Improvements in Portiere Rods.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portiere Rods.
We, GEORGE MACKIE, of 114 Sand Pits, Insurance Manager, and SAMUEL
HILL, of 260 New John Street West, Cabinet Bar Fitter, both in the City of
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in portiere rods, our object being to so
construct such appliances of few and simple parts that they inay be readily
attached to the door for the purpose of raising and lowering the curtain with
the opening and closing of the door, without causing inconvenience or obstruction
in the door way.
In carrying our invention into effect we form the curtain suspension rod from a
tube or rod of brass or other metal, having such ornamental terminal pieces as
may be desired. A knuckle or other joint is provided at one end of the rod for the
attachment of a shorter length of rod or tube having a tubular cross or tie piece
secured thereto which fits over on to a guide stem attached to the architrave or
door casing. The head of the knuckle or other joint pin serves as a connection for
one end of an arm or lever, pivoted, hooked, or connected at its opposite end to a
suitable bracket or stud fixed on the inner side of the door. A similar arm or
lever is in like manner connected to a bracket or stud fixed nearer to the outer or
free end of the door, the upper end of such arm or lever being attached to a collar
screwed or clamped to the curtain rod.
The curtain is suspended from the rod by means of hooks and rings or like
appliances in the usual manner.
On the opening of the door the movement is imparted by means of the arms or
levers hereinbefore described to the curtain rod, which is raised vertically carrying
with it the suspended curtain, while at the same time it turns horizontally about
the pin of its knuckle or like joint as a fulcrum and thus follows the movement of
the door. The tubular or hollow cross or tee piece of the curtain rod retains the
rod in position, but by sliding upon its guide stem permits of the necessary
vertical movement. The closing of the door produces in like manner the
descent of the curtain rod and allows the lower end of the curtain to rest upon
the floor.
In order to automatically withdraw the curtain from the outer or free end of the
door on the opening movement and to cause its return on the closing of the door,
we sometimes construct the curtain rod from tubes of unequal diameters, the bore
or internal diameter of the larger tube being sufficient to admit the smaller tube.
We cause the smaller tube to slide within the larger on the opening of the door
and to be withdrawn from the same with the closing motion, by means of a
supplementary lever or system of leverage connected to one of the arms or levers
hereinbefore described and to the smaller tube, and so arranged as to produce the
required sliding or telescopic action.
We modify the arrangement and the details of our improved portiere rod to suit
the requirements of varying services without departing from the essential features
of our invention.
Dated this 21st day of Nawamba- 1001
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Portiere Rods.
We, GEORGE MACKIE, of 114 Sand Pits, Insurance Manager, and SAMUEL
HILL, of 260 New John Street, West, Cabinet Bar Fitter, both in the City of
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in portiere rods, our object being to so
construct such appliances of few and simple parts that they may be readily
attached to the door for the purpose of raising and lowering the curtain with the
opening and closing of the door, without causing inconvenience or obstruction
in the door way.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to;—
Figure 1 is a front elevation representing our improved portiere rod when the
door to which it is attached is closed.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the door open.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 an end elevation representing on an
enlarged scale the cross stem and guide bracket of the rod.
Figure 5 Sheet 2 represents a modified form of the rod, further illustrated by
the enlarged detail views Figures 6, 7, and 8.
Figure 6 is a front elevation of the guide bracket and stem when the door is
closed.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of the guide bracket alone.
Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 6 but with the door in its fully open
position.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In carrying our invention into effect we form the curtain suspension rod A from
a tube or rod of brass or other metal, having such ornamental terminal pieces as
may be desired. A knuckle or other joint B is provided at one end of the rod for
attachment of a shorter length of rod or tube C having a square cross piece or
stem D secured on its under side, which fits within a guide bracket or socket E,
attached to the architrave, or door casing. The head of the knuckle or other
joint pin serves as a connection for one end of an arm or lever F, pivoted, hooked,
or connected at its opposite end to a suitable bracket or stud G fixed on the
inner side of the door. A similar arm or lever F¹ is in like manner connected to a
bracket or stud G', fixed nearer to the outer or free end of the door, the
upper end of such arm or lever being attached to a collar screwed or clamped to
the curtain rod.
The curtain is suspended from the rod by means of hooks and rings or like
appliances in the usual manner, and when in position the curtain completely covers
the raising and lowering mechanism.
On the opening of the door the movement is imparted by means of the arms or
levers F F, herein before described to the curtain rod, which is raised vertically
carrying with it the suspended curtain, while at the same time it turns horizontally
about the pin of its knuckle, or other joint B, as a fulcrum, and thus follows the
movement of the door. The square cross piece or stem D retains the curtain rod
in position, but by sliding within its guide bracket or socket, permits of the
necessary vertical movement. The closing of the door produces in like manner
the descent of the curtain rod and allows the lower end of the curtain to rest upon
the floor.
We sometimes dispense with the joint B, and make the complete curtain rod in
one length as illustrated at Figure 5 Sheet 2. We then make the stem D'

page_text: (Figure 8) of a circular section, in order that it may turn horizontally within the
guide bracket or socket E' in addition to sliding vertically within the same as
hereinbefore described.
We modify the arrangement and the details of our improved portiere rod to suit
the requirements of varying services without departing from the essential features
of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is;
1. In portiere rods arranged for raising and lowering an attached curtain by the
opening and closing movement of the door, the use of a stem or cross-piece on the
underside of the rod, for sliding within a fixed socket, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In portiere rods arranged for raising and lowering an attached curtain by
the opening and closing movement of the door, the combination of the rod A
with the joint B and short rod C having a stem D attached thereto substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The improved general combination and arrangement of a portiere rod
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Annil 1005
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.