Improvements 111 Fortiere Rous.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 19th June, 1895-Accepted, 20th July, 1895
Improvements 111 Fortiere
Rous.
I, JOHN FRANCIS HALL-EDWARDS, Surgeon, of The Limes, Woodstock Road,
Moseley, in the County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:―
My invention relates to portiere rods of the kind in which the rod raises the
curtain from the floor when the door is opened, and lowers it again when the door
is closed.
The object of my invention is to produce a simple and effective rod free from the
mechanical complications hitherto existing in such rods.
My invention consists in a method of pivoting the portiere rod to the door
frame so that the axis upon which the rod hinges or pivots is inclined from the
plane of the door and door frame, and so although the rod is horizontal when
the door is closed the outer end rises up relatively to the door as the door is
opened. The hinging axis may be inclined or skewed in more than one direction
for a purpose which will afterwards appear.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect I construct a portiere rod
of the usual length sufficient to carry a curtain to cover the door and I pivot or
hinge the rod to a bracket or brackets fixed to the door frame, and so arrange the
hinge axis of the hinged part that when the door is closed the portiere rod is
horizontal and the axis lies in a plane at right angles to the plane of the door frame
and the said axis inclines in that plane from its bottom pivot inwards. I preferably
arrange this axis or hinging shaft of some length and may fasten two brackets to
the door frame, the upper bracket providing a bearing for the upper end of the
pivoting shaft, and the lower bracket providing a bearing for the lower end.
Both brackets however may be arranged to be cast in one and bolted on the door
together.
I connect the portiere rod by means of a loose link to the door. When the
door is in the closed position the curtain hangs from the rod and touches the floor,
but whenever the door is opened the portiere rod moves in a plane which is tilted
up in comparison to the plane of movement of the door. The rod is thus raised as
the door moves out and the curtain lifted from the floor. By this simple device
of angling or skewing the hinging axis of the rod I am enabled to cause it to rise
to any desired extent.
In a modified method of carrying my invention into effect I provide two portiere
rods, one pivoting from one side of the door frame and the other pivoting from the
other side. These rods each carry curtains which may meet in the middle of the
door or to one side of it. Preferably I construct the portiere rod attached to
the opening side of the door of a short length to carry a short curtain so as to
enable the door handle to be readily got at. This short rod is preferably pivoted
to a hinging bar having a double skew, one skew in inclination tending to lift the
curtain and the other so arranged as to cause the curtain and rod to fall open
immediately the door is opened a certain length. One inclination of the axis is
thus from the bottom towards the upper part of the door frame and the other
inclination is from the bottom outwards so that the upper pivot of the portiere rod

page_text: is inclined away from the door and inwards towards the door frame. A suitable
projection from the door presses open the interior of the portiere rod and when the
door is opened it opens the rod a certain distance. Immediately the rod has passed
that distance the weight of curtain and rod causes it to fall over to its extreme
limit full open. A suitable stop is provided to limit the opening and this stop may
be a spring stop. To enable this part of the rod to be closed when the door is
closed I arrange a projection close to the axis of the rod which projection is pressed
upon by the projection from the door when the door is closed.
By this my invention I am enabled to provide either a single or double portiere
rod of the simplest possible construction which at the same time possesses the
feature of lifting while opening. One characteristic feature of my invention
consists in my method of inclining the axis of the portiere rod hinge or pivot to
produce the desired rising action.
Dated 121 1
ha 1004
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
I, JOHN FRANCIS HALL-EDWARDS, of The Limes, Woodstock Road, Moseley,
in the County of Worcester, Surgeon, 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 :-
My invention relates to portiere rods of the kind in which the rod raises the
curtain from the floor when the door is opened, and lowers it again when the door
is closed.
The object of my invention is to produce a simple and effective rod free from
the mechanical complications hitherto existing in such rods.
My invention consists in a method of pivoting the portiere rod to the door frame
so that the axis upon which the rod hinges or pivots is inclined from the plane of
the door and door frame, and so although the rod is horizontal when the door is
closed the outer end rises up relatively to the door as the door is opened. The
binging axis may be inclined or skewed in more than one direction for a purpose
which will afterwards appear.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to:-
Figure 1 Sheet 1 is a front elevation and Figure 2 an end elevation representing
my improved single portiere rod with the door to which it is attached in its closed
position.
Figure 3 is an end elevation when the door is opened.
Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the inclined pivot pin or bracket.
Figures 6 and 7, Sheet 2, illustrate in front elevation and plan respectively, a
double portiere rod constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of the double skew bracket employed with the
double portiere rod.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect 1 construct a portiere rod
such as A of the usual length sufficient to carry a curtain to cover the door, and
I pivot or hinge the rod to a pin or a bracket B fixed to the door frame, and so
incline or arrange this hinge or pivot axis that when the door is closed the portiere

