US2268362A - Support for window accessories - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1941-. J. A. WEBER SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIES Filed April '7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Joh n Q. we be r Dec. 30, 1941. J. A. WEBER 2,268,362

SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIES I I Filed April 7, 1939 a Sheets-Sheet 2 fiVAlh. W h

INVENTOR.

Jo'hri 1Q. webs r' Dec. 30, 1941. J. A. WEBER SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIIES Filed April 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

I, b E ebm m 0 A n m .J

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIES John A. Weber, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,643

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fixtures of the type employed in association with windows or the like for supporting various accessories in relation to the window and is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No 720,865, filed April 16, 1934.

Heretofore considerable inconvenience has been experienced in arranging fixtures upon the supporting structure adjacent the window opening so that the various accessories will not only be supported in proper relation to each other as well as the window, but will also present a neat and pleasing appearance. This problem of properly fitting a window with accessories of the foregoing character is greatly aggravated by the wide variation of window sizes and also by the numerous diiferent types of drapery supporting instrumentalities.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention to simplify and expedite assembly of the several accessories in relation to windows, as well as to enhance the general appearance of the assembly by providing a fixture constructed to form a common anchorage for each of the various accessories. This arrangement not only obviates the necessity of providing separate attaching fixtures for each of the accessories but, in addition, provides for more rigidly securing the accessories in place.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provision of a fixture constructed to permit securing any one of a number of different types of accessories thereto without altering, or otherwise interfering with the design of the fixture. This feature is of importance, since it permits standardizing the fixture without placing any definite restrictions on the particular type of accessories employed.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a fixture which, in addition to being equipped with means for supporting any one or all of the accessories in proper relationship to the window, is also provided with means rendering it possible to adjustably support a tieback in operative relation to suitable drapery.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provision of a fixture of the type previously set forth embodying shade supporting elements capable of being reversed to permit supporting the shades at different distances laterally with respect to th window.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the novel means provided for quickly detachably securing the shade supporting elements in either of the two positions thereof set forth in the preceding paragraph.

In addition to the foregoing, the present in ventlon contemplates a fixture comprising a plate in the form of a sheet metal stamping having projections stamped therefrom and cooperating with each other to removably secure one end of a curtain rod or other accessory to the fixture.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure -1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner side of a window equipped with fixtures constructed in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fige 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of one of the shade supporting elements;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of the cooperating shade supporting element;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of construction;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of this invention;

Figure 11 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line lI-H of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational View of a further modification of the invention;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line I3-l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of still another form of the present invention;

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 15-5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 14.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and with special reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, it will be noted that I have shown a portion of a window 20 in Figure 1 having right and left-hand accessory supporting fixtures 2| and 22. The right-hand fixture 2| is identical in construction to the left-hand fixture 22, with the exception that the shade supporting bracket 23, associated with the fixture 2|, differs from the shade supporting bracket 24 mounted on the fixture 22 in that the former is fashioned to effect winding of the shade spring when the shade is drawn and the latter merely serves as a bearing or support for the shade.

In general, each of the fixtures is especially constructed to not only detachably support a shade supporting bracket but, in addition, co-

operates with one another to support a plurality of curtain rods 25 and 2B in a common plane with respect to the window 20. Also, each fixture embodies means for supporting a drapery tieback member 21 and a drapery supporting rod 28.

In view of the similarity between the two fixtures and the manner in which the latter support the several window accessories, a description of the right-hand fixture 2| is believed sufficient for a thorough understanding of the present invention. In detail, the fixture 2| comprises a plate 29 in the form of a sheet metal stamping having a portion 30 bent at right angles to the plate for engagement with one side of the window opening to position the fixture relative to the window opening and adapted to be secured in place by means of suitable screws 3|. Upon reference to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be noted that the sheet metal plate 29- is provided with two pairs of lugs 32 and 33 stamped outwardly from the plate to assume positions in side by side relationship at the same elevation. The pair of lugs 32 cooperate with each other and with the portion of the plate 29 between the lugs to form a socket of sufficient dimension to receive one end of the curtain rod 25. The end aforesaid of the curtain rod is upset to provide an enlarged return bent portion 34 cooperating with the lugs 32 to retain the curtain rod in assembled relation with the plate 28. As shown in Figure 4, the lower ends of the pair of lugs 32 are fashioned with diverging portions spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of the return bent head portion 34 on the curtain rod so as to form a stop to limit the extent of downward movement of the rod relative to the plate 29. The other pair of lugs 33 is identical in construction and cooperates with the upset end 35 on the curtain rod 26 to secure the same in position on the plate 29 in the same manner described in connection with the lugs 32. It will, of course, be understood that the number of pairs of cooperating lugs may vary in dependence upon the number of curtain rods it is desired to support on the plate or fixture and the number selected fOr the purpose of illustration should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Inasmuch as the cooperating pairs of lugs 32 and 33 are located at the same elevation on the plate 29, it necessarily follows that the two curtain rods are supported in a common horizontal plane. In the present instance, the drapery supporting rod 28 is shown as supported from the plate 29 in a common plane with the curtain rods. The drapery supporting rod is shown in Figure 3 as having a longitudinal portion 36 extending parallel to the curtain rods and having an angularly inwardly extending portion 31 terminating in a downwardly projecting part 38 supported on the fixture. In this connection, it will be noted from Figures 2 to 4, inclusive, that the sheet metal stamping or plate 29 is fashioned with a laterally outwardly extending bracket portion 39 having the top and bottom edge portions bent laterally to form vertically spaced flanges 40 and 4|. The flanges are disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to the plane of the plate 29 and, if desired, are provided with tabs 42 at the free ends thereof spot-welded to the plate or stamping 29. Referring more particularly to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that the upper flange 40 is provided with a slot 43 therethrough of sufficient dimension to slidably receive the downwardly projecting part 38 on the drapery supporting rod 28. The lower flange 4| is fashioned with a slot 44 of less dimension for receiving a projection 45 depending from the lower end of the part 38 and providing a shoulder 46 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the flange 4| to position the drapery supporting rod relative to the fixture.

