Decorative drapery rod assembly

A decorative drapery rod assembly including a hollow rod of rectangular section having longitudinal beads and supported upon spaced wall brackets. The rod is nestingly enclosed by a series of decorative plastic modules of channel shape arranged closely end to end, each module having a pair of C-shaped spring clips seated inside the front wall of the module. The spring clips have upper and lower arms for engaging upper and lower surfaces on the rod so that each module may be snapped into a captive forwardly facing position after the rod has been installed in its horizontal working position on the wall, with the modules being slideable endwise on the rod for centering of the series of modules with respect to the rod. In the preferred embodiment the upper arm of each spring clip has a shoulder for engaging one of the beads and a detent spaced therefrom for engaging the other, with the lower arm serving to press the rod relatively upwardly into engagement with the shoulder and detent. The detent is formed in two portions having different spacing with respect to the shoulder thereby to accommodate both the outer and inner sections of a telescoping rod. Modules are preferably furnished in different standard lengths with the end modules having provision for variable overhang, thereby to accommodate rods of any length having supporting brackets in any position. Each spring clip has a central opening which is telescoped over an integral pedestal in the module, the pedestal and opening both being non-circular so that a partial turn of the clip from a condition of register provides a self-threading connection for securely bottoming the clip in place in the module.

It has been known in the past to provide a decorative front cover, or 
fascia, for a traverse type drapery rod, and it has been further known to 
make the fascia in the form of a series of modules in several standard 
lengths thereby to accommodate rods in predetermined increments of length. 
For example, in Ford U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,435 which issued Nov. 16, 1976 
there is disclosed a traverse rod having modules rigidly secured to its 
front surface, with each module having flanges for lockingly overlapping 
the adjacent modules. A series of holes or slots are provided in the face 
of the rod sections at modular intervals. Screws are driven through such 
holes forwardly from the inside of the rod for engagement with registering 
holes in the overlapped flanges. The rod must be of a length which is 
integrally related to the modular length and the modules must be 
positioned in phase, or register, with the holes in the rod. Since access 
to the screws is from the back of the rod, the modules must be assembled 
to the rod with the rod face-down on the floor or on a worktable. The wall 
brackets are then mounted a specified distance inwardly from the ends of 
the fascia, and the entire assembly, as a final step, is hoisted into 
position upon wall brackets. In an alternate construction the fastening 
screws penetrate the overlapped flanges and thread into registering holes 
in the rod from the front surface, but in such event the screw heads are 
visible, requiring that special camouflaging steps be taken. The result, 
in either event, is that the modular sections are interlocked together 
end-to-end and fixed rigidly to the traverse rod. A special traverse rod 
is required in which the inner and outer sections have a row of accurately 
registrable holes for penetration by the screws, each of which must be 
inserted through a special "channel protecter" and manually screwed tight. 
Where modules of several different lengths and designs are used in a 
series, all of such modules must be integrally related and the assembler 
must carefully plan ahead in order to achieve left-right symmetry over the 
length of the rod. Upon making of any miscalculation resulting in lack of 
symmetry, the series must be partially disassembled by unscrewing certain 
of the modules and replacing them in a position which is shifted by an 
integral number of modular lengths. The fact that the modules are fixed to 
the rod, with a small, rigidly fixed amount of "overhang", makes it 
impossible to shift a module, or series of modules, gradually or 
fractionally to achieve intermediate positions. When converting to the 
conventional fascia system it is not possible to use the same rods since 
they are not provided with screw holes. It is similarly impossible to 
lengthen or shorten a rod upon making a change in drapery or decor except 
in increments of modular length. Indeed, upon making any change in length 
much of the assembly must be unscrewed to unlock the rod for telescoping 
movement and then screwed back together again. 
