Abstract:
Apparatus for attaching a cable for hanging curtains to a bracket mounted on a wall and for tensioning the cable, has a clamp mountable on the bracket and a receiver for capturing an end of the cable. The clamp and receiver can be screwed together to secure the cable to the bracket while tensioning the cable. For long curtain spans, a clamp may be mounted on an intermediate bracket with two receivers attached to and extending from the clamp in opposite directions for supporting two cables in alignment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to apparatus, for hanging curtains in front of a wall or window, including a cable from which the curtains may be hung, either directly or by means of rings, hooks, clips or other known curtain fasteners. More specifically, the invention provides for hanging a supplemental set of curtains on a cable supported on conventional brackets which are used to mount a conventional curtain rod in front of a wall or window. 
         [0002]    It is known in the art to hang curtains in front of a wall or window by means of a rigid or telescoping rod mounted on brackets which are screwed to and extend outwardly from the surface of a wall above the area to be covered by the curtains. It is also known to hang more than one set of curtains, each with its own curtain rod, by supporting the rods in parallel spaced relationship on a common set of brackets which are screwed to and extend outwardly from the surface of a wall above the area to be covered by the curtains. 
         [0003]    The use of a cable as a substitute for a rigid or telescoping rod for hanging curtains has recently become popular. There are different requirements for supporting curtains on a flexible cable, which must be tensioned to prevent sagging under the weight of the curtains, versus the use of a rigid or telescoping rod which need only be supported at its ends, and possibly at one or more intermediate points in the case of very long rods. 
         [0004]    Until the present invention, when two sets of curtains were to be hung, one in front of the other, and one set was to be suspended from a rigid or telescoping rod while the other set was to be suspended from a flexible cable, separate sets of brackets were required, i.e., cable brackets and rod brackets. This required drilling the wall in separate locations for each set of brackets. 
         [0005]    In addition to the damage which is done to the walls, and the cost of the additional brackets, there are further disadvantages to the necessity for two sets of brackets. The elevations of each set of curtains, not only with respect to the adjacent window, floor or ceiling, but also with respect to each other, can be critical to achieving an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Also, multiple sets of brackets, particularly in crowded installations, can interfere with one another. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]    The present invention overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings of prior art curtain cable mounting systems in providing an adapter mountable on a conventional curtain rod bracket for tautly supporting a cable whereby a first set of curtains can be mounted on a rigid or telescoping rod supported by a pair of brackets and a second set of curtains can hung from a cable connected to adapters which are, in turn, respectively mounted on the brackets. 
         [0007]    In a first embodiment of the invention, suitable for use with cylindrical curtain rod support brackets, each adapter is in the form of a closed ring having a cylindrical opening substantially congruent to a cross section of the curtain rod bracket transverse to the axis of the bracket. Each adapter used to support an end of a cable has a single screw projecting radially from its outer circumference for receiving a cable retainer having a threaded cylindrical bore complementary to the threads on the screw of the adapter, the cable retainer further having a narrower bore for snugly receiving an end of the cable which is secured to the cable retainer by one or more set screws. 
         [0008]    For curtains having a long enough span to require an intermediate bracket for supporting a correspondingly long curtain rod (or the ends of two or more curtain rods coaxially mounted end-to-end) an adapter is provided in the form of a closed ring with two screws projecting in diametrically opposite directions from the outer circumference of the ring. Each screw can receive a cable retainer as described above. That is, two cables can be supported end-to-end, with their innermost ends secured in respective cable retainers that can be threaded onto the oppositely projecting screws of a single ring adapter. 
         [0009]    In a further embodiment of the invention, the rings from which the adapters are formed can be tapered so that two such rings, each with only one projecting screw, can be mounted on a common intermediate bracket side-by-side with their respective screws projecting in diametrically opposite directions while maintaining coaxial alignment. In this way two or more cables may be mounted end-to-end and in alignment. A single adapter design can suffice for use singly at either end of the curtain span and, in pairs, at each intermediate support bracket. 
         [0010]    The apparatus of the invention is not limited to brackets having cylindrical members. In still another embodiment of the invention, instead of a circular ring, the adapter is in the form of a squared off or rectangular C-clamp for mounting on a conventional right angle wall bracket. For use at the end of a curtain span, one of two parallel legs of each C-clamp is provided with a transversely outwardly projecting screw for receiving a cable retainer as described above. For use on an intermediately placed bracket, each of the two parallel legs of each C-clamp can be provided with a transversely outwardly projecting screw, the oppositely pointing screws being in coaxial alignment for supporting two respective cables end-to-end and in mutual alignment. 