In the event that it is desired to provide a tieback for the drapery suspended from the rod 28, the flanges 40 and 4| may be formed with aligned openings therethrough for receiving the member 21. In this connection, it will be noted from Figure 3 that the opening through the flange 40 is of less diameter than the opening through the flange 4| and is threaded for detachably engaging a threaded reduced portion 41 at the upper end of the member 21. Any suitable means (not shown herein) may be slidably supported on the member 2! for engaging the drapery. and thereby serving as a tieback for the latter. In this connection, it may also be pointed out that the top edge of the drapery supporting bar 28 is corrugated in the manner designated by the reference character 48 to facilitate positioning the usual drapery suspending rings in the event the latter are employed and, in addition, to hold the drapery in place on the bar 28.

It has also been stated above that provision is made for supporting a shade on the fixtures 2| and 22. For accomplishing this result, each fixture is provided with a pair of opposed elongated lugs 50 struck outwardly from the stamping and cooperating with each other and with the outer surface of the stamping to slidably receive one of the shade supporting brackets. The fixture 2| supports the shade supporting bracket 23, shown in Figure 8 as having an elongated portion 5| and a right angular portion 52. The elongated portion 5| is slidably engaged with the lugs 50 and is shown in Figure 6 as having spring fingers 53 and 54 spaced from each other in the direction of length of the portion 5|. The spring finger 53 is provided with a projection 55 successively engageable in the notches or openings 56 formed in the stamping 29 between the lugs 58 when the bracket 23 is in the full line position shown in Figure 6. The spring finger 54, on the other hand, is provided with an oppositely extending projection 51 successively engageable in the same notches 56 when the bracket 23 is in its reverse position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6.

The above arrangement is such as to permit the bracket 23 to be adjusted relative to the fixture in either of the two positions thereof to compensate for shades of different length. In

this connection, it will be noted that the projections on the spring fingers are shaped to provide for camming the fingers outwardly in dependence upon sliding movement of the bracket 23 in either direction relative to the stamping or plate 29. It may be pointed out at this time that the bracket 24, shown in Figure 7, is adapted to be adjustably mounted on the fixture 22 in exactly the same manner as described above in connection with the bracket 23.

Referring again to Figure 6, it will be noted that when the bracket 23 is in its full line position shown in this figure, the angularly extending portion 52 projects inwardly toward the window and, accordingly, in the reverse position of the bracket, the portion 52 projects outwardly. In this connection, it will be noted from Figure 8 that the portion 52 is fashioned with a pair of vertically spaced slots 58 and 59, respectively, re-

ceiving the conventional flattened or ratchet end of the shade to insure supporting the shade at the same elevation, irrespective of which of the two positions the bracket assumes relative to the window. It may also be pointed out at this time that the portion 60 of the angularly extending flange 52 on the fixture 23 located between the slots projects beyond the entrant ends of the slots and is enlarged in width at the extremity to such an extent as to prevent accidental disengagement of the associated end of the shade from the bracket 23, but at the same time is not of sufficient width to obstruct insertion of the latter end in the slots. The angularly extending portion SI of the bracket 24 is fashioned with two openings 62 and 63 for respectively receiving the opposite end of the shade to effectively support the latter at the proper elevation in either position of the bracket.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 9 differs from the construction previously described in that the drapery supporting rod and tieback member are mounted on a bracket 64 formed separately from the stamping or plate 29 and preferably being substantially U-shaped. The free ends of the leg portions of 1,

11 differs principally from the first described form of this invention in the manner in which the shade supporting bracket is mounted on the fixture. As shown in the above figures, a pair of opposed lugs 6'! and 68 are struck outwardly from the stamping or plate 29 and cooperate with the stamping to slidably receive the body portion 69 of the shade supporting bracket. However, in the present instance, the shade supporting bracket is held in any one of its various adjusted positions by means of a set screw Ill threadedly supported on the body portion 69 of the bracket and frictionally engaging the portion of the stamping 29 located between the lugs 61 and 68. 2

Also, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the tabs 42, shown in Figure 4, are eliminated from the fianges 4& and M In lieu of the flanges 42, lugs 10 are struck out from the stamping 29 and are welded to the flanges adjacent the free ends thereof.

