Patent Application
20120145860
The present invention relates to a hanger for a window drape and a slide assembly including the hanger and, more particularly, to a length-adjustable hanger and a slide assembly including such a hanger.
Window drapes are generally used in indoor decoration and provide several functions including preventing peeking, adjusting indoor brightness and temperature, insulating heat, blocking dust, and providing decoration.
A wide variety of window drapes has been proposed to meet differing needs. Window drapes may include a plurality of slide assemblies for moving the drape. A type of slide assembly includes a slide having a sliding portion on each of two sides thereof for sliding along a track of a window drape. A hanger includes an engaging block engaged with an engaging groove in a bottom of the slide. A ring is provided at a bottom of the hanger and has a hole for engagement with one of a plurality of buttons on a snap tape that is fixed to a top edge of a drape of the window drape.
In use, a plurality of slide assemblies is mounted on the track, and the rings of the slide assemblies are engaged with the buttons on the snap tape. Thus, the slide assemblies are connected to the top edge of the drape such that the drape can be opened or closed by moving the slides along the track. A string is extended through the slides. The spacing between the slides can be adjusted. The snap tape is substantially S-shaped when viewed from top. Thus, the drape to which the snap tape is sewn is also substantially S-shaped, providing desired creasing effect.
However, the length of the slide assembly is fixed and, thus, not adjustable according to differing needs. Specifically, the vertical spacing between the ring and the bottom edge of the track is fixed, causing limitation to the width of the snap tape. Namely, the slide assembly can not be used with snap tapes of differing widths. The snap tape can be sewn to the top edge of the drape to provide stiffening effect for prevent drooping of the drape, preventing light beams from passing through the drooping portion of the drape, and avoiding weakening of the light-shielding effect of the drape. In a case that a wider snap tape is required to avoid drooping of the drape, the conventional slide assembly can not be adjusted in length according to the width of the wider snap tape. Thus, drooping of the drape is inevitable. Furthermore, the length of the snap tape can not be increased such that it is impossible to use a wider snap tape to prevent drooping of the drape. As a result, the creasing effect of the drape can not reach the bottom of the drape, failing to provide an aesthetically pleasing effect.
Thus, a need exists for a length-adjustable hanger for use with snap tapes of differing widths.
It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a length-adjustable hanger for a window drape and a slide assembly including such a hanger to solve the above disadvantages.
In an aspect, the present invention provides a hanger including an elongated member having a rod and an engaging portion. The rod includes a side having a plurality of positioning portions spaced in a vertical direction. The engaging portion is formed on a bottom of the rod. The engaging portion is adapted to engage with an engagement portion. A coupling block includes a connecting head. The coupling block further includes a body and a resilient plate. The body and the resilient plate are located below the connecting head. The body and the resilient plate together define a passageway having an opening in a lower end thereof. The rod is slideable in the passageway in the vertical direction. The resilient plate has a free end with a hook. The hook is spaced from the body by a spacing. At least a portion of the hook extends into the passageway. The hook is releasably engaged with a selected one of the plurality of positioning portions. The resilient plate is operable to disengage the hook from the plurality of positioning portions.
In use, a plurality of hangers is directly and slideably mounted to a track of a window drape. Alternatively, the hanger is mounted to a bottom of a slide to form a slide assembly, and a plurality of the slide assemblies is slideably mounted along the track of the window drape. The engaging portion on each hanger is coupled to one of a plurality of engagement portions of a snap tape that is fixed by sewing to a top edge of a drape of the window drape. A string is extended through the hangers to allow setting of the spacing between the hangers. The snap tape and the drape fixed to the snap tape are substantially S-shaped when viewed from top, providing creasing effect for the drape.