         [0011]    Finally, as in the case of the circular ring adapters described above, each C-clamp having a single screw can have a tapered width whereby two such C-clamps, each with only one projecting screw, can be mounted side-by-side on a common intermediate bracket with their respective screws projecting in diametrically opposite directions while maintaining coaxial alignment in order to enable two or more cables to be mounted end-to-end in mutual alignment. A single C-clamp adapter design can suffice for use at either end of the curtain span, and, by doubling up into pairs, at each intermediate flat support bracket. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of an apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the prior art. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2   a  is a front elevation view of another apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the prior art. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2   b  is a top plan view of said another apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the prior art. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4   a  is a side elevation view of an adapter for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4   b  is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in  FIG. 4   a.    
           [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is a side elevation view of another adapter for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5   b  is a top elevation view of the adapter shown in  FIG. 5   a.    
           [0020]      FIG. 6   a  is a side elevation view of a cable retainer for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6   b  is an end view of the cable retainer shown in  FIG. 6   a  from one end of said cable retainer. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6   c  is an end view of the cable retainer shown in  FIG. 6   a  from an opposite end of said cable retainer. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing, in part, how to assemble the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a top plan view of supplemental components for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with said first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9   a  is a side elevation view of a modified adapter for use in the apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 9   b  is a top view of the modified adapter shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
           [0027]      FIG. 9   c  is a perspective view of the modified adapter shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of supplemental components for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11   a  is a top view of an adapter for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 11   b  is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in  FIG. 11   a.    
           [0031]      FIG. 12   a  is a top view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 12   b  is a side elevation view of the portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 12   a.    
           [0033]      FIG. 13   a  is a top view of another adapter for use in the apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 13   b  is a side elevation view of the adapter shown in  FIG. 13   a.    
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an apparatus for hanging curtains in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is an assembled view of the portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 17   a  is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 14 . 
           [0039]      FIG. 17   b  is a bottom view of the portion of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 17   a.    
           [0040]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of two modified adapters as they are to be placed side by side. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0041]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, there is shown a prior art cable support system for curtains having a cable  1  each end of which is clamped within a holder  3  mounted on a base  5 . The bases  5  are, in turn, affixed to parallel facing wall surfaces  7 , for example, by a screw passed through the a center opening in each base (not shown). 
         [0042]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , in another prior art cable support system for curtains, for use in environments where the use of facing walls for supporting cable brackets is not feasible, end brackets  11  are mounted on a wall in front of which the curtains are to be hung. Each bracket  11  has a base  13 , a spacer  15  and a holder  17  for a cable  9 . For long curtain spans, a central bracket  12  may be used to support an intermediate portion of the cable  9 . 
         [0043]    The prior art cable mounting systems shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2   a,b  must be used independently of, and in addition to, any other brackets which may be present for supporting a conventional rigid or telescoping curtain rod. 
         [0044]    Turning now to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, there is shown a cable support system in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention. Two conventional cylindrical brackets  21  are mounted on a wall  23  for supporting a rigid or telescoping curtain rod  25  as is known in the art. Circumscribing each bracket  21  is a clamp in the form of a circular ring adapter  26  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a,b  and  5   a,b . Connected to each ring adapter is a receiver in the form of a cable retainer  27 , best seen in  FIGS. 6   a - c , which is secured to an end of the cable  29 . 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4   a,b - 5   a,b , each ring adapter  26  is in the generally shape of the locus of a rectangle spaced from and rotated about a parallel axis through the center of the ring. Extending from the outer circumference of each ring adapter  26  in a radial direction is a clamp connector in the form of a screw  31 . 
         [0046]    Turning now to  FIGS. 6   a - c , each cable retainer  27  is in the shape of a hollow stepped cylinder as seen in  FIG. 6   a . The cable retainer  27  has a narrow length  30  running inwardly from one end with an outer diameter and inner diameter less than the respective outer diameter and inner diameter of the remaining wider length  32  which runs inwardly from the opposite end of the cable retainer. The narrow length  30  and wider length  32  are connected at a sloped circular region  34  of the exterior of the cable retainer  27 . 
         [0047]    A receiver connector in the form of a hollow bore  36  in the wider length of the body of the cable retainer  27  has a diameter and is threaded complementary to the diameter and thread of the screw  31  on the adapter  26  whereby the cable retainer can be threaded onto the screw  31  for being affixed to the adapter  26  and the bracket  11  on which the adapter  26  is mounted. 
