GB2187983A

GB2187983A - Bending curtain tracks

Info

Publication number: GB2187983A
Application number: GB08607040A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ivor Henry Seddon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-03-21
Filing date: 1986-03-21
Publication date: 1987-09-23
Also published as: GB8607040D0

Abstract

A curtain track (10) has a removable plastic insert (38) to prevent the walls of the track from collapsing when the track is bent to suit for example a bay window. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Extruded section with removable insert This invention relates to an extruded metal section such as a length of curtain track having a removable insert. Modern curtain rails made from extruded aluminium are usually of quite complex form having flanges to enable the curtain track to be mounted on brackets and a further flange or flanges to provide a track for the runners from which the curtains will hang. Whilst such tracks can be easily fitted in straight lengths, it is quite common for the tracks to have to be bent to fit into bay windows for example. The usual practice in order to fit curtain tracks into such situations is for the track either to be bent with special tooling on site or it may even need a track to be bent at a factory. The special tooling is required to prevent one or more of the walls forming the flanges from collapsing when the track is bent.

Various devices have been employed such as springs or thin lengths of material to prevent these walls collapsing, but these methods have been complex and labour intensive.

The present invention seeks to provide a curtain track having a removable insert to prevent one or more of the walls of the various flanges from collapsing when the curtain track is bent to suit a particular situation.

According to the present invention there is provided a curtain track having one or more flanges arranged to define at least one open sided rectangular space, the space being occupied by a length of solid plastics material which is easily movable within the rectanguiar space when the track in the straight or bent form.

The present invention further provides a method of bending a curtain track having one or more flanges arranged to form at least one open sided rectangular space, the space being occupied by a length of plastics material which is freely movable in the space, the method comprising the steps of placing the removable insert within the rectangular space forming the curtain track to the desired shape and withdrawing the removeable insert.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a curtain track showing a portion of a removable insert and one of the runners which is movable within a recess in the track.

Fig. 2 is a section on line A-A in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on line B-B in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, a curtain track 10 has a front face 12 which may be plain or decorated as required, an upper flange 14 having a lip 16, an intermediate flange 18, and two lower flanges 20 and 22, each having lips 24 and 26 respectively. The flanges 20, 22 and associated flanges 24, 26, define an opensided rectangular space 28 and provide a means of retaining a number of runners 30 only one of which is shown, so that the runners can also move freely along the curtain track. Each runner 30 has an eye 32 through which a curtain hook is looped and a spindle 34 upon which a roller 36 is rotatably mounted. The roller is sized so that it is larger in diameter than the space between the free edges of the lips 24, 26 so that it runs on the inside face of the flange 22 whilst the spindle 34 is free of the edge of the lip 26.

The flanges 14 and 18 and the lip 16 of the flange 14 are provided so that the rail can be mounted on brackets not shown, the brackets usually being attached to the window frame.

Mounting curtain tracks which do not require to be curved or bent to suit a particular situation is a relatively straightforward matter but difficulties arise when the track has to be bent to fit for example a bay window. If it is simply bent as it stands then the lips 16, 24 and 26 will collapse causing obvious problems. It has been the practice to fill the space 28 with either springs or a number of relatively long thin strips to prevent the lips collapsing when the track is bent. These methods are relatively complex and labour intensive.

Referring to Fig. 3, the space 28 is occupied by a length of plastics material which is freely movable within the recess but is retained by the flanges and lips 20, 22 and 24, 26 respectively. When it is desired to bend the curtain track to a certain form the insert which is of plastics material is slid into the space 28 and the track is bent in the region of the track where the insert is located. The track can be bent over the knee of the person fitting the track, or over an appropriately shaped former e.g. a radiussed wooden block.

The presence of the insert prevents any collapse of the flanges or walls and once the bending has taken place the insert can be removed and either disposed of or used again on some other length of the track where a curve is required.

The method and means of the present invention enables a curtain track to be bent on site relatively inexpensively with little or no tooling either on or off site and very quickly and without any detriment to the curtain track.

1. A curtain track formed from an extruded section including at least one open sided rectangular section space, the space being occupied by a removable insert formed from a pliable material the insert being freely movable along the space both when the track is in a straight or curved form.

