PANEL TYPE CURTAIN AND METHOD FOR CONNECTING SAME

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a panel-type curtain according to the first part of claim 1, and more specifically to a panel-type curtain useable with at least one curtain rail, providing easy coupling of curtain holding members, having an uncomplicated structure, and also slidable smoothly, and a coupling method of the same.

[Background Art]

Currently, a panel-type curtain is widely used for screening a room, or partition, separation, or the like of a room.

Generally, this panel-type curtain is such that a panel-type curtain member (generally, a fabric, such as a knit fabric or a woven fabric) is hung on a curtain rail, and a plurality of the panel-type curtain members are aligned with each other.

For example, as an example of using two curtain rails, a panel screen (for example, see Patent Document 1) where two guide rails (curtain rails) are arranged in parallel, runners are provided in the vicinity of both right and left upper ends of each screen gray fabric, and the left runner freely runs on the first guide rail while the right runner freely runs on the second guide rail, a curtain apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 2) including a slat on which a panel or a curtain gray fabric is hung so as to move freely, with both end portions of the slat guided in a first common track and a second common track, respectively, a screening apparatus (for example, see Patent Document 3) where first and second curtain rails are arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance from each other, first and second runners are provided on an upper edge of a panel screen, and the first runner is provided so as to be capable of running on the first curtain rail while the second runner is provided so as to be capable of running on the second curtain rail, or the like are known.

However, since these curtains require two guide rails, they cannot be installed when there is only one curtain rail.

Further, even if there are two curtain rails, the curtain member installed is directed largely obliquely, which causes an increase in thickness and such a disadvantage that screening of a room or partition, separation, or the like of a room cannot sufficiently be achieved.

Further, since there are two guide rails, there is a limit to a distance between the two guide rails that can be reduced.

Besides these, a panel curtain (for example, see Patent Document 4) where a rail for a panel curtain where a plurality of rail portions on which panels can be attached are arranged in their front-back direction and supporting portions provided on both ends of each rail portion are provided with projections capable of being inserted and fitted in curtain runners, a panel curtain (for example, see Patent Document 5) where a flat plate-shaped panels are supported so as to move freely along a plurality of hanger rails, a hanging frame which hangs and supports the panel from the hanger rail are divided into a pivotal hanging frame and a non-pivotal hanging frame, and the pivotal hanging frame is supported on the non-pivotal hanging frame so as to be capable of pivoting on a hinge like a cantilever, a panel curtain (for example, see Patent Document 6) where a plurality of planar panels are hung and supported so as to be capable of moving along a hanger rail at certain intervals in their front-back direction, or the like are known.

On the other hand, a panel-type curtain using a single curtain rail has also been developed. For example, there is a vertical curtain (for example, see Patent Document 7) where curtain-supporting sheets are attached to sliding portions provided so as to move freely on a curtain rail such that they overlap with one another at different positions, and a plurality of vertical leaves fixed to the curtain-supporting sheets which are curtain-holding members move so as to overlap with each other.

[Prior Art Documents]

[Patent Documents]

• [Patent Document 1] JUMB-H01-7830
• [Patent Document 2] National Publication of International Patent Application No.2006-507064
• [Patent Document 3] JPA-2007-138601
• [Patent Document 4] JPA-2005-40226
• [Patent Document 5] JPA-2007-105234
• [Patent Document 6] JPA-2007-244661
• [Patent Document 7] JPA-2006-280851

Furthermore, US 7,270,165 B1 discloses a panel-type curtain according to the first part of claim 1.

[Summary of the Invention]

[Problems to be solved by the Invention]

However, the curtain of US 7,270,165 B1 has a complicated structure. A track and a bracket constitute a bayonet structure.

[Means for solving the Problems]

The present inventor has made intensive studies to improve a panel-tape curtain described above, in particular with regard to enable easy coupling of the coupling bars, and has found that this can be achieved by (1) a panel-type curtain according to claim 1.

