U.S. patent number 3,693,696 [Application Number 05/176,161] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-26 for traverse assembly for draperies and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Consolidated Foods Corporation. Invention is credited to Ferdinand F. Salzmann.
United States Patent |
3,693,696 |
Salzmann |
September 26, 1972 |
TRAVERSE ASSEMBLY FOR DRAPERIES AND THE LIKE
Abstract
A traverse assembly for draperies and the like including an
elongated rigid rod having a top wall and front and intermediate
walls extending downwardly from the top wall defining a downwardly
opening front carrier track, and a rear wall extending downwardly
from the front wall and having a bottom wall portion at its lower
edge defining a forwardly opening rear cord track spaced rearwardly
from the front carrier track to provide a downwardly opening access
passage therebetween. Headed drapery carriers are supported in the
front carrier track and extend downwardly below the track to
support drapery panels adjacent the front of the rod and traverse
cords are disposed in the rear cord track and connected to a master
carrier that is guidably supported at the forward edge of the
bottom wall portion of the rear cord track and extends forwardly
across the access passageway and below the intermediate wall of the
front carrier track.
Inventors: |
Salzmann; Ferdinand F.
(Madison, WI) |
Assignee: |
Consolidated Foods Corporation
(Chicago, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
22643241 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/176,161 |
Filed: |
August 30, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/345; 16/95D;
16/87.4R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H
5/032 (20130101); A47H 3/00 (20130101); Y10T
16/378 (20150115); Y10T 16/354 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47H
5/032 (20060101); A47H 5/00 (20060101); A47H
3/00 (20060101); A47h 005/032 () |
Field of
Search: |
;160/330-347
;16/87-87.2,93-95 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Williamowsky; David J.
Assistant Examiner: Kannan; Philip C.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. In a traverse assembly for draperies and the like including an
elongated rigid rod structure having a front carrier track and a
rear cord track, a plurality of drapery carriers mounted in said
front carrier track for movement therealong, a traverse cord in
said rear cord track and cord guide means adjacent the ends of said
rear cord track for guiding the traverse cord for movement into and
out of said rear cord track, and master carrier means operatively
connected to said traverse cord, the improvement wherein:
said rod comprises a top wall, a front wall extending downwardly
adjacent the forward edge of the top wall, an intermediate wall
extending downwardly from said top wall intermediate the forward
and rear edges thereof and defining a downwardly opening front
channel with said front wall, said front wall having a rearwardly
extending flange along its lower edge and said intermediate wall
having a forwardly extending flange along its lower edge
substantially coplanar with and spaced from the flange on the front
wall to define spaced carrier support rails at the lower end of
said front channel, a rear wall extending downwardly adjacent the
rear edge of the top wall, a bottom wall extending forwardly from
the lower edge of the rear wall and defining a forwardly opening
channel, said bottom wall having its forward edge spaced rearwardly
a substantial distance from said intermediate wall and defining a
downwardly opening access passageway between the rear channel and
the intermediate wall, said bottom wall having an upwardly
extending flange along its forward edge for retaining the traverse
cords in said rear channel and defining a rear channel guide rail
along the forward edge of said rear channel,
said drapery carriers each having a head portion supported on said
rails in said front channel and a pendant portion extending
downwardly between the rails for attachment to a drapery panel,
said master carrier comprising a master carrier body spanning said
access passageway between the rear cord channel and the
intermediate wall and having rear guide means along the rear side
thereof guidably engaging said rear channel guide rail for support
thereby, said master carrier body having a portion extending
forwardly beneath said intermediate rail, and drapery carrier means
on said forwardly extending portion of the master slide body.
2. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 including forward guide
means on said forwardly extending portion of the master carrier
body guidably engaging at least one of the carrier support rails on
said downwardly opening front channel.
3. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drapery
carrier means on said forwardly extending portion on said master
carrier body includes means for engaging one of said drapery
carriers to move the latter along the front carrier channel with
the master carrier.
4. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drapery
carrier means on said master carrier includes projections extending
upwardly from said forwardly extending portion of the master
carrier body into said downwardly opening front channel, said
projections being spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the rod
a distance to receive the head portion of one of said drapery
carriers therebetween to move the latter along the front carrier
channel with the master carrier.
5. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein the underside
of the flanges on said intermediate and front walls of the rod are
disposed at a level above said bottom wall on the rear wall, the
underside of said master carrier being disposed at a level closely
adjacent the underside of said bottom flange on the rear wall.
6. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rod is
formed by first and second endwise abutting rod sections of like
cross-section, said intermediate wall having a rearwardly extending
flange thereon, and splice means disposed internally of said rod
between said intermediate wall and said rear wall, said splice
means including a top wall underlying a portion of the top wall on
the rod and front and rear depending flanges respectively extending
along said intermediate wall and said rear wall with the lower
edges of the front and rear flanges on the splice means
respectively engaging the rearwardly extending flange on the
intermediate wall and the forwardly extending flange on the rear
wall.
7. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said cord guide
means including a pulley housing at the end of said rod, said
pulley housing including a top wall coplanar with the top wall of
the rod, front and intermediate walls respectively aligned with the
front and intermediate walls of the rod to form a continuation of
the front channel, a rear wall aligned with the rear wall of the
rod, a second intermediate wall spaced forwardly from the
intermediate wall, and at least one pulley mounted for rotation
about a horizontal axis between the rear wall and the second
intermediate wall of the pulley housing.
8. A traverse assembly according to claim 7 wherein said
intermediate wall on said rod has a rearwardly extending flange
thereon, said pulley housing having a splice section of U-shaped
cross-section extending into said rod between said rear wall and
said intermediate wall on said rod.
9. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said
intermediate wall has a rearwardly extending flange thereon, said
master carrier body having a guide rib engaging said rearwardly
extending flange on said intermediate wall.
10. A traverse assembly according to claim 1 wherein said drapery
carrier means on said master carrier body includes projections
extending upwardly from said forwardly extending portion of the
master carrier body into said downwardly opening front channel,
said projections being spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of
said rod a distance to receive the head portion of one of the
drapery carriers therebetween to move the latter along the front
carrier channel with the master carrier, and a member extending
between the upper ends of said projections and overlying the head
on the drapery carrier disposed between said projections.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In drapery traverse rods, it is generally regarded as desirable to
separate the traverse cords from the drapery carriers in order to
prevent interference between the cords and carriers during movement
along the rod and various different traverse rod arrangements have
been proposed to effect separation of the cords and carriers. In
some prior traverse rods, the rods have been formed with a central
carrier track and dual cord tracks at the front and rear of the rod
along opposite sides of the carrier track such that the drapery
carrier supported the drapery heading at a location approximately
medially between the front and rear edges of the rod. However, in
many drapery installations it is desirable to support the drapery
heading along the forward edge of the rod and other prior traverse
rods have utilized a front carrier track and a rear cord track. In
general, the prior rods having a front carrier track and a rear
cord track formed the rear cord track with either a downwardly
opening channel or a rearwardly opening channel. Traverse rods
having a downwardly opening cord channel were in part objectionable
in that they did not adequately underlie and support the traverse
cords along the length of the rod. Those with rearwardly opening
cord channels not only exposed the cord channels to view at the
rear side of the rod but also aggravated the problem of operatively
connecting the traverse cords to the master drapery carrier. In
addition, traverse rods with rearwardly opening cord channels could
not be satisfactorily utilized in recessed rod mountings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improved traverse assembly for
draperies and the like in which the rod has front and intermediate
walls defining a downwardly opening front carrier channel along the
front of the rod and the rod also has a downwardly extending rear
wall formed with a forwardly extending bottom wall portion defining
a forwardly opening rear cord channel along the rear edge of the
rod, with the rear cord channel spaced rearwardly from the front
carrier channel to provide an access passageway therebetween for
receiving a master carrier that is guidably supported on the
forward edge of the rear cord channel and extends across the access
passageway and below the intermediate wall and into the forward
carrier channel for connection to a drapery carrier. The front
carrier channel is advantageously made somewhat shallower than the
rear cord channel so that the master slide extends forwardly from
the rear cord channel in underlying relation to the intermediate
wall. The rod can be formed in separate rod sections and connected
by an internal splice disposed in the area between the intermediate
wall and the rear wall of the rod so as to not interfere with the
drapery carriers, and separate pulley housings can be provided at
the ends of the rods and connected to the rod by a splice section
that is also located in the area between the intermediate wall and
the rear wall of the rod so as to avoid interference with the
drapery carriers.