2. A curtain track according to claim 1 in which the insert is formed from a length of

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Extruded section with removable insert This invention relates to an extruded metal section such as a length of curtain track having a removable insert. Modern curtain rails made from extruded aluminium are usually of quite complex form having flanges to enable the curtain track to be mounted on brackets and a further flange or flanges to provide a track for the runners from which the curtains will hang. Whilst such tracks can be easily fitted in straight lengths, it is quite common for the tracks to have to be bent to fit into bay windows for example. The usual practice in order to fit curtain tracks into such situations is for the track either to be bent with special tooling on site or it may even need a track to be bent at a factory. The special tooling is required to prevent one or more of the walls forming the flanges from collapsing when the track is bent. Various devices have been employed such as springs or thin lengths of material to prevent these walls collapsing, but these methods have been complex and labour intensive. The present invention seeks to provide a curtain track having a removable insert to prevent one or more of the walls of the various flanges from collapsing when the curtain track is bent to suit a particular situation. According to the present invention there is provided a curtain track having one or more flanges arranged to define at least one open sided rectangular space, the space being occupied by a length of solid plastics material which is easily movable within the rectanguiar space when the track in the straight or bent form. The present invention further provides a method of bending a curtain track having one or more flanges arranged to form at least one open sided rectangular space, the space being occupied by a length of plastics material which is freely movable in the space, the method comprising the steps of placing the removable insert within the rectangular space forming the curtain track to the desired shape and withdrawing the removeable insert. The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of a curtain track showing a portion of a removable insert and one of the runners which is movable within a recess in the track. Fig. 2 is a section on line A-A in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on line B-B in Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, a curtain track 10 has a front face 12 which may be plain or decorated as required, an upper flange 14 having a lip 16, an intermediate flange 18, and two lower flanges 20 and 22, each having lips 24 and 26 respectively. The flanges 20, 22 and associated flanges 24, 26, define an opensided rectangular space 28 and provide a means of retaining a number of runners 30 only one of which is shown, so that the runners can also move freely along the curtain track. Each runner 30 has an eye 32 through which a curtain hook is looped and a spindle 34 upon which a roller 36 is rotatably mounted. The roller is sized so that it is larger in diameter than the space between the free edges of the lips 24, 26 so that it runs on the inside face of the flange 22 whilst the spindle 34 is free of the edge of the lip 26. The flanges 14 and 18 and the lip 16 of the flange 14 are provided so that the rail can be mounted on brackets not shown, the brackets usually being attached to the window frame. Mounting curtain tracks which do not require to be curved or bent to suit a particular situation is a relatively straightforward matter but difficulties arise when the track has to be bent to fit for example a bay window. If it is simply bent as it stands then the lips 16, 24 and 26 will collapse causing obvious problems. It has been the practice to fill the space 28 with either springs or a number of relatively long thin strips to prevent the lips collapsing when the track is bent. These methods are relatively complex and labour intensive. Referring to Fig. 3, the space 28 is occupied by a length of plastics material which is freely movable within the recess but is retained by the flanges and lips 20, 22 and 24, 26 respectively. When it is desired to bend the curtain track to a certain form the insert which is of plastics material is slid into the space 28 and the track is bent in the region of the track where the insert is located. The track can be bent over the knee of the person fitting the track, or over an appropriately shaped former e.g. a radiussed wooden block. The presence of the insert prevents any collapse of the flanges or walls and once the bending has taken place the insert can be removed and either disposed of or used again on some other length of the track where a curve is required. The method and means of the present invention enables a curtain track to be bent on site relatively inexpensively with little or no tooling either on or off site and very quickly and without any detriment to the curtain track. CLAIMS

2. A curtain track according to claim 1 in which the insert is formed from a length of flexible plastics material.

3. A curtain track according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the rectangular space is defined by a laterally extending wall of the track at least two flanges spaced apart extending from said wall each said flange haaving a lip the two said lips extending towards each other but leaving a space between their free edges.

4. A method of curving a curtain track from a length of straight track, the track including at least one open sided laterally extending space the space being occupied by a length of pliable material, the insert being freely movable within the space, the method comprising placing the insert within the space, forming a curve in the track in the region of the track containing the insert and removing the insert from the track subsequent to the bend being formed.

5. A curtain track and insert substantially as here in described.

6. A method of forming a curve in a curtain track substantially as here in described.