Rail mounting means, particularly curtain rail mounting means

Abstract

 Rail mounting means comprising a bracket (A) which comprises a holder member (1) including at least one locating formation (4, 6a, 6b, 6c). A securing member B is mountable on the holder member 1 by a mounting protrusion (15) on the securing member B engaging through an elongate longitudinally extending mounting slot (8, 11) in the holder member 1. The securing member B is pivotable between an unlocked condition in which it is movable longitudinally along the mounting slot (8, 11) towards and away from the locating formation (4, 6a, 6b, 6c) and a locked condition in which the securing member B can releasably clamp a rail (5, 7) against the locating formation (4, 6a, 6b, 6c). A plurality of spaced locating formations (4, 6a, 6b, 6c) may be provided on the holder member (1) for clamping a rail (5, 7) in any one of a plurality of different positions or for clamping plurality of rails (5, 7) in spaced relationship on the holder member (1), a securing member (B) being provided for each rail (5, 7).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to rail mounting means and particularly to curtain rail mounting means.

[0002] According to the invention, rail mounting means includes a holder member including at least one locating formation; and a securing member mountable on the holder member in a locked condition in which the securing member is adapted releasably to clamp a rail against the locating formation.

[0003] The securing member may be mountable on the holder member to permit movement of the securing member between locked and unlocked conditions.

[0004] The securing member may be mountable on the holder member to permit movement of the securing member towards and away from the locating formation when the securing member is in an unlocked condition.

[0005] The securing member may be slidably mountable on the holder member.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the holder member includes an elongate mounting slot; and the securing member includes a mounting formation extending from the securing member and adapted to pass through the elongate mounting slot in the holder member, the mounting formation including a retaining formation locatable on the side of the holder member opposite to the securing member to retain the securing member on the holder member for movement along the mounting slot.

[0007] The securing member may be removably mountable on the holder member.

[0008] The mounting slot may include an enlargement through which the retaining formation of the mounting formation can pass to permit the securing member to be mounted on and removed from the holder member.

[0009] The holder member and the securing member may include releasably interengageable locking formations.

[0010] The holder member may include a locking recess, such as a slot, in which a locking protrusion on the securing member is releasably engageable to retain the securing member in its locked condition.

[0011] The holder member may include two or more spaced apart locating formations or sets of locating formations, the arrangement being such that a rail may be clamped against any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations.

[0012] Where the holder member includes a mounting slot adapted movably to accommodate a mounting formation on a securing member, the holder member may include a group of two or more spaced apart locating formations or sets of locating formations and the mounting slot may be suitably positioned relative to the group of locating formations to permit the securing member to be suitably located relative to any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group to permit the securing member releasably to clamp the rail against any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group.

[0013] A suitably located locking recess, such as a slot, which is releasably engageable by a locking protrusion on the securing member, may be provided for each of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group to permit the securing member to be releasably retained in a locked condition suitable for any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group.

[0014] Where two or more rails are required to be mounted side by side in transversely spaced relationship, one or more locating formations or sets of locating formations may be provided on the holder member for each rail, the locating formations for the different rails being located in different zones along the length of the holder member and a securing member being provided for each rail.

[0015] The holder member may be adapted to be mounted transversely to a wall or other suitable support.

[0016] The holder member may comprise part of a bracket adapted to be mounted on a wall or other suitable support.

[0017] A holder member and a securing member according to the invention may be made of any suitable material, such as metal or a suitable polymer material.

[0018] Rail mounting means according to the invention is particularly, but by no means exclusively, applicable for the mounting of curtain rails.

[0019] For a clear understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment of curtain rail mounting means according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from the top of a curtain rail bracket according to the invention and of an associated securing member.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bracket of figure 1 showing securing members in operative rail clamping condition and illustrating the mounting of curtain rails on the bracket.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bracket of figures 1 and 2.

[0020] The bracket A comprises elongate holder member 1 which is integrally formed with mounting plates 2a, 2b which extend transversely to holder member 1 in opposite directions from one end of holder member 1. Mounting plates 2a, 2b are provided with apertures 3a, 3b respectively and are adapted to be secured to a wall or other suitable support [not shown] by means of screws or the like passing through apertures 3a, 3b.

[0021] The free outward end of holder member 1 opposite to mounting plates 2a, 2b is bent downwardly to define a locating formation 4 against which an outwardly disposed curtain rail 5 may be located.

