US3183546A

US3183546A - Holding device

Info

Publication number: US3183546A
Application number: US172337A
Authority: US
Inventors: Heller Wilhelm; Herbrich Manfred
Original assignee: JULIUS SCHMIDT
Current assignee: JULIUS SCHMIDT
Priority date: 1962-02-12
Filing date: 1962-02-09
Publication date: 1965-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-18
Also published as: CH391986A; GB980094A; DE1151359B

Description

May 18, 1965 w. HELLER ETAL HOLDING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1962 IAN [N70195: 11/114: m 1 tr- N n/rat l e/611% United States Patent 3,183,546 HOLDING DEVICE Wilhelm Heller, Solingen-Ohligs, and Manfred Herbrich, Teienthal, Germany, assignors to Julius Schmidt, Remscheid-Dorfmuhle, Germany, a firm Filed Feb. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 172,337 Claims priority, application Germany, Feb. 13, 1961, Sch 29,227 7 Claims. (Cl. 1694) This invention relates to holding devices, and more specifically to a holding device for securing thereon carrier rails for a curtain or the like.

Hitherto carrier rails for a curtain or the like have either been fixed directly to the ceiling by means of screws or secured above the windows with the aid of holders which are screwed onto the wall. Since the ceilings, as a rule, consist of concrete and the walls consist of bricks or cast concrete blocks, the known types of mounting can only be realized if pegs have been previously inserted in the ceilings or walls. This results in much time being wasted in mounting the carrier rails especially on ceilings because holes for the fastening screws have subsequently to be drilled into the carrier rails at the same distances apart at which the pegs are inserted in the ceiling. If these distances are not accurately maintained, either new holes have to be drilled or the pegs must be displaced. This is, however, not only time-consuming and expensive but also considerably impairs the carrying capacity of the carrier rails because the several drilled holes are then frequently located so closely side by side that the fastening screws with their pegs are torn out of their mountings when they are subjected to relatively great strains. Furthermore, such mounting operations must be carried out by several upholsterers because the carrier rail must be held by hand at least until the fastening screws have been inserted at the ends of the carrier rail.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a holding device of the aforedescribed type, in which the aforesaid disadvantages are avoided by simple means and on which the carrier rails can be rapidly mounted.

This object is achieved by providing a holding device for securing thereon carrier rails for a curtain or the like, which comprises a carrying member arranged to be fixed to the masonry, a holding member movably mounted in said carrying member, and associated receptions provided along the lateral edges of a carrier rail and extending over the Whole length of the carrier rail, said holding member in cooperation with said receptions being movable into operative and inoperative positions.

This arrangement alfords the advantage that all the holding devices can first be secured in place and then the carrier rails secured on the holding devices, the holding member, after having moved into its operative position, providing a separable connection between the carrier rail and the holding device.

The holding member may be embodied in a bow of spring Wire and portions bent into U-shape may be formed on the bow of spring wire, which portions are arranged to be pressed, in the operative position of the holding member, into the receptions provided on the carrier rail.

Alternatively, a portion of the bow of spring wire bent into U-shape may cooperate with a locking nose arranged on the side of the carrying member opposite the U-shaped portion of the bow of spring wire so that the carrier rail is secured on the holding device. The locking nose may be integral with the carrying member. To ensure that the carrier rails firmly bear against the ceiling, the locking nose may expediently be arranged in sunk position in an undercut recess in the carrying member.

"ice

According to another feature of the invention the movable holding member may be embodied in a piece of sheet metal shaped to the required size and securable in its operative position with the aid of a clamping screw arranged on the carrying member, the piece of sheet metal in its operative position engaging with an extension in the reception provided along one lateral edge of the carrier rail and with the locking nose in the reception provided along the other lateral edge of the carrier rail.

Several preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of a holding device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the holding device shown in FIG. 1, the holding device being fixed to a ceiling and a carrier rail for a curtain or the like being secured on the holding device;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment of the holding device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the holding device shown in FIG. 2, the holding device being secured to a ceiling and a carrier rail shown in perspective view being secured on the holding device;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a holding device constructed as a wall bracket, a carrier rail being secured on the holding device, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a holding device constructed as a wall bracket, shown in position for securing a carrier rail thereon.

