Patent Publication Number: US-3878878-A

Title: Window accessories

Description:
&#34;United States Patent [1 1 Reeder Apr. 22, 1975 1 WINDOW ACCESSORIES [76] lnventor: William M. Reeder, PO. Box 2666.  
 State Rt. 82 Aurora. Ohio 44202 [22] Filed: Oct. 16, 1972 [21} Appl. No.: 297,763  
 Primary E.\&#39;aminerPeter M. Caun [57] ABSTRACT Means for supporting accessories in proximity to an encased window including a frame having spaced side bars. an elongated bracket affixed to each of the side bars means extending from each bracket for maintaining a shade in an outwardly spaced relation to each bracket, angularly-shaped rod means secured to the upper and an intermediate portion of each bracket, each having a short rod portion affixed to the bracket which extends outwardly from the bracket and a horizontal portion extending toward each other which are connected together by a tubular means which is preferably of sufficient length that the rod means may be applied to encased windows of varying width. Shade means is also provided slightly below the upper rod means which shade means has a central casing and an auxiliary casing at each end of the central casing which auxiliary casings each has a tubular extension thereon which may be slidably mounted on a pair of vertical rods. At least one of the auxiliary casings has a torsion spring therein and the shade means includes a central opening having a longitudinal rod arranged therein upon which a shade cloth is wound, the opposite end portion of which central rod extend into hearings in the auxiliary casings, and means associated with the end portion of the central rod extending into the bearing of the auxiliary casing having the torsional spring therein and the auxiliary casing is provided for placing tension upon said spring as the shade cloth is drawn outwardly through the longitudinal opening in the central casing which tension is released when the force upon the shade cloth is partly or wholly released. The ends of each of the auxiliary casings are detachably affixed to the central casing so that when the shade cloth becomes soiled it may be removed from the central rod and cleaned or a new shade cloth inserted.  
 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures l WINDOW ACCESSORIES The present invention relates to accessories for encased windows and more particularly to means associated with the frame of the window for supporting such accessories.  
  An object of my invention is to provide means associ ated with the frame of an encased windowfor supporting an upper drapery and an adjustable shade or upper and lower draperies and an adjustable shade arranged between the draperies.  
  Another object of my invention is to provide means associated with the frame of an encased window for supporting an adjustable shade. My invention will be better understood by-reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an encased window showing means for supporting upper and lower draperies and a shade rod arranged between the drapery supporting means:  
  HO. 2 is a detail sectional view. partly in elevation. of the shade rod;  
  FlGv 3 is a cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through the line 3-3 of FIG. 2. looking in the direction of the arrows; and  
  HG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.  
  As illustrated in the drawings. an encased window is shown which is supported in place by side frames I and 2. top and bottom frames 3 and 3a. and each of the side frames is provided with an elongated bracket 4 and 5. respectively, each of which has apertures at its upper and lower end portions through which fastening means. such as screws 6. may be passed and threaded into the side frames 4 and 5 to hold each of the brackets in place.  
  Means extending outwardly fromthe upper portion of each of the brackets 4 and 5 is provided to support a shade having auxiliary casings at each end thereof. To maintain the ends of the shade in a stationary position. an apcrtured support extends outwardly from the upper end portion of each bracket. through which a bolt extends which also extends through a tubular extension on each of the auxiliary casings and a nut is secured to each bolt. If desired. however. the bracket may serve to support a pair of oppositely disposed vertical rods in spaced relation to the frame of the window. For this purpose. two pairs of upper and lower angular-shaped supports may be provided. each having a short arm secured as by welding to the upper and lower end portions of each of the brackets 4 and 5, respectively, and a long arm for supporting elongated rods 9 and 9a at each side of the window sill. The opposite ends of the shade are adjustably supported on rods 9 and 9a. each of which rods is provided with an upper head 10 which rests upon one of the upper arms 8 projecting out wardly from the respective brackets and the lower end of each of the rods is threaded into the arm 8 projecting from the respective lower end portions of each of the brackets.  
  The brackets 4 and 5 also support angularly-shaped curtain or drapery rods, the shorter arms 11 and 12 of which pass through apertures in the respective brackets 4 and 5 with a press fit and around the respective elongated rods 9 and 9a and the longer arms 13 and 14 of which extend toward each other and are telescopically received within the bore of the tubular rod l5.which is of sufficient length that the angular-shaped members may be used to support a curtain or draperyon windows having different widths. It will of course be understood that if desired another drapery or curtain rod may be applied adjacent a lower portion of the window sill. the parts of which are arranged in the same manner and which have been designated by the same reference numerals as the upper drapery or curtain rod. The curtain or drapery rods designated by the numerals 11 to 15 may be formed of any suitable material. such as wood. metal. or plastic- Preferably. they are formed of metal. t  
  As shown in the drawings and more particularly in FIG. 2. the shade includes a casing 16 having a central rod 17 therein on which a shade cloth is wound. The central rod 17 has a slot therein for receiving one end of the shade cloth 18. the inner end of which extends through the slot in the rod 17 and is held in place by a series of spaced prongs 19 extending from the central rod. The outer end of the shade cloth extends through a longitudinal slot in casing 16 and is provided with a knob at its outer end having an aperture therein through which a pull cord 20 may be attached and means are provided to place tension on a torsion spring in each of the auxiliary casings 21 when the shade cloth is pulled outwardly. For this purpose. each of the auxiliary casings 2l is secured to the shade casing 16 by a series of spaced bolts 22 and the opposite ends ofthe central rod 17 of the main casing is mounted in central bearings 23 arranged in the respective auxiliary casings. As shown more particularly in FIG. 3. the outer end portion 24 of the torsion spring in each auxiliary casing is connected to the outer rim of the auxiliary casing and the inner end portion25 is connected to a cup 26 arranged in the auxiliary casing and which has a flat key 27 extending through the rod 17 and is rotated thereby as the shade clothis drawn from the casing 16.  
