RING ASSEMBLY FOR CURTAINS

A ring assembly for a curtain includes a first ring and a second ring located on two sides of the curtain sheet and the first ring has a first hole and multiple protrusions extend from a side of the first ring. The second ring has a second hole and multiple engaging slots are defined through the second ring. Each engaging slot includes a reception port and at least one restriction port which communicates with the reception port. A neck path is defined between the reception port and the at least one restriction port. The protrusions extend through the curtain sheet and into the reception ports of the second rings and the second rings are rotated to force the protrusions to pass through the neck path and be engaged with the at least one restriction port.

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Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ring assembly for connecting curtains, drapes or portieres on a rod such as a curtain rod, and more particularly, to a ring assembly which is easily to be assembled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional ring assembly for curtains is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, and generally includes an inside ring and an outside ring, wherein the inside ring is connected to the inside of the curtain sheet and is a substantially C-shaped member. A central through hole is defined through the inside ring and a plurality of apertures are located around the through hole. The outside ring is a substantially C-shaped member and includes a through hole which is located in alignment with the through hole of the inside ring. A plurality of protrusions extend from one side of the outside ring and extend through the curtain and are engaged with the apertures of the inside ring. The curtain rod extends through the aligned through hole of the inside ring, the curtain and the through hole of the outside ring to support and hang the curtain on the curtain rod.

The protrusions are securely connected with the apertures of the inside ring by way of ultra-wave hot pressing which requires proper machines and takes a long processing time. Once the protrusions are fixed to the apertures of the inside ring, they are not able to be separated. In other words, if one of the connections between the protrusions and the apertures fails, the whole set of the curtain together with the ring assembly may not be sent to the market.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,232 discloses a reinforcement means for maintaining the shape of the openings in the curtain sheet so that the curtain rod extends through the openings and does not tear the curtain sheet from the openings.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,248 discloses a hanging product that includes an external slit through which the curtain rod passes. The curtain can be separated from the curtain rod while the curtain rod does not need to be removed. No extra hardware such as hooks are needed when assemble the curtain sheet to the curtain rod.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,597 discloses a hanger ring assembly for curtains wherein the hanger ring assembly uses the concept of the U.S. Pat. No. 6,494,248 and requires slits in both of the ring-shaped parts and the top edge of the curtain sheet.

The abovementioned prior art have to attach the reinforcement means or hanging product to the curtain sheet by way of staking, sewing and ultra-sonic welding. This method requires that the curtain sheet to be thick and tough enough and most of the curtain sheets do not have that type of toughness. Besides, the curtain sheet has to be cut to have multiple slits which are cooperated with the external slits of the reinforcement means or hanging product, so that the curtain rod can pass through the slits. These slits require extra machining and may weaken the structural strength of the curtain sheet.

The present invention intends to provide a ring assembly for curtains and the curtain sheet does not need to cut into slits in the top edge and the ring assembly are easily assembled without using machines.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ring assembly for a curtain which includes a curtain sheet with multiple through holes and multiple connection holes defined therethrough. The connection holes are located around the through holes correspondingly. The ring assembly comprises a first ring and a second ring.

The first ring has a first hole defined therethrough and multiple protrusions extending from a side of the first ring.

The second ring has a second hole defined therethrough and multiple engaging slots are defined through the second ring. Each engaging slot includes a reception port and at least one restriction port which is in communication with the reception port. A neck path is defined between the reception port and the at least one restriction port. The neck path is smaller than an outer diameter of the protrusion. The first rings are located a first side of the sheet and the protrusions extend through the connection holes in the sheet and into the reception ports of the second rings which are located on a second side of the sheet. Each of the second rings is rotated an angle to force the protrusion of each first ring to pass through the neck path and be engaged with the at least one restriction port of each engaging slot.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a ring assembly which does not require any tool to assemble the first and second rings.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ring assembly which can be separated from each other without any tool.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show the ring assembly of the present invention on the curtain sheet which is supported by a curtain rod;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view to show the ring assembly of the present invention on the curtain sheet and the curtain rod extends through the ring assembly of the present invention and the curtain sheet;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view to show the connection of the first and second rings of the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view to show the second ring of the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view to show that the second ring of the ring assembly of the present invention is rotated an angle to shift the protrusion into the restriction port;

FIG. 7 is a side view to show that the second ring of the ring assembly of the present invention is rotated in another direction to shift the protrusion into the other restriction port;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view to show a second embodiment of the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross sectional view to show that the protrusions on the first ring extend through the reception ports of the second ring of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view to show the first and second rings of the second embodiment of the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial cross sectional view of the connection of the first and second rings of the second embodiment of the ring assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view to show that the enlarged heads of the protrusions extend through the reception ports of the second ring;

FIG. 13 shows that the second ring is rotated an angle to shift the protrusions into the restriction ports;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view to show a conventional ring assembly on a curtain sheet, and

FIG. 15 is a partial cross sectional view of the connection of the first and second rings of the conventional ring assembly.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the curtain cooperated with the ring assembly of the present invention includes a sheet 1 with multiple through holes 11 and multiple connection holes 12 defined therethrough. The connection holes 12 are located around the through holes 11 correspondingly.

