U.S. patent application number 14/368780 was filed with the patent office on 2014-12-25 for removable attachment and associated telescopic rod.
The applicant listed for this patent is MOBOIS (SARL). Invention is credited to Jean-Marc Morel.
Application Number | 20140374367 14/368780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47884387 |
Filed Date | 2014-12-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140374367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Morel; Jean-Marc |
December 25, 2014 |
REMOVABLE ATTACHMENT AND ASSOCIATED TELESCOPIC ROD
Abstract
The present invention concerns a removable fixing device for a
telescopic rail comprising an internal spring (3) and intended to
support a curtain on a window or door frame (4), said fixing
comprising in particular a lug (5) for attachment on the frame (4)
and separation from the pane, and means of connection with one end
of said rail, said connecting means being independent of the lug
(5). According to the invention, said connecting means comprise at
least a first holding element (61) and and a second holding element
(62), each element cooperating with the internal wall of the free
end of one of the tubes (1, 2) forming the telescopic rails and
with the internal part of an end piece (7, 9) intended to cover the
free end of said rail.
Inventors: |
Morel; Jean-Marc; (Vouglans,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MOBOIS (SARL) |
Vouglans |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
47884387 |
Appl. No.: |
14/368780 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2013/050288 |
371 Date: |
June 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/105.3 ;
248/208 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 1/142 20130101;
A47H 1/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/105.3 ;
248/208 |
International
Class: |
A47H 1/142 20060101
A47H001/142; A47H 1/022 20060101 A47H001/022 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 13, 2012 |
EP |
12 155 127.9 |
Claims
1. Fixing device for a telescopic rail comprising an internal
spring and adapted to support a curtain on a frame of an opening
such as a window or door, said fixing device comprising a lug for
attachment on the frame and means for connection with one end of
said rail, said connection means being independent of said lug,
wherein said connection means comprises at least one first holding
element and a second holding element, each element cooperating with
the inner wall of the free end of one of the tubes forming the
telescopic rail and with the inner wall of an end piece intended to
cover the free end of said rail, and in that the first holding
element has an outside diameter different from that of the second
holding element.
2. Fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the end piece and
the connecting means are in a single piece.
3. Fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the end piece
comprises an at least partially cylindrical element intended to
extend said telescopic rail longitudinally.
4. Fixing device according to claim 1, further comprising a
cylindrical connecting piece externally surrounded by said first
and said second holding elements and allowing for the first and
second holding elements to be aligned coaxially, said cylindrical
piece having two zones having two different outside diameters and
comprising at least one collar disposed between said two zones.
5. Fixing device according to claim 4, wherein said cylindrical
piece further comprises at each end a collar for holding the
elastic elements.
6. Fixing device according claim 1, wherein the first and/or second
holding element or elements comprises a ring having at least one
longitudinal slot over part of its length.
7. Fixing device according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or
second holding element or elements comprise a cylindrical
compression draw spring.
8. Fixing device according to claim 1, wherein part of said fixing
lug cooperates with said connecting means, through a contact
situated between the first and second holding elements.
9. Telescopic rail cooperating with at least two fixing devices
according to claim 1, wherein the telescopic rail comprises two
rigid tubes that fit one in the other, and wherein said internal
spring is a self-locking compression draw spring housed inside said
tubes at the overlapping ends thereof.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the field of fixing systems for
rails, in particular telescopic, for attaching curtains, drapes or
other elements to a door, window or other element having a rigid
frame.
[0002] It is a case in fact of removably, that is to say reversibly
and non-definitively, fixing a rail to such a frame. The rail is
telescopic in that it comprises an inner rigid tube able to slide
axially in an outer coaxial rigid tube. The tubes overlap over part
of their length, at the middle part of the rail once extended. The
rail may also comprise a compression spring disposed inside the
tubes or a spring system to be screwed, at the middle overlap of
the tubes.
[0003] Many systems for fixing such rails are known and appreciated
by the user since they make it possible to fix the rails without
nails or screws or other equivalent system. They in fact allow
fixing by simple screwing or extending of the two tubes with
respect to each other.
PRIOR ART
[0004] In the document FR 2 779 335, a removable fixing device of
this type is described, comprising a lug for attachment to the
frame and separation from the pane as well as means for connection
with one end of the rail, which remains held in place by virtue of
the elastic force of a compression spring that locks the end fixing
devices against the frame. Characteristically, the connection means
comprise an end piece secured to the attachment lug and adapted to
be able to fit freely on the end of the rail.
