Abstract:
A curtain rod assembly for a window having a window casement is disclosed. The curtain rod assembly includes left and right brackets. Each bracket has a curtain rod support extending therefrom. An adjustable support rod is coupled to the left and right brackets. The adjustable support rod is configured and arranged to brace the left bracket and the right bracket against the window casement. A decorative curtain rod is suspended between the curtain rod supports.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present patent document claims priority to earlier filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/985,413, filed Nov. 5, 2007, and U.S. Design Patent Application Ser. No. 29/324,228, filed Sep. 9, 2008, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to curtain rods and more specifically to a curtain rod that does not require tools or permanent mounting hardware, such as screws or nails, to attach to a window casement. 
     2. Background of the Related Art 
     Curtain rods that require no mounting hardware and that are frictionally fit within a window casement, commonly known as spring tension rods, are known in the art. These rods are desirable to consumers because they require little or no skill or tools to install, and installation is frequently damage-free to the window casement. However, these prior art spring tension rods require the use of spring-tension to form the tight friction fit within the window casement. The disadvantage to using a spring-tension rod is that fact that, over time, the rod slips down the window casement or even falls out of the window casement entirely. As a consequence, the consumer needs to periodically adjust and reinstall the spring tension rods to correct the misalignment due to this slippage. Accordingly, it would desirable in the art to have a tool-less curtain rod that minimizes slipping, yet still retains the known advantages of prior art tool-less curtain rods 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The tool-less curtain rod assembly of the present invention solved the problems of the prior art by providing a tool-less curtain rod that includes a pair of mounting brackets with an adjustable support rod that is rigid and does not rely on spring-tension to keep the assembly from slipping or falling from a window casement. In particular, the adjustable support rod includes a novel gross and fine adjustment mechanism which permits the adjustable support rod to be tightened against the window casement. The brackets also include a depending stabilizer portion which resists twisting forces applied to the bracket via the weight of a curtain rod and curtain mounted on hooks extending from the brackets. 
     Although there are tool-less single curtain rods in the prior art that project from the window casement, those products do not hold very much weight and are intended only to be used in wood casings. The tool-less curtain rod assembly of the present invention, however, can hold much more weight than such prior art spring tension type rods. 
     Moreover, the tool-less curtain rod assembly of the present invention may also be used to hold two layers of drapery treatments, a common window decorating approach. Prior art double curtain rods, however, are not tool-less. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a tool-less double curtain rod; 
         FIG. 2  is a close up view of one end of the preferred embodiment of the tool-less double curtain rod; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the right bracket, it being understood that the left bracket is the mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a close up view of the latching mechanism for the adjustable support rod; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-section view showing how the fine adjustment mechanism is positioned within the adjustable support rod; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the fine adjustment mechanism; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of locking finger of the fine adjustment mechanism; and 
         FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of the fine adjustment mechanism, which includes a spring-button. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the tool-less double curtain rod assembly is shown generally at  10 . The tool-less double rod assembly  10  generally includes an adjustable support rod  12 , two brackets  14  and a decorative curtain rod  16 . The adjustable support rod  12  may also serve as a second curtain rod-tee. As will be described in greater detail below, the brackets  14  are configured to be held in place against the opposing vertical interior sides of a window casement (not shown) by the adjustable support rod  12  and are also configured to removably hold the decorative curtain rod  16  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The decorative curtain rod  16  may preferably telescope to a desired length to fit within hooks  18  of the brackets  14 . The decorative curtain rod  16  may also include a pair of finials  20  extending from either end to accent the entire assembly  10 . Alternatively, a fixed length curtain rod or curtain rod cut to fit the desired length may also be used in place of an adjustable curtain rod  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a right side bracket  14  is shown. The left bracket is the mirror image of the right bracket  14 . Each bracket  14  includes a forward portion  22  with a curtain rod hook  18  extending therefrom. The hook  18  may also include a set screw (not shown), which may or may not include a decorative head, for tightening against the decorative curtain rod  16  in order to selectively lock the decorative curtain rod  16  within the hook  18 . 
     A side portion  24  extends rearwardly and perpendicularly from the front portion  22  and includes an inner holding structure  26  and an outer holding structure  28  for holding the adjustable support rod  12 . The side portion  24  may also include an aperture  28  formed thereon to receive a fastener to more securely attach the bracket  14  to the window casement. 
     Extending downwardly from the front portion  22  is a stabilizer portion  30 . The stabilizer portion  30  prevents twisting of the bracket  14  against the window casement when the hook  18  is loaded with a curtain rod  16  with a curtain or drape supported thereon. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the adjustable support rod  12  includes an outer tubular portion, or part,  32  and a smaller diameter inner tubular portion, or part,  34 . As the drawings show, the tubular portions are round in cross section. Each tubular portion  32 ,  34  includes an inward facing end and an outward facing end. The inward facing end of the inner tubular portion  34  is slidably received within the inward facing end  33  of the outer tubular portion  32 , thus forming a tubular part subassembly. The subassembly allows the length of adjustable support rod  12  to be grossly adjusted to fit the size of a window casement, by slidably adjusting how much of the inner tubular portion  34  is within the outer tubular portion  32 . The grossly adjusted length of rod  12  or two fitted-together tubular parts  32 ,  34  is determined by which selected aperture  36  the tab  35  of finger  38  engages, as described next. A finger with tab and engagement of the tab with an aperture comprises a means for grossly adjusting the length of the support rod; alternatively stated, a gross adjustment mechanism. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the outer tubular portion  32  includes several lengthwise-spaced apart apertures  36 , configured to receive tab  35  of locking finger  38 . Finger  38  is connected indirectly to the end of the inner tubular portion  34 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , and described further below. Sleeve  40  is fitted around the outer tubular portion  32 . During use, the sleeve  40  is drawn over tab  35  of the locking finger  38 , where it protrudes through one of the apertures  36  on the outer tubular portion  32 , to prevent a curtain from snagging on the locking finger tab. 
