US2436811A - Curtain rod or similar article - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1948. 'e. M. KENNEY ETAL 2,436,811 CURTAIN ROD OR SIMILAR ARTICLE v r F iled Oct. 51, 1945.

Patented Mar. 2, 1948 CURTAIN Ron on SIMILAR ARTICLE George M. Kenney, Cranston, and John F. Cavanagh, Providence, R. 1., assignors to 'Kenney Manufacturing Company, Cranston, R. I.,' a

1 corporation of Rhode Island Application October 31, 1945, Serial No. 625,746 g 1944, which has become abandoned.

4 Claims. (Cl. 211105.2)

to means for facilitating In shirring the open hem of a curtain upon a rod of this type, the rod sections are first separated and both curtains shirred over the outer rod section, after which the rod sections "are re-assembled with one anothenadjusted to properly span the window or other opening, replaced on their supporting brackets, and the curtains drawn along the rod until properly draped.-

During manufacture, the end of the outer rod section into which the inner rod section telescopes is sometimes accidentally burred or otherwise roughened. This results in araw or sharp edge on which the fabric of the curtain has a tendency to catch and tear, particularly when the curtain has been freshly laundered and tightly pressed. Such raw edge, moreover has a tendency to mutilate the lacquered finish of the inner rod section when the rod sections are telescoped into one another. Other manufacturingconsiderations which make it'diflicult 'to properly shir the curtain on the rod'without tearing the fabric,

or without injuring the finish of the rod sections, are variations in the size, gauge and temper of the rod sections. 7

It has been proposed heretofore to provide, as accessory equipment, a separatepiece, known as a leader or threader. This leader'or threader is first inserted, either within or-overfthe open end of the outer rod section. The curtain is then shirred'over it and, onto the outer rod section, after which the leader orthreader is removed from said outer. rod section to permit the inner rod section to be inserted into said outer rod section and the curtain properly adjusted along the rod. The use of such a leader or threader, however, is inconvenient and an extra task, particularly where a number of curtains have to be draped, and moreover increases the cost of the rod. Being a separate, adjunct, it has tobe stocked separately byv the trade, and is apt to be misplaced or lost by the housewife.

It has also been proposed to construct the inner rod section as an integral leader or threader byltapering its open end to function as such. Thisvexp'edient likewise :increases the manufacturing cost of the rod. Moreover, unless the edges of the tapered portion of the inner rod section and the adjacent edges of the outer rod section are perfectly smooth and remain so in service, the use of such a device actually increases the danger of the curtains catching and becoming torn. An-

other disadvantage is that the curtain must first be shirred onto the inner rod section and after-l wards transferred, onto the.,.outer rod section. During such, transfer the curtain is in no way protected against becoming caught and torn.

, 2 v Inasmuch as 'rods'of the type herein involved are sold largely on a price basis, the cost of the above-described leader or threader, whether it be a separate adjunct or be integrally formed in the course of manufacturing the inner rod section, is an item of cost "which the rod manufacturer has to take into consideration'i'ri fixing the selling price of his rod. e

' The main object of our present invention is to provide a leader or threader which will avoid the disadvantages of theseprior art expedients, as 'well'as offer advantages of itsown which cannot be had with the prior art' devices.

Other objects and advantages will appear as guard protects the curtain from damage by being caught or torn by any burr or raw edge which may exist at this end of the outer rod section as a result of its method-of manufacture, and protects the finish of the inner rod section from being damaged'by such raw edge when said inner rod section'is telescoped into the outer rod section. Our guard also reinforces the outer rod section in the area where it is most likely to becomebent or distorted, as well as constituting a decorative and distinctive embellishment for the rod.

We construct our guard as-a continuous band or loop completely encircling the open end of the outer rod section, and permanently attach it in position during the process of-manufacturing the outer rod section in any suitable manner, as by swaging. Y

Ourguard is U-shaped in; cross section and presents a smooth surface to the curtain fabric as the curtain is shirred thereover. It may be given any desired surface pattern or configuration whichmay either correspond to, or harmonize with, the pattern and configuration of the 'rod. Preferably'our guard is made of metal, but

If made of plastic or equivalent material, it may be colored to contrast with the rod..

Ou'r guard is applicable to'telescopic rods which are either of C-shap'e or of inverted U-shape in cross section. When applied' to a C-shape rod, it bridges the space'zbetween the oppositely turned back flangescof the outer rod section and strengthens and stiflens the rod in this area.

