US3753457A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electromechanical pulling device for rail-guided hangings, particularly curtains
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-27
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Granted: 1973-08-21
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Expires: 1991-07-27
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical device for pulling curtains or other railguided hangings comprises a driving unit which can be attached in a number of different positions to a second unit which incorporates a guide rail, a perforated endless band running in channels in the rail, and pulleys accommodated in casings at each end of the rail for reversing the direction of movement of the band between forward and return runs. The attachment is effected by means of headed bolts accomodated in resilient apertures, and by a tongue-and-slot connection between a shaft of the driving unit and the shaft of one of the pulleys. Sliders are accommodated in a channel in the rail, having parts engageable from outside the rail for supporting a curtain and further parts for engaging the holes in the band.
Inventors
- 👤 Konrad Bratschi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:01
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47H; A47H5/00; A47H5/02; A47H5/032; A47H5/0325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An electromechanical pulling device for rail-guided hangings, such as curtains, comprising a driving unit including a drive motor having an output shaft, and gearing associated with said drive motor; a supporting unit for a hanging, comprising a guide rail having two ends, a reversing casing provided at least at one of said ends, a pulley mounted in said reversing casing and having a rotatably mounted shaft, and an endless pulling element extending along said guide rail and being trained about said pulley for advancement in response to rotation of the same; and cooperating coupling portions for releasably coupling said driving unit to said supporting unit, including male coupling heads on one of said units and female coupling apertures provided in the other of said units and ends having a wider portion adapted to receive one of said coupling heads and a narrower portion adapted to engage and prevent withdrawal of the male coupling head inserted through the associated wider portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An electromechanical pulling device for rail-guided hangings, such as curtains, comprising a driving unit including a drive motor having an output shaft, and gearing associated with said drive motor; a supporting unit for a hanging, comprising a guide rail having two ends, a reversing casing provided at least at one of said ends, a pulley mounted in said reversing casing and having a rotatably mounted shaft, and an endless pulling element extending along said guide rail and being trained about said pulley for advancement in response to rotation of the same; and cooperating coupling portions for releasably coupling said driving unit to said supporting unit, including male coupling heads on one of said units and female coupling apertures provided in the other of said units and ends having a wider portion adapted to receive one of said coupling heads and a narrower portion adapted to engage and prevent withdrawal of the male coupling head inserted through the associated wider portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 1, and complementary connection means between the gearing and the pulley, comprising a hollow shaft having a non-circular socket into which fits a non-circular plug-in shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit has a drive unit casing which can be connected to the reversing casing, said head comprising a pair of heads disposed on said drive unit casing diametrically opposite one another in relation to the axis of the two shafts and parallel thereto, said apertures being provided in said reversing casing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device according to claim 3, wherein the apertures extend through the reversing casing and the heads are provided on bolts which project from the driving unit casing and which are each provided with a reduced neck portion, the bolts being adapted to be screwed into respective parallel threaded bores which are spaced apart by 90* on said driving unit casing around the shaft, whereby the driving unit can be connected selectively in one of a plurality of different positions on the upper side or on the lower side of the reversing casing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device according to claim 4, wherein two projecting wall portions of each aperture, directed towards one another, limit the constriction of each aperture to a width slightly less than the thickness of the reduced neck portion of the bolts and each projecting wall portion has an axial groove in which the neck portion is engaged when the head is in the engaged position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the pulley for the pulling element includes a coaxial slipping clutch disc which carries the non-circular hollow shaft and which is provided on each of two radially resilient portions of its periphery with a projecting part which engages resiliently in radial indentations of an inner rim of the drive pulley.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 1, in which the pulling element is constituted by a band perforated at regular intervals along its length; and comprising at least one slider element adapted to be coupled to the band and slidable in a channel in the rail.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the slider element has a rotatable part projecting out of the channel, which rotating part is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the band and carries a pin projecting perpendicularly to sAid axis, the arrangement being such that when the rotatable part is turned so that the pin lies parallel to the rail the slider element can slide freely in the latter, whereas when the rotatable part is turned through 90* the pin engages in one of the holes in the band.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device according to claim 8, wherein the rotatable part of the slider element is provided with an operating handle projecting out of the channel and provided with a suspension means for a hanging, the rotation of the handle being limited to approximately 90*.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein the pulling band has two ends adjacent to one another and connected together to form the endless pulling element, the ends being secured to respective slider elements which are slidable in the channel, each slider element having a socket extending transversely to the plane of movement of the band and accessible from outside the channel, the slider elements being connected by a connecting element having two lugs which are inserted from outside the rail into the sockets in the two slider elements, thereby pre-tensioning the band.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device according to claim 10, wherein the connecting element is formed on a part situated outside the channel and intended for carrying a hanging, and said element has a horizontal arm disposed parallel to the vertical plane in which the adjacent run of the band is guided and intended for carrying an overlapping end of the hanging.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-20 | 1977-02-19 | 1977-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-20 | 1981-02-19 | 1981-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-20 | 1985-02-19 | 1985-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |