WO2003071907A1

WO2003071907A1 - Carrier pole mounting means

Info

Publication number: WO2003071907A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/001807
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred Wurst
Original assignee: Newell Window Furnishings, Inc.
Priority date: 2002-02-28
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2003-09-04
Also published as: AU2003223044A1

Abstract

The invention provides a carrier pole mounting means for mounting a carrier pole adjacent a recessed opening comprising a resilient S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) , which may be unitarily formed of a resilient plastics material. The mounting means further comprises a carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) and an opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72). A central portion (38, 42) may be provided to join the engaging portions (32, 40; 66, 70, 38, 42). In use, the carrier pole (20; 50) may be located between two such carrier pole mounting means, which may engage opposed bearings of the opening, such as rubber seals (18) provided on the opening.

Description

CARRIER POLE MOUNTING MEANS

The present invention relates to carrier pole mounting means, particularly but not exclusively means for mounting . curtain poles to cover an opening such as a window.

Conventional curtain poles are mounted by screw fixing or adhesive tape, for example, to the wall or structure in which is provided an opening such as a window opening. The opening may be inset from a face of the wall or structure and the curtain pole may be mounted on the inset section. Telescopic window poles may be mounted in such a manner to conveniently extend across any size of window opening. However such mounting means and techniques may damage contact surfaces at the window opening and are difficult to mount across openings having angled surfaces.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided carrier pole mounting means for mounting a carrier pole adjacent a recessed opening, the mounting means comprising a resilient S-shaped member comprising a carrier ole engaging portion and an opening bearing engaging portion.

The term "S-shaped" is used herein to refer to shapes of S form or generally so.

Normally two of such S-shaped members will be used in combination, being applied to opposite ends of a carrier pole to be mounted adjacent a recessed opening.

Preferably the opening bearing engaging portion is provided towards a first end of the S-shaped member and the carrier pole engaging portion is preferably provided towards an opposite second end. Preferably the two ends are joined by a central portion, which may be relatively long compared to the opening bearing engaging portion and the carrier pole engaging portion.

The opening bearing engaging portion is preferably resiliently biased towards the central portion, in use. In use the opening bearing engaging portion preferably forms an acute angle with the central portion and is preferably adapted to be urged to be caused in use to form a larger acute angle therewith. The opening bearing engaging portion preferably comprises the first end of the S-shaped member, which may be locatable against a surface of a wall or other structure in which the opening is provided, the surface providing a bearing for the engaging portion. The first end may be adapted to bear against a specific section at the opening, such as a rubber, cement or similar section. The opening may have a window therein and the opening bearing engaging portion may be locatable against a surface or other suitable bearing at the junction of the window and an adjoining part of the wall or other structure containing the opening.

The opening bearing engaging portion may be of sufficient length such that the central portion is, in use, located clear of a face of the wall or other structure in which the recessed opening is provided.

The carrier pole engaging portion is preferably resiliently biased towards the central portion, in use. In use the carrier pole engaging portion may be substantially perpendicular to the central portion and is preferably adapted to be urged to be caused in use to form an acute angle therewith.

The carrier pole engaging portion may comprise a retaining part towards the second end of the S-shaped member. The retaining part may be locatable against a first end of the carrier pole, at which first end a carrier pole cone may be provided.

Alternatively, the retaining part may be removably fixed to the carrier pole engaging portion, by any suitable fixing arrangement, such as a screw fixing arrangement.

Alternatively, the retaining part may be permanently fixed towards a first end of the carrier pole, for example by screw fixing or any other suitable arrangement.

Preferably the S-shaped member is unitary. The S-shaped member may be formed of any suitable resilient material, for example a plastics material or spring steel.

Alternatively the S-shaped member may be formed in component parts, for example the carrier pole engaging portion, the opening bearing engaging portion and the central portion may be formed separately and resilience may, for example, be provided by spring members located between the portions.

The carrier pole with which the S-shaped member is adapted to be used may carry a covering, such as curtains, drapes, blinds or similar, to cover the opening, which may be a door, window or similar.

In use, the carrier pole mounting means may be held in place by oppositely directed balancing forces at the carrier pole engaging portion, provided by contact with the carrier pole, and at the opening bearing engaging portion, provided by contact with a bearing of the opening. Advantageously no further fixing means, for example screw fixing or adhesive fixing is required between the carrier pole mounting means and the wall or other structure containing the opening, which reduces the likelihood of damage to the assembly.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a carrier pole mounting system for mounting a carrier pole adjacent a recessed opening, the system comprising two carrier pole mounting means according to the foregoing first aspect of the invention, a first of the two mounting means being applied, or applicable, to a first end of the pole and a first bearing of the opening, and a second of the two mounting means being applied, or applicable, to a second opposite end of the pole and a second opposed bearing of the opening.

The carrier pole may comprise an extendable carrier pole which is variable in length to contact the carrier pole engaging portions of the two mounting means and thus to provide sufficient force by this contact to hold the two mounting means in position at the opening.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a carrier pole mounting system according to a first embodiment, and

Figure 2 shows a carrier pole mounting system according to a second embodiment.

Referring to Figure 1, a room wall (4) has a recessed opening (6) . The opening (6) has an upright first angled wall surface (8) and an opposite second angled wall surface (10) . A window (12) is mounted within the room wall (4) at the recessed opening (6). The room wall (4) has an inside face (14) from which the angled wall surfaces (8, 10) extend, and an outside face (16) . At the junction of the window (12) with the room wall (4) , there is provided a rubber seal (18) . The rubber seal (18) extends around the window (12) and is adjacent both the first and second angled surfaces (8, 10) .

For privacy a covering in the form of curtains (not shown) is to be hung adjacent to the window (12) . For this purpose an adjustable telescopic curtain pole (20) is provided for hanging the curtains. The curtain pole (20) is supported substantially parallel to the inside face (14) of the room wall (4) . The curtain pole (20) is longer than the length of the recessed opening (6) in order to allow the curtains to completely cover the opening. Therefore, the curtain pole (20) is required to be located on the inside face (14) of the room wall (4) in front of the recessed opening (6) .

The pole (20) comprises conical opposite ends (22) , the conical ends (22) having tips pointing axially outwardly from a first end (24) and a second end (26) of the pole (20) .

A carrier pole mounting means is provided comprising two, first and second, unitary S-shaped members (28, 36) each formed of a strip of resilient plastics material. The first S-shaped member (28) comprises three portions, namely an opening bearing engaging portion (30), a carrier pole engaging portion (32) and a central portion (34) . Each of the portions (30, 32, 34) is generally planar and the central portion (34) is longer than the other portions (30, 32) . The opening bearing engaging portion (30) extends at an acute angle to the one planar side of the central portion (34) and the carrier pole engaging portion (32) extends substantially at right angles to the opposite planar side of the central portion (34) . The second unitary S-shaped member (36) is similar to the first (28) and comprises an opening bearing engaging portion (38) , a carrier pole engaging portion (40) and a central portion (42) .

In use, ends (44, 46) of the opening bearing engaging portions (30, 38) of the two S-shaped members (28, 36) respectively are positioned to bear on and locate against the rubber seal (18) in horizontally opposed position at the upper ends of the first and second angled wall surfaces (8, 10), as shown in Figure 1, the central portions (34, 42) of the two S-shaped members extending away from one another. The opening bearing engaging portions (30, 38) are of sufficient length to provide clearance from the angled wall surfaces (8, 10) and the inside face (14) of the room wall (4) for the central portions (34, 42) of the S-shaped members (28, 36) .

The first end (24) of the pole (20) is placed upon the central portion (34) of the first S-shaped member (28) such that the conical end (22) is in contact with the carrier pole engaging portion (32) of the S-shaped member. At this stage of the installation of the pole (20) , the second end (26) of the pole rests on the central portion (42) of the second S-shaped member (36) but may not necessarily locate with the carrier pole engaging portion (40) . The length of the pole (20) may be adjusted for the conical end (22) of the second end (26) of the pole to locate with the carrier pole engaging portion (40) . The length of the pole (20) is then increased to bear on the carrier pole engaging portions (32, 40) until the opposite forces resulting from the bearing contact of the pole (20) with the carrier pole engaging portions (32, 40) are balanced by forces resulting from bearing provided by contact of the opening bearing engaging portions (30, 38) with the rubber seal (18) adjacent the first and second angled wall surfaces (8, 10) , so that the carrier pole is securely and firmly held horizontally in position relative to but spaced from the inside face of the room wall, in front of the window opening. In this position no further fixing arrangements are required to fix either of the S-shaped members (28, 36) to either the pole (20) or the room wall (4) .