Various objects of this invention are to provide a traverse
assembly for draperies and the like in which the drapery carriers
and cords are supported in separate channels; in which the cord
channel underlies and supports the traverse cords along the length
of the rod; in which the cord channel opens forwardly so as to
avoid exposure of the cords at the rear of the rod; and in which
the rear cord channel is spaced rearwardly from the front carrier
channel to provide an access passageway to receive the master
carrier and to also facilitate connection of the traverse cords to
the master slide.
Other objects of this invention are to provide a traverse assembly
in which the carriers can move along the front carrier channel past
the cord guide pulleys at the rear cord channel for substantially
full opening of the draperies; in which the master carrier receives
one of the drapery carriers to effect movement of the latter and in
such a manner as to substantially minimize any dead space between
adjacent carriers when the draperies are open and when they are
closed.
These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention
will be more readily understood by reference to the following
detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drapery installation
utilizing the drapery traverse assembly of the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary bottom view of the drapery traverse
assembly of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane 3--3 of
FIG. 1 showing the parts on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane 4--4 of
FIG. 2 and showing the pulley housing on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the rod taken on the
plane 5--5 of FIG. 2 and showing the rod and master slide on an
enlarged scale; and
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the carriers
and the manner of attachment of the drapery heading thereto.
The traverse assembly of the present invention is generally adapted
for supporting draperies, curtains and the like, hereinafter
generally referred to as draperies. For convenience in description,
the term "front" is used to designate the side of the rod from
which the draperies are suspended and which is the side normally
exposed to view. Thus, in window installations, the front side of
the rod will generally be the side facing inwardly toward the room
while the rear side of the rod faces toward the wall or window.
However, the rod of the present invention presents a neat
appearance when viewed from either side and the rod can be mounted
so that the front side faces the window, if desired.
Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the
drapery traverse assembly includes an elongated rod 10 conveniently
formed by extrusion and which has a generally flat top wall 11, a
front wall 12 which extends downwardly from the top wall adjacent
its forward edge, and an intermediate wall 13 extending downwardly
from the top wall intermediate the forward and rear edges of the
latter. The depending front and rear walls 12 and 13 define a
downwardly opening carrier channel 14 and the front wall has a
rearwardly extending flange 12a at its lower edge and the
intermediate wall has a forwardly extending flange 13a at its lower
edge which is spaced from the flange 12a and is substantially
coplanar therewith to define spaced carrier guide rails at the
lower end of the front carrier channel or track. The rod 10 also
includes a rear wall 15 extending downwardly from the top wall 11
adjacent the rear edge of the latter and a forwardly extending
bottom wall portion 16 on the lower edge of the rear wall to define
a forwardly facing cord channel 17 along the rear of the rod. The
bottom wall is adapted to underlie and support the traverse cords
along the length of the rod and the bottom wall is formed with an
upwardly extending flange 16a at its forward edge to aid in
retaining the traverse cords in the rear cord channel. The flange
16a at the forward edge of the bottom wall is spaced rearwardly a
substantial distance from the intermediate wall 13 sufficient to
provide a downwardly opening access passageway 18 in the rod
between the rear cord channel and the front carrier channel. For
reasons pointed out more fully hereinafter, the underside of the
flanges 12a and 13a on the front carrier channel are preferably
disposed at a level above the bottom wall 16 on the rear cord
channel. In addition, the intermediate wall 13 is also preferably
provided with a rearwardly extending flange 13b along its lower
edge, for a purpose which will become apparent from the following
description.
