Cantilevered telescopic drapery support
[ Apr. 29, 1975 D United States Patent [1 1 Adams CANTILEVERED TELESCOPIC DRAPERY SUPPORT [75] Inventor: Clarence R. Adams, Glendale. Calif. [73] Assignee: Tridair Industries, Redondo Beach.  
 Calif.  
 [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1973 [2|] Appl. No.: 399,901  
 {52] U.S. Cl 16/96 D; l60/33l; 312/343 [5 1] Int. Cl. A47h 1/04; EOSd l3/02 [58] Field of Search l6/87. 94; 312/34l, 340; 30813.6, 3.8; 160/223. 123; 2] H94, 94.5  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 874.348 l2/l907 Rcmond 308/18 X 2,l39,520 l2/l938 Scheinman ct al 312/341 R X 2.928.696 3/1960 312/343 X 2.985.49l 5/l96l Hayes JOB/3.8 3.502.132 3/l970 Hagcr et al. l60/33] 3.861684 l2/l958 Meyer cl al 308/3.6  
 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATIONS 83l.l09 3/l960 United Kingdom 3l2/34l Primary Examiner-Roy D. Frazier Assistant E.\&#39;aminerPeter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-T. A. Seeman [57] ABSTRACT scoping section to progressively increase, therebycounteracting the natural tendency of the section to droop when extended.  
 5 Claims, ll Drawing Figures PATENTEBAFRE 9 191&#39;5 SHEEI 1 BF 3 PATENTEIJAPRZSISIS SHEEI 2 (IF 3 FIG. 3  
 FIG. 8  
 MENTEB APR 2 9 i975 sum 3 0F 3 CANTILEVERED TELESCOPIC DRAPERY SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a cantilevered, telescopic drapery support and more particularly, to a cantilevered telescopic drapery support having means to counteract the tendency of the support to droop when extended.  
  In US. Pat. No. 3,502,132, hereby incorporated by reference, there is disclosed a concealable, extensible and contractual drapery support wherein the drapery conceals at all times the supporting structure. In this support, individual sections of the support structure telescope outwardly in a cantilevered manner to close the drapery and inwardly to open the drapery. When the drapery is fully extended, in its closed position, owing to the weight of the drapery and the support itself, the support has a natural tendency to droop at its free end. This in turn causes the drapery to droop or sag, which is aestheticly undersirable.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is the object of this invention to counteract the tendency of the drapery support to droop when extended and thereby improve the appearance of the drapery.  
  It is another object of this invention to provide in a cantilevered telescopic drapery support an anti-droop feature which will increasingly counteract the tenancy of the support structure to droop in direct porportion to the degree of telescopic extension of the drapery support.  
  Another object is to provide a cantilevered telescopic drapery support which is sturdy, simple to operate and economical and feasible to manufacture.  
  Other objects of this invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.  
  The cantilevered telescopic drapery support comprising this invention consists of a plurality of sections: an innermost section mounted to a wall bracket, and intermediate and outermost telescopic sections. Each section is a substantially upright linear wall, and each telescopic section is mounted for rolling reciprocal movement. Drapery is supported on hooks extending over and sliding on the top of the section walls.  
  Each telescopic section is supported at two basic support points on a previous section. At a first support point, the posterior end of the telescopic section rides on a pair of male rollers within opposing support guides of the previous section. These support guides, formed by bending the side walls of the section into channellike projections, extend parallel to each other along the length of the section.  
  At a second support point, the telescopic section is supported forwardly of its posterior end between a lower female support roller and an upper female guide roller attached to the anterior end of the previous section. These female rollers receive opposing rails formed in the telescopic section.  
  Each telescopic section is supported at an upward angle of inclination in the vertical plane of the supporting section. This may be accomplished in a number of ways but the preferred method is to make the diameter of the female support roller, located at the forward end of the supporting section, of a larger diameter than its opposing guide roller; and conversely, to make the diameter of the lower male roller, attached to the posterior end of the telescopic section, of a smaller diameter than its mating upper roller.  
