Split Grommets For Curtains

Abstract

Curtain grommets that can be easily installed on curtain rods are described. Each grommet includes a front split ring and a rear split ring forming a grommet split at the top that is aligned with a split or gap in the curtain at or above the grommet. Each split grommet is sufficiently flexible to allow the grommet to be installed on the rod without the necessity of stringing the grommets from the end of the rod or removing the rod from its mounting brackets. A liner hook may be attached to the bottom of the split grommet, for example, on the rear ring, and may be rotatable from an extended position for supporting a curtain liner to a flattened or stowed position for packaging, storage and transportation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to curtain grommets, and more particularly relates to split-ring curtain grommets that may also include hooks for hanging curtain liners.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Shower curtains and window curtains have been provided with grommets near the upper edges that can be strung onto curtain rods without the necessity of separate hooks or rings. However, a need exists for curtain grommets that are easy to install quickly, and which also support curtain liners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides curtain grommets that can be easily installed on curtain rods. Each grommet is split at the top and may be aligned with a gap or split in the curtain adjacent to the grommet. Each split grommet is sufficiently flexible to allow the grommet to be installed on the rod without the necessity of stringing the grommets from the end of the rod or removing the rod from its mounting brackets.

An aspect of the present invention is to provide a curtain and grommet assembly comprising a curtain and multiple curtain grommets secured adjacent to an upper edge of the curtain. Each curtain grommet comprises a front ring contacting a front of the curtain and having a front split portion at an upper end thereof, a rear ring contacting a rear surface of the curtain and having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof, multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings and through the curtain structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together with a portion of the curtain located between the front and rear rings, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet that is aligned with an adjacent split in the curtain, and a liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a split curtain grommet for attachment to a curtain comprising a front ring having a front split portion at an upper end thereof, a rear ring having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof, multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet, and a liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a portion of a curtain having split grommets supported on a curtain rod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially schematic isometric view showing a portion of a curtain having a split grommet supported on a curtain rod and a portion of a curtain liner supported by a hook attached to the grommet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are front and rear isometric views, respectively, of a split curtain grommet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view,

FIG. 6 is a rear view,

FIG. 7 is a side view,

FIG. 8 is a top view and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the split curtain grommet shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view and

FIG. 11 is an exploded side view of the split curtain grommet shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 12 is a rear view similar to the rear view of FIG. 6 showing a liner hook of the split grommet rotated from an extended position shown in FIG. 6 to a flat position shown in FIG. 12 for purposes of packaging and storage of the curtain grommet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an angled front view and

FIG. 14 is an isometric rear view of a split curtain grommet in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a curtain 5 is supported on a curtain rod 7 by means of split curtain grommets 10. Each grommet 10 has a vertical split 12 at the top thereof that is vertically aligned with a split 6 in the curtain 5. The splits 6 in the curtain 5 may extend vertically above the grommets 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or may not extend above the grommets in embodiments in which the upper edge of the curtain does not extend above the upper portions of the grommets 10. As shown in FIG. 2, each grommet 10 has a liner hook 40 for supporting a curtain liner 8 by means of liner grommets 9 installed on the liner hook 40.

The curtain 5 may be a window curtain, shower curtain, or the like, and may be made of any suitable type of material. The liner 8 may be a shower curtain liner of any suitable design and material, such as a conventional water-impermeable plastic film or water-resistant or impermeable fabric layer. Alternatively, the liner 8 may be provided in the form of a window curtain liner that may provide additional light blocking for a window curtain. The curtain 5 may be of any suitable length, width and thickness, and any suitable number of grommets may be used.

FIGS. 3-12 illustrate various features of a split curtain grommet 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The split curtain grommet 10 includes a front ring 20 having a front face 21 and a rear face 22. In the embodiment shown, optional rear recesses 23 are provided in the rear face 22 of the front ring 20. As shown most clearly in FIGS. 4, 10 and 11, multiple connecting pins 24 extend rearwardly from the rear face 22 of the front ring 20. As more fully described below, the connecting pins 24 engage within aligned pin-receiving holes 34 in a rear ring 30. The front ring 20 includes an interior annular ring 25 that forms the inner diameter of the front ring 20 as well as the overall inner diameter of the split curtain grommet 10. A vertical split 26 is provided at the top of the front ring 20 and is aligned with a vertical split 36 in the rear ring 30 to provide the vertical split 12 in the curtain grommet 10. The front ring 20 has a radial outer edge 27 forming an outer diameter of the front ring 20.

