The present invention relates to shower curtain hooks.
Glide hooks for slidably attaching a shower curtain to a rod have been in the market for many years. One well-known type of hook employs a spring concept similar to that of a safety pin, wherein a portion of the hook is depressed into the interior area of the hook and allowed to spring back to engage another portion of the hook.
When one opens the hook to put it over a tension rod, the sharp edge of the depression portion of the hook can and frequently does scratch the finish on the shower rod. As a result, given normal humid bathroom conditions, this scratch can cause a rust line on the rod.
In one aspect of the present invention a shower curtain hook includes a hoop portion, a lower portion, a hinge coupling a first end of the hoop portion to a first end of the lower portion, and a clasp for coupling a second end of the lower portion to a second end the hoop portion.
These and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.
In one embodiment shown in
The hinge includes a pin, stud, rivet or other fastening device 26 connecting first and second generally planar surfaces 28, 30 of the ends of the hoop portion and the lower portion. The generally planar surfaces 28, 30 lie in adjacent planes that are substantially parallel to or co-planar with the plane of the hook. The generally planar surfaces 28, 30 are configured to slide with respect to each other to allow of opening of clasp, as the hoop portion and/or the lower portion pivot around the fastening device.
By constructing the hinge of two generally planar surfaces that are held together but allowed to slide with respect to each other, the components of the hook remain in substantially the same plane when the hook is opened and closed. Thus, the protrusion and depression in the clasp will engage when the clasp is closed.
As can be seen from the figures, the second end of the lower portion moves away from the second end the hoop portion when the clasp opens. Stated another way, the second end of the lower portion moves in a direction away from an interior area of the hook when the clasp opens. Thus no part of the lower portion protrudes into the interior region of the hook when the hook is being mounted on a rod.
As shown in the figures, the glide hook can have a hinge on one side of the lower portion and a clasp on the other side. However, other arrangements are possible. For example, the lower portion need not be V-shaped or U-shaped and the hinge could be located near the bottom of the hook or along the same side of the hook as the clasp. In order to install the glide hook, one opens the clasp, places the hook over the rod, and then closes the hinged hook.
The hook can be constructed of a corrosion resistant material such as, for example, stainless steel, aluminum, coated steel, plastic, etc.
While the described embodiment shows a particular type of hinge and clasp, the invention is not limited to any particular type of hinge or clasp. Other known types of hinges or clasps can be utilized in various embodiments of the hook. In addition, the placement of the hinge is not limited to the location illustrated in the drawings. The hinge can be positioned to allow the lower portion to swing away from hoop portion, thereby opening the hook to facilitate placement of a curtain rod, while reducing the probability of scratching the rod.
Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for the purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/448,242 filed Mar. 2, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61448242 | Mar 2011 | US |