Patent Publication Number: US-8118078-B2

Title: Hook for suspending a curtain and a curtain with integrated hooks

Description:
This invention relates to hook for suspending a curtain. More particularly, this invention relates to a curtain with a plurality of integrated hooks for suspending the curtain. 
     As is known, various types of curtains have been suspended from various types of mounting rods. For example, in the case of shower curtains, a top margin of the curtain has been provided with a series of holes, each surrounded by a grommet, for example of metal, and use has been made of individual mounting rings that are split so that each ring may be threaded through a grommet in the top margin of the curtain and then passed over and around a shower curtain rod. Typically, this type of support ring has a pair of terminal ends that can be spread apart to pass over a curtain rod and then snapped together in order to secure the ring about the rod. Because of the nature of the snap fit arrangement of these mounting rings, the task of removing a shower curtain from a support rod, for example for replacement or for purposes of cleaning, has been a tedious time consuming task. Likewise, the replacement of a cleaned shower curtain or a new shower curtain has also been tedious and time consuming. 
     Other types of mounting hooks and arrangements have been known that incorporate a mounting hook, or the like, in the top margin of a shower curtain so that the shower curtain may be directly mounted onto a support rod. Examples of such constructions are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,232; 6,189,597 and 6,494,248. 
     It is an object of this invention to reduce the time and effort required to mount a shower curtain on a curtain rod. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a hook for suspending a curtain, such as a shower curtain, that is easy to manipulate and to mount onto and to be removed from a mounting rod, such as a shower curtain rod. 
     It is another object of the invention to integrate a series of hooks into the top margin of a shower curtain that permits the shower curtain to be mounted on a shower curtain rod in a quick and easy manner and to be removed from the shower curtain rod in a quick and easy manner. 
     Briefly, the invention provides a hook for suspending a curtain, such as a shower curtain, from a mounting rod, such as a shower curtain rod, that is integrated into the curtain. 
     In one embodiment, the hook has a pliable terminal section that can be resiliently deformed to create a gap for fitting over the mounting rod to mount the hook in place and to allow removal of the hook when desired. 
     The hook is formed of a pair of skeletal plastic bodies that are secured together in side-by-side relation to sandwich a top margin of the curtain therebetween. In this respect, the hook is permanently integrated into the curtain. However, the two skeletal bodies may be formed to be releasable from each other should a need arise to separate the hook from the shower curtain. 
     The two bodies of the hook are of identical construction and each includes a rectilinear base, a first portion that extends angularly from one end of the base, a second portion that extends from an opposite end of the base and has a terminal section at one end thereof disposed in spaced relation to the first portion and the base to define a gap therebetween. When the two bodies are joined together, the terminal sections of the two bodies form the pliable terminal section of the hook that is to pass about a mounting rod. 
     Preferably, one of the pair of skeletal plastic bodies has a plurality of spaced apart posts integrally mounted thereon and the other of the pair of skeletal plastic bodies has a plurality of openings. In this embodiment, each opening receives a respective one of the posts in an integral manner. 
     The second portion of each skeletal body is shaped to accommodate the mounting rod onto which the hook is to be mounted. For example, where the mounting rod is of circular cross-section, the second portion has a curvilinear section that extends to the terminal section. Where the mounting rod is of a square or rectangular or polygonal cross-section, the second portion of each skeletal body is formed of a plurality of rectilinear sections to pass about the mounting rod. 
     The second portion of each body is resiliently pliable to allow the terminal section of the hook to be moved laterally of the base and first portion for passage over a mounting rod. In this respect, the hook is made of a suitable plastic material such as, polypropylene, k-resin, nylon or other moldable flexible plastics and each half of the hook is of a suitable thickness, e.g. approximately 3/16″ and up, to be pliable. 
     The curtain is made with a top margin that includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart recesses, each of which is to receive a hook. In addition, the curtain may have a plurality of holes, each of which is sized for the passage of a post of a hook during fabrication. 
     In one embodiment, each hook is disposed in a recess of the curtain in upstanding relation relative to curtain with the base of the hook disposed in parallel to the top margin of the curtain. 
     In another embodiment, each hook is disposed in a recess of the curtain within the plane of the top margin of the curtain with the base of the hook disposed angularly of the top margin of the curtain. 
     In another embodiment, the hook is rigid with the terminal section and first portion of each said hook defining a gap larger than a mounting rod for passage thereover. 
    