FIG. 1 shows a holding device generally designated by the numeral 7 and consisting of a carrying member 8 and a movable holding member 9. The carrying member 8 is a piece of sheet metal shaped to the required size and provided in its centre with an elongated hole 10 for receiving a fastening screw. The holding member 9 is a bow of spring wire movably mounted in the carrying member 8. The ends of the holding member 9 are bent inwardly and mounted in bent-round lugs 11 of the carrying member 8. The holding member 9 has a central portion 12 which is bent into U-shape and located in a slotlike opening in a bent-oil edge port-ion 13 of the carrying member 8. Due to the elasticity of the holding member 9 the U-shaped portion 12 thereof can be pressed inwardly into the slot-like opening in the edge portion 13 of the carrying member 8. When the pressure on the U-shaped portion 12 has ceased it returns into its original position. 011 the side of the carrying member 8 opposite the bentofi' edge portion 13 a locking nose 14 is provided which is integral with the carrying member 8.

As shown in FIG. 2, a carrier rail 15 for a curtain or the like has at its two upper lateral edges flanges forming receptions 16. After the holding device 7 has been fixed to a ceiling 17 the carrier rail 15 is secured on the holding device '7 in such a manner that the U-shaped portion 12 of the holding member 9 will be located in one of the receptions 16. Then the carrier rail 15 together with the portion 12 of the holding member 9 is shifted against the spring action of the holding member 9 until the locking nose 14 can engage into the other reception 16. In this working position of the holding device 7 the carrier rail 15 is reliably retained on the holding device. Separation of the connection between the rail 15 and the holding device 7 is effected in reverse order.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show another embodiment of the holding device generally designated by the numeral 7a and comprising a carrying member 8a and a movable holding member 9a. The carrying member 8a and the holding member ha substantially correspond to the respective elements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that the holding member 911 has two U-shaped portions 12 which in their operative positions engage in the receptions 16,

and the locking nose 14 is dispensed with and replaced by one of the portions 12 of the holding member 9a.

FIG. shows a holding device 712 having a carrying member 8b constructed as a wall bracket. In this embodiment the vlocking nose 14 is provided in an undercut recess 18 in the carrying member 8b. The carrier rail is secured on the holding device 7b in the same manner as in the case of the holding device 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 6 shows a holding device 76 with a carrying member 80 also constructed as a wall bracket. In this case a movable holding member 917 which consists of a piece of sheet metal shaped to the required size is provided with handles 19 and shiftable in longitudinal guides 26 provided in the carrying member 8c. The holding member 9b in its operative position engages with an extension 21 formed thereon in one of the receptions 16. On the opposite side the carrier rail 15 is held by the locking nose 14 engaging in the other reception 16. A clamping screw 22 provided on the carrying member 8c serves to secure the holding member 9b in its operative position. Like the carrying member 8b shown in FIG. 5, the carrying member 80 is provided with bores 23 for receiving fastening screws.

The locking nose 14 and the U-shaped portions 12 of the holding members 9 and 9a may be of hook-shaped configuration and engage in their operative positions around the carrier rail 15.

We claim:

1. In a holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like, in combination, a substantially flat cairrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a circumferential edge; a holding member in the form of a bow-shaped spring wire arranged substantially in a plane having its lends secured to said carrying member and having at least one substantially U-shaped locking portion intermediate said ends, said holding member being mounted on said carrying member in a normally expanded working positionwith said U-shaped portion projecting laterally beyond the edge of said carrying member to one side of the latter and in a plane parallel to that of said carrying member, said U-shaped portion in said expanded working position being adapted to extend into a notch of a carrier rail, and said locking member being resiliently compressible to a position in which said U-shaped portion is transversely displaced in the plane of said wire for withdrawing said portion substantially from beyond said edge; and a substantially rigid locking nose integrally formed with said carrying member and projecting from said carrier member to the side opposite said one side substantially in the plane of said holding member and cooperating with said U-shaped portion of said spring wire in the working position of the latter for holding a carrier rail by engaging into a notch of the latter located opposite to that engaged by said U-shaped portion.