The present invention lies in (2) the panel-type curtain according to the above aspect (1), wherein both upper end portions and lower end portions of the first coupling bar and the second coupling bar are provided with holes capable of catching the supports.

The present invention lies in (3) the panel-type curtain according to the above aspect (1) or (2), wherein the second coupling bar has a rail portion on a front side.

The present invention lies in (4) the panel-type curtain according to any one of the above aspects (1) to (3), wherein touch fasteners are attached to a back side of the first coupling bar and a back side of the second coupling bar.

The present invention lies in (5) the panel-type curtain according to any one of the above aspects (1) to (4), wherein the supports have S-shaped profiles, and are provided with stoppers from curved portions to distal ends.

The present invention lies in (6) the panel-type curtain according to any one of the above aspects (1) to (5), wherein the slider is fixed to a lateral end portion of the second coupling bar.

The present invention lies in (7) a coupling method of the panel-type curtain described in the above aspect (1), wherein the second coupling bar is slidably coupled with the first coupling bar by placing the second coupling bar at an angle of 90 degrees to the first coupling bar, then pushing the slider of the second coupling bar into the rail portion of the first coupling bar, and then turning the second coupling bar by 90 degrees.

It should be noted that it is also possible to employ a configuration including any combination of the inventions described above, as long as it meets the object of the present invention.

[Effects of the Invention]

The panel-type curtain of the present invention can be used with at least one curtain rail.

This reduces the thickness and makes it considerably compact.

Since the rail portion of the first coupling bar and the slider of the second coupling bar constitute a bayonet structure, the coupling bars can be coupled to each other extremely easily by the simple operations "pushing-in" and "turning".

Besides, the structure is uncomplicated and sliding can also be performed smoothly.

Even in a state where the curtain members have been attached to the first coupling bar and the second coupling bar, the second coupling bar can be attached easily to the first coupling bar.

In the panel-type curtain of the present invention, in the case where both upper end portions and lower end portions of the first coupling bar and the second coupling bar are provided with holes capable of catching the supports, the holding frame can also be used upside down.

In the case of using the holding frame upside down, one side attached with the curtain member and the other side having the rail portion are inverted to each other.

In the panel-type curtain of the present invention, in the case where the second coupling bar has a rail portion on a front side, three curtain members can be aligned with one another by fitting a slider of another coupling bar into the rail portion of the second coupling bar.

Further, these curtain members can be slid smoothly on one another.

Thus, more curtain members can be arranged.

In the panel-type curtain of the present invention, in the case where touch fasteners are attached to a back side of the first coupling bar and a back side of the second coupling bar, it becomes possible to readily attach the curtain members instantly by only pushing the curtain members onto the touch fasteners simply.

In the panel-type curtain of the present invention, in the case where the supports have S-shaped profiles, and are provided with stoppers from curved portions to distal ends, there is the advantage that the panel-type curtain is easy to attach and unlikely to drop off.

In the panel-type curtain of the present invention, in the case where the slider is fixed to a lateral end portion of the second coupling bar, the second coupling bar can be widely and securely slid.

Furthermore, since the neck portion and the head portion of the slider form a T-shaped profile, the slider can easily be fitted loosely in the rail portion.

[Brief Description of the Drawings]

• [FIG 1] FIG 1 is a partial perspective view showing an example of a panel-type curtain according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• [FIG 2] FIG. 2(a) is a surface side view showing a first coupling bar of the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, FIG 2(b) is a back side view thereof, and FIG 2(c) is a sectional view thereof taken along line A-A in FIG. 2(a).
• [FIG 3] FIG 3(a) is a surface side view showing a second coupling bar of the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG 3(b) is a back side view thereof.
• [FIG 4] FIG 4(a) is a top view showing a slider used in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG 4(b) is a right side view of the slider in FIG 4(a).
• [FIG 5] FIG 5 is a side view showing a support attached to the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment;
• [FIG 6] FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) are illustrative views showing a method of coupling the second coupling bar with the first coupling bar in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment.
• [FIG 7] FIG 7(a) is a schematic view showing a state where the slider has been pushed in a first rail in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG. 7(b) is a schematic view showing a state where the slider has been pushed in the first rail and has been turned in the panel-type curtain.
• [FIG 8] FIG 8 (a) is a view showing the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment in an opened state, and FIG 8(b) is a view showing the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment in a closed state.

