Section bar for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, and variable-position juncture element

Abstract: A section bar (11) for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, is constituted by at least two portions of section bar (12) united to each other by a juncture means (13) and having a hollow, contoured cross section with a longitudinal side groove from which sliding support elements for curtain portions protrude, in which the juncture element (13) has a cross section complementary to the cross section of the section bar (12), essentially comprises end portions (14) suitable for being slid into the section bar (12) and a middle portion (15) which is provided, in regions thereof which are opposite to the sides of said longitudinal groove, with a plurality of variously shaped partial-notch-slots (27), such as to enable said juncture portion to be bent according to any desired angles. The juncture element (13) preferably comprises within its body rigid elements capable of being bent together with said body.

Description: The present invention relates to a section bar for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, and to a variable-position juncture element. In the section bars for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, or more precisely allowing saddles or so said "curtain runners" and other possible curtain drive or support elements to slide, accomplishing the juncture between portions of the constitutive section bar with hollow cylindrical or rectangular sleeve elements, which may be either rectilinear or bent, is known. Such elements are usually slid onto the portions to unite and generally, unasmuch as their diameter is larger than of the portions to be united, they generate a step which causes the runners to stop. Furthermore, above all the bent portions, in case they have a fixed structure, are poorly flexible in use, in that they cause a pre-established bent pattern to be mandatorily adopted, which sometimes does not correspond to the requirements posed by the particular application envisaged. On the other hand, if such elements are suitable for being bent, they usually cause internal basses or folds to arise, which increase the causes of runner stopping. This problem is even more severe for all the other functional elements which may be slidingly supported by the section bar. Therefore the technical problem is evident, of being able to realize a section bar for slidingly supporting curtains, which is capable of solving the above said drawbacks, making it possible an easy and confortable sliding to be obtained by means of a good juncture element which makes it possible a positioning variable as desired, i.e., specific to the inclination and bending radius of the necessary application, to be accomplished. Document US-A-2890779, which corresponds to the preamble of claim 1, discloses a flexible rod for use in drapery or curtain installation, wherein the rod may be curved to any predetermined configuration. Of course, such a section bar and/or juncture element should also allow drive elements for the curtain, support elements for curtain ends, or, more generally, more cumbersome elements - which anyway are necessary in certain applications - to perfectly slide. These, and still other purposes according to the present invention are achieved by providing a section bar for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, according to claim 1. Preferably, said juncture element will comprise in its body rigid elements capable of being bent together with said body, which will cooperate to maintain the position given by the user to the juncture element. Advantageously, a variable-position juncture element for said use results to be constituted by a body with a hollow contoured cross-section with a side longitudinal groove having an essentially "C"-shaped cross-section, in which said regions of said cross-section in the nearby by said groove show a plurality of variously shaped notch-slots, such as to enable the same element to be given a bending according to a whatever desired angle, with a middle portion of said "C"-shaped body opposite to said group comprising inside its interior at least one rigid, element suitable for being bent, and capable of keeping said juncture element in a position given to it by deformation. The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be clearer from the following disclosure made by referring to the thereto attached schematic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a section bar for slidingly supporting curtains according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a top plan view of the only juncture element shown in figure 1, Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the only juncture element according to the path line III-III of figure 4, Figure 4 is a cross-section according to the path line IV-IV of figure 1, with a runner shown in chain line, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view according to the path line V-V of figure 1 and, Figure 6 is a top plan view of the section bar of figure 1 installed on a wall with the juncture element being bent according to a certain angle β. Referring to figures 1 and 6, in these figures a section bar for slidingly supporting curtains according to the invention is shown, generally indicated with the reference numeral 11, which results to be essentially composed by two portions of true section bar 12 united to each other by an intermediate juncture element 13 by the insertion of end portions 14 of said juncture element 13 into said portions of true section bar. The section bar 12 and the juncture element 13 have both a cross-section with an essentially "C" shape, comprising a middle region 15 and to side regions 16a and 16b, whose ends are opposite to each other. In this way, a continuous side longitudinal groove is defined, which is composed by portions 17 on the section bars and portions 18 on the juncture element 13 and inside which groove saddles (not depicted in figures), or runners 19 or similar curtain support and/or drive elements are slidingly arranged (the curtain is not shown in the figure). The portions of section bar 12, if they are end portions as shown in figure 6, are fastened to a wall 20 by means of a bracket 21 and relevant fastening screws 22. The juncture element 13 results to be constituted by a body with a hollow contoured cross-section which, in the herein depicted example, is composed by two parts welded to each other, to realize a single piece body. A first portion comprises the middle region 15, inside whose interior two rigid, tubular, continuous elements 23, capable of being bent together with the body, so as to cooperate to the preservation of the configuration given to the juncture element 13, are let into during the manufacturing step; and a first side region 16a. The second portion comprises the second, opposite, side region 16b. On both the second side region 16b and the middle region 15 hollows 24 and complementary protruding elements 25 are provided, which make it possible both parts of juncture element to be coupled and fastened to each other, e.g. by ultra-sound welding. Between its longitudinal end portions 14, the juncture element 13 has a longitudinal central portion 26 which is provided with a plurality of partial-notchslots, which may be variously shaped, but are such as to allow the whole juncture element to be bent according to a whatever desired angle β , which may be of up to 90° or slightly more. In the herein depicted example, which is shown for merely illustrative purposes, in a particularly advantageous form, such slots are constituted by a first slot portion 27 enlarged and open outwards and provided in the upper side region 16b, by a second, more inner, portion 28 with "V"-shape, provided in the upper side region 16b and in the lower side region 16a and an end portion 29 provided in the whole body of the juncture element immediately opposite to the middle region 15 and running trough the side regions 16a and 16b. One should observe that in the upper side region 16b of the longitudinal middle portion 26 between the two portions 27 and 28, in order to realize one single notch-slot, an intermediate connecting portion 30 is provided arranged inclined to the first two portions, so as to connect them, or nearly close them, in that the latter are parallel but staggered to each other. Thus, such a particular arrangement secures the continuity of the longitudinal groove 18 in the presence of any bents. Furthermore, the presence of such contoured shapes facilitates the bending and prevents folds from being formed, in that the whole resulting structure is such that there exists a possibility of accomodating the excess material of the compressed fibres. Furthermore, according to the present invention, for the purpose of securing a firm connection between the section bars 12 and the juncture element 13, enbloc snap-hooking means 31 are provided, constituted on both portions by a boss and a respective housing for it, all provided as one single piece with the relevant portion at the manufacturing time. In the present disclosure, particular forms of practical embodiment of the various components have been shown for exemplifying purposes, but such shapes can be changed as desired without however departing from the scope of protection of the same invention. For example, the section bar could be given an open circular shape, a square shape or a rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, and so forth. The section bar according to the present invention or, better, the juncture element make it possible the curtain to be constrained or operatively arranged in front of a window with walls, or simply lined-up to it, or arranged angularly, according to any desired angles. In this way, on the fastening portion, arranged at an angle, of the section bar, the curtain can be advantageously gathered when said curtain is not used, so as to occupy a room which is as small as possible, and with the maximum inlet of light being simultaneously secured. Furthermore, this kind of arrangement also enables a total covering of the opening of the window to be accomplished, with the complete elimination of entering light. The special structure according to the present invention makes it possible the section bar in question to be used with curtains either equipped with end-driven runners, or driven and moved by ropes, as well as with any types of drive means. In the presence of drive ropes for the support elements which support the curtain portions, such ropes can be caused to run inside the continuous tubes 23. In that way, said ropes are also guided along the bent portions of their path, and the continuous tubes constitute slide guides. According to a preferred form of practical embodiment of the invention, the juncture element is made from plastics material and the tubes contained inside it are made from metal, so as to facilitate the use and positioning of the whole structure by the user. Furthermore, by providing a section bar according to the present invention, a perfect alignment is obtained between the component section bars and the juncture element, thus eliminating any possibility of hindrances to the free sliding of the elements positioned inside it, because the continuity of the sliding groove, as well as its sealing towards the external are secured. The provision of the middle portion 30 of union of the portions of the notch-slots also serves to secure a continuous and safe retention of the sliding elements both in bent portions of the juncture element, and when the latter is in a straight configuration, defining a hypothetical retention line in correspondance of the sliding line along which said elements slide, thanks to the presence of the intermediate union portions 30. The juncture element may be furthermore made with a different colour, so as to modify the total esthetical appearance of the section bar for curtains, even bearing drawings or decorative patterns.

