Abstract:
A support rod for enabling a hung curtain to be smoothly drawn has two telescopically connected curtain rod segments and a trolley with at least one roller. In one set of embodiments, an outward facing channel is formed in the wall of the rod for receiving a roller while another rod engaging device can slidably contact the wall of the rod. In another embodiment, a trolley has a roller with wheels which ride on the in-turned edges of the rod which border a downward facing slot though which a curtain hanger projects. Snagging of the trolley is prevented by having the edges of the rod segments horizontally coplanar in one embodiment, and through the use of dual diameter wheels in another embodiment.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/162,186 filed Oct. 28, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to traverse rods for curtains. More specifically, the invention is directed to traverse rods having curtain hangers slidable on rollers for reducing friction and binding of curtains when they are opened and closed. 
     Curtains are conventionally provided with hooks for suspension from tabs or rings slidably mounted on a curtain rod. In prior art curtain rods, friction between the tabs or rings on the one hand and the rod on the other hand interferes with smooth opening and closing of the curtains. 
     The use of rollers on a curtain rod is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 632,343 to Ebner for a Curtain Fixture discloses a rod having shoulders on which rollers mounted on the ends of a half-ring ride. A loop beneath the center of each half-ring can receive a curtain hook. U.S. Pat. No. 1,566,402 to Hees for a Curtain Pole teaches the construction of a C-shaped curtain rod having loops or hooks suspended from rollers which ride within the rod. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,890,799 to Rosenbaum for a Traverse Rod discloses a C-shaped curtain rod having loops or hooks suspended from rollers which ride on the in-turned edges of the rod. 
     However, prior are curtain rods which have hangers suspended on rollers are subject to snagging, especially when used with a telescoping rod wherein rollers must traverse a step at the interface of the telescoped rod sections. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the aforementioned problems of prior art traverse rods for curtains by enabling curtains to be opened and closed without binding. The invention provides for rings having one, two, three, four or possibly even more rollers which ride within longitudinal channels inside of and/or outside of a telescoping curtain rod, or which engage the inward turned longitudinal edges of a telescoping curtain rod. Embodiments of the invention provide for transition from one curtain rod section to another without a change in elevation of the roller-hanger assemblies for smooth, binding-resistant transport. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an end view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with a modification. 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 with the modification shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 is an end view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 9 is an end view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with a modification. 
     FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with the modification shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 11 is an end view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with a second modification. 
     FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with the second modification shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with a third modification. 
     FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the second preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 with the third modification shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 15 is an end view of a third preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the third preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is an end view of a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  17 . 
     FIG. 19 is an end view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17 with a modification. 
     FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side sectional elevation view of the fourth preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 17 with the modification shown in FIG.  19 . 
     FIG. 21 is an end view of a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 22 is an end view of a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 23 is an end view of a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 24 is a fragmented side sectional side view of the seventh preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  23 . 
     FIG. 25 is an end view of an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 26 is a fragmented side sectional side view of the eighth preferred embodiment of the invention shown in FIG.  25 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows one segment  1  of a telescoping curtain rod having a carrier or trolley  2 . Each telescoping curtain rod segment  1  employed in a curtain rod is in the form of an open tube  1 , with a C-shaped cross section, having outward facing channels  13  and  15  in its top and bottom exterior surfaces. The carrier  2  is slidably mounted for reciprocal movement along the outside of the rod segment  1 . A curtain rod may be made up of two or more segments  1  connected in telescoping relationship as is known in the art. 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 show the telescoping segment  1  with assembled carrier  2 . Two wheel assemblies  3  are attached to carrier  2  and have their two wheels  5  respectively engaged in the top and bottom channels  13 ,  15  in the rod segment  1 . Wheel supports  4  mounted on the carrier  2  hold each wheel  5 . The wheels  5  enable a smooth traversing motion of the carrier  2  along the length of the rod, the carrier  2  being able to traverse from one segment to another. 
     A hanger  6  is provided for attaching draperies to the carrier  2 . The hanger  6  may be include a tab with a loop for receiving a separate hook attached to the curtains as best seen in FIG. 3, or a hook (not shown) directly connectable to the curtains. 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modification of the curtain rod of FIGS. 1-3 in which ball bearing assemblies  7 , instead of the wheel assemblies  3 , are attached to the carrier  2  and engaged in channels in each segment  1 . A ball socket  8  holds each ball  9  and attaches to carrier  2  to provide smooth traversing motion. 
