Curtain Assembly

A curtain assembly includes a headrail, a curtain, a safety loop, and a pull rope. The curtain is coupled to the headrail. The safety loop has a first loop portion that is fastened to the curtain, and a second loop portion that includes first and second arms, each of which extends from the first loop portion and has a free end. The first and second arms of the second loop portion define a hole therebetween. The pull rope extends through the hole in the second loop portion of the safety loop, has an end fastened to the curtain, and is operable so as to raise or lower the curtain.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a curtain assembly, more particularly to a curtain assembly that is safe to use.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional curtain assembly, such as that disclosed in Taiwanese Patent Application No. 098207952, which includes a curtain 11, a pair of safety loops 13, and a pair of pull ropes 12. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the safety loop 13 includes first and second loop portions 131, 132. The first loop portion 131 is fastened to the curtain 11. The second loop portion 132 defines a hole 133 therethrough, and a channel 134 that is in spatial communication with the hole 133 thereof. The pull rope 12 extends through the hole 133 in the second loop portion 132 of the safety loop 13.

The aforementioned conventional curtain assembly is disadvantageous in that the pull rope 12 could not be easily released from the safety loop 13 through the channel 134 in the second loop portion 132 of the safety loop 13. As such, when an accident occurs, e.g., when a child extends his/her neck through a space between the curtain 11 and pull rope 12, there is a danger in view of possible entanglement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a curtain assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback of the prior art.

According to the present invention, a curtain assembly comprises a headrail, a curtain, a safety loop, and a pull rope. The curtain is coupled to the headrail. The safety loop has a first loop portion that is fastened to the curtain, and a second loop portion that includes first and second arms, each of which extends from the first loop portion and has a free end. The first and second arms of the second loop portion define a hole therebetween. The pull rope extends through the hole in the second loop portion of the safety loop, has an end fastened to the curtain, and is operable so as to raise or lower the curtain. When the pull rope is pulled away from the curtain, the pull rope is released from the safety loop between the free ends of the first and second arms of the second loop portion of the safety loop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional curtain assembly;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a safety loop of the conventional curtain assembly;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a safety loop of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating first and second loop portions of the safety loop of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a fastening unit of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view illustrating a space between a curtain and a pull rope of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment illustrating the pull rope when pulled away from the curtain; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a safety loop of the second preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly according to this invention.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly according to this invention in shown to include a horizontal headrail 3, a curtain 4, a pair of safety loops 5, and a pair of pull ropes 6.

The curtain 4 has a top end portion connected to the headrail 3, and a front side 41 provided with a pair of loops 42, each of which is disposed at a respective one of left and right end portions of the curtain 4.

Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the specific configurations of the curtain 4, a detailed description of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Each of the safety loops 5 is fastened detachably to a respective one the loops 42 of the curtain 4.

Since the safety loops 5 are identical in structure, only one of the safety loops 5 will be described herein.

The safety loop 5 includes first and second loop portions 51, 52. The first loop portion 51 of the safety loop 5 includes first and second arms 511, 512, each of which has opposite first and second ends. The first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51 has a straight shape. The second arm 512 of the first loop portion 51 has a semi-circular shape and is fastened to the loop 42 of the curtain 4. The first end of the second arm 512 of the first loop portion 51 is connected to the first end of the first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51. The first and second arms 511, 512 of the first loop portion 51 define a hole 513 therebetween. The second ends of the first and second arms 511, 512 of the first loop portion 51 define a gap 514 therebetween that is in spatial communication with the hole 513 in the first loop portion 51. In this embodiment, the gap 514 in the first loop portion 51 has a curved shape. That is, with further reference to FIG. 5, the second end of the first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51 is formed with a protrusion 516 that protrudes toward the second end of the second arm 512 of the first loop portion 51, and the second end of the second arm 512 of the first loop portion 51 is formed with a protrusion 515 that protrudes toward the second end of the first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51. The construction as such prevents accidental detachment of the first loop portion 51 from the loop 42 of the curtain 4.

The second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5 includes first and second arms 521, and third and fourth arms 524. Each of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 has a connected end connected to the first arm 511 the first loop portion 51 at a position between the first and second ends of the first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51, and a free end opposite to the connected end thereof. The first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 define a hole 526 therebetween. In this embodiment, the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52 has an elliptical shape. The free ends of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 define a gap 525 therebetween that is in spatial communication with the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52 and that is disposed along a major axis of the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52. In this embodiment, opposing surfaces 523 of the free ends of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 diverge in a direction toward the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52. Each of the third and fourth arms 524 of the second loop portion 52 interconnects a respective one of the first and second ends of the first arm 511 of the first loop portion 51 and the free end of a respective one of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52.

It is noted that the third and fourth arms 524 of the second loop portion 52 serve as a reinforcement to prevent breaking or deformation of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 when the pull rope 6 is inserted into the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5 through the gap 525 in the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5 or released from the safety loop 5 through the gap 525 in the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5.

In an alternative embodiment, the free ends of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 abut against each other. In this case, the free ends of the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 are disposed along the major axis of the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52.

The pull ropes 6 are operable so as to raise or lower the curtain 4. Each of the pull ropes 6 extends through the hole 526 in the second loop portion 52 of a respective one of the safety loops 5, and has a first end connected to the headrail 3, and a second end opposite to the first end thereof.

