US3061004A

US3061004A - Support for fireplace screen

Info

Publication number: US3061004A
Application number: US804457A
Authority: US
Inventors: Max L Newbury
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-04-06
Filing date: 1959-04-06
Publication date: 1962-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1979-10-30

Description

Oct. 30, 1962 M- L- NEWBURY SUPPORT FOR FIREPLACE SCREEN Filed April 6, 1959 0' 4 J gvvv 1 e i as ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,061,004 SUPPORT FOR FIREPLACE SCREEN Max L. Newbury, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Edward Strasser, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Apr. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 804,457 6 Claims. (Cl. 160126) This invention rel-ates to means to support a screen across a fireplace opening and, more particularly, relates to means to engage the wall structure of a fireplace opening to support the upper edge of a metal screen curtain.

A support structure for this purpose has been devised heretofore that is equipped with a plurality of screws at each end for supporting engagement with opposite wall surfaces of a fireplace well inside the fireplace opening. The screws may have pointed ends for at least slight penetration of the wall surfaces. Such screws are not conveniently accessible and especially so since tools must be used and the screws at each end are relatively close together to make the use of tools awkward. Another disadvantage is that the screws are offset by substantial distances from the screen curtain and must be tightened excessively to withstand the turning moment imposed on the support tructure by the weight of the metal screen curtain. Because of these disadvantages, such support structures are customarily installed only by skilled craftsmen.

The broad object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a fireplace screen curtain that may be installed quickly and easily by an unskilled person and therefore may be installed by the average householder. A special feature of the invention is that it may be installed without the use of tools and without the necessity of reaching far into the fireplace in the course of the installation procedure.

In general this broad object is attained by making a support structure in separate relatively adjustable sections for variation in overall length and by providing manual means operable between sections. The support structure may be contracted to fit into a fireplace opening and may then be manually expanded into supporting pressure engagement with the opposite side surfaces of the fireplace opening.

The initial embodiment of the invention is further characterized by the incorporation of spring means effective between the relatively movable sections to exert continuous expansion pressure for maintaining effective engagement with the wall surfaces.

In the preferred practice of the invention, the means for operatively interconnecting sections of the support structure for expansion of the over-all length comprises a pair of toggle links. A suitable handle i united with one of the toggle links for the expansion operation and is movable to a normal inconspicuous position. The toggle links expand to a past center position to make the links irreversible in response to the stresses engendered by their expansion. One of the links is a bowed spring member for maintaining the required expansion pressure.

The initial embodiment of the invention is further characterized by the provision at the opposite ends of the support structure of pressure surfaces of sufiicient area to avoid marring or damaging the side surfaces of the fireplace opening. In this regard, an important feature is the further concept of providing what may be termed pressure shoes for contact with the side wall surfaces which pressure shoes are pivoted to conform to irregularities and misalignments of the wall surface.

A further object of the inventionis to provide adjustability with respect to the alignment of the screen curtain relative to the support structure. The screen curtain comprises two sections which may be drawn apart for access to the fireplace and the support structure provides two corresponding pairs of rods on which the upper edges 3,061,004 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 ICC of the curtain sections are slidingly supported. These rods are carried by brackets which are adjustable relative to the support structure so that if it is necessary for any reason to install the support structure in a position slightly out of horizontal, the brackets may be adjusted for compensation to hold the upper edges of the curtain sections horizontal.

The features and advantages of the invention may be understood from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, which is to be regarded as merely illustrative:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention showing the support structure installed across the upper part of a fireplace opening in engagement with the wall surfaces at the opposite sides of the opening;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are transverse sections taken as indicated respectively by the lines 33, 4-4, 5-5 and 66 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the support structure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary rear elevation of the other end of the support structure showing the toggle linkage in its contracted or released position; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 8 with parts broken away to show how a pivoted pressure shoe is incorporated in the structure.

