Improvements in Curtain Rod and Band Brackets, and their Fittings.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Curtain Rod and Band Brackets, and their Fittings.
I, JOHN JESSE JAMES, trading as Dutson and Company, of Whittall Street, in
the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows; --
This invention relates to curtain rod and band brackets and their fittings, and
consists, in the one part, in an interchangeable bracket, in another part, in detail
improvements in brackets, and in a further part, in means of connecting the ends
of the rods or bands to their brackets.
In carrying out that part of my invention relating to an interchangeable rod
bracket, make the same of a box figure, or somewhat alike unto a short length
of square tubing, the back of which is provided with eyed extension for its attach-
ment; the whole box being formed from a single blank of metal folded trough-wise
and attached to the back plate by clenched ears or rivettings, whilst made co-
incidently through the sides and also through the front of the said box, are holes of
a size suitable for receiving an end of a rod, which, after being placed in position,
is prevented from being withdrawn by a sliding catch, operated by a push piece
and adapted when slid home, to engage at the back of a shoulder or collar on the
rod. When this bracket is employed in connection with rods having a stud or
teat, then the holes are made of a key hole shape, and then, after the end of the rod
has been introduced, it is retained in position by giving a part rotation to the same.
This bracket may be interchangeably employed in either one of four positions,
at the front or at the edge of the right hand side of a window frame, or at the
front or the edge of the left-hand side of the frame.
As another form of my invention, each of the two brackets for receiving the end
of a rod may consist of a box-shaped attachment, open at its ends and made from
a single blank of sheet metal, formed in common or in an integral piece with the
attachment plate, which is attached to a window frame as usual, but with the
open sides coming uppermost or undermost according to whether the brackets
are employed in conjunction with a top rod or a bottom rod. To admit of this,
the inner edge is gapped and seated to receive the ends of the rod, and has hinged
to it, a hook-shaped clip, which, when forced home, springs over the rod and locks
the same in its seatings within the bracket.
In carrying out my improvements in connection with band brackets, I make
each bracket from a single T-shaped blank of metal, with the head formed into
the attachment plate and having its lower end turned up into a stop or seating,
whilst the stem or other part is fashioned into a box figure with an open joint
made between the opposed edge of the metal forming the bracket and that of the
attachment plate, through which joint an end of the band is slipped and held,
with the lower edge resting upon the curled up bottom stops or seatings as afore-
said.
These brackets may be so made that they can be indifferently employed for
either a rod or a band by forming rod seatings on their inner sides.
I propose that the rods employed in conjunction with the first form of bracket
herein described be made of telescopic sections, so as to be adjustable as to length.

page_text: The connection of the ends of the rod with the brackets may be made by a collar
adapted to be engaged by a slide, or by a teat passed through a key hole shaped gap,
or by duplex or double shouldered spring catches let into the ends of the rods and
engaging at the back of the holes in the brackets.
Another modification of interchangeability rod bracket is made from a cruciform
shaped blank, which is fashioned into a box body part with an open back and
attachment ears at top and bottom. The front and one of the sides is pierced
with a key hole shaped, or other holes to receive the end of the curtain rod, and
whereby the bracket is applicable to the front or the edge of either side of a
window frame.
A further form of bracket, interchangeably applicable to the front or the edge
of either side of window frame consists of an attachment bracket provided with a
vertical pivot arranged between separated ears and to which an end or an end
fitting of a curtain rod is jointed so as to be capable of movement in a horizontal
plane. When this bracket is applied to the front of a window frame, then the
end of the rod lies across one half of the attachment plate, whilst when it is ap-
plied to the edge, the rod proceeds directly forward therefrom, the interchangeability
of the bracket being permitted by the joint.
The rod end fitting, which consists of a short sleeve directed from the joint and
taking into the end of the curtain rod proper is detachably connected thereto by
a stud or projection of it taking into a bayonet slot made into the end of the rod,
into which the stud is passed and afterwards the parts are locked together by
giving the one a partial rotation upon the other.
Improvements in Curtain Rod and Band Brackets, and their Fittings.
I, JOHN JESSE JAMES, trading as Dutson and Company, of Whittall Street, in
the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 curtain rod and band brackets and their fittings, and
consists, in the one part, in an interchangeable bracket, in another part, in detail
improvements in brackets, and in a further part, in means of connecting the ends
of the rods or bands to their brackets.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a front elevation of an inter-
changeable curtain rod bracket constructed according to one form of the first part
of my invention and provided with a sliding catch for engaging the end of the rod.