Since the feature of the present invention does not reside in the specific configurations of the pull ropes 6, a detailed description of the same is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

Although the curtain assembly of this invention is exemplified using only a pair of pull ropes, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the number of pull ropes may be increased as required.

The curtain assembly further includes a pair of fastening units 7, each of which fastens detachably the second end of a respective one of the pull ropes 6 to the curtain 4.

Since the fastening units 7 are identical in structure, only one of the fastening units 7 will be described herein.

With further reference to FIG. 6, the fastening unit 7 includes a ring 71 and a plate 72. The ring 71 of the fastening unit 7 is fastened to the front side 41 of the curtain 4 and is disposed at a bottom end portion of the curtain 4. The plate 72 of the fastening unit 7 is formed with an engaging groove 720 that engages releasably the ring 71, and a through-hole 721 that is fastened to the second end of the pull rope 6. In this embodiment, the engaging groove 720 has a triangular shape.

In an alternative embodiment, the plate 72 of the fastening unit 7 is fastened to the front side 41 of the curtain 4. The ring 72 of the fastening unit 7 is fastened to the second end of the pull rope 6.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, when a child accidentally extends his/her neck through a space 62 between the curtain 4 and the pull rope 6, the pull rope 6 is pulled away from the curtain 4 toward the gap 525 in the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5. At this time, when the child struggles to free his/her neck from the pull rope 6, the pull rope 6 is further pulled away from the curtain 4 such that the pull rope 6 is released from the safety loop 5 through the gap 525 in the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5, thereby widening the space 62 between the curtain 4 and the pull rope 6, whereby the child can easily free his/her neck from the pull rope 6.

It is noted that when the pull rope 6 is released from the safety loop 5, and when the pull rope 6 is pulled away from the curtain 4 such that the plate 72 of the fastening unit 7 is disengaged from the ring 71 of the fastening unit 7, the second end of the pull rope 6 is detached from the curtain 6, whereby the child can be completely freed from the pull rope 6, thereby avoiding danger in view of possible entanglement. The curtain assembly of this embodiment is therefore safe to use.

When the safety loop 5 is damaged, the damaged safety loop may be simply replaced by detaching the damaged safety loop from the loop 42 of the curtain 4 through the gap 514 in the first loop portion 51 of the damaged safety loop, and by attaching a new safety loop to the loop 42 of the curtain 4. Maintenance of the curtain assembly of this invention is therefore relatively simple to perform.

FIG. 9 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of a curtain assembly according to this invention. When compared to the previous embodiment, the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5 is dispensed with the third and fourth arms 524 (see FIG. 5). In this case, the first and second arms 521 of the second loop portion 52 of the safety loop 5 may be provided with a certain degree of thickness to thereby adjust flexibility thereof.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A curtain assembly comprising:

a headrail;
a curtain coupled to said headrail;
a safety loop having a first loop portion that is fastened to said curtain, and a second loop portion that includes first and second arms, each of which extends from said first loop portion and has a free end, said first and second arms of said second loop portion defining a hole therebetween; and
a pull rope extending through said hole in said second loop portion of said safety loop, having an end fastened to said curtain, and operable so as to raise or lower said curtain, whereby when said pull rope is pulled away from said curtain, said pull rope is released from said safety loop between said free ends of said first and second arms of said second loop portion of said safety loop.

2. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first loop portion includes a first arm, and a second arm that extends from said first arm of said first loop portion, and that cooperates with said first arm of said first loop portion to define a hole therebetween.

3. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second loop portion further includes third and fourth arms, each of which interconnects said first arm of said first loop portion and said free end of a respective one of said first and second arms of said second loop portion.

4. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hole in said second loop portion has an elliptical shape and is defined by a major axis, said free ends of said first and second arms of said second loop portion being disposed along the major axis of said hole in said second loop portion.

5. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said first and second arms of said first loop portion has an end, said ends of said first and second arms of said first loop portion defining a gap therebetween that is in spatial communication with said hole in said first loop portion.

6. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said end of said first arm of said first loop portion is formed with a protrusion that protrudes toward said end of said second arm of said first loop portion; and
said end of said second arm of said first loop portion is formed with a protrusion that protrudes toward said end of said first arm of said first loop portion.

7. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said free ends of said first and second arms of said second loop portion define a gap therebetween that is in spatial communication with said hole in said second loop portion,

said free end of said first arm of said second loop portion having a surface,
said free end of said second arm of said second loop portion having a surface opposed to said surface of said free end of said first arm of said second loop portion,
said surfaces of said free ends of said first and second loop portions diverge in a direction toward said hole in said second loop portion.

8. The curtain assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a fastening unit including a ring that is fastened to one of said curtain and said end of said pull rope, and a plate that is fastened to the other of said curtain and said end of said pull rope, said plate being formed with an engaging groove that engages releasably said ring.

Patent History
Publication number: 20110132554
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 4, 2009
Publication Date: Jun 9, 2011
Inventor: Shih-Ming Lin (Chiayi Hsien)
Application Number: 12/631,411
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: With Fabric Operating Means (160/340)
International Classification: A47H 5/02 (20060101);