[Best Mode for carrying out the Invention]

Hereinafter, with reference to the figures as necessary, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

It should be noted that identical elements are marked with identical reference numerals so that redundant description will be left out.

It should also be noted that positional relationships, such as top, bottom, right and left, are based on positional relationships shown in the figures, unless otherwise noted.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the dimensional ratio of each figure is not limited to the ratio shown.

FIG 1] is a partial perspective view showing an example of a panel-type curtain according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG 1, a panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment can be hung on runners 51 of a conventional curtain rail 50 via supports 3.

The panel-type curtain 100 includes elongated holding frames 10 capable of catching the supports 3, and curtain members 1a and 1b supported by the holding frames 10.

Further, the holding frame 10 includes a first coupling bar 2a, and a second coupling bar 2b slidable relative to the first coupling bar 2a in a longitudinal direction thereof.

That is, in the panel-type curtain described above, in a state where the curtain member (referred to as a "first curtain member" below for convenience) 1a has been supported by the first coupling bar 2a and the curtain member (referred to as a "second curtain member" below for convenience) 1b has been supported by the second coupling bar 2b, the first curtain member 1a and the second curtain member 1b are slidable relative to each other.

Here, the coupling bar and the curtain member are fixed to each other by a touch fastener described later and the fixed state is maintained.

FIG 2(a) is a surface side view showing the first coupling bar of the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, FIG. 2(b) is a back side view thereof, and FIG. 2(c) is a sectional view thereof taken along line A-A in the FIG 2(a).

As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(c), the first coupling bar 2a has a rail portion (referred to as a "first rail portion" below for convenience) 3a on a surface side, and, as shown in FIG. 2(b), has a touch fastener (referred to as a "first touch fastener" below for convenience) 5a attached thereto on a back side.

Since the first coupling bar 2a has the first rail portion 3a on the surface, by fitting a slider 20 of the second coupling bar 2b described later into the first rail portion 3a, the second coupling bar 2b is made slidable relative to the first coupling bar 2a linearly.

Further, since the first touch fastener 5a is attached to the back side, the curtain member 1a can easily be attached to the first touch fastener 5a by simply pushing the curtain member 1a thereto in a direction of arrow, as shown in FIG. 2(c).

Incidentally, the curtain member 1a also has a touch fastener which makes fixation to the first touch fastener 5a possible.

Blocking members 6 are fitted on and fixed to both ends of the first coupling bar 2a so that the slider 20 (see FIG 1) of the second coupling bar 2b is prevented from separating from the first rail portion 3a by the blocking members 6.

Further, the first coupling bar 2a is provided with a positioning member 7 which can be fixed by a screw or the like to the first rail portion 3a, so that the slider which slides rightward and leftward can be stopped at a desired position.

That is, by adjusting a distance L from the blocking member 6 to the positioning member 7, the range of movement of the slider can be adjusted.

The first coupling bar 2a is provided with holes 8a capable of catching the supports 3 (not shown) at an upper end portion thereof.

Therefore, by hooking one ends of the supports 3 into the holes 8a of the first coupling bar 2a, and attaching the other ends of the supports 3 to runners 51 of the curtain rail 50, the first coupling bar 2a is hung on the curtain rail 50.

The first coupling bar 2a is also provided with holes 8b capable of catching the support 3 (not shown) at a lower end portion thereof.

This makes it possible to use the first coupling bar 2a (holding frame 10) upside down.

That is, the supports 3 can be attached to the upper end portion of the first coupling bar 2a, and the supports 3 can also be attached to the lower end portion thereof.

