GB2471490A

GB2471490A - Curtain rail

Info

Publication number: GB2471490A
Application number: GB0911361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Kirby
Original assignee: Marlux Medical Ltd
Current assignee: Marlux Medical Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-30
Filing date: 2009-06-30
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: WO2011000559A2; WO2011000559A3; GB0911361D0; GB2483407A; GB201121883D0

Abstract

A curtain rail comprises an elongate strip 4 adapted along one side to fit into an elongate recess 8 or slot in a complementary curtain rail housing 6 and along the other side to receive a curtain. The side adapted to fit into the recess includes an inner section 11 of relatively lower rigidity and an outer section 9 of relatively higher rigidity, such that in use the curtain rail is a push-fit into the elongate recess or slot. The side adapted to fit into the recess may have an arrow-shaped profile. The curtain rail is preferably a co-extrusion of a rigid plastic and a less rigid plastic, both preferably being polyvinylchloride (PVC). The curtain rail is particularly suited for use with hospital bed curtains.

Description

CURTA[N RAIL The present invention is concerned with a curtain rail adapted to be mounted in a housing.

Many forms of curtain rail are known, for hanging curtains. Curtains may be hung onto a rail fixed to a wall or ceiling and, in many instances, the fixed rail comprises either a protruding section or a recess along its length and curtains are then mounted to the protrusion or recess by means of curtain hooks or gliders fitted to the top edge of the curtain, the hooks being arranged to fit onto the protrusion or into the recess in such a manner that they can be slid along the length of the curtain rail to open and close the curtains.

In some cases, where curtains are often changed, the curtain rail may comprise two separate components, namely a housing part, made of plastic or metal, that remains fitted to the wall or ceiling where a curtain is to be hung, in a permanent or semi-permanent manner. This housing is adapted to receive a curtain rail component such that different curtain rails can be fitted into the housing depending on current requirements and on the size and nature of the curtain and curtain clips to be fitted. Such two-part curtain rail assemblies are often used in hospitals where privacy curtains need to be hung. The present invention is particularly concerned with curtain rails for use in such two-part systems.

A preferred form of curtain rail assembly, manufactured by the present applicants, comprises a curtain rail housing, preferably formed of metal, which is attached to the wall or ceiling where the curtain is to be hung. The outer edge of this housing is provided with a longitudinal recess or slot to receive a curtain rail which is generally made of a plastics material such as PVC (polyvinylchloride).

The curtain rail is an elongate strip adapted to be fitted into the recess of the housing. Along one side of the strip is provided a face around the edges of which curtain hooks can be fitted in a slidable manner. On the opposite longitudinal side,

I

the curtain rail is arranged to be received in the recess of the housing and is in the form of an arrowhead that fits into the recess and then slightly expands to lodge behind the edges of the recess to hold the rail in place. Existing rails are generally made of a rigid or semi-rigid PVC or similar plastic material.

The hooks along or close to the top edge of the curtain are then attached to the outer face of the curtain rail.

In such systems, it is important that the rail can be easily fitted to the housing but it is also important that, once fitted, the rail is securely held in the housing for attachment of the curtain.

In some circumstances, for example in new buildings, a purpose-designed curtain rail could be used that does not require any adaptation to receive the curtain hooks. In most situations, however, existing curtain rails are already in place and can be retained but require adaptation for receiving the curtain hooks. The present invention is concerned particularly with providing means for adapting existing curtain rails. Adapters are already known for adapting existing curtain rails, as mentioned above.

The way the rail is fitted to the housing, in known systems, is that the (semi-rigid) plastic material of the arrowhead is heated shortly before the rail is fitted into the housing to soften the plastic material. This then allows the vanes of the arrowhead to be compressed so that they can be easily slid into the recess. When the material then hardens, the vanes of the arrowhead expand and open out to lodge behind the edges of the recess.

As these curtain rails are generally installed on-site, the heating of the plastic material needs to be performed also on-site and this is usually performed using a portable so-called hot cupboard. The curtain rail is heated in the hot cupboard, section by section, in a one piece component, and is then fitted into the housing.

These coiled components are currently produced in 6, 9 and 1 8m lengths.

Such hot cupboards are, however, somewhat bulky and heavy. Examples are those available from http://www.kitchensolutions.co.uk. Although such hot cupboards are generally mobile and can be moved around e.g. on castors, they still need to be lifted in and out of the vehicle of the installer and this generally requires two people. Furthermore, it is time-consuming having to wait for the plastic material to warm up sufficiently to soften the material, particularly since as once heated the rail material begins to cool down. This is problematic as the rail system length increases and makes it difficult to fit to the curtain rail housing.

It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a curtain rail that overcomes these problems.

The present invention, in one aspect, provides a curtain rail comprising an elongate strip adapted, along one side, to fit into an elongate recess of the curtain rail housing and, along the other side, to receive a curtain; wherein the side adapted to be fitted into the recess of the housing includes an inner section of material having a lower rigidity and an outer section of material having a higher rigidity.

The side adapted to be fitted into the housing recess is preferably in the form of an arrowhead with the two vanes of the arrow being hinged to the stem by the inner section of lower rigidity material. Other shapes are, however, conceivable.

In a preferred embodiment, the curtain rail is a co-extrusion of a semi-rigid plastic, preferably PVC, and a less rigid plastic, preferably PVC.

