US2317893A

US2317893A - Extensible curtain rod device

Info

Publication number: US2317893A
Application number: US470232A
Authority: US
Inventors: Martino John Di
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1942-12-26
Filing date: 1942-12-26
Publication date: 1943-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-27

Description

Apli127 1943- J.' Dl MARTINO 2,317,893

. EXTENSIBLE 'CURTAIN AROD DEVICE Filed Dec. 26,1942

Z7 5 z I Z7 g IN1/Evol v Patented Apr. 27, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXTENSIBLE CURTAIN ROD DEVICE John Di Martino, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 26, 1942, Serial No. 470,232'

(ci. .2u-105.3)

6 Claims.

This invention relates to extensible curtain rod devices.

' One object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described having improved means whereby an extensible curtain rod and its Aholders are adapted to be made of wood.'

' It will be appreciated that extensible curtain rod devices when made wholly and completely of wood in all features and details, create problems which did not exist in metal devices, particularly so if Vquantity production is considered and if 'the price range is to be kept at very low levels somewhat similar to those for the cheapest metal devices. Whereas metal caln be easily stamped, bent, riveted, spot welded, andfurnished with riveted or press tted hooks, pins or'spring portions, these features or characteristics are not available for wooden devices. The latter must be laboriously cut and fashioned, and considerable time is involved even if machinery is used, `including millers, shapers, drill presses and grinders. The strength is much less than that of metal, especially along the grain. Hence there is the added problem of compactness in order not to render the article bulky and to conserve wood. With curtain rods it is also necessary that they shall be capable of insertion into the small hems of curtains which may have been mounted on metallic rods.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved curtain rod device which shall solve the di'iculties above mentioned and afford a reenforced, strong, compact structure, which is durable, neat, reliable and Aeilicient in use. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as vthe specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the inven- -tion consists in the novel combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out inthe subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, whereinV like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a curtain rod device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom edge of the curtain rod per se.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a holder forlthe curtain rod, according to the linvention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view thereof.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the curtain rod.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a modied curtain rod.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View thereof.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exempliiication ofthe invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I0 denotes a curtain rod device embodying the invention. The same may include a curtain rod II whichis extensible, since it consists of a plurality of members I2, I3 having telescopic or dovetailed sliding engagement with each other. the member I2 may be considered the'femal'e member, being provided with an undercut groove I4, while the member I3 may be considered the male element, being provided with a longitudinal dovetail portion or flange I5. The latter may iit in the groove I4 quite snugly, preferably'with a fair degree of friction so as to prevent the members I2, I3 from accidentally sliding relatively to each other. This facilitates mounting of the curtain rod II in its holders, as hereinafter described. Hence the curtain rod, carrying the curtains, will not ordinarily lose its lengthwise adjustment 'or slip and complicate the mounting thereof.v

' Each of the memberslZ, I3 is provided 'with openings or notchesA at'one edge, which, inthe mounting position, becomes the lower edge. Thus the member I2'has` notches I 2a and I2b, andthe member I3^has notches I3a and I3b. The members I2, I3 may be the same in length, and all the notches are placed in identical relations to the ends of theA members. .As shown in the drawing, the notches I2a and I3a are at the outermost ends of the curtain rod II, in operative position, and the notches I2b and I3b are in inward inoperative position. But it is possible to reverse these positions and render the notches |21), I3b operative by merely reversing the direction of relative sliding betweenv the members, as will be readily apparent. Thus the curtain rod II is adapted for absolutely foolproof use.

At I6 is shown a curtain rod holder embodying For example,

the invention. The same may include a block having a back or ange part I1 formed with parallel holes I8 through which screws can be passed to secure the holder to a wall or window frame. Carried by the part I1 is a head I9 having one or more slots which open upwardly to individually receive curtain rods such as shown at I I. By providing two slots, provision is made for hanging two curtains on separate curtain rods II, as in the case of overlapping right and left curtains, The depth of the slots 20 is suicient to receive the curtain rods, and the width thereof is preferably adapted for only one of the members I2, I3 of a curtain rod, as shown,

in order to maintain strength and `cornpactness of the holder I5. It is important to note that the slots 20 extend clear through` from side to side of the holders so that .the same are interchangeable and each may be used at the left .or right.