The rear ring 30 of the split curtain grommet 10 has a rear face 31, a front face 32, and an inner diameter 33. Multiple pin-receiving holes 34 extend between the rear and front faces 31 and 32 of the rear ring 30, and are aligned with the connecting pins 24 of the front ring 20 when the front and rear rings are assembled together. In the embodiment shown, each hole 34 has a portion having a diameter similar to that of the corresponding pin 24, and a countersunk portion having a larger diameter. However, each hole 34 may alternatively have a constant diameter along its entire length. The rear ring 30 has a radial outer peripheral edge 35 forming the outer dimeter of the rear ring 30 as well as the outer diameter of the split curtain grommet 10. A hook support projection 37 is provided at the bottom of the rear ring 30 extending horizontally outward from the rear face 31. The hook support projection 37 includes a retaining hole 38 and a retaining slot 39.

A liner hook 40 is connected to the rear ring 30 by engagement with the hook support projection 37. The liner hook 40 includes a hook end 41 and an attachment end 42 having a retaining pin 43 with flexible attachment fingers extending therefrom. The resilient fingers of the retaining pin 43 can be pinched inwardly toward each other when the attachment end 42 of the liner hook 40 is inserted in the hole 38 of the hook support projection 37. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-12, the liner hook 40 is rotatably mounted in the hook support projection 37 of the rear ring 30. As most clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 12, the liner hook 40 can rotate around a vertical axis from the extended position shown in FIG. 6 to a flattened position shown in FIG. 12 in which the hook 40 lies in a plane that is substantially parallel with a plane defined by the rear face 32 of the rear ring 30. The flattened or stowed positions of the hooks 40 facilitates packaging, storage and transportation of the grommets 10 and curtains 5. Alternatively, a non-rotatable or stationary liner hook may be used, or the liner hook may be eliminated as described below.

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of a split curtain grommet 110 without a liner hook. The split curtain grommet 110 may be similar to the split curtain grommet 10 shown in FIGS. 3-12, except the hook support projection 37 and liner hook 40 are eliminated.

The grommet 10 may be relatively large in size and its upper split 12 or gap may be aligned with the split 6 or gap in a portion of the curtain 5 located at or above the grommet 10. In the embodiments shown, the top split 12 of the grommet 10 typically has a slight gap, e.g., from 0.1 to 2 or 3 mm, or from 0.5 to 1 or 1.5 mm. However, any other suitable size gap may be used, or a slit may be provided in which the opposing slit faces contact each other. The split 6 or cut in the curtain 5 above the gap or split 12 of the grommet 10 may be made by any suitable means such as scissors, knives, laser cutting and the like. The fabric may be heat sealed, or may be sewn or otherwise finished.

When the front and rear rings 20 and 30 of the grommet 10 are snapped together or otherwise attached to each other, only the exterior surfaces 21 and 31 may be visible after the grommet 10 is installed on a curtain 5, i.e., the interior surfaces 22 and 32 may be hidden.

The front 20 and rear 30 rings of the grommet 10 are attached to each other by inserting the pins 24 of the front ring 20 into the corresponding holes 34 of the rear ring 30. A snap-fit may be provided in which the front 20 and rear 30 rings of the grommet 10 are secured together through contact between the pins 24 and corresponding circular holes 34. Although cylindrical pins 24 and holes 34 are shown in the figures, any other suitable shapes and configurations may be used in place of, or in addition to, the pins 24 and holes 34. For example, the pins and holes may be square, slots, arched sections or the like.