  With the telescopic section inclined upwardly in this manner, as the section is telescoped outwardly, the posterior end of the section rides at a constant elevation on the support guide toward the higher, fixed female support roller. Because of this geometric arrangement, the angle of inclination of the telescopic section increases proportionally as the posterior end of the section ap proaches the support roller. This is of significant importance, since the forces tending to droop the telescopic section increase as the telescopic section is telescoped outwardly. The proportional increase in inclination results in a counteracting force in direct proportion to the natural tendency of the telescopic section to droop.  
  The angle of upward inclination for each section is predetermined and based upon the weight of the drapery intended to be supported. At its rated load, the tendency of the drapery support to droop will be adequately compensated such that the drapery support will telescope inwardly and outwardly in substantially a horizontal line.  
  As a further refinement to this invention, each telescopic section, from the outermost to the innermost, may have a proportionally greater angle of upward inclination to take into account the additional overhang required to be supported by the innermost telescopic section.  
  The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, a combination of elements, an arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
  FIG. 1 is a front view of the cantilevered telescopic drapery support comprising this invention;  
  FIG. 2 is a back view of the drapery support shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines of 3-3 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines of 4-4 of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines of 5-5 of FIG. 1&#39;,  
  FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the manner in which a telescopic section of FIG. I is supported within female rollers at the forward end of each preceding section;  
  FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a typical telescopic section shown in FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 8 is a front fragmentary view of a modification to the cantilevered telescopic drapery support, particularly illustrating the concept of using differenbsized support rollers for differentiating the angle of upward inclination for each telescopic section;  
  FIG. 9 is a front view of the first two sections of the drapery support shown in FIG. I in a retracted position;  
  FIG. 10 is a front view of the support shown in FIG. 9 with the telescopic section in a semi-extended position; and  
  FIG. 11 is a front view of the drapery support&#39; shown in FIG. 9 with the telescopic section in a fully extended or telescoped position.  
  Similar referenced characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.  
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As best seen in FIG. 1, a front view, and in FIG. 2, a rear view, the drapery support I comprising this invention consists of a plurality of sections; an innermost stationary support section 2, to which a mounting bracket, not illustrated, is attached; first and second intermediate telescopic sections 4 and 6; and an outermost telescopic section 8. Although three telescopic sections are illustrated in the preferred embodiment, the support may have more or less depending upon the length of drapery extension desired.  
  The operation of support 1 is basically as that shown and described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,502,132, and reference should be made to this patent for a complete understanding of the drapery support to which this invention is particularly directed.  
  As described in the above mentioned patent, the telescopic sections telescope outwardly from left to right as viewed in FIG. I by manipulation of cord 10. Drapery hooks, not shown, extend over and slide on the top of the section walls with the hooks extending downwardly adjacent the front face of the sections. The drapery itself, also not shown, is fastened to the drapery hooks and pinned at the outward end to fitting II and at the other end to the innermost section 2 such that as the telescopic support 1 telescopes outwardly to close the drapery and inwardly to open the drapery, the support 1 is at all times concealed by the drapery fabric. The drapery support I comprising this invention differs from the patented support in the method of fabricating the telescopic sections and primarily in the additional provision of an anti-droop feature, which will be explained subsequently in great detail.  
  Each section 2, 4, 6, 8 is preferably manufactured from heavy sheet metal and rolled and formed in a configuration best illustrated in FIGS. and 7. Innermost section 2 and intermediate telescopic sections 4 and 6 are identical in appearance, differing only in size. An enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one of these sections is shown in FIG. 7. Each section may be described as consisting of an upright linear member rolled or bent in the manner illustrated to form an intermediate vertical side wall 12 continuing into opposing, substantially parallel, U-shaped, channel-like projections l4, 16, also designated support guides, which run longitudinally along the section. The section wall extends upwardly from the upper support guide 14 forming an upper vertical side wall 18 parallel to the intermediate side wall 12; and extends to the right, as viewed in FIG. 7, from the lower support guide 16. This unique configuration provides maximum structural rigidity as well as providing a means for telescopic assembly with optimum compactness. On the opposite side of each guide 14, 16 are respectively a pair of projecting upper and lower tongue-like rails 20, 22 formed by overlapping segments of the section wall. These rails 20, 22 are set opposite to each other and also run the length of the section.  
