Curtain Tape

The invention is explained in greater detail in conjunction with the examples of embodiment illustrated in the drawing attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of a first embodiment of the curtain-tape at right angles to the direction of travel;

FIG. 2 is a view of the curtain-tape according to FIG. 1 in the direction of travel;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the curtain-tape according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical representation of the joint between the slide- or roller-elements and the strip;

FIG. 5a shows a first way of forming fan-pleats from the curtain-tape according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 5b shows a second way of forming fan-pleats from the curtain-tape according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatical representation of th curtain-tape with a special arrangement of the slide- and roller-elements;

FIG. 7 shows a first way of forming fan-pleats from the curtain-tape according to FIG. 6;

FIG. 8a is a view of a slide-element in the direction of travel;

FIG. 8b shows the joint between the slide-element according to FIG. 8a and the strip;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section through three slide-elements taken along line IX--IX in FIG. 8a, partly united into a slide-element group;

FIG. 10 is a representation, in part cross-section of a further possible union between slide-elements;

FIG. 11 shows the joining of slide-elements with a separate connecting element;

FIG. 12 shows the joining of two slide-elements with a further connecting element;

FIG. 13 is an embodiment of a sliding ring for a rod-track;

FIG. 14 is a side-elevation of another example of embodiment of the curtain-tape with roller-elements;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the arrangement according to FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a view of the curtain-tape with a plurality of slide-elements;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the head of a slide-element according to FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of the joint between three slide-elements;

FIG. 19 shows a further possible design for the curtain-tape equipped with slide-elements;

FIG. 20 is a side-elevation of the arrangement according to FIG. 19;

FIGS. 21 and 22 show another embodiment of curtain-tape;

FIGS. 23 to 25 show further embodiments.

For the sake of clarity, the curtain itself is not shown in any of the figures. All that is shown is a strip 1 made of a textile material or of synthetic yarn, usually by weaving. The dimensions of this strip are those of known fold-location strips. A strip of this kind is joined, in the flat condition (FIG. 4), by one or two lines of sewing 2, shown here is broken lines, to the upper edge of the curtain. Several slide-elements 3, all of them according to the example of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, may be secured to strip 1 at equal intervals a, for example. Each slide-element 3 consists of a head 4 and a connecting web 5. The latter forms the joint with strip 1 to which it is permanently attached by spraying, gluing, welding, or in some other way, and can be separated from the strip only by a destructive process, for example by cutting it away.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, two slide-elements 3 are joined together to form a fan-pleat 6 from a loop. This is achieved by a male connecting part 7 and a female connecting part 8 provided, in the manner shown, for each slide-element 3. Male connecting part 7 may consist of a continuous rib 9 with undercuts, while female connecting part 8 may consist of a matching groove 10, the parts extending transversely across head 4 on the front and rear sides thereof. Slide-elements 3 can thus be connected together either by a lateral sliding movement or by means of a snap-fastener-type closure. The slide-elements are disconnected by a sliding movement in the direction of the length of rib 9 or groove 10. It is obvious that more than two slide-elements can be connected to each other in this way, and fan-pleat 6 may therefore also consist of a plurality of loops. FIGS. 5a and 5b show two further ways of uniting a plurality of slide-elements on the curtain-tape according to FIG. 4. According to FIG. 5a, three slide-elements are joined together and fan-pleats 6 thus consist of two loops each which project from the plane of the strip by a distance a/2, whereas the distance between fan-pleats is a. By uniting individual slide-elements 3 into groups 11, fan-pleats having the desired number of loops are formed automatically. Slide-elements 3 can be united by a sliding or pressing process. An adhesive or a solvent can be additionally used to unite the slide-elements which are usually injection-moulded from synthetic material. This produces a permanent connection between elements 3 within a group of elements 11, but this is by no means undesirable since it makes it less likely that the group will be separated, for instance when the curtain is washed. In order to clarify the directions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a track 2, of the internal-track type, is shown in broken lines. It is to be understood that webs 5 do not project into strip 1 far enough to interfere with the sewing of the strip to the curtain, and that the joint is outside this sewing area. It is desirable for the joint to be made by ultrasonic welding. Whereas in the curtain-tape according to FIG. 4, slide-elements 3 are spaced at equal intervals, so that the fan-pleats may be made with the same or varying numbers of loops, FIG. 6 shows a very special design of curtain-tape in which four slide-elements 3 are joined together as shown in FIG. 7. In this, slide-elements 3 are arranged at different intervals b, c, d. The width of connecting web 5 is shown at e. Strip 1 comprises preformed fold-locations 13 which may also be in the form of weak spots. The strip thus has preformed folds which promote a back and forth meander pattern. It is to be understood that, here again, strip 1 is sewn flat to the curtain, as shown by line 2 in the embodiment according to FIG. 4. Slide-elements 3 are then united into groups 11 comprising a central loop of the dimension c/2 and a right-hand and left-hand connecting loop of the dimension b/2 in one fan-pleat in slide-element group 11. The distance between outer slide-elements 3, facing each other, of adjacent groups 11 is shown at d. FIG. 7 shows that the folds of fan-pleat 6 are particularly attractive and project very decoratively. Above all, the back of strip 1 facing the window is free from folds, so that the curtain can be drawn along very close to the wall without any danger of being caught up or being impeded.

