US3119443A - Drapery-operating system - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 28, 1964 T. A. STUBBLEFIEL'D 3,119,443

DRAPERY-OPERATING SYSTEM Filed March 25, 1962 FIG. I

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F mE L B ww T 5 A s A M O H T ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,119,443 DRAPERY-QPERATHWG SYSTEM Thomas A. Silihhliieitl, 42h E. Bohier Drive, Vista, Calif assiguor or one=third each to flames l Brooks, Garden Grove, Calirh, to lohn H. Han-cosh, La Hahra, Calif.

Filed Mar. 23, 1952, tier. No. 159,953 13 tllaims. (Cl. Mil-3%) This invention relates to apparatus for opening and closing draperies, and more particularly to a draperyo erating system incorporating a positionable end pulley unit for use in conjunction with hollow tracks or traverse rods.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a drapery-operating system for accommodating draperies of various widths along a predetermined segment of a track or traverse rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide a draperyoperating system including a positionable and releasablylockable end-pulley unit utilizable either to accommodate the depending runs of a drapery pull cord, or as a universal return for runs of the cord enclosed within a hollow traverse rod or track.

A further object is to provide a compact, economical and flexible drapery operating system employing any desired length of standwd track or traverse rod.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a drapery-operating system including a positionable and releasably-lockable end-pulley unit to accommodate depending runs or, alternatively, to function as a universal return for a drapery pull cord, the system being such that more than one pull cord may be installed in a single track.

A further object of this invention is to provide universal end-pulley units for installation in a longitudinally-slotted traverse rod, such pulleys being suitable either for use as a universal return or as a suspension for the depending runs of a drapery pull cord, so that the depending runs of the cord may be changed from one to the other of two end pulleys without the necessity of reversing their positions, or restringing the pull cord.

Another object of this invention is to provide a draperyoperating system utilizing a positionable and releasablylockable end-pulley unit for use with existing traverse rods, such unit being thin enough to fit within the slot of a conventional standard or heavy-duty traverse rod, and being free from structure overlapping the outer edges of the rod.

Another object of this invention is to provide a positionable and releasably-lockable end-pulley unit including a detachable return bar, such bar being adjustable in length and malcing it possible to fold the outer vertical edges of the draperies in conventional manner toward the vertical wall surface adjacent to the traverse rod, and to suspend the fold fixedly in this position.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be set forth more fully in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the attached drawing to which they relate.

in the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the positionable drapery-operating system of this invention, showing a typical installation of two of the positionable, releasablylockable, end-pulley uni-ts on a traverse rod, with one of the units utilized as a universal cord return and the other as a drop-cord suspension;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of the righthand pulley unit of FIGURE 1, illustrating the operation of the releasable locking device which makes it possible to shift the unit longitudinally along the track or traverse rod;

FIGURE 3 represents a lateral cross-section through 3,119,443 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 the traverse rod along the vertical plane 3-3 indicated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal cross-section through the end-pulley unit of FIGURE 2, taken along the horizontal plane 4 i-, and illustrating more specifically the manner in which the unit is supported on the traverse rod;

FlGURE 5 is a perspective representation of one of the end pulley units, showing its external structural features; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along the horizontal plane 6-6 of FIGURE 3 to show a plurality of mounting holes for receiving selectively the pin or hook used to support rear-wand drapery folds of various lengths.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, the positionable drapery-operating system of this invention includes two identical, positionable, and releasably-lockable end pulleys 2 shown in a typical installation on a traverse rod or track 3%. The righthand end pulley 2 is shown as utilized as a drop-cord suspension device for the depending runs 35a and 35b of a drop cord 35. The

-1e-ithand pulley 2 then functions as a universal return device, the cord 35' being looped around one of the pulley wheels.

Each of the pulley units 2 is provided with a releasable cam lock iii for securing it firmly in place at the desired location on traverse rod 30. By releasing the cam lock it) of each pulley unit 2 in the manner explained below, these units may he slid to new positions along traverse rod or track 3i). When the pulley units 2 have been positioned, for example, at their respective new locations 3% and 39, their respective cam locks it are actuated to engage traverse rod 3th and again secure the units firmly but releasably in place.

It should be noticed that a plurality of pairs of pulley units 2 may be installed on traverse rod 30 For example, the alternative position 38 may also be understood to represent a third pulley unit 2 functioning as a dropcord suspension device in cooperation with the lefthand pulley unit 2. Likewise the alternative position 39 may be understood to represent a fourth pulley unit functioning as a universal-return device in cooperation with the righthand pulley unit 2. A separate pull cord 35 may be used with each cooperating pair of pulley units 2,.

