GB2499367A - Curtain hook - Google Patents

Abstract

A curtain hook comprising a first end, 1, configured to be sildingly mounted to a curtain rail or track and a second end, 2, configured to be attached to a curtain. The second end, 2, of the hook comprises a resilient non-circular protrusion 4, configured to pass through an aperture in a curtain when in a compressed configuration and to be secured relative to the aperture in an expanded configuration. A more secure arrangement may be provided by forming one or more retaining structures 5 (bump or tab 5) on the protrusion 4 that abut against the edge of the aperture when expanded.

Description

CURTAIN HOOK

5 The present invention is concerned with curtain hooks or gliders for mounting a curtain to a curtain rail.

Whilst the gliders of the present invention can be used with practically any curtains, for reasons discussed below, they find particular application in relation to cubicle 10 curtains in clinics, hospitals and the like. The invention is, of course, not limited to such uses.

In clinics, hospitals and the like, or other places where privacy is desired or areas are to be hidden from view, curtains are often used. Curtains may be mounted onto 15 moveable frames, to form screens that can be appropriateiy positioned.

Alternatively, curtains are mounted to curtain rails or tracks so as to be slidable along the rail or track to open and close the curtain.

The tracks are generally mounted on a ceiling or on or between wails and are 20 shaped to receive curtain hooks or gliders to which a curtain is mounted.

In one arrangement, the part of the hook mounted to the track fits around the outside shape of the track, completely or partiaSsy surrounding the track, and is sized and shaped to slide along the track. This part of the hook could be, e.g., a 25 ring, or a rounded or squared "C" or "U" shape.

In another arrangement, the track defines a groove or channel along its length within which an end of the hook fits. The end of the hook is shaped to be retained in, but slidable along the groove. In an example, the groove is defined by a "C" 30 shaped track and the end of the hook is enlarged to fit within the groove of the "C" without falling out of the open part of the "C".

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The shape of the track-mounting part of the hooks is determined by the form of the curtain track,

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Some curtains are provided, by the manufacturer, in ready-to-hang form with the hooks already attached to the curtain, such as by welding or adhesive, or the hooks and curtains are manufactured in a one-piece construction. The free ends of the hooks are then fitted onto or into the curtain track and the curtain is ready to use, 5 One problem, however, with such curtains is that the entire curtain, with hooks, needs to be purchased for any given type of track. Also, such bonds between curtain and hooks are liable to breakage. If a single hook or bond is broken, it is usually necessary to order a complete new curtain with hooks.

10 The present invention is particularly concerned with curtain hooks that can be fitted to eyelets in curtains. The curtains can then be made, stored, transported, sold, supplied as a standard curtain that can, with appropriate hooks, be fitted to any existing curtain track. The hooks can then be purchased as appropriate for the type of curtain track to which the curtain is to be mounted. As no bonding is required 15 between the curtain and the hook, the problems of breakage mentioned above do not apply and hooks can be easily removed, replaced or, if desired, exchanged for a different type of hook,

Various types of hook are known for replaceable attachment to a curtain. The end 20 of the hook for mounting to the curtain track can be of any form suitable depending on the type of track. The end of the hook for attachment in the curtain has to be provided with some means for securing the hook to the curtain.

Known hooks are provided with a two-piece structure in the form of a press-stud 25 type arrangement, whereby the hook is positioned on one side of the curtain and is provided with an engaging structure such as a hole or a pin or protrusion that is pushed through a hole in the curtain. A fastener is then applied to the other side of the curtain and engages with the engaging structure of the hook to fasten the hook relative to the curtain. Such hooks are, however, not ideal. They comprise two 30 components per hook adding to the cost and complexity of manufacture and if can be fiddly and time consuming to mount the hooks to the curtains, especially for wide curtains.

GB 2463005 B describes a curtain glider wherein the end to be attached through 35 the curtain comprises two resilient members each having a barb-iike feature at its

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end. The two members are compressed together to fit through an eyelet in the curtain and then released so that they spring back and the barbs protrude beyond the diameter of the eyeiet to lock the hook in place. To remove the hook, the barbs or resilient members are pressed together and backed out through the eyelet.

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Such hooks, however, can be difficult, expensive and time consuming to manufacture, difficult to fit and difficult to remove. The hooks are also bulky. Also, the hooks tend to rotate in the eyeiet and not maintain their position.

10 The present invention aims to overcome the problems of the prior art and provide an improved hook structure for securing to eyelets provided along a curtain.

The present invention provides a curtain hook comprising a first end configured to be siidingly mounted to a curtain track and a second end configured to be attached 15 to a curtain; said second end comprising a resilient non-circular protrusion configured to pass through an aperture in a curtain when in a compressed configuration and to be secured relative to the aperture in an expanded configuration. The protrusion is, therefore, a different shape to the aperture, which is generally circular. Preferably, the protrusion is oval.

