Patent Publication Number: US-2022225811-A1

Title: Panel hook

Description:
The invention relates to a panel hook configured to hook a panel, such as a curtain, to be connected to the panel hook to a carrier, such as a rail, wherein the panel hook comprises
         a panel fastening element configured to fasten the panel to the panel hook by arranging the panel fastening element in a pocket of the panel in an arranging direction; and   a hook element arranged on a (first) outer end of the panel fastening element and configured to hook the panel hook onto the carrier.       

     The invention relates particularly to a panel hook configured to be connected to a tape with pockets which has optionally already been attached to the curtain beforehand. Pockets with a width of for instance 1 centimetre are arranged at a regular distance from each other in the tape, manufactured particularly from woven plastic. The pockets are formed at a distance from each other by arranging a strip on the tape, wherein the panel fastening elements can be inserted into the pockets. 
     A drawback of the known panel hook is that it must be arranged in the pocket by means of a rotation movement, wherein the hook element is first inserted from below into the pocket and the panel hook is then rotated in the pocket so as to be moved into its final position. Such a complicated movement is laborious and time-consuming in any case, and is not suitable for mechanical (instead of or in addition to manual) arranging of the panel hook. 
     It is an object of the invention to improve the prior art in the sense of obtaining an improved panel hook which can be mounted in the pocket in simple manner and not just manually, but also mechanically. 
     A panel hook of the type stated in the preamble has for this purpose the feature according to the invention that the panel fastening element comprises, at a second outer end lying opposite the first outer end, a barb configured such that a distance between a free outer end of the barb and the first outer end is at least the same as the dimension of the pocket in the arranging direction. This specific distance enables the panel hook to be fastened suspended in the pocket in its final position in a notch formed by the barb and the panel fastening element. The panel hook is preferably inserted with its panel fastening element into the pocket in one longitudinal movement, wherein in the final position of the panel fastening element a wall of the pocket particularly lies confined between the barb and the hook element. In other words, at its one free edge the pocket in that case lies confined in the notch formed by the barb and the panel fastening element, and at its other free edge the pocket lies against the hook element. The panel fastening element and the hook element are preferably manufactured integrally, particularly from a piece of plastic. 
     In a preferred embodiment of a panel hook according to the invention the barb is directed toward the hook element and extends in a direction obliquely opposite to the arranging direction. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of a panel hook according to the invention the panel fastening element is configured to clamp a wall of the pocket between the barb and the hook element. The panel fastening element is preferably configured to click or snap a wall of the pocket between the barb and the hook element. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of a panel hook according to the invention the panel fastening element is elongate and extends parallel to the insertion direction. The hook element preferably extends beyond the barb. 
     The hook element preferably comprises engaging means in the form of two recesses arranged opposite each other in order to enable the panel hook to be engaged mechanically (in centring manner) and then be slid mechanically into the pocket. 
    
    
     
       The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of figures shown in a drawing, wherein 
         FIG. 1  shows various views of a so-called wave curtain to which several panel hooks according to a preferred variant of the invention are connected; 
         FIG. 2  shows various views of the panel hook used in the wave curtain of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  shows in steps, in side view, how the panel hook of  FIG. 2  is slid into a pocket of a panel. 
     
    
    
       FIG. 1  shows a so-called wave curtain  1  to which a tape  2  with pockets  3  is attached. Pockets  3  with a width of for instance 1 centimetre are arranged at a regular distance from each other in the tape  2 , particularly manufactured from woven plastic. Pockets  3  are woven at a mutual distance by arranging a strip  4  on the tape  2 . Panel hooks  6  according to the invention can be inserted into the pockets  3 . 
       FIG. 2  shows various views of a panel hook or wave hook  6  used in  FIG. 1 . Panel hook  6  is manufactured from a piece of plastic and is constructed from a flat, stable foot which serves as panel fastening element  7  (as will be elucidated further hereinbelow), and from a hook element  8  provided with a hook bend  9  and a hook shank  10  with a knob  11  for hooking the wave curtain onto the rail in simple and safe manner As drawn, the panel fastening element  7  comprises two outer ends: situated at a first outer end is the hook element  8  and situated at a second outer end lying opposite the first outer end is a barb  12 . The foot, i.e. panel fastening element  7 , is configured to fasten curtain  1  to panel hook  6  by arranging panel fastening element  7  in the pocket  3  of curtain  1  in an arranging direction (indicated with the arrow). A distance between a free outer end  13  of barb  12  and the first outer end is chosen such that it is at least the same as the dimension of the pocket  3  in the arranging direction. This results in the panel hook  6  being suspended in the pocket  3  at the position of a notch  15  formed by barb  12  and panel fastening element  7 , wherein reference is made to  FIG. 3 . A wall of the pocket  3  is preferably clamped (after the panel fastening element  7  has been arranged) between barb  12  and hook element  8 , i.e. is arranged therebetween in clicking or snapping manner In other words, the panel fastening element  7  is then slid into the pocket  3  in one longitudinal movement in the arranging direction, such that the wall of the pocket  3  is then confined between the barb  12  and the hook element  8 . This makes it possible to mount the panel fastening element  7  in the pocket  3  in reliable manner in a simple and controlled movement, either manually or mechanically. As shown in  FIG. 2 , particularly at bottom left and bottom right, the hook element  8  comprises, in a part thereof between the foot  7  and the hook bend  9 , engaging means in the form of two recesses  14  arranged opposite each other in order to enable the panel hook  6  to be engaged there mechanically (in centring manner) and then be inserted into the pocket  3  mechanically. 
     As drawn, the barb  12  is directed toward the hook element  8  and extends in a direction obliquely opposite to the arranging direction. The panel fastening element  7  is elongate and extends parallel to the insertion direction. 
       FIG. 3  shows in steps, in side view, how the panel hook  6  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  is slid into the pocket  3  of the panel  1  in the direction of the arrow. Parts corresponding to those of  FIGS. 1 and 2  are designated with the same reference numerals. It can be clearly seen that, at the position of the notch  15  formed by the barb  12  and the panel fastening element  7  of the panel hook, the panel hook  6  is fastened in suspended manner in the pocket  3  of the panel  1  in its final position (at the bottom of  FIG. 3 ). 
     The invention is not limited to the drawn embodiment, but also extends to other preferred variants falling within the scope of the appended claims.