Improvements in and Additions to Portières or Curtain Rods for Doors.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
Improvements in and Additions to Portières or Curtain Rods
for Doors.
1 PHILIP GALLIMORE of the firm of Wells, Gallimore and Taylor Limited of
Adam Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
In portieres, or door curtain rods, as ordinarily constructed, the rod at one end,
slides through a guide eye, surmounting a bracket support, secured to a door, leaving
the other end of the rod, immovably connected to a bracket, attached to the inside
jamb of a door; so that on the opening of a door, the free end extends outwardly, to
a considerable extent, beyond the eye of the bracket, wherein it slides, thus making
the said end, an unsightly object, by extending into the room, beyond the door.
My invention has for its object, the remedying of this defect, by making the ends
always remain at constant distances from their supporting brackets, whether the
door be opened or closed; and further, in utilizing, or making a door portière act as
a door closer.
The rod, around which the curtain rings encircle, and upon which they slide,
consists of two outside lengths of tubing, connected together, by an inner and sliding
tube, (or rod) preferably with closed ends.
The outside tubings or casings, have cap ends, or terminals, so as to make box like
spaces, between the ends of the outer sliding parts, and the ends of the middle part;
and within the said spaces, coiled springs are disposed, with their ends abuting
respectively upon the ends of the outside tubings, and upon the ends of the middle
tubing.
The said outside tubings, or casings, are supported by upwardly directed brackets,
one of which is connected to the jamb or frame of a door, on the hinge side, while the
other is fixed to near the edge of the door, on the other or opposite side.
Thus, the combined portière and door spring, consists essentially of two outer
sliding casings, or tubes, working telescopically upon a middle part, and between the
ends of the middle part, and the outer ends of the casings, coiled springs are disposed,
which act in unison, and bring back the door, on being liberated after opening.

page_text: When the door is open to its fullest extent, then the rod is contracted, with the
inner ends of the outer casings, coming together, or nearly together, with the springs
compressed between their contracted, bearing distances.
On the door being let go, the springs expand, and open out the rod to its normal
length, and thereby closing the door.
Instead of the rod being made of three segments of telescopic parts, it may be made
of two outer tubes, one working within the other, and with a single coiled spring,
disposed between their inner ends.
If necessary, the means for closing, may be dispensed with, when the rod is only
required to act as a portière, upon which curtain rings are strung.
By constructing portières as described, there is no unsightly projecting of one end
of the rod beyond the door, when the said door is opened; and further, the portière
can be fitted to either right, or left hand doors.
Dated that with day of Lonname 1000
PHILIP GALLIMORE.
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Additions to Portières or Curtain Rods
for Doors.
I, PHILIP GALLIMORE of the firm of Wells, Gallimore and Taylor Limited, of
Adam Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement.:-
In portières, or door curtain rods, as ordinarily constructed, the rod at one end,
slides through a guide eye, surmounting a bracket support, secured to a door, leaving
the other end of the rod, immovably connected to a bracket attached to the inside
jamb of a door; so that on the opening of a door, the free end extends outwardly to
a considerable extent, beyond the eye of the bracket wherein it slides, thus making
the said end, an unsightly object, by extending into the room beyond the door.
My invention has for its object, the remedying of this defect, by making the ends
always remain at constant distances from their respective brackets, whether the door
be opened or closed, and further, in utilizing or making a door portière, constructed
according to my invention, act as a door, closer.
The rod, to which the curtain rings are connected, or around which they encircle,
and slide, consists of two outside lengths of tubing, connected together by an inner
tube (or rod) preferably with closed ends.
The outside tubings or casings, have cap ends or terminals, thus leaving box like
spaces between the insides of outer ends, of the outside sliding parts, and the ends
of the middle part; and within the said spaces enclosed between the said ends, coiled
springs are disposed, with their respective ends abuting upon the outer inside ends
of the outside tubings, (or upon transverse bushes) and upon the ends of the middle
tubing.
The said outside tubings or casings, are supported by upwardly directed brackets,
one of which, is connected to the jamb or frame of a door, on the hinge side, while
the other is fixed to near the edge of the door, on the other or opposite side. The
said brackets are swivelly connected to the outer tubings.
Thus, the combined portière and door spring, consists essentially of two outer
sliding casings, or tubes, working telescopically upon a middle part; and between the
ends of the middle part, and the outer ends of the casings, coiled springs are disposed,
which act in unison, and bring back the door on being liberated after opening.
When the door is open to its fullest extent, the rod is contracted, with the inner
and open ends of the outer casings, nearly together, with the springs compressed
between their abutments.
On the door being let go, the springs expand, and open out the rod to its normal
length, and thereby closes the door.

