GB2424172A

GB2424172A - Device for securing curtain cords

Info

Publication number: GB2424172A
Application number: GB0603829A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gladys Ullyart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-15
Filing date: 2006-02-27
Publication date: 2006-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-02-27
Also published as: GB0603829D0; GB2424172B

Abstract

A device for securing curtain cords g) that are drawn when gathering/pleating curtains comprises an elongate body about which cords can be wrapped. The body includes a main shank portion a) which tapers at a distal end. The shank includes an upper hooked feature c) and a lower hooked feature d) creating a waisted central portion and includes indentations e) at either end on the opposite side to the hooked features. A hook portion may be included at the top or proximal end of the device as a means of hanging it from curtain rings or similar suspensions apparatus. The device is passed through curtain pockets f) at the outside end of the curtain and cords g) are then wrapped about the device to secure them and keep them tidy.

Description

* 2424172 $1

DESCRIPTION

An accessory for the Hanging and Fitting of curtains from curtain rings (or similar devices) on poles rods and rails, and for holding and retaining the tension of gathered drawstrings, when drawn, in curtain heading tape attached to curtain material, for supporting and keeping upright curtain headings and to keep excess lengths of drawstrings housed tidy and from view, all without the use of knots.

The invention, a drawstring tensioning device, overcomes the difficult process of tying knots at all, or in precisely the required place, in drawstrings while hanging curtains and of untying tight knots in the drawstrings of the curtain heading tape when laundering of the curtains is required, or when adjustment to the gathering of the drawstrings is needed. The invention also overcomes the unequal lengths of drawstrings (which occurs when tying knots) and therefore the unevenness and the sagging of curtain headings, by all of the lengths of drawstrings being exactly the same length before being twisted together once and then coiled firmly behind the hook element b) and passed the indentations e) on the post member a) then crossed over the post member a) then crossed behind the bottom indentation e) in turn. Thereby the invention, with the cooperation of the open ended pockets f) in the curtain heading tape, (the method of which is herein later described), retains the tension of the drawstrings g) without the use of knots.

The invention also overcomes any trailing lengths of the drawn drawstrings, keeping them tidy and out of view by coiling them around the anchored invention in the curtain heading open ended pockets and its indentations e) in a preferred figure of eight. The invention also overcomes the weight of curtain heading flopping down between curtain hooks, which can happen with heavy fabrics.

The invention eliminates the use of knots in the gathering securing and adjusting of drawstrings g) in the curtain heading tape. The invention facilitates the hanging of curtains by the means of a hook element b) with a recess in the underside of the top of the said hook element b), which is situated on the top of the said cylindrical tapering post member a), engaging into a curtain ring or similar device (from where a curtain hook would normally be used). Two individual hook portions c) and d) are positioned on one side of the said cylindrical tapering post member a) together with and including two indentations e) on the opposite side from the hook portions c) and d) on the post member a) and completes the invention. One of which said indentations e) is opposite to

DESCRIPTION contd

the hook portion c) on the side of the cylindrical tapering post member a) . The other indentation e) being positioned towards the bottom of the said cylindrical tapering post member a), in line with the top said indentation e), but opposite and slightly below the hook portion d) on the opposite side of the said cylindrical tapering post member a). The top indentation e) will sit clear of and above the top open ended pocket f) of the curtain heading tape and the bottom indentation e) will sit below the bottom open ended pocket f) of the curtain heading tape.

The invention works in cooperation with the curtain heading tape the method of which is now detailed. The cylindrical tapering post member a) is pushed into the last vertical line of open ended pockets f) in the curtain heading tape nearest to what will be the edge of the window. On the opposite edge of the curtain (central to the window) the curtain heading tape, (which will be stitched to the wrong side of the curtain material) and the drawstrings g) themselves will be securely fastened so as to prevent them from being pulled through and out of the curtain heading tape when tensioned.

The invention works by the said cylindrical tapering post member a) being pushed into the last vertical in line open ended pockets f) in the curtain heading tape until the bottom hook portion d) on the said post member, is pushed through and clear of the base of the bottom open ended pocket f). The said post member's diameter is such that no movement can be made within the pockets f) when in position. The hook portion d) positioned on the said post member a), once through the bottom pocket f), moves into position on the underside of the bottom open ended pocket f), there protrudes and catches the bottom edge of the pocket f) so as to retain the said post member a) and prevents the invention from being pulled out of the line of pockets f). The hook element b), with a retaining recess in it, will engage in a curtain ring, or similar device, and will thus, together with the hook portion d) being on the underside of the said bottom pocket f), hang from a curtain ring or similar device and keep the invention vertically fixed and will bear the weight of a curtain (as a conventional curtain hook would) and the coiled drawstrings g). The hook portion c) on the side of the said cylindrical tapering post member acts as a coiling aid but also retains the said cylindrical tapering post member a) in a vertical position by being above the top of top open ended pocket f) and overhanging the said open ended pocket f). Therefore, the braced cylindrical tapering post member a) within the open ended pockets f), with the

