US3503434A

US3503434A - Traverse rod

Info

Publication number: US3503434A
Application number: US610441A
Authority: US
Inventors: James A Ford
Original assignee: Kirsch Co
Current assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
Priority date: 1967-01-19
Filing date: 1967-01-19
Publication date: 1970-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 1987-03-31

Description

J. A. FORD TRAVERSE ROD March 31, 1 970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1967 INVENTOR. /4//5 ,4. FOEQ March 31, 1970 J. A. FORD 3,503,434

TRAVERSE ROD Filed Jan. 19, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ha/i/l |-vANE WIDTH *LVANE WIDTH -4 VANE WIDTH --I INVENTOR. 5 7 c/ANES 4. F050 United States Patent US. Cl. 160-345 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A traverse rod structure for the support and traversing of draperies across windows and/or other similar openings and particularly to a type thereof which is of an inconspicuous nature and which is particularly adapted for packing the draperies into a minimum of pack-back space. The term pack-back space refers to the space occupied by the draperies when the draperies are in an open position. This is accomplished by the intermediate portion of the drapery being supported by hangers of such design that the drapery apart from the master carrier can pivot into a position generally parallel with the extent of the track when said draperies are drawn or can pivot into positions crosswise of the track when said draperies are open. Further, a hanger which supports the outer end portion of the drapery pivotally with respect to the track is provided so that even the last section of said drapery at said outer and end may turn crosswise of the track to provide a minimum pack-back space when said draperies are open.

This invention relates to a traverse rod structure for the support and traversing of draperies across windows and/or other similar openings and particularly to a type thereof which is of an inconspicuous nature and which is particularly adapted for packing the draperies into a minimum of pack-back space. The term pack-back space" refers to the space occupied by the draperies when the draperies are in an open position.

While traverse rods for draperies have been known for a great many years, and have been used in a nearly endless number of different situations, there have been two particular problems which have been continuously present from the beginning and which have never previously been satisfactorily solved. In some instances these problems have not been particularly serious and, hence, they could be ignored. In other instances, however, these problems have permitted only partially satisfactory results and they have in many cases seriously restricted, or prevented, the use of traversable draperies.

The first of these problems is that of conspicuousness. Previously, the object has always been to either make a traverse rod with an attractive appearance or to make said rod as inconspicuous as possible. Neither of these objectives has been attained to more than a partially satisfactory degree. In previous rolled-metal traverse rods, particularly those that were finished by painting the metal, the rods have been far from inconspicuous and they have only a partially acceptable attractiveness. The more recent extruded aluminum traverse rods, whether plain aluminum or anodized, have been of a much improved appearance but they are still far from inconspicuous. Usually the conspicuousness is minimized by causing the draperies to extend in front of and above the traverse rods so that said rods are hidden when the draperies are drawn, but this still leaves the traverse rods highly conspicuous when the draperies are open.

The other of the above-mentioned problems is the problem of providing the necessary pack-back space. When the traverse rod is used with a very wide window, such as one of to 20 feet in length, the amount of 3,503,434 Patented Mar. 31, 1970 ice pack-back space required can be extremely large. When it is noted that a window only four feet in width has a pack-back space which is seldom less than, and often greater than, a foot in width on each side of the window, it becomes evident that with windows of greater width, unless a substantial portion of the window is to be covered even when the draperies are open, there will be required a substantial amount of pack-back space beyond the side edges of the Window. This may not present a serious problem where ample wall space is available between a window and the nearest corner of the room in question, but when it is desired to have a window extend to, or close to, such a corner, then the pack-back space must be obtained from the window opening itself with the result that the draperies, even when open, necessarily cover a substantial portion of the window. With wide vista-type windows, such as those used inapartments or homes located on mountain sides or sea shores, the view which the wide window is intended to provide may be substantially impaired. In addition, there are many other instances in which for architectural reasons it is desirable to extend the window to a point very close to an adjacent wall but the excessive pack-back space presently required for draperies either prevents such architectural designs from being fully effective or requires the use of window coverings other than traversable draperies.

