| JPS541160 | SLIDER FOR CURTAIN RAIL |
| US1160573A | 1915-11-16 | |||
| US1721338A | 1929-07-16 | |||
| US2320308A | 1943-05-25 | |||
| US3550184A | 1970-12-29 | |||
| NL52652C | ||||
| EP0061996A2 | 1982-10-06 |
| 1. | A glide frame apparatus for supporting a sheet material and adapted for movement along a rod member, said glide frame comprising: (a) a frame means for mounting on and movement along a rod member, said frame means having a length and a width and said frame means including material brace means for adjusting one of said length or width of said frame means; (b) at least one anchor means for being fixed to the sheet material and coupled to said frame means such that a portion of the sheet material is thereby attached to said frame means by said anchor means. |
| 2. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim1 wherein said frame means includes a converter frame and said material brace means includes extention arm means, said extention arm means being slidably mounted in said converter frame. |
| 3. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim2 first engaging means on said converter frame and second engaging means on said extention arm means, wherein said first engaging means engages said second engaging means for fixing the slidable mounting position of said extention arm means in said converter frame. |
| 4. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 3, wherein said extention arm means includes spring means for contacting said converter frame and biasing said material brace means away from said converter frame. |
| 5. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein the sheet material is a drapery having a rod pocket therein and wherein said frame means is inserted in said rod pocket and said anchor means is outside of said rod pocket and wherein the movement of said frame means on the rod moves the drapery with respect to the rod. |
| 6. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 5, including a pleater device, said pleater device comprising pleater form means; pleater press means to anchor and form a portion of said drapery to said pleater form means; and pleater binder means for engaging said anchor means and for holding said pleater press means and said pleater form means in engagement with said drapery. |
| 7. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, including bearing means mounted in said frame means for supporting said frame means on the rod, thereby facilitating movement of said frame means on the rod. |
| 8. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim7 wherein said bearing means are roller bearings. |
| 9. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim8 wherein said roller bearings are positioned on the top of said frame means. |
| 10. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 8, wherein said roller bearings are positioned on the top and bottom of said frame means. |
| 11. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 8, wherein said roller bearings are positioned on the sides of said frame means. |
| 12. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 11, wherein said roller bearings are positioned on upper and lower portions of the sides of said frame means, and wherein said roller bearings on the upper and lower portions are spring biased towards each other. |
| 13. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said frame means includes receiving means and wherein said anchor means includes coupling means having a ball member, said ball member being received and held in said socket member for attaching said anchor means to said frame means. |
| 14. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim l, wherein said frame means includes cylindrical receiving means having a transverse slot therein, and wherein said anchor means includes a cylindrical connector arm means having a washer lock thereon, said connector arm means being inserted into said receiving means such that said washer lock is engaged in said transverse slot for attaching said anchor means to said frame means. |
| 15. | A glide frame apparatus as set forth in Claim 13, wherein said frame means further includes cylindrical receiving means having a transverse slot therein, and wherein said anchor means further includes a cylindrical connector arm means having a washer lock thereon, said connector arm means being inserted into said receiving means such that said washer lock is engaged in said transverse slot when said anchor means is attached to said frame means. |
| 16. | A glide frame apparatus for supporting a sheet material and adapted for movement along a rod member, said glide frame comprising: (a) frame means for mounting on and movement along a rod member; said frame means including receiving means having a socket means therein; and (b) at least one anchor means for attachment to the sheet material, said anchor means having coupling means for coupling said anchor means to said frame means, said coupling means having a ball means, wherein said ball means of said coupling means is received and held in said socket means of said frame means with a portion of the sheet material positioned between said anchor means and frame means, whereby said anchor means and the sheet material are attached to said frame means. |
| 17. | A glide frame apparatus for supporting a sheet material and adapted for movement along a rod member, said glide frame comprising: (a) frame means for mounting on and movement along a rod member, said frame means including cylindrical receiving means having a transverse slot therein; and (c) at least one anchor means including a cylindrical connector arm means having a washer lock thereon, wherein when said anchor means is fixed to the sheet material, and wherein when said connector arm means is inserted into said receiving means of said frame means, said washer lock is engaged in said transverse slot, whereby said anchor means and the sheet material fixed thereto are attached to said frame means. |
| 18. | A glide frame apparatus for supporting a sheet material and adapted for movement along a rod member, said glide frame comprising: (a) frame means for mounting on and movement along a rod member; said frame means including cylindrical receiving means having a socket means and a transverse slot therein; and (b) at least one anchor means for attachment to the sheet material, said anchor means having connector arm means having a ball means and a washer lock means thereon, wherein when said anchor means is attached to said frame means, said ball means is received and held in said receiving means and said washer lock is engaged in said transverse slot, whereby said anchor means with the sheet material attached thereto are attached to said frame means. |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a glide frame apparatus which is a transporting device that may be used with draperies or curtains to convert a plain curtain rod into a traversing rod for pocketed drapes and curtains while also adding fit and architectural shaping. The present invention may also be used for converting flat materials into multiple pleats along with adding a decorative trim. The glide frame apparatus may also be used for transporting sheet material such as walls, doors, drawers and panels along a rod, rail or beam.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a glide frame apparatus for use with draperies or curtains in which a plain curtain rod may be converted into a traversing rod.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a glide frame apparatus which enables a plain drapery or curtain to be pleated by the insertion of a pleater device thereby eliminating sewing.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a glide frame apparatus which is expandable after
being inserted into a rod pocket in the drape or curtain in order to provide a tight fit of the frame in the rod pocket.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a decorative anchor or attaching device for attaching the fabric or sheet material to the frame.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a ball and socket and washer lock and slot devices for connecting the attaching anchor to the frame.