During installation of the grommets 10 on a curtain 5, the curtain 5 may be cut to provide holes having diameters that are larger than the inner diameter of the grommet 10 but smaller than the outer diameter of the grommet 10. The curtain fabric thus does not extend into the interior circle of the grommet 10, but may be clamped or otherwise secured between the front 20 and rear 30 rings of the grommet 10. In certain embodiments, the curtain fabric extends radially inward of the pins 24 and holes 34 of the grommet 10, and small holes, cuts or punctures may be provided in the fabric to allow the pins 24 to pass therethrough and engage with the circular holes 34. Such cuts made to the curtain fabric may be made by any suitable means, and may typically be made prior to installation of the front 20 and rear 30 rings of the grommet 10 onto the curtain 5.

The grommets 10 may be made of any suitable materials that are sufficiently flexible to allow the grommet 10 to flex in order to be installed on a rod 7, but which have sufficient structural integrity to retain the grommets on the rod under the weight of a curtain 5. For example, the grommets 10 may be made of plastic, metalized plastic, or the like.

As used herein, “including,” “containing” and like terms are understood in the context of this application to be synonymous with “comprising” and are therefore open-ended and do not exclude the presence of additional undescribed or unrecited elements, materials, phases or method steps. As used herein, “consisting of” is understood in the context of this application to exclude the presence of any unspecified element, material, phase or method step. As used herein, “consisting essentially of” is understood in the context of this application to include the specified elements, materials, phases, or method steps, where applicable, and to also include any unspecified elements, materials, phases, or method steps that do not materially affect the basic or novel characteristics of the invention.

In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural and plural encompasses singular, unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, in this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless specifically stated otherwise, even though “and/or” may be explicitly used in certain instances. In this application and the appended claims, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for 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.

Claims

1. A curtain and grommet assembly comprising: a curtain; andmultiple curtain grommets secured adjacent to an upper edge of the curtain, wherein each curtain grommet comprises: a front ring contacting a front of the curtain and having a front split portion at an upper end thereof;a rear ring contacting a rear surface of the curtain and having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof;multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings and through the curtain structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together with a portion of the curtain located between the front and rear rings, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet that is aligned with an adjacent split in the curtain; anda liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the liner hook is attached to the rear ring.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the liner hook is rotatably mounted on the rear ring.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the liner hook is rotatable around a vertical axis.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the liner hook is rotatable from an extended position structured and arranged to receive and support a liner to a flattened position in a plane substantially parallel with a plane defined by a rear face of the rear ring.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the rear ring comprises a hook support projection extending rearwardly away from the rear face of the rear ring, and the liner hook comprises an attachment end inserted in the hook support projection.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the attachment end of the hook comprises deformable opposing fingers contacting and retained within the hook support projection.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are vertically aligned.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the split in the curtain comprises a vertical slit in the curtain.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the vertical slit in the curtain extends vertically upward from a top portion of the grommet to an upper edge of the curtain.

11. A split curtain grommet for attachment to a curtain, the split curtain grommet comprising: a front ring having a front split portion at an upper end thereof;a rear ring having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof;multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet; anda liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet.

12. The split curtain grommet of claim 11, wherein the liner hook is attached to the rear ring.

13. The split curtain grommet of claim 12, wherein the liner hook is rotatably mounted on the rear ring.

14. The split curtain grommet of claim 13, wherein the liner hook is rotatable around a vertical axis.

15. The split curtain grommet of claim 11, wherein the liner hook is rotatable from an extended position structured and arranged to receive and support a liner to a flattened position in a plane substantially parallel with a plane defined by a rear face of the rear ring.

16. The split curtain grommet of claim 15, wherein the rear ring comprises a hook support projection extending rearwardly away from the rear face of the rear ring, and the liner hook comprises an attachment end inserted in the hook support projection.

17. The split curtain grommet of claim 16, wherein the attachment end of the hook comprises deformable opposing fingers contacting and retained within the hook support projection.

18. The split curtain grommet of claim 11, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are vertically aligned.

19. The split curtain grommet of claim 11, wherein the multiple pins extend from the front ring and are received in holes in the rear ring.

20. The split curtain grommet of claim 19, wherein the pins are cylindrical.