US763102A - Curtain-fixture. - Google Patents

Description

No. 763,102. PATENTED JUNE 21, 1904. H. E. KEBLER.

- CURTAIN FIXTURE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAR" 18. 1904.

N10 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

Mum; 29mm M I'MTTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented June 21, 1904.

HERBERT E. KEELER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CURTAIN-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,102, dated June 21, 1904.

Application filed January 18, 1904. Serial No. 189,504- (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. KEELER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fixtures, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the same.

This invention relates to curtain-fixtures, and relates especially to curtain-fixtures in which a flexible curtain-rod is employed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference-numeral refers to similar parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is afront view, partly in section, this invention applied to a curtain. Figs. 2 and 3 are-enlarged horizontal sectional views of the same, showing the curtain-rod straight and in flexed position. Fig. 4 is a view showing a modified construction, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the same.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention a curtain 1 is shown as secured at its upper end to the spring-actuated roller 2, the

lower end of the curtain carrying the flexible but preferably substantially inextensible curtain-rod 3, which may be secured to the lower end of the curtain by being held in a suitable pocket or otherwise. The curtain-rod serves to support the spring-pressed shoes, which are mounted on the curtain and which are provided with suitable guiding members to engage the guideways 4 adjacent the curtain.

These shoes may be mounted at the ends of the curtain-rod in any desired way and are preferably spring-pressed apart to cooperate properly with the guideways and to hold the curtain in adjusted position. The shoes 5 (shown'in Fig. l) are provided with the eccentrically-mounted rotating guiding members 6, these shoes being secured to the spindles 35, the inner ends of which fit loosely within the tubes 8, which are secured to the ends of the curtain-bar in any desired way.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, each tube 8 may be formed with a suitable slot 7, through which the screw 9 passes, this screw engaging showing an embodiment of.

the spindle to hold it in the tube. The spring 10 is indicatedwithin the tube to press the spindle and shoe outward, and the actuatingwire 21 is shown secured to the spindle and passing through the block 13 at the inner end of the tube, the handle 18 being preferably detachably connected to the end of this wire in any desired way, so that by this means the handles when pressed together serve to draw the shoes inward and release the guiding members from engagement with the guideways.

One or more strips, plates, or spacing members, preferably of resilient material, may be used to give the curtain-rod the desired flexibility. In Fig. 2 the strips or plates 11 12 are shown as extending longitudinally of the curtain-bar, while the strip 15 on the other side of the bar is formed of similar material. These strips may be joined together, as indicated in Fig. 2, by the center block 20, secured to the strips by the screws 22 23 and formed with suitable slots, as indicated, to accommodate the handles, these handles also passing through suitable slots 19 in the strip 15. For some purposes it is very desirable that the lateral flexure of the curtain-bar take place in one direction, while the curtain-bar is substantially rigid against flexure in the other direction. For this purpose the plates or plate-sections on one side of the curtainrod may be provided in any part with a loose connection to allow one end of the plate or member longitudinal movement. This may be accomplished, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, byforming each end of the strip 15 with a suitable slot '17, which cooperates with asuitable stud 16, secured to the curtain-bar and carried on the strip 14:, (shown as secured in Fig. 2 to the block 13.) This slotted connection allows a limited longitudinal movement between the strips or plate members 15 and 16, the ends of the plate 15 being allowed to move inward to a limited extent, governed by the length of the slot 17; but the outward movement of the end of the strip with respect to the stud is not permitted beyond the position indicated in Fig. 2, where the curtain-bar is shown straight.v I/Vhen the curtain-bar is laterally deflected by grasping the handles 18 or otherwise, the strips bend to allow this movement, and also the ends of the strip 15 move to a limited extent by reason of their slotted connection, so that flexure of the bar in the direction indicated in Fig. 3 is readily allowed. Further flexure is then prevented, the studs engaging the slotends. Lateral flexure in the opposite direction is not, however, readily allowed, since, as will be seen in Fig. 2, the loose connection of the strip 15 does not allow the ends of this strip to move outward, so that the bar can only bend as a whole and is so rigid under these conditions as to substantially prevent flexure in this direction.

