US2913212A - Traverse rod support - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 17, 1959 R. EQBELL TRAVERSE ROD SUPPORT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 13, 1957 uvmvrox Rm. PH 5: 4

WW4. ww M H TTOR/VEYJ' Nov. 17, 1959 R. E; B'ELL 2,913,212

- TRAVERSE ROD SUPPORT Fi led March 13, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TOR. AA'z PH 5 551.4

49 TTOKNEYJ' 10W W JW United States Patent TRAVERSE ROD SUPPORT Ralph E. Bell, Sturgis, Mich., assignor to Kirsch Company, Sturgis, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 13, 1957, Serial No. 645,802

13 Claims. (Cl. 248-262) This invention relates to a supporting bracket and to an adapter for associating a traverse rod assembly with said supporting bracket, and it relates particularly to constructional improvements therein which facilitate their installation in closer proximity to horizontal and vertical surfaces than has heretofore been possible.

Traverse rods of various kinds have been known for many years and used with a wide variety of brackets for their support, but serious difficulties have been encountered in attempting to install them in close proximity to a ceiling or wall and positioned either parallel to a ceiling or with the rod end perpendicularly approaching a wall, as in a room corner. Since the usual traverse rod in stallation employs a construction wherein the rod rests within open-topped retaining sockets in brackets, sufficient space must in conventional constructions be provided above the installed rod position to permit the rod to be lifted out of its bracket supports for removal. Thus, space must be provided of at least the rod height plus a reasonable clearance, which space generally totals no less than an inch and is usually more. The difliculties with respect to mounting a bracket close to a wall of a room have occurred principally because some of the adjustment and operation of the traverse rod structure has normally been carried out from the outer ends of the traverse rod and bracket assembly. Hence, it was extremely diflicult, if not impossible, to reach the necessary parts if the bracket were placed close to a wall.

Further, in the construction of conventional brackets for supporting a traverse rod, the receptacle or socket above mentioned as normally provided at the outer end of the bracket for receiving the adapter for the traverse rod, normally extends in the same direction from the body part of the bracket as does the flange by which the body part of the bracket is fastened to the wall. Thus, users of these prior constructions experience the difficulty that such receptacle or socket is normally in the way of whatever tool, as a screwdriver, is used in fastening the bracket to the wall. To avoid this difliculty, it has been the usual practice to provide fastening flanges of somewhat larger extent that are necessary for solely fastening purposes, in order to place the screws far enough from the body part of the bracket that a screwdriver acting on such screws would clear the aforementioned socket. This placement of the screws at a substantial distance from the body part of the bracket has not only increased the cost of each such bracket by requiring more material for its fastening flanges, but also has somewhat weakened the fastening of the bracket to the Wall, since the screws were positioned at a rather substantial distancefrom the body part of the bracket. Thus, any force tending to cause movement of the bracket with respect to the wall acts on the screws with a rather long lever arm and, in

some instances, seriously affected the rigidity of the fastening of the bracket to the wall. Therefore, it has long been desired to design a traverse rod bracket in which the fastening screws could be located close to the body part of the bracket and still could be easily reached for 2,913,212 Patented Nov. 17, 1959 ice 2 being driven into place from a position directly in front thereof.

Accordingly, the major objects of this invention are:

' (1) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for mounting a traverse rod assembly to said supporting bracket, in which the bracket can be mounted close to, such as within one-quarter of an inch of, a ceiling and, after mounting can permit easy reception of said adapter into said bracket and permit its easy removal therefrom,

(2) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for mounting a traverse rod assembly to said supporting bracket in which the bracket can be mounted close to, such as within one-quarter of an inch of, a vertical wall, with the traverse rod perpendicular to the plane of said wall, and which after mounting can permit easy reception of said adapter into said bracket and permit its easy removal therefrom. a I 7 (3) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for mounting a traverse rod assembly onto said bracket capable of meeting the foregoing objectives, without involving much, if any, increased expense in the manufacture ofsaid bracket and adapter over prior traverse rod support constructions; V

(4) To provide a supporting bracket and adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, which will support the traverse rod as firmly as, or more firmly than, has been commercially practicable with prior traverse rod support constructions;

(5) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, in which the adapter requires only slight modification from previously known adapters for similar purposes;

(6) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, in which any necessary modification of the adapter can be made without appreciable additional expense;

'(7) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse'rod assembly, as aforesaid, in which the screws by which the bracket is affixed to a wall or other supporting structure are located closely adjacent to the body part of the bracket and still can be conveniently reached for insertion or removal thereof, whereby to provide a stronger mounting than was available previously but without materially altering the mounting procedure.