2. A holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like comprising, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a substantially flat main portion and a flange portion extending along one side edge of said main portion substantially normal thereto, said flange portion being formed with an elongated slot therethrough; a holding member in the form of a bow-shaped spring wire arranged substantially in a plane parallel to that of said flat main portion and having intermediate its ends a U- shaped portion, said spring wire being mounted on said carrying member and being resiliently movable with respect thereto between an expanded working position in which said U-shaped portion extends through said slot and projects laterally beyond said flange portion of said carrying member and a compressed position in which said U- shaped portion is at least in part withdrawn through said slot; means 'on said carrying member for connecting said ends of said spring wire thereto in such a manner that said U-shaped portion may be resiliently moved inwardly through said slot in said compressed position of said 4 spring wire; and means projecting beyond the side edge of the carrying member opposite said one side edge thereof, said last-mentioned means and said U-shaped portion of said spring wire being adapted to respectively engage in opposite notches of a carrier railfor supporting the latter on said holding device.

3. A holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like comprising, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a substantially flat main portion and a flange portion extending along one side of said main portion substantially normal thereto, said flange portion being formed with an elongated slot therethrough; a holding member in the form of a bow-shaped spring wire arranged substantially in a plane parallel to that of said flat main portion and having intermediate its ends a U-shaped portion, said spring wire being mounted on said carrying member and being resiliently movable with respect thereto between an expanded working position in which said U-shaped portion extends through said slot and projects laterally beyond said flange portion of said carrying member and a compressed position in which said U-shaped portion is at least in part withdrawn through said slot; means on said carrying member for connectingthe ends of said spring wire thereto in such a manner that said U-shaped portion may be resiliently moved inwardly through said slot in said compressed position of said spring wire; and a holding nose integral with said carrying member and projecting beyond the side edge of the carrying member opposite said one side edge thereof, said holding nose and said U-shaped portion of said spring wire being adapted to respectively engage in opposite notches of a carrier rail for supporting the latter on said holding device.

4. A holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like comprising, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a substantially flat main portion and a pair of flange portions extending respectively along opposite side edges of said main portion substantially normal thereto, each of said flange portions being formed with an elongated slot therethrough; and a holding member in the form of a bow-shaped spring wire having adjacent the ends thereof U-shaped portions, said holding member being mounted on said carrying member and being resiliently movable with respect thereto between an expanded working position in which said U-shaped portions respectively extend through and beyond respective ones of saidslots in said flange portions of said carrying member to opposite sides of the same and a compressed position in which said U-shaped portions are at least in part withdrawn inwardly through said slots, said U-shaped portions in the expanded position of said holding member being adapted to engage in two opposite notches of a carrier rail for supporting the latter on the holding device.

5. In a holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a circumferential edge defining the outline of said carrying member; and a holding member in the form of a spring wire arranged substantially in a plane and comprising at least one resiliently compressible bow-shaped portion connected at one end to said carrying member and having an integral substantially rigid -U-shaped locking portion adjacent the other end of said bow-shaped portion, said holding member being mounted in said'carrying member so that said U-shaped portion is resiliently movable relative thereto between a compressed position of said howshaped portion in which said U-shaped portion is substantially withdrawn within the outline defined by said edge, and an expanded position in which said U-shaped portion projects substantially completely beyond said outline defined by said edge to one side of said carrying member for extending into a notch of an adjacent carrier rail and a substantially rigid locking nose projecting from said carrier member to the side opposite said one side and cooperating with said U-shaped portion of said spring Wire for holding a carrier rail by engaging into a notch of the latter located opposite to that engaged by said U-shaped portion.

