Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DEVICE FOR HANGING A CURTAIN IN FRONT OF A WINDOW
The present invention relates to a device for hanging a curtain
in front of a window.
The term "curtain" has to be understood in the widest sense,
i.e. as referring to any type of means allowing a window to be
blacked out, including for example a blind. The same applies to
the term "window" which has to be understood as referring to a
window with two actual leaves, or to similar openings on one
window such as French windows, for example.
In the same manner, the "rail" mentioned below has to be
understood as including a rail, a bar or a supporting rail for
one or more curtains, or the like.
To hang a curtain in front of a window, it is currently
necessary to fix the rail for supporting the curtain to the wall
which necessitates carrying out sufficient drilling and screwing
operations. These fixing operations are relatively complex to
carry out and have the drawback of requiring holes to be made in
the wall.
The present invention aims to alleviate this fundamental
drawback.
To this end, the device to which it relates comprises two sub-
assemblies for mounting the rail for supporting the curtain on
the leaves of the window, each sub-assembly comprising a plate
and an offset arm; the plate is formed so as to be able to be
fixed to the upper edge of a leaf, in the vicinity of the'pivot
axis thereof, and comprises mounting means for the pivotable
mounting of the offset arm thereon, along an axis extending,
after mounting on the leaf, parallel to- the pivot axis of the
leaf; the offset arm is formed to offset the rail relative to
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the wall; it is pivotably mounted on the plate by means of said
mounting means and is pivotably connected to the rail at a point
thereof which is longitudinally fixed, also along an axis
parallel to the pivot axis of the leaf.
The plate of each sub-assembly is thus fixed onto the upper edge
of a leaf of the window, in the vicinity of the pivot axis of
this leaf, and each offset arm is pivotably mounted on the
corresponding plate, the two offset arms supporting the rail
having the possibility of pivoting relative to this rail.
The rail is thus directly mounted onto the leaves of the window
and not onto the wall. By means of the mounting of the plates
onto the upper edge of the leaves, said sub-assemblies extend
upwards relative to the leaves, and by means of the pivotable
mounting of the offset arms relative to the plates and the rail,
these sub-assemblies do not provide an obstacle to opening one
leaf or the two leaves over a large width, which is able to
reach 180 degrees, or even further.
Preferably, at least one plate comprises an abutment member and
the corresponding offset arm also comprises an abutment member,
these two abutment members being arranged so as to come into
abutment against one another in the closed position of the leaf.
This coming into abutment allows, in the closed position of the
leaf, the pivoting of the offset arm to be blocked relative to
the plate in a pivoting direction, and thus to limit the
displacement of the rail relative to the leaves.
Preferably, the plates and the offset arms of the two sub-
assemblies each comprise abutment members as mentioned above.
Thus, in the closed position of the two leaves, the pivoting of
the two offset arms relative to the plates is blocked, making it
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possible to ensure the positioning of the rail parallel to the
wall and making it possible to ensure a longitudinal
immobilization of the rail relative to this wall.
During the opening movement of the two leaves, and in the
completely open position of these leaves, the mounting of the
plates in the vicinity of the pivot axes of the leaves allows a
limited displacement of the rail relative to the wall.
In the event of opening a single leaf, the abutment members of
the sub-assembly of the leaf remaining closed allows the
displacement of the rail to be blocked in a longitudinal
direction and thus the centering of this rail to be
substantially maintained relative to the window.
The means for the pivotable mounting of an offset arm on the
corresponding plate are preferably formed by a pin integral with
the plate and by a bore made in each offset arm, this bore
allowing the pivotable engagement of the offset arm on the pin.
The abutment member of each plate is preferably formed by a pin
integral with each plate, and the abutment member of the
corresponding offset arm is formed by a projection projecting
radially from this offset arm, this projection preferably being
integral with this offset arm.
Preferably each plate comprises means for adjusting the position
of the pivotable mounting means of the offset arm, these
adjusting means being able to be adjusted such that the pivot
axis of the offset arm is merged with the pivot axis of the leaf
on which the plate"is mounted.
These adjusting means allow the rail to be held substantially
parallel to the wall whatever the positions of the leaves.
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To ensure the perfect maintenance of this rail parallel to the
wall, it is useful to provide means for limiting the pivoting of
each offset arm relative to the rail. This limitation may, for
example, be in the order of 5 on both sides of a nominal
position.