Accordingly, the objects of the invention include:

(1) To provide a traverse rod design and drapery arrangement cooperating therewith for holding traversable draperies in an attractive condition when closed and for minimizing the pack-back space required for said draperies when same are open.

(2) To provide a traverse rod and drapery arrangement, as aforesaid, in which the traverse rod has a suificiently small vertical dimension that it will be very in conspicuous when the draperies are open.

(3) To provide a traverse rod and drapery arrangement, as aforesaid, in which the traverse rod may be placed against a ceiling if desired or may even by recessed into a ceiling without undesirable effects upon its operation or upon the appearance of the draperies supported thereby.

(4) To provide a traverse rod and drapery arrangement, as aforesaid, in which the drapery when closed has an appearance generally similar to, and is fully as attractive as, the pleated draperies presently used.

(5) To provide a traverse rod and drapery arrangement, as aforesaid, in which the drapery is pre-pleated and is supported by the traverse rod in such a manner that, upon opening thereof, the drapery can be caused to occupy a minimum of pack-back space.

(6) To provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, which is of an attractive appearance.

(7) To provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, which is of a simple design and which particularly has a cross section such that it can be readily made by extrusion processes.

(8) To provide a traverse rod, as aforesaid, in which the auxiliary parts associated with the track portion thereof, referring particularly to the master carriers and hangers, are of such a design that they are simple and economical to make and nevertheless are effective and reliable in operation.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with arrangements of this general type upon reading of the following specification and examining the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a traverse rod embodying the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a broken, bottom view of the traverse rod.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIGURE 2 and showing a snap-on hanger.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line IVIV in FIGURE 2 and showing a master carrier.

FIGURE 5 is a broken, cut-away, fragmentary, top view of the traverse rod showing the upper end of a drapery and a section of the carriers and master carriers fastened thereto substantially taken along the line VV in FIGURES 3, 4 and 16.

FIGURE 6 is a view of a fragment of FIGURE 5 and showing a portion of the drapery in the open position.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the left-hand master carrier.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of said master carrier taken along the line VIIIVIII of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 is an end view of said master carrier taken along the line IXIX of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a side view of said master carrier taken from the side opposite that of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a left-hand pulley set.

FIGURE 12 is a partially cut-away front view of the left-hand end of the traverse rod of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 13 shows a side view of the pulley set taken from the side which fits within the traverse rod.

FIGURE 14 is a bottom view of the pulley set.

FIGURE 14A is a sectional view taken along the line XIVAXIVA of FIGURE 14.

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a sew-on carrier.

FIGURE 16 is a rear view of a fragment of a drapery and also showing two snap-on carriers.

FIGURE 17 is an elevational view of a fragment of a fabric used to make a drapery and illustrating the folding and stitching that is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general the invention comprises providing a traverse rod of the general type disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 3,151,666 which is, however, made with considerably less vertical dimension than that provided in the commercial embodiment of the design set forth in aid patent, together with certain master carrier, hanger and rod modifications which are adapted to the much lessened vertical dimension of the rod.

The invention further comprises, in one preferred embodiment, providing a pre-pleated drapery and supporting the inner end thereof by a master carrier which at all times holds the inner end portion of the drapery crosswise of the track. The intermediate portion of the drapery is supported by hangers of such design that the drapery apart from the master carrier can pivot into a position generally parallel with the extent of the track when said draperies are drawn or can pivot into positions crosswise of the track when said draperies are open. Further, the invention includes the provision of a hanger which supports the outer end portion of the drapery pivotally with respect to the track so that even the last section of said drapery at said outer end may turn crosswise of the track to provide a minimum pack-back space when said draperies are open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The traverse rod structure 10 (FIGURES 1 and 2), which has been selected to illustrate one embodiment of the invention, is comprised essentially of a dual channel track 11, a plurality of carriers or hangers 16A-16C, a pair of

master carriers

18 and 18A and a pair of

end pulley sections

31 and 31A.

