Curtain track adjustment assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6766849
  • Patent Number
    6,766,849
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 10, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 27, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A curtain track adjustment assembly adopted for use on different sizes of doors and windows enables users to drape curtains as desired. It includes a winch to retract or extend a steel cable. A brake paw is coupled with a spring which provides a restoring force to anchor the brake paw on a ratchet gear of the winch so that the length of the steel cable may be controlled and adjusted to suit different sizes of windows.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a curtain track adjustment assembly adopted for use on different sizes of doors and windows.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Window coverings such as curtains and shutters have almost become necessary household goods. They not only can block sunshine, also can enhance visual aesthetic appealing. To install a curtain or shutter on the window, curtain brackets must be provided. Conventional curtain brackets are fixedly mounted over the window, and cannot be adjusted. In the event that users want to change the draping location of the curtain, new curtain brackets have to be installed. This causes a lot of waste.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the object of the invention is to provide a curtain track adjustment assembly that is adaptable to different sizes of doors and windows.




The curtain track adjustment assembly of the invention may be altered according to different sizes of doors and windows to drape curtains or shutters. It includes a winch to retract or extend a steel cable. Every time the winch is turned, a spring coupled on a brake paw generates a restoring force to latch the brake paw on a ratchet gear of the winch thereby can control the steel cable to stretch a desired distance and achieve the adjustment function for the curtain track.




The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded view of the invention.





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the upper cap of the invention.





FIG. 3

is a schematic view of an embodiment in a condition of winding for retraction.





FIG. 4

is a schematic enlarged view of the winch in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of the invention in a winding and retracting condition.





FIG. 6

is a schematic view of the invention in a winding and retracting condition.





FIG. 7

is a schematic view of an embodiment showing a condition for extending the steel cable.





FIG. 8

is a schematic enlarged view of the winch in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 9

is a sectional view of the invention in an operation condition for extending the steel cable.





FIG. 10

is a schematic view of the invention in an operation condition for extending the steel cable.





FIG. 11

is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the invention.





FIG. 12

is a pictorial view of another embodiment of the invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the curtain track adjustment assembly according to the invention includes a winch A fixedly located on one side of a window, a crank


1


, an upper cap


2


, a brake paw


5


, a spring


6


, an axle


7


and a ratchet gear


9


. The crank


1


is fastened to an annular flange


22


which is extended above the upper cap


2


and has one end attached to a handle bar


3


. The upper cap


2


is fastened to a bulged rim


41


located in the center of a body


4


. The annular flange


22


has a notch


221


on one side. The upper cap


2


has an opening


21


on one side to receive the brake paw


5


. The brake paw


5


has a stub


51


on one side to couple with the spring


6


. The axle


7


has a bottom end coupling with a bearing


8


and a top end running through the ratchet gear


9


. A steel cable


10


is wound on the axle


7


. The steel cable


10


has one end fastened to a fastening member


131


of an anchor dock


13


and other end fixedly fastened to the axle


7


of the winch A. The steel cable


10


threads through a plurality of clips


11


. The clips


11


may clip curtain (or shutter) slats


12


. The anchor dock


13


is mounted on another side of the window to connect to the steel cable


10


through the fastening member


131


.




By means of the aforesaid construction, when in use for adjusting the distance, turn the crank


1


of the winch A, the spring


6


has a restoring force to anchor the brake paw


5


on the ratchet gear


9


to facilitate control and adjustment of the length of the steel cable


10


, thereby the steel cable


10


may be retracted or extended to adjust the distance for draping the curtain. In the event that users want to change the installation location, the winch A, anchor dock


13


and steel cable


10


may be removed and installed on other location desired. The adjustment assembly may be reused and the length may be adjusted again for draping the curtain. Therefore it is more economic to use.




Refer to

FIGS. 3 through 6

for an embodiment of the invention in use. First, the winch A and the anchor dock


13


are fastened to a wall


14


; then the steel cable


10


is fastened between the winch A and the anchor dock


13


, and a plurality of clips


11


may be coupled on the steel cable


10


; one clip


11


may catch one curtain slat


12


. The number of clips


11


may alter depending on requirements. When there is a desire to adjust the distance, turn the crank


1


of the winch A downwards (as shown in FIG.


4


), the spring


6


coupled on the brake paw


5


generates a restoring force to anchor the brake paw


5


on the ratchet gear


9


(as shown in

FIG. 6

) to enable users to wind and retract the steel cable


10


(as shown in

FIG. 5

) thereby to retract the draping distance (as shown in FIG.


3


).




Refer to

FIGS. 7 through 10

for the embodiment of the invention in use in another condition. When the crank


1


of the winch A is turned upwards (as shown in FIG.


8


), the spring


6


coupled on the brake paw


5


generates a restoring force to anchor the brake paw


5


on the ratchet gear


9


(as shown in

FIG. 10

) to enable users to wind and extend the steel cable


10


(as shown in

FIG. 9

) thereby to extend the draping distance (as shown in FIG.


7


).




Referring to

FIG. 11

for an embodiment of the invention in a use condition.

FIG. 12

illustrates another embodiment of the invention in which two steel cables


10


are fastened between the fastening member


131


of the anchor dock


13


and the axle


7


of the winch A to drape a double-ply curtain (such as a sunshine mask cloth and a curtain cloth). The draping width may be adjusted according to the size of the window.




In summary, the invention provides improved functions and advantages over conventional curtain brackets, notably:




1. The winch of the invention can extend or retract the length of the steel cable, and the length may be adjusted according to the size of the window. When change installation location is desired, the assembly of the invention may be adjusted again without the need of replacing the old set with new set that occurs to the conventional curtain brackets.




2. The invention may be adjusted according to the size of the window.




When there is a desire to change installation location, the old set may be removed and reused on the new site. It can reduce the cost for consumers and eliminate waste.




While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiment thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A curtain track adjustment assembly, comprising:a winch fixedly located on one side of a window including a crank , an upper cap, a brake paw, a spring, an axle and a ratchet gear, the crank being fastened to an annular flange extended upwards from the upper cap and having one end attached to a handle bar, the upper cap being fastened to a bulged rim located in the center of a body, the annular flange having a notch on one side, the upper cap having an opening on one side to receive the brake paw, the brake paw having a stub on one side to couple with the spring, the axle having a bottom end coupling with a bearing and a top end running through the ratchet gear; a steel cable having one end fastened to the axle of the winch; and an anchor dock fixedly located on other side of the window having a fastening member fastened to other end of the steel cable; wherein the crank is turnable to anchor the brake paw on the ratchet gear through a restoring force of the spring to control and adjust the length of the steel cable.
  • 2. The curtain track adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the steel cable is wound on the axle and threads through clips to clip window slats.
  • 3. The curtain track adjustment assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening member and the axle fasten two steel cables therebetween.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
2633321 Coulter Mar 1953 A
3915377 Sutton, Jr. Oct 1975 A
4090692 Jacobs May 1978 A
4091857 Jacobs May 1978 A
4428278 Sutton, Jr. Jan 1984 A
6042475 Darden Mar 2000 A