It is, in contrast, an object of the present invention to provide a 
decorative drapery rod assembly including modules of channel shape 
arranged end to end for nestingly enclosing the rod and which are capable 
of accommodating a rod of random, infinitely variable length; in other 
words, the rod need not be limited to standard increments, and with the 
modules having improved means for engaging the rod so that each module may 
be snapped into captive relation with the rod after the rod has been 
installed in horizontal working position on the wall and then adjusted by 
sliding endwise into final position. The end modules have infinitely 
variable extension beyond the ends of the rod, conveniently referred to as 
"variable overhang", and all of the modules are adjustably slideable for 
centering of the series of modules in a position of symmetry with respect 
to the rod thereby to equalize the overhang. It is a more specific object 
to provide a drapery rod assembly in which left and right-hand end modules 
have provision for extensive cantilevered support upon the ends of the 
rod, thereby to maintain the end modules in a condition of alignment with 
the intermediate modules regardless of the degree of overhang. 
It is another object to provide a drapery rod assembly in which the rod is 
enclosed by a series of decorative modules arranged end to end and in 
which a module may be shifted in position on the rod regardless of the 
length of the rod, regardless of the location of the rod supporting 
brackets and regardless of whether the module engages the inner or outer 
section of a telescoping pair of unlike cross sectional dimension. 
It is a more specific object to provide a drapery rod assembly including 
decorative fascia in the form of a series of standardized modules which 
may be easily and quickly applied, by snapping into position, after the 
drapery rod is completely installed in its horizontal working position on 
the wall and which does not use any separately applied fasteners to secure 
each module to the rod or to secure the modules to one another. It is a 
related object to provide a drapery rod assembly having decorative modular 
fascia in which all of the modules are automatically aligned with one 
another in forwardly facing position by resilient detenting to form a 
uniform whole but in which each module is structurally independent from 
the adjacent modules permitting quick assembly and easy removal and 
on-the-wall replacement in the event that replacement becomes necessary. 
Thus it is an object to provide a modular fascia system in which endwise 
location of each module with respect to the rod is entirely flexible and 
unrestricted, thereby permitting a rod to be shortened or lengthened, as 
may be required, even after it is installed and with the only accompanying 
change being the pulling out, or snapping in, of an individual module, 
accompanied by slight endwise adjustment of the series of modules, to 
restore a symmetrical condition. 
It is another object to provide a fascia system which does not require the 
services of a skilled drapery installer, or even detailed written 
instructions and which may, indeed, be successfully installed by any 
householder with no previous experience in assembling or installing 
drapery hardware in but a few minutes' time. 
It is yet another object to provide a modular fascia system which uses only 
a minimum degree of overlap between adjacent modules and in which the 
overlap may, if desired, be variable or eliminated completely, and which, 
in any event, does not require the large amount of overlap required, for 
fastening purposes, in the above-mentioned prior system, thus expanding 
the design variations and artistic effects available to the designer. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a drapery 
rod assembly which is capable of using the standard designs of telescoping 
and non-telescoping rod without necessity for drilling of a series of 
holes or performing other modifications to secure the series of modules. 
Indeed, it is possible, with a slight change in cording provision to 
utilize rods taken from existing inventory or to use the fascia system on 
drapery rods already in use, and regardless of existing length, or 
existing spacing of the supporting brackets, for the purpose of changing 
room decor.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred 
embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to be limited to 
the embodiment which has been shown but intend, on the contrary, to cover 
the alternative and equivalent constructions included within the spirit 
and scope of the appended claims. 
Turning now to a typical drapery rod assembly 20 constructed in accordance 
with the invention (FIG. 1) it will be seen, in front perspective, to 
include a left-hand end module 21, a right-hand end module 22 and 
intermediate modules 23 arranged in a series, stacked closely end to end, 
to form a repetitive, integrated and symmetrical pattern. The end modules 
21, 22 preferably terminate in finials 24 in the form of decorative knobs 
inserted in openings provided in the end members. The back view of the 
left-hand end module 21, and the rod upon which it is mounted, are 
illustrated in FIG. 2 and set forth in cross section in FIG. 3. In the 
latter figure the rod, indicated at 30, is seen to be of rectangular 
section having flat top, bottom, and front surfaces 31, 32 and 33, 
respectively, and a back surface 34 having a longitudinal runner slot 35 
occupied by runners 36 which support individual drapery hooks 37. It will 
be understood that for pulling the drapery open and closed conventional 
master slides (not shown) are used which are slideable in the runner slot 
35 and which are secured to the leading edges of the drapery for movement 
in opposite directions by draw cords 38, 39 (FIG. 2), the cords being 
trained about pulleys in a cord guide 40 (FIGS. 3 and 3a) internally 
seated in an aperture spaced inwardly from the end of the rod. 