The ring assembly comprises a first ring 40 and a second ring 50, the first ring 40 is located on a first side of the sheet 1 and the second ring 50 is located on a second side of the sheet 1. Each first ring 40 and each second ring 50 are a substantially C-shaped member. The first ring 40 has a first hole 41 defined therethrough and multiple protrusions 43 extend from a side of the first ring 40. The second ring 50 has a second hole 51 defined therethrough and multiple engaging slots 53 are defined through the second ring 50. Each engaging slot 53 includes a reception port 531 and two restriction ports 532, wherein the reception port 531 is located between and communicates with the two restriction ports 532. Two neck paths 533 are respectively defined between the reception port 531 and the two restriction ports 532. Each of the neck paths 533 is smaller than an outer diameter of the protrusion 43.

The first rings 40 are located on the first side of the sheet 1 and mounted to the rod 3 via the first slots 42. The protrusions 43 extend through the connection holes 12 in the sheet 1 and into the reception ports 631 of the second rings 50 which are located on the second side of the sheet 1 and mounted to the rod 3 via the second slots 52. Each of the second rings 50 are then rotated an angle in either direction to force the protrusion 43 of each first ring 40 to pass through the neck path 533 and engaged with one of the two restriction ports 532 of each engaging slot 53.

FIGS. 8 to 13 show a second embodiment of the ring assembly of the present invention, wherein the substantially C-shaped first ring 40 has a first hole 41 defined therethrough and multiple protrusions 43 extend from a side of the first ring 40. Each protrusion 43 includes an enlarged head 431 at a distal end thereof. The substantially C-shaped second ring 50 has a second hole 51 defined therethrough. Multiple engaging slots 53 are defined through the second ring 50 and each engaging slot 53 includes a reception port 531 and two restriction ports 532. The reception port 531 is located between and communicates with the two restriction ports 532. The reception port 531 is sized substantially the same as a size of the enlarged head 431 and a size of each of the restriction ports 532 is substantially the same as an outer diameter of the protrusion 43.

The first rings 40 are mounted to the rod via the first slots 42 and located on the first side of the sheet 1 and the protrusions 43 extending through the connection holes 12 in the sheet 1 and into the reception ports 631 of the second rings 50 which are located on the second side of the sheet 1. A curved and recessed area is defined in one side of each of the second rings 50 and located away from the side having the protrusions 43 of the first ring 40. The inner surface of the curved and recessed area is a locking surface 534 which defines a gradually increased thickness area from the reception port 531 to each of the restriction ports 532. The enlarged head 431 of the protrusion 43 is securely positioned by the thick area on either one of the two restriction ports 532 when the second rings 50 are rotated an angle.

The two embodiments of the ring assembly of the present invention require no tools or machines to combine the first and second rings 40, 50. The users can easily combine them without special skills. The second slot 52 is located off from the position of the first slot 42 for each ring assembly such that the ring assembly does not disengaged from the rod 3. The first and second rings 40, 50 can also be separated from each other by rotating the second rings 50 in opposite directions.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ring assembly for a curtain which includes a sheet with multiple through holes and multiple connection holes defined therethrough, the connection holes are located around the through holes correspondingly, the ring assembly comprising:

a first ring and a second ring, the first ring having a first hole defined therethrough, multiple protrusions extending from a side of the first ring, and
a second ring having a second hole defined therethrough, multiple engaging slots defined through the second ring and each engaging slot including a reception port and at least one restriction port which is in communication with the reception port, a neck path defined between the reception port and the at least one restriction port, the neck path being smaller than an outer diameter of the protrusion, the first rings adapted to be located on a first side of the sheet and the protrusions adapted extending through the connection holes in the sheet and into the reception ports of the second rings which are adapted to be located on a second side of the sheet, each of the second rings rotated an angle to force the protrusion of each first ring to pass through the neck path and engaged with the at least one restriction port of each engaging slot.

2. The ring assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each first ring and each second ring are a substantially C-shaped member.

3. The ring assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the engaging slots includes two restriction ports and the reception port is located between the two restriction ports.

4. A ring assembly for a curtain which includes a sheet with multiple through holes and multiple connection holes defined therethrough, the connection holes are located around the through holes correspondingly, the ring assembly comprising:

a first ring and a second ring, the first ring having a first hole defined therethrough, multiple protrusions extending from a side of the first ring and each protrusion including an enlarged head at a distal end thereof, and
each second ring having a second hole defined therethrough, multiple engaging slots defined through the second ring and each engaging slot including a reception port and at least one restriction port which is in communication with the reception port, the reception port being sized substantially the same as a size of the enlarged head and a size of the at least one restriction port being substantially the same as an outer diameter of the protrusion, the first rings located on a first side of the sheet and the protrusions extending through the connection holes in the sheet and into the reception ports of the second rings which are located on a second side of the sheet, each of the second rings rotated an angle to shift the protrusion of each first ring into the at least one restriction port of each engaging slot.

5. The ring assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the engaging slots includes two restriction ports and the reception port is located between the two restriction ports.

6. The ring assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein a curved and recessed area is defined in one side of each of the second rings and located away from the side having the protrusions of the first ring, the inner surface of the curved and recessed area is a locking surface which defines a gradually increased thickness area from the reception port to the at least one restriction port, the enlarged head of the protrusion is securely positioned by the thick area on the at least one restriction port.

Patent History
Publication number: 20100325836
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2009
Publication Date: Dec 30, 2010
Inventor: CHEN-HSIANG LAI (Jhongli City)
Application Number: 12/493,198
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Flexible Panel Attaching Means (16/87.2)
International Classification: A47H 13/02 (20060101);