Claims: Section bar for supporting curtains, allowing said curtains to slide, constituted by at least two portions of section bar (12) united to each other by a juncture element (13) and having a hollow, contoured cross-section with a longitudinal side groove (17) from which sliding support elements (19) for curtain portions protrude, with said juncture element (13), which also has a hollow, contoured cross-section with a longitudinal groove (18) - equal to said groove (17) of said two portions of section bar (12) -, comprising complementary end portions (14) suitable for being slid into said at least two portions of said section bar (12), and a middle portion (15,26) which is provided, in the upper and lower side regions (16b, 16a) of said longitudinal groove (18), with a plurality of partial-notch-slots (27,28), such as to enable said juncture element (13) to be bent according to any desired angles (β), characterised in that said plurality of partial-notch-slots have non-parallel edges and said juncture element (13), comprises, in its body, rigid continuous tubes (23) capable of being bent together with said body, which cooperate to the retention of the position given by the user to said juncture element (13) and constitute slide guides for drive ropes, which drive said support elements (19) for curtain portions. Section bar according to claim 1, characterised in that both said at least two portions of section bar (12) and said juncture element (13) comprise enbloc snap-hooking means (31) for mutual coupling. Section bar according to claim 1, characterised in that said plurality of partial-notch-slots (27,28) has a "V"-shape opened outwards. Section bar according to claim 1, characterised in that said plurality of partial-notch-slots comprises a first portion (27) opened outwards, which is connected with a second, more inner, "V"-shaped portion (28). Section bar according to claim 4, characterised in that between said first portion (27) and said second portion (28) of said partial-notch-slots an intermediate, connecting portion (30) is provided arranged inclined to said first two portions. Section bar according to claim 1, characterised in that said juncture element (13) comprises two portions (16a,16b) united to each other in correspondence of complementary bosses (25) and hollows (24) provided on it on mutually opposite surfaces, with a first portion comprising a middle region (15) and a side, bent region, and a second portion comprising a bent side region. Section bar according to claim 1, characterised in that said plurality of slots on the juncture element (13) make it possible the whole to be given a bending according to an angle (β) which may reach the value of 90°.

Inventors: BIANCHI ALBERTO, BIANCHI, ALBERTO
Applicants: ACRIMO ITALIA SRL, ACRIMO ITALIA S.R.L.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A47H1
IPC codes: A47H1