     FIGS. 6-8 show a second embodiment of one segment  10  of a telescoping curtain rod with a carrier or trolley  11 . The segment  10  has channels  21 ,  23 ,  25  in its outer top, front, and bottom surfaces. Two wheel assemblies  27  are attached to carrier  11  and have their two wheels  29  engaged in the top and front channels  21 ,  23 , respectively, in the segment  10 . Wheel supports  31  mounted on the carrier  11  hold each wheel. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show a modification of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 wherein ball bearing assemblies  33  are substituted for the wheel assemblies. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12 show a second modification of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 wherein three wheel assemblies are provided for having their wheels  37  ride in channels  39 ,  41 ,  43  in the top, front and bottom of the open rod. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 show a third modification of the second embodiment of FIGS. 6-8 wherein three ball bearing assemblies  45  are provided for having their ball bearings ride in channels  47 ,  49 ,  51  in the top, front and bottom of the open rod. 
     FIGS. 15 and 16 show a third embodiment of the invention having a telescoping rod segment  53  and assembled carrier or trolley  55  on which there are mounted four wheel assemblies  57 ,  59 ,  61 ,  63 . Three wheels  57 ,  59 ,  61  are engaged in the top, front, and bottom channels  65 ,  67 ,  69 , respectively, and the bottom of an inwardly extending shelf  71  supports a fourth wheel assembly  73  having a wheel  75  which rides on the lower rear edge  77  of the curtain rod segment  53 . FIGS. 17 and 18 show a fourth embodiment of the invention having a telescoping curtain rod segment  79  with assembled carrier or trolley  81  similar to that shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 but only with two wheel assemblies  83 ,  85  having wheels  87 ,  89  which respectively ride in the bottom channel  91  and on the lower rear edge  93  of the slotted curtain rod segment  79 . 
     FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. A telescoping curtain rod segment  101  with assembled carrier or trolley  103  has four wheel assemblies  105 ,  107 ,  109 ,  111 . Three wheels  113 ,  115 ,  117  are engaged in top, front, and bottom outer facing channels  119 ,  121 ,  123 , respectively in the wall of the rod segment  101 . The trolley extends inwardly and downwardly over the bottom edge  103  of the rod segment  101  and has an inwardly projecting step  125  under which there is suspended the fourth wheel assembly  111  having a wheel  127  which rides on the crest of the wall portion  129  of the rod segment  101  in which the outer bottom channel  123  is formed, just above the wheel in the bottom channel. The wall portion  129  of the rod segment  101  is, thus, sandwiched between the wheels  117  and  127 . 
     FIG. 21 shows a fifth embodiment of a telescoping curtain rod segment  131  with assembled carrier or trolley  133  having one ball bearing assembly  135  that rides in the outward facing bottom channel  137  on the exterior of the rod segment  131 . The trolley has a curved arm  139  which overlies a lip  141  along the bottom open edge  143  of the inward turned segment wall. Affixed to the free end of the arm  139  is a fixed smooth surfaced ball  145  which rides in an interior channel below the lip  141 . The ball  145  is preferably made of a hard material, e.g., plastic or steel to minimize friction with the wall of the rod segment  131 . 
     FIG. 22 shows a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention having a carrier or trolley  149  similar to the carrier  133  shown in FIG. 21 with the following differences. The trolley  149  has a U-shaped arm  151  which extends downwardly into the rod segment cavity passed the bottom edge  153  of the inward turned segment wall to just above the ball bearing  155 . Affixed to the free end of the arm is a fixed, hard, smooth surfaced ball  157 . The wall portion  159  of the rod segment  161  is sandwiched between the ball bearing  155  and ball  157 . 
     The carrier arm  151  is flexible and resilient and may be deformed as it is mounted on the rod segment  161  to force the ball bearing  155  and fixed ball  157  to assume their positions as shown in FIG.  22 . 
     FIGS. 23 and 24 show a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention which utilizes a curtain rod  162  having  10  telescoped segments  161 ,  163 , each with an inwardly turned C-like cross section. The rod  162  is adapted to be mounted with a longitudinal slot  165  facing downwardly. The rod  162  is intended to be mounted on a conventional bracket (not shown) which circumscribes the top of the rod&#39;s circumference and a portion of one side of the rod, but not extending over the slot  165 , thereby enabling a hanger  167  partially disposed within the slot  165  to be translated along the full length of the rod  162 . 
