U.S. patent application number 12/035796 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for apparatus for hanging curtains.
This patent application is currently assigned to SOURCE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES, INC.. Invention is credited to Allan Goldstein.
Application Number | 20080202711 12/035796 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39714560 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080202711 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goldstein; Allan |
August 28, 2008 |
Apparatus for Hanging Curtains
Abstract
Apparatus for attaching a cable for hanging curtains to a
bracket mounted on a wall and for tensioning the cable, has a clamp
mountable on the bracket and a receiver for capturing an end of the
cable. The clamp and receiver can be screwed together to secure the
cable to the bracket while tensioning the cable. For long curtain
spans, a clamp may be mounted on an intermediate bracket with two
receivers attached to and extending from the clamp in opposite
directions for supporting two cables in alignment.
Inventors: |
Goldstein; Allan; (Old
Tappan, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEVINE & MANDELBAUM
444 MADISON AVENUE, 35TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Assignee: |
SOURCE GLOBAL ENTERPRISES,
INC.
Bronx
NY
|
Family ID: |
39714560 |
Appl. No.: |
12/035796 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60891612 |
Feb 26, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/370 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 1/18 20130101; A47H
1/19 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/370 |
International
Class: |
A47H 13/00 20060101
A47H013/00 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for attaching an end of at least one cable, used for
hanging curtains, to a bracket mounted on a wall, and for
tensioning said one cable, comprising, a clamp mountable on said
bracket, a first receiver having an axial bore for receiving said
end of said one cable, and a first cable fastener for capturing
said end of said one cable within said bore, said clamp having a
first clamp connector and said first receiver having a first
receiver connector complementary to said first clamp connector for
connecting said first receiver to said clamp, one of said first
clamp connector and said first receiver connector comprising a
first screw, and the other of said first clamp connector and said
first receiver connector comprising a body with a first cylindrical
bore into which said first screw can be threaded for tensioning
said one cable.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clamp comprises a
circular ring having a central aperture through which a cylindrical
bracket can be passed.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clamp has a
rectangular opening in which a rectangular bracket can be
received.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said clamp comprises a
C-clamp.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first receiver
comprises a first set screw projecting into said axial bore for
engaging and securing said one cable.
6. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising, a second receiver
having an axial bore for receiving one end of a second cable and a
second cable fastener for capturing said one end of said second
cable within said axial bore of said second receiver, said clamp
further having a second clamp connector and said second receiver
having a second receiver connector complementary to said second
clamp connector for connecting said second receiver to said clamp,
one of said second clamp connector and said second receiver
connector comprising a second screw, and the other of said second
clamp connector and said second receiver connector comprising a
body with a second cylindrical bore into which said second screw
can be threaded for tensioning said second cable, whereby said
clamp can be mounted on a single bracket for supporting respective
ends of said one cable and said second cable.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said one of said first
screw and said first cylindrical bore on said clamp and said one of
said second screw and said second cylindrical bore on said clamp
are coaxial and extend in opposite directions.
8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said clamp has a profile
with a one side parallel to a central axis of said first clamp
connector and an opposite side inclined relative to said central
axis of said first clamp connector, the distance between said one
side and said central axis of said first clamp connector enabling
two identical clamps to be placed on a single bracket with said
opposite side of one of said two identical clamps in abutting
relationship with said opposite side of the other of said two
identical clamps and said central axis of said first clamp
connector of said one of said two identical clamps in alignment
with said central axis of said first clamp connector of said other
of said two identical clamps.
9. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the average of the
maximum distance between said one side and said opposite side
measured orthogonally to said one side and the minimum distance
between said one side and said opposite side measured orthogonally
to said one side is equal to the distance between said central axis
of said first clamp connector and said one side measured
orthogonally to said one side.
