Curtain glider

Abstract

Device for hanging curtains or the like on a C-shaped rail (1) having a guide slot (12) flanked by two supporting shoulders (11). The device consists of a slider (2) having three areas: a suspension area (3) shaped as a hook or eyelet or the like, a T-shaped head area (5) for fastening the device to the rail (1), and a neck area (4) located therebetween. The T-shaped head area (5), the neck area (4), and the suspension area (3) are designed such that the slider (2) can be removed from the guide slot (12) by a rotating and tilting movement.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a glider for hanging curtains or the like on a rail and to a method for producing the glider according to the preamble of the independent claims.

[0002] Various gliders are known from the state of the art that can be inserted and removed at any position on a rail. A particular challenge here is the simple and quick insertion and removal of the glider, as well as the simple production of the glider in the shortest possible time.

[0003] DE 20 2011 000 065 discloses a glider whose support projections must be spaced from the support shoulders and / or a catch must be overcome in order to remove it from the curtain rail. The disadvantage of such a glider is that a secure fit of the glider in the rail cannot be guaranteed.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 10 2010 021 773 shows a curtain glider with a head section that can be inserted into the curtain rail by means of a plug-and-twist movement. The guide section must be compressible and resilient to allow it to be compressed when the curtain glider is inserted into the rail's receiving slot. Due to its design, such a curtain glider does not provide a secure hold in the curtain rail and is difficult to handle.

[0005] DE 10 2050 63 describes a curtain glider for rails whose sliding head can be inserted into the longitudinal slot of a rail. The sliding head is designed so that, when a downward load is applied to the fastening element, it slides downward out of the rail under elastic deformation. This type of fastening is generally not suitable for window curtains, as it cannot guarantee a secure hold of the curtain.

[0006] It is the object of the present invention to provide a glider for hanging curtains or the like on a rail, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular to provide a glider that allows rapid insertion and removal of the glider in and out of the rail, as well as a method that enables simple production of the glider in the shortest possible time.

[0007] This object is achieved by a slider for hanging curtains or the like on a rail and a method for producing the slider, according to the independent claims.

[0008] According to the invention, the device for hanging curtains or the like from a rail comprises a glider. The rail is typically C-shaped and includes a guide slot flanked by two supporting shoulders. The glider has the following areas: a hanging area shaped as a hook or eyelet or the like; a T-shaped head area for attaching the device to the rail; and a neck area located between the hanging area and the T-shaped head area. These three areas are designed such that the glider can be removed from the guide slot of the rail by a rotating and tilting movement.

[0009] In this context, a T-shaped head section refers to a head section that essentially has a T-shaped geometry, but can also contain elements that deviate from the T shape, but still reveal a T in the overall appearance. The hanging area here is designed for hanging curtains in the form of an eyelet, a hook or the like, but can also serve as a handle area for inserting the glider into the rail. The length and width of the central axis of the neck section can be easily varied during the manufacturing process. In this context, a C-shaped rail refers to a rail that essentially has a C-shaped geometry in its cross-section, but can also be rounder or more angular than a C, or can have a larger or smaller distance between the two supporting shoulders, but still reveals a C in the overall appearance.The rotation-tilting movement preferably comprises a 90° rotation of the slider (about a rotation axis orthogonal to the main extension direction of the guide slot) from a sliding position to a removal position; and a subsequent tilting movement to remove the slider.

[0010] The advantages of this device are that the glider can be inserted and removed from any position on a rail without the rail needing a special insertion / removal opening or the glider having to be inserted or removed at a specific position. This offers a certain degree of flexibility when inserting / removing the glider from the rail. In addition, the glider according to the invention ensures a secure fit in the rail and a high load-bearing capacity, so that any type of curtain can be safely carried by small gliders. This ensures simple and easy movement of the curtains. In addition, inserting and removing the glider from the rail is simple and intuitive. Due to the design of the glider, it is robust and durable.Varying the mass of the central axis of the neck area ensures that the glider can be manufactured to be compatible with a wide range of rail masses and that it slides smoothly in the rail.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the slider is formed in one piece.

[0012] One-piece here means that the glider consists of one part or one casting and is not assembled from two or more parts.

[0013] This is particularly advantageous because it makes the glider particularly robust. It also eliminates the laborious and time-consuming task of assembling multiple gliders when hanging a curtain for the first time.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the T-shaped head region, the neck region and the suspension region are L-shaped in a side view.

[0015] The side view corresponds to the view of the glider when it is arranged in the guide slot of the rail during intended use, parallel to an (imaginary) plane through the two support shoulders, when both legs of the T-shaped head section are arranged parallel to the guide slot of the rail. In this context, an L-shaped configuration of the T-shaped head section, the neck section, and the suspension section in the side view refers to an arrangement that essentially has an L-shaped geometry, but can also contain elements that deviate from the L-shape but still reveal an L in the overall appearance.