This view shows the said catch in its lifted position, whilst Figure 2 is a like
elevation as Figure 1 but represents the catch in its engaging position.
Figure 3 is an elevation of one side of the said bracket, showing the rod hole
therein.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of Figure 1, upon the dotted line, showing the
lifted catch in elevation.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of Figure 2 upon the dotted line a¹, showing, in
elevation, the sliding catch lowered into position for engaging with the end of a
curtain rod.

page_text: Figure 6 is another elevation, showing the opposite side of the bracket to that
represented in Figure 3.
Figure 7 represents an elevation of one form of curtain rod which may be used
in connection with this interchangeable bracket.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said Figures 1
to 7 of the drawings.
In carrying out this part of my invention, I propose to make the body part a',
of the interchangeable rod bracket a, in somewhat of a box figure, or alike unto a
short length of square tubing, which is secured to a back plate b, having pierced
ends or eyed extension 6', for its attachment to a window frame. The whole box
is preferably formed from a single blank of metal folded trough-wise and attached
to the back plate by clenched ears or rivettings such as a², whilst made coinci-
dently through the sides and also through the front of the said box, are holes a³, a',
(in the sides) and a", (in the front) of a size suitable for receiving the end c', of a
curtain rod c, which, after being placed in position, is prevented from being with-
drawn by a sliding catch d, operated by a push piece d', and adapted when slid
home, to engage at the back of a shoulder or collar ², at or near the end of the rod.
The catch is three-sided and has gaps , on each side coinciding respectively
with the holes a³, a, a, in the sides and front of the body part, so that the one
catch acts in common for the several holes and engages the collar or neck of the
rod in whatever position it may be. Further, the catch may be limited in its
sliding movement and prevented from being withdrawn from the body of the
bracket, ears or projections such as d³, taking into guide slots such as 62, in the
back plate, although such means may be dispensed with so long as the catch has
a certain stiffness of movement within the bracket.
This form of bracket may be employed in connection with curtain rods having
a stud or teat at either or both ends. Such a rod is represented in Figure 8 and
is marked c, the teats c¹, being formed, in this case, by outwardly bulging the
metal, although the same may be formed by the head of a cross pin or rivet. When
used in conjunction with these rods, the holes in the sides and front of the bracket
are made of a key hole shape, or with a square notch in the edge, as indicated by
the dotted lines and marked e, in Figure 1 so that after the end of the rod has
been introduced and the teat or stud engaged-if required-by the slide it may be
further retained in position by giving a part rotation to the same.
The curtain rods may either be solid as in Figures 7 and 8, or adjustable as repre-
sented in Figures 9 and 10. In the latter arrangement, the rod is made in two
telescoping sections c², 3, with the stop teat c', at the one end of the section 2,
being formed by outwardly bulging the metal, whilst the outer end of the other
and small section e³, is preferably provided with a cap e, of the same diameter as c²,
secured in place by a cross pin or rivet , the head c, of which forms the second
stop teat of the rod. Or the cap may be secured by collectively bulging the rod
and cap, thereby also forming the stop teat as in Figure 10^.
The form of bracket represented in the foregoing figures may be interchangeably
employed in either of several positions, such as at the front or at the inner edge of
the right hand side of a window frame, or at the front or inner edge thereof; or,
when used in connection with vertical rods, they may be used indifferently at
either the front or inner edge of the top and bottom of a window frame.
A modification of interchangeable rod bracket is made from a cruciform shaped
blank, which is fashioned into a box body part with an open back and attachment
ears at top and bottom.
Figure 11 represents the cruciform blank from which this rod bracket (which
has no sliding catch) is made.
Figure 12 represents the said blank pierced with holes (to receive the rod ends)
at the parts which are to form the front and side of the body.
Figure 13 is a front elevation of this form of bracket and Figure 14 is a side
view thereof.
Figure 15 is a vertical section of Figure 13 upon the dotted line a².

page_text: a is the body part of the bracket with attachment ears a¹ at top and bottom and
round holes a², a³, at the front and one of the sides respectively, through which
the ends of the curtain rods are passed. Or instead of the holes being round they
may be key-hole shaped as represented in Figure 16, for use in conjunction with
rods having stop teats as in Figures 8, 9 and 10.
