GB2147797A

GB2147797A - Improvements in and relating to curtain rods

Info

Publication number: GB2147797A
Application number: GB08327534A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John James Terry
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-14
Filing date: 1983-10-14
Publication date: 1985-05-22
Also published as: GB8327534D0; GB2147797B

Abstract

A joint for curtain rods 10 comprising two support members 16A, 16B, 18 adapted to engage end parts of adjacent curtain rods so as to support them and means 15, 15A, 17, 20-22 to hinge the support members together so that the latter can be arranged at the appropriate angles of a bay window. A curtain rod assembly comprises three curtain rods connected by such joints end provided with two fixing brackets adjacent to the free ends of the rods and a third bracket (12A, Fig. 5) located about centrally of the assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to curtain rods This invention relates to curtain rods and in particular to the support of curtain rods for bay windows. Heretofore rods have been separately supported spaced apart from each other or rods have been mitre cut and nailed or screwed together with a view to enabling curtain rings to be slidably adJustable around the joints. This latter has however proved to be difficult and generally unsatisfactory.

The main object of this invention is to provide means for supporting curtain rods in bay windows which are practical for manufacture and erection and enable the curtain rings to be slidable over the joints.

According to the invention we provide a joint comprising two support members adapted to engage end parts of adjacent curtain rods so as to support them, andmeans to hinge the support members together so that the latter can be arranged at the appropriate angles of a bay window.

In one desirable construction the hinge means comprises a frusto-spherical head on one support member engaged in a correspondingly shaped recess in the other support member.

In another desirable construction the support members are tubes pivotally attached on parallel axes to an intermediate member :which engages partly in each of the tubes.

Also according to the invention we provide a support system for bay window curtain rods comprising one or more of the above mentioned joints, two fixing brackets adjacent to the free ends of the rods, and a third bracket located about centrally of the rod assembly.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a curtain rod support system made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a hinge joint; Figure 3 is a plan view of another form of hinge joint; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the joint shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of a curtain rod support 15 bracket; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a curtain rod which comprises three rod members 10 which are attached together by two hinge assemblies 11 so as to be able to be located at the appropriate angles around a bay window.

The free ends of the end rod members 10 are supported and held in position by fixing brackets 12 which are screwed to the wall and have decorative end stops 13. A special bracket 12A is designed to engage the middle of the central rod 10 and is screwed to the wall so that all three rods are securely supported by three brackets.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a hinge as utilised in the curtain rods support shown in Figure 1. The hinge comprises two tubular socket members 16A, 16B shaped to receive the ends of the rods 10 to which they may be secured by screws 16C. The socket 16B is formed with a frusto-spherical head 15 engageable in a similarly shaped socket 15A on the head of the socket 16A.

A pin 17 passes through the head 15 and through the head of the socket 16A so as to secure the two sockets together. The heads of the sockets have abutment shoulders arranged so that the sockets are limited at 50-600 (e.g. 55" in one direction and approximately 90" in the other direction.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown,on an enlarged scale, an alternative hinge assembly 11 for use in the curtain rods of Figure 1.

Such hinge assembly comprises two tubular members 18 into which curtain rods 10 are located by screws 19. A central member 20, which may be solid or tubular, is located partly within the adjacent ends of tubular members 18 and secured by respective pairs of screws 21 which provide two pivotal axes that are parallel to each other. The ends of members 18 are part cut away at 22 to enable the members 18 to be o hinged about said axes through an angle of up to 90".

The central member 20 may be cut at its outer ends at an angle to the radial and may be covered by knobs 29 of plastics material.

With such arrangements a curtain rod can be provided around a bay window which is formed as shown in Figure 1 or has 90" window angles and still show a smooth contour from appearance point of view and from the point of view of curtain rings flowing around such joint, in use.

The hinge assembly may be formed of metal, such as brass, or may be formed of synthetic plastics material and may be brass coated.

Instead of the supporting members 16A,16B being in the form of tubular parts to surround the rods they may be solid or tubular but made to engage as spigots into hollow rods.

Figures 5 and 6 show the central bracket 12A which comprises a wall plate 30 which can be screwed to the wall. The plate 30 carries a socket 31 slidably engaged by a spigot 32 which carries a part circular plate 33 attached by screws 34 to the back of the rod 10 so that it is not visible to occupants of the room. The spigot 32 and socket 31 provide for adjustment towards and away from the wall.

The tubes 18 (or spigots) may be made to accommodate curtain rods of different diameters, e.g. the tubes may be split on lines parallel to their axes and provided with slotted openings for the fixing screws 21. Spigots could be split and expandable.

