Title of Invention: ADJUSTABLE DRAPERY SUPPORT SYSTEM

WITH SINGLE LATERAL WALL SUPPORT

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a system for supporting curtains and window curtains in particular. A curtain is a furnishing element which, in addition to its ornamental value, also allows for the modulation of the light coming through windows or French doors, or for a division between different environments, such as a shower area in a bathroom.

Background Art

[2] The state-of-the-art includes various systems to support furnishing curtains.

[3] A first known system allows for the fitting of curtains with plastic hooks fitted or sewn in one extremity of the curtains fabric; said hooks are hooked onto rings, connected between themselves by a string that can slide on a linear or curved metal railing. The railing is usually fastened to the ceiling with screws and bushings. The sliding of the rings is made possible by the manual or motor-driven activation of the string, allowing opening and closing of the curtains depending on requirements. This solution, in spite of its prevalence, presents a number of technical or aesthetic disadvantages which make it unsuitable in a number of situations, for instance in cases of high ceilings or ceilings with exposed beams. Furthermore, it is a solution lacking flexibility given that the metal railing is usually factory-manufactured and therefore cannot be adapted on site, such operation requiring special equipment. For this reason, even though they are available on the market, railing-based solutions in tight spaces are expensive. Fitting such a system is not always easy, particularly in cramped spaces, on account of pieces of furniture, walls, doors and suchlike which limit the efficiency of the workers or decorators.

[4] A second known state-of-the-art technique for the assembly of curtains includes a metal or wooden pole which, depending on the weight of the curtain, is held into place by at least two brackets fixed to the ceiling or the walls with screws and bushings. A series of rings, usually of circular shape, are inserted in the pole; said rings are then hooked onto the upper extremity of the curtain and, as they slide up and down the pole, enable the curtains to be opened and closed depending on requirements. The possibility to shorten the supporting pole of the curtain or even to use telescopic supporting poles, offers better installation flexibility to the worker carrying out the installation.

Nonetheless, the distance between curtain and window remains determined by the dimension of the brackets and must therefore be ascertained before assembly. In the case of small and light curtains, the pole's supporting brackets may be small pin hooks fastened directly onto the frame of the window or French doors. A variant of these systems, also used to support small curtains, includes a telescopic rod held by pressure against the frame of the window or French doors with a spring.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[5] The necessity to use at least two supporting brackets constitutes a limitation in

various application environments, particularly in modern houses characterised by small spaces and an increasing density of electrical, hydraulic or safety equipment, or the presence of load-bearing beams. In fact, the possibility to mount the supporting brackets symmetrically with respect to the window or French doors is often limited, or even prevented, by the presence of domestic equipment hidden pipes, as well as by water, gas and air ducts (for central extraction) and electrical cables. Hidden cables for contact alarm sensors are particularly common in the vicinity of doors and windows. In other circumstances, the possibility of an easy and rapid installation with excellent aesthetic results is prevented by the presence of load-bearing walls, radiators or by the absence of a wall onto which the second supporting bracket of the pole may be fastened. These elements are not always laid out rationally during the building's construction phase and may render difficult the installation of a curtain or limit choices of installation.

[6] Furthermore, to achieve a good aesthetic effect, the presence of two decorators is required in order to check alignment, etc, thereby increasing installation costs significantly.

Technical Solution

[7] The principal undertaking of the present invention is to construct a drapery support system characterised by a single lateral wall support, in order to allow installation in any type of environment, even in cases where it is not possible to fasten two brackets to support the curtain pole;

[8] Within the framework of the undertaking described above, an important additional aim of the present invention is to construct an adjustable and easily installed drapery support system, which may be installed by a single worker;

[9] An important additional aim of the present invention is to create a drapery support system capable of conferring the effect, thanks to a pole of predefined curved profile, that the windows or French doors are being enveloped, giving at the same time the illusion that the curtain is suspended;

[10] An important additional aim of the present invention is to create a drapery support system capable of incorporating LED lights, or other device and sensors, to boost the aesthetic effect or provide the support with additional functionalities;

Last but not least, an aim of the present invention is to develop a drapery support system that may be made in a variety of materials with known technologies.

These aims, as well as others to be detailed more clearly below, are achieved by a drapery support system characterised by the fact that it comprises a profile, preferably a roller levelled aluminium, inserted into a single fastening plate, placed laterally to said profile; said plate is provided with appropriate holes to allow fastening to the wall or ceiling; said system comprises an anti-oscillation stand to prevent oscillation of the pole as well as adjustment means to facilitate assembly and adjustment depending on application requirements.

Advantageous Effects

In practice, the invention as described offers a solution for the predefined task and aims. In particular, the present invention makes it possible to create a support system for drapes, particularly curtains for windows, which, thanks to a single lateral support allows an installation in any type of environment, even where it is not possible to attach two supports to hold the curtain pole. Furthermore, the presence of suitable adjustment means facilitate the installation and adjustment of the drapery support system, even by a single worker.