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 9 illustrate a further embodiment. In this case, several annular slide-elements are provided, each comprising an opening 15 accommodating an approximately circular curtain rod 16 along which it can be pushed. Located in the lower part of head 4 of each slide-element is a hole 17 with countersinks 18 and 19 on each side. In order to form a group of slide-elements 20 (FIG. 9), a length of plastic wire of circular or square cross-section, constituting a separate connecting element 21, is passed through holes 17 in adjacent slide-elements 14 and is flanged at both ends by welding with the application of heat, or is welded to the material of the terminal slide-elements by pressing the material of connecting element 21 into countersinks 18, 19, as shown at one end in FIG. 9. It is to be understood that the length of connecting element 21 is determined by the union of three slide-elements 14. If groups containing a different number of slide-elements are formed, connecting element 21 will have to be longer or shorter. If a connecting element 21 of circular cross-section is used, slide-elements 14 can rotate slightly in relation to each other about the axis of the connecting element. On the other hand, if holes 17 and connecting element 21 are square, there will be no rotation. In this case, web 5 on head 4 of slide-element 14 is in the form of a loop (FIG. 8b), thus making it a simple matter to weave slide-element 14 in during production of strip 1. It is for this reason that individual threads of strip 1 are shown in FIG. 8b.

The design of the curtain-tape according to FIG. 10 is similar to that in FIG. 1, but the arrangement and design of slide-elements 22, 23, 24, 25 is different. The four elements are combined to form a group 26, which results in a fan-pleat with four loops. Inner slide-elements 23, 24 are first inserted into outer slide-elements 22, 25, the elements being joined together by male and female connecting parts 7, 8 between outer elements 22, 25. It is to be understood that, in the vicinity of head 4, slide-elements 22 and 25 must be pierced facing connecting webs 5, so that the webs can extend through elements 23 and 24. In this way, group 26 of slide-elements as a whole has dimensions of the order of magnitude of known slides or less. All drawings are to an enlarged scale, so that the details appear more clearly.

In the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 11, three slide-elements 27, which are in the form of flat, rectangular plates in the area of head 4, are combined to form a group 27, a separate connecting element 29, in the form of a clamp enclosing the three slide-elements 27. Connecting element 29 may be held in place by clamping friction. Heads 4 of the slide-elements may also be glued to each other and to the interior of the said connecting element. The lateral legs of connecting element 29 terminate slightly above the lower edge of heads 4 which form the surface which runs on track 12. Here again it is to be understood that different numbers of slide-elements 27 require connecting elements 29 of different dimensions.

FIG. 12 illustrates a very similar embodiment, except that use is made of wedge-shaped slide-elements 30, 31 combined to form a group 32 and connecting element 33 is hat-shaped and thus encloses heads 4 of the slide-elements on all sides. The connecting element has an undercut peripheral edge 34 in which a shoulder 35 in the vicinity of head 4 engages. The lower limit of head 4 here again forms the surface which slides upon track 12, shown in broken lines. Since group 32 comprises only two slide-elements 30, 31, fan-pleat 6 will naturally have only one loop.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 13, connecting element 36 accommodates four identical elements 37 combined to form a group 38, the connecting element being in the form of a ring which slides along curtain-rod 16. In this case, elements 37 do not act as slides, this function be assumed by connecting element 36. Heads 4 of elements 37 may be provided with projections or recesses 39, to prevent the heads from rotating in relation to each other, the group of elements being inserted into a receiver 40. This receiver comprises beads 41 arranged on opposite sides, so that group 38 is secured after being inserted.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 shows the use, according to the invention of roller-elements 42, 43 combined to form a group 44. Elements 42 comprise shafts 45 and rollers 46. Here again, use may be made of male and female connecting parts 7, 8, either in the direction shown or at 90.degree. thereto, for the purpose of joining the roller elements together.

