be described.

In Figs. 30 and 31 the wood comprising said stack has been omitted for better showing the actual device.

The device comprises a part 201 made of a single piece of plastics material including two pins respectively indicated at 202 and 203, the pins serving for the support of pulleys, in addition to other two projecting elements 204 and 205 to provide for connections.

The part 201 further comprises two semicylindrical extensions 206.

The device further comprises another part, designated at 207, also made in a single body of suitable plastics material, carrying seats or holes for receiving the end lengths of reduced section both of pins 202 and 203 and engaging elements 204 and 205.

The part 207 further comprises two also semicylindrical extensions, both of which indicated at 208. Two pulleys 209 and 210 are slipped or inserted on the lengths of major diameter of said pins 202 and 203.

The two parts 201 and 207 are interconnected, and particularly the end lengths of minor section of pins 202 and 203 and elements 204 and 205 are inserted in the corresponding holes provided in said part 207.

Each semi cylindrical extension 206 fits together with a corresponding semicylindrical extension 208 so as to form a single shank of circular section.

As shown in Fig. 28, each extension 206 and 208 is of sawtooth profile or contour.

In the above described support rod 8 a suitable seat is easily formed without undue weakening of the wood for receiving the assembly comprising said parts 201 and 207 which are interconnected as above mentioned.

In said rod 8, cylindrical holes 212 and 21 3 are also provided, in which the two shanks are pressure inserted, each of the shanks comprising an extension 206 and a corresponding extension 208. Upon insertion completion, any removal is substantially impossible owing to said sawtooth profile.

T1 and T2 indicate two cord lengths respectively gliding on the pulleys 209 and 210. By downward pulling either of the two vertical cord lengths, the gliding of the sliding blocks and hence of the curtains is determined both in the directions of approach thereof (curtain closing) and in the directions of curtains being moved away (curtain opening).

Claims

1. A curtain supporting and sliding device, comprising two sliding blocks intended to glide in opposite directions on a track carried by a rod or similar support, each of said sliding blocks comprising a body having at two distinct positions spaced apart from each other two seats, each of which is provided for receiving and retaining a ring that is pressure inserted in such a seat, and ring means being also provided for further restraining the ring to the seat, so that no rotation of any kind can occur between the ring and sliding block body, two elements or "surmounts" being also provided for respectively supporting the two curtains, each of said elements or surmounts being carried by a corresponding pair of rings, in turn carried by a corresponding sliding block.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein each sliding block essentially comprises a body including at the two ends two parts each of which carries a seat in which a ring can be pressure inserted and in its seat comprises a pin which, when said ring is pressure inserted in said seat, is slipped into a corresponding hole in the ring.

3. A device according to Claim 2, wherein each of said parts has a seat for receiving a pin with which two wheels or rollers are integral and intended to glide on the track.

4. A device according to Claim 2, wherein at a position intermediate said two parts said body has a hole passing therethrough, at which there is a cylindrical wall with cuts, said hole and said cuts being such that the control wire or rope for restraining the sliding block to the wire or rope can pass therethrough.

5. A device according to Claim 3, wherein said track substantially comprises a section including at the top flat surfaces on which the sliding block wheels or rollers can glide and relief surfaces (S1) for preventing side skirts, said track internally comprising shaped surfaces for forming contact zones with the sliding block of extremely reduced area.

6. A device according to Claim 1, wherein each surmount comprises parts with shaped cavities or recesses, in each of which a curtain supporting ring is pressure inserted.

7. A device according to Claim 1, wherein minor sliding blocks are provided, each of which carry a seat, in which a ring is pressure inserted, and two seats, in each of which a pin can be pressure inserted, two wheels or rollers for gliding on said track being integral with said pin.

8. A device according to Claim 1, wherein each surmount comprises at one end a shaped part with needles for connection with the curtain by means of a tape or the like, the configuration of said shaped part with said needles being such that upon assembling of the curtain no part of the surmount is exposed.

9. A device according to Claim 1, comprising a spacer that can be seated on the track and shaped to be removable simply through the use of a slight pressure.

10. A device according to Claim 1, comprising means for cord transmission essentially including two parts, preferably of plastics material, interconnectable to form an assembly which can be pressure inserted on the track carrying and guiding said sliding blocks, one of said two parts being provided with a pin for supporting a pulley for the transmission of said cord.

11. A device according to Claim 10, wherein one of said parts comprises a pin and a wall having a dovetail seat therein, while the other part comprises a dovetail element insertable in said seat and a hole for receiving an end length of minor diameter of said pin, the length of major diameter of said pin being suitable to support said pulley, the profile of the assembly of said parts, which are interconnected, beng adaptable to the inner profile of said track.

1 2. A device according to Claims 1, comprising guide or transmission means for the two cord lengths to control the opening and closing of the curtain, said means essentially comprising two parts preferably of plastics material, one of which includes both two projecting elements insertable in corresponding seats in the other part for the interconnection of said two parts, and two pins for the support of two pulleys on which said two cord lengths glide, means being provided for pressure connection of the assembly of said two parts to the stick supporting the sliding blocks for the curtain movement.

1 3. A device according to Claim 12, wherein each of said projecting elements and each of said pins comprise an end length of minor section which is inserted in a corresponding hole of the other part.

14. A device according to Claim 12, wherein said parts comprise extensions of sawtooth profile which, when the two parts are joined or connected, correspond to each other to form shanks, said rod being provided with a seat for receiving the assembly of said two parts, said seat comprising holes for receiving said shanks.

1 5. Curtain supporting and sliding devices having their parts constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.