GB2399000A

GB2399000A - Curtain pole bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2399000A
Application number: GB0305049A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daryl Ford
Original assignee: OLD FORGE Co
Current assignee: OLD FORGE Co
Priority date: 2003-03-06
Filing date: 2003-03-06
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Also published as: GB0305049D0

Abstract

In a system of the kind having poles 1 from which curtains are suspended in use, mounting brackets 2 for securing the poles to a surface W include a pole support portion 3 with a foot plate 10 which can be mounted on surface W. A cranked mounting plate 15 is rotatably connected to the pole support portion 3 whereby the mounting plate can be secured in different orientations relative to the pole support portion 3, in addition to the footplate 10.

Description

À . .c À * 1 2399000 The Old Forge Company (Devon) Limited

CURTAIN HANGING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which the curtains are suspended in use and mounting brackets for securing the poles to a surface.

BACKGROUND

Curtain poles are currently very fashionable. Stainless steel is a particularly attractive material, although it tends to be very heavy. Even if other lighter materials are used the weight of good quality curtains can be considerable, and it is therefore very important to have secure fixings.

In general, commonly-used mounting brackets tend to have substantial mounting plates that cover a significant area of the surface to which the brackets are secured. This assists the stability of the mountings and also increases the possibility that at least one fixing screw will achieve a good solid anchorage. There are, however, some situations where the mounting plate encounters an obstacle, and re-positioning of an individual bracket may be difficult or unsightly. From time to time it can also happen that none À P1114 of the holes in the mounting bracket aligns with a solid area of substrate so that the bracket fails to be secured firmly.

The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of mounting bracket which increases the likelihood of achieving a secure fixing without re-positioning of the bracket relative to the pole and without detracting from the visual appearance of the system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which curtains are suspended in use and mounting brackets for securing the poles to a surface, in which the brackets include a pole support portion and a mounting plate for attachment to the surface, and wherein the mounting plate is rotatably connected to the pole support portion whereby the plate can be secured in different orientations relative to the pole support portion.

In a preferred form of the bracket the mounting plate has one or more fixing points which are offset to one side of the axis of rotation of the mounting plate.

The support portion may include a stem about which the mounting plate rotates.

The support portion preferably has a foot portion for attachment to said surface. The mounting plate is preferably cranked such that the part which ace À À a P1114 rotates about the stem is spaced from the foot portion. Thus, the support portion is held at two spaced positions.

The foot portion may comprise a plate having at least one fixing point for attachment to said surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying d rawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a mounting bracket as used in a curtain hanging system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the bracket, looking from the right in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2, but showing the bracket secured in an alternative mounting configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig.s 1 and 2, a curtain pole 1 is supported by mounting brackets 2 which are fixed to a wall W or other support surface. Curtains (not shown) can be suspended from the poles in known manner, using rings e a 4 era * a * P1114 or hooks which are slidably received on the poles. The poles and brackets are preferably formed of stainless steel, although other materials can be used if desired. The brackets each have a support portion 3 which, in this example, is in the form of a hook with which the poles can be engaged by means of location holes on the underside of the poles as shown or, alternatively, by cradling within the hooks as indicated in outline. The precise configuration of the support portion is not important, and the brackets could equally engage the poles by other means, e.g. by insertion of the poles through eyes or sleeves.

The support hook 3 has a stem 5 which is perpendicularly secured (e.g. by welding) to a small foot plate 10. The stem 5 is offset towards the bottom edge of the foot plate 10 such that the plate projects upwardly, and a single fixing hole 12 is provided above the stem for securing the plate to the wall We.g. by means of a screw as indicated by its axis 13. In a restricted area the foot plate 10 can be the sole means of fixing to the wall W. but under most circumstances additional fixing is provided by means of a cranked mounting plate 15. The plate has a flat lower section 16, an inclined mid section 17 and a flat top section 18 which extends substantially parallel to the lower section 16. The lower section 16 is provided with a pair of fixing holes 20 and 21 through which fixing screws, indicated by their axes 22 and 23, can be inserted to secure the plate to the wall W. The top section 18 has a single aperture to receive the stem of the support portion 3 as a close sliding fit. Thus, since the top section 18 is spaced from the foot plate 10, the mounting plate takes most of the vertical load from the support portion 3, and the loading on the fixing of the foot plate 10 is relatively small. In fact, in this configuration the mounting plate 15 may only require one fixing screw.

1 P1114 If it is not possible to fix the mounting plate vertically as described, e.g. due to the bracket being positioned close to a bottom edge E as in Fig. 3, it is also possible to rotate the mounting plate about the stem 5 to a substantially horizontal position, as shown. The plate is again secured by fixing screws inserted through the holes 20 and 21. In this configuration the use of two screws is preferred to ensure that the mounting plate cannot rotate. As before, the mounting plate takes most of the vertical load from the support portion 3 and the loading on the foot plate 10 is relatively small.

The mounting plate can in fact be fixed in any desired orientation around the stem 5 within a full 360 circle, although for aesthetic reasons it will generally be preferred to fix the plate vertically (up or down) or horizontally (left or right) where space permits.

It will be appreciated that the features disclosed herein may be present in any feasible combination. Whilst the above description lays emphasis on those areas which, in combination, are believed to be new, protection is claimed for any inventive combination of the features disclosed herein.

* * * * * * * * P1114

Claims

1. A curtain hanging system of the kind having poles from which curtains are suspended in use and mounting brackets for securing the poles to a surface, in which the brackets include a pole support portion and a mounting plate for attachment to the surface, and wherein the mounting plate is rotatably connected to the pole support portion whereby the plate can be secured in different orientations relative to the pole support portion.

2. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 1 in which the mounting plate has one or more fixing points which are offset to one side of the axis of rotation of the mounting plate.

3. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the support portion includes a stem about which the mounting plate is

rotatable.

4. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the support portion has a foot portion for attachment to said surface.

5. A curtain hanging system according to Claims 3 and 4 in which the mounting plate is cranked such that the part which rotates about the stem is spaced from the foot portion.

6. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 4 or 5 in which the foot portion comprises a plate having at least one fixing point for P1114 attachment to said surface.

7. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 6 in which the stem is secured adjacent to a lower edge of the foot plate.

8. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the pole support portion includes a hook for supporting a pole.

9. A curtain hanging system according to Claim 8 as appended to Claims 3 and 4 in which the stem connects the hook to the foot portion.

10. A curtain hanging system according to any preceding claim in which the pole support portion and the mounting plate are formed of stainless steel.

11. A curtain hanging system substantially as described with reference to the drawings.

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