' (8) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, in which the socket, or other structure supplied for receiving the adapter of the traverse rod assembly, is of sufficiently open nature that a screwdriver can be readily passed therethrough to reach the screws by which the supporting bracket is affixed to a wall or other supporting structure;

(9) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, in which the bracket is sufliciently similar to brackets utilized in previous practice that the installation procedures therefor will be readily understood by installation personnel of ordinary skill and, hence, may be carried out with only a minimum of special instruction; and

(10) To provide a supporting bracket and an adapter for a traverse rod assembly, as aforesaid, which will be strong and sturdy and will be capable of a long period of use under rigorous conditions. 7

Other objects and purposes of this invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with apparatus of this general type upon reading of the following disclosure and an inspection of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: 2

Figure l is an oblique to which this invention relates, in operating association with one end of a traverse rod, and showing said bracket in" operating position withfre spect to a fragment of a supporting wall. A v 1 view of a bracket and adapter Figure 2 is a top view of the, bracket and adapter shown in Figure 1, but here showing the traverse rod portion of the assembly in broken lines.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the bracket of the invention as seen from the inner, or leftward as appearing in Figure 1, side of said bracket.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the bracket as seen from the rightward side of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an inside elevational view of the adapter portion of the assembly.

Figure 6 is a partially broken, and elevational v1ew of the traverse rod assembly as seen from the leftward side of Figure 5. V

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII--VII of Figure 2, with the cord guide rollers removed, and showing a drapery supportinghanger in broken lines and mounted on the traverse rod.

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken on the line VIII- VIII of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 8, showing the parts in partially disassembled position.

Figure 10 is a partially broken view, similar to Figure 2, showing a modification.

General description In general, the bracket portion of the invention is provided with a single support means on the front of the bracket for receiving the adapter portion of the invention. Such support means is positioned angularly to permit entry thereinto of an interengaging part of the adapter by a pivoting motion in one direction, and is disengageable therefrom only by a similar pivoting motion in a reverse direction. Resilient means are provided on said bracket and are effective, after the assembly of the adapter to the bracket is completed, for constantly urging said adapter toward its fully interengaged position with respect to said bracket. Additionally, the center of gravity of the adapter, the traverse rod and the drape supported thereby is so positioned that said adapter is urged in a bracket-engaging direction.

The bracket has substantially the same structure as conventional bracket structures for adjusting the position of the traverse rod assembly toward, and away from, the wall, but provides for locating the fastening means on the inside of the bracket so that the bracket canbe mounted closely adjacent to a wall and the spacing of the traverse rod assembly from the wall on which it is mounted can be controlled from inside the bracket.

Positive means may be applied, if desired, for additionally holding the adapter in fixed relationship with the bracket.

Detailed description For the purpose of convenience in description, certain terminology will be used for reference purposes, but it will be understood that these terms are for convenience in reference only and have no limiting significance. The term outer, and derivatives thereof, will be utilized with reference both to the bracket and to the adapter to indicate the side of each thereof which is normally exposed to view when the bracket is mounted on a wall in its usual operating position, namely, the leftward side of the adapter as appearing in Figure 2 and the downward side of the bracket as appearing in Figure 2. The term inner, and derivatives thereof, will be utilized, both with reference to the adapter and with reference to the bracket, for denoting the portion of each thereof which is not normally exposed to view when the bracket is mounted in its usual operating position on a wall, namely, the rightward side of the adapter as appearing in Figure 2 and the upperiside of the bracket 'as appearing in Figure 2'. The terms rightward, leftward, and derivatives thereof, will be freely utilized and will denote directions as appearing with respect to the figures in connection with which said terms are. used. The terms upward, downward, and derivatives thereof, will be utilized to denote directions with respect to either the adapter or the bracket when same are located in their normal positions of use, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a bracket 1 (Figure 1) is mounted upon any convenient supporting structure, as