  The outermost section 8 differs from the previous sections 2, 4 and 6. Since it does not have the function of supporting a telescopic subsequent section, it does not contain support guides. In this section 8, best seen in FIG. 5, a lower intermediate portion 24 of the section wall presents a closed face&#34; fronting the drapery. The section wall is then bent toward the left, as viewed, then upon itself to form upper and lower tongue-like rails 26, 28, extending the length of the section. After the rails are formed, the upper portion of the section wall is overlapped to the right and then extended upwardly to form an upper wall portion 30 in the same vertical plane as lower wall portion 24. Fitting or bracket 11 is attached to the outer end of section 8, and acts as a means to which the open end of the drapery is pinned.  
  Sections 2, 4, and 6 carry at their anterior end a plastic female support roller 32, also designated a support post, and opposite thereto, but in the same vertical plane, a smaller diameter, plastic female guide roller 34. The rollers 32, 34 are mounted on a mounting bracket 36 secured to the end of intermediate side wall 12 of each section 2, 4, 6 and offset equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of the side wall 12, and of guide l4, 16 of the section to which they are mounted. A portion of support roller 32 extends above lower guide 16, and a portion of guide roller 34 extends below upper guide I4.  
  Attached to the posterior end of each section 4, 6 and 8 by screws 30 is a second mounting bracket 40 supporting a pair of upper and lower male rollers 42, 44, set opposite to each other but in the same vertical plane. Roller 44 is of smaller diameter than roller 42. Rollers 42, 44 mounted on sections 4 and 6 are offset equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of the intermediate side wall 12 and similarly rollers 42, 44 mounted on section 8 are offset equidistantly from the longitudinal centerline of wall portion 24.  
  In assembling the drapery support, each section 4, 6, 8 is supported within a previous section in a similar manner. The upper and lower rails 20, 22 (designated 26, 28 in the outermost section 8) are inserted within the opposing support guides l4, 16 of a previous section, as best illustrated in FIG. 5. When each section 4, 6, 8 is inserted in this manner, rollers 42, 44 attached to the posterior end of the section are suitably positioned to ride on and between the opposing support guides l4, 16, as best seen in FIG. 4. Forwardly thereof, rails 20, 22 (designated 26, 28 in section 8) ride between support roller 32 and opposing female roller 34. By being supported in this manner, each telescopic section is inclined upwardly at the anterior end, the righthand end as viewed in FIG. I, of each previous supporting section. This results from the lower male roller 44 being of smaller diameter than opposing male roller 42 and female support roller 32 being of larger diameter than guide roller 34 and positioned to support the telescopic section at this point at a higher elevation than the posterior end of the section.  
  By referring to FIG. 5, it will be noted that when assembled the upper wall of each section is at the same elevation for supporting the drapery hooks on an even plane when the sections are extended or retracted. Moreover, the lower portion of sections 2, 4, 6 extends to the right as shown in FIG. 5 to the same extent and beyond the outer face of wall 24 of the outermost section 8. This latter feature provides a ledge for the lower portion of the drapery hooks to slide on when the sections are moved and thus prevents interference between the hooks and sections during telescopic movement.  
  Male rollers 42, 44 of each telescopic section 4, 6, 8 are positioned in guides l4, 16 of a previous section with minimal vertical play and each roller has a thickness closely approximating the thickness of the guides 14, 16 to minimize the transverse movement or transverse play of the telescopic section. It should be obvious that with the rollers so positioned within the U- shaped guide 14, 16, the posterior portion of the telescopic section is restrained for only reciprocal telescopic movement.  
  Support roller 32 and guide roller 34 similarly support and restrain the telescopic section for reciprocal telescopic movement. The groove in the female rollers 30, 32 closely approximate the thickness of rails 20, 22 (designated 26, 28 in section 8) to prevent transverse movement or play of the section. The distance between the rollers and guides l4, 16 provides sufficient clearance to allow the telescopic section to tilt upwardly when extended without excessive vertical play, which might permit the rails from being disengaged from the rollers.  
  The operation of the telescopic drapery support 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9, l0 and I1. In these figures, for clarification of description, only one telescopic section 4 is shown, but it is to be understood that sections 6 and 8 are telescoped in an identical manner. In FIG. 9, section 4 is illustrated in its retracted position; in FIG. 10, in its partially telescoped position; and in FIG. 11, in its fully telescoped or extended position. The angle of inclination of section 4 is indicated as 01&#34; in the three views and exagerated for illustration.  
  As can be seen by the increase in the angle at inclination a as the section is telescoped outwardly and as the posterior end of the telescopic section rolls between guides l4, 16 toward the lower female support roller, the angle of inclination of the section proportionally increases such that it is the greatest at its fully telescoped position.  
  As previously mentioned, the purpose of this inclination is to counteract the natural tenancy of the telescopic section to droop when extended. This is caused by cantilever, moment arms or forces created by the weight of the drapery and of the telescopic section itself. Since the moment arm tending to cause the telescopic section to droop becomes greater as the section is telescoped outwardly, the inventive concept uniquely counteracts this by increasing proportionally the angle of upward inclination.  
  The angle of inclination of each telescopic section is predetermined in accordance with the weight of the supported drapery such that the ultimate effect will be that when the drapery is supported on the drapery support, the support will telescopically extend and retract in a substantially horizontal plane without droop.  
  It is preferable to use roller diameters of different sizes described and illustrated, to incline each telescopic section upwardly with respect to its preceding support section. This is preferable for it provides maximum efficiency of production since the mounting holes for the axle supporting the rollers on mounting plates 34, 40 need not be modified for right and left hand versions of the drapery support, i.e., for mounting on the right and left hand side of a window.  
  In further explanation, the support shown in the figures is intended to be mounted on the left-hand side of a window or other object to be draped. Usually another support will be mounted on the opposite side such that as conventional the drapery will be extended from both sides to cover the object when desired. For economics of manufacture, it is desirable to have both units manufactured in an identical manner, to the extent possible. In construction of preferred embodiment, almost all parts are therefore reversible. For a right hand unit, roller support brackets 36, 40 are simply inverted and placed on opposite ends of the sections with the rollers changed accordingly.  
  However, it should be understood that the telescopic sections may be inclined upwardly by different methods. For example, instead of each pair of rollers 32, 34 and 42, 44 being mounted equidistantly on their respective mounting brackets 36, 40, each roller may have the same sized diameter with the lower male roller having its axis of rotation moved upwardly, in effect lowering the posterior end of the telescopic section; and/or the axis of rotation of a female support roller 32 moved upwardly to upwardly incline the anterior end of the telescopic section. However, there is a disadvantage to this modification. Production of the support is not as efficient since the same roller support brackets may not be used on both right and left hand drapery supports as holes drilled in the roller support brackets for the roller axles will not be uniform.  
  Also, the rollers at the posterior end of the telescopic section may be equidistant and have the same diameter with the lower support roller being larger to elevate the anterior end of the telescopic section; or conversely, the female support roller and guide roller at the forward end of the supporting section may be of the same diameter with the rollers at the posterior end of the telescopic section being equidistant and of different diameters to incline the telescopic section upwardly. However, in either of these cases, the effective angle of inclination would not be as great.  
  Further, slides may be utilized in lieu of rollers to slidably support the telescopic section at an upward angle of inclination.  
  It should also be understood that instead of being fabricated from sheet metal, the sections may be extruded and take the form shown in US. Pat. No. 3,502,132. In this case, the rollers would be modified, or positioned, to incline the sections upwardly, similar to the manner described above for the instant embodiment.  
  Finally, in FIG. 8, a modification is shown which the upward angle of inclination of each telescopic section is progressively greater from the last telescopic section to the first. This is accomplished by having the first support roller 46 of a greater diameter or elevation than the second support roller 48 which in turn is of greater diameter or elevation than the third female support roller 50. it is desirable to have the telescopic sections at a progressively greater angle of inclination from the last section to the first section since when the drapery support is fully extended, the moment arms will be progressively greater on each telescopic section from the last section to the first section.  