The dual channel track 11, which is illustrated in FIG- URE 3 in cross section, is of constant cross section and has a front channel 12 and a rear channel 13. The track 11 may be formed by extrusion of a suitable material, such as of aluminum, and may be provided with a natural aluminum finish, although any of numerous finishes may be used. The track may be made in various lengths suitable for various window sizes. Holes (not shown) may be provided in the top wall, or web, of the track 11 for mounting same on a ceiling or cornice or other conventional mounting means may be used.

Drapery supporting carriers, or hangers, 16A, 16B and 16C are slideably received within the track 11. These all being identical, they are sufficiently illustrated by carrier 16C (FIGURE 3). Said carrier is slideably engaged with front channel 12 of track 11 and extends through a downwardly opening slot 15 in the bottom wall of said front channel. The carrier may be molded of plastic, such as nylon, and it has an enlarged upper portion 161, a neck 162, an enlarged central portion 163 and a depending wall 164. The upper portion 161 and central portion 163 act as guides to retain carrier 16C in channel 12. The neck 162 of carrier 16C has a cross section, preferably circular, which will allow said carrier to pivot within slot 15. Separable fastening means, further detailed below, are fastened, as by riveting, to the depending portions 164 of each of said hangers 16A, 16B and 16C.

Two

master carriers

18 and 18A are slideably engaged with track 11 (FIGURE 4). The

master carriers

18 and 18A may be molded of the same type of material as carriers 1-6A16C, such as nylon. Where the traverse rod structure is adapted for two-way draw operation as illustrated, two

master carriers

18 and 18A will be provided. When a one-way draw operation is to be provided, only one master carrier will be used.

The

master carriers

18 and 18A are mirror images of each other so that a description of master carrier 18 will suffice as a description for both. The master carrier 18 has an upwardly extending outrigger 19 which extends through the slot 15 into the front channel 12, the enlarged upper portion of said outrigger being in sliding engagement with said track. The upwardly and laterally extending portion 21 of the master carrier 18 extends through a sidewardly opening slot 20 in the rear wall of the track 11 and thence into rear channel 13. The shoulder 22 slideably engages track 11 in such a manner as to prevent dislodgement of the master carrier from the track. The master carrier 18 has a depending base portion 23 at one longitudinal end thereof to which are fixed separable fastening means 24 which are further detailed below. The base portion 23 may be strengthened if so desired by a brace 27 (FIGURE 8). The base portion 23 is arranged crosswise of and below the track 11 so that, in operation, it holds that portion of drapery panel which is snap fastened thereto perpendicular to the track. The outrigger 19 and portion 21 are offset from each other in a direction lengthwise of the track to prevent rocking of the master carrier 18.

The dual channel track 11 is capable of having a small vertical dimension since relatively small portions of carriers 16A-16C and

master carriers

18 and 18A extend above the lower surface of said track 11, with the major portions of said carriers and master carriers being below said track. Pull cord is attached to master carrier 18 through

holes

28 and 29 and is anchored around the T-shaped projection 25.

Pulley sets 31 and 31A, such as the two-way pulley set illustrated in FIGURE 11, are inserted into both ends of the track 11. The pulley sets 31 and 31A are molded of any suitable plastic, such as nylon, and are provided as left-hand and right-hand models for association with the respective ends of the track. The pulley sets 31 and 31A are mirror images of each other in this embodiment so that description of pulley set 31 will sufiice as a description for both. Pulley set 31 has a front end portion 32 which slideably and snugly fits into channel 13 in similar fashion. The pulley set 31 has two

pulleys

36 and 37 rotatably mounted on shaft 38 which in turn is supported on

walls

42 and 43. The pulleys carry the drapery draw cord 30 in the usual manner. The

walls

42 and 43 and the top wall of the pulley set form a channel which communicates with and constitutes an extension of the rear channel 13 in the track. Similarly wall 43, front Wall 51 and the top wall 44 of the pulley set form a channel which communicates with and constitutes an extension of the front channel 12 of the track. A flat end gate 34 is pivotally mounted on the lower side of the pulley set 31 between