FIGS. 16 to 18 illustrate an embodiment of the curtain-tape in which individual slide-elements 47, 48 are not equipped, in the vertical plate at right angles to the direction of travel, with connecting parts to join them together. Instead, the division is in a horizontal plane through the direction of travel and, again, use is made of male and female connecting parts 7, 8. FIG. 17 is a plan view of a slide-element 47 with an arrangement of four female connecting parts 8 in the form of recesses arranged in a rectangle or square, so that slide-elements 47, 48 are connected together and are also secured against rotation in relation to each other. Provided in slide-elements 37 are grooves 49 through which webs 5 of elements 48 pass. This design is relatively bulky, so that a group 50 of several slide-elements 47, 48 is of some considerabe length. On the other hand, group 50 is quite low, and this design is therefore particularly suitable for very flat internal tracks 0.5 cm in height, for example. It is also possible to use slide-elements 47 only and these are then connected together by a separate connecting element similar to slide-element 48 but extending only lengthwise.

Finally, FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate an embodiment of a curtain-tape similar to that in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this case, however, male and female connecting parts 7, 8 are arranged not only in a straight line, but after the manner of a square, with individual slide-elements 51 each comprising, in the vicinity of head 4, an opening 52 with a pyramid-shaped collar 53 having peripheral male and female connecting parts. These parts have undercuts, so that slide-elements 51 can be snapped together to form a group 54 containing any desired number of elements.

The embodiment according to FIGS. 21 and 22 illustrates a curtain-tape in which slide-elements 55 can be connected together or disconnected by means of a bayonet-type fastener. Arranged on the front side of each slide-element is a mushroom shaped cam 56 at an angle of 45.degree.. Located on the back of head 4 is a corresponding elongated opening 57 arranged in a vertical plane, i.e. rotated through 45.degree. in relation to cam 56. Located behind opening 27 is a recess 58 connected thereto. It is thus possible, with this design, to set two slide-elements 55 together at an angle of 45.degree. in such a manner that cam 56 can pass through opening 57. Thereafter, slide-elements 55 are rotated through 45.degree. to each other, so that the bayont fastener is closed. There is no difficulty in carrying out this sliding-rotating movement, since the slide-elements have sufficient freedom of movement in the curtain-tape and thus on the curtain. A design of this kind is particularly well adapted to ensure that slide-elements 55 cannot be inadvertently disconnected when tension is applied to the curtain, as is the case when curtains are drawn together. Under these circumstances, if slide-elements 55 were to become disconnected, the pleats would also be eliminated, and this must not happen.

In this case, connecting web 5 comprises, adjoining the head, a thickened part 59 matching the width of the slot in the track and imparting additional strength to slide-element 55. The central part of connecting web 5 is of reduced thickness. A downwardly-open, U-shaped web 60 is formed at the transition to strip 1, so that slide-element 55 can easily be set astride the strip. This if welding is used for attachment purposes, material of the connecting web is available on both sides of strip 1. The heat of the welding process can thus cause the material of strip 1 to penetrate into the material of strip 1 from both sides, all of the materials being thus united. In the case of a U-shaped web 60 of this kind, snap-fasteners could also be provided and these would pass through the material of strip 1, in which case the joint between connecting element 5 and strip 1 would be effected by pressure. Although this joint would be detachable, it would be strong and adequate for secondary purposes. As a rule, however, this joint would be permanent, produced either by welding or gluing.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 23 to 25 uses a plug-in connection to join slide-elements 61 together. This involves a pure sliding motion in a vertical plane at right angles to the direction of the pull applied to the curtain-tape and slide-elements 61 when the curtains are drawn. The front surface of head 4 carries a lug 62. Arranged on the rear side of head 4 is a corresponding open recess 63 with a constriction 44 in the edge-area. Here again, recess 63 is connected to a recess 65. The design of connecting web 5 is as in FIGS. 21 and 22. The latter design makes it a very simple matter to bunch slide-elements 61 together to form a group of slide-elements.