While the rod 30 is of generally rectangular cross section, laterally 
projecting beads 41, 42 extend along the upper corners, typical of a 
design of rod in common usage. For the purpose of engaging the beads 41, 
42 to support the rod in intermediate as well as end positions, supporting 
brackets 50 are provided, of which a typical one is illustrated in FIG. 3 
and shown profiled by a dot-dash outline in FIG. 2. The bracket 50 has a 
vertical mounting portion 51 which is conventionally screwed to the wall 
and a horizontally projecting portion 52 which supports a stirrup 53, the 
outer end of which is of simple rectangular cross section (FIG. 2) 
extending flatly over the top surface of the rod. For engaging the beads 
on the rod, the outer end of the stirrup is bent over to form a hook as 
shown at 54, and the stirrup, in addition, carries on its underside a 
known rotatable clamping member, or cam 55, rotatable by a screwdriver or 
the like, to engage the underside of the adjacent bead. The bracket and 
stirrup construction is the same in each supporting position, except that 
in the end positions the stirrup is provided with a downwardly projecting 
lug 56 (FIG. 3) which engages an opening in the top surface of the rod to 
hold the rod captive against telescoping movement. 
The same brackets 50 which support the rod may be provided with a depending 
hanger portion 57 for supporting a light gauge curtain rod 58. 
In accordance with the present invention the series of modules such as 
shown at 21-23 in FIG. 1, arranged end to end on the rod, are of channel 
shape having top, bottom and front walls for nestingly enclosing the rod, 
the modules being provided with C-shaped spring clips seated inside the 
front wall and having upper and lower arms spaced inwardly from the top 
and bottom walls respectively. At least one arm of each clip has a detent 
at its outer end for engaging a bead on the rod, with the remaining arm 
being opposed to the first arm and so spaced therefrom as to press the rod 
relatively into engagement with the detent, with the result that each 
module may be snapped into a captive forwardly-facing position on the rod 
after the rod has been installed in its operating position on the wall, 
and with each module having stop means for limiting the degree of relative 
insertion of the rod so that the front faces of all of the modules are 
automatically alined in coplanar relation. 
Thus, referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the left-hand end module 21 is in the 
form of a channel of "C" cross section having a top wall 61, a bottom wall 
62, and a front, or presented, wall 63, the bottom wall being notched out 
along the profile 62' to clear the draw cords. Projecting inwardly from 
the front wall of the module are spaced pedestals 65 in the form of 
integral projections, each of which is reinforced by a set of four 
integral ribs 66, with the rearwardly facing edges of the ribs being 
aligned to form a seat 67. The projecting portion of each pedestal 
includes a central opening but such opening is, in the present 
construction, non-functional. The modules are conveniently and 
inexpensively molded of polystyrene or similar plastic. 
For the purpose of resiliently and captively engaging the rod 30, a spring 
clip 70 is provided which is of "C" profile having upper and lower spring 
arms 71, 72 which are spaced inwardly from the upper and lower walls of 
the module and which are interconnected by an integral base 73. In the 
preferred construction the upper arm is formed with a shoulder 74 for 
engaging, and locating, the adjacent bead 41 of the rod and is provided, 
at its outer end, with a resilient detent 75 for engaging the opposite 
bead 42 of the rod. The lower arm 72 has a shoulder 76 for engaging the 
presented lower corner of the rod as well as a free end 77, somewhat 
foreshortened, for pressing the rod relatively upwardly toward the 
shoulder 74 and detent 75 on the upper arm. 