When a leaf comprises an upper rebate, the plate intended to be
fixed to this leaf is preferably formed and dimensioned to be
able to be engaged to overlap, in a close-fitting manner, the
projecting edge of the leaf which defines the rebate.
A rigid mounting of the sub-assembly relative to the leaf is
thus obtained.
Advantageously, in this case, each plate comprises a tapped bore
being able to receive an adjusting screw capable of bearing
against the leaf without penetrating the material thereof.
The immobilization of the plate relative to the leaf is thus
obtained without it being necessary to drill into the leaf.
Advantageously, each sub-assembly comprises means for adjusting
the height of the rail relative to the leaf. These means may, in
particular, be in the form of a tapped bore made in each offset
arm and a threaded pin being able to be screwed to a greater or
lesser extent into this tapped bore. In this case, the threaded
pin may, in particular, be integral with a part for mounting the
rail; when said rail is in the form of a bar, said mounting part
may be formed by a sleeve through which this bar is engaged,
this sleeve being fitted with a radial adjusting screw to create
the immobilization of the sleeve relative to the bar.
The invention will be easily understood and further features and
advantages thereof will become apparent by referring to the
accompanying schematic drawings, showing by way of non-limiting
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example two possible embodiments of the device to which it
relates.
Figure 1 is a general view thereof, from the side, according to
a first embodiment, when it is installed on two leaves
of a window, the right-hand leaf being in the closed
position whilst the left-hand leaf is shown in the
closed position in dotted lines and in the open
position in solid lines;
Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of one of the two sub-
assemblies which this device comprises;
Figure 3 is a view of this sub-assembly similar to Figure 2,
after mounting;
Figure 4 is a view of the device from above, the two leaves of
the window being closed;
Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, the two leaves of the
window being open;
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4, one of the two leaves of
the window being open whilst the other is closed;
Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of one of the sub-
assemblies of the device according to a second
embodiment;
Figure 8 is a detailed view, in enlarged scale, and
Figure 9 is a general view of the device after mounting on the
leaves of a window.
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In the following description, the parts or elements which are
found from one embodiment to the other will be denoted by the
same reference numerals and will not be described further.
Figure 1 shows a device for hanging one or two curtains in front
of a window, comprising two sub-assemblies 1 for mounting a rail
2 for supporting the curtain(s) (not shown) on the leaves 3 of
the window.
One of the two sub-assemblies 1 is visible in enlarged scale on
Figures 2 and 3. The two sub-assemblies 1 have identical
structures, except that they are symmetrical relative to the
vertical median plane of the window.
As appears on these Figures 2 and 3, each sub-assembly 1
comprises, in the example shown, a plate 5 for mounting on the
leaf 3, an offset arm 6 and a sleeve 7 receiving the rail 2.
The plate 5 comprises a planar and rectangular central part, and
two flanges folded at right angles relative to this central part
projecting from two opposing longitudinal edges of this central
part. As is understood by comparing Figures 2 and 3, the plate 5
may be engaged to overlap, in a close-fitting manner, the
projecting edge 3a of the leaf 3 which defines the rebate 10
which this leaf 3 comprises. =
One of the folded flanges of the plate 5 comprises a tapped bore
11 receiving an adjusting screw 12, in the.form of a threaded
metal cylinder. This adjusting screw 12 is capable of bearing
against the leaf 3 without penetrating the material thereof,
allowing an immobilization of the plate 5 to be carried out
relative to the leaf 3 without it being necessary to drill into
the leaf 3.
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Said central part of the plate 5 comprises, moreover, two
parallel pins 13, 14 fixed thereto, projecting from the side
opposing the direction according to which said folded flanges
themselves project from this central part.
The pin 13, after mounting, being located closest to the pivot
axis of the leaf 3 forms an abutment member, and the pin 14
forms a pivot on which the offset arm 6 may be pivotably
mounted.
Said offset arm has the shape of a double bend, defining a
slightly inclined central part and two end portions in opposing
directions with axes parallel to one another. This shape allows
the offset arm 6, as visible in Figures 1 and 4 to 6, when this
arm is mounted on a plate 5, itself mounted on a leaf 3, to
offset the rail 2 relative to the wall in which the window is
built.