         [0048]    The narrow length  30  of the cable retainer  27  has an axial bore  38  with a diameter only slightly greater than the diameter of the cable  9  for enabling an end of the cable  9  to be snugly received therewithin. Two set screws  40  threaded into apertures penetrating the full thickness of the circular wall of the narrow length  30  of the cable retainer  27  can be tightened to secure an end of the cable  9  within the cable retainer  27 . 
         [0049]    In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the narrow length  30  of the cable retainer  27 , proximate the sloped circular region  34  of the cable retainer  27  is provided with diametrically opposite holes  42  which fully penetrate the circular wall of the narrow length of the cable retainer  27 . An Allen wrench  45  sized to fit the set screws  40  can be passed through the holes  42  thereby enabling the Allen wrench to be used as a lever for rotating either or both cable retainers  27  to tension the attached cable by threading each cable retainer  27  further onto its respective screw  31  as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0050]    In order to minimize twisting of the cable during tightening of the cable retainers  27 , the cable  9  may be pretwisted before attachment of its ends to its cable retainers  27  in a direction such that as the cable retainers  33  are tightened onto the screws  31 , the cable  9  will untwist. Alternatively, the screw  31  on an adapter used to secure one end of a cable can be provided with a thread opposite in direction to the thread on the adapter screw  31  used to secure the opposite end of the cable. With this type of arrangement, the retainers can be rotated, one clockwise and the other counterclockwise, for tensioning the cable without twisting the cable. 
         [0051]    In use, the cable(s)  9  can be passed through a channel sewn into a curtain rod before being screwed onto the adapters  26 . Alternatively, curtain rings or hooks may be passed over the ends of and onto the cable. 
         [0052]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , where curtains having a long span are to be hung, and an intermediate bracket  51  is wall mounted intermediate end brackets  11 , an adapter  52  similar to the ones shown if  FIGS. 4   a,b  and  5   a,b , but having two screws  53  extending in diametrically opposite directions (see  FIGS. 9   a - c ) can be used. 
         [0053]    Another embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 10-13   b . Here each adapter  61  has a tapered width. A single adapter  61  can be used on each end bracket  11 . Two of the same adapters  61  may be placed side-by-side on the same intermediate bracket with their respective single screws  63  extending in diametrically opposite and coaxial directions as best seen in  FIGS. 10 and 12   a,b.    
         [0054]    The adapter clamp  61  has a profile with a one side parallel to a central axis of the clamp connector screw  63  and an opposite tapered side inclined relative to the central axis of screw  63 . The distance between the central axis of the screw  63  and parallel side  64  of the clamp body is such as to enable two identical clamps to be placed on a single bracket with the tapered sides  66  of each clamp in abutting relationship, and said central axes of the clamp connector screws  63  in mutual alignment The average of the maximum and minimum distances between sides  64  and  66  measured orthogonally to the side  66  is equal to the distance between the central axis of each clamp connector screw  63  and the parallel clamp profile side  64 . 
         [0055]    The invention is not limited to circular brackets. By using an appropriately shaped adapter, a cable may be mounted on an existing conventional flat bracket extending from a wall. 
         [0056]    Referring now to  FIGS. 14-16 , there is shown a curtain installation with conventional right angle wall brackets  65  including a forward projecting member  67  having a substantially rectangular cross section with a channel for receiving a slider  69  terminating in a U-shaped holder  71  for receiving a curtain rod  73 . 
         [0057]    There is removably mounted on the slider  69  of the bracket  65 , as shown in  FIG. 14 , an adapter  75  in the form of a squared off or rectangular C-clamp  61 . Each of two parallel members of the C-clamp  61  has a lip  77  for forming a channel  79  having a width substantially equal to the width of the slider  69 . The other parallel member of the C-clamp  75  is apertured for receiving a set screw  81  that can be tightened against the slider  69  for securing the C-clamp adapter  75  to the bracket  65 . 
         [0058]    The C-clamp  75  is shown in  FIGS. 17   a  and  b . For use on intermediate brackets, the C-clamp  75  can have two screws projecting in opposite directions while maintaining coaxial alignment. Alternatively, each C-clamp can be tapered whereby two such C-clamps, each with a single screw can be mounted side-by-side with their screws directed in opposite directions while also maintaining coaxial alignment as shown in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0059]    It is to be appreciated that the ring and C-clamp described above, in their several forms, are two of many possible variations of adapters that can be attached to a bracket for a rigid or telescoping curtain rod, for supporting a curtain cable without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of the screw being on a clamp for being threaded into a receiver, the clamp may be provided with a threaded bore in a wall of its body for receiving the threads of a screw extending from the receiver.