In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the spring 
clip 70 is capable of detented reception of either the inner section 70 of 
a telescoping rod or the outer section, indicated at 70a (FIG. 6a) which 
is telescoped over it. For this purpose the upper spring arm 71 is 
bifurcated to form a separately flexed spring arm portion 71a having a 
detent 75a formed at the end thereof. The spacing between the shoulder 74 
and the auxiliary detent 75a corresponds to the greater spacing between 
the beads which exists in the outer section, 30a, of the rod, so that the 
larger cross section may be readily accommodated. When the clip engages 
the outer section of the rod the inner detent 75 is simply crowded 
upwardly into an out-of-the-way position. To insure that the detent 75 
will, when idle, move to its out-of-the-way position, the arm which 
carries it (FIG. 8) is relatively narrower in width and hence quite 
yieldable. 
The shoulders and detents prevent any relative twisting between the modules 
and the engaged rod; in other words, the clips provide rotational register 
about a central longitudinally extending axis so that the modules are all 
held in accurately oriented, forwardly facing positions. The upper and 
lower arms 71, 72 of the spring clip are spaced inwardly from the top and 
bottom walls 61, 62 of the module to form clearance spaces 78, 79 (FIG. 6) 
so that the arms are free to flex upwardly and downwardly without 
interference from, or bottoming upon, the adjacent wall. Indeed, the upper 
arm has sufficient flexibility and freedom so that it may flex upwardly to 
clear a stirrup 53 with which it may happen to be alined or the offending 
clip can be removed. 
In accordance with one of the features of the present invention novel means 
are provided for attaching each clip to its pedestal. This is accomplished 
by providing the base 73 of each clip with a non-circular opening and by 
making the projecting portion of each pedestal of registering noncircular 
shape, with the presented edges of the opening in the clip being angled to 
form a screw thread of coarse pitch, so that when the clip is given a 
partial turn, the edges perform a self-threading operation upon the 
relatively softer pedestal, causing the clip to be drawn inwardly for 
firm, bottomed seating against the pedestal seat 67. 
Thus, referring to FIGS. 9-12, an opening 90 is provided in the base of the 
clip with opposite sides of the opening having oppositely angled, inwardly 
presented edges 91, 92 which are shown in profile in FIGS. 10 and 11 
respectively. The projecting portion of the pedestal has a lateral "flat" 
93, enabling the pedestal to be freely registered with the opening 90 only 
when the clip is in a "90.degree." position, that is, at right angles to 
its final position. To install a clip upon a pedestal, the clip is 
manually telescoped over the pedestal in the position illustrated in FIG. 
12 and given a 90.degree. turn in the clockwise direction. This causes the 
angled edges 91, 92 to "bite" into the opposite sides of the pedestal, 
forming a self-thread thereon, and causing the clip to be propelled 
endwise in a seating direction incident to its rotation. The pitch or 
advancement is sufficient so that, incident to only 90.degree. of 
rotation, the clip is firmly bottomed on the seat portion 67 of the 
pedestal. To limit angular rotation into seated position, the clip is 
provided with an integral lug 94 which serves as a limit stop, the lug 
being obstructed by one of the reinforcing fins 66 forming a part of the 
pedestal structure. Installation is, therefore, extremely easy and can be 
accomplished with a minimum of care or skill: the user is simply 
instructed to insert a clip in the 90.degree. position, so that its 
opening registers with the pedestal as illustrated in FIG. 12 and to twist 
it until it can go no further, at which time the clip will be in its 
desired position profiled by the dot-dash lines in FIG. 12. To disassemble 
any clip from its position in a module, the procedure is reversed, that 
is, the clip is simply turned 90.degree. counterlockwise, following which 
it may be freely withdrawn. The ease of assembly and disassembly makes it 
possible for clips to be provided in bulk, in a single version only, for 
completion of each module at the installation site. 
