A CURTAIN

Abstract: A curtain comprises a relatively rigid support rail (1) and a plurality of flexible strands (2) suspended therefrom. The rail (1) is formed in two or more sections (3, 4) having their adjacent ends pivotably connected together by means of a bracket (5) so that the adjacent rail sections (3, 4) are pivotal between a fully extended position in which they are co-linear and a fully folded folded position in which they are folded towards each other to be generally parallel.

Description: The present invention relates to a curtain comprising a relatively rigid support rail and a plurality of flexible strands, strips or the like (herein referred to generally as strands) suspended from the rail. In use, the support rail of such a curtain is mounted above the opening of a door or window so that the strands hang down across the opening. Many different types of such curtains are already known. One such curtain is shown in my earlier U.K. Patent Application, published under No. 2180151A, in which a plurality of the strands are mounted on a slider which is itself mounted in a track in the support rail. The curtain also has a plurality of strands which are fixed relative to those on the slider. By moving the slider (i.e. by drawing the strands attached thereto), the lateral extent of the curtain can be varied between a maximum, at which the strands are arranged right across the opening, and a minimum at which at least a part of the opening is clear of the strands. Naturally, the support rail must be of a length corresponding to at least the maximum lateral extent of the curtain. For a doorway, therefore, the support rail may need to have a length of about one metre. Whilst there are no particular difficulties in producing the support rails of such lengths, there is the problem that the curtains may be somewhat awkward to carry from the shop at which they are bought. U.S. Patent No. 1,758,600 discloses a chain portiére which comprises two horizontal bars supporting a plurality of depending chains. The bars are connected end on together by a hinge which allows the bars to be folded laterally together. In use, the free end of one bar is pivotably supported above and on one side of, say, a doorway so that the portiére can be folded together and to the said one side of the doorway in order to permit access through the doorway. According to the invention, there is provided a curtain which comprises a rigid support rail and a plurality of flexible strands suspended from the support rail, which support rail is formed in two or more rail sections having their adjacent ends pivotably connected together so that the adjacent rail sections are pivotal between a first position in which they are co-linear and a second position in which they are folded towards each other, characterised in that the or each pair of adjacent rail sections are connected together by a bracket which is of a generally U-shaped cross-section with two limbs connected by a web and has at each end a pair of lugs provided as extensions of the limbs, each rail section of said pair being pivotably mounted between a corresponding pair of the lugs. Preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims 2 to 11. The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a curtain according to the invention in a fully extended position; Figure 2 shows the curtain of Figure 1 in a fully folded position; Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the curtain of Figure 1 in a partially folded position; and Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the curtain of figure 1 taken along line IV-IV. Referring to the drawings, a curtain shown therein comprises a support rail 1 from which are suspended a plurality of beaded strands 2. The support rail 1 is formed in two rail sections 3 and 4 which are pivotably connected together by a bracket 5. Each rail section 3 and 4 has two parallel tracks 6 and 7 (Figure 3). The strands 2 on each rail section 3 and 4 are arranged in two sets 8 and 9. The set 8 of each rail section is mounted on a slider (not shown) which is movable along the length of track 6 of the respective sections as depicted by the double-headed arrow A. Each set 9 is fixed in position at the opposite end of the rail 1 to the other set 9. The strands 2 are beaded strands comprising beads 2 a threaded onto lengths of pliable filamentary material 2 b . The bracket 5 is shown in more detail in Figure 3 and will be seen to be a generally U-shaped member having two limbs 5 a and 5 b connected by an integral web 5 c . The bracket 5 is provided at each end with a pair of longitudinally extending lugs 10. Recessed end regions 11 of the rail sections 3 and 4 are respectively pivotably mounted on bolts 16 extending between a respective pair of the lugs 10 so that the sections 3 and 4 are pivotably movable between a fully extended position as shown in Figure 1 in which the sections 3 and 4 are co-linear and a fully folded position as shown in Figure 3 in which the sections 3 and 4 are folded towards each other to be generally parallel. In the fully extended position of the rail 1, the adjacent ends of sections 3 and 4 are in abutting relationship and their upper end faces bear against the inner face of the web 5 c . This ensures sufficient strength for the rail 1. Referring now to Figure 4, a pair of aligned holes 12 are provided in each of the lugs 10 towards the centre of the bracket 5, adjacent the ends of the sections 3, 4. Two through bores 13 are provided in the respective adjacent ends of the rail sections 3 and 4, the bore 13 of each rail section being in alignment with a respective pair of the holes 12 when the rail 1 is in the fully extended position. To maintain the rail 1 rigidly in the fully extended position, a respective locking pin 14 is inserted through each pair of aligned holes 12 and the associated bore 13, the pins 14 being snugly received in the holes 12 and bore 13. The pins 14 are conveniently carried on a plastics plate 15 in which expanded heads 14' of the pins 14 are embedded when the plate 15 is moulded. The invention is described by way of example only and various modifications to the described embodiment may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: A curtain comprising a rigid support rail (1) and a plurality of flexible strands (2) suspended from the support rail (1), which support rail (1) is formed in two or more rail sections (3 and 4) having their adjacent ends pivotably connected together so that the adjacent rail sections (3 and 4) are pivotal between a first position in which they are co-linear and a second position in which they are folded towards each other, characterised in that the or each pair of adjacent rail sections (3 and 4) are connected together by a bracket (5) which is of a generally U-shaped cross-section with two limbs (5 a and 5 b ) connected by a web (5 c ) and has at each end a pair of lugs (10) provided as extensions of the limbs (5 a and 5 b ), each rail section (3 or 4) of said pair being pivotably mounted between a corresponding pair of the lugs (10). A curtain as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means (5 c ) provided, on or as a part of the or each bracket (5), between the or each pair of adjacent rail sections (3 and 4) for defining the first relative position of the said adjacent rail sections (3 and 4) so that they can readily be pivoted to that position. A curtain as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that said means (5 c ) is provided by the web (5 c ) of the or each bracket (5) and prevents the corresponding pair of adjacent rail sections (3 and 4) from pivoting beyond their first relative position when it is in abutment with the said pair of rail sections (3 and 4). A curtain as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising locking means (14 and 15) provided on the or each bracket (5) and is arranged to fix the corresponding pair of the rail sections (3 and 4) to said bracket (5) in order to lock the rail sections (3 and 4) in the first position. A curtain as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that said locking means (14 and 15) comprises a locking pin (14) insertable through a hole (12) provided in each limb (5 a or 5 b ) and a bore (13) provided in an end of a said rail section (3 or 4) which is received between the corresponding pair of lugs (10). A curtain as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the pin (14) is supported on a plate (15). A curtain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the strands (2) are movable relatively along the support rail (1). A curtain as claimed in claim 7, comprising at least one set (8) of strands (2) which are movable relatively along the support rail (1) and at least one second set (9) of strands (2) which are fixed against movement along the support rail (1). A curtain as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that each rail section (3 or 4) comprises a said first set (8) and a said second set (9) of strands (2). A curtain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, having two said rail sections (3 and 4). A curtain as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said strands (2) comprise beaded strands.

Inventors: LUI, TO-YAN
Applicants: LUI, TO-YAN
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A47H23
IPC codes: A47H23