GB2174592A

GB2174592A - Illuminated curtain rail assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2174592A
Application number: GB08610500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexandre Ferrero; Domizio Colette Di
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-05-10
Filing date: 1986-04-29
Publication date: 1986-11-12
Also published as: GB8610500D0; PT82456A; TNSN86074A1; IT8667387A1; KR860008760A; IT1188145B; GR861087B; SE8602092L; DK216586D0; ES296868Y; FI861918A0; IT8667387A0; FI861918A; ES296868U; IL78667A0; IT8653385V0; NO861828L; BE904647A; SE8602092D0; FR2581532A1

Abstract

A curtain rail assembly comprises a curtain rail (1) which is at least in part (LXP), in a transparent material and houses a light source eg a fluorescent tube (6). The assembly includes fixations fastening the curtain rail to the wall which incorporate the electrical wiring connecting the tube to the mains power supply. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Curtain rail assembly This invention relates to curtain rail assemblies. As specifically described hereafter by way of illustration, there is provided a new furnishing article aimed at increasing comfort and ease of installation in a room.

The invention provides a curtain rail assembly comprising a curtain rail and means for mounting the curtain rail to a support surface, wherein the curtain rail is at least in part transparent or translucent and provides a housing for operatively receiving a light source.

The fixations fastening the curtain rail to the wall preferably incorporate the electrical wiring connecting this tube to the mains power supply.

The rail in itself can be for instance of ny conventional shape and can in use support a curtain by way for instance of wooden, metallic or plastic rings. If conventional bulbous ends are provided they may be removable and allow the light source, e.g. fluorescent tube and accessories (starter, transformer etc. ..), to be inserted or removed when replacement is necessary.

Apart from serving as support for the rings and curtain attached, the rail also acts both as a protective and diffusive casing for the fluorescent tube or other light source. This represents a considerable gain in space and ease of installation. The rail is preferably manufactured in a transparent plastics material reinforced by glass fibre.

It is well known that space around curtain rails is generally not easily accessible and is very cluttered, especially where net or draw curtains, or drapes are used. Fluorescent tubes are however frequently installed in the same place as the curtains to give an impression of natural dalight, especially in front of false windows. The rail illustrated below solves this problem of installation.

The invention will be illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Reference 1 in the drawing refers to a rail, generally cylindrical in shape, which is supported by two fixations 3 fastened to the wall 3. The curtain 5 is hung from rings 4 which slide along the rail in the usual manner.

According to the invention, at least length L of the cylinder 1 is in a transparent plastic material for at least part P of its circumference. Length L houses a fluorescent tube 6, the electrical wiring of which passes through one or both of the wall fixations 2 to connect the tube to the power supply. Cylinder 1 also houses the accessories for tube 6 such as the starter 7, sockets (not shown) etc... End 38 of cylinder 1 can house the transformer and is adapted by sliding onto 9, thus providing easy access to the interior when replacing tube 6.

The ends of rail 1 are finished by bulbous parts 10 is the usual way.

It can therefore be noted that all the components of fluorescent tube 6 are housed inside the rail and its supports. This primarily represents a non-negligible gain in space as mentioned above. In addition, the rail provides mechanical protection for the tube which can also be conveniently dismantled and handled in one piece. Finally, the material in which cylinder 1 is manufactured also acts as a diffuser, thus providing the accessory absolutely necessary for fluorescent lighting and often very bulky.

Obviously, the rail according to the invention can be of any length and diameter. Length L can represent both one or several separate portions of the total length of cylinder 1. The transparent part of length L can also be coloured to provide various lighting effects in the room. Finally, the curtain 5 fastened to the rings can be hung from below the rail, which can then either remain visible, or on the contrary comprise a panel hiding it. In this last case the room is lit indirectly by reflection on the ceiling.

This latter effect can be obtained by a sleeve fitted over the rail showing only the curtain accessories from the outside (wooden or copper rings), and comprising one or more windows which can be oriented by rotating the sleeve around the rail. This rotation can be either manual or motorised.

1. A curtain rail assembly comprising a curtain rail and means for mounting the curtain rail to a support surface, wherein the curtain rail is at least in part transparent or translucent and provides a housing for operatively receiving a light source.

2. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in Claim 1 including a light source received in said curtain rail.

3. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the light source is a fluorescent tube.

4. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said mounting means incorporated electrical connection means for establishing a connection between the light source and a cource of electrical power.

5. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in any preceding claim comprising an opaque mask element containing at least one transparent or translucent window and overlying the curtain rail and moveable with respect thereto so as to enable the direction of illumination by the light source to be varied.

6. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in Claim 5 wherein said mask element is in the form of a rotatable sleeve over the curtain rail.

7. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in Claim 6 wherein a motor is provided con

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Curtain rail assembly This invention relates to curtain rail assemblies. As specifically described hereafter by way of illustration, there is provided a new furnishing article aimed at increasing comfort and ease of installation in a room. The invention provides a curtain rail assembly comprising a curtain rail and means for mounting the curtain rail to a support surface, wherein the curtain rail is at least in part transparent or translucent and provides a housing for operatively receiving a light source. The fixations fastening the curtain rail to the wall preferably incorporate the electrical wiring connecting this tube to the mains power supply. The rail in itself can be for instance of ny conventional shape and can in use support a curtain by way for instance of wooden, metallic or plastic rings. If conventional bulbous ends are provided they may be removable and allow the light source, e.g. fluorescent tube and accessories (starter, transformer etc. ..), to be inserted or removed when replacement is necessary. Apart from serving as support for the rings and curtain attached, the rail also acts both as a protective and diffusive casing for the fluorescent tube or other light source. This represents a considerable gain in space and ease of installation. The rail is preferably manufactured in a transparent plastics material reinforced by glass fibre. It is well known that space around curtain rails is generally not easily accessible and is very cluttered, especially where net or draw curtains, or drapes are used. Fluorescent tubes are however frequently installed in the same place as the curtains to give an impression of natural dalight, especially in front of false windows. The rail illustrated below solves this problem of installation. The invention will be illustrated by the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing. Reference 1 in the drawing refers to a rail, generally cylindrical in shape, which is supported by two fixations 3 fastened to the wall 3. The curtain 5 is hung from rings 4 which slide along the rail in the usual manner. According to the invention, at least length L of the cylinder 1 is in a transparent plastic material for at least part P of its circumference. Length L houses a fluorescent tube 6, the electrical wiring of which passes through one or both of the wall fixations 2 to connect the tube to the power supply. Cylinder 1 also houses the accessories for tube 6 such as the starter 7, sockets (not shown) etc... End 38 of cylinder 1 can house the transformer and is adapted by sliding onto 9, thus providing easy access to the interior when replacing tube 6. The ends of rail 1 are finished by bulbous parts 10 is the usual way. It can therefore be noted that all the components of fluorescent tube 6 are housed inside the rail and its supports. This primarily represents a non-negligible gain in space as mentioned above. In addition, the rail provides mechanical protection for the tube which can also be conveniently dismantled and handled in one piece. Finally, the material in which cylinder 1 is manufactured also acts as a diffuser, thus providing the accessory absolutely necessary for fluorescent lighting and often very bulky. Obviously, the rail according to the invention can be of any length and diameter. Length L can represent both one or several separate portions of the total length of cylinder 1. The transparent part of length L can also be coloured to provide various lighting effects in the room. Finally, the curtain 5 fastened to the rings can be hung from below the rail, which can then either remain visible, or on the contrary comprise a panel hiding it. In this last case the room is lit indirectly by reflection on the ceiling. This latter effect can be obtained by a sleeve fitted over the rail showing only the curtain accessories from the outside (wooden or copper rings), and comprising one or more windows which can be oriented by rotating the sleeve around the rail. This rotation can be either manual or motorised. CLAIMS

7. A curtain rail assembly as claimed in Claim 6 wherein a motor is provided con nected to rotate said sleeve.

8. A curtain rail assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

9. A curtain rail characterised in that it is manufactured, at least in part, in a transparent material and at the same time houses a fluorescent tube. The fixations fastening the curtain rail to the wall incorporate the electrical wiring connecting this tube to the mains power supply.

10. Curtain rail according to Claim 9, characterised in that it includes at least one opaque element comprising at least one window enabling the area lit by the rail to be oriented as desired.

11. Curtain rail according to Claim 10, characterised in that the element is in the form of a sleeve fitted onto the rail and comprises at least one window which can be oriented by rotating the sleeve either manually or with a motor.