[0016] The advantage of an L-shaped arrangement of the T-shaped head section, neck section, and suspension section in the side view is that this arrangement allows the glider to be inserted and removed from the rail without the rail requiring a special insertion opening. Both insertion and removal of the glider are simple and intuitive. At the same time, this L-shaped arrangement also results in a robust glider with high load-bearing capacity.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, both legs of the T-shaped head region have a narrow first section and a wider second section in a longitudinal view.

[0018] Here, the longitudinal view corresponds to the view when both legs of the T-shaped head area are arranged orthogonally to the guide slot of the rail.

[0019] A first narrow section is advantageous for easy insertion of the glider into the rail, while a wider second section leads to a high load-bearing capacity after the glider has been successfully inserted and prevents the suspended curtain from falling down.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, a solid-state joint is arranged between the narrow first section and the wider second section.

[0021] As is known to those skilled in the art, a flexure joint is a region of a component, in this case the slider, which allows relative movement between two rigid body regions, in this case the narrow first section and the wider second section, by bending.

[0022] This is advantageous because in this way the glider can be easily inserted at any position on the rail and remains in the rail with a high load-bearing capacity, securely holding typical curtains and allowing the curtains to be moved easily and smoothly.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the solid-state joint has greater mobility in the direction of the suspension area than in the direction of the narrow first section.

[0024] The advantage is that the glider can be easily inserted into any position on the rail due to the greater mobility of the solid-state joint in the direction of the suspension area, but due to the reduced mobility in the direction of the narrow first section, it cannot be removed from the rail again despite an applied force such as the load-bearing capacity of the curtain caused by gravity, and thus offers a secure hold for a curtain and enables simple and easy movement of the curtains.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the narrow first section is spaced further away from the suspension area than the wider second section.

[0026] This is advantageous because the narrow first section can be easily inserted into the rail at any position. The wider second section ensures that the glider remains in the rail, even when an applied force, such as the weight of the curtain caused by gravity, pulls on the glider. This guarantees a secure hold of the curtain.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the narrow first section of the T-shaped head region is designed such that it can be inserted into the guide slot of the C-shaped rail at any position.

[0028] This is advantageous because it is possible to insert the slider into the rail without the rail having to have a special insertion opening or the slider having to be inserted in a specific position and therefore offers a certain flexibility when inserting the slider into the rail.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the narrow first section is at most as wide as the guide slot in the longitudinal view.

[0030] The advantage is that the slider can be inserted into the rail without requiring a special insertion opening or requiring the slider to be inserted in a specific position, thus offering a certain degree of flexibility when inserting the slider into the rail. This also ensures precise centering of the slider in the rail, facilitating the sliding movement.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the wider second portion is wider than the guide slot in the longitudinal view.

[0032] This has the advantage that once the glider is inserted into the track, the wider second section ensures that the glider remains in the track, even if an applied force, such as the weight of the curtain caused by gravity, pulls on the glider. This ensures that the curtain stays securely in place.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the wider second section of the T-shaped head region is formed in the form of two wings.

[0034] The advantage of the wider second section being designed in the form of two wings is that the wings make it easier to insert the glider into the rail by folding the wings in.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the two wings are designed to be snap-fitted behind the support shoulders when the T-shaped head region is inserted into the C-shaped rail, and the wider second section of the T-shaped head region can be arranged on the support shoulders.

[0036] In this context, snap-in design means that when the glider is inserted, the wings fold into the guide slot of the rail with the help of a pressure movement and then fold out again automatically within the rail.

[0037] This allows for easy insertion of the glider at any position on the rail, and also allows the glider to remain in the rail with the wings unfolded. This ensures a high load-bearing capacity of the glider.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the T-shaped head region is so wide at the narrow first section that, when the longitudinal view of the T-shaped head region is aligned parallel to the guide slot of the C-shaped rail, it can only be removed from the guide slot by means of a tilting movement.

[0039] Here, the hanging area, which can also be used as a grip area, as already described above, is grasped and pushed towards the shorter side of the L-shaped side view.

[0040] The advantage of this design is that the slider can be easily removed at any position on the rail.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the rotation-tilting movement comprises a 90° rotation of the slider from a sliding position to a removal position and a tilting movement to remove the slider.

[0042] The advantage of this design is that the slider can be easily removed at any position on the splint. This can be accomplished from the wrist, without the user having to grasp it again.

[0043] The object is further achieved by a method for producing a device for hanging curtains by means of an injection molding process with a device as described above.

[0044] The injection molding process is a proven, cost-effective and efficient method that produces the described glider in high quantities and with good quality within a very short time.

[0045] The invention is further explained below using exemplary embodiments in figures. Herein: Figure 1: Schematic representation of a device in a first embodiment in a longitudinal view, Figure 2: Schematic representation of a device in a first embodiment in a side view, Figure 3: Schematic representation of a device in a first embodiment in a plan view, Figure 4: Schematic representation of a device in a first embodiment in a three-dimensional view.