[0005] Thus the end piece and the support are integral whatever the
embodiments of this invention. In addition, the fixing lugs delimit
the distance over which the curtain can be supported. However, the
lugs in no way project beyond the window frame, in particular for
reasons of balancing the forces applied, and the curtain will also
not project. This constitutes a drawback, in particular of
aesthetic nature but also of a functional nature since a curtain
(carried by such a rail) is above all intended to mask an opening,
including the frame. This prior art does not permit this.
[0006] The patent application FR 2 653 838 is also known, which
concerns a fixing device and rail of this type in which the end
fixing lug has an attachment point and a point bearing on the
frame. A multiplicity of operations is necessary to manufacture and
assemble each of the parts constituting this rail. In addition,
since the fixing device is secured to the rail, unscrewing and
reassembling by screw are necessary when a curtain is fitted with
this type of rail.
[0007] The patent application FR 2 853 218 is also known, which can
be considered to be an improvement to the subject matter of the
application FR 2 779 335, which has the drawback of being able to
be positioned according the thickness of the frame. In order to
overcome this drawback the subject matter of patent application FR
2 853 218 provides fixing means of a very specific form, designed
so that the position of the fixing device is independent of the
thickness of the frame. Thus the essential part of this fixing
device, namely the connection means, must be manufactured according
to a close shape and tight tolerances. Yet again the fixing means
delimit the maximum extension dimension of the curtain, which does
not project beyond the window frame.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art
and in particular to propose a removable fixing device for a
telescopic rail that is simple to manufacture and mount, and which
largely masks the opening, including the frame.
[0009] To do this, according to a first aspect of the invention, a
removable fixing device is proposed for a telescopic rail
comprising an internal spring and intended to support a curtain on
a frame of an opening such as a window or door, said fixing device
comprising in particular a lug for attachment on the frame and
means for connection with one end of said rail, said connection
means being independent of said lug. According to the invention,
said connection means comprise at least one first holding element
and a second holding element, each element cooperating with the
inner wall of the free end of one of the tubes forming the
telescopic rail and with the inner wall of an end piece intended to
cover the free end of said rail; advantageously, the first holding
element has an outside diameter different from that of the second
holding element.
[0010] The frame may concern a window, a door or an opening in
general whenever it is a case of masking or decorating such
elements by a means such as a curtain, drape or the like.
[0011] The present invention makes it possible to adapt the holding
elements indifferently to one end or the other of the telescopic
rail.
[0012] According to one of the embodiments of the invention, the
end piece and the connecting means are in a single piece. They form
a kind of rivet fitted on the free end of at least one of the tubes
forming the telescopic rail.
[0013] Moreover, the end piece of the rail may comprise an at least
partially cylindrical element intended to longitudinally extend
said telescopic rail. This aspect makes it possible advantageously
to deploy the curtain supported by the rail thus fixed, over a
length comprising the opening as well as at least part of the frame
of the opening in question.
[0014] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the
outside diameters of the holding elements may be identical.
[0015] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the
fixing device comprises a cylindrical connecting piece externally
surrounded by said first and second elastic elements and making it
possible to align them coaxially, said cylindrical piece having two
zones having two different outside diameters and comprising at
least one collar disposed between said two zones. In particular,
said cylindrical piece also has at each end a collar for holding
the elastic elements.
[0016] More precisely, the first and/or second holding element or
elements consists of a ring having at least one longitudinal slot
over part of the length thereof.
[0017] Without departing from the context of the invention, the
first and/or second holding element or elements may consist of a
cylindrical compression draw spring.
[0018] These various embodiments of the ring or rings may coexist
in order to form a fixing device according to the invention.
[0019] Interestingly, the fixing lug cooperates with the connection
means through a contact situated between the first and second
holding elements. An opening in the lug is advantageously provided
for this purpose. The opening may be provided with a thread in
which the connecting means is screwed.
[0020] The invention also relates to a telescopic rail cooperating
with at least two fixing systems and comprising two rigid tubes
that can be fitted one in the other, said internal spring being a
self-locking compression draw spring housed inside said tubes at
the overlapping ends thereof; this spring may comprise zones with
different stiffnesses. The rigid tubes may be made from stainless
steel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0021] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will
emerge from a reading of the following description, with reference
to the accompanying figures, which illustrate:
[0022] FIG. 1, a plan view of the fixing system mounted on a rail,
according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 2, a view in longitudinal section of a system according
to FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 3, an exploded view of a fixing system according to one
embodiment of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 4, a perspective view of a fixing system and a rail, in
the position of use;
[0026] FIG. 5, a diagram of a fixing system according to another
embodiment of the invention;
[0027] FIG. 6, a diagram of a fixing system according to yet
another embodiment of the invention;
[0028] FIG. 7, a view in longitudinal section of a rail equipped
with a fixing system according to another embodiment of the
invention; and
[0029] FIG. 8, an exploded view of several fixing systems of the
rivet type, and an associated telescopic rail.