In accordance with one of the features of the present invention, the end 
modules, which are intended to overhang the ends of the rod by an 
adjustable amount to achieve centering, are provided with auxiliary 
supporting surfaces. Each supporting surface bears against the top surface 
of the rod, more particularly against the stirrup which engages such top 
surface, to provide cantilevered support for the overhanging portion of 
the module. Such supporting surface is indicated at 100 in FIGS. 2 and 4, 
the surface being formed on an integral inner wall which extends along the 
top wall of the module and which, for lightness of construction, is 
preferably separated from the top wall by means of short ribs 101. The 
auxiliary supporting surface 100 is effective regardless of whether the 
amount of overhang is maximum or minimum. Thus FIG. 2, in full lines, 
shows the condition of maximum overhang, with a rod of minimum length, 
while the dot-dash lines show use of a rod of maximum length with minimum 
overhang, the extreme bracket position being indicated at 50'. The range 
of overhang permitted by the end module is preferably one-half of the 
length of shortest module used in the system. It will be understood that 
in the event that the rod is any shorter than the condition illustrated by 
the full lines in FIG. 2 one of the modules of the series may be omitted; 
conversely, if the rod is longer than the length indicated by the dot-dash 
lines in FIG. 2, a module may be added to the series. In both cases, after 
changing the number of modules, the entire series of modules is easily 
centered so that the degree of overhang at each end is the same. The range 
from maximum to minimum in the free end space is repeated and available at 
increments of one unit module so that rods of infinitely variable length 
may be accommodated by the present fascia system. Relief 62' (FIG. 5) 
provides cord clearance throughout the range. 
In carrying out the invention, means are provided for insuring equalized 
insertion of the rod with respect to the modules along the entire length 
of the series of modules. Thus where the rod is in engagement with the 
clips, the shoulders 74, 76 serve as locating or stop surfaces. In the 
case of the end module 21 the depth of insertion of the rod at a position 
remote from the clips, i.e., in the overhanging portion of the module is 
limited by a longitudinally extending fin 105 (FIGS. 3-5) which is 
integrally formed on the inside surface of the front wall of the module. 
Thus in installing the end module the module is clipped over the rod and 
the overhanging end portion of the module is simply pushed inwardly until 
the fin bottoms against the front surface of the rod as illustrated in 
FIG. 3. The finial 24, preferably having a bayonet type plug connection 
with the module, may be inserted either after or before the installation 
of the module 21 upon the rod. 
Attention has been thus far focused above on the left-hand end module 21. 
It will be understood that the right-hand end module 22 (FIG. 1) is 
constructed identically but in "mirror image" to the module 21. For the 
construction of typical intermediate modules, reference is made to FIGS. 
13 and 15 which show intermediate modules of unit length and double unit 
length. Considering first the simpler construction of a unit module shown 
at 23 in FIG. 13, and in horizontal section in FIG. 14, portions of the 
module are represented by corresponding reference numerals with the 
addition of subscript a. Thus the module includes an upper wall 61a, a 
lower wall 62a and a front wall 63a. The front wall has integral pedestals 
65a formed thereon. The projecting portions of the pedestals are, it will 
be noted, of the same "D" cross section as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, 
and clips are installed on the pedestals in the same manner as described. 
It will be noted, as exemplified in FIG. 13 that each module, although of 
channel shape, has a hollow, relatively enlarged central portion which 
accommodates the spring clips, and end portions which are necked down to a 
reduced cross section having an internal dimension only slightly greater 
than the rod plus stirrup. 
Referring next to the intermediate module of double length illustrated in 
FIG. 15, corresponding elements are indicated by corresponding reference 
numerals with addition of subscript b. Thus the module 60b has an upper 
wall 61b, a lower wall 62b and a front wall 63b, the front wall having 
integral pedestals 65b. In accordance with one of the features of the 
present invention the pedestals 65b in the longer module may be provided 
in pairs spaced on the order of two inches apart, for use alternatively 
rather than simultaneously. Thus where one of the pedestals of a pair 
happens to aline itself with the stirrup of a bracket, the alternate 
pedestal may be used in its place to insure full detenting action of the 
clip at the pedestal position. 
It will be understood that the advantage of using the double length module 
illustrated in FIG. 15 as against use of the module of unit length 
illustrated in FIG. 13, is that only half the number of modules will 
suffice to fill the intermediate space thereby speeding up assembly of the 
series. 