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The protrusion is preferably provided with one or more retaining structures arranged to abut against the edges of the aperture to secure the hook in the aperture, when in the expanded configuration.

25 In another aspect, the invention provides a curtain system comprising a curtain having a plurality of circular eyelets, and a plurality of hooks as defined above to be removably received in respective ones of said eyelets.

The system may also include a curtain track onto which said hooks are arranged to 30 be slidabiy mounted.

The end of the hook configured to be mounted to the curtain rail may take any form, depending on the rail. The end may be in the form of, or provided with, a ring or hook shape to fit around a curtain track, such as the track mounting end of the hook 35 shown in EP 14374747. Alternatively, the end may be flattened, extended, or

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buibous to fit within a groove or channel of a curtain track such as shown in European Community Design Registrations 1906118-001 and 001795204-001.

Such hooks may advantageously aiso be provided with a nesting feature as described in UK patent application no. 1114278 and shown in European 5 Community Design Registration no. 1706280-001.

Preferred embodiments will be described, by way of example only and with reference to the drawings.

10 Figs. 1 and 2 show a perspective view of one example of a book according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a closer view of the curtain end of the hook shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

15 Figs. 4a~4c show, respectively, a front view, side view and top view of the hook shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 5a and 5b show some alternative forms for the track end of the hook;

20 Fig. 6 shows an assembly of a curtain connected to a track by hooks according to the invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the curtain hook comprises a first end 1 for mounting to a curtain rail or curtain track, a second end 2 for mounting to a curtain, and a body 3 25 joining the first and second ends. The second end 3 is provided with a protrusion 4.

The protrusion is made of a resilient material so that it can be compressed to fit through an eyelet in the curtain. When released, the protrusion returns to an expanded state in which it is retained in the eyeiet.

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The eyelets are generally circular and the protrusion is non-circular, e.g. oval.

Thus, when expanded, the protrusion forms an interference fit with the eyeiet to hold the protrusion and, hence, the hook, in the eyelet. Whilst such a fit may suffice to hold the hook in place, a more secure arrangement may be provided by forming 35 one or more retaining structures 5 on the protrusion, e.g. bumps or tabs, that abut

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against the edge of the eyelet, when expanded, so as to prevent withdrawal of the hook. Generally one bump will suffice. The forces applied by the curtain, in use, create a downward force between the hook and the eyelet which also serves to secure the hook in place. More retaining bumps may, however, be formed on the 5 protrusion.

To remove the hook from the curtain, the protrusion is compressed inwards again, so that it is smaller than the eyelet, and drawn back out through the eyelet.

10 The first end 1 of the hook will be selected according to the type of curtain track. Some examples are shown in the figures. Figs. 1, 2 and 4a-c show a bulbous or disc type end. Fig. 5a shows a bulbous end. Fig. 5b shows a U-shaped end.

In preferred embodiments, the tops of the hooks can be arranged to be stacked 15 together more compactly, as described in UK patent application 1114278. Such hooks may, therefore, provided with a nesting feature 6. This may be as shown in Figs, 1, 2 and 4. Other nesting arrangements, such as described in the same patent application, may also be used.

20 Several hooks may also be secured together by a pin, passed through apertures 7 in the hook bodies 3, aiso as described in the above-mentioned UK patent application. This allows hooks to be mounted quickly and easily.

Fig, 6 shows an example of the hook in use. The hooks 10 are fitted to the curtain 11 through eyelets 12 and are, at the other end, slidabiy mounted within, on, or around a curtain rail or track 13.

Claims (1)

1. A curtain hook comprising a first end configured to be siidingiy mounted to a curtain rail or track and a second end configured to the attached to a curtain;

5 said second end comprising a resilient non-circuiar protrusion configured to pass through an aperture in a curtain when in a compressed configuration and to be secured relative to the aperture in an expanded configuration,

2. The curtain hook of claim 1 wherein said protrusion is oval.

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3 The curtain hook of any preceding claim wherein said protrusion is provided with one or more retaining structures arranged to abut against the edges of the aperture, in use, to secure the hook in the aperture, when in the expanded configuration,

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4. The curtain hook of any preceding claim wherein said first end of the hook is in the form of, or provided with, a ring or hook shape to fit around said curtain rail or track, in use.

20 5. The curtain hook of any preceding claim wherein said first end of the hook is flattened, extended, or bulbous to fit within a groove or channel of said curtain rail or track.

6. A curtain system comprising a curtain having a plurality of circular eyelets, 25 and a plurality of said curtain hooks of any preceding claim,

wherein said plurality of curtain hooks are removably received in respective ones of said eyelets.

7. The system of claim 8 further comprising said curtain rail or track onto which 30 said hooks are arranged to be slidabiy mounted.

8. A curtain hook substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A curtain system substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.