It is contemplated that the rod 10 can be mounted by brackets on a
wall, or flush with a ceiling or recessed in a ceiling if desired.
In order to adapt the rod for mounting by a bracket on a wall, the
rod is formed with projections 21a and 21b at the forward and rear
edges of the top wall to engage a rearwardly opening hook 22a and a
forwardly projecting locking tab 22b on a rod mounting bracket 22
having a mounting flange 22c adapted for attachment to a wall.
Brackets of this type are generally well known and further
description is deemed unnecessary. In order to provide the
aforedescribed projections 21a and 21b at the top wall, without
increasing the overall width of the rod, the front and rear walls
12 and 15 are formed with upwardly and inwardly inclined portions
adjacent their upper ends, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Holes 24
can be preformed or drilled in the top wall of the rod at the time
of installation, for mounting the rod in either flush or recessed
ceiling installations. For this purpose, a groove 24a (FIGS. 3 and
5) is formed in the underside of the top wall to facilitate
drilling of holes in the top wall.
A multiplicity of drapery carriers 25 are mounted in the front
carrier track, only a few of the drapery carriers being shown in
the drawings to simplify illustration. The drapery carriers 25 are
of the type having a head 25a dimensioned to be received in the
front carrier channel 14 and to rest on and be guidably supported
by the carrier guide rails formed by flanges 12a and 13a. The
carriers also include a pendant portion 25b which is adapted to
extend downwardly between the flanges 12a, 13a to a level below the
front carrier channel, and which pendant portion has a means for
attaching a drapery thereto. In the specific form herein shown, the
drapery carriers are of a known type formed with a hook portion 25c
(See FIG. 6) which is arranged to engage a loop 26a on a drapery
panel supporting member 26. The drapery panel supporting members
are formed of plastic or the like and are attached to the heading
of a drapery 27 as by stitching indicated at 26b. Such drapery
supports are commonly utilized to support draperies to form a
generally Z-shaped pleat as best shown in FIG. 1 and, during
opening and closing of the drapery panels, the loop portion 26a of
the drapery support turns or swivels about the hook 25c on the
drapery carrier as the drapery support moves between a position
extending crosswise of the rod, when the drapery is opened, and a
position extending at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the rod,
when the drapery is closed. The width of the loop 26a on the
drapery support is made sufficiently wide with relation to the hook
25c on the drapery carrier to accommodate the above-described
swiveling movement. In order to inhibit turning of the carriers
relative to the track, the heads 25a on the carriers are herein
shown formed with a generally rectangular configuration. The
drapery carriers 25 are advantageously interconnected by a flexible
connector 28, conveniently in the form of a cord which is
non-slidably connected to the drapery carrier to interconnect the
drapery carriers and control the maximum spacing between adjacent
drapery carriers when the drapery is closed. The drapery carriers
can conveniently be formed of a plastic material having desirable
wear resistance and low friction characteristics, and the carriers
can be molded on the cord 28 at selected locations along the cord.
As best shown in FIG. 5, the pendant portions 25b of the drapery
carriers 25 are formed with outwardly projecting ears 25d which are
normally spaced slightly below the flanges on the front carrier
channel and which are adapted to limit upward movement of the
carriers in the channel to prevent dislodgement of the same.
