US1810207A - Curtain rod pilot - Google Patents

Description

June 16, 1931.

E. HART CURTAIN ROD PILOT Filed March 13, 1929 INVENTOR. 1747 225, 2%Ffi BY x %%l7% TTORNEg Patented June 16, 1931 PATENT." OFFICE EARL E. HART, OF BERKIIEY, MICHIGAN cunrnm non" PILOT Application filed much 1a, 1929; Serial no. 34am.

This invention relates to curtain rod pilots, and more particularly to that type of fixtures for guiding the curtain rod, as the same 15 thrust through the hfin of the-.window draperies or curtains. i ore particularly, this pilot is adapted for use with curtain rods of the tubular type, or with rods which are formed of channel sections.

In slipping the window drapesor curtains over the curtain rods, it is found that there is great danger of tearing the drapery, unless exceedingly greatcare is exercised to prevent the end of the curtain rod from catching in the curtain material. This is especially true with respect to the more expensive drapes of fine texture, which are more liable to be caught by the exposed end of the curtain rod, and if torn, results in a much greater financial loss.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the difficulty mentioned above, by providing a pilot which serves to guide the curtainrod as the same is slipped into the hem of the window drapes.

Another object of the invention is to ruinimize the wear and tear on window drapes by providing a quickly detachable pilot, that can be readily attached toicurtain rods of various sizes and shapes, and which makes it possible to quickly slip the curtain rods into the hem of the window drapes without snagging or tearing the same.

A further object or" the invention is to pro- 1 vide a pilot for curtain rods, which may be H5 economically manufactured and retailed at a minimum cost.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention. reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, which illustrates one form which the invention may assume, and in which: x

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a curtain rod, to which a pilot is attached, and whichform of construction showing a pilot constructed of spring wire.

Fig. 5 is an end view thereof. Fig. 6 is a view of a further modified form of construction showing a pilot constructed with a shank of spring wire and with a sheet metal head attached thereto.

Fig. 71 is an end viewthereot.

Fig. 8 is a view of a still further modified form of construction.

Fig. 9 is an end view of a pilot adapted. to be attached to a circular curtain rod.

With the use of a pilot, that may be attached to the end of a. curtain rod, it is possible to very quickly slip the curtain rod into the hem of a window drape or curtain without tearing the same, notwithstanding the character or texture of the curtain material.- In hotels, hospitals and other public institutions, where the window drapes are frequent ly changed to be cleaned or renovated, the losses, due to the tearing of the window drapes are quite an item of expense. This pilot facilitates the hanging of window drapes, and is very useful in private homes as well as in large institutions, such as hotels and hospitals, where because of the frail char- 1 of telescoping tubular orchannel shaped sections of various sizes and shapes. 10 designates one of the curtain rod sections, which must be inserted into the hem 11 of a window drape 12.

To facilitate the hanging of the window drapes, I have provided a pilot that may be very quickly attached to a curtain rod. In Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive a pilot structure is illustrated, which comprises a tubular section 13, one end of which is reduced in size as at 14. This provides a shank which may be fitted into either of two difierent size curtain rods. An insert A is provided with a shank 15, which is adaptedto telescope within the largest end of the shank 13, and is also provided with an enlarged head 16 that is preferably permanently attached to the tubular section 13 by means of the small nails 17 or other suit- ,ablev fastening devices. The head 16 is de- I signed to have a body portion that has a greater cross-sectional dimension than that ofthe tubular section 13 or the curtain rod,

and is preferably rounded as at 16a. The shank is arranged to exactly fit into the enlarged portion of the tubular section 13.

Thls insert may be constructed of wood as showmor of a metal casting if so desired. It may be noted that the pilot can be also designed to slipover the end of the curtain rod, if so desired, instead of being tele'-. scoped within the open end of the curtain r0d.