The principal parts of the support structure shown in the drawing include: a channel member that is generally designated by the letter C; an extension member that is generally designated by the letter E; a toggle linkage comprising a manually operable lever 10 and a bowed spring link member 12; a pivoted pressure shoe 14 on the outer end of the extension member E; a second pivoted pressure shoe on the opposite end of the channel member C; a pair of curtain-supporting rods extending in overlapping relationship comprising a first rod .16 and a second rod 18; a first bracket means, generally designated 20, that is mounted on the extension member E to support one end of the first rod 16; a second bracket means, generally designated 22., that is mounted on the opposite end of the channel member C to support one end of the second rod 18; and a third bracket means, generally designated 24, that is mounted at an intermediate position on the channel member C to slidingly support the second end of the first rod 16 and the second end of the second rod *18.

As shown in cross section in FIG. 5, the channel member C is a sheet metal member having two longitudinal flanges 25 to form a longitudinal channel, the two flanges 25 being bent inward to overhang the channel for the purpose of retaining any member of complementary configuration that is seated therein. Preferably the channel member C is adjustable in length and for this purpose is made in two pieces that are held together by a splice member 26 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. As may be seen in FIG. 5, the splice member 26 is a sheet metal member of a configuration to fit slidingly in the channel of the channel member C, the splice member having a pair of longitudinal flanges 28 that slidingly nest into the flanges 25 of the channel member C.

For the purpose of adjustment, the two longitudinal sections of the channel member C that are interconnected by the splice member 26 are formed with longitudinal slots 30 as best shown in FIG. 1. A pair of screws 32 equipped with nuts 34 extend through the two slots 30, respectively, and extend through corresponding flanged apertures in the splice member 26 in the manner shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 also shows how the web of the splice member 26 may be ofiset outward from the web of the channel member C for resilient opposition to tightening of the two screws 32 to make the structure rigid and to prevent loosening of the screws. It is apparent that this arrangement makes it possible to loosen the two screws 32 temporarily for the purpose of adjusting the effective length of the channel member C.

The extension member E, which is shown in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, is a relatively short sheet metal member that is of the same cross-sectional configuration as the previously described splice member 26 and is slidingly mounted in the same manner in the channel formed by the channel member C. The previously mentioned pressure shoe 14 is mounted between the web of the extension member E and the web of the channel member C and is pivotally connected to the extension member by means of a screw 36.

The previously mentioned manually operable lever .10 is pivotally connected to the extension member E by a second screw 38. The lever is made of heavy sheet metal and is formed with a slight outward offset 40 as best shown in FIG. 2 to clear the lower flange 25 of the channel member C.

The link member 112 is made of heavy spring wire and is pivotally connected to the lever 10 by having a bent end portion 42 that is journaled in a corresponding aperture in the lever. The other end of the spring link member 12 has a similar bent end portion 43 that extends outward through a corresponding aperture in a sheet metal plate 44 that is anchored in the channel of the channel member C. The sheet metal plate 44 is of the same flanged cross-sectional configuration as the previously described splice member 26 and nests into the channel member C in the same manner but is fixedly anchored in place. For this purpose, the upper flange 25 of the channel member C may be lanced and crirnped inward to provide a pair of shoulders 45 to confine the sheet metal plate 44 as shown in FIG. 8. It is apparent that this arrangement provides a pair of interconnected force-multiplying toggle links, one link of the pair being the wire spring member 12 and the other link being the portion of the lever 10 between the screw 38 and the bent end portion 42 of the spring wire member.