It is essential to prevent ithe curtain rodfrom slipping endwise .from the slots 20, `either. accidentally, or in courseof adjusting the folds or pleats in the curtain, kor by reason of a pull at a lower part of the curtain. A second consideration is that any locking engagement which may be used shall not require the use of metallic or moving parts, which may make the device prohibitive for the low price eld. Supplemental to this is the utilitarian consideration that the curtain rod shall be positively locked by merely placing it in the slots 20. A third requirement is that any locking feature shall preferably reenforce the wood which is considerably weakened by the slots 20, and tends to break along the grain,

throughout its length. This pin 23 may extend `from `front to back of the holder, but desirably the front is left intact for appearance. Thus the pin, which may be quite thick, -amply reeenforces the head I9 near the base of the slots 20 and resists bendingand tension stresses which would crack the wood.V The lower part of the head I9 requires no such reenforcement since any downward pull causes compression strains on its iibers Within the slots 20, the pin 23 presents locking 'pin portions which may be flush with the bottoms of the slots or above the same, and which are central Ato the length of the ,slot-s. These portions 24 are adapted to be readily received Yin Ythe notches I2a, I3a, or |212, lab, as the case may be, depending on which notches are in operative position. ,In this manner a plurality of curtain rods II maybe mounted and locked on a pair of holders L6.

It is thus seen that the locking .devices afforded meet all the requirements herein. They constitute more than `mere projections, which might be prohibitive iin cost, andwhich might fail to reenforce the holders, thus requiring the use of more wood, and rendering the holders bulky and expensive. It will be noted that the invention is also advantageous for use of curtain rods of fixed length. Y The manner A,of using rthe device I6 will now be described. The operator inserts the curtain rod I I into the hem of a curtain. She then places one end of the curtain rod in a slot 20 of one holder whereupon a notch such as I2a seats around a pin 23. Accordingly this end of the curtain rod is locked, so that the latter may be inserted into a corresponding slot 20 of the companion holder and then adjusted in length for a similar locking engagement with a pin 23. Since this adjustment can be effected while the curtain rod rests in the slots 20, manipulation is greatly facilitated. The weight of the curtain and of the curtain rod help maintain the engagement which Will not be disturbed by shifting the curtain, or arranging the folds or pleats thereof, or exerting an angular pull on the curtain.

In Figs. 8 .and .9 is shown a modified extensible curtain .rod 25 which is like that at II, and includes

members

26, 21. The female member 26 may bev identical with that at I2, but the male ,member 21 differs from that at I3 merely in that a special dovetail I5 is omitted, because it requires considerable labor to manufacture. -To the contrary, the member 21 may be made by merely beveling the longitudinal edges 28,l so that the entire member 21 forms a dovetail, but with-out any undercuts. This smaller member 21 is reenforced by the member 26. In all other respects the members may be like those at I2, I 3 and they are operative in the same manner as with notches 26a, 2th, 21a and 21h.

It. will thusbe seen that the devices fulfill the objects of the invention .and are well adapted `for practical use.

I claim.:

1. A curtain rod device including a holder consisting of natural wood, comprising a block having 1a .mounting ange-like portion and a head carried thereby and integral therewith, said head having an upwardly opening slot of substantial depth so as to be adapted to receive a curtain rod, a wooden pin extending through the head and passing through the lower part of the slot. said pin being glued in the head and -reenforcing the head against breakage along the grain at the slot, and a curtain rod resting in the slot and having a notch to receive the pin to prevent the curtain rod from slipping out of the slot.

2. A curtain rod device including a holder consisting of natural wood, comprising a head having an upwardly open slot extending from side to side of the head, the grain of the wood being generally vertical, a pin extending through the head and passing through the slot at the lower portion thereof and being fixed .to the head so as toreenforce the same from breaking along the grain, and a curtain rod resting in the slot and having a notch in its lower edge for receiving. the portion of the pin exposed in theslot "f 3. A curtain rod device including a holder havin g a head provided with an upwardly open slot extending transversely from side to side of the head, a pin in the head passing transversely through the slot .at the lower portion thereof, and a curtain rod fitted in the slot and having a notch removably engaged with the pin. i

4. A curtain rod device including a holder ha ing a head having an upwardly open slot, a pin fixed in the holder and passing transversely through the lower portion of the slot, and an extensible curtain rod including slidingly engaging members, said members being adapted to be individually fitted inthe slot, each of said members having notches in its lower edge adjacent to itsends, the notches being interchangeably'engageablewiththe pin in the slot upon vmounting the curtain rod upon a pair of said holders.

5. A curtain rod device including a holder having a head consisting of a fibrous material, the head having a plurality of transverse slots extending yfrom side to side of the head, and a pin extending longitudinally through the head and thus passing transversely through the slots at the lower portions thereof, whereby the pin reenforces the head against breakage at the slots and permits a minimum of material to be used at the walls of the' slots, and a curtain rod resting in the slot and having a notch for releasable locking engagement with the pin so that the curtain rod can be removed without disturbing the pin.

6. A curtain rod device including a holder having a head consisting of natural wood and having an upwardly opening slot extending transversely from side to side of the head, a pin extending through the head including the slot transversely of the latter and being fixed to the head to reenforce the same against breakage at the slot, whereby a curtain rod having a notch can be seated in the slot in locking engagement with the pin.

JOHN DI MARTINO.