Curtain rail runner and structure for attaching the runner to the curtain rail

Abstract

To improve strength, durability, and travel stability of a runner of a curtain rail.SOLUTION: A runner (1, 10) of a curtain rail (100, 200) is enabled to freely travel along a rail groove (101) by inserting the runner (1, 10) to the rail groove (101) of the curtain rail (100, 200), then rotating the runner (1, 10), and attaching the runner (1, 10) to the curtain rail (100, 200). The runner (1, 10) includes a ball (2) formed to be freely inserted to the rail groove (101) and placed on an inner surface of the curtain rail (100, 200), and a holder (3, 5) that holds the ball (2) so as to be freely rotatable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a runner for a curtain rail and a structure for attaching the runner to a curtain rail. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a runner that can be movably attached to a curtain rail by being inserted into the rail groove of the curtain rail and then rotated (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The runner has an axis on its body, and a wheel is rotatably attached to this axis. Some runners have a rail groove formed and the wheel is placed on the edge of the curtain rail that is folded upward, but because the contact area with the wheel is small, some runners have the wheel placed on the inner surface of the curtain rail in consideration of running stability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Utility Model Registration No. 3073953 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In order to insert the wheel through the rail groove, the diameter of the wheel needs to be smaller than the width of the rail groove opening. As the wheel diameter becomes smaller, the axle supporting the wheel also becomes thinner. When the axle becomes thinner, the strength, durability, and running stability of the runner become insufficient, which creates a problem of limiting the weight of the curtain that can be hung.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a technology that can improve strength, durability, and running stability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is a curtain rail runner that is inserted into the rail groove of a curtain rail, rotated, and attached to the curtain rail, allowing it to run freely along the rail groove, and is characterized by comprising: a ball that is formed so as to be freely insertable into the rail groove and is placed on the inner surface of the curtain rail; and a holder that holds the ball so that it can rotate freely.

[0007] Preferably, a portion of the holder is formed so as to be insertable into the rail groove.

[0008] It is also preferable that the ball has a radius larger than the height from the ball placement surface on the inner surface of the curtain rail to the edge of the rail groove.

[0009] The holder preferably includes a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position at which the ball is held.

[0010] Preferably, the holder includes a receiving portion for receiving the ball, and a stopper for preventing the ball from coming out of the receiving portion.

[0011] One aspect of the present invention is a mounting structure for a runner to a curtain rail, which comprises: a curtain rail having a rail groove; and a runner that is inserted into the rail groove of the curtain rail, then rotated and attached to the curtain rail, so that it can run along the rail groove; the runner comprises a ball that is formed so that it can be inserted into the rail groove; and a holder, at least a portion of which is formed so that it can be inserted into the rail groove, and which holds the ball so that it can rotate, and the ball is placed on the inner surface of the curtain rail.

[0012] It is also preferable that the portion of the inner surface of the curtain rail on which the ball is placed is formed to have a curvature smaller than that of the ball. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, the strength, durability, and running stability of the runner of the curtain rail can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the runner attached to the curtain rail in the first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the ball holding portion in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ball holding portion that holds a ball in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ball holding portion with the ball removed in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ball holding portion taken along line AA in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a method for attaching a runner to a curtain rail in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a method for attaching a runner to a curtain rail in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating a method for attaching a runner to a curtain rail in the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a front view of a runner attached to a curtain rail in the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a runner according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ball holding portion that holds a ball in a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a ball holding section with a ball removed in a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a ball holding portion in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] 14 is a cross-sectional view of the gripping portion taken along the line BB in FIG. 13. [Figure 15]14 is a cross-sectional view of the gripping portion taken along line CC in FIG. 13. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a plan view of the ball holding portion before adjusting the position of the gripping portion in the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the ball holding portion after adjusting the position of the gripping portion in the second embodiment. [Figure 18] 10A and 10B are front views of a runner in a second embodiment, in which the position of the gripping portion is adjusted and the runner is attached to a curtain rail of a different shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] First Embodiment As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the runner 1 of the curtain rail 100 is detachably attached to the curtain rail 100. A curtain is attached to the runner 1, and the runner 1 moves along the extension direction of the curtain rail 100, allowing the curtain to open and close along the curtain rail 100. The attachment structure of the runner 1 to the curtain rail 100 is configured to include the curtain rail 100 and the runner 1.