walls

43 and 51 by a pin 39, said pin projecting from a post which in turn is fastened by a rivet 30 to the underside of the top wall 44 of the pulley set 31. The end gate 34 has a notch 41 which, together with the center wall 43, defines an opening through which the end carrier 16A can extend. The end carrier 16A may be of the same construction as carrier 16C. As shown in FIGURE 2 and still further illustrated by the dotted lines in FIGURE 14, the notch 41 of the end gate 34 receives, and extends partially around, the neck of end carrier 16A thereby supporting said carrier 16A, preventing movement of said carrier along the track and yet allowing pivotal movement of said carrier. End gate 34 has a projection for the reason appearing below.

Referring to FIGURE 14, the end carrier 16A may be inserted by manually grasping projection 45 and rotating end gate 34 on pin 39 (in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIGURE 14) until said end gate moves far enough away to permit insertion of the enlarged upper portion of said carrier. The gate 34 is then rotated clockwise into a closed position with the enlarged upper portion of said carrier above said gate and the lower portions of said carrier extending through and below notch 41. This arrangement permits an additional reduction in the packback space as compared with conventional traverse rods since even the end portion of the drapery, as illustrated in FIGURE 6, can pivot to a position perpendicular to track 11.

End gate 34 permits removal or addition of carriers 16B after track 11 and pulley sets 31 and 31A have been installed. Thus, by first pivoting said end gate in a counterclockwise direction, access may be obtained to channel 12 to add or remove carriers 16B.

In some installations, the conventional French pleat type of drapery arrangement can be used with the rod and carrier construction above described. However, where a minimum pack-back space is desired, then a special drapery construction, which is a part of the present invention, can be used. A preferred drapery construction for this purpose is illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. In this special drapery construction, frontwardly projecting pleats and rearwardly projecting pleats are alternately arranged at suitable equally spaced intervals in a direction lengthwise of the track. Thus the drapery is made to fold like an accordion, that is, it folds back and forth under the track 11 to create a tailored, full effect, in contrast to a French pleat arrangement in which the drapery material is gathered at spaced positions in front of the track and which is relatively bulky.

The drapery D can be made by attaching, as by sewing, a suitable tape, such as nylon 40 along the upper edge of drapery fabric. The male snap fastener parts 26 will have previously been attached to the tape 40 at suitably spaced intervals. Also the drapery material will have been hemmed and suitable stiffening materials, such as crinoline, will have previously been placed in the hems in accordance with conventional practice. The drapery fabric is then folded to form a frontwardly projecting pleat 50 consisting of a double thickness of drapery material and the two thicknesses are stiched together at 35. The other pleats are formed in similar fashion. The depth E of the

pleats

50 and 55 can be varied as desired for appearance purposes. The drapery is fastened to the

hangers

16A, 16B and 16C, as well as to the master carrier 18 (and to their counterparts in the other end of the rod in a double draw unit) by any of many kinds of separable fasteners. In the embodiment here chosen to illustrate the invention, such fasteners are common snap fasteners of which the female side is fixed at 17 to the

hangers

16A, 16B and 16C and at 24 to the master carriers 18 and the male side is fixed, as hereinafter further detailed, at

26 to the drapery. Of course, the fasteners may be reversed, if desired, with the male snaps fixed to the hangers and master carrier and female snaps fixed to the drapery. Said snap fasteners may be of any known type and/or material.

In this embodiment a pleat is formed approximately midway between each pair of adjacent male snap fastener parts 26, although this is not essential as will be pointed out hereinbelow. The male parts 26 are snapped onto the female parts 24 on the carriers so that the drapery is supported on the track for sliding movement therealong. Since the carriers 16A-16C can pivot in the track 11, the drapery is capable of being moved between the closed position shown in FIGURE 5 and the open position shown in FIGURE 6.