As a further feature of the present invention, each module is formed to 
provide an overlapping joint with respect to its adjacent modules to 
insure that the rod is hidden from view in spite of slight endwise 
separation of the modules from one another. This is accomplished by 
forming the opposite ends of the modules, which are of reduced cross 
section, with shallow male and female terminations as indicated at M and F 
respectively, the terminations being dimensioned to provide a snug 
interfit as shown in FIG. 13a. 
The modular decorative fascia discussed above permits installation in a 
small fraction of the time required by the conventional modular system 
which requires assembly of the decorative modules end-to-end on the floor 
or worktable with the rod inverted thereover and using machine screws to 
connect each module in phase with holes in the rod. As a final step the 
entire assembly including the rod and series of modules must be handled 
and secured as a unit to the brackets. By contrast, using the present 
system, the rod is secured to the brackets in the usual way, that is, the 
rod is extended to engage the brackets at the respective ends. After the 
rod is in place, free operation of all of the slides, master slides and 
draw cords may be confirmed, and any stickiness corrected, before the 
decorative fascia modules are added. With the rod in its horizontal 
working position, the modules 21-23 are snapped one after another into 
detented positions over the rod and substantially without regard to the 
bracket and stirrup positions until all the space on the rod is occupied. 
As stated, simply snapping a module in place automatically insures proper 
rotational and lateral register, that is, accurate faced alignment of the 
modules with respect to one another. Each module is slideable endwise 
after it is snapped in place to insure interfitting at the overlap between 
modules, and as might be necessary to insure centering of the modules with 
respect to the rod for equal overhang at each end. That completes the 
installation. 
When converting to the new system it is often practical to use the original 
rods since no modular series of screw holes are required and any 
modification will be limited to the roller mount. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention each module is fitted with a 
pair of clips which are axially spaced from one another. It will be 
apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that, if desired for the sake 
of simplicity and minimum cost, a single, centrally located, clip may 
suffice, particularly if the axial dimension of the clip is increased to 
provide greater holding power. Also in the preferred form of the invention 
the upper arm of the clip possesses the detent, but it will be understood 
that the invention is not limited thereto. A detent may be provided on the 
lower arm provided the arm does not project sufficiently to interfere with 
the pendant portion of the carriers or slides. One advantage of making the 
lower arm short, as shown, is that there is no possibility of such 
interference. The term "bead" as used herein includes the corners of a 
rectangular rod where the rod is not equipped with special laterally 
extending beads such as are illustrated at 41, 42 (FIG. 6). Nor is the 
invention limited to use with a rod of rectangular section, and the rod 
may be of round cross section, if desired. Since a round rod has no 
corners, longitudinal registering beads, for engaging detents on the arms 
of a spring clip, may be formed, for example, by a rolling operation, on 
the upper and lower surfaces of the rod. Such beads may be either in the 
form of a longitudinally extending ridge or a longitudinally extending 
groove without departing from the invention; however, the invention is 
preferably practiced using a rectangular rod of the cross section set 
forth since such rods are already in common use with production facilities 
available and does not require any modification for use in the inventive 
combination except to accommodate the cord guide 40. 
It is one of the features of the invention that each spring clip includes 
integral shoulders 74, 76 for location purposes. However, it will be 
understood that the term "shoulders" as used herein is not limited to 
locating surfaces which are integral with the clip and such locating 
surfaces may, instead, be internally molded in the module, just as in the 
case of the locating fin 105 (FIG. 3). 
Also while the clips are preferably of a continuous "C" shape, it will be 
understood that it is not necessary for the upper and lower arms 71, 72 of 
a clip to be directly opposed to one another--they may be axially offset 
from one another if desired as long as balanced forces are applied in the 
vertical direction to the rod for maintaining a module captive thereon. 
Only one design of module is illustrated in the drawings, consisting of 
alternate regions of enlargement and necking down. However, it will be 
understood that the invention is not limited thereto and that the possible 
designs are nearly endless, including variations of wood turnings with 
simulated grain. The invention may be readily adapted to almost any period 
or style of decoration. 
The slight telescoped overlap between modules not only prevents direct 
sighting of the rod, which would destroy the illusion of continuity, but 
it also insures precise axial alignment, notwithstanding production 
variations in the spring clips. For example where two clips are used side 
by side in the same module they may act differentially tending to produce 
slight cocking of an individual module. Any such tendency is completely 
corrected by the interfit between modules. The overlap is nevertheless 
sufficiently shallow as to enable any one of the modules to be removed and 
replaced, should one of them become damaged, without necessity for taking 
down the entire rod. For removal, the rest of the modules of the series 
may be temporarily crowded endwise to provide clearance, and, when the new 
module has been substituted, the space is simply redistributed. 
Similar flexibility is provided whenever it is desired to change the decor 
by either increasing or decreasing the drapery width: The end brackets are 
remounted to the wall at the new spacing, accompanied by slight 
telescoping of the rod sections, removal or addition of modules as 
required, and recentering of the series by endwise sliding adjustment. 
Also incident to change in decor, the system permits substitution of an 
entirely different module design by removal of one set of modules and 
snapping another set in place without removal or adjustment of the rod 
itself. Since the particular illustrated design of rectangular rod is in 
such common usage, and since only slight modification is required in order 
to practice the invention, it will be apparent that the present fascia 
system has a wide application to rods already in operation and which have 
been in use for a period of years. 
The term "snapping" has been used herein to graphically describe the detent 
action and, indeed, the advantage of a relatively "sharp" detent is that 
it signals to the user, by sense of feel if not hearing, that a module has 
been captively seated. However, it will be understood that the invention 
is not limited thereto and, because of the use of positive stops to limit 
insertion, the detenting may be "soft" and the grip entirely frictional 
without sacrificing the main features and advantages of the invention. 
The term "slideable" has been used to describe the capability of the 
modules; whether the slideability is free or stiff will, of course, depend 
upon the stiffness of the spring clips, and thus the significance of the 
term is that the modules have capability of endwise adjusting movement for 
centering the series to achieve equalized overhang independently of rod 
length. 
Moreover, the term "spring clip" has been used for convenience, such clip 
having at least one spring "arm". It will be understood that the terms 
"clip" and "arm" are not necessarily limited to the specific construction 
shown, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that other spring 
elements, and shapes thereof, can be employed to achieve the function of 
registered captivity. In this connection, while it is greatly preferred to 
employ a spring clip of "C" shape which is anchored, at its center, to the 
inside of the front wall of the module, it will also be apparent to one 
skilled in the art that the invention may be used, in its broader aspect, 
with different specific mountings so that the term seated "inside" of the 
front wall does not necessarily require that the clip be actually 
supported upon the front wall. 
Similarly, while the invention has been described in connection with a 
conventional bracket 50 and stirrup 53 (FIG. 3), it will be understood 
that the invention may be practiced with any wall bracket and that the 
term "stirrup" as used herein refers to any means for securing the bracket 
to the rod and which does not interfere with the nesting of the rod in the 
modules. 
In the embodiment of the invention described above modules are used which 
are of unit length and low order multiples of unit length. While it is 
desirable to standardize on integral low ratios, this is not one of the 
requirements of the invention. The invention is, however, directed toward 
use of modules in a repetitive or "building block" pattern for maximum 
economy and with the order of the modules preferably being symmetrical, or 
balanced, so as to be pleasing to the eye. 
Notwithstanding the impression of richness imparted by the disclosed fascia 
system, particularly where the modules have expensive wood graining, or 
appear to be intricately carved, it will be apparent to one skilled in the 
art that the modules may be manufactured by quantity production molding 
methods permitting use in even the most economical decorating schemes. 
In the preferred embodiment the modules have full top and bottom walls for 
nestingly receiving the rod to insure a three dimensional effect. However, 
it will be understood that the top wall may, for reasons of economy, be 
substantially foreshortened with respect to the bottom wall in the in-out 
or "depth" direction, where such foreshortening cannot be detected at 
normal viewing angles, without departing from the invention, and the term 
"of channel shape" shall be understood to include this possibility.