GB2241159A - Curtain rack - Google Patents

Abstract

A curtain track 10 comprises an elongate member 12 which supports curtain runners which roach over the top edge 14 and under the bottom edge 16 of the elongate member. A second leaf 28 of the elongate member extends over the front face 18 and is transparent, so that the front face 18 would be visible when the curtains are open. The lower edge 30 of the front leaf 28 is sprung to the elongate member 12 at 32 so that the front leaf 28 can be pulled away from the surface 18 to allow a strip of decorative material 22 to be inserted and retained. The decorative material 22 is then visible through the front leaf 28, to enhance the appearance of the track 10. <IMAGE>

Description

Curtain Track The present invention relates to curtain tracks.

Curtain tracks are normally installed above windows, to extend horizontally across the width of the window. The track is formed to support curtain runners which hang from the track and can slide along the track, thereby allowing a curtain hung from several runners to be opened or closed. Many designs of curtain track are visible at least at sometimes during use, usually when the curtains are open and sometimes also when the curtains are closed.

It is therefore considered desirable to provide for an aesthetically pleasing appearance for the track and it is an object of the present invention to facilitate an improvement in the appearance of curtain tracks.

According to the invention, there is provided a curtain track comprising an elongate member which is so formed as to support curtain runners from which a curtain may be hung, and which extends, in use, above a window to be covered by the curtain, the curtain track being visible at least intermittently during use, and the track further comprising first and second retaining surfaces between which decorative material may be retained.

Preferably the first retaining surface is a surface of the elongate member. The first retaining surface is preferably substantially planar and faces into the room in which the curtain track is installed. The first retaining surface may be substantially vertical and may extend across substantially the whole vertical extent of the track. The first retaining surface may extend along substantially the whole length of the track.

Preferably the second retaining surface is on a transparent member through which decorative material is visible when retained as aforesaid. The transparent member preferably extends over substantially the whole of the first retaining surface. The transparent member is preferably supported by the elongate member. The transparent member and the elongate member are preferably permanently attached. The said members may be attached along an elongate edge of the elongate member. The elongate edge is preferably the lower extremity of the elongate member.

The said members may be resiliently attached, whereby the retaining surfaces may be resiliently separated to allow decorative material to be inserted therebetween. The track may comprise a continuous resilient hinge by means of which the said members are attached. The hinge may be formed by co-extruding the said members in a resilient material.

The elongate member may provide a groove adjacent the free edge of the transparent member, whereby a cutting member may be run along the edge of the transparent member, guided by the groove, to trim decorative material projecting out from between the retaining surfaces.

The transparent member may be releasably attached to the elongate member along the edge of the transparent member which is radially remote from the hinge. The releasable attachment may be provided by means of a snap catch comprising a catch projection and a corresponding catch recess on respective members, the members having sufficient resilience to retain the projection in the recess, and to allow the projection to be forced out of the recess to release the catch and allow decorative material to be moved between the retaining surfaces. The catch projection and the catch recess preferably extend along substantially the entire length of the track.

The second retaining surface may be provided on a retaining member which is releasably attachable to the elongate member. The retaining member may have a display surface which faces into the room in which the track is installed when the retaining member is attached to the elongate member, the retaining surface being so located as to grip the edge of decorative material which covers the display surface. The retaining member preferably has a front face which provides the display surface, and a rear face which provides the retaining surface, whereby decorative material may be folded round the retaining member to cover the display face and be adjacent the retaining surface. The retaining member preferably has two retaining surfaces located behind upper and lower elongate edges which extend along substantially the whole length of the track.

The retaining member and elongate member are preferably attachable by means of a projection or recess on the retaining member and a recess or projection, respectively, on the elongate member, the projection and/or the recess being made of a resilient material to provide a snap fit for the projection in the recess. The projection and recess may extend along substantially the whole length of the track.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a curtain track according to the invention and indicating a possible modification; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 during installation; Figs. 3 and 4 are a partial vertical section and a perspective view, respectively, of a second embodiment of the invention; and Figs. 5 and 6 are a partial section and a perspective view, respectively, of a third embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, features of the second and third embodiments which correspond to features of the first embodiment are shown with numerals suffixed "A" and "B" respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a curtain track 10 comprising an elongate member 12 which is so formed as to support curtain runners (not shown) from which a curtain may be hung. In the embodiments shown, the elongate member 12 supports curtain runners which reach over the top edge 14 and under the bottom edge 16 of the elongate member 12 so as to be captive on the member 12. Alternatively, the cross-section of the elongate member 12 could include grooves, ribs, flanges etc. to engage and retain runners of various designs.

The elongate member 12 extends, in use, above a window to be covered by the curtain. In this position, the track 10 will be visible at least intermittently during use. The track 10 further comprises first and second retaining surfaces 18, 20 between which decorative material 22 may be retained to provide an improved appearance to the track when the elongate member 12 would otherwise have been visible.