An alternate type carrier 60 (FIGURE 15) may be used instead of the carriers 16A-16C and the tape 40 when a more economical drapery is desired. The carrier 60 is sewn directly onto the drapery at the same locations as the male parts 26 in the previously described embodiment. When this type of carrier is used, standard drapery hooks may be used to attach the drapery to the master carrier 18. The pleats are sewn in the drapery as in the previously described embodiment.

OPERATION The operation of the traverse rod has been briefly indicated above but the same will be further described in order to insure a complete understanding of the invention. It will be apparent from the foregoing description that a two-way drapery may be provided as follows:

Although the traverse rod may be assembled after installation of the track unit 11 into its operating position, such as into a ceiling, it will in most instances be assembled as set forth below and later installed in its operating position. Both installation procedures will be sufficiently disclosed by a description of the latter-named, more common procedure. In such procedure, there is inserted into the track a pair of

master carriers

18 and 18A of a right-hand and a left-hand design, to which pull cords 30 have been appropriately attached. Next a pair of end pulleys 31 and 31A are attached to the track. The end gates 34 at both ends of the track are opened and the required number of carriers 16A-16C are inserted. The end carrier 16A is locked in the end gate as shown. The snap fastener parts 26 which are attached to the draperies are snapped to the snap fastener parts 24 on carriers 16A-16C and on

master carriers

18 and 18A. This is normally the final step but it can, if desired, be carried out before the carriers are inserted into the track.

When the draperies are drawn to a closed position (FIGURE 5), the

master carriers

18 and 18A hold the inner end portions of the draperies, which are perpendicular to said track, in a substantially abutting position. In such position the carriers 16A-16C are pivoted so that the planes of the snaps are parallel to the track 11 thereby permitting the drapery to fully extend with a minimum of folding. When the draperies are moved to an opened position (FIGURE 6 they respond to the effect of the pleats S0 and 55 and assume the back-and-forth, vane-forming, positions of FIGURE 6. This causes the carriers 16A-16C to pivot so that the planes of the snaps are perpendicular to the track 11. In this position, the draperies fold into a smaller pack-back space.

It will be recognized that by placing a stiffening material along the head of the drapery, which is usually a crinoline strip placed within a hem along said head, alternate ones of the hangers 16B, together with the snap elements associated therewith, may be omitted without impairing the operation of the traverse rod or the hanging or folding of the drapery in any material respect. This is particularly true where the draperies are used with domestic windows and the hence relatively short. For commercial or institutional use, or under any circumstances where the draperies are very heavy or where the head cannot be sufficiently stiffened, the snaps may be placed on every vane as shown. Further, omission of such hangers will enable the required pack-back space to be still further reduced. Thus, in laying out a drapery for pleating and affixing snaps thereto, same may be conveniently marked off in equal segments S (FIGURE 17) whose length will be one-half the desired total vane width when the draperies are open (retracted). Snaps 26 are then usually sewn at every fourth marking 46 (every second one for very heavy drapes and to produce the arrangement shown in FIG- URES 5, 6 and 16), the material is folded in alternate directions to provide the pleats at every marking 47 and the folded pleat is then sewn at lines 35 (FIGURES 6 and 17). The distance E from lines 35 to the edge of a pleat will be variable according to the amount of fullness desired for the drapery.

While the foregoing has assumed throughout, and such is preferred, that the meeting ends of the draperies will be mounted on transversely positioned base portions 23 as shown, many of the features of the invention can be obtained, though with increased requirement for pack-back space, if the base portions 23 are arranged as in conventional master carrier units in an alignment parallel to the length of the rod so as to provide overlapping of the draperies. This use may be desired where ample packback space is available and the overlapping of the draperies is desired to provide improved privacy when the draperies are closed.

