US1095718A - Spring-socket for curtain-rods. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. EDSALL & P. LA 0. LATHROP. SPRING SOCKET FOR CURTAIN RODS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1913,

1,095,718. Patented May 5,1914.

wwwwmc WH EZO'AILL l wa ntoz J COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH COUWASHINGTON, D. c,

e z 3 a WILLIAM H. EDSALL AND FRANK LA OTIS LATHPOP, OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTI- CUT, ASSIG-NORS TO H. L. JUDD COMPANY, OF WALLINGFOR-D, CONNECTICUT, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING-SOCKET FOR CURTAIN-RODS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WVILLIAM H. EDSALL and FRANK LA OTIS LATHROP, citizens of the United States, residing at \Vallingford, New Haven county, State of 7 Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Spring-Sockets for Curtain-Rods,

of which the following is a full, clear, and

exact description.

Our invention relates to an improved construction of spring socket for the ends' partly in elevation, illustrating one e1nbodi.

ment of the invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of stem end abutment. Fig. i is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

The spring socket of the present invention is designed to receive one end of a curtain pole or other similar hanger and provides a support upon which is slidably mounted a coupling sleeve normally spring pressed outwardly which may be retracted by hand to permit the insertion of the end of the curtain rod, whereupon the spring Wlll throw the coupling sleeve outwardly into holdingand supporting engagement With the end of the rod.

In the drawings, 1 designates the main supporting body of the fixture, this body comprising preferably an attaching plate having the stem portion 1 extending outwardly therefrom. The stem portion 1 is preferably made from solid .stock and adjacent its outer end is reduced in diameter forming an inner and annular abutment shoulder 3 and a reduced shank portion 2 extending forwardly therefrom. The end of this reduced shank portion is provided with an outer abutment member. This may be.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1913.

Patented llliay 5, 1914.

Serial No. 805,517.

formed by providing the extremity of the shank 2 with a tenon l of reduced diameter, a washer 5 being seated over said tenon and against the end of the shank 2, the end of the tenon 4 being then upset against the washer 5 to hold the same rigid with the end of the shank. Or, the tenon 4, may be dispensed with and the shank 2 may merely be slightly extended and then itself upset, as at 5 in Fig. 3 the upset end providing an annular abutment. This abutment, whichever method is employed, is not formed until the coupling sleeve and its cooperating parts is mounted upon the end of the rod in cooperative relation thereto.

This coupling sleeve forms the socket for the end of the curtain rod and is preferably in the shape of a tubular sheet metal member 6 open at both ends and at a point intermediate its ends being pressed in or indented to provide an annular abutment surface 7, fixed within the sleeve. This annular abutment surface is intended to be normally pressed against the outer or end abutment of the stem shank 2, by means of a suitable spring mounted upon the shank and acting at one end against its abutment shoulder S and at the other against this annular shoulder abutment 7 of the coupling sleeve. In order to render this action most effective, we prefer to employ a spring cage within the coupling sleeve, and to this end cupped washers 8 of less diameter than the internal diameter of the sleeve are employed. A coiled spring 9 extends between these cupped washers and is caged thereby. It will, of course, be understood that the spring socket described herein is designed to receive one end of a curtain rod or similar supporting device, the other end of said rod being engaged in a suitable support or socket of any desired construction, or, two sockets similar to the one described herein may be employed.

In the construction of the device, the coupling sleeve with the intermediate annular abutment surface 7 formed therein, and with the spring cage and spring mounted within its inner end, is slipped over the end of the shank portion 2 of the stem, one cupped washer 8 engaging the annular abutment 7 and the other engaging the annular abutment shoulder 3 of the shank. This operation is accomplished before the outer end of the shank 2 is provided with its abutment or 5 as the case may be. W hen thus assembled, the outer end of the shank 2 is then provided with its annular abutment as heretofore described, thus locking the coupling sleeve on the stem portion 1. The forward face of the sleeve abutment 7 will engage with the outer shank abutment 5 or 5 which acts as a stop to limit forward or projected movement of the coupling sleeve. T he rear face of the annular abutment will be engaged by the cupped washer 8 at the forward end of the spring cage so that the tendency of the coiled spring 9 will be normally to move the coupling sleeve forward until its abutment 7 engages the stop abutment 5 of the stem shank. The coupling sleeve, however, may be moved rearwardly by hand, compressing the coiled spring and moving the annular abutment a ainst the spring cage and rearwardly of the shank abutment so that the end of the curtain rod may be positioned in line with the coupling sleeve and will be received therein wh n the sleeve is released and is again projected by its spring. In order to steady the sliding action of the coupling sleeve and to guide it upon the stem, the inner end of the sleeve is preferably rolled or spun in as at 10 guiding thesleeve on the main stem portion 1 but without binding. While we prefer to employ the cupped washers 8 to provide a spring cage, as this makes the action of the spring more uniform, nevertheless, these washers may be dispensed with and the ends of the spring may engage respectively with the annular shoulder 3 or its equivalent and with the annular abutment 7.

While we have herein described and shown a preferable embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that the same is susceptible of StIUCtUtl variation within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

hat we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate having a stem projecting therefrom, said stem having an inner abutment thereon adjacent its end and having said end reduced in size relative to the body of the stem and provided with an outer abutment at its extremity, a coupling sleeve slidably mounted upon and inclosing the end of said stem and having an abutment sur face fixed there-within between said inner and outer stem abutments, and a coiled spring within said sleeve acting against said inner stem abutment and said sleeve abut ment, and normally tending to project said sleeve to engage its abutment with said outer stem abutment.

2. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate having a stem projecting therefrom, said stem adjacent its end being reduced in diameter to provide an inner annular abutment shoulder, and having its eX- tremity provided with an outer annular abutment, a coupling sleeve mounted upon and inclosing the end portion of said stem and having an annular abutment surface fixed there-within between said inner and outer stem abutments, and a coiled spring within said sleeve acting against said inner stem abutment shoulder and said sleeve abutment and normally tending to move said sleeve to engage its annular abutment with said outer stem abutment.

3. In a device of the character described, a supporting plate having a stem projecting therefrom, said stem adjacent its end being reduced in diameter to provide an inner abutment shoulder thereon, and having its.

extremity provided with an outer annular abutment, a coupling sleeve slidably mounted upon and inclosing the end portion of said stem, said sleeve being indented intermediate its ends to provide an annular abutment surface fixed there-within between said inner and outer stem abutments, spaced cupped washers slidably mounted upon the reduced portion of said stem, and a coiled spring inclosing said reduced stem portion and engaging and caged by said cupped washers, said spring acting through said washers against said inner stem abutment shoulder and said annular sleeve abutment, and normally tending to move said sleeve outwardly to engage its abutment with said outer stem abutment.

VILLIAM H. EDSALL. FRANK LA OTIS LATHROP.

lVit-nesses AL ERT M. WVoonwonrr-r, RoswELL D. Pnnnrns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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