DESCRIPTION contd

said drawstrings g) passing underneath (still in the said tape), are going towards the right. The drawstrings g) are then pulled to the desired tension. The drawstrings g) are then twisted as one drawstring from the actual desired tensioned point of the drawstring and from that point coiled upwards from the right to the left over the braced post member a) in the said open ended pockets f) and passed under the hook of the hook portion c), which is overhanging the top of the top pocket f) of the tape, then coiling right, behind the hook element b) and passed against the top indentation e). The drawstrings are then coiled from the top of the braced invention, left and downwards over the top of the said braced post member a) within the open ended pockets and coiled towards the right and under the bottom indentation e) on the said post member a). Thereby the tension is held without knots until manually released. Any other coiling/wrapping of the drawstrings behind the top indentation e) on the said braced post member a) and the bottom indentation e) on the said braced post member a) is equally effective. Excess drawstring lengths will continue to be coiled around the top of the braced post member a) and behind the top and bottom indentations on the said braced post member a) within the open ended pockets f) in a figure of eight, or any other coiling system, so kept housed, tidy and from view.

The invention can also be placed at intervals along the whole of the curtain heading tape if wished to further stiffen, support and keep vertical the whole width of a heavy curtain and prevent the material flopping. If this is to be done the drawstrings would bypass all those but the cylindrical tapering post member in the last in line vertical open ended pockets f), as above described, and this post member would be the only post member to take the tension of the drawn drawstrings g) and the housed coiled drawstrings. A version of the invention made without the hook element b) can be utilized for this stiffening purpose or the invention used without the hook element to secure drawstrings when harrning of the curtain by a hook is not needed or the invention used as above described complete with hook element b).

The invention will be shortened or lengthened by shortening or lengthening the space between the hook portion c) on the side of the said post member a) and the hook portion d) on the said post member a) to accommodate differing curtain heading tape depths with less or more horizontal rows of drawstrings g). It,

DESCRIPTION contd

To release the invention from the open ended pockets f) of the curtain heading tape the drawstrings g) will be uncoiled from the anchored cylindrical tapering post member a), the invention revolved half a turn until the hook portion d) on the post member a) is facing the smooth material on the inside of the bottom open ended pocket f) and the invention can then be pulled clear of the open ended pockets f) to be reused.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates the invention with a cylindrical tapering post member a) the hook element b) detailed with the recess in the underside of the top of it, to be a retainer for the curtain ring, together with the long tapering point, hook portion c) a hook portion d) and indentations e).

Figure 2 illustrates the invention as above, but without the hook element b) which can then be used as an alternative stiffener or on its own to eliminate the use of knots as above described, with drawstrings g) coiled as above or wrapped in any manner behind the top of the post member a) and indentations e) and the bottom of the said post member a) anchored in the curtain heading tape's open ended pockets f).

Figure 3 illustrates a) the invention in the vertical position within the open ended pockets f) of the 3 inches deep curtain heading tape, 3 lines of drawstrings g) the hook portion c) hook element b) and the hook portion d). The 2 indentations e), which are to the rear of the hook portion c) and hook portion d) can not be seen but which sit, I above the top open ended pocket f) and I below the bottom open ended pocket f).

Figure 4 illustrates the invention, whilst anchored in position in the open ended pockets of the curtain heading tape, with the drawstrings g) twisted once and then coiled from the right to the left upwards and across the anchored invention, under the hook c) which hangs over the top of the top open ended pocket f) and around the back of the hook element b) on the top of the post member a) and using the space provided by the top indentation e) and bottom indentation e) so coil and anchor the drawstrings g). Further coiling of the drawstrings g)

S

DESCRIPTION contd

downwards and to the left, over the front of the said braced invention and behind the bottom indentation in a figure of eight completes the securing of the tensioned drawstrings g), without knots, until manually released. Further continued coiling of any trailing drawstrings enables the excess drawstrings to be housed, tidy and out of sight. The upward coiling direction of the drawstrings g) is indicated by solid lines and the downward direction is indicated by broken lines.

Any coiling or wrapping of the drawstrings g) is effective once post member a) is anchored into the open ended pockets f) of the curtain heading tape, but the above figure of eight motion described in detail, as above, is the one preferred.