Although particular preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed above in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations and modifications of such disclosure, which come within the scope of the appended claims are fully contemplated.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a traverse rod and pleated drapery system, comprising a traverse rod having side-by-side arranged parallel channels and means defining a slot in a wall of each thereof, a plurality of hangers, each of said hangers being slideably carried within a first of said channels and providing the sole support for said pleated drapery system, each of said hangers being connected to the pleated drapery system at substantially the center of each of the pleats, a master carrier of plastic material in both of said channels and pro elling means in one of said channels for effecting movement of said master carrier along said rod, characterized in that said master carrier has a body part, a first support fixedly related to said body part and projecting through the slot in said first channel and carrying means for cooperating with the means defining said slot first support and having means thereon cooperating with the means defining said second slot for bearing thereagainst and preventing movement thereof out of said second slot and a flange projecting downwardly from said body part and extending crosswise of the traverse rod and having means thereon for securing one end of the pleated drapery system thereto, said flange being laterally offset from said first of said channels and to one side of said drapery system supported by said plurality of hangers in said channel.

2. A traverse rod and drapery system for movably supporting a pleated drapery and wherein at least the leading end of said drapery is movable longitudinally of said traverse rod between open and closed positions, comprising:

a traverse rod having at least one slotted channel therein;

a plurality of hangers, each of said hangers being slideably supported by said traverse rod in said one channel, said hangers including means pivotable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to said rod and including also means for engaging said drapery for providing the sole support therefor, each of said hangers being connected to the pleated drapery at subtsantially the center of each of the pleats;

a master carrier slideably supported by said traverse rod, said master carrier having a support member thereon extending crosswise of said rod, said support member having means thereon for engaging said leading end of said drapery and holding a portion of same crosswise of said rod, said support member being laterally offset from said channel and to one side of said drapery supported by said plurality of hangers in said channel;

propelling means on said traverse rod for effecting movement of said master carrier along said traverse rod;

whereby said drapery will be suspended from said traverse rod by said hangers and said master carrier, said leading end of said drapery being secured to said support member on said master carrier so that said leading end of said drapery is crosswise of said rod.

3. A traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 2, wherein said drapery at least at the upper edge thereof is divided into sections, said sections being sewn together along lines respectively parallel to the lengthwise edges of said sections whereby said sections are capable of being folded back and forth upon themselves and wherein said hangers are affixed to said drapery respective y at the midpoint of said sections.

4. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 3, wherein said leading edge of said drapery is parallel to said sections when said drapery is in said open position.

5. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 2, including drapery support means secured to said traverse rod adjacent at least one end thereof, said support means being fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said traverse rod and pivotable about a substantially vertical axis relative to said traverse rod whereby an end of said drapery opposite said leading end is securable to said drapery support means and is pivotable therewith to maintain said opposite end of said drapery stationary relative to said leading edge.

6. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 2, wherein said drapery at least at the upper edge thereof is divided into sections, said sections being sewn together along lines respectively parallel to the lengthiwise edges of said sections whereby said sections are capable of being folded back and forth upon themselves and wherein said hangers are afiixed to said drapery respectively at the midpoint of said sections;

drapery support means secured to said traverse rod adjacent at least one end thereof, said support means being fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said traverse rod and pivotable about a substantially vertical axis relative to said traverse rod whereby an end of said drapery opposite said leading end is securable to said drapery support means and is pivotable therewith to maintain said opposite end of said drapery stationary relative to said leading edge.

7. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 2, including an end member securable to said traverse rod adjacent at least one end thereof, said end member having means defining a recess therein communicating with said at least one slotted channel and a clearance whereby said hangers can be added to or removed from said at least one slotted channel by moving said hangers into said recess and said clearance, a gate secured to said end member and movable between a first position wherein said gate blocks said clearance and a second position wherein said gate permits the movement of hangers through said clearance.

8. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 2, wherein said means for engaging said drapery on said hangers comprises a snap fastener part located adjacent the lower end thereof whereby the drapery can be attached to the hangers by snap fastening; and

wherein said means on said master carrier for engaging said leading end of said drapery comprises at least one snap fastener part permanently fixed to said master carrier and facing in a direction longitudinal of said traverse rod whereby said leading end of said drapery can be attached to said support member by snap fastening.