It will be realised that with such angled wall surfaces (8, 10) it is not feasible to mount a conventional adjustable pole without using some additional form of fixing means since the ends of the pole would simply slip out of place.

In use the angle between the opening wall engaging portion (30) of the S- shaped member (28) and the central portion (34) is an acute angle and the resilience of the S-shaped member allows the opening bearing engaging portion to be urged away from the central portion (34) to a larger acute angle. The carrier pole engaging portion (32) is also urged away from the central portion (34) but the angle therebetween is still substantially a right angle. Due to this geometry, it is possible for forces generated by contact between the S-shaped member (28) and the pole (20) and the first angled wall surface (8) to maintain the S-shaped member (28) in equilibrium without further fixing means. A similar state applies to the second S-shaped member (36) . In this arrangement the pole (20) and the central portions (34, 42) of the S-shaped members (28, 36) constantly experience compressive forces.

If it is desired to remove the pole (20) and S-shaped members (28, 36), the length of the pole is decreased which automatically relieves the compressive forces and the S-shaped members (28, 36) can simply be removed manually from their positions along with the pole (20) . According to a second embodiment of the invention, referring to Figure 2, the same recessed opening in the room wall (4) is shown and similar features are given the same reference numerals.

A different, second, length- adjustable, curtain pole (50) is used to support a drape (not shown) for covering the recessed opening (6) . The second pole (50) has a flat first end (52) and a flat second end (54). Each end (52, 54) has an axial threaded bore (not shown) to accommodate a screw (56) of a respective knob (58, 58') for fixing the knob to the end. Each knob (58, 58') has a flat surface (60) corresponding to the respective flat end (52, 54) of the pole (50) . The knobs (58, 58') are turned manually to turn the screws (56) in the threaded bores for fixing and removing the knobs to and from the ends (52, 54).

A third unitary S-shaped member (62) is formed of spring steel. The third unitary S-shaped member is identical in shape to the first and second unitary S-shaped members (28, 36) previously described, except for a circular aperture (64) located centrally in a carrier pole engaging portion (66) of the S-shaped member (62) . The aperture (64) is sized to accommodate the screw (56) of either knob (58, 58') as a free fit therethrough.

A fourth unitary S-shaped member (68) is also formed of a spring steel material. The shape of the fourth S-shaped member (68) is identical to the third S-shaped member (62) , and it also has an aperture (not shown) in its carrier pole engaging portion (70) to accommodate the screw (56) of the respective knob (58') .

For installation, the fourth S-shaped member (68) is attached to the curtain pole, by fixing the carrier engaging portion (70) between the first flat end (52) and the respective knob (58') , the screw (56) of the knob being passed through the aperture of the engaging portion (70) and tightened into the respective threaded bore in the end of the curtain pole. The end of an opening bearing engaging portion (72) of the fourth S- shaped member (68) is positioned to bear against the rubber seal (18) at the first angled wall surface (8) . The third unitary S-shaped member (62) is positioned with an end of its opening bearing engaging portion (74) located against and bearing on the rubber seal (18) at the second angled wall (10) . The third S-shaped member (62) is fixed to the curtain pole, in similar manner to the fourth S-shaped member (68) , by means of the knob (58) and its screw applied to the flat second end (54) of the pole. The length of the curtain pole (50) is adjusted until an equilibrium as previously described is obtained. In this position the third and fourth S- shaped members (62, 68) and the second pole (50) are self supporting, as before, relative to the first and second angled wall surfaces (8, 10) , and the curtain pole is securely and firmly held relative to the inside face of the room wall, in front of the window opening.

If it is desired to dismount the curtain pole, either one of the knobs, for example, the knob (58) is rotated to release the respective S-shaped member (62, 68) from the rubber seal (18) and the length of the pole (50) is reduced to allow the other S-shaped member to be manually lifted away from the recessed opening (6) .

Various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from its scope. For example, a non-adjustable pole may be used in accordance with the present invention. Variations on this specific form of the S-shaped member as described may be used, for example, more smoothly profiled variations. Non-unitary S-shaped members may be used, perhaps having springs between the various portions to provide resilience.