'With the above exceptions, the fixture is identical to the fixture illustrated in the first embodiment of this invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13, I have illustrated a fixture wherein the stamping 28 is provided with a generally H-shaped portion H struck outwardly from the stamping to cooperate with the adjacent face of the stamping to slidably receive the shade supporting bracket. As shown in Figure 12, the H-shaped portion extends longitudinally and the bar 12 thereof is extruded to form an internally threaded hub 13. A set screw 14 is threaded in the hub 13 with the free end thereof frictionally engaging the shade supporting fixture to hold the latter in any one of its several adjusted positions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 14 to 16, inclusive, I have shown a fixture formed of a die casting and capable of supporting the accessories previously described in connection with the foregoing modifications. In this construction, a pair of lugs and '16 are cast on the fixture to respectively support the curtain rods l1 and 13. The lug forms a substantially semi-circular shaped socket adapted to receivean enlarged head 19 on the outer curtain rod supporting element in a manner to retain the supporting element 88 and associated curtain rod in assembled relation with the fixture. The lug 16 is of identical shape to receive the enlarged head 8| of the inner curtain rod supporting element 82 and cooperates with the latter to hold the inner curtain rod on the fixture. In this connection, it will be noted that the curtain rod supporting element 80 is of a length greater than the element 82 to enable the use of interchangeable curtain rods for both the inner and outer positions. In other words, by employing the supporting elements 89 and 82 previously described, it is not necessary to provide curtain rods of different size in order to support one within the other.

If desired, the fixture may also be cast with an enlargement 83 having provision in the form of a threaded opening 84 for detachably receiving a drapery tieback member and, in addition, the enlargement may be formed with a slot 85 for supporting a drapery supporting bar.

Also, if desired, provision may be made on the fixture for supporting a shade, as evidenced by the fact that in Figure 15 I have shown the fixture as cast with a longitudinally extending recess 86 therein adapted to telescopically receive the body portion 31 of a shade supporting bracket similar to the one shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, except that the spring fingers are eliminated. In the present instance, a threaded hub 88 is cast on the fixture for receiving a set screw 89 having the free end frictionally engaging the portion 81 of the bracket to hold the latter in any one of its several adjusted positions.

It will be observed from the foregoing that each of the several embodiments of the present invention, selected herein for the purpose of illustration, features a fixture having provision for readily supporting a plurality of window accessories thereon in proper relationship to a window. It will also be noted that the present invention illustrates the manner in which the fixture may be formed entirely from sheet metal stampings or may be die cast. In addition, it will be apparent from the foregoing that irrespective of whether the fixture is fashioned from a sheet metal stamping or is die cast, the same is of simple compact construction capable of being inexpensively manufactured and readily installed.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predetermined relation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of a plate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form a socket open at the top for receiving one end of a window accessory and having inwardly extending portions at the bottom forming a stop for engagement with said end of the window accessory, additional elongated lugs struck outwardly from the plate and cooperating with the plate to form a guide, a bracket having a portion slidably engaging the guide and having another portion for supporting a second window accessory on the plate, and vertically spaced flanges projecting laterally from the plate and provided with aligned openings for receiving a' third window accessory element equipped with a shoulder adapted to rest on one of the flanges to support the latter window accessory element on said plate.

2. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predetermined relation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of a plate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form a socket open at the top for receiving and retaining one end of a window accessory on the plate and having inwardly extending portions at the bottom forming a stop for engagement with said end of the window accessory, additional elongated lugs struck outwardly from the plate and cooperating with the latter to form a horizontal guide, a bracket having a portion slidably engaging the guide and having another portion for supporting one end of a second window accessory on the plate, and a. second bracket demountably supported on the plate and having provision for supporting additional window accessories on said plate.

3. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predetermined relation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of a plate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form a socket for receiving and retaining one end of a window accessory on the plate, additional elongated lugs struck outwardly from the plate and cooperating with the latter to form a guide, a bracket having a portion slidably engaging the guide and having another portion for supporting one end of a second accessory on the plate, a second substantially U-shaped bracket having laterally projecting lugs at the free ends of the leg portions thereof demountably held in assembled relation in the plate by straps struck outwardly from the plate, and means on the opposed legs of the U-shaped bracket for supporting an additional window accessory.

JOHN A. WEBER.

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