Curtain rail support

Abstract: A curtain rail support comprising a body (1,51) with curtain rail fastening means (2,52) arranged to engage a curtain rail (3,53), which body (1,51) is provided with a screw hole (4,54) for passing a screw for fastening the curtain rail support to the wall or the ceiling, characterized in that a cover (6,56) is hinged to the body (1,51), such that in an open condition of the cover (6,56) the screw hole (4,54) is clear and that in a closed condition of the cover (6,56) the screw hole (4,54) is covered, so that a head (5) of the screw is not visible.

Description: The invention relates to a curtain rail support according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1. Such a curtain rail support is known from FR-E-24,304. The known curtain rail support is made of various parts and the cover is connected to the body by a hinge pin. Further, the cover of the known support is part of the curtain rail fastening means in that it also serves to connect the curtain rail with the support in a mounted condition of the rail. The screw by means of which the known support is mounted on the wall is covered by the cover when the rail is mounted on the support. Also known are curtain rail supports which are generally made of plastic. The drawback of these known curtain rail support, which is generally made of plastic, is that the screw head of the screw by means of which the curtain rail support is fastened to the wall or the ceiling is visible. In practice, there is a need for a curtain rail support which does not have this drawback. According to the invention a curtain rail support is provided according to claim 1. Because the cover is connected with the body via a hinge, this is always immediately at hand during assembly. The connection of the body with the cover by means of a film hinge leads to the fact that the body and the cover form an integral part. If the curtain rail support comprises a separate cover, there is a great risk that the person mounting the curtain rail and having, for a moment, no cover at hand to cover the screw, will not place this cover. Precisely because according to the invention the cover is hinged to the body, the mechanic will be able to cover the screw head with the cover with a minimum of effort, so that an excellently finished fastening of the curtain rail is obtained. Further elaborations of the invention will be described in the subclaims and will be further explained below on the basis of two practical examples, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of ceiling supports, the covers of which are shown in different positions, and Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view of a plurality of wall supports, the covers of which are shown in different positions. The ceiling support shown in Fig. 1 comprises a body 1 having the shape of a substantially rectangular plate. Furthermore, the ceiling support comprises curtain rail fastening means 2 mounted on a first edge 1a of the rectangular plate 1. Provided in the body 1 is a screw hole 4 for passing a screw for fastening the curtain rail support to the ceiling. Hinged to the body 1 is a cover 6, such that in an open condition of the cover 6 the screw hole 4 is clear and that in a closed condition of the cover 6 the screw hole 4 is covered, so that a head 5 of the screw is not visible. The ceiling support shown is made of plastic. The cover 6 is connected with the body 1 by means of a film hinge 7. Thus, the body and the cover form an integral part. The cover 6 comprises a closure clip 8 arranged to engage in a corresponding opening 9 in the body 1 for keeping the cover 6 in the closed condition. The hinge 7 by means of which the cover is connected with the body is located on a second edge 1b, opposite to the first edge 1a, of the rectangular plate 1. Fig. 2 shows a curtain rail support intended for mounting on the wall. The body 51 substantially has the shape of an L comprising a first leg 60 and a second leg 61. Mounted on a free end of the first leg 60 of the L-shaped body 51 are curtain rail fastening means 52. Provided in the second leg 61 is a screw hole 54. A cover 56 by means of which the screw hole 54 can be covered is connected with a free end of the second leg 61 by means of a hinge 57. In the present practical example the wall support, too, is made of plastic, and the hinge 57 is a so-called film hinge. Furthermore, the cover 56 comprises a closure clip 58 arranged to engage in a corresponding opening 59 in the body 51 for keeping the cover 56 in the closed condition. Both in the wall support and in the ceiling support the curtain rail fastening means 2; 52 comprise a plurality of lips 12, 13, 14; 62, 63, 64: in the present practical examples, therefore, three lips. At least one of the lips, in the present practical examples the middle lips 13; 63, is of elastic design, so that a free end thereof is movable with respect to the free ends of the other lips 12, 14; 62, 64. In relaxed condition the free end of the at least one elastic lip 13; 63 is staggered with respect to the free ends of the other lips 12, 14; 62, 64. The lips 12, 13, 14; 62, 63, 64 can be inserted in a groove 15; 65 in the curtain rails 3; 53 by bringing the at least one elastic lip 13; 63 out of the relaxed condition, so that the elastic lip 13; 63 comes to lie in alignment with the two outer lips 12, 14; 62, 64. Subsequently, the curtain rails 3; 53 can be pressed further on the curtain rail support, thereby sliding the lips into the groove 15, 65, and the elastic lip 13; 63 snaps behind a groove edge, so that a form-closed connection is formed. Thus, a firm connection between the rails 3; 53 and the curtain rail support is effected, while the mounting of the curtain rail 3; 53 on the curtain rail supports is very simple. In fact, the curtain rail 3; 53 can be simply snapped and/or slid on the curtain rail supports. In the present practical examples the free ends of the two outer lips 12, 14; 62, 64 are interconnected by a transverse rod 16; 66. The middle lip 13; 63 is connected with the body 1; 51 via the transverse rod 16; 66, in which case the free end of the middle lip 13; 63 is located in a recess 17; 67 provided in the body 1; 51. In the present practical examples this recess 17; 67 also serves as opening 9; 59 in which the closure clip 8; 58 of the cover 6; 56 engages. It may be clear that the invention is not limited to the described practical examples, but that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, the curtain rail support may be made of another material, such as, for instance, aluminum or such a metal. If required, instead of the closure clip 8, 58, the hinge may be of such design that when swinging the cover a pre-compression occurs therein, such that the cover tends to assume two stable positions, namely an open or a closed position.