[0017] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the curtain rail 100 is made of, for example, metal or resin. The curtain rail 100 has a rail groove 101 formed in a position that will be on the lower side when the curtain rail 100 is attached to a window frame or the like. The rail groove 101 is a portion into which a runner 1 is inserted and attached. The curtain rail 100 is formed so that edge portions 102, 102 rise inward, and the edge portions 102, 102 are positioned facing each other with a gap between them. In other words, the space formed between the edge portions 102, 102 functions as the rail groove 101. The gap between the facing edge portions 102, 102 (the width of the rail groove 101) is larger than at least a portion of the runner 1. The curtain rail 100 is formed by a plate material extending downward that is folded back and curved just before the edge portions 102, 102, and the edge portions 102, 102 are formed to extend upward. The inner surface of this curved portion functions as a mounting portion 103 on which the ball 2 of the runner 1 is placed. The curvature of the mounting portion 103 is formed to be smaller than the curvature of the ball 2.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the runner 1 is inserted into the rail groove 101 of the curtain rail 100, rotated 90 degrees and attached to the curtain rail 100, so that the runner 1 can run freely along the rail groove 101. The runner 1 includes a ball 2 and a holder 3 . Ball 2 is made of, for example, metal, and is formed to a size that allows it to be freely inserted into rail groove 101. For example, a pair of balls 2 is provided for one runner 1, and each ball 2 is placed on mounting portion 103 on the inner surface of curtain rail 100 and rolls on mounting portion 103. Ball 2 is formed to have a radius larger than the height from ball 2 mounting surface 103 on the inner surface of curtain rail 100 to edges 102, 102 of rail groove 101. The holder 3 is made of, for example, resin, and not only hangs the curtain but also holds the ball 2. The holder 3 includes a main body portion 31 and a ball holding portion 32.

[0019] The main body 31 includes a columnar body 31a formed in the shape of a cylinder or a square pillar, and a suspender 31b provided at one end of the columnar body 31a. Pillar 31a is a member that extends vertically when runner 1 is attached to curtain rail 100, and shares an axis with the rotation axis of runner 1. Hanging body 31b is integrally provided at one end (lower end) of pillar 31a, and ball holding portion 32 is integrally provided at the other end (upper end) of pillar 31a. Pillar 31a is formed so that its maximum width is smaller than the width (opening width) of rail groove 101 of curtain rail 100. In other words, at least a portion of pillar 31a is formed to a size that can be inserted into rail groove 101 together with ball holding portion 32, and pillar 31a is formed so that it does not come into contact with curtain rail 100 even when runner 1 is rotated. The hanging body 31b is fitted with a curtain ring 104 for hanging a curtain hook.

[0020] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the ball holding portion 32 holds the ball 2. The ball holding portion 32 is formed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the column 31a of the main body 31. The length of the ball holding portion 32 in the short direction is formed to be smaller than the width (opening width) of the rail groove 101 of the curtain rail 100. In other words, the ball holding portion 32 is formed so that it can be inserted into the rail groove 101. One ball 2 is held at each of the longitudinal ends of the ball holding portion 32.

[0021] The ball holding portion 32 includes a receiving portion 32a that receives the ball 2, and a stopper 32b that prevents the ball 2 from being released from the receiving portion 32a. The accommodation portion 32a is a recess formed on the underside of each of both longitudinal ends of the ball holding portion 32. The accommodation portion 32a is formed to rotatably hold the ball 2 with a small gap therebetween. The accommodation portion 32a is formed, for example, so as to be able to accommodate at least half of the ball 2. The stopper 32b is formed to extend downward from the periphery of the containing portion 32a. For example, two stoppers 32b are provided facing each other and are formed to grip the outer surface of the ball 2. The stoppers 32b are provided to face each other in directions perpendicular to the rotation axis of the runner 1 and the extension direction of the ball holding portion 32. By pushing the ball 2 toward the containing portion 32a, the stoppers 32b are slightly elastically deformed, allowing the ball 2 to be contained in the containing portion 32a.