[0030] For more clarity, identical or similar elements are marked
by identical reference signs over all the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
[0031] FIG. 1 concerns a first embodiment of the invention. The
fixing device thus illustrated is intended to equip a telescopic
rail consisting of two coaxial tubes 1, 2 that can slide with
respect to each other and having an overlap zone the length of
which varies according to the dimension of the window or frame on
which the rail is fixed. This is because the rail can adapt to door
or window frames 4 of variable dimensions. A spring 3 visible in
FIG. 2 is housed in and in contact with the inside of the two tubes
1, 2 at their overlap zones and helps to maintain a given rail
length. Preferentially, a compression spring consisting of zones of
different stiffnesses is chosen; it is best shown in FIG. 7.
[0032] The fixing device or fixing system according to the
invention comprises in particular an attachment lug 5 enabling
firstly attachment to the relevant frame 4 and secondly holding of
the curtain at a given distance from a pane (or equivalent) 10 held
by the frame 4. The distance between the pane (or equivalent) and
the curtain may vary if an extension element is provided on the
attachment lug.
[0033] The presence of a pane is however in no way necessary since
it can be envisaged placing the fixing device according to the
invention on a door frame equipped or not with a door or any other
frame; it is in any event a case not only of holding a curtain,
drape or equivalent on a frame but also of holding it at a certain
distance from the principal plane of the frame 4.
[0034] In order to fulfil these functions the attachment lug is in
a single piece and has a particular form, known per se and best
visible in FIG. 3. This lug 5 comprises overall three flat parts: a
first part 51 intended to come into contact with an abutment on a
first surface of the frame 4. The first part 51 is preferentially
provided with a bracket 510 and a through orifice 515 in which a
locking shoe, for example made from rubber, is forcibly inserted.
The rubber shoe (not shown in the figures) projects on one side of
the frame 4 by a thickness substantially equal to that of the
bracket 510 so that an almost punctiform contact of the bracket 510
in the frame 4 is established. The first part 51 can be provided
with an additional element, referred to as an extension, intended
to increase the distance between the frame 4 and the attachment
plane of the drape or curtain (the plane passing through the
longitudinal axis of the rail). This is a possible arrangement
falling within the scope of the invention.
[0035] The lug 5 comprises a second part 52 perpendicular to the
first part 51, which is able to come into contact with a second
surface of the frame 4, perpendicular to the first surface. The
third part 53 of the attachment lug 5 extends in a plane parallel
to that of the first part and is offset therefrom along the length
of the rail, towards one of the ends thereof. This particular form
of the lug 5 balances the forces exerted by the curtain on the
frame 4. This form is however in no way obligatory and any
technical equivalent form can be envisaged.
[0036] At the distal end of the third part 53 of the lug 5,
provision is therefore made for fixing the rail, or more precisely
one end of the rail. The fixing is effected at an orifice 530
passing through the thickness of the third part 53.
[0037] The fixing device comprises means 6 for connection with one
end of the rail. More precisely, the connecting means 6 comprise a
first elastic holding element (or piece) 61 as well as a second
elastic holding element 62. Each holding element 61, 62
advantageously cooperates through its external surface with the
internal surface of one of the tubes 1, 2 forming the telescopic
rail, or more precisely with the free end of one of the tubes 1, 2.
A radially elastic holding is thus created.
[0038] The element 61, 62 is moreover in contact for elastic
holding with the internal wall of a hollowed- out end piece 7
intended to fit on a free end of one of the tubes 1, 2 constituting
the telescopic rail. The elastic holding element 6 advantageously
provides a connection and elastic radial holding of the rail
vis-a-vis at least one end piece 7.
[0039] The first element 61 is roughly cylindrical in shape and has
an outside diameter less than that of the second holding element
62, which also has a roughly cylindrical shape; each outside
diameter is chosen so as to be slightly greater than the inside
diameter of the end piece 7 and/or of the end of the telescopic
tube on which an end piece is intended to fit. "Fit" means coming
to be positioned axially in line with one end of one of the tubes
1, 2 beyond the fixing lug 5. Thus the holding element 6 is
forcibly retained inside an end piece 7 and/or one end of a tube 1,
2.