Each pulley unit 2 is best portrayed in HGURES 25, and comprises generally a thin, channel-like frame 4 having a top wall 40, integral sidewalls db and dc, and four integral mounting flanges 4d extending laterally from the upper corners of sidewalls 4b and 4c. The frame 4 is open at the bottom and at each end.

Two pulley wheels or sheaves 6 and 8, made of plastic, metal, or other suitable material, are supported between the sides db and 4c of the frame 4. The wheel 6, installed for rotation around a pin 7 extending through coaxial holes provided in the frame sides 4!) and 40, may be characterized as an end wheel because the drop cord 35 never extends beyond it. The wheel 8, installed for rotation around a pin 9 extending through another pair of coaxial holes in the frame sides, may be called the intermediate wheel. The elevations of the wheels are caused to be slightly different, so that cord friction will be minimized.

The respective thicknesses of the pulley wheels 6 and S are equal, and slightly less than the distance between the internal surfaces of frame sides 4b. and do. As a safeguard against the possibility that the frame sides 4b and 40 may he accidentally bent inwardly against the sides of pulley wheels 6 and 8 and prevent their free rotation, the mounting pins 7 and 9 may be provided with shoulders (not shown) to bear against the inner surfaces of sides 4b and 4c surrounding their respective mounting holes.

As represented best in FIGURES 3 and 4, the external width of frame 4 is caused to be slightly less than the width of the standard longitudinal slot or gap 31 which is provided in the lower surface of traverse rod or track 39. This makes it possible to mount the pulley unit 2 in traverse rod 34} by merely removing a suitable end plug $2, and then sliding the pulley into the slot. The mounting flanges dd will then engage the inner track surface adjacent the opposing edges 31a and 31b of the slot. When the pulley is in this position, the extreme upper portions of the pulley wheels 6 and 8 will be within track 3ft, but the major portion of the frame 4 of pulley unit 2 will extend downwardly from the slot 31. The pulley wheels lie (FIGURE 3) in a plane which: (it) contains the axis of the track 3'3, and (52) extends through slot 31.

The cam lock 118, shown best in FIGURE 2, is mounted for pivotal movement around the end of the mounting pin 9, such end extending outwardly from the frame side 4b. The lower end of the cam lock i is provided with a laterally-extending handle lilo to facilitate locking and releasing the pulley unit 2. The upper edge of cam lock 19 is shaped with an arcuate portion ldb having a radius (measured with respect to the axis of mounting pin 9) which increases to a maximum slig tly in excess of the distance bet-ween pin 9 and the external surface of slot edge 31a, and then diminishes abruptly to form a cam notch 190. A biting tooth Mid is thus formed adjacent the arcuate portion ltib, as is a lock-limit corner or stop litle.

Rotation of the handle Mia in the clockwise direction will have the effect of bringing the biting tooth ldd into engagement with the lower surface of traverse rod 3 adjacent slot edge 31a. Further clockwise rotation of the handle litltz will cause the biting tooth lld to exert pressure against and make a slight resilient bend or depression in the slot edge 31a. When the biting tooth lilld passes over the vertical apex of its rotation around the axis of pin 9, further clockwise rotation is arrested by engagement of the lock-limit corner or stop Hie with the lower surface adjacent to the slot edge 31a, and the pulley unit 2 is locked releasably in position. The downward pressure exerted against the biting tooth ltld by the resiliently-deformed slot edge 31a maintains the cam lock 10 in the lock position shown at L.

It should be noticed that normal operation of the pull cord 35 will result in application of a longitudinal component of force directed toward the cooperating pulley unit 2 (FIGURE 1). Hence, the possibility that a longitudinal force component will be applied to the pulley unit 2 in the opposite direction and tend to unlock the cam lock 10 is virtually non-existent. The biting tooth 10d prevents the pulley unit 2 from sliding toward the cooperating pulley unit during operation of the pull cord 35 to open or close draperies (not shown) which are suspended from the traverse rod 30. In this connection, reference is made to my co-pending applications, Patent Application, Serial No. 99,112, filed March 29, 1961, now Patent No. 3,090,43l for Drapery Supporting and Pleating Apparatus, and Patent Application, Serial No. 167,824, filed January 22, 1962, for Drapery Positioning Apparatus.

To release the pulley unit 2 and prepare it for movement along traverse rod or track 3d, the handle lilo of the cam lock 10 is rotated counterclockwise into release position R. This disengages the biting tooth lltld from the surface of the rod 30 adjacent slot 31a, and makes it possible to slide the pulley unit 2 longitudinally along slot 31.