In more detail, the elongate member shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a strip of a material such as an extrudable synthetic plastics material. The strip is installed so that its length runs along the top of the window, its width extends vertically and its thickness extends horizontally and perpendicular to the wall in which the window is located. The front surface 18 is therefore substantially vertical and facing into the room in which the track is to be installed. Close to the top edge 14 of the elongate member 12, there is a groove 26 formed in the front surface 18 and running along substantially the whole length of the track 10.

A second leaf 28 is positioned in front of the front surface 18 to cover the surface. The leaf 28 has a rear surface 20 which lies against or adjacent to the front surface 18. The second leaf 28 extends along substantially the whole length of the track. The lower edge 30 is attached to the lower edge 16 of the elongate member 12 by a hinge at 32. This may be an extruded hinge. Indeed, the elongate member 12 and the second leaf 28 may be co-extruded as a unitary structure. It is envisaged that co-extrusion will be possible by extruding the track with the hinge 32 more widely open than shown in the drawings, and thereafter forming the hinge to the position shown.

The second leaf 28 extends up from the hinge 32 almost to the groove 26. In an alternative, indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1, the second leaf 28 may extend up to the top edge 14 of the elongate member 12. In the alternative, the groove 26 would be unnecessary. A small retaining bead 34 is formed along the top edge of the second leaf 28.

The second leaf 28 is transparent over substantially the whole of the area between the hinge 32 and the bead 34.

In use, the track 10 is installed in the normal position for curtain track. When the track 10 is visible, the front surface 18 will be visible through the second leaf 28. In order to enhance the appearance of the track 10, a piece of decorative material 22 can be placed between the front surface 18 and the second leaf 28 so as to be visible from within the room, through the second leaf 28. The decorative material 22 can be placed between the front surface 18 and the second leaf 28 by pulling the second leaf 28 away from the front surface 18, against the resilience of the material at the hinge 32, thereby opening a cavity into which the decorative material can be placed. Upon releasing the second leaf 28, it will spring back towards the front surface 18, so that the front surface 18 and the rear surface 20 of the second leaf 28 lightly grip the decorative material 22 in between them.The retaining bead 34 aids in holding the decorative material 22 by reaching over the top edge of the material 22.

In order to allow the bead 34 to reach over the material 22, it is desirable for the material 22 to be trimmed along the whole length of the track 10. Trimming is facilitated by the presence of the groove 26, as indicated in Fig. 2. In that drawing, a piece of decorative material 22 has been placed between the surface 18 and the leaf 28 so that it extends down to the hinge 32 but is oversize, and extends up above the top edge of the leaf 28. With the material 22 so installed, the blade of a sharp knife, such as a modelling knife, can be run along the groove 26, guided by the top edge of the second leaf 28, thereby cutting and trimming the material 22 accurately to the height of the second leaf 28. The trimmed edge can then be pushed down between the surface 18 and leaf 28 to allow the leaf 28 to close with the bead 34 over the material 22.

Once installed in this way, the decorative material 22 has a neat appearance which is visible through the second leaf 28 whenever the track 10 is visible. In this way, the appearance of the track can be enhanced. The decorative material may be of many different kinds but will often be chosen to match, contrast or otherwise co-ordinate with other decoration in the room.

Figs. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment which has many similarities to the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

In this second embodiment, a groove 40 is formed along the top edge 14A of the elongate member 12. The second leaf 28A extends up to the top edge 14A of the elongate member 12A, and has a short, rearwardly projecting extension 42 which reaches back over the elongate member 12A and terminates in a catch bead 44 which can locate in the groove 40. The material of the second leaf 28A is resilient, so that the extension 42 can be deformed to allow the catch bead 44 to be snapped into or out of the groove 40 thereby allowing the second leaf 28A to be moved away from the elongate member 12A to allow decorative material 22A to be placed between the second leaf 28A and the elongate member 12A, and also to allow the second leaf 28A to be snapped shut thereby securely retaining the decorative material 22A in position between the front surface 18A and the rear surface 20A of the second leaf 28A.

Other catch arrangements could be provided to allow the second leaf to be held shut against the elongate member. For instance, the extension 42 could reach back over and down behind the elongate member to form a catch which locates over the elongate member. In this alternative arrangment, a catch bead and groove can be omitted.

This embodiment does not incorporate an aid for trimming the decorative material 22A, which may therefore need to be trimmed before being located in position.

Thereafter, the decorative material 22A will be visible through the transparent leaf 28A.

A third embodiment is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the elongate member 128 has a groove 50 formed approximately half way up the front surface 188 and extending along the whole length of the track 10B.

The mouth of the groove 50 is formed by lips 52 which project towards each other to leave a mouth 54 between the lips and narrower than the width of the groove 50 behind the mouth 54.

The track also includes a retaining member 56, preferably made of extruded plastics material. The retaining member 56 has a smooth front face 58 which is slightly bowed in vertical section to be closer to the front surface 18B at the top and bottom edges 148, 16B, than between those edges.

The rear face 60 of the retaining member 56 has a rearwardly projecting retaining bead 62 having an oversize head 64 and located approximately half way up the retaining member 56, so that the bead 62 may be a snap fit into the groove 50, with the head 64 being retained behind the lips 52 by the resilience of the lips 52.

Thus, the retaining member 56 can be securely attached to the elongate member 128 by pressing the bead 62 into the groove 50 along the whole length of the elongate member 128, or alternatively by sliding the bead lengthwise into the groove. The retaining member 56 is shaped so that once the bead 62 has been placed in the groove 50, the upper and lower edges of the retaining member 56 are close to or in contact with the front surface 18B of the elongate member 12B.

In order to decorate this third embodiment of curtain track, a piece of decorative material 22B is laid over the front face 58 of the retaining member 56, and the upper and lower edges of the material 228 are folded over the edges of the member 56 and placed behind the member 56, between the rear face 60 and the front face 18B. When the bead 62 is snapped into the groove 50, the edges of the material 228 are gripped at the upper and lower edges of the track 108 so as to retain the material 228 in position covering the retaining member 56. In this embodiment, the retaining member 56 is not visible once the track 10B has been decorated. The edges of the material 228 are not visible and therefore do not need to be accurately or neatly trimmed.However, in contrast to the first two embodiments described above, the material 22B is not protected from dirt and dust.

It will be apparent from the above description that many variations and modifications to the three embodiments described above can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In particular, the cross-section of the track may be changed to allow its installation using many different kinds of mounting bracket, and to allow many different kinds of runner to be used, while still retaining the ability to hold decorative material in the ways described. Many different materials can be used to form the track, but uPVC is expected to be a satisfactory material for extruding tracks like those shown in the drawings.

It would also be apparent from the above description that the design of the track can be varied to allow for conventional forms of track furniture to be fitted, such as end-stops, finnials, pelmets and pull cords.

The decorative material could be curtain fabric, wallpaper or other wall covering, a purpose made strip of colour or other decorative surface, or a veneer.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims (26)

1. A curtain track comprising an elongate member which is so formed as to support curtain runners from which a curtain may be hung, and which extends, in use, above a window to be covered by the curtain, the curtain track being visible at least intermittently during use, and the track further comprising first and second retaining surfaces between which decorative material may be retained.

2. A track according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining surface is a surface of the elongate member.

3. A track according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first retaining surface is substantially planar and faces into the room in which the curtain track is installed.

4. A track according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first retaining surface is substantially vertical and extends across substantially the whole vertical extent of the track.

5. A track according to any preceding claim, wherein the first retaining surface extends along substantially the whole length of the track.

6. A track according to any preceding claim, wherein the second retaining surface is on a transparent member through which decorative material is visible when retained as aforesaid.

7. A track according to claim 6, wherein the transparent member extends over substantially the whole of the first retaining surface.

8. A track according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the transparent member is supported by the elongate member.

9. A track according to claim 8, wherein the transparent member and the elongate member are permanently attached.

10. A track according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the said members are attached along an elongate edge of the elongate member.

11. A track according to claim 10, wherein the elongate edge is the lower extremity of the elongate member.

12. A track according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the said members are resiliently attached whereby the retaining surfaces may be resiliently separated to allow decorative material to be inserted therebetween.

13. A track according to claim 10, 11 or 12, and comprising a continous resilient hinge by means of which the said members are attached.

14. A track according to claim 13, wherein the hinge is formed by co-extruding the said members in a resilient material.

15. A track according to any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the elongate member provides a groove adjacent the free edge of the transparent member, whereby a cutting member may be run along the edge of the transparent member, guided by the groove, to trim decorative material projecting out from between the retaining surfaces.

16. A track according to any of claims 6 to 15, wherein the transparent member is releasably attachable to the elongate member along the edge of the transparent member which is radially remote from the hinge.

17. A track according to claim 16, wherein the releasable attachment is provided by means of a snap catch comprising a catch projection and a corresponding catch recess on respective members, the members having sufficient resilience to retain the projection in the recess, and to allow the projection to be forced out of the recess to release the catch and allow decorative material to be moved between the retaining surfaces.

18. A track according to claim 17, wherein the catch projection and the catch recess extend along substantially the entire length of the track.

19. A track according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second retaining surface is provided on a retaining member which is releasably attachable to the elongate member.

20. A track according to claim 19, wherein the retaining member has a display surface which faces into the room in which the track is installed when the retaining member is attached to the elongate member, the retaining surface being so located as to grip the edge of decorative material which covers the display surface.

21. A track according to claim 20, wherein the retaining member has a front face which provides the display surface, and a rear face which provides the retaining surface, whereby decorative material may be folded round the retaining member to cover the display face and be adjacent the retaining surface.

22. A track according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the retaining member has two retaining surfaces located behind upper and lower elongate edges which extend along substantially the whole length of the track.

23. A track according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the retaining member and elongate member are attachable by means of a projection or recess on the retaining member and a recess or projection, respectively, on the elongate member, the projection and/or the recess being made of a resilient material to provide a snap fit for the projection in the recess.

24. A track according to claim 23, wherein the projection and recess extend along substantially the whole length of the track.

25. A curtain track substantially as described above, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, Figs. 3 and 4 or Figs. 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

26. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.