Claims

) A drawstring tensioning device adapted to retain, under tension, drawstrings of a curtain heading tape, which device comprises an elongate post member a) capable of receipt within a transversely extending open ended pocket of the curtain heading tape so as to lie above drawstrings running generally longitudinally of the curtain heading tape, which post member a) has, at one longitudinal end a first, downwardly depending retaining hook portion c) capable of engagement with a first open end of the said pocket, and at an opposite longitudinal end of the post member a) , a second hook portion d) capable of engagement with a second open end of the said pocket, at an end of the said pocket opposite to that of the first open end, whereby on insertion of the post member a) through the pocket f), the first retaining hook portion c) serves to prevent further passage of the post member a) through the pocket and the second hook portion d) serves to prevent backward movement of the post member a) through the pocket and which first and second retaining hook portions each additionally define together with respective ends of the post a), respective first and second hook portions capable of engagement with at least one drawstring g) drawn under tension, the post member being cooperable with the curtain heading tape to retain, under a desired tension, respective portions of the or each drawstring g), whereby the or each drawstring g) may be brought into engagement with at least one of the first and second hook portions and thereafter to a position of the or each drawstring of engagement between the post member a) and the curtain heading tape thereby to secure the or each drawstring under the said desired tension and further the drawstring tensioning device will include at a longitudinal end thereof, a hook element b) capable of receiving a hanging device to allow hanging of curtains.
2) A drawstring tensioning device, referred to in Claim 1, with the cooperation of the open ended pockets in conventional curtain heading tape, is to i) eliminate the use of knots when the drawstrings of the said tape are to be drawn, the tension retained and secured and 2) the drawstring tensioning device is to hang from a curtain ring (or any similar device using conventional curtain hooks) and) the drawstring tensioning device is to vertically support and stiffen the said tape and thereby also the curtain attached to the said tape and 4 the drawstring tensioning device is to, when under the pressure of holding and retaining the said secured drawstrings, keep the said tape straight edged and vertical and s) the drawstring tensioning device is to house, keep tidy and from view any would be trailing said drawstrings and to do these aforementioned things, without the use CLAIMS contd of knots, the drawstring tensioning device is to be comprised of a hook element b) on the top of post member a) together with a hook portion c) and opposite to this hook portion c) an indentation e) on the side of the said post member a) and a hook portion d) and opposite to the hook portion d) on the post member a) an indentation e) towards the bottom and on the side of the said post member a) and the aforesaid drawstrings g) will be secured by a coiling action of the said drawstrings around the drawstring tensioning device whilst it is securely anchored in the curtain heading tape pockets f).
The shape of the post member a) referred to in Claim I and 2 will be cylindrical and tapered, (made from any material including wood nylon plastics man made materials or metal) to allow access, vertically, into and through the open ended pockets of conventional curtain heading tape such as the tape named Rufflette.
4) The post member a) as referred to in Claims 1, 2 and 3 will have a hook element b) on the top and widest part of the said post member a) and which said hook element b) will have a recess in the underside of the top of it and which said top part of the said hook element will continue on to be shaped to form a point.

s) The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 will have, directly in line with the point of the hook element b) a hook portion c), as referred to in previous Claims, and directly in line with each other, as hook portion c) is towards the top and on the side of the said post member a) there will be a hook portion d) on the same side of the post member a) as hook portion c) but towards the bottom of the said post member a).

) The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3 4 and 5 will have 2 in line indentations e), positioned half a turn around the said post member a) from the point of the hook element b), referred to in previous Claims herein with one indentation e) being opposite to the hook portion C) referred to in previous Claims herein, on the side of the said post member a) and one indentation e) opposite and slightly lower than hook portion d), referred to in previous Claims herein, on the side of the said post member a). c)

CLAIMS contd i The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 together with hanging hook element b) referred to previous Claims herein, and the hook portions c) and d), previously referred to in Claims herein, will be of any colour.

) The post member a) as referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 may be tapered or straight edged, oblong or shaped in any way at any part thereof ) The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 and the proposed hanging hook element b) referred to in previous Claims herein and positioned on the widest part of the said post member a) or hook portions c) and d) or any part of them referred to in previous Claims herein may be flat sided or rounded.

/0) The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 and the hanging hook element b) referred to in previous Claims herein and the hook portion c) and hook portion d) and the indentations e) previously referred to in Claims herein will be manufactured to be of the same unit.

Ii) The post member a) referred to in Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 will be of any length.

/2) The drawstring tensioning device referred to in previous Claims may be manufactured without the hanging hook element b) but in all other aspects being identical to the above Claims and as detailed in drawing Figure 2 on Page 11/13.

ij A curtain hanging assembly comprising a curtain heading tape and a drawstring tensioning securing device according to any one of the preceding claims.