Another aspect of the invention provides a curtain rail system comprising a curtain rail as described above and a housing adapted to be attached to a mounting site such as a wall or ceiling, the housing having an elongate recess adapted to receive the curtain rail. Preferably, the housing is made of metal, but can, of course, be made of other materials.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings.

Figs. 1A, lB and IC show cross-sections of existing curtain rails,; Fig. 2 shows a cross-section of an example of a curtain rail housing; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section of a curtain rail according to the present invention; Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of one method of manufacturing the curtain rail of the present invention.

Referring first to the known curtain rails as shown, for example, in Figs. 1A, 1 B and 1 C, the first curtain rail includes an elongate outer surface 1 which, on its outer face, is generally curved and which provides upper and lower edges 2a, 2b around which curtain hooks can be fitted. The middle section, in cross-section, of the curtain rail is in the form of a stem 3 which then ends in an arrow-head shape 4 adapted to be fitted into the recess of the housing. Two protruding arms 5 are also provided on the stem between the arrowhead and the outer surface, arranged to abut against the outer face of the recess of the housing.

The curtain rail shown in Fig. 1 A is generally integrally moulded as a single component and is preferably formed of a rigid or semi-rigid (at room temperature) Pvc material.

The curtain rail shown in Fig. lB is very similar to that of Fig. IA in its construction except that the dimensions are slightly different to fit slightly differently formed curtain rail housings.

Similarly, the arrangement shown in Fig. IC is, in principle, the same as that of Figs. IA and lB but with slightly different dimensions.

The curtain rails shown in figs. 1A to IC are all arranged to be fitted into a curtain rail housing such as is shown in Fig. 2.

The curtain rail housing is an elongate housing, preferably made of metal, having one elongate side 6 arranged to be fitted to a mounting site such as wall or ceiling. The opposite longitudinal side 7 of the housing forms a recess 8 into which the curtain rail can be fitted.

As mentioned above, the curtain rail such as shown in Figs. 1A to IC is fitted into the housing by first heating the material to soften the plastic arrow-head section such that the arrowhead can be pressed or slid into the recess, beyond the edges. As the material cools, the vanes or arms 9 [Fig. 3] of the arrowhead open out and lodge behind the edges 10 [Fig. 2] of the recess to secure the rail in place.

As mentioned above, there are problems and disadvantages associated with the requirement to heat the curtain rail for fitting, particularly using the mobile hot cupboards generally used by curtain fitters in this field.

The present invention, therefore, aims to overcome these problems.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a curtain rail according to the present invention.

The basic shape of the curtain rail is essentially the same as that shown in Figs. 1 A to 1 C and the dimensions and precise shape, particularly of the outer edge and the arrowhead, can, of course, be varied according to requirements.

The essential difference between the curtain rail of the present invention and the prior art is that sections of the rail are formed of a lower rigidity material than others to add a degree of flexibility. In the preferred embodiment the arms or vanes of the arrowhead part of the curtain rail are essentially hinged' to the stem or body part of the curtain rail by a less rigid material 11, e.g. a less rigid PVC than is used for the outer part of the vanes.

This enables the vanes or arms of the arrowhead to be flexed inwards using manual pressure, without the need for heating, to allow insertion into the recess of the housing and the arms then flex out again once the arrowhead is in the recess so that the arms lodge behind the edges of the recess to hold the curtain rail in place.

The greater rigidity of the outer part of the vanes provides a more secure fitting in the rail.

The curtain rail is preferably manufactured by a moulding process involving co-extrusion of the two different materials, although any other manufacturing process may, of course, be used. Preferably, the main body and outer sides of the arms of the arrowhead are made of a first material and the hinge' parts of the arrowhead are made of a second, less rigid material. Of course, more than two materials can be used and, for example, the outer surface and/or body of the curtain rail may be made of materials different to the outer edges of the arrowhead.

Fig. 4 shows a preferred method of manufacturing the curtain rail of the present invention.

The material used for the curtain rail is, as mentioned above, a plastics material and preferably PVC. One suitable material is provided by Dugdale Plc.

This material can be easily moulded or extruded. Although clearly various materials and grades can be used, prototypes have been made using PVC materials from Dugdale Plc of grade CFEO8/264 for the more rigid parts of the curtain rail and grade C 102/55 for the less rigid material.

The two materials are provided to an extrusion apparatus. The extrusion lines are then cleaned down and forming plates are inserted into a water cooling tank, The temperatures of the apparatus are set to 150°C to 180°C.

The material is then fed into the machine hoppers and is extruded through the die and is then run down to the water tank at a line speed of 5 metres per minute.

The material is then run through a water tank into a "haul-off' area until the correct size is achieved.

Once the correct size is achieved, then product is fed into a cutting machine.

The cutting machine is started and set to the correct length and the product is then checked for dimensional size and length.

One piece of rail can be checked randomly, for example, for every ten to twenty pieces.

The product is then packaged with appropriate labelling and put into storage until despatch whereupon the product is loaded on to a pallet for delivery to customers.

The introduction of the flexibility of the arrow head of the present invention removes the need for the hot cupboard required with previous curtain rails and this, in turn, removes the problems associated with manual handling of the hot cupboard and the rail and also has a positive impact on installation time.

The flexibility provided by the less rigid material also means that a product may fit into a wider range of curtain rail housings than existing rigid rails. Thus a fitter might not need to always take such a wide selection of rails to a site.