Patent Publication Number: US-10786105-B2

Title: Telescoping curtain rod finial assemblies

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/561,257 filed Sep. 21, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to curtain rod finials, and more particularly relates to finial assemblies for telescoping curtain rods. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Telescoping curtain rods may be used for window curtains and shower curtains. In some types of telescoping rods, a relatively small diameter rod section extends axially from a larger diameter rod section. During installation, the rod sections are extended to a desired length to press against a support structure such as a window opening or a shower stall, and are secured in place by twisting the rod sections in relation to each other. Examples of lockable telescoping curtain rods are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,960,456 and 8,827,587, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0166603, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides finial end cap assemblies for telescoping curtain rods. The finial assemblies include an outer finial cover and an inner finial base threadably mounted into each end of a curtain rod. A rotatable end pad is mounted on each finial base. The rods may include telescoping sections that are axially extendable from each other and lockable by a twisting motion. During installation on a support structure such as a window frame or shower stall, the finial cover, finial base and end of the curtain rod are fixed together by threaded engagement of a threaded stud of the finial base with a threaded insert inside the end of the curtain rod, while the end pad is freely rotatable in order to maintain stationary contact with the support structure when the rod sections are twisted. 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a curtain rod and finial assembly comprising a telescoping curtain rod having a first end and a second end, and a first finial assembly mounted on the first end of the curtain rod. The finial assembly comprises a finial base including a body, an annular base rim, a central through hole radially inside the annular base rim, a shoulder at an end of the body opposite from the annular base rim, and a threaded stud extending from the shoulder. A finial cover surrounds the finial base and includes a recess receiving the first end of the curtain rod. A rotatable end pad is rotatably mounted adjacent the annular base rim and includes a projection extending through the through hole of the finial base structured and arranged to retain the rotatable end pad on the finial base. The threaded stud of the finial base is threadingly secured to the first end of the curtain rod, and a bottom wall of the recess of the finial cover is located between the shoulder of the finial base and the first end of the curtain rod. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a finial assembly for mounting on an end of a curtain rod. The finial assembly comprises a finial base and includes a body, an annular base rim, a central through hole radially inside the annular base rim, a shoulder at an end of the body opposite from the annular base rim, and a threaded stud extending from the shoulder. A finial cover surrounds the finial base and includes a recess receiving the first end of the curtain rod. A rotatable end pad rotatably mounted adjacent the annular base rim and including a projection extending through the through hole of the finial base structured and arranged to retain the rotatable end pad on the finial base. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a telescoping curtain rod including finial assemblies in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of a finial assembly attached to an end of a telescoping curtain rod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of another finial assembly attached to an end of a telescoping curtain rod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken through section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded side view illustrating components of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken through section  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded side view illustrating components of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10A  is a side view,  FIG. 10B  is a top view,  FIG. 10C  is a side sectional view, and  FIG. 10D  is an isometric view of a finial base of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a threaded insert that may be installed in the end of a curtain rod section for attachment of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of another threaded insert that may be installed in the end of a curtain rod section for attachment of a finial assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 13 and 14  are side sectional views illustrating installation of a finial assembly on the end of a curtain rod in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a telescoping curtain rod  10  including an outer rod section  11  having a relatively large diameter and an inner rod section  12  having a relatively small diameter. A finial assembly  20  is attached to the end of the outer rod section  11 , and another finial assembly  120  is attached to the end of the inner rod section  12 . A rotatable end pad  40  is provided at the end of each of the finial assemblies  20  and  120 , as more fully described below. Any suitable mechanism, such as twist and lock systems known to those skilled in the art, may be used to lock the telescoping outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12  into the desired position, for example, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,960,456 and 8,827,587, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0166603. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the outer rod section  11  may include a tension mechanism  19  forming part of a twist and lock assembly for releasably locking the outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12  together in a desired axial position. The tension mechanism  19  may be part of a conventional twist and lock assembly as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,827,587 and 8,960,456. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the end of the outer rod section  11  is secured to the finial assembly  20 . The finial assembly  20  includes an outer finial cover  22  with an annular open end  23  and a rod-receiving opening  24  at an opposite end. The end of the outer rod section  11  is received within a recess  25  in the rod receiving opening  24 , and contacts a bottom wall  26  of the recess  25 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the finial assembly  120  mounted at the end of the inner rod section  12 . The finial assembly  120  includes an outer finial cover  122  with an annular open end  123  and a rod-receiving opening  124  at an opposite end. The end of the inner rod section  12  is received within a recess  125  in the rod receiving opening  124 , and contacts a bottom wall  126  of the recess  125 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each of the finial assemblies  20  and  120  includes a finial base  30 . Each finial base  30  includes a body  31  and an annular base rim  32 . The finial base  30  has an abutment surface  33  radially inside the annular base rim  32 . As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10A -D, the finial base  30  includes a cut-out portion  34  and a central through hole  35 . The finial base  30  also includes a shoulder  36  with a threaded stud  37  extending therefrom. As shown most clearly, in  FIGS. 6, 9 and 10A -D, the body  31  of the finial base  30  includes relatively broad side surfaces  38  and relatively narrow side surfaces  39 . The body  31  therefore has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, as shown in  FIGS. 10B and 10D . The rectangular cross-section of the finial body  31  may have a width that is at least 2 or 3 times greater than a thickness of the finial body  31 . For example, the ratio of the width to thickness may be from 2:1 to 10:1, or from 3:1 to 8:1, or from 4:1 to 6:1. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the body  31  of the finial base  30  is relatively wide in the views shown in order to provide increased support for the rod sections  11  and  12 . The shoulder  36  of the finial body extends substantially across the entire diameter of each rod section  11  and  12 , and is able to carry the axial load applied by the rod sections  11  and  12  when they are telescopingly extended from each other. In the absence of the relatively wide shoulder  36 , the bottom walls  26  and  126  of finial covers  20  and  120  may be unsupported at their outer radial edges, which could result in deformation of the relatively thin finial covers  20  and  120 . 
     The components of the finial assemblies may be made of any suitable materials such as plastic, metal, rubber and the like. For example, the finial covers  22  and  122  may be made of metal such as aluminum or stainless steel, the finial base  30  may be made of rigid plastic, and the threaded inserts  13  and  16  may be made of rigid plastic. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-9 , a rotatable end pad  40  made of a resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber is rotatably mounted on the finial base  30 . The rotatable end pad  40  is generally disk-shaped with an axial projection  41  and a head  42  extending from a surface thereof. The rotatable end pad  40  is mounted in a swivel bushing  44  having an annular rim  45  radially outside the outer diameter of the rotatable end pad  40 , and including an annular retaining collar  46  extending therefrom. As shown most clearly in  FIGS. 5, 6, 8 and 9 , the projection  41  and head  42  and of the rotatable end pad  40  extend through the retaining collar  46  of the swivel bushing  44  to retain the rotatable end pad  40  on the swivel bushing  44  inside its annular rim  45 . The swivel bushing  44  may be made of any suitable material such as plastic. Insertion of the projection  41  and head  42  of the end pad  40  through the retaining collar  46  of the swivel bushing  44  holds the end pad  40  securely on the swivel bushing  44 . In addition, frictional engagement between the rubber end pad  40  and the plastic swivel bushing  44  helps prevent relative movement or rotation of the end pad  40  with respect to the swivel bushing  44 . 
     The retaining collar  46  of the swivel bushing  44  is inserted through the through hole  35  of the finial base  30  and into the cut-out portion  34 . A tolerance or gap may be provided between the outer surface of the retaining collar  46  and the through hole  35  such that rotation of the end pad  40  and swivel bushing  44  in relation to the finial base  30  is permitted. Furthermore, the finial base  30  may be made of a plastic material that provides minimal frictional resistance to rotation of the swivel bushing  44  in relation to the finial base  30 . For example, frictional resistance is minimized between the plastic contact surface of the swivel bushing  44  and the abutment surface  33  of the plastic finial base  30 . 