6. In a holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a circumferential edge defining the outline of said carrying member; and a holding member in the form of a spring wire arranged substantially in a plane and comprising a pair of resiliently compressible bow-shaped portions bowed in mutually opposite directions and each being connected at one end to said carrying member and their other ends being integrally joined by a substantially rigid U-shaped locking portion, said holding member being mounted in said carrying member so that said U-shaped portion is resiliently movable relative thereto between a compressed position of said bow-shaped portion in which said U- shaped portion is substantially withdrawn within the outline defined by said edge, and an expanded position in which said U-shaped portion projects substantially completely beyond said outline defined by said edge to one side of said carrying member for extending into a notch of an adjacent carrier rail and a substantially rigid locking nose projecting from said carrier member to the side opposite said one side and cooperating with said U-shaped portion of said spring wire for holding a carrier rail by engaging into a notch of the latter located opposite to that engaged by said U-shapcd portion.

7. A holding device for securing a carrier rail for a curtain or the like comprising, in combination, a carrying member adapted to be fixed to a building structure and having a substantially flat main portion; a holding member in the form of a bow-shaped spring wire having adjacent the ends thereof U-shaped portions, said holding member being mounted on said carrying member and being resiliently movable with respect thereto between an expanded working position in which said U-shaped portions respectively extend beyond said flat portion of said carrying member to opposite sides of the same and a compressed position in which said U-shaped portions are at least in part withdrawn from the positions occupied in said working position, said U-shaped portions in the expanded position of said holding member being adapted to engage in two opposite notches of a carrier rail for supporting the latter on the holding device; and means integral with said main flat portion for retaining said holding member against said main fiat portion of the carrying member while permitting resilient movement of said holding member between said expanded working position and said compressed position when said main flat portion of said carrying member is positioned against a support surface.

References (liter! by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,677,862 5/54 Flora 24--73 2,705,566 4/55 Ford et al 1694 2,879,569 3/59 Poupitch. 2,908,956 10/59 Brazik 247 3 2,935,775 5/60 Granger 2473 3,060,490 10/ 62 Saito l695 FOREIGN PATENTS 455,836 3/50 Italy.

570,371 8/58 Belgium.

608,800 9/60 Italy.

a DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A HOLDING DEVICE FOR SECURING A CARRIER RAIL FOR A CURTAIN OR THE LIKE, IN COMBINATION, A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CARRYING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE FIXED TO A BUILDING STRUCTURE AND HAVING A CIRCUMFERENTIAL EDGE; A HOLDING MEMBER IN THE FORM OF A BOW-SHAPED SPRING WIRE ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE HAVING ITS ENDS SECURED TO SAID CARRYING MEMBER AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED LOCKING PORTION INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS, SAID HOLDING MEMBER BEING MOUNTED ON SAID CARRYING MEMBER IN A NORMALLY EXPANDED WORKING POSITION WITH SAID U-SHAPED PORTION PROJECTING LATERALLY BEYOND THE EDGE OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER TO ONE SIDE OF THE LATTER AND IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO THAT OF SAID CARRYING MEMBER, SAID U-SHAPED PORTION IN SAID EXPANDED WORKING POSITION BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND INTO A NOTCH OF A CARRIER RAIL, AND SAID LOCKING MEMBER BEING RESILIENTLY COMPRESSIBLE TO A POSITION IN WHICH SAID U-SHAPED PORTION IS TRANSVERSELY DISPLACED IN THE PLANE OF SAID WIRE FOR WITHDRAWING SAID PORTION SUBSTANTIALLY FROM BEYOND SAID EDGE; AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID LOCKING NOSE INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID CARRYING MEMBER AND PROJECTING FROM SAID CARRIER MEMBER TO THE SIDE OPPOSITE SAID ONE SIDE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANE OF SAID HOLDING MEMBER AND COOPERATING WITH SAID U-SHAPED PORTION OF SAID SPRING WIRE IN THE WORKING POSITION OF THE LATTER FOR HOLDING A CARREIR RAIL BY ENGAGING INTO A NOTCH OF THE LATTER LOCATED OPPOSITE TO THAT ENGAGED BY SAID U-SHAPED PORTION.