The present invention is directed to a glide frame apparatus for supporting a sheet material such as a drapery or curtain, a wall or a door for movement along a rod member, rail or beam. The glide frame comprises a frame for mounting on and movement along the rod member with the frame including a material brace for adjusting the width or length of the frame. Anchor members which are fixed to the sheet material are coupled to the frame such that a portion of the sheet material is thereby attached to the frame by the anchor member. The material brace includes extension arms for slidably mounting the material brace within the frame, this sliding movement being used to expand the size of the frame. The present invention also includes a pleater device which forms pleats in a drapery fabric without the necessity of sewing. Further, the anchor member and frame are connected together using a ball and socket connection and a receiving member and cylindrical connector arm connection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a glide frame apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the glide frame apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a shape converter for the glide frame apparatus of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an anchor device which attaches to the frame of the present invention. Figure 5a is a perspective view illustrating an extension arm for expanding the frame of the present invention.
Figure 5b illustrates a spring used to bias the extension arm.
Figures 6a, 6b and 6c are side, rear and front views of a pleater device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, glide frame apparatus 1 comprises a frame member la having an opening lb in the center thereof. The frame 1 is adapted to ride on a rod, rail or beam positioned in the opening lb. Material brace 2 is slidably mounted in frame la by means of extension arms 18 which are inserted into opening 18a in frame la. Extension arm 18 enables the material brace to be moved away from frame la thereby expanding dimension w of glide frame 1.
Anchor member 3 is made to be attached to material brace 2 by inserting projection 5 into ports or receiving members in material brace 2. The front face of anchor member 3 can have a decorative surface to enhance the beauty of the glide frame since this surface will be exposed. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, projection 5 is a spike and ball. Port 7 includes a socket which receives the ball 5 and holds the ball 5 therein once it is inserted.
In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 4, the projection from the anchor member 3 is a spike and ball 5 which is received in port 7 and a cylindrical connector arm 12 which has a washer lock 13 circumferentially surrounding it. The connector arm 12 is inserted into a cylindrical receiving member which is part of material brace 2. The receiving member includes a cylindrical portion having a connector groove or slot which is engaged by washer lock 13 and also has a port 7 which receives the spike and ball 5.
When assembling the glide frame of the present invention, the frame la and material brace 2 are inserted into the rod pocket of a drapery or curtain, such that the front of the rod pocket of the drapery or curtain covers the front face of material brace 2. When the glide frame is properly positioned within the rod pocket, anchor member 3 is placed against the front outside face of the rod pocket, so that spike and ball 5 are aligned with port 7. The anchor member 3 is then
pushed forward so that the spike passes through the fabric into port 7 until the ball 5 is held in the socket within port 7. The front face of the rod pocket is positioned and held between anchor member 3 and material brace 2. Any sheet material whether having a rod pocket or not, can be placed between material brace 2 and anchor member 3 after which the anchor member 3 is attached to the glide frame by means of its engagement with material brace 2, to hold the sheet material therebetween. The glide frame 1 can then be placed on a rod, or rail, or beam for movement of the sheet material.
When the glide frame 1 is placed in a rod pocket in a curtain or drapery, material brace 2 can be moved away from frame la by means of expandable arms 18 in order to provide the proper fit in the rod pocket. Once it is expanded, it can be held in the expanded position by the insertion of a lock in holes 6. Extension arm 18 also includes a spring 19 which engages frame la in order to bias the material brace away from frame la.
In the embodiment of Figure 1, bearings 4 on the upper and lower portions of the frame la support the frame on the rod in opening lb and enable the glide frame to be moved easily along the rod.
In an alternative embodiment of the glide frame shown in Figure 2, the bearings comprise spring biased wheels 8 which engage a rod, rail or beam and support the glide frame 1 on the
rod, rail or beam. The wheels 8 are located on the front and rear sides of the frame la.
Figure 3 illustrates a shape converter of the present invention in which the size and shape converter 9 is adapted to be positioned within opening lb of frame la. Extendable gates 10 hold size and shape converter 9 within the opening lb.
Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show a pleater device for use with the present invention. The pleater device comprises a pleater shaper 14 in which a fabric, such as a drapery fabric, is placed over the pleater shaper with the fabric being inserted in the grooves 14a. Pleater press 15 which includes wires 15a, anchors the drapery fabric onto the pleater shaper. The pleater press is then covered with a pleater decorative center binder 16. Snap-on clips 17 are used to attach the decorative binder 16 to the pleater press and pleater form. The snap-on clips 17 include connector arm 12 and washer lock 13 so that the pleater arm structure can then be attached to material brace 2. When using the pleater forming structure, the connector arm does not pass through the fabric, but rather the fabric is held on the connector arm by the pleater device.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description,
and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, to be embraced therein.
Next Patent: OVEN FOR BAKING FOOD PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR FOR BAKING CHIPS