The lower end portion of the arm 6 comprises a bore allowing the
pivotable mounting of the arm 6 on the pin 14 and a projection
15 projecting radially relative thereto, this projection 15
being integral with the arm 6. As Figures 3 and 4 show, the pin
13 and the projection 15 are arranged so as to abut against one
another in the closed position of the leaf 3, thus immobilizing
the pivoting of the arm 6 relative to the plate 5 in a pivoting
direction.
In its upper end portion, the arm 6 comprises a threaded bore 19
in which, before engaging the rail 2 in the sleeve 7, a threaded
pin 20 fixed radially on the sleeve 7 may be screwed to a
greater or lesser extent. This more or less pronounced screwing
allows the height of the sleeve 7 to be adjusted relative to the
arm 6 and, as a result, the height of the rail 2 relative to the
rail 3.
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The sleeve 7 also comprises an axial tapped bore 21 in which an
adjusting screw 22 may be engaged, allowing the longitudinal
immobilization of the rail 2 relative to the sleeve 7.
After the engagement of the rail 2 in the sleeve 7, the pivoting
of the pin 20 in the bore 19 of the arm 6 remains possible, such
that the arm 6 is also pivotably mounted relative to the sleeve
7.
As Figures 1 and 4 show, when the leaves 3 are closed, the pins
13 of the two plates 5 are in abutment against the projections
15 of the arms 6, such that the pivoting of the two arms 6
relative to the plates 5 is blocked. This blocking makes it
possible to ensure the positioning of the rail 2 parallel to the
wall and also allows a longitudinal immobilization of the rail 2
relative to this wall, for a movement of the curtain(s) along
this rail 2 without displacing said rail.
Figure 5 shows that, taking account of the mounting of the
plates 5 in the vicinity of the pivot axes of the leaves 3 and
on the upper edge thereof, it is possible to open the leaves 3
over a very large width, reaching 180 degrees, or even more,
without substantial displacement of the rail 2 relative to the
wall.
In the event of opening a single leaf 3, as is shown in Figure
6, the pin 13 and the projection 15 of the sub-assembly 1 of the
leaf 3 remaining closed allow the displacement of the rail 2 to
be blocked in a longitudinal direction thereof and thus the
centering of this rail 2 to be substantially maintained relative
to the window.
Thus, with the device according to the invention, the rail 2 for
supporting the curtain(s) is mounted directly on the leaves 3 of
the window, and not on the wall, and the sub-assemblies 1 for
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supporting the rail 2 do not provide an obstacle to opening one
leaf 3 or the two leaves 3 over a large width, and this whilst
maintaining the rail 2 in a substantially parallel position
relative to the wall and in a substantially centered position
relative to the window.
Figures 7 to 9 show a device in which the rail 2 is maintained
substantially parallel to the wall whatever the positions of the
leaves 3. To this end, each plate 5 is in two parts 5a, 5b, the
lower part 5a allowing the mounting on the leaf 3 and the upper
part 5b comprising the,pivot 14 and the abutment 13. The part 5b
may be adjusted in position relative to the part 5a such that
the pivot axis of the offset arm 6 is merged with the pivot axis
of the leaf 3 on which the plate 5 is mounted, as Figure 9
shows. This adjustment in position is, in the example shown,
carried out by means of an aperture 25 made in the part 5b and a
screw 26 engaged in this aperture 25, and then in a tapped bore
made in the part 5a. After sufficient positioning of the parts
5a, 5b the screw 26 is tightened. A groove and a rib (not shown)
parallel to the aperture 25 may be made in the parts 5a and 5b
to wedge the part 5b longitudinally relative to the part 5a.
The pin 20 of each sleeve 7 and the upper end of each offset arm
6 each comprise a hole 27, 28 for receiving a cotter pin 29, the
hole 27 of this pin 20 and/or the hole 28 of this arm 6 being
made so that the pivoting of the arm 6 relative to the rail 2 is
limited to a path in the order of 5 on both sides of a nominal
position (cf. Figure 8).
By means of these arrangements, the rail 2 remains perfectly
parallel to the wall whatever the positions of the leaves 3, as
Figure 9 shows.
The invention provides, therefore, a device having the decided
advantage of being able to be positioned according to the fixing
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operations which are relatively simple and rapid to implement,
without making it necessary to create holes in the wall; when
the device comprises plates 5 and adjusting screws 12 such as
described above, the mounting of this device does not require
drilling holes into the leaves 3.
It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the
embodiment disclosed above by way of example but extends to all
embodiments covered by the accompanying claims.