page_text: Instead of the rod being made of three segments or telescopic parts arranged as
described, it may be made of two inner tubes, working within a middle one, and with
a single coiled spring disposed between the inner ends of the said outer ones.
If necessary, the means for closing may be dispensed with, when the rod is only
required to act as a portière, upon which curtain rings are strung.
By constructing portières as described, there is no unsightly projecting of one end
of the rod beyond the door, when the said door is opened; and further, the portière
can be fitted to either right, or left hand doors.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents partly in section, and partly in
elevation, a combined portière and door closer, or door spring, constructed and
arranged according to one form of my invention. Thus, it will be seen that the
combined portiére and door spring, consists essentially of two outer and sliding
casings, working telescopically over a middle tube, rod or part, and between the
ends of the said middle part, and the insides of the outer casings, coiled springs are
disposed.
It will be understood, that by dispensing with the said springs, enclosed within the
outer casings as aforesaid, the combined portière, and door closer, is converted into a
portière and curtain rod only.
Figure 2 represents an elevation of the said combined portière and door spring,
with the middle part or tube, and outer casings broken away, in order to exhibit the
said appliance upon an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a top or underside plan of one of the end casings, showing the bush
and pivot bearing of the bracket.
Figure 4 shows upon a small scale, the said combined apparatus applied to a door
and door framing.
Figure 5 represents a modification of my invention.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 4.
a, a are end casings, or tubings, carried and supported by upright brackets b, b².
The bracket, is secured to a door e, while the bracket 2 is secured to a door frame d ;
or if the bracket 2, be made a hanging one, then it may be secured to the transom
of a door frame, instead of to the hinged side stile of the frame.
Both brackets are made with pivoted upper ends 63, which take within bushes or
sleeves a², directed vertically through, and near the outer ends of the said casings,
which are closed by terminals or caps a³, and with the ends of the pivots 6³, provided
with securing knobs 6. It will be seen, that the outer casings rest upon shoulders &³,
of the brackets, and turn about the pivot axis ³, as a centre, on the door opening and
closing.
The outer casings as aforesaid, slide telescopically upon an inner tube, rod or part e,
whose ends are closed, or partially closed; and between the said ends of the inner
part e, and the bushes or sleeves a², or the insides of the ends a³, of the outer casings,
coiled springs, are disposed; and which said springs, are preferably encircled or
enclosed within a fabric sack g, to prevent noise, by the metals coming into contact
with each other, on expansion and contraction of the springs.
The rings for suspending the curtains, are represented in figure 4, and marked h.
The action of the combined portière and door spring, is as follows.
On the opening of a door, the distance between the brackets and the end casings or
tubings, is diminished, the coiled springs compressed within the outer casings, and
the said outer casings moved telescopically over the inner part e, whose inner ends
compress the springs.
Ou releasing the door after opening, the energy stored up within the springs, reacts
and closes the door.
In figure 5, the end casings or tubings, slide telescopically within the ends of the
middle tubing or part as aforesaid, and with a single coiled spring disposed between
the inner ends of the said outer casings or tubings.-
a, a¹ are two end casings or tubings, shown broken off, and b, 62 are pivot ended
brackets, supporting them as in figure 1, and respectively connected to the door and
door frame. e is an outer middle tube or part, working telescopically over, the inner

page_text: ends at of the said casings, and between the said ends, a coiled spring fis disposed:
so that on the opening of a door, the distances between the ends a*, of the outer
casings or tubes a, is diminished, which thereby compresses the spring, and again
closes the door, on the said door being released.
The said appliance figure 5, may be used as a portière only by removing the door
closing spring.
The portières are encircled with the usual rings, from which curtains are hung.
In figure 5, the middle tube or part e, may be supported by a bracket, instead of
the outer casing or tube a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First A combined portière and door spring, or door closer, consisting of two
outer casings or tubes, swivelly supported and turning upon pivot ended brackets,
and with the said casings or tubes working telescopically over a middle part or tube ;
and between the ends of this said middle part, and the ends of the outer casings, or a
cross bar near them, coiled springs are disposed, substantially as described and set
forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Secondly A portière or curtain rod, consisting of two outer and sliding casings,
working telescopically over a middle tube, rod or part, and with the said end casings
swivelly connected to carrying and supporting brackets, whereby the ends of the said
portière or curtain rod, remain at constant distances from their brackets, substantially
as set forth in figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Thirdly-A combined portière and door spring, consisting of end casings or
tubes a, a, swivelly connected to supporting brackets, and with their inner ends
working telescopically within a middle tube or part, wherein a coiled spring is enclosed,
substantially as described and set forth in figure 5.
Fourthly-A portière or curtain rod, consisting of two outer casings or tubes,
swivelly connected to supporting brackets, and with the inner ends of the said tubes,
working telescopically within a middle tube or part, as set forth in figure 5.
Dated this First day of October 1888.
PHILIP GALLIMORE,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.