Improvements in Portiere or Door Curtain Rods.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left. 1st Feb. 1896-Accepted. 7th Mar., 1896
Improvements in Portiere or Door Curtain Rods.
I THOMAS PURSEY of 41 Bath Street Portobello near Edinburgh Artist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in portière or
door curtain rods whereby the opening and closing of the door to which the
portiere rod is attached causes the said rod and consequently the curtain carried by
it to rise and fall vertically, the rod preserving its parallelism with the top of the
door during the rising and falling inotion.
In constructing a portière or door curtain rod according to my invention I
proceed as follows. I connect the curtain rod to the inner side of the door by the
means of two bent arms a long arm and a short arm. These arms are jointed by
their upper ends to the rod and by the lower end of the long arm to the door and
by the lower end of the short arm to the door frame. These arms are so bent that
while their lower ends bear against the door and door frame respectively their
upper ends jointed to the rod are at a distance of about three inches from the
plane of the door.
To about the middle of the door frame immediately above the door one end of a
horizontal arm is jointed. The other end of said arm is jointed to the rod between
the bent arms about three inches from the short bent arm.
The action of the parts is as follows:-As the door opens the long bent arm
describes a curve having for radius the distance between the rod and the door to
which it is jointed. The short bent arm also describes a curve having for radius
the distance between the rod and the door frame to which it is jointed. The
horizontal arm describes a curve outwards having for radius the distance between
the rod and the top of the door frame to which it is jointed.
The combined action of the above arrangement of arms and rod is, that as the
door opens the horizontal arm and rod pulls the short bent arm upwards and also
causes the rod to push the long bent arm upwards causing the rod and curtain to
rise vertically and to keep its parallelism with the top of door. The said arms are
in their normal position, that is when the door is closed, inclined at an angle of
about forty-five degrees towards the hinged edge of the door.
On closing the door an action the reverse of that described as attending the
opening of the door occurs.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Portiere or Door Curtain Rods.
I, THOMAS PURSEY of 41 Bath Street Portobello, near Edinburgh,
Scotland do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has for its object improvements in portiere or door curtain rods by

page_text: which the opening and closing of the door to which the portiere rod is attached
causes the said rod and the curtain carried by it to rise and fail vertically, the rod
preserving its parallelism with the top of the door during the rising and falling
motion. In constructing a portiere or door curtain rod according to my invention
I proceed as follows:-I connect the curtain rod to the inner side of the door or
door and frame by the means of two bent arms, a long arm and a short arm.
These arms are jointed at their upper ends to the rod and at the lower end of the
long arm to the door and the lower end of short arm to the door frame. These
arms are so bent or cranked that while their lower ends bear against the door, and
door frame, respectively their upper ends jointed to the rod are at a distance of
about 3 inches more or less from the plane of the door.
To about the middle of the door frame immediately above the door one end of
an arm is jointed. The other end of the said arm is jointed to the rod between
the bent arms about 3 inches or thereabouts from the short bent arm.
The action of the parts is as follows:-As the door opens the long bent arm
describes a curve having for its radius the distance between the rod and the door
to which it is jointed. The short bent arm also describes a curve having for
radius the distance between the rod and the door frame to which it is jointed.
The combined action of the above arrangement of arms and rod is that as the
door opens the horizontal arm and rod pulls the short bent arm upwards and also
causes the rod to push the long bent arm upwards causing the rod and curtain to
rise vertically and to keep its parallelism with the top of the door. The said arms
are in their normal position when the door is closed, inclined at an angle of about
forty five degrees or thereabouts towards the hinged edge of the door but one rod
may be differently inclined to the other to a slight extent.
In closing the door an action the reverse of that described as attending the
opening of the door occurs.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings
upon which the same is illustrated as applied to a door in working condition but it
will be evident the configuration of the parts may be greatly varied and various
kinds of junctions may be used with the same or a similar effect.
Figure 1 shows a door D hung in its frame F with the portiere rod R mounted
thereupon in approximately the position it would assume when the door is closed.
Figure 2 shows the same door D partly open and the rod R with its parts in a
somewhat altered position and approximately a such like position as they would
assume under the conditions.
Figure 3, is a section through the wall W looking downward and upon the
architrave A and the rod R and its mechanism.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 1-2 Figure 1 looking to the left
hand.
Figure 5 is a broken off perspective view of the door and frame showing the
bracket or pivot holder B.
Figure 6 is a part section and part elevation of the upper part of the short back
arm S
Figure 7 is an alternative mode of forming the connection of the arm S¹ to the
rod R.
Figure 8 shows an alternative mode B¹ of forming the bracket or pivot
holder B.
Figure 9 is an alternative mode of making the end joints of the coupling rod E.
The portiere rod R is sustained on two arms S and S₁ which may be cranked as
required to suit the mountings on the door or frame. The arm S is a long one and
is pivotted at b³ to the bracket B shown in further detail at Figure 5 or to the
pillar B¹ shown at Figure 8 either of which may be easily fixed or screwed to the
door D. The upper joint of this long arm S embraces the the rod R. by a suitable
pivot joint which is so constructed upon the socket or ferrule carrying it that it
may be slided along and fastened at any convenient position by means of the se

page_text: screws. The other or back arm S¹, is pivotted to a plate B' by the pivots but
this angular plate B' may be turned in any direction or altered in design or made
like B Figure 8. The upper portion of the arm S¹ is hinged at s to the pivot
pin at s which passes loosely through the rod R as shown by Figure 6 or by an
alternative mode such as shown by Figure 7. As so far explained the rod R would
always maintain the same level whether open or closed. To effect the rising action
I attach the coupling rod E at one end upon the architrave A by the pivot plate e¹
and at the other end to the rod R by the pivot pin e³ which passes loosely through
the rod R and is loosely jointed at es to the end of E or instead of this I may use
the coupling rod E as shown at Figure 9 with eye plate joints e and e* with similar
effect.
It will be clearly understood that the inclination of the arms S and S¹ may vary
somewhat which is easily arranged in fixing them and by means of the sliding
ferrule joint and set pin so as to obtain the angles best suited for each arm in
relation to each other and to suit the particular position where it has to be mounted.
And it will be evident that the arms may be so fixed that one end will rise a little
more than the other according to the angle given and the relation of the two arms
to each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what I claim is :-
1st. The improvements in portiere or door curtain rods consisting of the rod R
mounted upon the door through the long arm S fixed to the door, and the short
arm S¹ fixed to the door frame, with their parts, and operated by the coupling
rod E so that the rod R lifts or lowers according to the position of the door D
substantially as berein described and shown.
2nd. Operating portiere or door curtain rods so as to rise or fall by means of the
coupling rod E pivotted upon the upper architrave A and to the rod R substantially
as described and shown.
3rd. The rising portiere rod for doors and such like places with its accompanying
parts substantially as set forth and as shown upon the drawings by Figures 1 to 9
inclusive.
Dated this 31st day of Janu1004