  To enable the torsion spring and the cup 26 to be as sembled in the auxiliary casing. the inner side wall 28 of the auxiliary casing may be formed separately from the circumferential portion and secured thereto by means.&#39;such as welding. after the torsion spring and cup are assembled in&#39;place. or after the torsion spring and cup have been introduced into the auxiliary casing, the portion 28 may be bent inwardly with its circular end portion terminating within the casing 16 to which it may be secured by means, such as bolts 22. It will of course be understood that the flat key 27 can be extended through an opening in the rod 17 and affixed such as by welding to opposite inner portions of the cup 26.  
  1n the event that it is desired to provide a structure from which the shade cloth may be removed and cleaned or a new shade cloth substituted therefor. the torsion spring and the central cup may be omitted from one of the auxiliary casings. such as the auxiliary casing shown at the right in FIG. l in which case the right hand end portion of the rod 17 will extend into the right hand bearing 23 and may be removed therefrom when the left hand auxiliary casing is removed from rod 9 and casing 16 and pulled outwardly to remove the shade cloth from casing 16 which shade cloth if soiled may be removed and cleaned or a new cloth inserted.  
  it will of course be understood that prior to pulling the casing from the rod 17 and shade cloth 18, the pull outer surface into which an angularly-shaped portion of one of the pawls in each cup may pass during slow release of the shade. During rapid release of the shade. however. the pawls in the oppositely disposed casings are thrown outwardly by centrifugal force and do not prevent complete release of the shade which may be rewound upon the rod 17 as the tension upon the springs is released.  
  In accordance with my invention. means are pro vided for vertically adjusting the position of the shade. For this purpose. each of the auxiliary casings has a tubular extension thereon through which the respective rods 9 and 9a extend and the ends of the casing are held in an adjusted position by means of a nut 30 threaded on each of the vertically extending rods which has a projection 31 thereon engaging the bottom of the respective tubular extensions of each of the auxiliary casings.  
  ln my improved construction, it will be noted that the rods which support the curtain or draperies are mounted upon the brackets 4 and 5 and extend outwardly beyond the rods 9 and 9a so that the curtain or drapery overlie the shade and the shade may be vertically adjusted on the rods so that the curtain or draperies will cover all or a substantial portion of the window and if desired additional rods similarly to those dis closed by the numerals 11 to 15 may be supported at a lower portion by brackets 4 and 5 and extend outwardly beyond the shades to form a support for an additional curtain or drapery.  
 What is claimed is:  
  1. Apparatus for supporting accessories in proximity to an encased window. said apparatus including a pair ofoppositely disposed side bars. a vertical substantially flat bracket secured to each of said side bars. angularlyshaped rod means having oppositely disposed end portions connected to the upper portion of each of said brackets and horizontally arranged means extending therefrom and being connected together for supporting a drapery or curtain. tubular shade means having extensions on its opposite end portions. each having a vertically extending opening therein, a vertical extending rod spaced from and supported by each bracket and extending through the vertical opening in the end extension on each shade means. and means for adjustably holding the shade means in different positions on said rod. said shade means consisting of a central casing having a longitudinally extending opening therein. a central rod arranged in the central casing to which one end of a shade cloth is connected and upon which it is wound. an auxiliary casing attached to each end of the central casing. and each auxiliary casing having a tubular extension thereon. and means connected to each bracket and extending outwardly therefrom for supporting the shade means including a vertical rod which extends through each of the respective openings in the tubular extensions on the respective end portions of the shade means. a torsion spring arranged in at least one of the auxiliary casings. means associated with one end of the central rod and the auxiliary casing having the torsion spring thereon for applying tension to said spring as the shade cloth is withdrawn through said longitudinal opening. and means whereby the tension on said spring my be released when the force upon the shade cloth is released.  
  2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a bear ing and a torsion spring arranged in at least one of said auxiliary casings. means associated with said bearing and said torsion spring for applying tension to said spring during the withdrawal of the shade cloth from the central casing. and said central casing being detachably secured to the auxiliary casing so that upon detachment of the central casing from the auxiliary casing from the central casing may be removed from the central rod and the shade secured to the central rod may be removed therefrom and cleaned or a new shade applied.  
  3. The combination as defined in claim 1 in which a torsion spring is arranged in each of the auxiliary casings means associated with the end portions of said central rod and each of the auxiliary casings for applying tension to the torsion springs as the shade cloth is withdrawn and means whereby the tension of each of the springs may be partly or wholly released when the force upon the shade cloth is partly or wholly released.  
  4. Apparatus as defined in claim I in which two pairs of angularly-shaped rod means are provided. each pair of which has end portions connected to each of the respective brackets and a longitudinally extending portion in alignment with and connected to the longitudinally extending portion of the other rod means of each pair, and one pair of said rod means being arranged above the shade means to form a support for a curtain or drapery for the upper portion of the window and the other pair of rod means being arranged below the shade means to form a support for a curtain or drapery for the lower portion of the window.  
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