In F 4 and 5, the pilot is constructed entirely o a specially formed spring-wire, the

shank portion 20, being so constructed, that it may be sprung into the open end of tubular or channel shaped curtain rods of various sizes and shapes. The wire is bent outwardly at 21 to form a shoulder, and then return bent and outwardly curved as at 22 to form an arch or crown, the said crown portion being the first part of the pilot to enter into the hem of the curtain or window drape to spread the folds of the material, so that the end of the rod will not snag or catch the curtain material. The wire is then preferably formed into a semi-circular ring 23, that is positioned at right angles to the arch portion 22. (See Fi 5. n igls. 6 and 7 the pilot is constructed 'tain rods of various dimensions.

with a ank portion 30 of spring wire, so that it may be sprung into the open end of tubular curtain rods of various sizes and shapes. As illustrated in these figures, the head is constructed of a cup-shaped sheet metal buttonor head portion 31, which is provided with the inwardly extending flanges 32, that are arranged to be engaged orhooked by the outwardly extending wire tips 33 carried by the shank 30. The head may be substantially rectangular in shape, as shown in Fig. 7, or circular as shown in Fig. 9, depending of course on the design of the curtainvrod soldered or otherwise permanently secured thereto. Preferably a spring 43 is fitted within the shank 40, the free ends of the spring being arranged to bear on thelegs of the shank and exert a lateral pressure to tightly engage the shank with the walls of the tubular or channel sha d curtain rod;

If desired, the outer ace of the shank portions of the pilot may be roughened or in-the end of a curtain rod.

gaged.

knurled, so as to increase the frictional en-" gagement of the shank with the-inner face of the tubular curtain red. It is of course understood, that all types of shanks, whether constructed of wire or sheet metal, may be so roughened or knurled. 1

It may be noted that the enlarged head of the pilot spreads the folds of the hem of the window drape or curtain, the hem, which is sewed into the drape, forming a passage for receiving the curtain rod. It will thus be seen that, as the curtain rod is thrust through the hem of the curtain, the pilot thus guides the curtain rod and prevents the fabric of the curtain material from being caught by the relatively sharp edge at the end of the curtain rod. Thus, a curtain with this attached pilot can be very quickly thrust through the hem of the window drape without any danger of tearing the same.

It may be further noted that this pilot is quickly detachably secured to the curtain rod, the quickness with which the pilot can be attached to or removed from the curtain rod, and the ease with which'the curtain rod can beslipped through the hem of the curtain, materially facilitates the hanging of window draperies. Such a device may thus be usefully employed either in the home, or in hotels, hospitals or other. public institu 95 tions, Where curtains or window drapes of fine material are frequently changed or renovated. 3 4

Although I have, illustrated but a few forms of. my invention, and have described 106 in detail but a single application thereof; it will be apparent to those skilled in'the art, that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention, or from the 195 scope of the appended claims.

" I claim: a.

1. A curtain rod pilot comprising a piece of wire bent to form a spring coil and having the extending ends return bent and pro- 110 vided with out-turned terminal portions, a

sheet metal head of greater area than the end .of the curtain rod with which the device is adapted to be used, the sheet metal head being provided with an inturned flange and the terminal ends of the return bent por tions bein adapted for engagement within the said ange, the return bent portions being adapted for yieldable engagement with- 2. A curtain rod pilot comprising a piece of wire bent to form a spring coil and having the extending ends return bent and provided with out-turned-terminal portions, a sheet metal head having an inturned flange, the out-turned portions being adapted to be engaged within the inturned flange of the head and the return bent portions being substantially in parallel relation when so eniii lee

3. A curt ein rod pilot comprising e. ieee of wire bent to form 95 sgring coil and eving the extending endls t ereof extendin at an angle one to the other, each exteng end being return bent and providedl with an outwardly. extending hook portion end e sheet metal head having an mourned flene behind; which the hook portions ere edepted to be engaged in testimony whef I have o ed my signeture.

EARL *1.

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