FIG 3(a) is a surface side view showing the second coupling bar of the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG 3(b) is a back side view thereof.

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the second coupling bar 2b has a rail portion (referred to as a "second rail portion" below for convenience) 3b on a surface side, and, as shown in FIG.3(b), has a touch fastener (referred to as a "second touch fastener" below for convenience) 5b attached thereto on a back side.

Since the second coupling bar 2b has the second rail portion 3b on the surface side, for example, by preparing a coupling bar (referred to as a "third coupling bar" below for convenience) having the same shape as the second coupling bar 2b, and fitting a slider of this not-shown third coupling bar into the second rail portion 3b of the second coupling bar 2b, three curtain members can be aligned with one another, and they can be slid relative to one another smoothly.

Incidentally, by further preparing another coupling bar having the same shape, and similarly fitting the same into the third coupling bar, four curtain members can be aligned with one another, and by further repeating this operation, a desired number of curtain members can be disposed.

Obviously, each of these coupling bars is hung on the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50.

Further, since the second touch fastener 5b is attached to the second coupling bar 2b on the back side, the second curtain member 1b can be easily attached to the second coupling bar 2b instantly by utilizing the second touch faster 5b.

As described above, by using one curtain rail, a lot of curtain members can be disposed.

Since only one curtain rail is used, even a lot of curtain members do not cause an increase in thickness and keep the panel-type curtain compact, unlike the conventional panel-type curtains.

The second coupling bar 2b has the slider 20 (specifically, a thin portion 20c2 of the slider) fitted on one lateral end, and a blocking member 16 fitted on the other lateral end, and each of the slider 20 and the blocking member 16 is fixed by a screw N or the like.

Incidentally, since the slider 20 also serves as a blocking member, when the third coupling bar is attached to the second coupling bar 2b, a slider thereof is prevented from separating from the second rail portion 3b.

FIG 4(a) is a top view showing the slider used in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG. 4(b) is a right side view of the slider shown in FIG 4(a).

As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the slider 20 includes a base portion 20c (which includes a base 20c1 and a thin portion 20c2 extended at a right angle from a side face of the base 20c1), a neck portion 20a made erect from a side face of the base portion 20c to be thinner than the base portion 20c, and a head portion 20b expanded to be thicker than the neck portion 20a.

Thus, the neck portion 20a and the head portion 20b form a T-shaped profile, as viewed from their sides.

Therefore, a space corresponding to the length of the neck portion 20a occurs between the base portion 20c and the head portion 20b.

The slider 20 can be fixed by fitting the base portion 20c, specifically, a portion of the base portion 20c, on the lateral end portion of the second coupling bar 2b (see FIG 3).

That is, the thin portion 20c2 is fitted in a space inside the first rail portion 3a.

At this time, since elastic pieces 20b1 provided to both side faces of the thin portion 20c2 press inner wall faces of the first rail portion 3a, fitting can be easily achieved.

Thus, the slider 20 can easily be fixed to the second coupling bar 2b.

Incidentally, though described above, the slider 20 is more securely fixed by a screw or the like.

Further, since the neck portion 20a and the head portion 20b form the T-shaped profile, as viewed from their sides, the slider 20 can be loosely fitted in the first rail portion 3a easily by nipping the neck portion 20a.

Like the first coupling bar 2a, the second coupling bar 2b is provided with holes 18a capable of catching the supports 3 (not shown) at an upper end portion thereof. Therefore, by hooking one ends of the supports 3 into the holes 18a of the second coupling bar 2b, and attaching the other ends to the runners of the curtain rail 50, the second coupling bar 2b is hung on the curtain rail 50.

Like the first coupling bar 2a, the second coupling bar 2b is also provided with holes 18b capable of catching the supports 3 (not shown) at a lower end portion thereof.

This makes it possible to use the second coupling bar 2b (holding frame 10) upside down.