     The outward facing ends  37 ,  39 , respectively, of the inner tubular portion  34  and outer tubular portion  32  of the adjustable support rod  12  are configured to be received within the holding structures  26 ,  28  on the brackets  14 .  FIG. 2  shows the outer end of the outer tubular portion  34  as it is received within the outer holding structure  28  on the bracket  14 . The outward facing end  37  of the inner tubular portion  34  is received within the inner holding structure  26  in a similar manner. See  FIG. 1 . Although the ends of the adjustable support rod  12  are shown being received within the holding structures  26 ,  28 , this arrangement could easily be reversed with the holding structures  26 ,  28  being configured to be inserted into the outward facing ends of the tubular portions  32 ,  34  of the adjustable support rod  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5-7 , the fine adjustment mechanism  42 , for further changing the length of the adjustable support rod  12 , is shown. In order to fit the tool-less double rod  10  within the opposing vertical interior sides of window casements of varying sizes, the adjustable support rod  12  also needs to be finely adjustable in addition to being grossly adjustable. The fine adjustment mechanism, or means for finely adjusting,  42  is shown in  FIG. 6  and includes a ferrule  44  with a flange  46  and a threaded aperture  48  therethrough. Threaded rod  50  is received within the threaded aperture  48  of ferrule  44 . A locking finger  38  is trapped between two nuts  52  on the end of the threaded rod  50 . The locking finger  38  may be further reinforced with a backing plate (not shown) to stiffen the finger  38 . As shown, finger  38  extends radially outwardly and terminates in a folded tab  35  engages the outer tubular part at an aperture  36 . 
     The threaded rod  50  also includes a stop  54  to prevent the threaded rod  50  from being extracted from the aperture  48  on the ferrule  44 . One way to form the stop  52  is by flattening the end of the threaded rod  50  by stamping it. Another structure, such as a nut, may also be fastened to the end of the threaded rod to form the stop  52 . The locking finger  38  is best shown in  FIG. 7  and includes a central aperture  56  for receiving the threaded rod  50  and a tab  35  which is sized to fit into an aperture  36  of outer tubular portion  32 . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 5 , the ferrule  44  is received within the inward facing end of the inner tubular portion  34  with the flange  46  forced against an outer edge of the inward facing end  34 . The flange  46  on the ferrule  44  prevents the ferrule  44  from being forced into the inner tubular portion  34 . Because the threaded rod  50  is received within the threaded aperture  48  on the ferrule  44 , tightening or loosening direction rotation of the ferrule and thus the tubular portions relative to each other, effectively lengthens or shortens the distance the locking finger  38  is positioned from the inward facing end of the inner tubular portion  34 . 
     To fit the tool-less curtain rod  10  within a window casement, the user slidably adjusts the inner tubular portion  34  within the outer tubular portion  32 , to make the gross adjustment, until the overall length of the adjustable support rod is about the size of the window casement. In doing that, the user fits the locking finger  38  into the nearest aperture  36  on the outer tubular member  32  that correlates to the desired size of the window casement. The user then fits the left bracket  14  and right bracket  14  onto the outward facing ends of the tubular portions  32 ,  34  of the adjustable support rod  12  and holds the adjustable support rod  12  at the desired installation location within the window casement. After the user has positioned the adjustable support rod  12  within the window casement, the user rotates or twists the inner tubular portion  32  in the appropriate direction, making the threaded rod  50  to move out of the ferrule  44 , so the tubular members  32 ,  34  move outwardly and so the adjustable support rod  12  is lengthened and tightened within the window casement. Twisting the inner tubular portion  32 , thereby twisting threaded rod  50  into the ferrule  44 , in the opposite direction loosens the adjustable support rod  12  and allows the tool-less curtain rod to be removed from the window casement. Because the user can tighten the tool-less curtain rod  12 , the user can apply sufficient pressure to prevent the tool-less curtain rod from slipping or falling out of the window casement. 
     Referring now to the exploded view of  FIG. 8A  and the assembly view of  FIG. 8B , an alternative embodiment fine adjustment mechanism  100  is shown. Like the preferred embodiment  42  shown in  FIG. 6 , the alternative embodiment  100  includes a ferrule  144  with a flange  146 , a threaded aperture  148  and a threaded rod  150  received therein. The threaded rod  150  also includes a stop  154  as well. Also like the preferred embodiment  42 , the threaded rod  150  of the alternative embodiment  100  may be shortened and lengthened by threading the threaded rod  154  into the or out of the ferrule  144  as desired. The primary difference between the two embodiments of means for finely adjusting  42 ,  100 , is that spring-button holder  102 , which is connected to the end of the threaded rod  150  by a nut  106 , replaces the body of locking finger  38  of the preferred embodiment  42 ; and that spring button  104 , which is attached to holder  102 , replaces tab  35  of finger  38 . Spring button  104  selectively engages one of the apertures  36  on the outer tubular member  32  to lock the adjustable support rod  12  at a desired length. Thus, both embodiments comprise a structure which extends radially outwardly to connect the threaded rod (and thus indirectly the ferrule and outer end of the inner tubular part) to outer tubular part by means of a portion which fits within an aperture of the outer tubular part. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a tool-less curtain rod assembly that does not require a spring-tension rod and alleviates the problem of prior art tool-less curtain rods from slipping or falling from the window casement. 
     It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention.