TECHNICAL FIELD
This application is directed, in general, to a system for hanging a window curtain and, more specifically, to a master carrier assembly, a curtain ring glide, and cooperative clip ring and cooperative combinations thereof.
BACKGROUND
Curtains and draperies provide the function of controlling light passing through a window, as well as providing a decorative function. The drapery may be opened to allow the light to illuminate the room or may be closed to provide privacy or act as a barrier to cold emanating from a window. A functional traverse track is an elongate member having one or more traverse tracks thereon for receiving a plurality of support members to which the upper ends of the drapery are attached. The support members move within the traverse tracks to allow the drapery to be moved between an open condition, in which light is emitted to the room, and a closed condition in which the drapery provides privacy for the occupants.
The drapery within a room also contributes to the overall decorative look of a home or office, and it is common for interior designers to use drapery extensively in decorating homes and offices.
SUMMARY
One aspect of this disclosure provides a curtain support system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a master carrier assembly with a curtain ring glide integrated with the master carrier assembly. The ring glide includes a frame having a receptacle opening located therein. A clip tab is integrally formed with the frame and resiliently extends into the receptacle opening. The clip tab and the receptacle opening are configured to cooperatively and removably receive and retain a cooperative end of a curtain ring within the receptacle opening.
In another aspect a curtain ring glide is provided. In one aspect of this embodiment, the ring glide comprises a frame having receptacle opening located therein. A clip tab is integrally formed with the frame and resiliently extends into the receptacle opening. The clip tab and the receptacle opening are configured to cooperatively and removably receive and retain a cooperative end of a curtain ring within the receptacle opening.
Yet another embodiment provides a clip ring for a curtain. In one aspect of this embodiment, the clip ring comprises a hook body having a free first end and a second end having a protrusion with a longitudinal axis extending from the second end. The protrusion has an elongated recess formed in a side of the protrusion that extends along the longitudinal axis of the protrusion.
Another embodiment provides an end cap for a traverse track. This embodiment comprises an end cap body having an open end and a cavity formed therein configured to receive an end of a curtain rod therein. The cap also includes a curtain ring glide integrated with the end cap body. The ring glide includes a frame having a receptacle opening located therein and a clip tab integrally formed with the frame and resiliently extending into the receptacle opening. The clip tab and the receptacle opening are configured to cooperatively and removably receive and retain a cooperative end of a curtain ring within the receptacle opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A illustrates a view of one side of an embodiment of a curtain ring glide;
FIG. 1B illustrates a view of an opposite side of the embodiment of FIG. 1A.
FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate a side view and back view of an embodiment of a clip ring;
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a view wherein the clip ring is clipped to the curtain ring glide;
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a master carrier assembly having the curtain ring glide attached thereto;
FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 4 and further illustrating the clip ring clipped to the curtain ring glide;
FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 where the master carrier assembly is positioned inside a traverse track; and
FIG. 7 illustrates an end cap for a curtain rod that includes a curtain ring glide.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of a ring glide 100 covered by this disclosure from which a curtain or drape may be hung or supported. In this embodiment, the ring glide 100 includes a frame 102 having a receptacle opening 104 located therein. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle opening 104 extends through the frame 102 and to the opposing side of the frame 102. The frame 102 may be comprised of any type of moldable or machineable material, such as metal, plastic, or wood. In one advantageous embodiment, the frame 102 is comprised of plastic, which makes it easy and inexpensive to manufacture. A clip tab 106 is integrally formed with the frame 102, and a recess 108 formed in the frame 102 extends from one end of the receptacle opening 104 and partially through the depth of the receptacle opening 104. The clip tab 106 has a free end on the front side of the frame 102, which is shown in FIG. 1A, and an opposing anchored end 106a on the opposite or back side (see FIG. 1B) of the frame 102. This configuration provides a levered clip tab 106 that has a resilient or “spring like” quality that allows it to resiliently move into and out of the recess 108.
The recess 108 is preferably wide enough such that when a clip ring (not shown) is inserted into the receptacle opening 104, the clip tab 106 is moved into the recess 108 and imparts a frictional force against the clip ring. Another embodiment includes a second optional clip tab 109 that is anchored on the opposite side of the receptacle opening 104. Like the first clip tab 106, the second clip receptacle opening 104 has an opposing anchored end 109a, which provides a second clip tab 109 having the same functional properties as clip tab 106.
The ring glide 100 may also include a plurality of rotatable traverse track wheels 110a, 110b, 110c that are located at the top of the frame 102 and supported by a support bar 112. It should be understood that the support configuration illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1A is shown as an example and that other configurations are also within the scope of this disclosure. The number of wheels 110a, 110b, 110c may vary, depending on design, but in the illustrated embodiment, two traverse track wheels 110a, 110b are located on the support bar 112 on the front side shown in FIG. 1A and a third traverse track wheel 110c is partially seen on the opposite or back side of the support bar 112.
The ring glide 100 may further include an auxiliary curtain pin eyelet 114 coupled to a bottom end of the frame 102, as also seen in FIG. 1A. This configuration is shown as an example and other various geometric configurations are also within the scope of this disclosure. The auxiliary eyelet 114, in one embodiment, may be joined to the frame 102 by a rotatable base 114a, or it may be fixed to the frame 102 such that it does not rotate, and in such instances, may be integrally molded with the frame 102.