Since the hanger according to the present invention is adjustable, the spacing between the engaging portion and a bottom edge of the track can be changed according to the width of the snap tape. Thus, the hanger according to the present invention can be used with snap tapes of differing widths. Furthermore, the snap tape can be sewn to the top edge of the drape to provide stiffening effect for preventing drooping of the drape, preventing light beams from passing through the drooping portion of the drape, and avoiding weakening of the light-shielding effect of the drape. In a case that a wider snap tape is used to avoid drooping of the drape, the length-adjustable hanger according to the present invention allows use of the wider snap tape. Thus, drooping of the drape is avoided. Furthermore, use of the wider snap tape can provide stiffening effect such that the creasing of the drape can extend to the bottom of the drape, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a slide assembly including a slide and a hanger. The slide includes a sliding portion at an intermediate portion thereof. The sliding portion is adapted to allow the slide to slide along a track of the window drape. The slide includes a connecting portion at a bottom portion thereof. The hanger includes an elongated member having a rod and an engaging portion. The rod includes a side having a plurality of positioning portions spaced in a vertical direction. The engaging portion is formed on a bottom of the rod. The engaging portion is adapted to engage with an engagement portion. The hanger further includes a coupling block having a connecting head connected to the connecting portion of the slide. The coupling block further includes a body and a resilient plate. The body and the resilient plate are located below the connecting head. The body and the resilient plate together define a passageway having an opening in a lower end thereof. The rod is slideable in the passageway in the vertical direction. The resilient plate has a free end with a hook. The hook is spaced from the body by a spacing. At least a portion of the hook extends into the passageway. The hook is releasably engaged with a selected one of the plurality of positioning portions. The resilient plate is operable to disengage the hook from the plurality of positioning portions.
In use, a plurality of the slide assemblies is slideably mounted along the track of the window drape with the engaging portion on each slide assembly coupled to a drape of a window drape. The engaging portion on each slide assembly is coupled to one of a plurality of engagement portions of a snap tape that is fixed by sewing to a top edge of a drape of the window drape. A string is extended through the hangers to allow setting of the spacing between the slide assemblies. The snap tape and the drape fixed to the snap tape are substantially S-shaped when viewed from top, providing creasing effect for the drape.
Since the slide assembly according to the present invention is adjustable, the spacing between the engaging portion and a bottom edge of the track can be changed according to the width of the snap tape. Thus, the slide assembly according to the present invention can be used with snap tapes of differing widths. Furthermore, the snap tape can be sewn to the top edge of the drape to provide stiffening effect for preventing drooping of the drape, preventing light beams from passing through the drooping portion of the drape, and avoiding weakening of the light-shielding effect of the drape. In a case that a wider snap tape is used to avoid drooping of the drape, the length-adjustable slide assembly according to the present invention allows use of the wider snap tape. Thus, drooping of the drape is avoided. Furthermore, use of the wider snap tape can provide stiffening effect such that the creasing of the drape can extend to the bottom of the drape, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.
The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.
With reference to
The hanger 1 further includes a coupling block 12 having a connecting head 121. The coupling block 12 further includes a body 122 and a resilient plate 123. The body 122 and the resilient plate 123 are located below the connecting head 121. The body 122 and the resilient plate 123 together define an elongated passageway 124 having an opening in a lower end thereof. The rod 111 is slideable in the passageway 124 in the vertical direction. The resilient plate 123 has a free end with a hook 125. The hook 125 is spaced from the body 122 by a spacing 126. At least a portion of the hook 125 extends into the passageway 124. The hook 125 is releasably engaged with a selected one of the positioning portions 112. The resilient plate 123 is movable to disengage the hook 125 from the positioning portions 112. Thus, an overall length of the hanger 1 in the vertical direction can be adjusted. It can be appreciated that a root of the resilient plate 123 and a root of the body 122 do not have to be integrally formed with the connecting head 121. The resilient plate 123 and the body 122 can be connected to the connecting head 121 by other provisions. Furthermore, the resilient plate 123 can be of a type and shape different from those shown. The resilient plate 123 provides the required resiliency by its material properties. However, an elastic element such as a spring can be provided at the root of the resilient plate 123 to provide the required resiliency. In the illustrated embodiment, a lateral wall 127 extends from each of two sides of the body 122 to enhance the structural strength.
With reference to
Since the hanger 1 according to the present invention is adjustable in length, the problems encountered in the conventional sliding assemblies due to incapability of adjustment in the length are, thus, avoided.
Specifically, since the hanger 1 according to the present invention is adjustable, the spacing between the engaging portion 113 and a bottom edge of the track 13 can be changed according to the width of the snap tape 115. Thus, the hanger 1 according to the present invention can be used with snap tapes of differing widths. Furthermore, the snap tape 115 can be sewn to the top edge of the drape 116 to provide stiffening effect for preventing drooping of the drape 116, preventing light beams from passing through the drooping portion of the drape 116, and avoiding weakening of the light-shielding effect of the drape 116. In a case that a wider snap tape 115 is used to avoid drooping of the drape, the length-adjustable hanger 1 according to the present invention allows use of the wider snap tape 115. Thus, drooping of the drape is avoided. Furthermore, use of the wider snap tape 115 can provide stiffening effect such that the creasing of the drape 116 can extend to the bottom of the drape 116, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.
