US2918175A - Curtain rod with integral attachment means - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 22, 1959 R. M. ELLIOTT 2,918,175

CURTAIN ROD WITH INTEGRAL ATTACHMENT MEANS Filed July 29, 1958 LP .fLL/OT 84 HM CURTAIN no!) WITH INTEGRAL ATTACHMENT MEANS Ralph M. Elliott, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor of fortynine percent to Gordon M. McDonald, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application July 29, 1958, Serial No. 751,760

2 Claims. (Cl. 211--105. 2)

This invention relates to curtain rods and particularly to simplified mechanism for detachably fastening and supporting the same.

Conventional curtain rods at the present time require specially formed end portions constructed to conform to particular, independent brackets or supports which in turn are nailed or screwed into place on a window frame or the like.

It is an object of my invention to provide in curtain rod structure simplified and inexpensive attachment means which require no accessory mounting devices for installation and which may be readily installed and detachably supported across a window or door frame by the use of an ordinary screw, elongated tack or nail at each end of the rod.

A further object is the provision of curtain rod structure of the class described which particularly lends itself to the telescopic and longitudinally adjustable type of rods generally used and which has integrally formed in the rod sections and at the outer ends thereof very simple mechanism making possible attachment and detachment of the rods in the manner previously described.

Another object is the provision of an economical curtain rod structure which substantially facilitates installation of the rods in various positions across a window or door frame and which makes mounting of the rods an extremely simple operation.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention with the ends of the two rod sections detachably supported from the top facing or wall of a window frame, the dotted lines indicating the hem of curtains or drapes;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the end portion of one embodiment of my invention before the extended tongue or strip is folded to clinch the same and secure the same in its final position;

Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view with a portion of the upper web of the split tubular end of the rod broken away to show interfitting of the tongue or strip which inherently provides the integral attachment mechanism at one end of the rod;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the rod and fastening means shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is an upper perspective view showing another embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the two telescoping rod sections A and B are of split tubular or channel form rolled in conventional manner from aluminum alloy or other metal and slidably interfitted to vary the overall length of the curnited States Patent tain rod. Then end portions of the elongated rod sections A and B are arcuately and smoothly bent to form extremities 10 which are adapted to extend perpendicularly and afford end abutments in relation to the facing board or vertical surface usually at the top of a window or door frame in which the sash or door is mounted.

The cross sectional shape of the rod sections as shown in Fig. 5 while being generally a split tube with the split or open part of the tube facing inwardly relative to the supporting wall is of oval shaped cross section although it of course could be channel or rectangular shape.

In constructing my rod sections, preferably but not necessarily, before blanks or metal strips are rolled into the cross sectionally oval shape, a narrowed, flat tongue 11 is formed from the strip metal stock extending integrally when the section is rolled or otherwise formed from the outer or forward side wall of the split tube. This may be readily done with a die or other means in the blank for the strip by cutting longitudinal marginal portions from the stock at the end of the blanks. The said flat tongue portions 11 on the sections are each first bent by die process or otherwise inwardly substantially along the score line 11a of Fig. 3. The extremities of the strips or tongues 11 are then bent inwardly again along a score line 11b and are tucked inwardly against the opposed split side portions of the tubular construction as shown in Fig. 4. The extremity of the fiat tongue may be spot welded at a point S to the inner split portion of the section, although this is unnecessary with most metals used of adequate gauge.

The aforesaid bending and tucking in of the extremities of the flat tongues 11 provide substantial reinforcing to the end or abutment of the rod section.

A double key-hole slot having a circular central portion 12a of a size to readily accommodate with clearance the head of a small elongated tack or the head of a small screw and with upper and lower retaining slot portions 12b and respectively are formed in the intermediate or abutment portion lie of the tongue.