If desired, the form of construction indicated in Fig. 4 may be employed, in which the curtain-bar comprises the terminal tubes 28, formed with slots 27 to accommodate thesecuring-screws 29, which engage the spindles 30. The shoes 25 are secured to these spindles and carry suitable guiding members 26 to engage the guideways. 'The central portion of the bar is indicated as composed of a suitable plate or plates 24, preferably operat" ing as a spacing member to make the bar substantially inextensible, this spacing member being preferably rigidly secured to the plugs 31, fastened into the tubes. If desired, the substantially circular contour of the bar may be secured by using a coiled wire or flexible tube of any construction at the central portion of the bar to inelose the spacing member, the coiled wire 32 being indicated as having close convolutions to give it a substantially tubular form. A suitable handpiece 33 is preferably employed, so that the lower edge may be more readily grasped, and this handpiece may be secured to the bar by a suitable support 34, which may be fastened to the handpiece and spacing member by screws or in any other desired way. It will be seen that the slotted connection between the spindles and the curtain-bar prevents the relative rotation of these parts and always maintains the proper alinement between the shoes and the flexible plates or spacing members, which are shown in this instance as substantially parallel to the shoes. Under these conditions the curtain-bar is practically rigid when moved up and down in the ordinary way, but still is sufliciently flexible in a lateral direction to allow it to be moved around obstacles, such as window-pulls or other proecting parts.

It is of course understood that those familiar with this art may make many modifications in the form, proportion, and numbers of parts of this device. Parts of the same may be employed without using the whole, and parts may be used in connection with other devices without departing from the spirit of this invention or losing the advantages of the same. I do not, therefore, desire to'be limited to the details of the disclosure which has been made in this case; but

What I claim as new, and what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, is set forth in the appended claims:

1. In combination, shoes provided with guiding members, a curtain-rod, said shoes being mounted at the ends of said curtain-rod, one of said shoes being mounted to reciprocate with respect to said curtain-rod, butbeing prevented from rotating with respect thereto, a spring to normally press said shoes apart, handles to bring said shoes together, said ourtain-rod comprising members on either side of the same, one of said members having a loose connection to allow one end of the same to have a limited movement.

2. In combination, a curtainrod, shoes mounted to reciprocate at the ends of said rod and normally spring-pressed outward, means to retract said shoes, said rod comprising flexible members, one of said members being laterally separated from another and provided with a loose connection to allow a limited longitudinal movement of the same,

3. In combination, flexible members, means to space said members apart laterally to form a curtain-rod, one of said members comprising sections and having a loose connection between its sections to make said curtainrod readily flexible in one direction and substantially rigid against flexure in another direction.

4. In combination, a curtain-rod, elongated shoes mounted to reciprocate with respect, to said rod, but being held against rotation with respect thereto, said rod comprising a flexible plate to allow the lateral flexure of said rod so as to allow it to pass around obstacles.

5. In combination, a curtain-rod compris ing a laterally flexible member, guiding means mounted at the ends of said rod and means to prevent the lateral flexure of said member in one direction.

6. In combination, a curtain-rod comprising a flexible member, guiding means mounted at the ends of said rod and normally pressed outward and means to limit the extent of flexure of said member.

7. In combination, a plurality of members spaced apart laterally to form a curtain-rod, one of said members being formed with a loose connection to allow said rod to be laterally deflected to alimited extent.

8. In combination, a plurality of members spaced apart laterally to form a curtain-rod, one of said members being formed of resilient material and another of said members laterally spaced therefrom and comprising a plurality of sections, a loose connection being provided between its several sections to allow a limited longitudinal movement between vided With a loose connection to furnish a IO said sections to allow said rod to be deflected limited longitudinal play to allow said rod to to a limited extent. be laterally deflected to a limited extent and 9. In combination, a spring-actuated curto maintain the same substantially rigid in Q tain, a curtain-rod mounted in said curtain other directions.

and provided with guiding meansto guide HERBERT E. KEELER. said curtain in its movements, said curtaln- Witnesses: rod comprising a resilient member and a sec- HARRY L. DUNCAN,

0nd member spaced apart therefrom and pro- JESSIE B. KAY.

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