GB2359480A

GB2359480A - Curtain runner

Info

Publication number: GB2359480A
Application number: GB0104549A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Flueckiger
Original assignee: Silent Gliss International AG
Current assignee: Silent Gliss International AG
Priority date: 2000-02-23
Filing date: 2001-02-23
Publication date: 2001-08-29
Also published as: AT411725B; GB0104549D0; ATA672001A

Abstract

A one-piece moulded plastics curtain runner has a head 4 which can be inserted upwards into the track (3,Fig 4) of a curtain rail (2). The head has upstanding semicircular resilient parts 5 which pivot on the plate 9 of the head at points S. The runner is supported on the lips (6) of the track by runner surfaces 12<I>a</I> of inclined lateral projections 12, arranged on each side of the runner in pairs separated by a vertical groove (10,Fig 5). On pushing the runner upwards into the track, the inclined surfaces of the projections bear on the lips, causing the parts 5 to pivot and the projections to move inwards until they clear the track and return to their original position.

Description

A 2359480 1 Curtain runner The invention relates to a curtain runner. The

invention finds particular application in a curtain runner for example for rails with a longitudinal track open at the bottom, having a runner head which can be inserted in the rail through the longitudinal track and slidably supported on the walls of the longitudinal track by means of resilient runner parts moulded onto the runner head, a fixing member being mounted on a bottom face of the runner head.

Curtain runners of the type outlined above are known in numerous embodiments. They may be inserted in the rail at any point thereof. There is no need for a specific insertion orifice. A runner of this type is described in CH-A-675960, for example. This runner has, on the runner head, two laterally projecting, resiliently moulded retaining lips forming runner parts which slidably support the runner against the rims of the longitudinal track. The disadvantage of these runners is that the laterally projecting edges of the retaining lips can become hooked in the curtain fabric during washing. A similar runner is known from CH-A-676193. It has the same inherent problem that the runner can become hooked in the curtain fabric during washing.

DE-C-19508378 discloses a runner, in which the runner head has a roofshaped, in particular saddle-shaped top face. The runner parts in this case are referred to as 2 cheeks and are mounted on two f rames. Yet again, there is the risk of the runner becoming hooked in the curtain fabric. Moreover, made by an injection-moulding process. this runner is extremely complex to manufacture.

DE-A-3933907 discloses a runner, in which the runner parts are provided in the form of resilient arms projecting downwards and laterally towards the exterior. The risk of becoming hooked is particularly high in this case. The same applies for the runners disclosed in DE-A-4330533 and DE-A3707133.

It is an object of at least the preferred embodiment of the present invention to propose a curtain runner of the type outlined above which is simple and inexpensive to make and in which the risk of hooking in the curtain fabric is significantly reduced.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a curtain runner of the generic type, wherein the top end of the runner head can be compressed so that it can be introduced into the longitudinal track of the rail and against the rims of the longitudinal track. With the curtain runner proposed by the invention.. the top end of the runner head is resiliently compressed for insertion purposes. After insertion, the top end of the runner head resumes its original position. Since it is the actual runner head which is compressed and not, as previously, parts projecting far out to the side, the 3 runner head is of a considerably more compact structure.

one embodiment of the invention proposes supporting parts which project essentially vertically in an upward direction and are respectively resiliently moulded at a bottom end, an intermediate space being left free between the top ends of the runner parts so that the top ends of the runner parts pivot towards one another in a wing-like action when the runner head is inserted in the longitudinal track.. A particularly compact arrangement can be achieved if, as proposed in another embodiment of the invention, said two runner parts are arcuate in shape as viewed from the side. This is a particularly practical runner for insertion by means of an insertion lock, such as disclosed in Swiss patent application No. 419/98 filed by this applicant, for example. The compact, rounded shape of the head not only prevents hooking in the curtain fabric but also avoids jamming in an insertion and release lock. Furthermore, a single-piece unit can be manufactured by an injection-moulding process without any problem.

other advantageous features are set out in dependent claims, the description below and drawings.

Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 4 Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a curtain runner according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 is a vertical section through the curtain runner illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an end-on view of the curtain runner, Figure 4 is an end-on view of a runner inserted in a curtain rail, Figure 5 is another end-on view of the curtain runner and Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating how the curtain runner is inserted in the longitudinal track of a rail.

The curtain runner 1 illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 is made in a single piece from an appropriate plastics material by an injection-moulding process. In order to attach it to a curtain panel, not illustrated, the runner 1 has a hook 7 or any other standard eyelet as a fastening member. As a rule, the runner 1 is permanently attached to the curtain panel and is not taken off for washing.

The runner 1 has a runner head 4, which has a plate 11 with laterally projecting guide lips 11a. The hook 7 is moulded onto the bottom face of this plate 11. Moulded onto the top face of the plate 11, spaced at a distance apart, are two side walls 9, which are aligned substantially parallel with one another. The side walls 9 project upwards out from the plate 11 and, as illustrated, are slimmer than the plate 11. Two runner parts 5 are moulded onto these two plates 9, extending in the running direction and also spaced at a distance apart from one another.