It can be appreciated that the hangers 1 shown in
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
With reference to
It can be appreciated that the hanger 1 according to the present invention can be used with slides of other types and sizes, not limited to the slide 21 shown in
With reference to
The slide assembly 3 further includes a hanger 1 includes an elongated member 11. The elongated member 11 includes a rod 111 and an engaging portion 113. The rod 111 includes a side having a plurality of positioning portions 112 spaced in a vertical direction. The engaging portion 113 is formed on a bottom of the rod 111. The engaging portion 113 is adapted to engage with an engagement portion 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the engaging portion 113 is in the form of a ring, and the engagement portion 114 is in the form of a button on a snap tape 115 that can be connected to a top edge of a drape 116 by such as sewing.
The hanger 1 further includes a coupling block 12 having a connecting head 121. The coupling block 12 further includes a body 122 and a resilient plate 123. The body 122 and the resilient plate 123 are located below the connecting head 121. The body 122 and the resilient plate 123 together define an elongated passageway 124 having an opening in a lower end thereof. The rod 111 is slideable in the passageway 124 in the vertical direction. The resilient plate 123 has a free end with a hook 125. The hook 125 is spaced from the body 122 by a spacing 126. At least a portion of the hook 125 extends into the passageway 124. The hook 125 is releasably engaged with a selected one of the positioning portions 112. The resilient plate 123 is movable to disengage the hook 125 from the positioning portions 112. Thus, an overall length of the hanger 1 in the vertical direction can be adjusted. It can be appreciated that a root of the resilient plate 123 and a root of the body 122 do not have to be integrally formed with the connecting head 121. The resilient plate 123 and the body 122 can be connected to the connecting head 121 by other provisions. Furthermore, the resilient plate 123 can be of a type and shape different from those shown. The resilient plate 123 provides the required resiliency by its material properties. However, an elastic element such as a spring can be provided at the root of the resilient plate 123 to provide the required resiliency. In the illustrated embodiment, a lateral wall 127 extends from each of two sides of the body 122 to enhance the structural strength.
With reference to
Since the slide assembly 3 according to the present invention is adjustable in length, the problems encountered in the conventional sliding assemblies due to incapability of adjustment in the length are, thus, avoided.
Specifically, since the slide assembly 3 according to the present invention is adjustable, the spacing between the engaging portion 113 and a bottom edge of the track 13 can be changed according to the width of the snap tape 115. Thus, the slide assembly 3 according to the present invention can be used with snap tapes of differing widths. Furthermore, the snap tape 115 can be sewn to the top edge of the drape 116 to provide stiffening effect for preventing drooping of the drape 116, preventing light beams from passing through the drooping portion of the drape 116, and avoiding weakening of the light-shielding effect of the drape 116. In a case that a wider snap tape 115 is used to avoid drooping of the drape, the length-adjustable slide assembly 3 according to the present invention allows use of the wider snap tape 115. Thus, drooping of the drape is avoided. Furthermore, use of the wider snap tape 115 can provide stiffening effect such that the creasing of the drape 116 can extend to the bottom of the drape 116, providing an aesthetically pleasing effect.
The positioning portions 112 include a plurality of positioning steps. The hook 125 is engaged with a selected one of the positioning steps to adjust the overall length of the slide assembly 3 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, two adjacent positioning steps are connected by an inclined face 117. When the rod 111 is moved upward, the inclined face 117 reduces resistance to the upward movement of the rod 111. Thus, when a worker is installing the slide assembly 3, the worker can adjust the overall length of the slide assembly 3 with one hand such that the other hand of the worker is free to hold other objects or a ladder, providing convenience and enhancing safety during installation.
With reference to
With reference to
The body 122 and the rod 111 respectively include a rib 118 and a groove 119 on two mutually facing sides respectively of the body 122 and the rod 111. The groove 119 extends in a longitudinal side of the rod 111. The rib 118 is slideably received in the groove 119, allowing stable sliding movement of the rod 111.
The body 122 includes an annular rib 129 at the opening of the passageway 124. The annular rib 129 and the body 122 form a through-hole 16 through which the rod 111 extends. In the illustrated embodiment, the through-hole 16 has cross sections corresponding to those of the rod 111, providing stable sliding of the rod 111 in the passageway 124.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