[0040] The feature related to the different outside diameters of
the first element 61 and second element 62 is advantageous since it
affords interchangeability of the holding elements 61, 62, which
may indifferently be placed in the first tube 1 or in the second
tube 2 of the telescopic rail, or in an end piece 7.
[0041] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the
outside diameters may be the same.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention according
to which the first 61 and second 62 holding elements consist of two
distinct pieces, here two open rings. Each ring 61, 62 is
advantageously mounted on a cylindrical piece 8 formed by two zones
with different outside diameters 81, 82. The zones 81, 82 are
separated by a collar 83. A retaining collar 84, 85 is also
provided at each end of the piece 8 in order to axially hold, with
the collar 83, each of the holding elements.
[0043] The assembly consisting of holding element 6 and cylindrical
piece 8 is preferentially forcibly mounted inside respectively an
end piece 7 and one of the tubes 1, 2, in cooperation with the
fixing lug 5. Once this mounting is performed, at least one of the
end pieces 7 is positioned on the projecting free end of an elastic
element 61, 62. The end piece 7 here reliably covers the ends of
the telescopic rail in place on the fixing devices 5. The latter
are longitudinally adjusted to the frame of the window or door, as
can be seen in FIG. 4 in particular.
[0044] In a particularly advantageous fashion, the end piece 7 may
comprise a cylindrical element 9 intended to longitudinally extend
the rail formed by the tubes 1, 2, distally beyond the fixing
device 5. The cylindrical element or extension piece 9 may be
provided so as to be in a single piece with the end piece 7, or may
consist of an independent piece, longitudinally interposed between
the fixing device 5 and the end piece 7. The right-hand part in
FIG. 2 and the left-hand part in FIG. 3 illustrate an extension
piece 9 independent of the end piece 7. The extension piece 9 is
force-fitted on the first 61 or second 62 elastic holding element,
which projects externally beyond the fixing element 5. The
extension piece 9 is fitted inside the end piece 7, preferably
elastically. Thus the extension piece 9 supports and positions for
example a tab on a curtain, which constitutes a means of holding
the latter at one end of the rail. At this point the rail extends
beyond the frame 4 of the window so that the curtain thus masks the
frame 4 of the window (or other opening of this type). This is very
much appreciated by the users.
[0045] FIGS. 1 to 4 show in particular examples of rails equipped
at one end with a simple end piece 7 and at the other end with an
extension piece 9 and an end piece 7. This is illustrative and a
person skilled in the art will, according to requirements, choose
the most suitable configuration. Naturally the external form of the
end piece 7 is free, of an aesthetic nature; the same applies to
the external form of the extension piece 9. This freedom in the
choice of the given forms at the ends of the rails is very
advantageous and appreciated by users. The fact that the end piece
7 is a piece independent of the rest of the fixing device enables
the user to change it himself and thus easily to modify the
external appearance of the rail.
[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate embodiments where the elastic
holding element 61, 62 consists of a compression draw spring
adjusted and fitted in the same way as the rings described above in
relation to other embodiments of the invention. An O-ring seal may,
in a technically equivalent fashion, replace the compression draw
spring.
[0047] As is clearly visible, FIG. 5 shows an embodiment with the
extension piece 9 while FIG. 6 illustrates an example where the end
piece 7 constitutes the end part of the rail.
[0048] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment according to which the end
piece 7 and the holding means 6 are formed in a single piece 67 of
the rivet type. All the features stated above are naturally
present. The piece 67 is force-fitted inside one of the ends of a
tube 1, 2 constituting the telescopic tube after having passed (for
example by screwing or riveting) through the opening 530 of the lug
5 disposed axially in line with the tube. According to this
embodiment of the invention, a part 6 of the piece 67 constitutes
the first holding element 61 with the other part 7 constitutes both
the end piece 7 and the second holding element 62. Depending on the
outside diameter of the part 6, the latter is placed at the end of
the first tube 1 of the second tube 2.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 8, several forms of end pieces 7 can be
envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.
According to one of them the end piece has a cylindrical external
form, which may advantageously constitute an extension 9 as
described above. The cylindrical extension 9 may have two different
outside diameters. The end piece 7 may be spherical, in the form of
a flat disc, or have any other form. A juxtaposition of any form
and an extension 9 may be envisaged without departing from the
scope of the invention.
[0050] Various modifications may be made by persons skilled in the
art without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *