(19)
(11) EP 0 976 350 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
02.02.2000 Bulletin 2000/05

(21) Application number: 99305866.8

(22) Date of filing: 23.07.1999
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7A47H 1/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 31.07.1998 JP 21703298

(71) Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ikeda, Hiroki
    Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu (JP)

(74) Representative: Luckhurst, Anthony Henry William 
MARKS & CLERK, 57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields
London WC2A 3LS
London WC2A 3LS (GB)

   


(54) Curtain hanging member


(57) The present invention provides a curtain hanging member with which a curtain can be easily and swiftly attached to the curtain hanging member and the curtain can be fixed firmly in terms of strength. The curtain hanging member includes a strip-shaped support plate (2) which can be disposed horizontally, a fixing plate (3) for attaching a curtain (C1) and provided to be pendent from the support plate (2), male engaging elements (8) of a surface fastener arranged on a front face of the fixing plate (3), and a curtain rail (5) for hanging and sliding a curtain (C2) on a lower face of a rear end of the support plate (2). The support plate (2), the fixing plate (3), and the curtain rail (5) are successively and integrally molded and the male engaging elements (8) are also integrally molded with the fixing plate (3) at the same time by using thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin by extrusion or injection molding. Female engaging elements (9) of a surface fastener are attached to the curtain (C1) and the curtain (Cl) is fixed by engaging the female engaging elements (9) with the male engaging elements (8) of the fixing plate (3).




Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


1. Field of the Invention



[0001] The present invention relates to a fixing frame of an ornamental curtain, the fixing frame being used by fixing it to a front face of a curtain box for a hung and sliding type of curtain or a tucked-up type of curtain, namely relates to a curtain hanging member.

2. Description of the Related Art



[0002] As this type of fixing frame or curtain hanging member, there is a known curtain rail wherein a rail made of aluminum has on opposite faces thereof with engaging grooves through which a surface fastener can be inserted, the engaging grooves being defined by forming flanges by bending upper and lower ends of the I-shaped rail inward. The rail is fixed to a ceiling or a wall face by brackets. The surface fastener is fixed by being inserted through the engaging groove on a front face of the rail. Another surface fastener is attached to an upper portion of an ornamental curtain. The ornamental curtain is fixed by engaging the surface fasteners with each other.

[0003] There is a curtain rail as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 6-64591, wherein L-shaped flanges are formed on upper and lower portions of front and rear faces of an inverted U-shaped curtain rail to define engaging grooves. A surface fastener is inserted through and fixed in the engaging groove while the other surface fastener is attached to an upper portion of a tucked-up type of curtain. The surface fasteners are engaged with each other to fix the tucked-up type of curtain.

[0004] In any of the above-described conventional curtain rails or the curtain boxes, the surface fastener is fixed by being inserted through the engaging groove defined on the front face of the curtain rail and is engaged with the surface fastener attached to the curtain so as to fix the curtain. Therefore, it is troublesome to mount the surface fastener to the engaging groove of the curtain rail. There is also a strength problem and there is a fear of falling of the surface fastener off the engaging groove due to a weight of the curtain during use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



[0005] The present invention has been accomplished with the above-described problems in view, and it is a main object of the invention to provide a curtain hanging member wherein a curtain can be easily and swiftly attached to the curtain hanging member. A frame body and male engaging elements of a surface fastener of the curtain hanging member are integral with each other such that the surface fastener is not peeled off. In terms of strength, the curtain can be firmly fixed to the curtain hanging member.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain hanging member, wherein various types of curtains can be easily attached to a front face or an inner face of the curtain hanging member with good external appearance.

[0007] Still another object of the invention is to provide a curtain hanging member, wherein the curtain hanging member with the curtain can be easily attached to a wall face.

[0008] Further object of the invention is to provide a curtain hanging member, wherein a curtain rail for hanging and sliding the curtain is also provided in the curtain hanging member mounted with the curtain and the curtain hanging member can be easily attached to a ceiling or the like.

[0009] It is also an object of the invention to provide a curtain hanging member, wherein a curtain rail for hanging and sliding the curtain is also defined in the curtain hanging member mounted with the curtain and the curtain hanging member can be easily attached to the wall face or the like.

[0010] Still further object of the invention is to provide a curtain hanging member, wherein the curtain hanging member mounted with the curtain can be easily attached to a bracket and can be easily attached to the wall face or the ceiling by means of the bracket.

[0011] To address the above objects, according to the invention, there is provided a curtain hanging member comprising a frame body having a strip-shaped support plate which can be disposed horizontally, a fixing plate for attaching a curtain, which is formed to be pendent from the support plate, and male engaging elements of a surface fastener arranged on a plate face of the fixing plate, the frame body being formed by successively and integrally molding the support plate and the fixing plate and integrally molding the male engaging elements at the same time by using thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin such as rigid PVC, ABS resin, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, epoxy, phenol, and the like by extrusion means or injection molding means.

[0012] Preferably, the male engaging elements of the surface fastener for attaching the curtain are integrally molded with a front face, i.e., on a surface side of the fixing plate formed to be pendent from a front end of the support plate.

[0013] Alternatively, the male engaging elements of the surface fastener for attaching the curtain are integrally molded with an inner face, i.e., a rear face of the fixing plate formed to be pendent from the front end of the support plate.

[0014] Preferably, an attaching plate for attaching the curtain hanging member to a wall face is integrally molded on a rear end of the support plate to extend upward or downward.

[0015] Also preferably, a curtain rail for hanging and sliding the curtain is integrally molded with a lower face of the rear end of the support plate such that the curtain hanging member can be attached to a ceiling.

[0016] Further preferably, a curtain rail for hanging and sliding the curtain is integrally defined at the lower face of the support plate on the rear end side and the attaching plate for attaching the curtain hanging member to the wall face is integrally molded with the rear end of the support plate to be perpendicular to the support plate.

[0017] Still preferably, a pendent portion in a shape of a small strip is formed to project from the rear end side of the support plate in parallel to the fixing plate and an attaching portion for attaching a bracket is integrally molded with the support plate, such that the frame body attached to the bracket can be attached to the ceiling or the wall face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to a ceiling, with male engaging elements being arranged on a front face thereof.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to the ceiling, with male engaging elements being arranged on an inner face thereof.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to a wall face, with male engaging elements being arranged on a front face thereof.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to the ceiling, with male engaging elements being arranged on a front face thereof and with a curtain rail being also provided in the curtain hanging member.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the curtain hanging member of FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to the wall face, with male engaging elements being arranged on a front face thereof and a curtain rail being also provided in the curtain hanging member.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a curtain hanging member to be attached to a bracket, with male engaging elements being arranged on a front face thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS



[0025] Embodiments of a curtain hanging member of the present invention will be specifically described below by reference to the drawings.

[0026] In the curtain hanging member of the invention according to a first embodiment, a frame body 1 of the curtain hanging member is integrally formed to comprise a strip-shaped horizontal support plate 2, a fixing plate 3 which is for attaching a curtain C1 to the support plate 2 to be pendent and which is formed to be perpendicularly pendent from a front end of the support plate 2, and male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener arranged on a front face of the fixing plate 3 as shown in FIG. 1. All of the support plate 2, the fixing plate 3, and the male engaging elements 8 of the surface fastener of the frame body 1 are molded of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting rein such as rigid PVC, ABS resin, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyamide, epoxy, phenol, and the like. In the molding, the support plate 2 and the fixing plate 3 are successively and integrally molded by extruding means or injection molding means and the male engaging elements 8 are also molded integrally at the same time.

[0027] The molded frame body 1 is attached to a ceiling 15 by inserting screws 12 through attaching holes 11 defined in the support plate 2. When the curtain is used, the curtain C1 is attached to the frame body 1 by engaging female engaging elements 9 of (a) surface fastener(s) attached to an edge portion of the curtain C1 in series or at predetermined intervals with the male engaging elements 8 of the surface fastener provided to project from the front face of the fixing plate 3 of the frame body 1 attached to the ceiling 15. The frame body 1 is attached to an arbitrary position of the ceiling 15 or a bracket 20 in relation to placement of a hung and sliding type of curtain rail 5 attached to the ceiling 15 or the bracket 20 when the frame body 1 is used.

[0028] A frame body 1 of a curtain hanging member according to a second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is in substantially the same form as the frame body 1 of the above-described embodiment and comprises a support plate 2 and a fixing plate 3. The difference resides in that male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener to be molded on a plate face of the fixing plate 3 are arranged on an inner face, i.e., a rear side of the fixing plate 3. Therefore, a curtain C1 is fixed by engaging female engaging elements 9 of (a) surface fastener(s) attached to an edge portion of the curtain C1 with the male engaging elements 8 of the fixing plate 3 from the rear side of the fixing plate 3. The curtain C1 is of a type wherein the fixing plate 3 of the frame body 1 appears on its front.

[0029] A frame body 1 of a curtain hanging member according to a third embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has a horizontal strip-shaped support plate 2 having a large width. A fixing plate 3 is formed to be perpendicularly pendent from a front end of the support plate 2. Male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener are integrally molded on a front face of the fixing plate 3. An attaching plate 4 for attaching the frame body 1 to a wall face 16 is formed at a rear end of the support plate 2 to extend upward perpendicularly. Attaching holes 11 are defined at any positions of the attaching plate 4 and the frame body 1 is attached to the wall face 16 by screws 12.

[0030] Because the frame body 1 has a large width, the frame body 1 is suitable for disposing on an inner face thereof a curtain rail carrying a curtain C2. The male engaging elements 8 for attaching a curtain C1 may be integrally formed on a rear side of the fixing plate 3 of the frame body 1.

[0031] A frame body 1 of a curtain hanging member according to a fourth embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a horizontal strip-shaped support plate 2 having a slightly larger width. A fixing plate 3 for attaching a curtain C1 is formed to be perpendicularly pendent at a front end of the support plate 2. Male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener are integrally formed on a front face of the fixing plate 3. A curtain rail 5 for attaching the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 is formed downward at a rear end of the support plate 2 and at a distance from the fixing plate 3. Curtain runners 10 with hooks are disposed in the curtain rail 5.

[0032] A large number of hooks are formed to project from a surface of a plate body of each the curtain runner 10 with distal ends of the hooks facing upwardly, the curtain runner 10 being received in the curtain rail 5 for a rolling movement. The curtain runner 10 with the hooks comprises a hook plate 17 provided on top thereof with a hook portion 18 and a roller 19 including a support shaft and rollers rolling in the curtain rail 5 and axially supported on opposite ends of the support shaft. The hook plate 17 is fixed by hooking the hook portion 18 on the support shaft at a center of the roller 19, thereby forming the curtain runner 10 with the hooks.

[0033] The frame body 1 has features which realize that the curtain C1 and the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 can be attached easily. The curtain C2 is hung and fixed by engaging female engaging elements 9 of surface fasteners attached to the curtain C2 at constant intervals with hooks on the hook plates 17 of the curtain runners 10. Female engaging elements 9 attached to the curtain C1 are engaged with the male engaging elements 8 on the front face of the fixing plate 3, thereby fixing the curtain C1. The support plate 2 of the frame body 1 is attached to the ceiling 15 by screws 12.

[0034] A frame body 1 of a curtain hanging member shown in FIG. 6 is a modification of the frame body 1 shown in FIG. 5. The frame body 1 is in such a form as to be attached to the wall face 16. The fixing plate 3 is formed to be pendent from a front end of the support plate 2. The male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener for attaching the curtain C1 is integrally formed on a front face of the fixing plate 3. The curtain rail 5 for hanging the curtain C2 is formed downward at the lower face on the rear end side of the support plate 2. An attaching plate 4 for attaching the frame body 1 to the wall face 16 is formed at the rear end of the support plate 2 to extend upward perpendicularly. The frame body 1 is attached to the wall face 16 by screws 12.

[0035] The female engaging elements 9 attached to (a) surface fastener(s) of the curtain C1 are engaged with the male engaging elements 8 arranged on the front face of the fixing plate 3 to fix the curtain C1. The female engaging elements 9 of surface fasteners attached to an edge portion of the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 at constant intervals are engaged with the hooks on the hook plates 17 of the curtain runners 10, the curtain runners 10 being disposed in the curtain rail 5, thereby hanging and fixing the curtain C2.

[0036] A frame body 1 of a curtain hanging member according to a fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 7 comprises a fixing plate 3 formed to be perpendicularly pendent from a front end side of a horizontal strip-shaped support plate 2. Male engaging elements 8 of a surface fastener are arranged on a front face of the fixing plate 3. A pendent portion 6 which is a small strip is formed to project from a lower face of the support plate 2 on a rear end side in parallel to the fixing plate 3. Front and rear ends of the support plate 2 project in shapes of continuous projections to form attaching portions 7 such that the frame body 1 can be clamped by brackets 20. After the frame body 1 is fixed to the bracket 20, the brackets 20 are attached to the wall face 16 or the ceiling 15. The frame body 1 may have a configuration that the fixing plate 3 is perpendicularly pendent centrally from the lower face of the support plate 2 with the front and rear ends of the support plate 2 serving as the attaching portions 7. The attaching portions 7 may not be in the shapes of the projecting portions but through holes defined in the support plate 2 instead. A curtain rail 5 for hanging the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 is mounted to an arbitrary position of the bracket 20.

[0037] The curtain hanging member of the invention has the above-described structures and exhibits the following effects by the structures.

[0038] According to the invention, the frame body 1 having the horizontal strip-shaped support plate 2, the fixing plate 3 for attaching the curtain C1, which is formed to be pendent from the front end of the support plate 2, and the male engaging elements 8 of the surface fastener arranged on the face of the fixing plate 3 is formed by successively and integrally molding the support plate 2 and the fixing plate 3 by using thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin by extrusion or injection molding. Therefore, the curtain hanging member having the engaging device for fixing the curtain can be manufactured at once, thereby enhancing productivity. The curtain can be easily and swiftly attached without trouble. Furthermore, the surface fastener for fixing the curtain is not peeled off or does not fall off, the curtain can be fixed firmly in a stable state, and the curtain can be changed easily.

[0039] With the male engaging elements 8 of the surface fastener being integrally molded with the front face of the fixing plate 3 for attaching the curtain C1, which is formed to be pendent from the front end of the support plate 2, the curtain C1 can be disposed beautifully with good appearance because the entire curtain is visible.

[0040] Alternatively, with the male engaging elements 8 of the surface fastener being integrally molded with the inner face of the fixing plate 3 for attaching the curtain C1 and formed to be pendent from the front end of the support plate 2, the curtain C1 can be disposed with good appearance by screening the upper end edge of the curtain C1 with the frame body 1.

[0041] As the attaching plate 3 for attaching the curtain hanging member to the wall face 16 is integrally molded with the rear end of the support plate 2 to be perpendicular to the support plate 2, the curtain rail 5 for hanging and sliding the curtain C2 can be easily defined in the curtain hanging member, and in addition, the curtain hanging member can be easily attached to the wall face 16 with the curtain rail 5 being easily covered with the fixing plate 2.

[0042] With the curtain rail 5 for hanging the curtain C2 is integrally molded with the lower face of the rear end of the support plate 2, the curtain C1 and the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 can be easily disposed together in the curtain hanging member, and in addition, the curtain hanging member can be easily attached to the ceiling 15.

[0043] As the curtain rail 5 for hanging the curtain C2 is defined at the lower face of the support plate 2 on the rear end side and the attaching plate 3 for attaching the curtain hanging member to the wall face 16 is integrally molded with the rear end to be perpendicular to the support plate 2, the ornamental curtain C1 and the hung and sliding type of curtain C2 can be easily mounted together to the curtain hanging member, and in addition, the curtain hanging member can be easily attached to the wall face 16.

[0044] With the pendent portion 6 in the shape of the small strip being formed to project from the rear end side of the support plate 2 in parallel to the fixing plate 3 and the attaching portion 7 for the bracket 20 being integrally molded with the support plate 2, the curtain hanging member can be easily mounted to the bracket 20, and in addition, the curtain hanging member can be easily combined with another curtain rail in various forms.


Claims

1. A curtain hanging member including:
   a frame body (1) having a horizontal strip-shaped support plate (2), a fixing plate (3) for attaching a curtain (C1), which is formed to be pendent from said support plate (2), and male engaging elements (8) of a surface fastener arranged on a face of said fixing plate (3), being characterized by that said frame body (1) is formed by successively and integrally molding said support plate (2) and said fixing plate (3) and integrally molding said male engaging elements (8) at the same time by using thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin by extrusion or injection molding.
 
2. A curtain hanging member according to claim 1, being characterized by that said male engaging elements (8) of said surface fastener are integrally molded with a front face of said fixing plate (3) for attaching said curtain (C1), which is formed to be pendent from a front end of said support plate (2).
 
3. A curtain hanging member according to claim 1, being characterized by that said male engaging elements (8) of said surface fastener are integrally molded with an inner face of said fixing plate (3) for attaching said curtain (C1), which is formed to be pendent from a front end of said support plate (2).
 
4. A curtain hanging member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, being characterized by that an attaching plate (4) for attaching said curtain hanging member to a wall face is integrally molded with a rear end of said support plate (2) to be perpendicular to said support plate (2).
 
5. A curtain hanging member according to claim 1 or 2, being characterized by that a curtain rail (5) for hanging a curtain (C2) is integrally molded with a lower face of a rear end of said support plate (2).
 
6. A curtain hanging member according to claim 1 or 2, being characterized by that a curtain rail (5) for hanging a curtain (C2) is provided at a lower face of said support plate (2) on a rear end side and an attaching plate (4) for attaching said curtain hanging member to a wall face is integrally molded with said rear end to be perpendicular to said support plate (2).
 
7. A curtain hanging member according to claim 1 or 2, being characterized by that a pendent portion (6) in a shape of a small strip is formed to project from a rear end side of said support plate (2) in parallel to said fixing plate (3) and an attaching portion (7) for a bracket (20) is integrally molded with said support plate (2).
 




Drawing