a wall W and, in turn, supports an end adapter 2. Said end adapter 2 supports, in a conventional manner, the traverse rod structure 3, said traverse rod structure and said end adapter defining the traverse rod assembly. In the embodiment of the invention here used for illustrative purposes, both the bracket and the adapter are made 7 the uppermost of which appear at 7 and 8. Other openings 9 and 11 (Figure 3) may be provided on the forwardly extending arm 4, if desired, for mounting the bracket directly on an end wall.

The upper and lower edges 13 and 14 (Figure 4) of the arm 4 are turned slightly inwardly, both to improve the appearance of the arm and to stiffen the structure in a known manner. A slot 16 is provided in said arm 4 for purposes appearing hereinafter.

An internal fixture 12 (Figures 3 and 4) lies against the inside face of the arm 4 between the inwardly turned edges 13 and 14. The fixture 12 is adjustably secured to the arm 4 by a screw 17 which extends through the slot 16 and is threaded into a suitably threaded opening in the internal fixture 12. The internal fixture 12 has a base portion 15 which lies flush against the inner face of the arm 4, and has a planar portion 20 which is oifset inwardly from said inner face and is substantially parallel therewith. The portion 20 has an upper edge 18 which extends substantially horizontally when the bracket is in its normal position of use. The portion 15 has an inwardly bent flange 19, and a holding spring or deformable leaf 21 which is integral with and extends outwardly from said flange. Said spring extends toward, and preferably slightly beyond, the outer edge 22 of the bracket and has a downwardly turned foot 23 at its outer end, for purposes appearing hereinafter. The foot 23 lies above the upper edge 18 of the portion 20 and has a pair of upwardly extending, oppositely directed cam surfaces as shown.

A channel 25 is provided at the lower corner of the portion 20 of the internal fixture 12. The inner flange 24 (Figure 4) of channel25 extends upwardly and is parallel with the inner face of arm 4. The bight 26 of the bent channel 25 is disposed angularly with respect to the horizontal when the bracket is in its normal position of use, as best shown in Figure 8. This will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Turning now to the end adapter 2 (Figures 1 and 2), said adapter comprises a pulley-containing housing 31 and a rod-engaging section 32 of externally conventional form. The rod-engaging section 32 supports the traverse rod structure 3 in any suitable manner, here by wrapping suitable extensions 32a, 32b and 320 (Figures 2 and 5) snugly around the traverse rod structure 3. The pulleycontaining housing 31 has an inwardly extending flange 33 and, preferably, also has a suitably rounded covering extension 34 for closing the outer end of the bracket structure 1.

A pulley-supporting adapter 37 (Figures 5 and 6) ex tends parallel with the inner vertical face 38 of the housing 31 and is fastened to said housing in any con venient manner, such as by riveting an inwardly extending flange 39 thereon to the inwardly extending flange 33 of said housing. A pair of pulleys 41 and 42 are positioned adjacent the outer surface of said pulley-supporting fixture 37. A plate 43 is provided on the opposite, axial side of said pulleys for stiffening purposes. The pulleys 41 and 42 are rotatably supported in position, and said plate 43 is affixed with respect to the pulleysupporting fixture 37, in a conventional manner, by suitable rivets 44 and 46. This structure is substantially similar to that previously used and, hence, needs no further detailing.

The leftward end of the pulley-supporting fixture 37 (Figures 5 and 6) is here turned outwardly to provide a hook-supporting flange 47. Said flange 47 bears against the inner, vertical face 38 of the housing 31. The lower edge 48 of the flange 47 curves inwardly and downwardly and terminates in an outwardly directed hook 49. Approximately the lower two-thirds of the edge 48 lies on a radius from the lower edge 51 of the pulley housing 31. The remainder of the lower edge 48 is sufliciently relieved upwardly to provide an edge slanting outwardly and upwardly to its end. In assembled position, as best shown .in Figure 8, said lower edge 48 is so related to the bight 26 that when the extreme upper and outer end of said edge 48 is resting on the upper and outer edge of the bight 26, the lower and inner end of said edge 48 will be very slightly spaced from the adjacent edge of the bight 26. Said spacing provides a clearance, and only enough clearance to assure that, within normal manufacturing tolerances, the sole contact between said edge 48 and said bight 26 will be at their mutually upper and outer edges, and there will be no contact at their mutually inner and lower edges.

