METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CURTAIN BATON WITH POSITIONABLE PIN
A curtain rod system adapted to be used with a window covering includes a baton for selectively positioning the window covering along a track, a stop member selectively engaged with a portion of the track for maintaining the position of the window covering at a selectable location along the track, the stop member operatively connected to the baton, a resilient member for providing a force to engage the stop member with the portion of the track to maintain the window covering at the selected location along the track, the resilient member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the stop member can be selectively disengaged from the track by a force exerted on the baton, the force acting on the resilient member to disengage the stop member from the track and allow the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering.
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A. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses related to a curtain rod for positioning a window covering at a selected location along a track.
B. Description of the Related Art
It is well known in the art to provide curtains, draperies, or other window coverings with a rod, wand, or baton to open or close the window covering.
While known rod, wand, or batons generally work well for their intended purpose, they do not maintain the window covering in a desired position.
Therefore, what is needed is a method and apparatus that maintains a window covering at the opened position, the closed position, or any position in between.
II. SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment, a curtain rod system may include a baton for selectively positioning the window covering along a track, a stop member selectively engaged with a portion of the track for maintaining the position of the window covering at a selectable location along the track, the stop member operatively connected to the baton, a resilient member for providing a force to engage the stop member with the portion of the track to maintain the window covering at the selected location along the track, the resilient member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the stop member can be selectively disengaged from the track by a force exerted on the baton, the force acting on the resilient member to disengage the stop member from the track and allow the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering.
According to another embodiment, curtain rod system may include a baton for selectively positioning the window covering along a track, a stop member operatively connected to the baton, the stop member including a top portion selectively engaged with a first portion of the track for maintaining the position of the window covering at a selectable location along the track, and an elastically deformable flange selectively engaged with a second portion of the track to urge the top portion of the stop member to maintain contact with the first portion of the track, wherein the top portion of the stop member can be selectively disengaged from the first portion of the track by a force exerted on the baton, the first force elastically deforming the flange to allow the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering.
According to another embodiment, a method for selectively positioning a curtain rod system may include the steps of exerting a downward force on a baton, the force acting on a resilient member, which disengages a stop member from a portion of a track and allows the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering, the stop member operatively connected to the baton and the resilient member, positioning the window covering in a selected location by moving the baton along the track, and releasing the baton and allowing the resilient member to urge the stop member into contact with the portion of the track to maintain the window covering at the selected location along the track.
One advantage of this invention is that the curtain rod system maintains the curtain in a closed position.
Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating at least one embodiment only and not for purposes of limiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood to refer to like components,
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Numerous embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses may incorporate changes and modifications without departing from the general scope of this invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A curtain rod system adapted to be used with a window covering, wherein the window covering is used with an associated window, the curtain rod system comprising:
- a baton for selectively positioning the window covering along a track;
- a stop member selectively engaged with a portion of the track for maintaining the position of the window covering at a selectable location along the track, the stop member operatively connected to the baton;
- a resilient member for providing a force to engage the stop member with the portion of the track to maintain the window covering at the selected location along the track, the resilient member operatively connected to the stop member; and,
- wherein the stop member can be selectively disengaged from the track by a force exerted on the baton, the force acting on the resilient member to disengage the stop member from the track and allow the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering.
2. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member, which disengages the stop member from the track.
3. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is supported to a bottom inside portion of the track, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member between the stop member and the bottom inside portion of the track, and wherein the force disengages the stop member from a top inside portion of the track.
4. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member, which disengages the stop member from the track and allows the stop member to slide freely along the track.
5. The curtain rod system of claim 1 further comprising a base member in slidable contact with a bottom inside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member between the stop member and the base member, which disengages the stop member from the track and allows the stop member to slide freely along the track.
6. The curtain rod system of claim 5, wherein the base member has an aperture for receiving an extending portion of the stop member, and wherein the resilient member has an aperture for receiving the extending portion of the stop member.
7. The curtain rod system of claim 1 further comprising a base member in slidable contact with a top outside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member to disengage the stop member from a bottom outside portion of the track.
8. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is supported to a bracket operatively connected to the track, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member between the stop member and the bracket, and wherein the force disengages the stop member from a top member of the track.
9. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the stop member is substantially hemispherical with a substantially curved face for engaging a top inside portion of the track and a substantially flat face for making contact with the resilient member.
10. The curtain rod system of claim 1, wherein the track has a top member, two side members and a bottom member, and wherein the bottom member defines a longitudinal aperture for a portion of the stop member to extend through.
11. The curtain rod system of claim 1 further comprising a base member in slidable contact with a bottom inside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member to disengage the stop member from a bottom outside portion of the track.
12. A curtain rod system adapted to be used with a window covering, wherein the window covering is used with an associated window, the curtain rod system comprising:
- a baton for selectively positioning the window covering along a track;
- a stop member operatively connected to the baton, the stop member comprising: a top portion selectively engaged with a first portion of the track for maintaining the position of the window covering at a selectable location along the track; and, an elastically deformable flange selectively engaged with a second portion of the track to urge the top portion of the stop member to maintain contact with the first portion of the track; and,
- wherein the top portion of the stop member can be selectively disengaged from the first portion of the track by a force exerted on the baton, the first force elastically deforming the flange to allow the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering.
13. The curtain rod system of claim 12 wherein the track further comprises a longitudinal extending slot having a first side, a second side, and a bottom side, wherein the elastically deformable flange selectively engages an inside portion of the bottom side of the slot to urge the top portion of the stop member to engage a top inside portion of the track to maintain the position of the window covering at the selectable location.
14. The curtain rod system of claim 13, wherein the stop member can be disengaged from the slot by a first force exerted on the baton, and wherein the stop member can be engaged with the slot by a second force exerted on the baton, the second force elastically deforming the flange until the flange selectively engages an inside portion of the bottom side of the slot, wherein the second force is in substantially the opposite direction as the first force.
15. A method for selectively positioning a curtain rod system adapted to be used with a window covering, wherein the window covering is used with an associated window, the method comprising the steps of:
- exerting a downward force on a baton, the force acting on a resilient member, which disengages a stop member from a portion of a track and allows the stop member to slide freely along the track so the baton may selectively position the window covering, the stop member operatively connected to the baton and the resilient member;
- positioning the window covering in a selected location by moving the baton along the track; and,
- releasing the baton and allowing the resilient member to urge the stop member into contact with the portion of the track to maintain the window covering at the selected location along the track.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member between the stop member and the track, which disengages the stop member from the track and allows the stop member to slide freely along the track.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member to disengage the stop member from the track and allow the stop member to slide freely along the track.
18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of exerting a downward force further comprises a base member in slidable contact with a bottom inside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton compresses the resilient member between the stop member and the base member.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of exerting a downward force further comprises a base member in slidable contact with a top outside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member to disengage the stop member from a bottom outside portion of the track.
20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of exerting a downward force further comprises a base member in slidable contact with a bottom inside portion of the track, the base member operatively connected to the stop member, wherein the force exerted on the baton expands the resilient member to disengage the stop member from a bottom outside portion of the track.
Type: Application
Filed: May 20, 2009
Publication Date: Nov 25, 2010
Applicant: MERLIN MANUFACTURING, INC. (BARBERTON, OH)
Inventors: MICHAEL A. LIGAS, SR. (BARBERTON, OH), DANIEL A. THOMSON (AKRON, OH), BARRY A. WINKLER (STOW, OH)
Application Number: 12/468,896
International Classification: A47H 5/03 (20060101);