[0022] Intermediate its ends, holder member 1 is integrally formed with a group of three longitudinally spaced sets of downwardly directed locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c against which an inwardly disposed curtain rail 7 may be located in any one of three alternative positions. Each set of locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c comprise a pair of transversely spaced protusions extending downwardly from opposite sides of the holder member 1.

[0023] An elongate longitudinally extending mounting slot 8 with an enlargement 9 and a single pair of aligned, transversely disposed locking slots 10 communicating with mounting slot 8, are provided through holder member 1 for the outward locating formation 4. An elongate, longitudinally. extending mounting slot 11 with an enlargement 12 and a pair of aligned, transversely disposed locking slots 13a, 13b, 13c for each of the inwardly located sets of locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c respectively, are provided through holder member 1 for the inward locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0024] As best shown in figure 1, a securing member B comprises a body 14 from which an integral mounting protrusion 15 extends upwardly. A retaining enlargement 16 is provided at the free end of mounting protrusion 15. An inclined clamping formation 17 extends downwardly from one end of body 14 and a locking protrusion 18 extends upwardly from the opposite end of body 14.

[0025] As shown in figure 2, a securing member Bl may be removably mounted on bracket A for outward curtain rail 5 by passing the retaining enlargement 16 of the securing member Bl through the enlargement 9 of the outward mounting slot 8 so that the mounting protrusion 15 extends through slot 8 and retaining enlargement 16 is located on the side of holder member 1 opposite to that on which body 14 is located. The mounting protrusion 15 is movably accommodated in slot 8 so that the securing member Bl is pivotable relative to holder member 1 between locked and unlocked conditions and is slidable along slot 8 towards and away from the outward locating formation 4 when the securing member B1 is in an unlocked condition. When retaining enlargement 16 is not in registration with slot enlargement 9, the retaining enlargement 16 engages the surrounds of mounting slot 8 and prevents removal of the securing member B1 from bracket A. The securing member B1 may be removed from bracket A by bringing retaining enlargement 16 into registration with slot enlargement 9 and withdrawing mounting protrusion 15 from bracket A. With securing member Bl mounted in mounting slot 8 and in an unlocked condition, rail 5 may be located against outward locating formation 4 as shown in figure 2 and the securing member Bl moved longitudinally along holder member 1 towards outward locating formation 4 until the clamping formation 17 of the securing member Bl engages rail 5. By pivotting the securing member Bl relative to holder member 1, the locking protrusion 18 may be urged upwardly into releasable engagement with locking slots 10 in holder member 1, thereby releasably to retain the securing member Bl in a locked condition in which it firmly clamps the rail 5 against locating formation 4 and cannot move away from rail 5 along mounting slot 8. The various parts and formations are suitably related to each other so that when the locking protrusion 18 of the securing member Bl is engaged in locking slots 10, rail 5 is securely held in position. It will be seen from figure 2 that the outward locating formation 4 and the clamping formation 17 of the securing member Bl converge downwardly towards each other when the securing member Bl is in its locked condition and engage downwardly converging surfaces of rail 5 so that rail 5 is held securely against withdrawal from between clamping formation 17 and locating formation 4.

[0026] In order to release rail 5, the securing member Bl may be pivotted relative to holder member 1 to move the locking protrusion 18 downwardly out of engagement with locking slots 10 so that securing member B1 is in an unlocked condition to permit movement of the securing member B1 longitudinally along holder member 1 away from outward locating formation 4.

[0027] It may be necessary for the clamping components and/or the region of rail 5 which is adapted to be clamped to possess some resilience to permit movement of the securing member Bl into and out of a locked condition.

[0028] In similar manner to that described above, a securing member B2 may be removably mounted on bracket A for the inward curtain rail 7 by passing the retaining enlargement 16 of the securing member B2 through the enlargement 12 of the inward mounting slot 11 so that the mounting protrusion 15 extends through slot 11 and retaining enlargement 16 is located on the side of holder member 1 opposite to that on which the body 14 of the securing member B2 is located. Securing member B2 is pivotable relative to holder member 1 between locked and unlocked conditions. Also, securing member B2 is slidably movable along mounting slot 11 towards and away from locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c when securing member B2 is in an unlocked condition.

[0029] Rail 7 may be mounted in any one of three alternative positions by locating rail 7 against any one of locating formations 6a, 6b, or 6c and moving the securing member B2 into engagement with rail 7. Rail 7 may be firmly clamped in the required position by pivoting the securing member B2 relative to holder member 1 releasably to engage the locking protrusion 18 on the securing member B2 in the pair of locking slots 13a, 13b or 13c appropriate for the particular locating formation 6a, 6b or 6c against which rail 7 is located, thereby releasably to retain the securing member B2 in a locked condition in which it firmly clamps rail 7 against the locating formation 6a, 6b or 6c in question.

[0030] It will be appreciated that instead of mounting the outward rail 5 against outward locating formation 4, it may also be mounted against locating formation 6b or 6c by mounting two securing members B on bracket A through the same mounting slot 11.

[0031] It is also possible to mount only one curtain rail at a time on bracket A. As another alternative it is also possible to mount three or four rails on bracket A. Thus, a rail may be mounted against each of the four locating formations 6a, 6b, 6c and 4, a securing member B being provided for each of the rails, three securing members B being mounted on bracket A through the same mounting slot 11 and a fourth securing member B being mounted on bracket A through slot 8.

[0032] Many other variations in detail are possible without departing from the scope of the appended claims. For example, any suitable number of suitably spaced locating formations or sets of locating formations may be provided on holder member 1.

[0033] In order to prevent a securing member B from snapping out of its locked condition due to vibration caused by the drawing and opening of a curtain, a hole 16a may be provided through the retaining enlargement 16 of the securing member B as shown in figure 1. As shown with respect to the securing member Bl in figure 2, a self tapping screw 19 may be passed through the mounting slot 8 from the bottom of holder member 1 and screwed into the hole 16a of the retaining enlargement until the head of screw 19 seats against the surrounds of slot 8 to hold securing member Bl against movement out of its locked condition.

[0034] Holder member 1 may be adapted to be supported at both ends thereof.

[0035] The rails 5 and 7 shown in figure 2 are of a type suitable for curtain runners of the type disclosed in co-pending SA patent application No 82/8653 but any other suitable rails may be used.

[0036] Bracket A and securing member B may each be of integral construction and may be pressed out of sheet metal.

[0037] The invention includes within its scope a holder member as such as defined above and also a securing member as such as defined above.

Claims

1. Rail mounting means characterized by a holder member including at least one locating formation; and a securing member mountable on the holder member in a locked condition in which the securing member is adapted releasably to clamp a rail against the locating formation.

2. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the securing member is mountable on the holder member to permit movement of the securing member between locked and unlocked conditions.

3. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the securing member is mountable on the holder member to permit movement of the securing member towards and away from the locating formation when the securing member is in an unlocked condition.

4. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the securing member is slidably mountable on the holder member.

5. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the holder member includes an elongate mounting slot, and the securing member includes a mounting formation extending from the securing member and adapted to pass through the elongate mounting slot in the holder member, the mounting formation including a retaining formation locatable on the side of the holder member opposite to the securing member to retain the securing member on the holder member for movement along the mounting slot.

6. Rail mounting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the securing member is removably mountable on the holder member.

7. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 6 insofar as it is dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the mounting slot includes an enlargement through which the retaining formation of the mounting formation can pass to permit the securing member to be mounted on and removed from the holder member.

8. Rail mounting means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the holder member and the securing member include releasably interengageable locking formations.

9. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the holder member includes a locking recess and the securing member includes a locking protrusion releasably engageable in the locking recess to retain the securing member in its locked condition.

10. Rail mounting means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder member includes two or more spaced apart locating formations or sets of locating formations,the arrangement being such that a rail may be clamped against any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations.

11. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 5 or 7, characterized in that the holder member includes a group of two or more spaced apart locating formations or sets of locating formations and the elongate mounting slot is positioned relative to the group of locating formations to permit the securing member to be suitably locatable relative to any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group to permit the securing member releasably to clamp the rail against any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group.

12. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the holder member includes a locking recess for each locating formation or set of locating formations of the group and the securing member includes a locking protrusion releasably engageable in any one of the locking recesses to permit the securing member to be releasably retained in a locked condition suitable for any one of the locating formations or sets of locating formations of the group.

13. Rail mounting means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one or more locating formations or sets of locating formations is provided on the holder member for each of two or more rails which are to be mounted side by side in transversely spaced relationship, the locating formations for the different rails being located in different zones along the length of the holder member and a securing member being provided for each rail.

14. Rail mounting means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder means is adapted to be mounted transversely to a support.

15. Rail mounting means as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the holder means comprises part of a bracket adapted to be mounted on a support.

16. A holder member as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A securing member as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15.

Drawing