    
     
       These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a shower curtain with integrated hooks suspended from a curtain rod in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of a hook and a section of the curtain of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the hook of  FIG. 1  in place; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a modified use of the hook of  FIG. 1  in accordance with the invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a view of a shower curtain suspended from a curtain rod employing hooks having the orientation of  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a view taken on line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the shower curtain  10  is suspended from a curtain rod  11  by a plurality of hooks  12 . 
     The shower curtain  10  is of any conventional material, such as, PVC, PEVA, EVA, polyester, nylon, cotton, and poly/cotton blends. 
     As illustrated, the curtain  10  is made of a single ply of material that is folded over on itself at the top edge and seamed together to form a top margin. In addition, a reinforcing strip (not shown) is positioned within the folded over top margin to stiffen the top margin. This reinforcing strip is made of a thin pliable plastic material, such as, PVC, PEVA, EVA, or could be a mesh like material made of polyester or nylon. The strip is of a width of from ½ inch to 1 inch and of a thickness of between 3 and 6 mil when placed on a curtain made of plastic. The purpose of the strip is to reinforce the top hem from tearing and to keep the top hem more in shape. 
     The curtain rod  11  may be of any suitable material and shape. For example, the curtain rod  11  is illustrated as being of circular cross-sectional shape. Further, the curtain rod  11  may be straight, i.e. rectilinear, or curved as is known. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , each hook  12  is formed of a pair of skeletal plastic bodies  13 ,  14  that are secured together in side-by-side relation so as to sandwich the curtain  10  therebetween. 
     As illustrated, each body  13 ,  14  has a rectilinear base  15 , a first portion  16  that extends angularly from one end of the base  15  and a second portion  17  that extends from an opposite end of the base  15 . In addition, each second portion  17  has a curvilinear section  18  that extends to a terminal section  19  at one end thereof that is disposed in spaced relation to the first portion  16  and the base  15  in order to define a gap  20  therebetween. 
     The curvilinear sections  18  of the hook  10  are shaped and are of a thickness to be resiliently pliable in order to allow the terminal sections  19  to be moved as a unit laterally of the first portions  16  and the bases  15  for passage of the rod  11  through the gaps  20  for mounting of the curtain  11  on the mounting rod  11  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In order to secure the bodies  13 , 14  together, one body  13  of the hook  12  has a plurality of spaced apart posts  21  that are integrally mounted thereon while the other body  14  of the hook  12  has a plurality of openings  22  that are positioned and sized to receive a respective post  21  therein. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the shower curtain  10  has a top margin that is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart recesses  23  and a plurality of holes  24  through which the posts  21  may pass. 
     During assembly, a hook body  13  is positioned at a recess  23  of the curtain  10  with the posts  21  of the base  15  and first portion  16  passing through respective holes  24  in the top margin of the curtain  11  and the reinforcing strip (not shown). 
     Thereafter, a hook body  14  is positioned so that the posts  21  of the body  13  pass into the openings  22  of the body  14 . At this time, the terminal ends of the posts  21  are heat deformed and heat sealed in the respective openings  22 . Alternatively, instead of using heat, the hooks could also be positioned with a pressure device that would accomplish the same result. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , upon being heat deformed, each post  21  forms a head  25  in the manner of a rivet to permanently secure the two bodies  13 ,  14  together. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the curvilinear sections  18  of the hook  12  have a circular cross-section in part so as to rest on the support rod  11  in a conventional manner. Further, the pliability of the curvilinear sections  18  is such that the terminal sections  19  may be moved laterally to enlarge the gap  20  between the terminal sections  19  and the angular portions  16  of the hook  12  to allow the hook  12  to pass over the curtain rod  11 . 
     The hook  12  has an H-shaped cross-section with a peripheral flange  26  extending about the inner and outer peripheries. In addition, the base  15  and first angularly extending portion  16  have smooth surfaces while the curvilinear section  18  is provided with criss-crossing ribs  27  that serve to reinforce the hook  12  while imparting an aesthetic appearance. 
     As also shown in  FIG. 3 , when in place, each hook  12  is disposed in upstanding relation relative to top margin of the curtain  11  with the base  15  disposed in parallel to the top margin of the curtain  11 . That is to say, as viewed in  FIG. 3 , the base  15  is disposed in a horizontal plane when the shower curtain  11  is suspended vertically. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the hook  12  may be disposed within the plane of the top margin of the curtain  11  with the base  15  disposed angularly of the top margin of the curtain. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , wherein like reference characters indicate like parts as above, the orientation of the hook  12  of  FIG. 4  allows the plurality of hooks  12  to be “hidden” within the plane of the shower curtain  11 , i.e. within the plane of the top margin of the curtain, when suspended from a curtain rod  11 . 
     In either embodiment, the embodiment of  FIG. 1  and the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , a shower curtain  10  may be readily moved along the curtain rod  11 . 
     When one wishes to remove the shower curtain  10  from the curtain rod  11 , the curvilinear sections  18  of each hook  12  are laterally deformed or twisted as a unit so as to allow removal of the hook from the curtain rod  11  by having the rod  11  pass through the thus enlarged gaps  20 . In this way, all the hooks  12  may be easily and rapidly removed from the curtain rod  11 . 
     The shower curtain  10  and hooks  12  may be cleaned or otherwise washed together as a unit and replaced on a curtain rod as a unit. 
     The surface appearance of the hook may be any suitable appearance for aesthetic reasons or to suit the needs of a customer.