In the contracted position of the toggle linkage shown in FIG. 8, the pressure shoe 1-4 is retracted into the end of the channel member C. In the fully expanded position of the toggle linkage shown in FIG. 1, the pressure shoe 14 is extended well beyond the end of the channel member C and is locked in position by virtue of the fact that the toggle linkage moves past center when it is expended. Thus, in the movement of the lever from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the normal inconspicuous position shown in FIG. 1, the pivot comprising the bent end portion 42 of the spring wire 12 crosses a straight line that is defined by the axis of the screw 38 and the axis of the second bent end 43 of the spring wire .12. At this past center position of the toggle linkage, a lower edge 46 of the extension member that may be seen in FIG. 8 serves as a stop for abutment by the bent end 42 of the spring wire link 12, this stop preventing collapse of the toggle linkage.

The first bracket means that is mounted on the extension member E is an angular sheet metal member that is anchored to the extension member by the previously mentioned pair of

screws

36 and 38. The bracket means 20 is adjustable and for this purpose is formed with a pair of vertical slots 48 to receive the two screws. The sheet metal bracket means 20 has a horizontal flange 50 at its upper edge and this flange is formed with a second downwardly extending flange 52.

The second bracket means 22 which is fixedly mounted on the opposite end of the channel member C is of the construction shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. This construction comprises a sheet metal base member 54 which 4 is of the same flanged cross-sectional configuration as the previously described sheet metal plate 44 and which is confined in the channel of the channel member C in the same manner. In this instance, the lower flange 25 of the channel member C is lanced and crirnped to provide a pair of shoulders 55 for confining the sheet metal base member 54 against longitudinal shift. The previously mentioned pressure shoe 15 is mounted between the web of the base member 54 and the web of the channel member C and is pivotally connected to the base member by a screw 56.

The construction of the second bracket means 22 further includes an angular sheet metal bracket member 57 that is mounted on the base member 54 by the screw 56 and a second screw 58. The bracket member 57 is adjustable on the base member 54 and for this purpose is formed with a pair of slots 60 to receive the

screws

56 and 58 as best shown in FIG. 7. The bracket member 57 is formed with a horizontal flange 62 at its upper edge and this flange is formed with a second downwardly extending end flange 64.

The third intermediate bracket means 24 comprises a sheet metal base member 65 and a sheet metal bracket member 66 mounted thereon. The sheet metal bracket member 66 is mounted in an adjustable manner by a pair of screws 68 which extend through corresponding slots 70 in the bracket member. The sheet metal base member 65 on which the bracket member 66 is mounted is of the same cross-sectional configuration as the base member 54 of the bracket means 22 as may be seen in FIG. 6. The bracket member 66 has a horizontal flange 72 at its upper edge and this horizontal flange in turn is formed with two opposite downwardly extending

flanges

74 and 75 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 6, these two

flanges

74 and 75 are offset from each other.

The two curtain-supporting

rods

16 and 18 are mounted on the three bracket means 20, 22 and 24. The outer end of the rod 16 is attached to the flange 52 of the first bracket means 20 and the outer end of the second rod 18 is mounted in the flange 64 of the second bracket means 22. In both of these instances the end of the rod is secured by means of an aperture in the flange that is of the configuration shown in FIG. 7. The aperture 76 in FIG. 7 is dimensioned to receive the end of the rod 18 and is formed with a downwardly extending narrowed slot 78. The end of the rod 18 is slotted by a milling cutter or hacksaw on its opposite sides to drop down into the slot 78 into positive engagement with the edges of the slot as may be understood by reference to FIG. 3. The end of the rod 16 is removably engaged with the downwardly extending flange 52 of the first bracket means 20 in the same manner.

The second end of the rod 16 is slidingly mounted in the downwardly extending flange 74 of the third intermediate bracket means 24 and in like manner the second end of the rod 18 is slidingly mounted in the downwardly extending flange 75 of the third bracket means. In the construction shown, the ends of the two

rods

16 and 18 slidingly extend through corresponding apertures in the two flanges 74 and '75 respectively, the apertures being formed with flanges 80.

The sliding engagement of the rod 18 with the third intermediate bracket means 24 permits adjustment in length of the channel member C. The sliding engagement of the rod 16 with the flange 74 of the third intermediate bracket means avoids interference with extension and retraction of the extension member E.