Claims

1. A carrier pole mounting means for mounting a carrier pole adjacent a recessed opening, characterised in that the mounting means comprises a resilient S-shaped member (28, 36; 62,68) comprising a carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) and an opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) .

2. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 1 , characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) is provided towards a first end of the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) and the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) is provided towards an opposite second end of the S-shaped member.

3. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 2, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) and the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) are joined by a central portion (34, 42) .

4. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 3, characterised in that the central portion (34, 42) is relatively long compared to the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) and the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66,70) .

5. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) is resiliently biased relative to the central portion (34, 42) in use.

6. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 5, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) forms an acute angle with the central portion (34, 42) .

7. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 6, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) is adapted to be urged to be caused in use to form a larger acute angle with the central portion (34, 42) .

8. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) comprises the first end of the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) .

9. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 8, characterised in that the first end of the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) is locatable against a surface (8, 10) of a wall or other structure in which the opening is provided, the surface providing a bearing for the engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) .

10. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 9, characterised in that the first end is adapted to bear against a specific section at the opening.

11. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 10, characterised in that the specific section is a rubber section (18) .

12. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 10 or Claim 11, characterised in that the opening has a window (12) therein and the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) is locatable against a surface or other suitable bearing (18) at the junction of the window and an adjoining part of the wall (4) or other structure containing the opening.

13. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 3 to 12, characterised in that the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) is of sufficient length such that the central portion (34, 42) is, in use, located clear of a face (14) of the wall (4) or other structure in which the recessed opening (6) is provided.

14. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 3 to 13, characterised that the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) is resiliently biased towards the central portion (34, 42) , in use.

15. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 14, characterised in that in use the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66,

70) is substantially perpendicular to the central portion (34, 42) .

16. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 15, characterised in that the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) is adapted to be urged to be caused in use to form an acute angle with the central portion (34, 42) .

17. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 2 to 16, characterised in that the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) comprises a retaining part towards the second end of the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) .

18. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 17, characterised in that the retaining part is locatable against a first end of the carrier pole (20; 50) .

19. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 18, characterised in that a carrier pole cone (22) is provided at the first end of the carrier pole (20) .

20. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 17, characterised in that the retaining part is removably fixed to the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) .

21. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 20, characterised in that the retaining part is removably fixed to the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) by a screw fixing arrangement.

22. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 17, characterised in that the retaining part is permanently fixed towards a first end of the carrier pole (50) .

23. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 22, characterised in that the retaining part is permanently fixed to the carrier pole (50) by a screw fixing arrangement.

24. A carrier pole mounting means according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) is unitary.

25. A carrier pole mounting means according to any preceding claim, in which the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) is formed of any suitable resilient material.

26. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 1 to 23, characterised in that the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) is formed in component parts.

27. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 26, characterised in that the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) , the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) and the central portion (34,42) are formed separately.

28. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 27, characterised in that resilience is provided by spring members located between the portions.

29. A carrier pole mounting means according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the carrier pole with which the S-shaped member (28, 36; 62, 68) is adapted to be used carries a covering to cover the opening.

30. A carrier pole mounting means according to Claim 29, characterised in that the recessed opening to be covered is a window.

31. A carrier pole mounting means according to any of Claims 18 to 30, characterised in that in use, the carrier pole mounting means is held in place by oppositely directed balancing forces at the carrier pole engaging portion (32, 40; 66, 70) , provided by contact with the carrier pole (20; 50), and at the opening bearing engaging portion (30, 38; 74, 72) , provided by contact with a bearing of opening.

32. A carrier pole mounting system for mounting a carrier pole adjacent a recessed opening, the system comprising two carrier pole mounting means according to any preceding claim, a first of the two mounting means being applied, or applicable, to a first end (24) of the pole (20) and a first bearing of the opening, and a second of the two mounting means being applied, or applicable, to a second opposite end (26) of the pole (20) and a second opposed bearing of the opening.

33. A carrier pole mounting system according to Claim 32, characterised in that the carrier pole (20) comprises an extendable carrier pole which is variable in length to contact the carrier pole engaging portions (32, 40) of the two mounting means and thus to provide sufficient force by this contact to hold the two mounting means in position at the opening.