Claims: A curtain rail support comprising a body (1; 51) with curtain rail fastening means (2; 52) arranged to engage a curtain rail (3; 53), said body (1; 51) being provided with a screw hole (4; 54) for passing a screw for fastening the curtain rail support to the wall or the ceiling, a cover (6; 56) being hinged to the body (1; 51), such that in an open condition of the cover (6; 56) the screw hole (4; 54) is clear and that in a closed condition of the cover (6; 56) the screw hole (4; 54) is covered, so that a head (5) of the screw is not visible, characterized in that it is made of plastic, said cover (6; 56) being connected with the body (1; 51) by means of a film hinge (7; 57), wherein the curtain rail support is a ceiling support in which the body (1) has the shape of a substantially rectangular plate (1), said curtain rail fastening means (2) being located on a first edge (1a) of the rectangular plate (1), and said hinge (7) by means of which the cover (6) is connected with the body (1) being located on a second edge (1b), opposite to the first edge (1a), of the rectangular plate (1) or wherein the curtain rail support is a wall support in which the body (51) substantially has the shape of an L comprising a first leg (60) and a second leg (61), said curtain rail fastening means (52) being located on a free end of the first leg (60) of the L, said screw hole (54) being provided in the second leg (61), said hinge (57) by means of which the cover (56) is connected with the body (51) being located on a free end of the second leg (61). A curtain rail support according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (6; 56) comprises at least one closure clip (8; 58) arranged to engage in a corresponding opening (9; 59) in the body (1; 51) for keeping the cover (6; 56) in the closed condition. A curtain rail support according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the curtain rail fastening means (2; 52) comprise a plurality of lips (12, 13, 14; 62, 63, 64), at least one of said lips (13; 63) being of elastic design, so that a free end thereof is movable with respect to the free ends of the other lips (12, 14; 62, 64), the free end of said at least one elastic lip (13; 63) in relaxed condition being staggered with respect to the free ends of the other lips (12, 14; 62, 64), said lips (12, 13, 14; 62, 63, 64) being insertable in a groove (15; 65) in the curtain rails (3; 53) by bringing the at least one elastic lip (13; 63) out of the relaxed condition, thereby forming a form-closed connection in the mounted condition. A curtain rail support according to claim 3, characterized in that the curtain rail fastening means (42; 52) comprise three lips (12, 13, 14; 62, 63, 64), the middle lip (13; 63) being the elastic lip. A curtain rail support according to claim 4, characterized in that the free ends of the two outer lips (12, 14; 62, 64) are interconnected by a transverse rod (16; 66), said middle lip (13; 63) being connected with the body (1; 51) via the transverse rod (16; 66), the free end of said middle lip (13; 63) being located in a recess (17; 67) provided in the body (1; 51).

Inventors: TER BRAAK BART, TER BRAAK, BART
Applicants: GOELST ROLF EDWARD, GOELST, ROLF EDWARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47H1
IPC codes: A47H1