Also, the present invention makes it possible to create with ease a drapery support system in any shape or material, since, as mentioned later, the implemented forms illustrated here exemplify rather than strictly define the invention. In fact, the single wall fastening plate may be made of a number of plates; adjustments may be made without the use of headless Allen screws.

Additionally, the invention develops a drapery support system capable of conveying the effect that the windows or French doors are being enveloped by the curtains, giving the illusion at the same time that the curtain is suspended.

Last but not least, with the present invention a drapery support system that can be produced with machine tools and known technologies was achieved.

Description of Drawings

Further features as well as further advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of two embodiments as shown in the annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

• Figure 1 represents, under letter (a), a perspective view of the complete

drapery support system as per one of the first implemented form of the invention; under letter (b) a perspective view of details of said system;

• Figure 2 represents, under letter (a) a perspective view of the pole's support plate including an anti-oscillation stand, in the first implemented form of the invention; under letter (b) a top view of the pole's extremity including the support plate;

• Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the first implemented form of Figure

1 applied to a typical living environment;

• Figure 4 represents, under letter (a), a perspective view of the pole's support plate; under letter (b), a top view of the pole's support plate, including adjustment means, as per the first implemented form of the invention;

• Figure 5 represents, under letter (a), a perspective view of the complete

drapery support system as per a second implemented form of the invention; under letter (b), the perspective view highlights the lit LED applied to the pole.

Best Mode

[18] In reference to the figures given above, a lateral and adjustable support system for curtains or drapery, in accordance with the present invention, is referred to in its first implemented form as number (10). This lateral curtain support system consists of a supporting pole, preferably a roller levelled aluminium profile, inserted solidarily into a single fastening plate, placed laterally to said profile; said plate is provided with appropriate holes to allow fastening to the wall or ceiling; said system comprises an anti- oscillation stand to prevent oscillation of the pole as well as adjustment means to facilitate assembly and adjustment depending on application requirements.

[19] In such first implemented form of the present invention, which is to be understood as an example of the invention only, the support pole (10) of the curtain (23) is preferably a roller levelled aluminium profile, but it may also be made of steel or other metal, plastic or composite material, such as carbon fibre for instance. The support pole (10) is fastened to a wall, preferably with screws and bushings, through a single fastening plate (11), preferably in steel, placed laterally to said support pole (10). Depending on requirements, the length of said profile (10) may be modulated by sliding the extremity (15) of said pole (10) between the guide (12) machined in the wall fastening plate (11), and fastening it in the desired position with a fixation screw passing preferably through the hole (115). Said guide (12) can be obtained, for example, by moulding said plate (11) in the shape of a 'C.

[20] The ease of installation and adjustment of this drapery support system as per the invention is guaranteed by the presence of suitable adjustment means obtained by combining: elongated holes (113) on the wall fastening plate (11); the presence of a slight play between said pole (10) and the guide (12); and compensating holes (114), preferably for headless Allen screws, to modify the inclination of said support pole (10) in relation to the floor or the ceiling, or to the distance to the window, thereby compensating the weight of the curtain itself or the lack of parallelism of the ceiling in relation to the floor.

[21] The support pole (10) and the extremity (15) are connected between themselves by an anti-oscillation stand (19), preferably including a thrust spring and fixation screws, which exerts pressure on said support pole (10), preventing, or limiting, any oscillation of the support pole (10) during the closing and opening of the curtain (23).

[22] The extremity (16) of said support pole (10) is closed by an end stopper (18) which, in addition to preventing the rings (17) to which the curtain (23) is hooked from falling, masks any imperfections due to the cuts made to reduce the size of said support pole (10). Said rings (17) are preferably cut in an oval shape and fitted with Teflon coating to facilitate the sliding of said rings along the support pole (10) during the closing and opening of the curtain (23).

Mode for Invention

[23] In a second implemented form of the system to suspend curtains fitted with a single adjustable lateral support as per the invention, represented in Figure 5 and herein indicated with the letter (a), the support pole (20) includes housings for LED lights (222), which are shown in Figure 5 (b) emitting luminous radiation (224).

[24] The invention designed in this manner may be subject to numerous modifications and variants, all included within the framework of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details may be substituted with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the dimensions, the materials employed, the regulations, the shape of the pole, the shape and layout of the holes machined in the plate, as well the system to maintain the tension of the anti-oscillation stand, can all be modified according to the requirements and state-of-the-art, provided they are compatible with the specific use.

[25] Where the characteristics and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks, said reference marks are provided only in order to increase the claims' intelligibility and consequently said reference marks do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified as example by said reference marks.

Industrial Applicability

[26] The drapery support system herein disclosed may be made in a variety of materials with known technologies and allows the use of curtains in situations where conventional systems with a supporting pole held by a double bracket are not applicable for instance in modern houses characterised by small spaces and an increasing density of electrical, hydraulic or safety equipment, or the presence of load-bearing beams.