     As described above, a threaded insert  13  is installed in the end of the outer rod section  11 , and another threaded insert  16  is installed in the end of the inner rod section  12 . The threaded inserts  13  and  16  are fixed upon installation and do not move in relation to their respective outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12 . Details of the threaded inserts  13  and  16  are shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , respectively. The threaded insert  13  of the outer rod section  11  includes a central threaded hole  14 . The threaded insert  16  of the inner rod section  12  includes a central threaded hole  17 . In the embodiments shown, the threaded inserts  13  and  16  have raised external ribs running along their lengths that provide secure press fits when the inserts  13  and  16  are pressed into their respective outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the threaded inserts  13  and  16  are secured to their respective finial bases  30  through engagement between the threaded stud  37  of the finial base  30  and the threaded holes  14  and  17  of the threaded inserts  13  and  16 . In the tightened positions shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the threaded inserts  13  and  16  press firmly against the bottom walls  26  and  126  of the recesses  25  and  125 . Such engagement clamps the rod sections  11  and  12  to their respective finial covers  22  and  122  to provide relatively ridged structures in which the finial bases  30 , and outer finial covers  22  and  122  remain fixed and do not move in relation to the outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12 . In contrast, the end pads  40  and swivel bushings  44  are free to rotate on their finial bases  30 , and are also free to rotate with respect to the finial covers  22  and  122  and the outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12 . 
       FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate assembly steps for securing the finial assembly  120  onto the end of the inner rod section  12  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Such assembly may occur at the factory prior to use by a customer. In  FIG. 13 , the finial assembly  120  is detached from the end of the inner rod section  12 . In  FIG. 14 , the threaded stud  37  of the finial base  30  is partially threaded into the threaded hole  17  of the threaded insert  16 . Continued threading of the threaded stud  37  into the threaded hole  17  results in the fully assembled configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , wherein the inner rod section  12 , finial cover  122  and final base  30  are held securely together, while the rotatable end pad  40  and swivel bushing  44  are free to rotate in relation thereto. 
     To install the telescoping curtain rod  10 , the outer and inner telescoping rod sections  11  and  12  can be moved with respect to each other until the ends of the finial assemblies  20  and  120  are adjacent to two opposing support surfaces, with their rotatable end pads  40  contacting the support surfaces. The outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12  can then be rotated with respect to each other to engage a locking mechanism, thereby preventing movement of the outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12  with respect to each other in the axial direction. Because the end pads  40  can rotate with respect to the remainder of their finial assemblies  20  and  120 , once the end pads  40  engage the support surfaces, they remain stationary with respect to the support surface, even as the outer and inner rod sections  11  and  12  are rotated. This prevents walking of the rotatable end pads  40  as the telescoping curtain rod  10  is tightened between the support surfaces. Thus, during installation, the telescoping inner rod section  12  may be extended from the outer rod section  11  to a desired axial position in which the rotatable end pads  40  and stationary finial covers  22  and  122  are in initial contact positions against the window walls, or the bath or shower stall walls. 
     As used herein, “including,” “containing” and like terms are understood in the context of this application to be synonymous with “comprising” and are therefore open-ended and do not exclude the presence of additional undescribed or unrecited elements, materials, phases or method steps. As used herein, “consisting of” is understood in the context of this application to exclude the presence of any unspecified element, material, phase or method step. As used herein, “consisting essentially of” is understood in the context of this application to include the specified elements, materials, phases, or method steps, where applicable, and to also include any unspecified elements, materials, phases, or method steps that do not materially affect the basic or novel characteristics of the invention. 
     In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural and plural encompasses singular, unless specifically stated otherwise. In addition, in this application, the use of “or” means “and/or” unless specifically stated otherwise, even though “and/or” may be explicitly used in certain instances. In this application and the appended claims, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally limited to one referent. 
     Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.