:When applied-to a U-shap'earod, it bridges the space between the inwardlyand upwardly exthe weight of the curtain when the rod sections are extended to substantially their limit, as when fitted to a very wide window opening.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein we have disclosed preferred embodiments of our invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a C-shaped telescopic curtain rod equipped with our guard. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the open end of the outer rod section of the rod of Fig. 1, and as seen from the back, particularly showing our guard, the same being shown as having a single leading edge only.

tending flanges 22 at the open bottom side of the rod.

Various other modification in application, design and materials may obviously be resorted to within the spirit andscope of our invention as defined by the appended claims.

.We claim:

1. A telescopic curtain rod, comprising inner and outer rod. sections, said outer rod section having a continuous frontwall and spaced longitudinally extending inturned top and bottom back flanges, the inner end of said front wall being convex in side elevation and projecting Figure 3 is view similar to Figure 2, but showing a modified form of our guard in which both edges thereof are constructed as leading edges.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a telescopic rod of inverted U-shape equipped with our guard. Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2. Referring to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, wherein we have illustrated our invention as applied to a C-shape telescopic curtain rod, we have designated at i0 and II, respectively, the inner and outer section of such a rod. Each rod section presents a continuous flat front wall l2 and spaced longitudinally aligned top and bottom back flanges l3 and M, respectively.

In manufacturing the outer rod section, it may be cut off square at its open end, or it may be so cut as to leave part of the front wall extending as a convexity or rounded projection, as indicated by the dotted line leader of numeral 15 in Figure 2'. In either case, as a result of the is apt to be burred or roughened, and to cover such raw edge, we swage or otherwise permanently assemble to the open end of the outer rod section a guard or shield it of any desired material. Guard I6 is constructed as a relatively- .manufacturing methods employed, such open end catching surface to the curtain fabric as it is shirred thereover, as well as protecting the finish of the inner rod section from being damaged when the two sections are telescopically fitted together. It also reinforces said rod section and embellishes the appearance of the rod as a whole. The width, thickness, and design of guard l6 may be varied as desired.

At least one wall of the guard is formed as a leading edge to facilitate shirring of the curtain. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the front edge of the guard is extended as a convexity or rounded projection l1 constituting a single leading edge.

In the modification of Figure 3, both the front and back walls of the guard are extended as convexities or rounded projections l8 and I9 constituting double leading edges.

Referring to Figure 4, wherein we have illustrated the application of our guard to a rod of inverted -U-shape cross section, the outer section 20, only of such a rod is shown, and guard 2| is swaged, or otherwise permanently assembled to the open end of said rod section; As clearly appears in said figure, guard 2 I- completely encircles the open end of said rod section and bridges the 7 centrally beyond the terminal plane of the adjacent flange ends to facilitate shirring of the curtain fabric over said outer rod section, and a guard or shield permanently fixed to the outer rod section exteriorly thereof, said guard or shield being continuous as viewed in end elevation and externally smooth and U-shaped in cross-section and extending across the space between said back flanges and completely around and embracing the inner end of said outer rod section so as to reinforce and stiffen the inner end of said outer rod section, said guard or shield having a convex front edge portion conforming in shape to and engaged over the convex inner end of the front wall of said outer rod section to facilitate entering of said outer rod section into, and its passage through, a rod accommodating pocket in the heading of a curtain.

2. A telescopic curtain rod comprising inner and outer rod sections, and a guard of U-shape in cross section and continuous in end elevation embracing the inner end of said outer rod section and permanently assembled therewith, said guard having a front end extension the leading edge of which is convexly rounded both transversely and as viewed in side elevation to facilitate entering of the outer rod section into, and its passage through, a rod accommodating pocket in the heading of a curtain.

3. A telescopic curtain rod comprising inner and outer rod sections each having substantially flat front and rear walls, and a guard of U-shape in cross section and continuous in end elevation embracing the inner end of said outer rod section and permanently assembled therewith, said guard including substantially flat front and rear walls the leading edge of at least one of which is convexly rounded both transversely and as viewed in side elevation to facilitate entering of the outer rod section into, and its passage through, a rod accommodating pocket in the heading of a curtain.

4. A curtain rod as set forth in claim 3 in which the leading edges of both the front and the rear walls of the guard are convexly rounded both transversely and as viewed in side elevation to facilitate entering of the outer rod section into, and its passage. through, a rod accommodating pocket in the heading of a curtain.

' GEORGE M. KENNEY.

JOHN F. CAVANAGI-I.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arev of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,062,478 Kroder Ma 20, 1913 2,237,406 Boye Apr. 8, 1941 1,089,550 Hannon et a1. .Mar. 10, 1914

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