     The hanger  167  is fixedly mounted on a trolley or carrier in the form of a cylindrical roller assembly  171  having an axle  169  joining two cylindrical wheels  173 , each with a stepped diameter, that is having an inner step  175  with a relatively small diameter for riding on an adjacent set of longitudinal edges  170  of the respective rod segments  161 ,  163  and an optional outer step  177  of maximum diameter which extends vertically below the edges of the rod segments and laterally just beyond the edge of the outermost segment for supplementing the action of the hanger  167 , which is trapped within the slot  165 , in limiting sideways drift of the roller assembly  171  as it traverses the length of the rod  162 . It is to be appreciated that the roller assembly  171  may be of unitary construction with the axle  169  fixed to the wheels  173  in which case the hanger  171  would be rotatably mounted with respect to the axle  169 , e.g., by terminating the upper end of the hanger  167  in a loop circumscribing the axle. Alternatively, the wheels  173  may be rotatably mounted on the axle  169  in which case the hanger  167  can be fixed to the axle  169  as shown in the drawings. 
     The rod segments  161 ,  163  are dimensioned so that the inner segment  163  can be snugly but slidably received in the outer segment  161  thereby permitting relative movement between the segments  161 ,  163  in the axial, i.e., longitudinal, direction but preventing substantial movement between the rod segments  161 ,  163  in the vertical and lateral directions. 
     The cross section of the inner rod segment  163  is generally proportional to the cross section of the outer rod segment  161  except insofar as the inturned edges of the inner rod segment  163  extend a distance so that they are level with the inturned edges of the outer rod segment  161  when the inner rod segment  163  and outer rod segment  161  are telescopically connected. The level edges  170  of the rod segments  161 ,  163  enable the roller assembly  171  to traverse the junction where one of the rod segments ends and the roller assembly  171  is thereafter supported only on the edges of the other rod segment, with no change in elevation or “jump” which could interfere with the travel of the roller assembly at the junction and cause snagging as the curtain supported by the hanger  167  was drawn. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26 show an eighth preferred embodiment of the invention in which a curtain rod  181  has telescoped segments  183 ,  185  with an inwardly turned C-like cross section. The rod  181  is adapted to be mounted with a longitudinal slot  187 , opening into a hollow cavity within the rod  181 , facing downwardly as described with respect to FIGS. 23 and 24. The cross section of the inner rod segment is generally symmetrical to the cross section of the outer rod segment. The rod  181  is also intended to be mounted on a conventional bracket which circumscribes the top of the rod&#39;s circumference and a portion of one side of the rod, but not extending over the slot, thereby enabling a hanger  189  partially disposed within the slot to be translated along the full length of the rod. 
     The hanger  189  is fixedly mounted an axle  191  of a cylindrical roller assembly  193  having two cylindrical wheels  195 , each with a stepped diameter, that is having an inner step  196  with a relatively small diameter for riding on a longitudinal edge  197  of the outer rod segment and an outer step  198  of maximum diameter for riding on a longitudinal edge  199  of the inner rod segment  185 . As in the embodiment of FIGS. 23 and 24, in the embodiment of FIGS. 25 and 26, the roller assembly may be of unitary construction or with rotatably mounted wheels  195 . 
     The rod segments  183 ,  185  are dimensioned so that the inner segment  185  can be snugly but slidably. received in the outer segment  183  thereby permitting relative movement between the segments in. the axial, i.e., longitudinal, direction but preventing substantial movement between the rod segments in the vertical and lateral directions. 
     The difference between the respective diameters of the steps  196 ,  198  of each wheel is substantially equal to twice the difference in elevation between the edges  197 ,  199  of the outer and inner rod segments  183 ,  185 , thereby enabling the roller assembly  193  to traverse the junction where one of the rod segments ends and the roller is thereafter supported only on the edges of the other rod segment, with no change in elevation or “jump” of the axle which could interfere with the travel of the roller assembly at the junction and cause snagging as the curtain supported by the hanger is drawn. 
     It is to be appreciated that the foregoing is a description of several preferred embodiments of the invention to which variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.