10. Apparatus for hanging curtains on a wall comprising, a wall
mountable bracket; a first clamp removably mountable on said
bracket, a first cable, a first receiver having an axial bore for
receiving an end of said first cable, and a first cable fastener
for capturing said end of said first cable within said bore, said
first clamp having a first clamp connector and said first receiver
having a first receiver connector complementary to said first clamp
connector for connecting said first receiver to said first clamp,
one of said first clamp connector and said first receiver connector
comprising a first screw, and the other of said first clamp
connector and said first receiver connector comprising a body with
a first cylindrical bore into which said first screw can be
threaded for tensioning said one cable.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bracket has a
cylindrical cross section and said first clamp comprises a circular
ring having a central aperture through which said cylindrical
bracket can be passed.
12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said bracket has a
rectangular cross section said first clamp has a rectangular
opening in which said rectangular bracket can be received.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first clamp
comprises a C-clamp.
14. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first receiver
comprises a first set screw projecting into said axial bore for
engaging and securing said first cable.
15. Apparatus according to claim 10 comprising, a second cable, a
second receiver having an axial bore for receiving one end of said
second cable and a second cable fastener for capturing said one end
of said second cable within said axial bore of said second
receiver, said first clamp further having a second clamp connector
and said second receiver having a second receiver connector
complementary to said second clamp connector for connecting said
second receiver to said first clamp, one of said second clamp
connector and said second receiver connector comprising a second
screw, and the other of said second clamp connector and said second
receiver connector comprising a body with a second cylindrical bore
into which said second screw can be threaded for tensioning said
second cable, whereby said first clamp can be mounted on a single
bracket for supporting respective ends of said first cable and said
second cable.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said one of said first
screw and said first cylindrical bore on said first clamp and said
one of said second screw and said second cylindrical bore on said
first clamp are coaxial and extend in opposite directions.
17. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said first clamp has a
profile with a one side parallel to a central axis of said first
clamp connector and an opposite side inclined relative to said
central axis of said first clamp connector, and further comprising
a second clamp identical to said first clamp, said first and second
clamps being on a single bracket in abutment with one another with
the central axes of their respective first clamp connectors in
axial alignment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to apparatus, for hanging
curtains in front of a wall or window, including a cable from which
the curtains may be hung, either directly or by means of rings,
hooks, clips or other known curtain fasteners. More specifically,
the invention provides for hanging a supplemental set of curtains
on a cable supported on conventional brackets which are used to
mount a conventional curtain rod in front of a wall or window.
[0002] It is known in the art to hang curtains in front of a wall
or window by means of a rigid or telescoping rod mounted on
brackets which are screwed to and extend outwardly from the surface
of a wall above the area to be covered by the curtains. It is also
known to hang more than one set of curtains, each with its own
curtain rod, by supporting the rods in parallel spaced relationship
on a common set of brackets which are screwed to and extend
outwardly from the surface of a wall above the area to be covered
by the curtains.
[0003] The use of a cable as a substitute for a rigid or
telescoping rod for hanging curtains has recently become popular.
There are different requirements for supporting curtains on a
flexible cable, which must be tensioned to prevent sagging under
the weight of the curtains, versus the use of a rigid or
telescoping rod which need only be supported at its ends, and
possibly at one or more intermediate points in the case of very
long rods.
[0004] Until the present invention, when two sets of curtains were
to be hung, one in front of the other, and one set was to be
suspended from a rigid or telescoping rod while the other set was
to be suspended from a flexible cable, separate sets of brackets
were required, i.e., cable brackets and rod brackets. This required
drilling the wall in separate locations for each set of
brackets.
[0005] In addition to the damage which is done to the walls, and
the cost of the additional brackets, there are further
disadvantages to the necessity for two sets of brackets. The
elevations of each set of curtains, not only with respect to the
adjacent window, floor or ceiling, but also with respect to each
other, can be critical to achieving an aesthetically pleasing
appearance. Also, multiple sets of brackets, particularly in
crowded installations, can interfere with one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention overcomes the aforementioned
shortcomings of prior art curtain cable mounting systems in
providing an adapter mountable on a conventional curtain rod
bracket for tautly supporting a cable whereby a first set of
curtains can be mounted on a rigid or telescoping rod supported by
a pair of brackets and a second set of curtains can hung from a
cable connected to adapters which are, in turn, respectively
mounted on the brackets.
