Improvements in Curtain Fixtures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 25th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by ALBERT W. HERR, of No. 1628, 16th Street, N.W.,
and ISAAC M. LONG, of No. 1518, T Street, N.W., both of Washington, District
of Columbia, United States of America, Merchants.]
Improvements in Curtain Fixtures.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in curtain fixtures which are adapted to
be attached to a door or window frame and support the curtains or draperies in
graceful folds therefrom so as to produce an artistic effect.
Broadly considered the invention consists of the combination of a suitable block
and a suitable spring clamp between which the curtain or drapery can be clasped
and formed and maintained in plaits or folds to make it hang gracefully; either
the block or the clamp being adapted to be attached to the door or window frame
for supporting the curtain therefrom.
It
The preferred form of the invention consists of a suitable cylindrical block or
head having a flaring portion projecting upwardly from it, and a suitable spring
clamp adapted to embrace the cylindrical head and clamp the curtain thereto.
is also preferable to form an annular flange or beading around the lower edge of the
block or head to prevent the curtain slipping down thereon. The spring clamp
consists preferably of a broad metal band bent into substantially U-shape and
provided on its outer face with any suitable ornamentation. Suitable means are
provided for attaching either the block or clamp to a door or window frame for
supporting the curtains therefrom.
In order that the invention may be fully understood the same will first be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In said drawings :-
-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a door frame having a curtain draped therein by
means. of the invention.
Figure 2 is a detail sectional view showing the improved bracket and clamp in
side elevation and the curtain and door frame in section.
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clamp.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the preferred form of the improved supporting
bracket.
Figure 5 is a slightly modified form of the same, part being shown in section to
illustrate the construction.
Figure 6 represents a strip having a number of improved supporting brackets
attached, illustrating a slight change in the manner of applying the same.
Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of two modified forms of spring clamps
adapted to be attached to the door frame.
Figures and 10 are front elevations of two forms of blocks adapted to be
employed with the clamps shown in Figures 7 and 8.
Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 show further modifications.
Referring to Fig. 1, A represents a door frame, B the curtains or drapery hung
therein, C the ordinary curtain cords, and D an over-drapery. The curtains and
over-drapery are hung by means of the improved fixture which will now be
described.
In the construction of Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, E is a horizontal bracket arm
provided with an enlarged base F1 adapted to fit against the door frame to which

page_text: the bracket is secured, and a screw G securely fastened into the door frame.
H is the vertical cylindrical head of the supporting bracket which is secured to
the outer end of the bracket arm E in any suitable manner. In.Fig. 5 the head H
and arm E are shown secured together by means of a socket / formed in the side
of the head and a contracted portion e of the bracket arm fitting in said socket.
In this form of bracket the enlarged base F' is omitted. I is the integral flaring
portion of the cylindrical head H which projects upwardly therefrom. J is an
annular flange or beading formed on the lower end of the cylindrical head H and
adapted to prevent the slipping of the curtain thereon. K is the spring clamp
formed of a broad band of metal bent into substantially U-shape, so as to snugly
fit the cylindrical head H and having its ends k bent outwardly so as to afford
smooth edges for bearing against the curtain. L is a button shaped to represent a
flower or similar ornament and provided with a screw or rivet i by means of which
it is secured to the outer curved face of the spring clamp K. The head of the
rivet or screw can be conveniently shaped to represent the pistil of the flower.
The above-described form of improved curtain-supporting bracket is designed to
be employed as follows:-
When it is designed to drape the window or door way, the brackets are first
screwed into place with the cylindrical head projecting vertically as represented in
Fig. 2 of the drawings, or substantially so. The curtain or other drapery is then
folded over the head of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 1, and the clamps are put in
place to secure the curtain thereto. It will be observed that the clamps will make
the folds of the curtain conform to the shape of the brackets and produce a fullness
at the top from which the curtain will hang in graceful folds. The flaring head
portions conform the curtain folds at top to their shape and add materially to the
beauty of the drapery. The clamps rest, when in place, just above the annular
beadings J so that there is no danger of the curtain slipping down out of position.
In addition to the buttons L serving for ornaments for the spring clamps, they
can be conveniently utilized for hanging some suitable over-drapery, such as D
represented in Fig. 1.
In Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are shown modifications of the invention in which the
spring clamp is adapted to be attached to the door frame instead of the block as
shown in the preferred form. The spring clamp K shown in Figure 7 is the same
as shown in Figure 3 except the button and screw or rivet i are omitted and a
hole provided through which a screw N passes for securing the clamp to the
wood-work. In Figure 8, the clamp is made of a single piece of metal having two
curved arms O, O, extending from the angular or V-shaped spring extension ()',
which is provided at its end with a screw o' which is adapted to be screwed into
the wood-work, as in the preferred form of supporting bracket. With this form of
clamp it is desirable to employ a sliding ring or keeper P which fits on the angul ir
extension O¹ and clamps the spring arm in place onto the block and curtain in a
manner which will be clear from the drawings. In combination with the bracket
clamps shown in Figures 7 and 8 it is obvious that it is necessary to employ some
such block as is shown in Figures 9 and 10. These blocks Q are formed with
cylindrical bodies, having ornamented ends q, and beadings 9' to hold them and the
curtains in place. This form of device is applied in substantially the same manner
as the preferred form.
Sometimes the supporting brackets or clamps are secured to a strip of wood M
shown in Figure 6, the strip being attached to the door or window frame by
screws m so as to avoid as much as possible mutilating the wood-work of the house.
The blocks or heads H may be formed of some other suitable shape, but the
cylindrical form has been found preferable.
When it is desired to drape the curtains evenly on both sides of the door or
window frame with the improved fixtures, it is necessary to employ an uneven
number of them in order that the odd one may be placed in the centre and the
others arranged at equal distances on each side.
The blocks or brackets can be made of any suitable material, but it is found