page_text: rod is horizontal as illustrated at Figures 1 and 2, but when the door is opened and
is at a right angle with the door frame the rod is raised to the position shown at
Figure 3. I preferably secure the axis or hinging shaft or pivot to the door frame
by means of two brackets such as B₁ B2 Figures 4 and 5, the upper bracket B'
providing a bearing for the upper end of the pivoting shaft, and the lower
bracket B2 providing a bearing for the lower end. Both brackets however, may
be arranged to be cast in one and bolted on the door together.
The pivot pin B³ is cast or formed with the lower bracket B² or is made
independently and afterwards attached to the bracket or brackets.
I connect the portiere rod to the door by means of a loose link or a forked
supporting arm such as C. When the door is in the closed position the curtain
hangs from the rod and touches the floor, but whenever the door is opened the
portiere rod moves in a plane which is tilted up in comparison to the plane of
movement of the door. The rod is thus raised as the door moves out and the
curtain lifted from the floor. By this simple device of angling or skewing the
hinging axis of the rod I am enabled to cause it to rise to any desired extent.
In a modified method of carrying my invention into effect I provide two portiere
rods, one pivoting from one side of the door frame and the other pivoting from the
other side as illustrated at Figures 6 and 7 Sheet 2.
These rods each carry
curtains which may meet in the middle of the door or to one side of it. Preferably
I construct the portiere rod D attached to the opening side of the door of a short
length to carry a short curtain so as to enable the door handle to be readily got at.
This short rod D is preferably pivoted to a hinging bar or bracket having a double
skew, one skew in inclination tending to lift the curtain and the other so arranged
as to cause the curtain and rod to fall open immediately the door is opened a
certain length. One inclination of the axis is thus from the bottom of the
bracket, towards the upper part of the door frame as hereinbefore described in
the case of the single rod and as shown at Figure 5, whilst the other inclination
is from the bottom outwards as illustrated in the detail view Figure 8, so that the
upper pivot of the portiere rod is inclined away from the door and inwards towards
the door frame. A suitable projection E from the door presses open the interior
of the portiere rod and when the door is opened it opens the rod a certain distance.
Immediately the rod has passed that distance the weight of curtain and rod causes
it to fall over its extreme limit full open. A stop provided to limit the opening
and this stop may be a spring stop, although I preferably form or attach a stop
piece such as F upon the bracket itself. To enable the rod D to be returned with
the closing movement of the door I arrange a projection G from the rod close to
the axis or pivot which projection is pressed upon by the projection E from the
door when the door is closed.
By this my invention I am enabled to provide either a single or double portiere
rod of the simplest possible construction which at the same time possesses the
feature of lifting while opening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of pivoting a portiere rod upon an inclined axis for the purpose
of producing a rising and falling motion of the rod with the opening and closing
movement of the door substantially as herein described.
2. In portiere rods the use of a hinging or pivoting bar or bracket having a
double skew or inclination substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
3. The improved portiere rod connected with the door by means of a supporting
arm or bracket and having an inclined axis attached to the door frame, substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of a double portiere rod substantially as

page_text: and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 18th day of June 1895.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.