[0046] One in Figure 1The device 2, shown in longitudinal view and here in the form of a glider, is used to hang curtains or the like on a rail 1. The rail 1 is C-shaped in cross-section and has two supporting shoulders 11 and a guide slot 12 flanked by the two supporting shoulders 11. The glider 2 comprises three areas. The first area is a hanging area 3, which is shown here in the form of an eyelet that can accommodate a hook to which, for example, a curtain is attached. The hanging area 3 also serves as a handle area for the user to grasp the glider for insertion into the rail. The head area 5 is used to attach the glider 2 to the rail 1 and is essentially T-shaped in the longitudinal view. The two legs of the T-shaped head area 5 are divided into a narrower first section 51 and a wider second section 52, which are arranged one above the other.The narrower first section 51 is inserted into the guide slot 12 at any desired position when the slider 2 is inserted. The wider second section 52 comprises two wings 521. A solid-state joint 53 is arranged between the narrower first section 51 and the wider second section 52. When the slider 2 is inserted into the guide slot 521, it ensures that the wings 521 can be bent in the direction of the suspension area 3 in order to fit through the guide slot 12 and snap into place behind the two support shoulders 11. At the same time, the solid-state joint 53 serves to limit the mobility of the wings 521 in the direction of the T-shaped head area 5 in such a way that the slider 2 remains in the rail 1, even when the suspension area 3 is pulled with great force. The third and final area is the neck area 4, which connects the T-shaped head area 5 and the suspension area 3.

[0047] Figure 2 shows the Figure 1 shown slider 2 in a side view. The T-shaped head area shows the narrow first section 51 and the wider second section 52, whereby the narrow first section 51 in the side view is slightly wider than the guide slot 12 of the rail 1 (not shown here, see Figure 1 ) is.

[0048] Figure 3 shows the Figure 1 shown slider 2 in a plan view. Both the narrow first region 51 of the T-shaped head region 5 and the two wings 521 of the wider second region 52 are shown. The narrow first region 51 shows a shorter and a wider side. The shorter side corresponds to the width of the guide slot 12 of the rail 1 (not shown here, see Fig. 1) and is aligned orthogonally to the guide slot in the use position. The wider side is slightly wider than the width of the guide slot 12 of the rail 1 and is aligned parallel to the guide slot 12 in the use position. In the removal position, the wider side of the narrow first area 51 is aligned orthogonally to the guide slot and can therefore only be removed by tilting the rail 1.

[0049] Figure 4 shows the glider 2 of Figure 1 in a 3D view (analogous to Figure 1 ).

[0050] In Figure 5The figure shows how the slider 2 is removed from the rail 1: First, the slider 2 is moved from the use position (a) by 90° into the L-shaped side view, which is then aligned perpendicular to the guide slot 12 (b). In a further step, the suspension area / handle area 3 is tilted towards the shorter side of the L-shaped side view (c). The slider 2 can then be removed from the rail 1.

Claims

1. Device for hanging curtains or the like on a C-shaped rail (1) having a guide slot (12) flanked by two carrying shoulders (11), comprising a slider (2) with - a hanging area (3) shaped as a hook or eyelet or the like - a T-shaped head area (5) for fastening the device in the rail (1) - and a neck area (4) located between the hanging area and the head area characterized in that the T-shaped head region (5), the neck region (4) and the suspension region (3) are designed such that the slider (2) can be removed from the guide slot (12) by a rotating and tilting movement.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the slider (2) is formed in one piece.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the T-shaped head region (5), the neck region (4) and the suspension region (3) are L-shaped in a side view.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein both legs of the T-shaped head region (5) have a narrow first section (51) and a wider second section (52) in a longitudinal view.

5. Device according to claim 4, wherein a solid-state joint (53) is arranged between the narrow first section (51) and the wider second section (52).

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the solid-state joint (53) has a greater mobility in the direction of the suspension region (3) than in the direction of the narrow first section (51).

7. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the narrow first section (51) is spaced further away from the suspension area (3) than the wider second section (52).

8. Device according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the narrow first section (51) of the T-shaped head region (5) is designed such that it can be inserted into the guide slot (12) of the C-shaped rail (1) at any desired position.

9. Device according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the narrow first section (51) is at most as wide as the guide slot (12) in the longitudinal view.

10. Device according to one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the wider second portion (52) is wider in the longitudinal view than the guide slot (12).

11. Device according to one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the wider second portion (52) of the T-shaped head region (5) is designed in the form of two wings (521).

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the two wings (521) are designed to snap into place behind the support shoulders (11) when the T-shaped head region (5) is inserted into the C-shaped rail (1), and the wider second section (52) of the T-shaped head region can be arranged on the support shoulders.

13. Device according to one of claims 4 to 12, wherein the T-shaped head region (5) is so wide at the narrow first section (51) that it can be removed from the guide slot (11) only by means of a tilting movement when the longitudinal view of the T-shaped head region (5) is aligned parallel to the guide slot (11) of the C-shaped rail.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the rotation-tilting movement comprises a 90° rotation of the slider (2) from a sliding position to a removal position and a tilting movement for removing the slider (2).

15. Production of a device for hanging curtains according to one of claims 1 to 14 by means of an injection molding process.

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