  Although not illustrated, it is to be understood that the telescopic sections are telescoped inwardly and outwardly by being connected with the pully means and drive cable as shown and described in the abovereferenced US. Pat. No. 3,502,132.  
  While I have typically described certain specific embodiments in my invention, it is of course understood that the invention is not limited to these particular forms, but rather is applicable broadly to numerous variations falling within the scope of the appended claims.  
 1 claim:  
  1. A cantilevered telescopic drapery support comprising:  
 a. an innermost, outermost and one or more intermediate sections with the innermost section being a support section, the intermediate section and outermost sections being telescopic sections, and each intermediate section also being a support section for a subsequent telescopic section;  
 b. means for telescoping said telescopic sections inwardly and outwardly;  
 c. each section comprising an upright linear wall;  
 d. the innermost and each intermediate section having opposing channel-like support guides extending longitudinally along said linear wall;  
 e. each telescopic section having upper and lower tongue-like rails;  
 f. each telescopic section being telescopically nested within a previous section such that the tongue-like elements of the telescopic section are carried within the opposing support guides of the previous section;  
 g. the wall of each section when telescopic assembled being overlaid one upon the other with the upper end of each section wall being at the same relative height and adapted to slidably support drapery hooks;  
 h. each telescopic section supported within the previous section by a first and second support means;  
 i. said first support means comprising a first pair of rollers carried on the posterior end of the telescopic section and retained for rolling engagement within the opposing support guides of the previous section;  
 j. said second support means comprising a post roller fixed adjacent the outer end of the previous section for rolling engagement with the lower tongue-like rail of the telescopic section;  
 it. the lower of the first pair of male rollers being of a smaller diameter than the upper roller and the post roller being positioned at an elevation to incline the telescopic section upwardly and,  
 I. said first support means being arranged with respect to said second support means such that as said telescopic section is telescoped outwardly the posterior end of the telescopic section rolls between the support guides toward the post roller in such a manner that the upward angle of inclination of the telescopic section is progressively and proportionally increased.  
  2. The cantilevered drapery support of claim I wherein the upward inclination of each telescopic section is progressively less from the first to last telescopic section.  
  3. A cantilevered telescopic drapery support comprising a first section, a second section telescopically nested within said first section, first and second support means for supporting said second telescopic section at an upward angle of inclination with respect to said first section, said first support means comprising opposing upper and lower longitudinal support guides on said first section between which the posterior end of said telescopic section is supported for reciprocal movement, said telescopic section carrying at its posterior end a pair of upper and lower rollers for rolling retention within said support guides, means for telescoping said telescopic section inwardly and outwardly, said support guides being substantially parallel channel-like projections from the sidewall of said first section, said telescopic section including upper and lower tonguelike rails carried within the opposing guides of the first section, said second support means comprising a support roller adjacent the forward end of said first section, said support roller slidably carrying said lower rail of the telescopic section and supporting said telescopic section forwardly of its posterior end and at a higher elevation to incline the anterior end of said telescopic segment upwardly, said pair of upper and lower rollers being male rollers and said support roller being a female roller, said drapery support further including a fourth female guide roller carried by said first section opposite said support roller for engagement with upper rail of the telescopic section in such a manner that the telescopic section rides on the said pair of male rollers between the opposing support guides at its posterior end and forwardly and upwardly thereof between the support roller and guide roller, and said first and second support means arranged with respect to each other to proportionally increase the angle of inclination of said telescopic section at a predetermined rate correlated to the weight of drapery supported by the drapery support as said telescopic section is telescoped outwardly.  
  4. The cantilevered telescopic drapery support of claim 3 wherein the lower of said first pair of rollers is of a smaller diameter than its opposite upper roller and the support roller is of a larger diameter than the opposing guide roller to incline the telescopic section upwardly.  
  5. The telescopic drapery of claim 4 further including a plurality of telescopic sections with each intermediate telescopic section being a support section for a subsequent telescopic section.