[0022] Next, a method for attaching the runner 1 to the curtain rail 100 will be described. When attaching the runner 1 to the curtain rail 100, as shown in Figure 6, hold the runner 1 so that the longitudinal direction of the ball holding portion 32 of the runner 1 is aligned with the rail groove 101 of the curtain rail 100, and in that state, insert the ball holding portion 32 into the rail groove 101. 7, the runner 1 is rotated 90 degrees around the axis of the main body 31. As a result, the ball 2 held by the ball holding portion 2 is positioned above the mounting portion 103 of the curtain rail 100. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the runner 1 is lowered downward, and the ball 2 is placed on the placement portion 103 of the curtain rail 100. By the above operations, the runner 1 can be attached to the curtain rail 100.

[0023] As described above, the runner 1 having the above configuration has neither a wheel nor an axle, and therefore there is no need to make the axle thinner by reducing the diameter of the wheel as in the past, so the strength and durability of the runner 1 are not insufficient, and there is no limit to the weight of the curtain that can be hung. Furthermore, because balls 2 are used instead of wheels and shafts, runner 1 can be moved with balls 2 in surface contact with mounting portion 103, improving the running stability of runner 1. In particular, by forming mounting portion 103 of curtain rail 100 to have a curvature smaller than that of ball 2, the contact area between ball 2 and mounting portion 103 can be increased, thereby improving the running stability of runner 1. Furthermore, since the ball 2 has a radius greater than the height from the ball 2 mounting portion 103 on the inner surface of the curtain rail 100 to the edges 102, 102 of the rail groove 101, the ball holding portion 32 does not come into contact with the edges 102, 102 of the rail groove 101, and the movement of the runner 1 is not obstructed. Furthermore, the ball 2 is rotatably housed in the housing portion 32a and prevented from escaping by the stopper 32b, so that the running stability of the runner 1 can be improved. Therefore, even if the runner 1 is a so-called post-insertion runner 1 in which the runner 1 is attached after the curtain rail 100 is installed, the strength, durability, and running stability can be improved.

[0024] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the curtain rail runner according to the present invention will be described. The difference between the runner 10 in the second embodiment and the runner 1 in the first embodiment is the structure of the holder 5. Therefore, the structure of the holder 5 will be described in detail below, and the same components as those in the first embodiment will be assigned the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 18, the runner 10 is inserted into a rail groove 101 of a curtain rail 100, rotated 90 degrees and attached to the curtain rail 100, so that the runner 10 can freely run along the rail groove 101. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the runner 10 includes a ball 2 and a holder 5. Holder 5 is made of, for example, resin, and in addition to hanging the curtain, holds ball 2. Unlike holder 3, holder 5 can adjust the holding position of ball 2. Holder 5 includes a main body 51, a ball holding portion 52, and a position adjustment mechanism 53.

[0026] The main body 51 includes a pillar body 51a formed in the shape of a cylinder or a square pillar, and a suspender 51b provided at one end of the pillar body 51a. Pillar 51a is a member that extends vertically when runner 10 is attached to curtain rail 100, and shares an axis with the rotation axis of runner 10. Hanging body 51b is integrally provided at one end (lower end) of pillar 51a, and ball holding portion 52 is integrally provided at the other end (upper end) of pillar 51a. Pillar 51a is formed so that its maximum width is smaller than the width (opening width) of rail groove 101 of curtain rail 100. In other words, at least a portion of pillar 51a is formed to a size that can be inserted into rail groove 101 together with ball holding portion 52, and pillar 51a is formed so that it does not come into contact with curtain rail 100 even when runner 10 is rotated. The hanging body 51b is fitted with a curtain ring 104 for hanging a curtain hook.

[0027] 10 to 17, the ball holding portion 52 holds the ball 2. The ball holding portion 52 includes a base portion 61, an arm portion 62, and a grip portion 63. The base 61 is continuous with the other end (upper end) of the pillar 51a of the main body 51, and is formed integrally with the main body 51. The base 61 is formed, for example, in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the length of the base 61 in the short direction is formed to be smaller than the width (opening width) of the rail groove 101 of the curtain rail 100. In other words, the base 61 is formed so that it can be inserted into the rail groove 101.

[0028] The arm 62 supports the grip 63 so that its mounting position can be adjusted. The arm 62 is formed integrally with the base 61. The arm 62 is formed so as to extend from opposing surfaces of the base 61 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pillar 51a of the main body 51. That is, a pair of arms 62 is provided on the base 61. The pair of arms 62 are provided so as to be aligned on the same straight line. The arm 62 is formed, for example, in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is formed long in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pillar 51a of the main body 51. A protrusion 53a of the position adjustment mechanism 53 is provided on at least one surface of the arm 62.

[0029] The gripping portion 63 grips one ball 2. The gripping portion 63 is attached to the arm portion 62 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction. That is, the gripping portion 63 is formed separately from the arm portion 62, and a pair of the gripping portions 63 are provided on the arm portion 62. The gripping portion 63 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the grip portion 63 includes a housing portion 63a, a stopper 63b, and an insertion hole 63c.

[0030] The accommodation portion 63a accommodates the ball 2. The accommodation portion 63a is provided on the surface that will be on the lower side when the grip portion 63 is attached to the arm portion 62. The accommodation portion 63a is formed to hold the ball 2 rotatably with a small gap between it and the ball 2. The accommodation portion 63a is formed, for example, so that at least half of the ball 2 can be accommodated therein. The stopper 63b is formed to extend downward from the periphery of the storage portion 63a. For example, two stoppers 63b are provided facing each other and are formed to grip the outer surface of the ball 2. The stoppers 63b are provided to face each other in directions perpendicular to the rotation axis of the runner 10 and the extension direction of the arm portion 62. By pushing the ball 2 toward the storage portion 63a, the stoppers 63b are slightly elastically deformed, allowing the ball 2 to be stored in the storage portion 63a. The insertion hole 63c is a hole formed so as to penetrate the opposing surfaces. The arm portion 62 is inserted into the insertion hole 63c. That is, by inserting the arm portion 62 into the insertion hole 63c, the grip portion 63 is supported movably relative to the arm portion 62. The gripping portion 63 has a recess 53b of the position adjustment mechanism 53 on the surface that will be on the upper side when attached to the arm portion 62.

[0031] 13 to 17, the position adjustment mechanism 53 adjusts the position of the gripping portion 63 relative to the arm portion 62. In other words, the position adjustment mechanism 53 adjusts the holding position of the ball 2 by the ball holding portion 52 relative to the main body portion 51. The position adjustment mechanism 53 includes a protrusion 53a and a recess 53b.

[0032] The protrusions 53a are provided on at least one surface of the arm portion 62. Specifically, the protrusions 53a are provided on the surface that will be on the upper side of the arm portion 62 when the runner 10 is attached to the rail groove 101. A plurality of the protrusions 53a are provided at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 62. In other words, the protrusions 53a are provided side by side along the movement direction of the gripping portion 63. The recess 53b is provided on at least one surface of the grip portion 63. Specifically, the grip portion 63 is provided at a position facing the protrusion 53a provided on the arm portion 62 when the grip portion 63 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the arm portion 62. A plurality of the recesses 53b are provided side by side at predetermined intervals along the movement direction of the grip portion 63. The recesses 53b are formed to penetrate from the upper surface of the grip portion 63 to the insertion hole 63c. This makes it possible to check from the outside of the grip portion 63 whether the protrusion 53a and the recess 53b are securely fitted together. The protrusions 53a and the recesses 53b are provided so that the distance between adjacent protrusions 53a and the distance between adjacent recesses 53b are equal.

[0033] 16 and 17, when adjusting the position of grip portion 63, a force is applied to grip portion 63 along the longitudinal direction of arm portion 62 while gripping grip portion 63, and grip portion 63 is moved along the longitudinal direction of arm portion 62. Eventually, convex portion 53a and concave portion 53b fit together, thereby determining the position of grip portion 63. Because convex portion 53a fits into concave portion 53b, movement of grip portion 53 is restricted.

[0034] As described above, runner 10 having the above configuration not only achieves the same effects and advantages as the first embodiment, but also includes position adjustment mechanism 53, which allows the position at which ball 2 is held by ball holding portion 52 to be adjusted according to the shape of the curtain rail, so that ball 2 can be accurately placed on placing portion 203 inside curtain rail 200 even if the shape of the curtain rail changes, as shown in Fig. 18. This allows runner 10 to be attached to existing curtain rails of various shapes.

[0035] <Other> While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and includes all aspects encompassed by the concept of the present invention and the scope of the claims. Furthermore, each configuration may be appropriately and selectively combined to achieve at least some of the above-described problems and effects. For example, the curtain rails 100, 200, the main bodies 31, 51 constituting the holders 3, 5, the ball holding parts 32, 52, and the position adjustment mechanism 5 are not limited to the above examples and can be modified within the scope of the functions of each part. Specifically, the protrusion 53a constituting the position adjustment mechanism 5 may be connected to an elastic member such as a spring provided inside the arm 62, so that when the spring is at its natural length, the tip of the protrusion 53a protrudes from the upper surface of the arm 62, and when the spring is compressed, the protrusion 53a fits inside the arm 62. This allows the protrusion 53a to be pushed into the arm 62 when the gripping part 53 is moved, making it possible to adjust the position of the gripping part 63 without applying a large force. Furthermore, the recess 53b is not limited to the through hole in the above embodiment, but may be, for example, a recess large enough to receive the protrusion 53a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1,10 runner 2 balls 3,5 Holder 31,51 Main body 31a,51a Column 31b,51b Hanging body 32,52 Ball holding part 32a Storage section 32b Stopper 53 Position adjustment mechanism 53a Convex part 53b Recess 61 Base 62 Arm 63 Gripping part 63a Storage section 63b Stopper 63c Insertion hole 100,200 Curtain rail 101 Rail groove 102 Edge 103 Placement section 104 Curtain Rings

Claims

1. A curtain rail runner that is inserted into a rail groove of a curtain rail, rotated, and attached to the curtain rail, thereby allowing the runner to run freely along the rail groove, a ball formed to be freely insertable into the rail groove and placed on the inner surface of the curtain rail; a holder that rotatably holds the ball, The holder is provided with a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position at which the ball is held.

2. 2. The curtain rail runner according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the holder is formed so as to be freely insertable into the rail groove.

3. 3. The curtain rail runner according to claim 1, wherein the ball has a radius greater than the height from the ball placement surface on the inner surface of the curtain rail to the edge of the rail groove.

4. The holder is a receiving portion that receives the ball; a stopper that prevents the ball from being released from the housing portion; The runner for a curtain rail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:

5. A structure for attaching a runner to a curtain rail, the structure comprising: a curtain rail having a rail groove; and a runner that is inserted into the rail groove of the curtain rail, then rotated and attached to the curtain rail, so as to be able to run along the rail groove, The runner is a ball formed so as to be freely insertable into the rail groove; a holder, at least a portion of which is formed so as to be freely insertable into the rail groove, for rotatably holding the ball; The ball is placed on the inner surface of the curtain rail, A mounting structure for a runner of a curtain rail, wherein the holder is provided with a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position where the ball is held.

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