Abstract:
A curtain rod assembly includes one or more support members, such as brackets, that are configured to support a curtain rod from a wall. The support member include a coupler portion that provides a seamless and flush interface between the support member and the rod.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PRIORITY DOCUMENT 
   This application claims priority of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/798,111 filed May 4, 2006. Priority of the aforementioned filing date is hereby claimed and the disclosure of the Provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Disclosed herein is a curtain rod having an integrated bracket assembly. 
   A popular form of curtain rod comprises a generally straight rod member. The rod member typically has a plurality of rings that are slidably mounted to support curtains, draperies or the like. In this manner, the rod can support the curtains in a suspended state over a window or other structure. 
   In order to hang the curtain rod from a wall, one more brackets is typically attached to the rod. The brackets are typically fixed to the wall or woodwork surrounding the window. The plurality of brackets extend outward from the wall and provide, for example, a surface on which the curtain rod rests. The brackets can have various structures. For example, the brackets can be hook shaped such that they receive and support the curtain rod on the wall. The brackets can also be annular or ring-shaped such that the brackets surround the curtain rod. In any event, the brackets are typically visible from the front and contribute to an interrupted appearance of the curtain rod&#39;s profile. 
   SUMMARY 
   In view of the foregoing, there remains a need for a curtain rod assembly having an integrated supportive bracket providing a seamless profile when viewed from the front. 
   In one aspect, there is disclosed a curtain rod assembly, comprising: an elongated curtain rod having a first end and a second end, the rod extending along a longitudinal axis; a bracket having a base adapted to be secured to a wall and a shaft that extends outwardly from the base for coupling to the curtain rod, wherein the shaft protrudes into the curtain rod along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, the bracket adapted to support the curtain rod from a wall; and a fastener that protrudes into the curtain rod along a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, wherein a distal end of the fastener engages the shaft of the bracket to retain the shaft within the curtain rod. 
   In another aspect, there is disclosed a curtain rod assembly, comprising: an elongated curtain rod having a first end and a second end, the rod extending along a longitudinal axis; a bracket adapted be secured to a wall and to support the curtain rod from the wall, the bracket having an elongated portion that couples to the curtain rod, wherein the elongated portion protrudes into the curtain rod along a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis; and a fastener that protrudes into the curtain rod along a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis, wherein a distal end of the fastener engages the shaft of the bracket to retain the shaft within the curtain rod. 
   Other features and advantages should be apparent from the following description of various embodiments, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a curtain rod assembly; 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the curtain rod assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3A  shows a perspective view of the curtain rod of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIGS. 3B and 3C  show cross-sectional views of the curtain rod of  FIG. 3A  taken along lines B-B and C-C, respectively; 
       FIG. 4A  shows a cross-sectional view of the curtain rod assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along lines A-A; 
       FIG. 4B  shows a cross-sectional view of the curtain rod assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along lines B-B; 
       FIG. 4C  shows a top plan view of the curtain rod assembly of  FIG. 1  taken along circle C; 
       FIG. 5  shows a top plan view of another embodiment of a curtain rod assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of one embodiment of a curtain rod assembly  100 . Only one end of the curtain rod assembly is shown in the figure, but it should be appreciated that the opposite end of the curtain rod assembly can be a mirror image of what is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the curtain rod assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 , which includes a rod  105 , an end-piece  110  and a bracket  115 . The rod  105  is an elongated member, such as a substantially hollow tube. The rod can be entirely hollow or only partially hollow. The hollow interior of the rod  105  is capped at each end by a connector element  101 . The end-piece  110  attaches to the rod  105  at each end by way of the connector element  101 . The rod  105  also has an aperture  103  near each of its ends that is in communication with its hollow interior. The bracket  115  inserts through the aperture  103  of the rod  105  and is fixed in place by the end-piece  110  and a fastener  112 . This integration of the bracket  115  within the rod  105  by the end-piece  110  and fastener  112  imparts a seamless profile to the curtain rod assembly  100  as described in more detail below. 
   The end-piece  110 , such as a decorative finial, connects to each end of the rod  105  by way of the fastener  112 . The end-piece need not be a decorative finial. The fastener  112  can be, for example, a double-ended screw and provides a connection between the end-piece  110  and the rod  105 . This connection can be by way of the connector element  101 , as described in more detail below. The fastener  112  can be of conventional gauge and thread count known in the art. The fastener  112  can be part of the end-piece  110  as shown in the curtain rod assembly embodiment of  FIG. 2  or the fastener  112  can be independent of the end-piece  110 . 