Figures 17 and 18 represents a pair of these brackets in two different positions,
a being the brackets and b the rods, the former, in Figure 17 being secured to the
front of the window frame with the rod ends taking through the side holes whilst
in Figure 18 they are secured to the inner edges of the said frame, with the rod
engaging the holes in the front. Figure 19 shows another position in which the
said bracket may be placed to constitute the upper support for a vertical rod.
Figure 20 represents an elevation and Figure 21 a longitudinal section of another
form of curtain rod, adapted for use in connection with brackets having round
holes or eyes for the reception of the rod ends.
In this arrangement, one end c¹ of the rod is plain whilst the other end is fitted
with a duplex or double shouldered spring catch, let into the inside of the rod
and adapted to contract in passing through the holes in the bracket and engage at
the back thereof whilst the stop shoulders, project through the clearances c
These rods may be either of one fixed length, or be formed in telescoping sections
for adjustment, as in Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 22 represents an elevation of another form of bracket having a hinged
catch.
+
Figures 23 and 24 represent the same in side elevation, with the catch shown
respectively in its fastening and unfastened positions.
According to this form of my invention, each of the two brackets for receiving
the opposite ends of a rod consists of a box-shaped attachment a, open at its ends,
and preferably made from a single blank of sheet metal, so that the box part is
formed in common or in an integral piece with the attachment plate a¹, which is
attached to a window frame as usual. The inner edge of the bracket is gapped
at a², to form a seating to receive the ends of the rod, and has hinged to it, a hook-
shaped catch or clip b, which, when forced home, as in Figure 23, springs over
the end of the rod lying within the seatings and locks the same within the bracket.
Figure 25 shows a pair of these brackets in position. The rods used in conjunction
with this form of bracket may either be plain ended, or necked or provided with
stop teats to prevent them being withdrawn laterally.
Figure 26 represents an elevation of a band bracket constructed according to my
invention and Figure 27 is a side view thereof.
Figure 28 is a plan of the blank from which such a bracket may be made, and
Figure 29 is a view showing a pair of the improved rod and band brackets applied
to a window frame & supporting a rod and a band.
I propose to make these band brackets from a single T-shaped blank of metal,
such as represented in Figure 28 and marked a³, the head af, of which is formed
into the attachment plate a', having its lower end turned up into a stop or seat-
ing a², whilst the stem or other part a', of the blank is fashioned into the box
part a, with an open joint a³, made or left between the opposed edge part of the
metal forming the box bracket and that of the attachment plate, through which
joint an end c, of the band c, is slipped and held, with the lower edge ², thereof
resting upon the curled up bottom stop or seating as aforesaid.
These brackets may be so made that they can be indifferently employed for either
a rod or a band by forming rod seatings such as at, on their inner sides, as in
Figures 26 and 27 or by forming holes at, through the front and side walls of the
box part, as represented in the modification Figures 30 and 31, into which the ends
of the rods may take, being the open joint to receive the end of the band and
the seating for the lower edge thereof, the same as in Figures 26 and 27. Or
instead of having a seating on the attachment plate, the same may be cut in the
side of the body of the bracket, as in Figure 31, and the band maybe then notched.
Figure 32 represents a still further form of rod or bracket which is interchangeably

page_text: applicable to the front or the edge of either side or top or bottom of a window
frame. This view represents the rod detached from the bracket.
Figure 33 represents a like view as Figure 32, but showing, the rod connected
with the bracket. These figures show the bracket in the position it would assume
when applied to the front of the left hand side of a window frame.
Figure 34 is a topside edge view of the said bracket and rod in the same position
as Figure 32.
Figure 35 shows the bracket and rod in the relative positions they would assume
when the form was secured to the inner edge of the left-hand side of a window
frame.
This bracket consists of an attachment plate a¹, provided with a vertical pivot a²,
arranged between separated ears, and to which the end socket fitting c¹, of a
curtain rod c, is jointed so as to be capable of movement in a horizontal plane.