That is, the supports 3 can be attached to the upper end portion, and the supports 3 can also be attached to the lower end portion.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing the support attached to the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG 5, this support 3 has an S-shaped profile, as view from a side face thereof, and is provided with stoppers 13b extending from curved portions 13a to distal ends.

This provides the advantage that the support 3 is easy to attach and unlikely to drop off.

Incidentally, a curvature of the curved portion caught on the curtain-rail side is large while a curvature of the curved portion caught on the curtain-member side is small.

The distal end of the curved portion on the curtain-rail side extends outward linearly so that an extended portion 13a1 is formed. Since the support 3 is provided with this extended portion 13a1, there is such an advantage that a user can easily hook the support 3 on the runner 51 of the curtain rail 50 with his/her fingers.

In the panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment, by inserting one ends (curved portions) of the supports 3 into the holes 8a of the first coupling bar 2a and inserting the other ends into the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50, thereby hooking the supports 3, the first coupling bar 2a is hung on the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50 via the supports 3.

Similarly, by inserting one ends of the supports 3 into the holes 18a of the second coupling bar 2b and inserting the other ends into the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50, thereby hooking other supports 3, the second coupling bar 2b is hung on the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50 via the supports 3.

At this time, as described above, since the support 3 is provided with the stoppers 13b, the support 3 is prevented from accidentally dropping off of the runners 51 and the holes 8a, 18a.

Next, a method of fitting the second coupling bar 2b into the first coupling bar 2a to coupling them to each other in the panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment will be described.

Incidentally, though only the coupling bars are shown here, the same fitting operation is applied to the coupling bars with the curtain members attached thereto.

FIGS. 6(a) to 6(c) are illustrative views for illustrating the operation of fitting the second coupling bar into the first coupling bar in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7(a) is a schematic view showing a state where the slider has been pushed in the first rail in the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment, and FIG. 7(b) is a schematic view showing a state where the slider has been pushed in the first rail and has been turned.

First, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the second coupling bar 2b is placed at an angle of 90 degrees to the first coupling bar 2a.

At this time, the direction of a long side of the head portion 20b of the slider is opposed to a hanging portion P1 and a rising portion P2 along a space between the hanging portion P1 and the rising portion P2.

Incidentally, the first coupling bar 2a is hung on the runners 51 of the curtain rail 50 via the supports 3.

Next, in this state, the head portion 20b of the slider 20 is pushed into a space of the first rail portion 3a (pushing-in step).

Here, a relationship among a length L1 of a short side of the head portion 20b of the slider 20, a length L2 of the long side of the head portion 20b, a length L5 of the base portion 20c, a distance L 3 between the hanging portion P1 and the rising portion P2 of the first rail portion 3 a in the first coupling bar 2a, and a distance L4 of an internal space of the first rail portion 3a in the first coupling bar 2a (that is, a distance between an upper wall and a lower wall that form the space) is as follows:

• L1<L3<L2<L4
• L3 < L5.

Thus, since the length L1 of the short side of the head portion 20b is shorter than the distance L3 of the internal space of the first rail portion 3a, the slider 20 can easily be pushed and fitted into the first rail portion 3a, as shown in FIG 7(a).

Then, as shown in FIGS. 6(b) and 6(c), the second coupling bar 2b is turned by 90 degrees to the first coupling bar 2a so that the first coupling bar 2a and the second coupling bar 2b are aligned with each other (turning step).

As shown in FIG. 7(b), since the length L2 of the long side of the head portion 20b is shorter than the distance L4 of the internal space of the first rail portion 3a, the turning can easily be made.

Now the second coupling bar 2b is slidably coupled with the first coupling bar 2a.

Since the length L2 of the long side of the head portion 20b is longer than the distance L3 between the hanging portion P1 and the rising portion P2 of the first rail portion 3a, the slider 20 is prevented from separating from the first rail portion 3a when the slider 20 is slid.

Thus, the panel-type curtain according to the embodiment has the extremely convenient bayonet structure where coupling the slider 20 and the first rail portion 3a are coupled to each other according to the easy operations of "pushing-in" and "turning".