Each runner part 5 is joined to the two plates 9 at two points, denoted by S in figure 1. The points s form pivot points, at which the the runner parts 5 are pivotably attached to the plates 9. The two runner parts 5 each have two lateral projections 12, separated from one another by a vertically extending groove 10.

However, the two projections 12 are respectively joined to one another by a wall 13, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. An approximately horizontally extending running surface 12a is provided on the bottom face of these projections 12, on which the runner 1 is slidably supported on rims 6 of the rail 2.

The two runner parts 5 each have an arcuate top rim 5a, extending respectively between two pivot points S. The two rims Sa form a circular are in particular and extend parallel with one another.

Arranged between the two walls 13 is an intermediate space 8, which extends as far as the plate 11 and which is joined to a transversely running channel 14. The channel 14 extends laterally from one wall 9 to the other so that the projections 12 are respectively free 6 underneath the running surfaces 12a, as illustrated more particularly in Figure 2.

A more detailed description will now be given with reference to Figures 4 to 6 of how a runner 1 is inserted in the longitudinal track 3 of a curtain rail 2.

The runner 1 is inserted in the longitudinal track 3 f rom underneath, at any point on the rail 2. The width of the track 3 substantially corresponds to the width A of the runner head 4 at its top end, as illustrated in Figure 3. The projections 12 form wider sections 11 of the runner head and have side faces 12a projecting outwardly in a wedgeshaped design, as illustrated in Figure 3. When the runner head 4 is inserted in the track 3, the side faces 12a of these projections 12 slide along the rims 6. As a result, the runner head 4 is compressed and can be pushed farther into the track 3. The two runner parts 5 are thereby pivoted inwardly about the pivot points S. Simultaneously, the two projections 12 are displaced towards one another, and the width of the corresponding slit 10 decreases, as illustrated in Figure 6. The two runner parts 5 are therefore respectively folded inwards about a vertical axis. Said pivoting action about the pivot points S in conjunction with the folding action enables the runner head 4 to be fully inserted in the rail 2 by applying a relatively slight force.

7 Figure 4 illustrates a runner 1, which has been inserted in a rail 2 and to which force is applied by a curtain panel, not illustrated. When no force is applied to a runner 1, the two runner parts 5 assume the nonoperating position illustrated in figure 3. When force is applied, however, these runner parts 5 are pivoted inwards slightly, as illustrated in Figure 4. The runner 1 is guaranteed to remain supported and retained in the curtain rail 2, as illustrated in Figure 4. One reason why the runner 1 is capable of withstanding a high degree of force is the fact that the running surfaces 12a are relatively short and the point at which the force acts on the two running parts 5 is at a relatively short distance from the pivot points S. The lever arm is therefore relatively short.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined by the appended claims.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated here as part of the specification.

8 The curtain runner has a runner head (4) which can be inserted through a longitudinal track (3) into a curtain rail (2). Resiliently moulded runner parts (5) are provided on the runner head (4), which slidably support the runner head (4) on rims (6) of the longitudinal track (3). The top end of the runner head (4) can be compressed in order to insert it in the longitudinal track (3). Preferably, during insertion, two runner parts (5) are pivoted from pivot points (S) and partially folded respectively about a vertical line. The curtain runner may be of a very compact design and is also suitable for insertion and release locks.

9

Claims

1. Curtain runner f or rails with a track open at the bottom, having an upper part which can be inserted in the rail through the track and is supported on the track by means of support portions, a fixing means being provided on a lower part of the runner, wherein the upper part can be compressed in order to insert it in the track of the rail.

2. Curtain runner as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support portions project substantially vertically in an upward direction and are respectively resiliently moulded at a bottom end, and wherein an intermediate space is left free between the top ends of the support portions so that the top ends of the support portions can be pivoted towards one another in a wing-like action when the said upper part is inserted in the track.

3. Curtain runner as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the support portions, as viewed from the side, are respectively arcuate at least at a top rim, preferably of a circular arc design.

4. Curtain runner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support portions are respectively pivotably attached to walls which extend transversely to the running direction and which are moulded onto a plate at a distance apart from one another.

5. Curtain runner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support portions respectively have a more or less centrally disposed vertically extending groove, enabling the support portions to be folded.

6. Curtain runner as claimed in claim 5, wherein the two grooves are respectively disposed between two pivot points.

7. Curtain runner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support portions respectively have two projections arranged in a pair on the outer side.

8. Curtain runner as claimed in claim 7, comprising a channel respectively underneath the projections.

9. Curtain runner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cross section of the upper part perpendicular to the running direction is generally Vshaped.

10. A combination of a curtain rail and at least one runner as claimed in one of claims 1 to 9, the rail being formed with a track open towards the bottom, the at least one runner being configured to be supported on the rims of the track by means of the support portions.

11. Curtain runner substantially as herein described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A combination of a curtain rail and at least one runner substantially as herein described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.