The outer edge 52 of the flange 47 (Figure 6) extends upwardly and inwardly and forms an upwardly extending tab 53 which, when in assembled position with respect to the bracket 1, as shown in Figure 8, is located immediately inwardly of the low point 23a of the spring foot 23. When the tab 53 and the lower edge 48 are in the positions shown in Figure 8 and above described, the upper and lower edges of the closing extension 34 will contact the outer edge 22 (Figures 3 and 9) of the arm 4 of said bracket, as indicated at 54 and 56 (Figure 8). Thus, the inward movement of the pulley housing 31 is positively limited.

The rod-engaging section 32, for purposes which will be clarified hereinafter, may be inset somewhat inwardly, as indicated at 59 (Figure 2), in order that the drapery supporting hanger structure, regardless of what specific kind may be used, will be located inwardly of the weightsupporting edge 26a (Figure 8), the extreme upward and outward edge, of the bight 26. The inward positioning of the weight of the drapery supporting hangers utilized with said traverse rod may be, and desirably is, further accentuated by utilizing a structure for the traverse rod 3 having the hangers H (Figure 7) supported from the inward side thereof. This, however, is a matter of choice and is not essential to the invention, provided only that weight of the hangers is appreciably inwardly from a vertical plane passing through said edge 26a.

Assembly and operation The assembly and operation of the apparatus has already been somewhat indicated above in connection with the specific description of the parts, but these will be further described below for the purpose of insuring a complete understanding of "the invention.

The bracket 1 may first be fastened to a wall W in a conventional manner. It will be observed that there is no structure associated with said bracket which will prevent the convenient reaching of screws in either of the openings 7 and 8 by suitable means, such as a screwdriver, extending directly inwardly along the inner face of the arm 4. With said bracket suitably positioned on the Wall, or other supporting structure, the adapter 2 is brought toward the outer end of the arm 4 in a suitable position, such as that shown in Figure 9. The hook 49. is passed over the upper and outer edge 26a of the bight 26 and the end fixture is then rotated counterclockwise, as appearing in Figures 8 and 9. By such rotation, the hook 49 is caused to pass over the upper surface of the bight 26 with the lower edge of the pulley housing 31 being in substantial contact with the lower end of the outer edge 22 of the arm 4. As the counterclockwise rotation continues, the upwardly extending tab 53 will pass under the spring foot 23. Such motion is continued until the hook 49 passes inwardly of the bight 26 and the upwardly extending tab 53 passes inwardly of the low point 23a of the spring foot 23. When this occurs,

the covering extension 34 of said adapter will contact the end of the arm 4 and the motion of the adapter toward the arm 4 will be terminated. The force of the spring 23 will now bear against the outer edge of the upwardly extending tab 53 so as to urge it further inwardly, and thereby hold the adapter 2 tightly against the outer end of the bracket 1. Further, since the center of gravity of the traverse rod 3 is inwardly of the edge 26a (Figure 8) of the bight 26, and the lower end 48 of the flange 47 contacts said bight 26 only at the edge 26a, the weight of the rod assembly will tend further to rotate the adapter in a counterclockwise direction and hold the parts firmly together. Still further, since the outer portion of the lower edge 48 is angled upwardly and outwardly, the weight of the entire adapter being supported on said edge, said adapter will tend to slide downwardly and inwardly on said edge until the bight 26 firmly contacts the inner face 38 of the pulley housing 31. Thus, both the action' of the spring 21 and the action of the weight of the adapter, and all the parts and structure supported thereby, tend both to move the end adapter firmly against the outer edge 22 of the arm 4 and to cause it to tend to rotate counterclockwise (Figure 8) into its assembled position.