This makes it possible to easily attach the second coupling bar 2b to the first coupling bar 2a even in a state where the first curtain member 1a has been attached to the first coupling bar 2a and the second curtain member 1b has been attached to the second coupling bar 2b.

In particular, after the first coupling bar 2a with the first curtain member 1a attached thereto is attached to the curtain rail 50, the second coupling bar 2b with the curtain member 1b attached thereto can easily be attached to the first coupling bar 2a.

The reason is that the slider 20 of the second coupling bar 2b can easily be fitted into the first rail portion 3a of the first coupling bar 2b by the operations of the "pushing-in" and "turning".

Thus, in the panel-type curtain 100 described above, there is such an advantage that the coupling bars can easily be attached to the curtain rail 50 even after the curtain members 1a, 1b are attached thereto.

Further, in the panel-type curtain 100 described above, since its structure is simple, it becomes possible to slide the second coupling bar 2b relative to the first coupling bar 2a smoothly.

It should be noted that, preferably, the slider slides while a lower end face of the head portion 20b comes in contact with a lower wall of the first coupling bar 2a, thereby providing smooth movement.

FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are views showing an example of the panel-type curtain where four curtain members are hung on four coupling bars, respectively, on one single curtain rail 50, FIG. 8(a) showing the panel-type curtain in an opened state and FIG. 8(b) showing the panel-type curtain in a closed state.

Though the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment.

For example, as long as the slider can be fitted into the coupling bar by pushing the slider into the coupling bar to turn the same, the shape of the head portion may be a cuboid with a curved face, and some change to the shape of the base portion is also acceptable.

Further, the holding frame 10 of the panel-type curtain 100 includes at least two coupling bars 2 of the first coupling bar 2a and the second coupling bar 2b, but it is also possible to provide the holding frame 10 with more coupling bars, of course.

In the panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment, the touch fastener is attached to the coupling bar, but, for example, anything can be employed in place of the touch fastener as long as it can provide easy attachment of the curtain member.

In the panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment, the profile of the support 3 is an S shape, as viewed from a side face thereof, but not limited to it.

Further, two supports 3 are attached to the first coupling bar 2a and two supports 3 are attached to the second coupling bar 2b, but it is also possible to increase the number of holes 8a, 8b, 18a, 18b so that the number of supports to be attached can be increased.

Further, it is preferred that the coupling bar is made of metal, such as aluminum, and the slider is made of synthetic resin, but this is not necessarily a limitation.

As the curtain member 1a, 1b used in the panel-type curtain 100 according to the embodiment, a known material, such as a sheet of paper, a fabric, or a film, is used properly.

[Industrial Applicability]

The panel-type curtain 100 according to the present invention is used for screening a room, or partition, separation, or the like of a room. The panel-type curtain 100 according to the present invention can easily be attached to the curtain rail even after the attachment of the curtain member, and sliding of the curtain member can be also made smooth.

[Description of the Reference Numerals]

1a:

First curtain member (curtain member)

1b:

Second curtain member (curtain member)

2a:

First coupling bar

2b:

Second coupling bar

3:

Support

3a:

First rail portion (rail portion)

3b:

Second rail portion (rail portion)

5a:

First touch fastener (touch fastener)

5b:

Second touch fastener (touch fastener)

6:

Blocking member

7:

Positioning member

8a, 8b, 18a, 18b:

Hole

10:

Holding frame

13a:

Curved portion

13a1:

Extended portion

13b:

Stopper

20:

Slider

20a:

Neck portion

20b:

Head portion

20b1:

Elastic tab

20c:

Base portion

20c1:

Base

20c2:

thin portion

50:

Curtain rail

51:

Runner

100:

Panel-type curtain

L1:

Length of the short side

L2:

Length of the long side

L, L3, L4:

Distance

L5:

Length of the base portion

N:

Screw

P1:

Hanging portion

P2:

Rising portion