As indicated in phantom in FIG. 1, sections of screen curtain 82 are 'slidingly mounted 'by their upper edges on the

rods

16 and 18. These screen curtain sections are manually controllable by means of a chain 84 that is shown in phantom. In a well known manner, the two ends of the chain 84 hang downward and are provided with corresponding weights 85 that serve as handles whereby the two screen curtain sections may be retracted to opposite sides of the fireplace opening when desired for access to the fireplace.

The upper flange 62 of the second bracket means 22 is lanced and offset to form three downwardly extending sheet metal loops 86 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 7 and 8, these sheet metal loops serving as suitable guides for the chain 84. The chain 84 is looped around a small pulley 88 that is mounted on the underside of the flange 50 of the first bracket means 20 as may be seen in FIGS. 1 and 8.

The manner in which the invention serves its purpose may be readily understood from the foregoing description. The range of expansion and contraction of the support structure that is provided by the extension member E under control of the toggle linkage may be, for example, of an inch without stressing the spring link member 12 in flexure. The spring member .12 should be subject to bending stress, however, to cause the two pressure shoes 14- and 15 to exert adequate pressure against the opposite wall surfaces 90 of the fireplace opening. Therefore, the contracted over-all length of the channel member C together with the extension member E should be shorter than the width of the fireplace opening by less than /8 of an inch. For example, if the contracted length of the support structure is inch less than the width of the fireplace opening, the spring link member 12 will be bowed accordingly to contract /8 of an inch. It is apparent that such an arrangement provides substantial tolerance since the spring link member 12 may be bowed to various degrees.

It is a simple matter to loosen the two screws 32 for the purpose of adjusting the efiective length of the channel member C so that the contracted over-all length of the support structure will be such that the spring link member will be bowed under flexural stress when the toggle linkage is expanded. With the channel member C adjusted to the desired length, the screws 32 are retightened to anchor the two sections of the channel member to the splice member 26.

The installation operation consists simply of placing the described support structure across the upper portion of the fireplace opening in the position shown in FIG. 1 and then swinging the handle from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the inconspicuous position shown in FIG. 1. The back side of the channel member C faces forward and may be provided with suitable support brackets (not shown) to receive an ornamental trim member (not shown) to extend across the upper portion of the fireplace opening and conceal the support structure.

Once the support structure is mounted in this manner, it is a simple matter to adjust any of the three bracket means 20, 22 and 24 as may be desired to make the two curtain-supporting

rods

16 and 18 substantially horizontal. It is sometimes necessary to position the support structure slightly out of horizontal because of some minor obstacle. It is to be noted, however, that since the two

pressure shoes

14 and 15 are pivoted, they readily accommodate themselves to any irregularities or misalignments of the opposite wall surfaces 90.

The whole support structure may be quickly removed by simply swinging the lever 10 from the position shown in FIG. 1 to the position shown in FIG. 8. A feature of the invention is that this lever is readily accessible so that it is not necessary for the operator to reach into the fireplace proper. It is a convenient matter to remove the support structure whenever desired for the purpose of cleaning or replacing the screen curtain section. -It is to be noted that the two

rods

16 and 18 are removable for this purpose.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of the invention 'will suggest various changes, substitutions and other departures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for hanging a pair of curtains across an opening in a wall, comprising: a support structure for engagement with said wall to span said opening, said support structure being made in a plurality of separate sections in sliding engagement with each other for relative longitudinal movement to expand and contract the over-all length of the support structure; two disconnected curtain rods for said curtains respectively, said rods being laterally spaced from each other and overlapping in length at their inner ends; two brackets on the opposite ends of said support structure in supporting engagement with the outer ends of said two rods respectively; and intermediate bracket means centrally mounted on said support structure to support the inner ends of the two rods from the support structure, said intermediate bracket means slidably engaging the inner ends of the two overlapping rods to permit longitudinal movement of the two rods relative to the intermediate bracket means when the support structure is expanded or contracted.