Removal of the adapter 2 is efiected merely by manually urging the upper edge of said adapter outwardly, that is, rotating said adapter in a clockwise direction (Figure 8) substantially around the edge 26a of the bight 26, and thereby reversing the procedure above outlined for assembling the parts. The hook 49 prevents the lower side of the pulley housing 31 from being drawn away from the arm 4, as by a counterclockwise rotation of the pulley housing 31, about its upper edge, which might conceivably be eflected by some unusual force, such as someone pulling outwardly on the drapery supported from the traverse rod structure 3.

If desired, in order to provide positive means preventing such removal, an opening may be provided at 61 (Figure 2) through the inwardly extending flange 33 of the pulley housing 31, and a similar opening provided through part of the spring 21 located directly below said opening 61, and a suitable screw passed therethrough. However, such positive connection will normally be unnecessary. If a positive connection is provided between the pulley housing 31 and the bracket 1, it will not be necessary to insure that the weight of the pulley housing 31 is borne against the edge 26a of the bight 26. Accordingly, the design of the bight 26 and the lower edge 48 of the flange 47 may be modified, as may be desired or required.

Modification In the above described structure, it will be noted that the screw 17 (Figure 1) is reached from the outside of the bracket 1 and, hence, it is assumed that the bracket is placed a suflicient distance from an end wall that room is available for this purpose. However, if the bracket is to be placed close to a wall, or if it is to be built in such a manner that it can be placed close to a wall, then it will be a simple matter to reverse the screw 17, as indicated at 17a in Figure 10, and provide a suitable washer 62 to receive the threaded end of'the screw. If desired, said washer 62 may be extended as a curved hook 63, around 7 the outer face of the pulley housing 31, for providing further positive retention of said adapter 2 in locked condition with respect to the bracket 1.

7 While certain embodiments of the invention have been selected for illustrative purposes, it should be recognized that the principles of the invention may be applied to other structures. Accordingly, the hereinafter appended claims should be construed to cover such other structures, unless said claims by their own terms expressly require otherwise.

What is claimed is:

1. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: an arm whose inner end is mountable on a vertical mounting surface;

an adapter, including a vertically arranged surface andhaving a traverse rod mounting structure positioned inwardly from said vertically arranged surface; a sidewardly extending supporting element on said arm adjacent the outward end thereof, said supporting element including means defining an upwardly and outwardly inclined supporting surface adjacent the outer, lower corner of said supporting element, said supporting surface extending transverse to said arm; a plate on said adapter extending inwardly from said vertically arranged surface substantially parallel with said arm and transverse to said supporting surface, said plate having a lower edge removably resting on said inclined surface at the upper and outer end thereof adjacent said vertically arranged surface, whereby the center of gravity of said traverse rod structure is positioned inwardly of the upper and outer end of said inclined supporting surface; and means limiting the rotation of said adapter, in response to the weight placed on said fixture, to rotation substantially around said upper and outer end of said inclined supporting surface.

2. The structure of claim 1, including a downwardly extending hook at the inner end of said lower edge of said plate and extending downwardly and inwardly of the inner edge of said inclined surface, for preventing said plate from sliding upwardly and outwardly along said inclined surface.

3. The structure of claim 1, including an elongated, deformable leaf secured at its rearward end to said arm and positioned inwardly thereof, the longitudinal axis of said leaf extending parallel with said arm, said leaf having a downwardly extending foot at its outer end defining upwardly inclined, oppositely disposed cam surfaces; means secured to said vertically arranged surface and having a vertically extending camming element thereon spaced inwardly from said vertically arranged surface, said camrning element being aligned with said cam surfaces, whereby said leaf may be deformed by, and may releasably lock, said camming element.

4. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having a mounting flange at the inner end thereof; means on said bracket defining a channel at the outer and lower corner of said bracket, the bight of said channel being inclined upwardly and outwardly and the legs of said channel extending upwardly substantially parallel with said bracket, said bracket having an elongated, deformable leaf adjacent the upper and outer corner thereof; an adapter having a vertically arranged inner surface; means extending inwardly from said surface adjacent the lower end thereof defining an upwardly and outwardly inclined edge, said edge being removably received in said channel; and means extending inwardly from said surface adjacent the upper end thereof and having a vertically extending tab, said tab being engageable with said leaf for deforming said leaf and being releasably locked in position thereby.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein said edge engages said channel only at the upper and outer end of the bight thereofand said upper and outer end is adjacent said surfac said leaf having upwardly and oppositely inclined 8 cam surfaces engageable with said tab; and said tab is positioned inwardly of said surface.

6. A traverse rod construction comprising in combination: an adapter for supporting a traverse rod, a horizontal bracket arm having a mounting flange at one end there of, said bracket arm having a horizontally extending slot therethrough; an internal fixture adjacent the inner surface of said arm, said fixture having means thereon supporting said adapter in front of said bracket arm, said fixture having an opening therethrough alignable with said slot; a plate positioned adjacent the outer surface of said arm, said plate including a first portion parallel with and adjacent said arm and a second curved portion extending in front of said adapter, said plate having a threaded hole through said first portion thereof aligned with said slot and said opening; and fastening means extending through said aligned slot, opening and hole and having the tool-engaging portion thereof adjacent the inner surface of said fixture.

7. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having a substantially vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; an outwardly extending deformable leaf adjacent the upper end of said end plate and spaced transversely therefrom, said leaf having a downwardly extending foot adjacent the outer end thereof defining a pair of upwardly extending, oppositely directed cam surfaces; a channel-shaped member secured to said end plate adjacent the outer, lower portion thereof, said channelshaped member having an upwardly and outwardly inclined web disposed transversely of said end plate and having a pair of legs substantially parallel with said end plate; an end adapter having a transverse rod engaging portion and an end housing, said end housing having a vertically extending outer plate which extends transverse to and abuts against the outer edge of said end plate; a flange extending inwardly from said outer plate, said flange having an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge removably received within said channel, said flange having a tab on its upper edge engaging the upwardly and inwardly directed cam surface of said foot whereby said adapter is releasably held in engagement with said bracket,

8. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket consisting of a sidewardly turned, vertically disposed mounting flange having openings therethrough and a vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; an outwardly extending deformable leaf adjacent the upper end of said end plate and spaced transversely therefrom, said leaf having a downwardly turned foot adjacent the outer end thereof defining a pair of upwardly extending, opposite ly directed cam surfaces; a channel-shaped member secured to said end plate adjacent the outer, lower portion thereof, said channel-shaped member having an upwardly and outwardly inclined web disposed transverse of said end plate and having a pair of legs substantially parallel with said end plate, said end plate terminating in a vertically extending outer edge so that said openings in said mounting flange are unobstructed whereby a tool may be extended directly inwardly along the inner face of said end plate to engage fastening means extendable through said openings in order to fasten said bracket to a wall; an end adapter having a traverse rod engaging portion and an end housing, said end housing having a vertically extending outer plate which extends transverse to and abuts against the outer edge of said end plate; a flange extending inwardly from said outer plate, said flange having an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge removably received within said channel, said flange also having a tab on its upper edge engaging the upwardly and inwardly directed cam surface of said foot Whereby said adapter is releasably held in engagement with said bracket.

9. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having a substantially vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; an internal fixture mounted on said end plate, said fixture including a vertically extending base plate secured to the interior surface of said end plate, a flange extending sidewardly from said base plate adjacent the inward, upper corner thereof, said flange having an outwardly extending deformable leaf integral therewith and spaced sidewardly from said end plate, said leaf having a downwardly extending foot adjacent the outer end thereof defining a pair of upwardly extending, oppositely directed cam surfaces; the outer, lower corner of said base plate being reversely bent to define a channel, said channel being substantially directly below said foot; an end adapter having a traverse rod engaging portion and a housing, said housing having a vertically extending outer plate offset forwardly from said traverse rod engaging portion and extending transverse to said end plate, said housing also having a flange extending substantially parallel with said end plate, said flange on said housing abutting against theinterior surface of said outer plate intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and having an upwardly extending tab at the upper end thereof, said tab engaging the inwardly directed cam surface of said foot, said flange on said housing also having an inwardly extending portion receivable within said channel so that said adapter may be mounted on said bracket by placing said portion into said channel and pivoting said adapter with respect to said bracket until said tab passes inwardly of the low point of said foot and engages the upwardly and inwardly extending cam surface thereof.

10. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having,

a substantially vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; an internal fixture secured to the internal surface of said end plate, said fixture including a vertically extending base plate secured to and lying against the interior surface of said end plate; a flange integral with said base plate and extending sidewardly therefrom adjacent the inward, upper corner thereof, said flange having an outwardlyextending deformable leaf integral therewith and spaced sidewardly from said end plate, said leaf having a downwardly extending foot adjacent the outer end thereof defining a pair of upwardly extending, oppositely directed cam surfaces; said base plate having the outward end portion of said base plate offset sidewardly from the remainder thereof; the outer, lower corner of said offset portion being reversely bent to define a channel having an upwardly and outwardly inclined web, said channel and said foot being substantially in vertical alignment and located adjacent the outward edge of said end plate; an end adapter having a traverse rod engaging portion and an end housing, said end housing having a vertically extending outer plate offset forwardly from said traverse rod engaging section and extending transverse to said end plate; a pulley-supporting plate secured to and extending parallel with and spaced inwardly from said outer plate, said pulley-supporting plate having an outwardly extending flange at the end thereof remote from said traverse rod engaging portion thereof, said last-named flange extending substantially parallel to said end plate and extending into contact with the internal surface of said outer plate of said adapter intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, said last-named flange having a downwardly and inwardly extending portion at its lower end removably received within said channel, said lastnamed flange also having an upwardly and rearwardly extending tab at its upper end engaging the inwardly directed cam surface of said foot.

11. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having a substantially vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; means defining a sidewardly extending supporting element on said end plate adjacent the outer end thereof, said supporting element being open at its outer end; an end adapter adapted to be connected to a traverse rod and having a traverse rod engaging portion and a housing beyond the end of said traverse rod, said housing having a vertically extending outer plate offset forwardly from said traverse rod engaging portion and extending transverse to said end plate, said housing also having means extending inwardly from the interior surface of said outer plate and extending through the open outer end of said supporting element and releasably engaging said supporting element for support thereby, the point of interengagement between said supporting element and said last-named means being adjacent said outer plate so that the center of gravity of said traverse rod is positioned inwardly from said point of interengagement; and means on said bracket for releasably holding said adapter on said bracket.

12. A bracket and adapter structure as set forth in claim 11 including a horizontal flange at the upper edge of said outer plate and extending inwardly therefrom; a horizontal member extending inwardly from the upper edge of said end plate and overlapping said horizontal flange; and fastening means extending through said horizontal flange and said horizontal member for securing said bracket and said adapter together.

13. A bracket and adapter structure for supporting a traverse rod, comprising in combination: a bracket having a substantially vertically disposed, outwardly extending end plate; an internal fixture mounted on said end plate, said fixture including a vertically extending base plate secured to the interior surface of said end plate; the outer, lower corner of said base plate being reversely bent to define a channel having a web inclined upwardly and outwardly and having upwardly extending legs parallel with said end plate; an end adapter having a traverse rod engaging portion and a housing, said housing having a vertically extending outer plate extending transverse to said end plate, said housing also having a flange extending inwardly substantially parallel to said end plate, said flange on said housing abutting against the interior surface of said outer plate intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof, said flange having an inwardly and downwardly inclined lower edge receivable within said channel so that said adapter may be mounted on said bracket by placing said portion into said channel while said adapter is substantially horizontal and pivoting said adapter with respect to said bracket into a vertical position; and means for releasably securing said adapter to said bracket and holding said adapter in said vertical 'positlon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,790,258 Boye Jan. 27, 1931 1,845,857 Ward Feb. 16, 1932 2,062,579 Kirsch Dec. 1, 1936 2,138,502 Nordstrom Nov. 29, 1938 2,267,160 McKerlie Dec. 23, 1941 2,272,956 Stuber et al Feb. 10, 1942 2,747,218 McMurray May 29, 1956

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