FIG. 1B illustrates an opposite or backside view of the ring glide 100 of FIG. 1A. In those instances where the components are the same, the same reference numbers have been used herein for clarity. The optional second clip tab 109 may be integrally formed with the frame 102, and a second recess 118, which is formed on an opposite side of the frame 102 from that of the first recess 108 (FIG. 1A), extends from one end of the receptacle opening 104 and partially through its depth. As mentioned above, the clip tab 109 is anchored to the opposite or front side of the frame 102. (See FIG. 1A). The anchor point 106a for the first clip tab 106 is seen on the opposite side of the receptacle opening 104. Thus, this configuration provides the optional second clip tab 109 that also has a resilient or “spring like” quality that allows it to move into and out of the recess 118. The recess 118 is preferably wide enough such that when a clip ring (not shown) is inserted into the receptacle opening 104, the clip tab 109 is moved into the recess 118 and imparts a frictional force against a clip ring.
FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate side and front views respectively, of one embodiment of the aforementioned clip ring 200 that may be used in conjunction with the ring glide 100 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). It should be understood that while a “C” like configuration is shown, other geometric or general design configurations may also be used. The clip ring 200 has a hook body 201 that has a first free end 202 and a second end 204 from which a protrusion 206 extends. As used herein, “free end” means an end that is fixed in position and does not cooperatively engage any other portion of the clip ring 200. The configuration of the protrusion 206 will depend on the corresponding configuration of the receptacle opening 104 and clip tabs 106 or 109 of the ring glide 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip ring 200 includes an elongated recess 208 with an edge 208a that extends along a longitudinal axis 210 of the protrusion 206. In a preferred embodiment, both sides of the protrusion 206 have the elongated recess 208 formed therein. The width (from top to bottom) of the recess 208 is preferably wide enough to receive at least a portion of the clip tabs 106 or 109 therein when the clip ring 200 is inserted into the ring glide 100.
FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment where the clip ring 200 is inserted into the ring glide 100. When in this configuration, the clip tab 106 is forced against the protrusion 206. Additionally, though not seen in this view, a portion of the clip tab 106 is positioned within the recess 208 (FIG. 2A), which securely holds the clip ring 200 in place. When properly in place, the free end of the clip tab 106 abuts the edge 208a of the recess 208. The embodiment of FIG. 3 further discloses a release space 302 located between the protrusion 206 and the clip tab 106, when the clip ring 200 is positioned within the ring glide 100. The release space 302 can be used to release the clip ring 200 from the ring glide 100. In such embodiments, a small tool, such as the head of a small screw driver, can be placed in the release space 302 to force the clip tab 106 out of the recess 208 (FIG. 2A) and into the recess 108, which releases the protrusion 206 and allows the clip ring 200 to be removed from the ring glide 100.
These unique configurations provide a ring glide 100 and clip ring 200 that allows the clip ring 200 to be easily and removably attached in the ring glide 100 from either side, which allows for overall easier installation, de-installation, and easy reversal of a curtain rod in those instances where the curtain rod pull string is to be positioned on one particular side of a window.
FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment wherein a ring glide 400 is integrated in a master carrier assembly 402. In one aspect of this embodiment, the ring glide 400 may be configured the same as ring glide 100 in FIGS. 1A and 1B with the exception that ring glide 400 does not include the auxiliary drapery pin eyelet 114 (FIG. 1A) and the traverse track wheels 110a-110c. In one embodiment, the ring glide 400 may be integrally formed with the master carrier assembly 402. Thus, similar elements are identified with the same numeric designations used for the ring glide 100. However, in other embodiments, the ring glide 400 may be identical to ring glide 100 and may be separately and removably attached to the master carrier assembly 402, and thus, not integrally formed with the master carrier assembly 402.
The master carrier assembly 402 is the main carrier to which a curtain or drape may be attached and used to move the curtain or drape to an open or closed position. In one embodiment, the master carrier assembly 402 has a frame 404 that includes at least two openings 406, 408, between which the ring glide 400 is positioned. The size of the openings may vary and in certain embodiments may not even be present. However, in one aspect where the openings 406, 408 are present, they may occupy at least 35% of the total area of the master carrier assembly 402, which lessens the weight and the cost of manufacture. The master carrier assembly 402 also includes a plurality of traverse track wheels 412, 414, 416, and 418 that are rotatably coupled to the frame 404. Though four traverse track wheels are shown, it should be understood that the number of traverse track wheels may vary with design. In another embodiment, the master carrier assembly 402 may include an over lap bar 420 that is attached to the frame 404 and has one or more openings 422 formed through it, which allows for the placement of an auxiliary curtain pin hook located on the back of the drape or curtain.
FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment of the master carrier assembly 402 of FIG. 4 with the clip ring 200 positioned within the ring glide 400. As mentioned above, because of the unique configuration provided by the embodiments discussed herein, the clip ring 200 can easily be positioned within and removed from the ring glide 400 from either side of the master carrier assembly 402, which allows for quicker and easier installation of the curtain or drape and easy reversal of a curtain or drapery rod.
FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment in which the master carrier assembly 402, with the ring glide 400, and the clip ring 200 positioned within the ring glide 400, is positioned on a traverse track 600.
FIG. 7 illustrates an end cap 700. In this embodiment, one configuration of a ring glide 702 is integrated with an end cap body 704. The end cap body 704 may have any type of decorative or geometric configuration. The ring glide 702 in this embodiment is substantially the same as the embodiment of FIG. 1A, except that the traverse track wheel assembly and traverse track wheels are not present in this embodiment. Thus, in those instances where the same components are present, the same reference designations have been used for clarity. The ring glide 702 may be integrated with the end cap in a number of ways. For example, the ring glide 702 may be removably attached to the end cap body 704 by a screw or bolt, or it may be integrally molded with the end cap body 704.
The end cap body 704 includes an open end 706 that opens into a cavity 708 (shown by the dashed line) within the end cap body 704. The open end 706 and cavity 708 are configured to frictionally receive an end of the traverse track (FIG. 6) therein. This embodiment is advantageous in those instances where a corner curtain pleat is desired. Moreover, it provides further decoration and coverage of the drapery track on the ends.
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.
Patent Application
20100155002