When this bracket is applied to the front of a window frame, then the end of the
rod lies partly across one side of the attachment plate (see Figure 33) whilst when
it is applied to the edge, the rod proceeds directly forward therefrom, (as in
Figure 35) the interchangeability of the bracket being permitted by the joint.
stud
The rod end fitting, which consists of a short sleeve directed from
the joint and adapted to receive the end ², of the curtain rod
proper c, which is detachably connected thereto by a or projec-
tion 3, on the rod taking into a bayonet slot c, made within the
walls of the socket and into which the stud is passed and afterwards
the parts are locked together by giving the one a partial rotation upon the other.
As an alternative, the stud may be formed on the jointed fitting on the bracket
and the bayonet slot in the end of the rod, or the one part may be made to fit tightly
into the other part, as I do not limit myself to any particular method of connecting
the rod to the hinged fitting.
Figure 36 represents, partly in section and partly in elevation, an interchange-
able bracket adapted to be used in conjunction with a necked or shouldered rod.
Figure 37 is a side elevation of rigure 36.
Figure 38 represents, partly in section and partly in elevation, another view
showing the connection of the rod to the bracket.
Figure 39 a side view of Figure 38, with the rod in section, showing the position
the said rod assumes when used with a top rod, whilst Figure 39* is a like section
showing how the rod end is drawn by the curtain against the top edge of the
hole when the bracket is used with the bottom rod of a pair.
a is the bracket, comprising a box part a¹, and attachment ears a², whilst a³; a²,
are round holes made through the front and one or both of the sides of the bracket,
to receive the head ends of the rod c. The said heads &, are slightly less in
diameter than the holes and are necked at c¹, so that in connecting the rod, the
head is introduced into the hole and the rod allowed to fall when the said head
engages behind the shoulder formed by either the top edge of the hole as in Fig. 39^
or the bottom edge as in Fig. 39, and so prevents the rod being disconnected until
it has been again slightly lifted to bring the head and hole coincident.
Such interchangeable box brackets as represented in Figures 11 to 19 and 36
to 39 may also be adapted to receive the ends of curtain band by providing the
same, instead of holes with vertical notches cut downward from the upper edge
into the front and into either or both of the sides, or instead of notches vertical
holes, such as marked a², in Figure 40, may be formed in the front and sides
of the bracket, in which case the lower edge of the band c, may have a notch c²,
(see Figure 41) adapted to engage over the metal at the lower end of the slot.
Further such bands may be notched at both edges near the ends in which case
the bracket may be provided with an auxiliary fastening in the form of a sliding
catch.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular shapes of
the box body and other parts of the various brackets herein described which may

page_text: be of any desired figure, but nor to the section of the rods or the holes for receiving
the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is-
First: An interchangeable curtain-rod or band bracket consisting of a hollow
or box body part provided, at either or both of the sides and at the front, with holes
or apertures adapted to receive the ends of a curtain rod or band, whereby the said
bracket admits of being applied indifferently in either of a number of various
positions, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Secondly-The combination with an interchangeable curtain rod or band
bracket, or combined rod and band bracket, as referred to in the preceding claim,
of a sliding or hinged catch, adapted to engage the end of the rod or band, substan-
tially as described and set forth.
ThirdlyThe combination with an interchangeable curtain-rod bracket hav-
ing key-hole shaped apertures in either or both of the sides, and in the front, of a
curtain rod, either fixed or adjustable as to length, having teats, studs or other
stops at or near one or both ends, substantially as and for the purpose herein
described and set forth.
Fourthly-The combination with an interchangeable curtain rod bracket as
referred to in the first claim, of a curtain rod having a necked or shouldered end
or ends, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and set forth.
Fifthly The combination with an interchangeable curtain rod bracket as
referred to in the first claim, with apertures or holes in the front and sides, of a
curtain rod having spring end stops, substantially as and for the purpose described
and set forth.
Sixthly: The improved form of interchangeable rod bracket represented in
Figures 22, 23, 24, 25, in which the body part has a seating or seatings for the
rod end and a hinged or swinging catch for securing the rod in position, substan-
tially as herein described.
Seventhly: A combined rod and band bracket, having both seatings or holes
to receive the end of a rod and a clearance and seating for a band, constructed,
arranged and applied substantially as herein described and set forth in Figures 26
to 31.
Eighthly: An interchangeable rod bracket, consisting of an attachment plate
or equivalent provided with a hinged socket or fitting, adapted to receive, or take
into, the end of a curtain rod, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 32
to 35.
t
Dated this 21st day of December 1898.
JOHN JESSE JAMES
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.