9. A traverse rod and drapery system for movably supporting a pleated drapery and wherein the leading end of said drapery as well as the remainder portion thereof is movable longitudinally of the traverse rod between open and closed positions, comprising in combination:

a traverse rod having at least one slotted channel therein;

a plurality of hangers, each of said hangers being slideably supported by said traverse rod in said channel, said hangers including means pivotable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to said rod and means for engaging said drapery to provide a majority of the support therefor, each of said hangers being connected to the pleated drapery at substantially the center of each of the pleats;

drapery support means secured to said traverse rod adjacent at least one end thereof and providing the remainder of the support for said drapery, said support means being fixed against longitudinal movement relative to said traverse rod and pivotable about a substantially vertical axis relative to said traverse rod whereby an end of said drapery opposite said leading end is securable to said drapery support means and is pivotable therewith to maintain said opposite end of said drapery stationary relative to said leading edge;

a master carrier slidably supported by said traverse rod, said master carrier having a support member thereon extending crosswise of said traverse rod for engaging said leading end of said drapery, said support member being laterally oifset from said channel and to one side of said drapery supported by said plura ity of hangers in said channel;

propelling means on said traverse rod for effecting movement of said master carrier along said rod.

10. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 9, wherein said traverse rod includes means defining two parallel slotted channels therein; and

wherein said master carrier comprises a main body part, a first projecting member extending from said body part and receivable in one of said channels and slideably cooperable therewith, a second projecting member extending from said main body part and receivable in the other of said channels and slideably cooperable therewith whereby said master carrier is supported for longitudinal movement along said rod by said first and second projecting members, one of said first and second members having said propelling means secured thereto, whereby said drapery will be suspended from said traverse rod by said hangers and said master carrier, said leading end of said drapery being secured to said support member so that said leading edge is crosswise of said rod.

11. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in c aim 10, wherein said first projecting member includes a T-shaped extension, the stem of which projects through the slot in said one channel and the crossbar of which is positioned within said one channel and cooperable with said means defining said slot in said one channel for supporting said master carrier.

12. The traverse rod and drapery system defined in claim 10, wherein said second projecting member on said main body part includes an extension for projecting through the slot of said other channel, said extension having guide means thereon cooperating with said means defining said other slot for guiding the extension member and said master carrier along said traverse rod and for supporting said master carrier.

13. In a traverse rod construction comprising an e ongated track having two parallel channels arranged in side-by-side relation, each of said channels having a lengthwise extending slot, the slot in one of said channels opening downwardly, hangers slideably mounted in said one of said channels and extending through the slot therein, a master carrier slideably supported in at least one of said channels, and propelling means for eifecting movement of said master carrier along said track, the improvement comprising an end member for closing at least one end of said track, said end member having means defining a downwardly opening recess therein communicating with and constituting an extension of said slot in said one channel and a movable gate member pivotally mounted on the underside of said end member for selectively opening and closing said recess whereby hangers may be added to or removed from said s ot in said one channel through said recess, said gate memher having means defining an opening therein, said opening having a hanger therein which extends downwardly through said recess, said hanger being pivotable with respect to said end member and being held against movement in a direction lengthwise of the traverse rod, the other hangers being pivotable [with respect to said traverse rod and movable longitudinally thereof in the slot in said one channel.

14. The traverse rod construction defined in claim 13, wherein said propelling means are positioned in the other of said channels and comprise elongated flexible elements and wherein said end member has pulley means therein aligned with said other channel for guiding the movement of said elongated flexible elements.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,155 6/1958 Stern 124 3,049,176 8/1962 Graber et al 160-346 3,090,072 5/ 1963 Fridolph.

3,118,168 1/1964 Arcuri 160 346 X 3,137,027 6/1964 Birkle 160345 X 3,151,666 10/1964 Ford 160346 3,192,996 7/1965 Greenstadt et al 160 -345 3,248,749 5/1966 Williams 160-345 X 3,286,299 11/1966 Golden 160-330 X 3,296,651 1/1967 Baker 10-348 X 2,607,409 8/1952 Svirsky 160172 2,952,316 9/1960 Raphael 160348 X 3,312,273 4/1967 Adam et al. 160-345 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 16-87.4