1. A joint for curtain rods comprising two support members adapted to engage end parts of adjacent curtain rods so as to support them and means to hinge the support members together so that the latter can be arranged at the appropriate

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to curtain rods This invention relates to curtain rods and in particular to the support of curtain rods for bay windows. Heretofore rods have been separately supported spaced apart from each other or rods have been mitre cut and nailed or screwed together with a view to enabling curtain rings to be slidably adJustable around the joints. This latter has however proved to be difficult and generally unsatisfactory. The main object of this invention is to provide means for supporting curtain rods in bay windows which are practical for manufacture and erection and enable the curtain rings to be slidable over the joints. According to the invention we provide a joint comprising two support members adapted to engage end parts of adjacent curtain rods so as to support them, andmeans to hinge the support members together so that the latter can be arranged at the appropriate angles of a bay window. In one desirable construction the hinge means comprises a frusto-spherical head on one support member engaged in a correspondingly shaped recess in the other support member. In another desirable construction the support members are tubes pivotally attached on parallel axes to an intermediate member :which engages partly in each of the tubes. Also according to the invention we provide a support system for bay window curtain rods comprising one or more of the above mentioned joints, two fixing brackets adjacent to the free ends of the rods, and a third bracket located about centrally of the rod assembly. The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a curtain rod support system made in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of a hinge joint; Figure 3 is a plan view of another form of hinge joint; Figure 4 is an exploded view of the joint shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of a curtain rod support 15 bracket; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of the bracket shown in Figure 5. Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a curtain rod which comprises three rod members 10 which are attached together by two hinge assemblies 11 so as to be able to be located at the appropriate angles around a bay window. The free ends of the end rod members 10 are supported and held in position by fixing brackets 12 which are screwed to the wall and have decorative end stops 13. A special bracket 12A is designed to engage the middle of the central rod 10 and is screwed to the wall so that all three rods are securely supported by three brackets. Referring now to Figure 2 there is shown a hinge as utilised in the curtain rods support shown in Figure 1. The hinge comprises two tubular socket members 16A, 16B shaped to receive the ends of the rods 10 to which they may be secured by screws 16C. The socket 16B is formed with a frusto-spherical head 15 engageable in a similarly shaped socket 15A on the head of the socket 16A. A pin 17 passes through the head 15 and through the head of the socket 16A so as to secure the two sockets together. The heads of the sockets have abutment shoulders arranged so that the sockets are limited at 50-600 (e.g. 55" in one direction and approximately 90" in the other direction. Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown,on an enlarged scale, an alternative hinge assembly 11 for use in the curtain rods of Figure 1. Such hinge assembly comprises two tubular members 18 into which curtain rods 10 are located by screws 19. A central member 20, which may be solid or tubular, is located partly within the adjacent ends of tubular members 18 and secured by respective pairs of screws 21 which provide two pivotal axes that are parallel to each other. The ends of members 18 are part cut away at 22 to enable the members 18 to be o hinged about said axes through an angle of up to 90". The central member 20 may be cut at its outer ends at an angle to the radial and may be covered by knobs 29 of plastics material. With such arrangements a curtain rod can be provided around a bay window which is formed as shown in Figure 1 or has 90" window angles and still show a smooth contour from appearance point of view and from the point of view of curtain rings flowing around such joint, in use. The hinge assembly may be formed of metal, such as brass, or may be formed of synthetic plastics material and may be brass coated. Instead of the supporting members 16A,16B being in the form of tubular parts to surround the rods they may be solid or tubular but made to engage as spigots into hollow rods. Figures 5 and 6 show the central bracket 12A which comprises a wall plate 30 which can be screwed to the wall. The plate 30 carries a socket 31 slidably engaged by a spigot 32 which carries a part circular plate 33 attached by screws 34 to the back of the rod 10 so that it is not visible to occupants of the room. The spigot 32 and socket 31 provide for adjustment towards and away from the wall. The tubes 18 (or spigots) may be made to accommodate curtain rods of different diameters, e.g. the tubes may be split on lines parallel to their axes and provided with slotted openings for the fixing screws 21. Spigots could be split and expandable. CLAIMS

1. A joint for curtain rods comprising two support members adapted to engage end parts of adjacent curtain rods so as to support them and means to hinge the support members together so that the latter can be arranged at the appropriate angles of a bay window.

2. A joint as claimed in claim 1 comprising a frusto-spherical head on one support member engaged in a correspondingly shaped recess in the other support member.

3. A joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support members are tubes pivotally attached on parallel axes to an intermediate member which engages partly in each of the tubes.

4. A joint as claimed in claim 2 wherein a pivot pin engages the frusto-spherical head of one support member and the recessed end of the other support member and the support members have abutments to limit their relative angular movements to 50-600 in one direction and approximately 90 in the other direction.

5. A joint as claimed in claim 3 wherein the ends of the tubes engaging the intermediate member are cut away on one side to permit angular adjustment relative to each other, and said ends have separate pivotal connection with the intermediate member, the latter engaging partly in each of said ends.

6. A joint for curtain rods substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A curtain rod assembly for bay windows comprising at least three rods joined by two or more joints as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, and including two fixing brackets adjacent to the free ends of the rods and a third bracket located about centrally of the assembly.

8. A curtain rod assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein the third bracket comprises a wall plate carrying a socket slidably engaged by a spigot which carries a plate attachable by screws to a rod.

9. A curtain rod assembly as claimed in claim 7 substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.