   As described above, the supportive bracket  115  is integrated within the rod  105  by interaction with the end-piece  110  and fastener  112 . This can impart a visually seamless profile to the curtain rod assembly  100  such that the bracket  115  appears to be an integral piece with the rod. The bracket  115  as shown in  FIG. 2  includes a wall coupler, such as a flat base  119 , and an elongate shaft  117 . The base  119  includes one or more holes  125  through which the base  119  of the bracket  115  can be fixedly attached to the wall or woodwork around the window such as by screws, nails and the like. Alternately, the base  118  cab be attached using glue. The elongate shaft  117  extends outwardly away from the base  119  and inserts into the aperture  103  of the rod  105  at its opposite end, to be described in more detail below. The shaft  117  and the aperture  103  are of corresponding diameter and size such that when the shaft  117  is inserted through the aperture  103  there is very little play or movement between the two. This provides for a stable connection between the rod  105  and the bracket  115 . 
   As best shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the connector element  101  is located inside the hollow interior of the rod  105  at or near each end of the rod  105 . The connector element  101  can be fixedly attached to the hollow interior of the rod  105 , such as by a weld or similar fixation method. The connector element  101  can also be integrally formed with the rod  105 . The connector element  101  has a longitudinal, threaded passage  107 , which accommodates the fastener  112 , and a transverse passage  108 , which aligns with the aperture  103  of the rod  105 . As described above, the fastener  112  attaches the end-piece  110  to the rod  105  by way of the connector element  101 . 
     FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C illustrate one embodiment of the curtain rod assembly  100 . The end of the shaft  117  opposite the base  119  of the bracket  115  has a narrowed diameter such that it has the appearance of a pin  121  having a flange  123 . This end of the shaft  117  is inserted through the aperture  103  of the rod  105  such that the flange  123  may make contact with the wall of the connector element  101  opposite its entry point at the aperture  103 . The pin  121  spans the longitudinal passage  107  of the connector element  101 . Further, at least a portion of the shaft  117  is also inside the connector element  101  and thus, within the wall of the rod  105 . This gives a smooth, integrated appearance to the intersection of the bracket  115  and the rod  105 . The shaft  117  of the bracket  115  is held inside the rod  105  through contact with the fastener  112  as described in more detail below. 
   The bracket  115  can be retained within the rod  105  in various manners. In the embodiment best shown in  FIG. 4C , the shaft  117  is inserted through the aperture  103  and the transverse passage  108  of the connector element  101  until the flange  123  contacts the opposing wall of the connector element  101  and the pin  121  spans the longitudinal passage  107  of the connector element  101 . The length of the pin  121  between the flange  123  and the end of the shaft  117  is sized proportionately to receive the diameter of the end of the fastener  112 . The fastener  112  is threaded through the longitudinal passage  107  of the connector element  101  and contacts the pin  121  spanning the passage  107 . The end of the fastener  112  is contacted on one side by the flange  123  and on the other side by the shaft  117 . The sandwiching of the end of the fastener  112  between the flange  123  and the shaft  117  holds the bracket  115  inside the rod  105  and helps to prevent slippage of the bracket  115  out of the rod  105 . 
     FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the curtain rod assembly  500  including a bracket  115  having a shaft  517  of substantially uniform diameter. As described with respect to the first embodiment, this embodiment includes a connector element  501  that has a longitudinal passage  507 , which accommodates the fastener  512 , and a transverse passage  508 , which aligns to accommodate the shaft  517 . The shaft  517  is inserted through the transverse passage  508  of the connector element  501  until the end of the shaft  517  contacts the opposing wall of the connector element  501 . In contrast to the first embodiment, the shaft  517  of this embodiment is substantially uniform in diameter along its entire length and does not include a flange. The end of the shaft  517  is held inside the rod  505  by virtue of the threaded fastener  512  contacting the end of the shaft  517 . 
   Generally, each component of the curtain rod assembly can be manufactured from metal stock, but they can also be of other materials such as plastic or wood. The surface of the components can be provided with a protective paint surface. The components generally are constructed of matching materials and finished in matching surfaces to provide them with a uniform appearance. However, the materials and finishing of the components need not be identical. 
   It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the particular embodiments of the curtain rod assembly presented herein are by way of illustration only, and are meant to be in no way restrictive; therefore, numerous changes and modifications may be made, and the full use of equivalents resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as outlined in the appended claims.