In accordance with another important feature of the invention, each pulley unit 2 includes a laterally-extending drapery-return bar 49 to provide means for supporting a rearwardly-directed, vertical end fold of a drapery (not shown) which is suspended from the traverse rod 30'. The return bar 40, made of metal, has a forked end 44in, an oifset bend 40b, and a plurality of holes 400 respectively adjacent to lateral notches Add (FIGURES 3 and 4 6). The forked end the is accommodated in laterallyopposed, parallel, vertical slots 42 (FIGURE 5) which are provided in the frame sides db and 4c of each pulley unit 2. The location of slots 42 is so chosen that the portion of bar to between the sides 4b and 40 will not interfere with cord 35.

To install the return bar it? on frame 4, the forked end 46a is inserted through the vertical slots 4e. The prongs of the forked end 46a are then deformed or staked slightly to engage the edges of such vertical slots, thus preventing the bar 455 from becoming detached from its associated frame in normal use.

The lateral notches ltid (located adjacent the respective holes 490) make it possible to break off end portions of the return bar 4%} in order to shorten it to a length appropriate for the width of the rearward fold of the drapery (not shown), as determined by the distance betv een track 3% and the wall. The holes 49c accommodate the hook or other device utilized in an obvious manner to suspend the drapery fold from the return bar 40. Holes (not shown) for additional hooks are formed in frame sides db and 4c. The offset bend 40b positions the supporting end tile of the bar it) so that the rearward fold of the drapery will conceal the pulley unit 2.

It should be noticed that it is possible to reverse the functions of the two end pulleys, it being unnecessary to remove the pull cord 35 from the traverse rod 30 or to remove the draperies. Referring to FIGURE 1, the function of the lefthand pulley unit 2 may be changed from that of a universal return device for the pull cord 35 to that of a drop-cord suspension unit merely by grasping the cord portion 35c and pulling it downwardly to form drop-cord runs like the runs 35:: and 35b depending from the righthand pulley unit 2. Hence, the righthand pulley unit 2 ceases to function as a drop-cord suspension device, and begins instead to function as a universal return device.

Although the pulley units have been referred to as identical, it is pointed out that the return elements 40 are inserted therein from opposite sides thereof. The previously described unit 2 is the one shown at the right in FIGURE 1, and also in FIGURES 2-5. In the unit 2 represented at the left in FIGURE 1, the return 40 is disposed on the same side of track 30 as is the return shown in FIGURES 25. However, such left unit 2 is turned around in such manner that the cam lock 10 is disposed on the remote side of its frame 4, not on the adjacent side as is the case relative to the right pulley. Thus,

the two pulley units 2 are mirror images of each other (the mirror being located intermediate the pulleys and perpendicular to track 30*) except that locks 10 are onv opposite sides of their associated frames.

The relationship described in the previous paragraph permits use of identical frames 4 and associated wheels and looks, with consequent economy of manufacture. The relationship produces the advantage that the more elevated pins or shafts 7 are remote from each other (the lower shafts 3 being intermediate), so that cord friction is minimized. Furthermore, and very importantly, the relationship is such that when operation of cord 35 tends to move the pulley units towards each other, the locks 10 of both units 2 tend to remain in their lock positions L (FIGURE 2), and are not shifted to their release positions R.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

1 claim:

1. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and a hollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, a releasably-locka-ble endpulley unit positionable longitudinally on the traverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to make possible the accommodation of draperies of various Widths on a traverse rod of given length, the said endpulley unit comprising: a frame slidably mountable in the longitudinal slot of the traverse rod, and having a body portion depending beneath the slot; a first pulley Wheel mounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame and having an upper arc rising at least to a plane common to the opposing edges of the slot; a second pulley wheel mounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame in coplanar relation with the first wheel and having an upper are rising above the upper arc of the first wheel; and a cam lock mounted pivotally on the frame to lock the same at a desired position on the traverse rod.

2. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and a hollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, a releasably-lockable endpulley unit positionablelongitudinally on the traverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to make possible the accommodation of draperies of various Widths on -a traverse rod of given length, the said end-pulley unit comprising: a channel-shaped frarne having a width slightly less than the width of the longitudinal slot, said frame having mounting flanges extending laterally there- (from to engage the interior surface of the traverse rod adjacent said slot, so that the frame will have a depending body portion beneath the slot and will be slidable longitudinally along the traverse rod; a first pulley wheel mounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame and having an upper arc rising at least to a plane common to the opposing edges of the slot; a second pulley wheel mounted rotatably on the depending body portion of the frame in coplanar relation with the first wheel and having an upper are rising above the upper arc of the first wheel; a cam lock mounted pivotally on the depending body portion of the frame externally of the traverse rod, said cam lock having an effective radius greater than the distance between the pivotal axis of the cam lock and a point of engagement between the cam lock and the traverse rod; and a laterally-extending drapery bar coupled detachably to the depending body portion of the frame.

3. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said drapery bar is adapted to project from either side of said frame.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 2, in which said cam lock has a tooth portion adapted to bite into said traverse rod upon pivotal movement of said cam lock relative to said frame, and also has a stop means disposed to prevent overtravel of said tooth portion relative to said traverse rod.

5. For use in a drapery-operating system including a pull cord, and a hollow traverse rod having a downwardly-facing longitudinal slot, a releasably-lockable endpnlley unit positionable longitudinally on the traverse rod to facilitate operation of the pull cord and to make possible the accommodation of draperies of various widths on a traverse rod of given length, the said endpulley unit comprising: a channel-shaped frame having a width slightly less than the width of said longitudinal slot, said frame having mounting flanges extending laterally therefrom to engage the interior sunface of the traverse rod adjacent said slot, so that the frame will have a depending body portion beneath the slot and will be slidable longitudinally along the traverse rod; pulleywheel means mounted rotatably in said depending body portion of said frame and adapted to receive said pull cord, said pulley-wheel means being disposed in a plane which is parallel to a plane containing the axis of said track and extending through said slot; and lock means mounted on said frame to engage said traverse rod at any desired point therealong and prevent longitudinal movement of said frame relative to said traverse rod.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which said lock means is adapted in conjunction with at least one of said mounting flanges to grip against the exterior and interior surfaces of a traverse rod edge adjacent said slot.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which a drapery bar is mounted on said depending body portion of said frame.

8. A traverse rod assembly, which comprises a hollow track having a slot or gap along one side thereof, a frame having a supporting portion disposed interiorly of said track and a pulley-mounting portion extending through said slot to the exterior of said track, said supporting portion having a transverse dimension greater than the width of said slot whereby said supporting portion will rest on the opposed edges of said track adjacent said slot, said frame being slidable longitudinally of said track, means to lock said frame at various desired positions along the length of said track, pulley-wheel means rotatably mounted on said pulley-mounting portion of said frame in a plane which contains the axis of said track and extends through said slot, and pull-cord means extending through said track longitudinally thereof and riding on said pulley-wheel means.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which said supporting portion of said frame is engaged with interior portions of said track edges adjacent said slot, and in which said lock means is a cam element mounted on said pulley-mounting frame portion and manually movable into gripping engagement with exterior portions of said track edges adjacent said slot, said cam element being disposed exteriorly of said track.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 9, in which said cam element is pivotally mounted on said pulley-mounting portion of said track, and is formed with locking teeth adapted to bite into said track.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 8, in which a second and corresponding frame, pulley-wheel and locking assembly is mounted on said track, and in which a drapery-support bar is secured to each of said frames in laterally-extending relationship.

12. A traverse rod assembly, which comprises a hollow track having a slot or gap along one side thereof, a frame slidable longitudinally of said track, manuallyoperable means to lock said frame at any desired position along the length of said track, pulley-wheel means rotatably mounted on said frame, said pulley-wheel means lying in a plane which contains the axis of said track and extends through said slot, and pull-cord means extending through said track longitudinally thereof and riding in said pulley-Wheel means, said pull-cord means also extending through said slot from the interior of said track to the exterior thereof.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said pulley-Wheel means is disposed at least partially in said slot whereby to insure guiding of said pull cord therethrough without contacting the edges of said track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 436,704 Green Sept. 16, 1890 1,494,429 Kirsch May 20, 1924 2,486,224 Stutz Oct. 25, 194-9 2,590,370 Bell Mar. 25, 1952 2,707,994 Radke May 10, 1955

Claims (1)

12. A TRAVERSE ROD ASSEMBLY, WHICH COMPRISES A HOLLOW TRACK HAVING A SLOT OR GAP ALONG ONE SIDE THEREOF, A FRAME SLIDABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TRACK, MANUALLYOPERABLE MEANS TO LOCK SAID FRAME AT ANY DESIRED POSITION ALONG THE LENGTH OF SAID TRACK, PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, SAID PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS LYING IN A PLANE WHICH CONTAINS THE AXIS OF SAID TRACK AND EXTENDS THROUGH SAID SLOT, AND PULL-CORD MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TRACK LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND RIDING IN SAID PULLEY-WHEEL MEANS, SAID PULL-CORD MEANS ALSO EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID TRACK TO THE EXTERIOR THEREOF.

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