[0007] In a first embodiment of the invention, suitable for use
with cylindrical curtain rod support brackets, each adapter is in
the form of a closed ring having a cylindrical opening
substantially congruent to a cross section of the curtain rod
bracket transverse to the axis of the bracket. Each adapter used to
support an end of a cable has a single screw projecting radially
from its outer circumference for receiving a cable retainer having
a threaded cylindrical bore complementary to the threads on the
screw of the adapter, the cable retainer further having a narrower
bore for snugly receiving an end of the cable which is secured to
the cable retainer by one or more set screws.
[0008] For curtains having a long enough span to require an
intermediate bracket for supporting a correspondingly long curtain
rod (or the ends of two or more curtain rods coaxially mounted
end-to-end) an adapter is provided in the form of a closed ring
with two screws projecting in diametrically opposite directions
from the outer circumference of the ring. Each screw can receive a
cable retainer as described above. That is, two cables can be
supported end-to-end, with their innermost ends secured in
respective cable retainers that can be threaded onto the oppositely
projecting screws of a single ring adapter.
[0009] In a further embodiment of the invention, the rings from
which the adapters are formed can be tapered so that two such
rings, each with only one projecting screw, can be mounted on a
common intermediate bracket side-by-side with their respective
screws projecting in diametrically opposite directions while
maintaining coaxial alignment. In this way two or more cables may
be mounted end-to-end and in alignment. A single adapter design can
suffice for use singly at either end of the curtain span and, in
pairs, at each intermediate support bracket.
[0010] The apparatus of the invention is not limited to brackets
having cylindrical members. In still another embodiment of the
invention, instead of a circular ring, the adapter is in the form
of a squared off or rectangular C-clamp for mounting on a
conventional right angle wall bracket. For use at the end of a
curtain span, one of two parallel legs of each C-clamp is provided
with a transversely outwardly projecting screw for receiving a
cable retainer as described above. For use on an intermediately
placed bracket, each of the two parallel legs of each C-clamp can
be provided with a transversely outwardly projecting screw, the
oppositely pointing screws being in coaxial alignment for
supporting two respective cables end-to-end and in mutual
alignment.
[0011] Finally, as in the case of the circular ring adapters
described above, each C-clamp having a single screw can have a
tapered width whereby two such C-clamps, each with only one
projecting screw, can be mounted side-by-side on a common
intermediate bracket with their respective screws projecting in
diametrically opposite directions while maintaining coaxial
alignment in order to enable two or more cables to be mounted
end-to-end in mutual alignment. A single C-clamp adapter design can
suffice for use at either end of the curtain span, and, by doubling
up into pairs, at each intermediate flat support bracket.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an apparatus for hanging
curtains in accordance with the prior art.
[0013] FIG. 2a is a front elevation view of another apparatus for
hanging curtains in accordance with the prior art.
[0014] FIG. 2b is a top plan view of said another apparatus for
hanging curtains in accordance with the prior art.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging
curtains in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention.
[0016] FIG. 4a is a side elevation view of an adapter for use in
the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 4b is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG.
4a.
[0018] FIG. 5a is a side elevation view of another adapter for use
in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0019] FIG. 5b is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in FIG.
5a.
[0020] FIG. 6a is a side elevation view of a cable retainer for use
in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 6b is an end view of the cable retainer shown in FIG.
6a from one end of said cable retainer.
[0022] FIG. 6c is an end view of the cable retainer shown in FIG.
6a from an opposite end of said cable retainer.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing, in part, how to
assemble the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a
first embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of supplemental components for use
in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with said first
embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 9a is a side elevation view of a modified adapter for
use in the apparatus shown in FIG. 8.
[0026] FIG. 9b is a top view of the modified adapter shown in FIG.
9a.
[0027] FIG. 9c is a perspective view of the modified adapter shown
in FIG. 9a.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of supplemental components for
use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a
second embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 11a is a top view of an adapter for use in the
apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the second
embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 11b is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in
FIG. 11a.
[0031] FIG. 12a is a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown
in FIG. 10.
[0032] FIG. 12b is a side elevation view of the portion of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 12a.
[0033] FIG. 13a is a top view of another adapter for use in the
apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the second
embodiment of the invention.
[0034] FIG. 13b is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in
FIG. 13a.
[0035] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging
curtains in accordance with a third embodiment of the
invention.
[0036] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a portion of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 14.
[0037] FIG. 16 is an assembled view of the portion of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 15.
[0038] FIG. 17a is a side elevation view of a portion of the
apparatus shown in FIG. 14.
[0039] FIG. 17b is a bottom view of the portion of the apparatus
shown in FIG. 17a.
[0040] FIG. 18 is a bottom view of two modified adapters as they
are to be placed side by side.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a
prior art cable support system for curtains having a cable 1 each
end of which is clamped within a holder 3 mounted on a base 5. The
bases 5 are, in turn, affixed to parallel facing wall surfaces 7,
for example, by a screw passed through the a center opening in each
base (not shown).
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b, in another prior art cable
support system for curtains, for use in environments where the use
of facing walls for supporting cable brackets is not feasible, end
brackets 11 are mounted on a wall in front of which the curtains
are to be hung. Each bracket 11 has a base 13, a spacer 15 and a
holder 17 for a cable 9. For long curtain spans, a central bracket
12 may be used to support an intermediate portion of the cable
9.
[0043] The prior art cable mounting systems shown in FIGS. 1 and
2a,b must be used independently of, and in addition to, any other
brackets which may be present for supporting a conventional rigid
or telescoping curtain rod.
[0044] Turning now to FIG. 3 of the drawings, there is shown a
cable support system in accordance with a first preferred
embodiment of the invention. Two conventional cylindrical brackets
21 are mounted on a wall 23 for supporting a rigid or telescoping
curtain rod 25 as is known in the art. Circumscribing each bracket
21 is a clamp in the form of a circular ring adapter 26 as
illustrated in FIGS. 4a,b and 5a,b. Connected to each ring adapter
is a receiver in the form of a cable retainer 27, best seen in
FIGS. 6a-c, which is secured to an end of the cable 29.
[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 4a,b-5a,b, each ring adapter 26 is in
the generally shape of the locus of a rectangle spaced from and
rotated about a parallel axis through the center of the ring.
Extending from the outer circumference of each ring adapter 26 in a
radial direction is a clamp connector in the form of a screw
31.
[0046] Turning now to FIGS. 6a-c, each cable retainer 27 is in the
shape of a hollow stepped cylinder as seen in FIG. 6a. The cable
retainer 27 has a narrow length 30 running inwardly from one end
with an outer diameter and inner diameter less than the respective
outer diameter and inner diameter of the remaining wider length 32
which runs inwardly from the opposite end of the cable retainer.
The narrow length 30 and wider length 32 are connected at a sloped
circular region 34 of the exterior of the cable retainer 27.
[0047] A receiver connector in the form of a hollow bore 36 in the
wider length of the body of the cable retainer 27 has a diameter
and is threaded complementary to the diameter and thread of the
screw 31 on the adapter 26 whereby the cable retainer can be
threaded onto the screw 31 for being affixed to the adapter 26 and
the bracket 11 on which the adapter 26 is mounted.
[0048] The narrow length 30 of the cable retainer 27 has an axial
bore 38 with a diameter only slightly greater than the diameter of
the cable 9 for enabling an end of the cable 9 to be snugly
received therewithin. Two set screws 40 threaded into apertures
penetrating the full thickness of the circular wall of the narrow
length 30 of the cable retainer 27 can be tightened to secure an
end of the cable 9 within the cable retainer 27.
[0049] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
invention, the narrow length 30 of the cable retainer 27, proximate
the sloped circular region 34 of the cable retainer 27 is provided
with diametrically opposite holes 42 which fully penetrate the
circular wall of the narrow length of the cable retainer 27. An
Allen wrench 45 sized to fit the set screws 40 can be passed
through the holes 42 thereby enabling the Allen wrench to be used
as a lever for rotating either or both cable retainers 27 to
tension the attached cable by threading each cable retainer 27
further onto its respective screw 31 as shown in FIG. 7.
[0050] In order to minimize twisting of the cable during tightening
of the cable retainers 27, the cable 9 may be pretwisted before
attachment of its ends to its cable retainers 27 in a direction
such that as the cable retainers 33 are tightened onto the screws
31, the cable 9 will untwist. Alternatively, the screw 31 on an
adapter used to secure one end of a cable can be provided with a
thread opposite in direction to the thread on the adapter screw 31
used to secure the opposite end of the cable. With this type of
arrangement, the retainers can be rotated, one clockwise and the
other counterclockwise, for tensioning the cable without twisting
the cable.
[0051] In use, the cable(s) 9 can be passed through a channel sewn
into a curtain rod before being screwed onto the adapters 26.
Alternatively, curtain rings or hooks may be passed over the ends
of and onto the cable.
[0052] Referring now to FIG. 8, where curtains having a long span
are to be hung, and an intermediate bracket 51 is wall mounted
intermediate end brackets 11, an adapter 52 similar to the ones
shown if FIGS. 4a,b and 5a,b, but having two screws 53 extending in
diametrically opposite directions (see FIGS. 9a-c) can be used.
[0053] Another embodiment of the invention will now be described
with reference to FIGS. 10-13b. Here each adapter 61 has a tapered
width. A single adapter 61 can be used on each end bracket 11. Two
of the same adapters 61 may be placed side-by-side on the same
intermediate bracket with their respective single screws 63
extending in diametrically opposite and coaxial directions as best
seen in FIGS. 10 and 12a,b.
[0054] The adapter clamp 61 has a profile with a one side parallel
to a central axis of the clamp connector screw 63 and an opposite
tapered side inclined relative to the central axis of screw 63. The
distance between the central axis of the screw 63 and parallel side
64 of the clamp body is such as to enable two identical clamps to
be placed on a single bracket with the tapered sides 66 of each
clamp in abutting relationship, and said central axes of the clamp
connector screws 63 in mutual alignment The average of the maximum
and minimum distances between sides 64 and 66 measured orthogonally
to the side 66 is equal to the distance between the central axis of
each clamp connector screw 63 and the parallel clamp profile side
64.
[0055] The invention is not limited to circular brackets. By using
an appropriately shaped adapter, a cable may be mounted on an
existing conventional flat bracket extending from a wall.
[0056] Referring now to FIGS. 14-16, there is shown a curtain
installation with conventional right angle wall brackets 65
including a forward projecting member 67 having a substantially
rectangular cross section with a channel for receiving a slider 69
terminating in a U-shaped holder 71 for receiving a curtain rod
73.
[0057] There is removably mounted on the slider 69 of the bracket
65, as shown in FIG. 14, an adapter 75 in the form of a squared off
or rectangular C-clamp 61. Each of two parallel members of the
C-clamp 61 has a lip 77 for forming a channel 79 having a width
substantially equal to the width of the slider 69. The other
parallel member of the C-clamp 75 is apertured for receiving a set
screw 81 that can be tightened against the slider 69 for securing
the C-clamp adapter 75 to the bracket 65.
[0058] The C-clamp 75 is shown in FIGS. 17a and b. For use on
intermediate brackets, the C-clamp 75 can have two screws
projecting in opposite directions while maintaining coaxial
alignment. Alternatively, each C-clamp can be tapered whereby two
such C-clamps, each with a single screw can be mounted side-by-side
with their screws directed in opposite directions while also
maintaining coaxial alignment as shown in FIG. 18.
[0059] It is to be appreciated that the ring and C-clamp described
above, in their several forms, are two of many possible variations
of adapters that can be attached to a bracket for a rigid or
telescoping curtain rod, for supporting a curtain cable without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example,
instead of the screw being on a clamp for being threaded into a
receiver, the clamp may be provided with a threaded bore in a wall
of its body for receiving the threads of a screw extending from the
receiver.
* * * * *