Drapery traverse cords 31 are disposed in the rear cord channel 17
and traverse cord guide means, advantageously in the form of
pulleys 32a and 32b, are provided adjacent the ends of the rear
cord channel to guide the traverse cords into and out of the rear
cord channel. The cord guide pulleys 32a and 32b are mounted on a
pulley housing 33 formed separate from the rod and connected
thereto at each end. The pulley housings 33 are conveniently formed
of plastic and include a top wall 34 adapted to align with the top
wall of the rod and front and intermediate walls 35 and 36 adapted
to respectively align with the front and intermediate walls of the
rod to define a downwardly opening front channel 37 that
constitutes a continuation of the front carrier channel 14 of the
rod. The front and intermediate walls 35 and 36 of the pulley
housing are also formed with opposed flanges 35a and 36a which are
adapted to underlie and support the heads of the drapery carriers.
As shown in FIG. 2, one of the drapery carriers 25 is mounted
adjacent the end of the front channel 37 in the pulley housing and
is retained in position by a slide lock 38, herein shown in the
form of a thumb screw 38a and nut 38b. The pulley housing also
includes a rear wall 41 aligned with the rear wall 15 of the rod
and a second intermediate wall 42 spaced forwardly from the rear
wall. The pulleys 32a and 32b are disposed between the rear wall 41
and the second intermediate wall 42 and are rotatably supported as
by shafts 43. As best shown in FIG. 4, the pulleys 32a and 32b are
vertically and horizontally offset from each other so as to
separate the vertical runs 31a, 31b of the traverse cord and also
separate the horizontal runs 31c and 31d. The pulley housings 33
are detachably secured to the ends of the rod by pulley housing
splice sections conveniently formed integrally with the pulley
housings. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pulley housing splice
sections include a top wall 45 offset from below the top wall 34 of
the pulley housing to extend into the rod below the top wall 11,
and forward and rear walls 46 and 47 that respectively extend
alongside the intermediate wall 13 and the rear wall 15 of the rod.
The pulley housing splice section thus extends inside the rod in
the area between the intermediate wall 13 and the rear wall 15 of
the rod so as to avoid interference with the drapery carriers, and
the lower edges of the pulley housing splice section engage the
flange 13b and the bottom wall 16 of the rod to firmly interconnect
the pulley housing and rod.
In the embodiment illustrated, the traverse assembly is arranged
for two-way traverse and dual master slides 51a and 51b are
provided, it being understood that the rods can be used with
one-way traverse utilizing only a single master slide. Master
slides 51a and 51b are substantially mirror images of each other
and like numerals are utilized to designate corresponding parts.
The master slides comprise a master slide body conveniently molded
of plastic or the like, and having a generally flat configuration
with a top wall 53, a rear wall 54 and a front wall 55 joined by
end walls 56 and 57. The rear wall 54 is formed with top and bottom
flanges 54a and 54b which are vertically spaced apart to slidably
receive the upwardly extending flange 16a at the forward edge of
the rear cord channel and guidably support the master slide
thereon. The top wall 53 of the pulley housing is also formed with
an upwardly extending flange 53a having spaced cord receiving
notches 53b adjacent opposite ends, which cord receiving notches
are preferably angulated inwardly and forwardly from opposite ends
of the flange 53a, as best shown in FIG. 2, so as to guide the
traverse cord from the rear cord channel forwardly into overlying
relation with the top wall 53 of the master slide. An opening 53c
is formed in the top wall of the master slide to allow the traverse
cord to be drawn downwardly therethrough and cord locks shown in
the form of notches 56a are provided in one of the end walls 56 of
the master slide. Thus, the end portions 31e and 31f of the
traverse cord 31 can be drawn downwardly through the opening 53c in
one master slide and then knotted in the recessed area under the
top wall 53 to connect the ends of the traverse cord to one master
slide. An intermediate bight portion 31g formed in the other
horizontal run 31c of the traverse cord can be drawn through the
notches 53b and downwardly through the opening 53c and attached to
the cord lock openings 56a in the other master slide 51b so that
the master slides move equally and in relatively opposite
directions in response to manipulation of the cord. With this
master slide construction, the knots 31e and 31f as well as the
bight portion 31g of the traverse cord are disposed in recesses at
the underside of the respective master slides so as to avoid
interference with the drapery heading during movement of the master
slides along the rod.