2. Means for hanging a pair of curtains across an opening in a wall, comprising: a support structure for engagement with said wall to span said opening, said support structure being made in a plurality of separate sections in sliding engagement with each other for relative longitudinal movement to expand and contract the overall length of the support structure; two disconnected rods for said curtains respectively, said rods being laterally spaced from each other and overlapping in length at their inner ends; two brackets on the opposite ends of said support structure in supporting engagement with the outer ends of said two rods respectively; intermediate bracket means centrally mounted on said support structure to support the inner ends of the two rods from the support structure, said intermediate bracket means slidably engaging the inner ends of the two overlapping rods to permit longitudinal movement of the two rods relative to the intermediate bracket means when the support structure is expanded or contracted; and means to vary the elevation of the ends of said two rods relative to said support structure for leveling of said curtains when the support structure is out of level.

3. Means for hanging a pair of curtains across an opening in a wall, comprising: a support structure for engagement with said wall to span said opening, said support structure being made in a plurality of separate sections in sliding engagement with each other for relative longitudinal movement to expand and contract the overall length of the support structure; two disconnected curtain rods for said curtains respectively, said rods being laterally spaced from each other and overlapping in length at their inner ends; two brackets on the opposite ends of said support structure in supporting engagement with the outer ends of said two rods respectively; intermediately bracket means centrally mounted on said support structure to support the inner ends of the two rods from the support structure, said intermediate bracket means slidably engaging the inner ends of the two overlapping rods to permit longitudinal movement of the two rods relative to the intermediate bracket means when the support structure is expanded or contracted; means to vary the elevation of the ends of said curtain rods relative to said support structure; and means to vary the elevation of said intermediate bracket means relative to the support structure for leveling of said curtains when the support structure is out of level.

4. Means for hanging a pair of curtains across an opening in a wall, comprising: a support structure to span said opening, said support structure being made in a plurality of separate sections in sliding engagement with each other for relative longitudinal movement for expansion of the support structure into engagement with said wall at opposite sides of the opening in the wall; a first toggle link pivotally connected at one of its ends to one of said sections of the support structure; and a second toggle link pivotally connected at one of its ends to a second section of the support structure, the second end of the first toggle link being connected to an intermediate point of said second link, the distance of said intermediate point from said one end of the second link being a minor por tion of the length of the second link with the major portion of the length of the second link serving as a handle for operating the two toggle links with a leverage advantage, said first toggle link being a bowed resilient member to be resiliently stressed in flexure when the two toggle links are extended thereby to tend to resiliently ex pand the support structure.

5. A combination as set forth in claim 4 in which said two toggle links are dimensioned to be expanded past center by said handle; and which includes stop means to limit the expansion of the two toggle links at past center positions.

6. Means for hanging a curtain across an opening in a wall, comprising: a support structure to span said opening, said support structure being made in a plurality of sections in sliding engagement with each other for relative longitudinal movement for expansion of the support structure into engagement with said wall at opposite sides of the opening in the wall; and a pair of toggle links interconnecting two of said sections to expand the support structure, one of the toggle links of said pair being a bowed resilient member for contraction and stress in flexure when the toggle links are expanded and expansion of the support structure is resisted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,285 Jackson Mar. 12, 1957 1,537,497 Rains May 12, 1925 1,648,903 Johnson Nov. 15, 1927 1,756,716 Whitney Apr. 25, 1930 1,817,954 Trowbridge Aug. 11, 1931 1,824,385 Wintrob Sept. 22, 1931 2,335,030 Rotheraiue Nov. 23, 1943 2,509,521 Pegram May 30, 1950 2,601,489 Babros et al June 24, 1952 2,928,146 Kuniholm Mar. 15, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 207,329 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1940 1,075,093 France Apr. 7, 1954