With the structure recited, it is only necessary to detachably secure and support the curtain rod to secure a small screw, tack or short headed nail in the appropriate positions in a facing board or shoulder of a window frame above the window. Attachment is readily made by merely inserting the head of the screw or nail through the central enlarged circular aperture 12a at one of the abutment and fastening ends of the rod sections and thereafter slide the abutting ends downwardly to retain the head of the fastening element in the confined portion of the double key-hole slot. The overall slot is made with upper and lower confining portions 12b and 12c so that the same dies may be used for right and left sections of the over-all curtain rod structure.

It will be obvious that the curtain rod may be as readily removed as installed by simply sliding the rod sections at their abutting ends slightly upwardly to align the screw heads or other fastening elements with the central circular portions 12a of the slots.

In the perspective view of Fig. 6, I have shown another embodiment of the invention where the rod section C is rolled or otherwise formed into a split tubular shape as in the form first described of generally oval cross section. Here the end portions of the two rod sections are slit longitudinally at the upper and lower portions and the actual extremities of the stock indicated by the letter 14 are flattened out to form abutments and provision for fastening mechanism of integrated and very simple form. The stock of the material is webbed and curved in the flaring portions 14a which adds strength to the attachment extremity 14. The flat extension or tabs 14 may be folded inwardly upon the fold line 14b to abut and sub.-

stantially close the tubular portion of the rods then being adapted for ready attachment to a horizontal wall or facing board surface. Or'if desired, the tab or fastening portions 14 may be left in the plane as shown in Fig. 6 and in that case, the cooperating screw head or'tack is driven into a side portion of the window frame proper which extends perpendicularly to "the vertical walls of the frame. The'flattened attachment portions 14 are provided with slots 15 substantially identical with the slots previously'described with reference to'the first form'o'f the invention.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I haveprovided a very simple, inexpensive and highly eflicient curtain rod structurewith integral attachment means "formed in the end 'abutments of 'the'rod sections. My structure eliminates'much f the labor now required to interfit, assemble and attach independent mounting bracketsto walls or facing boards above windows and doors for receiving conventional curtain rods. 'My structure may be very quickly attached or detached for removal and cleaning of the curtains or drapes.

As has been described and illustrated, Iprefer to construct the projecting tongues 11 (in the"first form) and 14 (in the second form) integrally fromthe outermost or unsplit webs of the tubular rod sections. My improved fastening mechanism is thus inherently suitedto the conventional split tubular telescoping construction generally used in curtain rods, affording with the preferred-double bending of the elongated attachment "tongues a very rugged'support.

It will, of'course, be understood that variousichanges may be made in the form, details, arrangementand proportions of'the parts without departing from 'thescope of my invention which consists of the matter shown and -described herein and set forth in the appended'claims.

What is claimed is:

l. Curtain rod structure comprising a. pair of generally tubular telescoping members connected for longitudinal slidable adjustment, said members each having end portions extending angularly to the over-all lengths thereof for attachment to suitable vertical support surfaces, the stock of said tubular members at the outer webs thereof being integrally extended to form attachment tongues, said tongues being inwardly bent to provide attachment abutments, means for securing the extremities of said tongues to the tubular ends of said members and the medial portions of said tongues having vertically disposed key-hole slots formed therein with the enlarged portions of said slots being generally circular to loosely accommodate the' head of a securing element such as a screw and with thenarrower portions of said key-hole slots being o f a width to confine said head and detachably secure and support the associated end of said rod.

2. The str'ucture'set forth in claim 1 wherein the extremities of said'tongues are outwardly bent relative to the intermediate portions thereof and extended into the tubular ends of said end portions abutting the inner webs thereof and thereby through the two bends of said tongues and abutment against said last mentioned webs, structurally strengthening the attachment ends of said tubular rod members.

References Cited in the file of this patent "UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,720 .Scottron "Aug. 30, 1892 1,326,951 Moller Jan. 6, 1920 1,626,525 George .Apr. 26, 1927 2,021,634 Moriarty Nov.'19, 1935 2,188,738 Moriarty Ian. 30, '1940

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