page_text: preferable to employ wood, inasmuch as they can be more economically produced
from this material. The spring clamps are, of course, made of metal. It is of
course obvious that slight changes in form can be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention, and that it is within the scope of the invention to ornament
the brackets in any approved manner, to render them less objectionable when
the draperies are removed. Of course the fixtures can be readily removed by
unscrewing when the draperies are taken down, if preferred.
In practice the fixtures are adapted to any place desirable and arranged so, as to
have the curtains hang either closely to the window or window frame or far away
therefrom. This can be conveniently arranged by shortening or lengthening the
bracket arms, or in some cases doing away with them entirely and securing the
block or clamp directly to the frame by any suitable means.
The bracket or arm E shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and formed of wood with a
screw G inserted in the free end thereof, may be replaced, if desired, by a bracket
or arm formed of wire or otherwise of metal, and suitably connected or attached to.
the head or block, and also constructed to be applied and secured to the frame
work of a door or window. In Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 are shown a bracket or
arm formed of wire; the particular form or construction shown in the said figures
being one which has been especially designed with the object in view of providing
against injuring or defacing the face of the wood-work to which the fixtures are
applied. In the said figures, the bracket or arm aforesaid is shown made of a
single piece of wire, the latter being at an intermediate point in its length, bent to
form the elongated loop or eye E. The two portions of the wire forming the
opposite sides of the said eye or loop are brought together and into parallelism and
are bent twice as shown, first downwardly at right angles to the plane of the eye or
loop, and then again forwardly into a plane parallel with that of the said eye or
loop, the said two portions then being twisted together as shown, the free end of
one of them being left straight, and being pointed and screw-threaded, while the.
free end of the other thereof is bent downwardly and formed into an eye E". The
arm or bracket made as just described is connected with the head or block H by
screwing the point E2 into the hole H in the rear side of the head or block H
until the downwardly projecting arm E bears against the rear side of the head or
block H. A screw or other securing device is then driven through the eye E" into.
the material of the head or block H. It is convenient to form the rear side of the
head or block H flat for use with this form of arm or bracket. If desired the
beading at the lower end of the head or block H may be notched at H", see
Fig. 15, so as to receive a portion of the arm E93 above the eye E! which last in
this case projects below the lower end of the head or block H and forms a support
to which may be attached pendant drapery or the like. The screw or other securing
device E of Fig. 11, or the engagement of the armi E³ in the notch H" in the
case of the modification shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, prevents rotation of the head
or block upon the arm or bracket E. When the arm or bracket E, formed of wire
as described, is applied as shown in Figs. 11 and 13, the eye or loop E' rests upon
the top of the moulding or other projecting part of the window or door frame, and
the vertical part E rests against the front face of the latter, while a screw or
screws E passed through the eye or loop E' serve to securely hold the fixture in
place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The improved curtain fixture comprising a block or support from which a
curtain or drapery can be draped and a suitable clasp engaging the block or support
and clasping the curtain thereto, so that the block or support projects into the folds
of the curtain or drapery and forms and maintains it in plaits or folds, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The improved curtain fixture comprising a substantially cylindrical vertical

page_text: block or support from which a curtain or drapery can be draped and a suitable
spring clamp engaging the cylindrical block or support and clasping the curtain or
drapery thereto, thereby forming and maintaining it in plaits or folds, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The improved curtain fixture comprising a substantially cylindrical block or
support having a flaring head in combination with a suitable spring clamp adapted
to engage therewith and clasp the curtain or drapery thereon and thereby form and
maintain it in folds, substantially as set forth.
4. The improved curtain supporting fixture comprising a block or support from
which the curtain or drapery can be hung, a flange or beading around the bottom
of the said block or support for preventing the slipping of the curtain thereon and
a suitable clamp adapted to clasp the curtain or drapery to the block or support,
substantially as set forth.
5. The improved curtain fixture consisting of a bracket arm, a block or support
secured thereto, means for securing the bracket arm to a window or door frame,
and a spring clamp adapted to engage the block or support and clasp the curtain or
drapery thereon, thereby forming and maintaining it in folds, substantially as set
forth.
6. The improved curtain supporting fixture consisting of a block or support, a
spring clamp adapted to engage the same and clasp the curtain or drapery thereto,
thereby forming and maintaining it in folds, and a button attached to the spring
clamp and adapted to support an over-drapery, substantially as set forth.
7. The herein described curtain supporting fixture comprising a series of blocks
or supports from which a curtain or drapery can be draped and means for securing
or clasping the curtain or drapery to the blocks or supports, thereby forming and
maintaining it in plaits or folds, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
בז
1
CT1 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.