As previously described, the flanges 12a and 13a of the front
carrier channel are disposed at a level above the bottom wall 16 of
the rear cord channel and the master slides 51a, 51b each have
forwardly extending portions 61 and 62 that extend below the
intermediate wall 13 and upwardly extending portions 61a and 62a
which extend upwardly into the forward carrier channel 14. The
upwardly extending portions 61a and 62a are spaced apart in a
direction lengthwise of the rod a distance to receive the head
portion 25a of one of the carriers 25 therebetween, to move that
carrier along the rod with the master slide, and the upwardly
extending portions are preferably interconnected by a member 63
that overlies the head on the carrier 25, as best shown in FIG. 5.
The upwardly extending portions 61a and 62a are also guidably
supported on the front carrier channel and, as best shown in FIGS.
3 and 5, are formed with guide faces 61b that engage the rearwardly
extending flange 12a on the front channel to guidably support the
master slide thereon. An upwardly extending flange 66 is also
advantageously provided on the top wall 53 of the master slide to
engage the rearwardly facing flange 13b on the intermediate wall
and aid in guiding the master slide during movement along the
rod.
The rod 10 can be formed in several sections indicated at 10a and
10b in FIG. 1 and the sections interconnected by a splice 68. The
splice is advantageously located internally of the rod as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 3 and includes a top wall 69 and depending front and
rear walls 71 and 72. As best shown in FIG. 3, the splice 68 is
located in the area between the intermediate wall 13 and the rear
wall 15 of the rod, and the front wall 71 of the splice extends
closely alongside the intermediate wall and has a depth
approximating the spacing between the top wall 11 and the flange
13b so as to laterally and vertically align the track sections in
this area. The top wall 69 of the splice is advantageously
transversely arched or angulated as shown in FIG. 3 so as to
resiliently press the rear wall 72 of the splice downwardly against
the bottom wall 16, adjacent its juncture with the rear wall 15 of
the rod.
From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and
operation of the traverse assembly will be readily understood. The
rod provides a downwardly opening front carrier channel and a
forwardly opening rear cord channel that is spaced from the front
channel to provide a downwardly opening access passageway
therebetween, and the master slides are guidably supported at their
rear on the forward edge of the rear cord channel. The master
slides extend forwardly from the rear cord channel across the
access passageway 18 in the rod and below the intermediate wall
into the front carrier channel to move a drapery carrier 25
therewith along the rod. The spacing between the rear cord channel
and the front carrier track provides an access passageway for
receiving the master carrier body and which facilitates connection
of the traverse cords to the master carrier. The front carrier
channel is shallower than the rear cord channel so that the master
carrier extends forwardly from the rear channel below the
intermediate wall and then up into the front carrier channel for
support thereby. The underside of the master slide thus lies
closely adjacent the plane of the underside of the rear cord
channel so as to avoid interference with the drapery heading during
movement of master carriers along the rod. Moreover, since the rear
cord channel extends below the front carrier channel it also
functions as a "light stop" to minimize passage of light in the
area between the traverse rod and the drapery heading. The pulley
housings have a front channel which forms a continuation of the
front carrier channel in the rod to allow the drapery carriers to
move along the rod into the pulley housing past the pulleys in the
rear cord channel, to thereby minimize stacking space of the
carriers when the draperies are opened. The carrier engaging
projections on the master carriers are located at the forward ends
of the master carriers, that is the ends of the master carriers
which lead during closing of the draperies, so as to not only
reduce the space between the carriers when the draperies are
opened, but to also minimize the stacking space for the carriers
when the draperies are closed.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed
herein, the invention contemplates such modifications or changes
therein as lie within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *