US3315297A - Curtain ring - Google Patents

Description

Aprifi 25, 1967 s. BENDER CURTAIN RING Filed June 50, 1965 FIG.

United States Patent 3,315,297 CURTAIN RING Samuel Bender, 6 Ashton Road, Yonkers, NY. 10705 Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,408 1 Claim. (Cl. 16--87.8)

This invention relates to curtain rings and specifically to rings which are slidable upon a rigid rod or pole.

Where curtains such as window curtains, shower curtains and the like are slidably secured to a pole or rod, it is customary to attach the curtain by means of hooks to rings which are slipped over the supports. Such rings, are frequently made of metal and do not slide readily upon the supporting rod or pole. In addition, the metal of the rings often wears the supporting rod or pole with the result that the finish of the supporting rod or pole must be restored from time to time. Another shortcoming of presently known rings of this type is that they produce an unpleasant sound as the curtain is opened or closed due to the scraping of the rings upon the surface of the support.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a curtain ring which will minimize the frictional contact between the ring and the supporting pole or rod.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a curtain ring which will be quieter in operation than presently known devices.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive curtain ring which will nevertheless remain operable for a long period of time without injuring the supporting rod or pole.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein illustrated, described, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention, in which drawing similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat exploded View of the complete embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation of a curtain ring made in accordance with the present invention with certain portions broken away to show the construction thereof.

FIGURE 3 is :a vertical section taken on line 3-3 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a view in front elevation of a certain ring made in accordance with the present invention with certain elements indicated by dashed lines.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2, indicates a curtain ring having a substantially rigid body portion 11 formed of a single strip of metal with its margins 12, 13, curved inwardly to form a somewhat U-shaped channel 14, within the body of the ring 10. Small loop members 15, 16, are struck from each end of the metal strip 11, and bent downwardly in the manner shown, to receive the curtain hook 17 therein.

A resilient liner member 18, best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, is received within the channel 14 of the ring 10. The liner 18 is preferably made of a single length of tubular cylindrical material. In addition, the liner 18 is preferably formed of some anti-friction material such as Teflon, nylon, polyethylene, or the like. The liner 18 is of a diameter such that when slipped within the channel 14 it will project into the opening of the ring 10 as shown in FIGURE 2 so that the rod 19 will not come into contact with the margins 12, 13, of the metal strip 11. In this manner, a smooth sliding contact will be achieved between the assembled ring 10 and the rod 19.

In order to keep the liner 18 from slipping out of the channel 14, a length of spring wire 20, may be molded into the liner 18 in the manner shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The spring wire tends to expand outwardly and hold the liner 18 firmly within the channel 14.

In assembling the ring 10 it is merely necessary to compress the liner 18, slip it within the opening of the ring 10, and allow it to open into the channel 14.

The low coefiicient of friction between the material of the liner 18 and the rod 19 assures easy operation of the curtain ring and eliminates noise and wear on the upper surface of the curtain rod or pole 19.

The circular cross-section of the linear 18 provides a minimum surface of contact between the ring and the rod 10, further adding to the ease with which the ring may he slid over the rod (see FIGURES 3 and 4). In addition, the liner 18 serves to deaden the sound of the metal rings as they come together.

The depth of the channel 14 formed by the margins 12, 13, should be at least equal to the radius of the liner 1-8 to prevent it from slipping out of the ring. However, the depth of the channel 14 should not permit the margins 12, 13, to touch the rod 19 at any time during use.

While the ring illustrated and described is shown with two loops 15, 16, it will be understood that a ring could be formed with a single loop without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a highly simplified, inexpensive, curtain ring which lends itself to mass manufacture and which will eliminate noise, wear, and an unsightly appearance throughout continued use. By combining the metal outer shell with the resilient liner the strength of the metal ring is combined with the sound absorbing qualities of plastic or resilient members.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A curtain ring comprising an elongated unitary strip of metal having a circular form, inwardly bent margins on said strip defining a channel therebetween, a liner of resilient plastic material comprising an elongated member of substantially circular cross-section disposed within the channel and extending towards the center of the ring beyond the edges of the margins of the curtain ring, a length of spring wire circumferentially and axially embedded within the liner, and curtain hook receiving members depending from the strip of metal.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1881 Hipwell l687.2 4/1965 Kalal et al. 1687.6

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