Arrangement for dispensing curtains

Abstract

The arrangement for dispensing a curtain using an extendable tube with mating rods and cartridges provides an expedient and convenient method for mounting, changing and removing curtains. It consists primarily of an extendable tube housing a cartridge for dispensing a curtain that is pre-assembled with attached circular balls and a guide piece. The cartridge is attached to mating rods that can be adjusted as needed to attach or remove additional cartridges. The user pulls the guide piece in a downward direction to release the curtain from the release chamber of the extendable tube. The circular balls spread along the sliding tracks of the extendable tube and the user can then spread the curtain as desired.

Claims

1. An arrangement for dispensing a curtain, said arrangement comprising: a. a curtain between adjacent surfaces with end caps being mounted on each end of said arrangement, b. an extendable tube configured to dispense said curtain, said extendable tube being a housing device, said housing device housing mating rods with proximal ends that extend inside said extendable tube and a plurality of cartridges, said curtain being housed in a wrapped configuration on one cartridge of said plurality of cartridges, c. said extendable tube having a top section, a bottom section, a sliding track, a release cavity, outer walls, said end caps and ventilation openings; said top section of said extendable tube having a generally circular contour; said end caps being releasably connected to said outer walls of said extendable tube; said sliding track being attached to said bottom section of said extendable tube, said sliding track having a generally rectangular configuration and being aligned in a parallel configuration to said top section of said extendable tube; said outer walls having circular openings for receiving said mating rods, said outer walls receiving said mating rods in said outer wall, said ventilation openings being exit points for humidity and heat within said extendable tube, d. said mating rods extending through said cartridges and allowing independent rotation of said cartridges, said mating rods being in parallel configuration with said extendable tube, e. said cartridges being loosely held within said extendable tube and being held in parallel configuration with said extendable tube and said mating rods, f. said curtain having circular balls and a guide piece attached thereon, said curtain configured to unwrap from said cartridge when said guide piece is pulled, said curtain configured to release from said cartridge by pulling said guide piece until said curtain travels downwardly through an opening in said sliding track, said sliding track configured to catch and support said circular balls once said curtain is released, said circular balls spread within said sliding track, and said circular balls remaining within said sliding track.

2. The arrangement for dispensing a curtain of claim 1 wherein a plurality of curtains are provided on respective cartridges of said plurality of cartridges.

3. The arrangement for dispensing a curtain of claim 1 wherein said curtain has balls of different sizes and shapes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an exemplary representation of the materials needed to practice the invention as claimed herein.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the extendable tube.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of cartridges.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an extendable tube with a guide piece being exposed.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an extendable tube with a wrapped curtain being extended.

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an extendable tube with a curtain being extended along a sliding track.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The present invention derives from the long-standing recognition that the tradition of installing and removing curtains is a time-consuming and laborious process. The present invention provides advantageous features for an arrangement of dispensing curtains and provides relief for users who desire a quick and easy installation or removal of a curtain. The arrangement employs an adjustable device that is easy to install and is adjusted based on the user's need to dispense, remove or rehang a curtain.

(8) Turning now to FIGS. 1-6 of the attached drawings, the invention employs an arrangement 10 for dispensing a curtain 16 between adjacent surfaces with end caps 12 being mounted on each end of the arrangement 10. An extendable tube 14 is used for dispensing a curtain 16 with attached circular balls 18 and a guide piece 22 that extend between opposing surfaces. The extendable tube 14 is a housing device for mating rods 24 with proximal ends 26 that extend inside the extendable tube 14 and a plurality of cartridges 28 for dispensing the curtain 16 that is housed in a wrapped configuration in the cartridge 28.

(9) The extendable tube 14 has a top section 32, a bottom section 34, a sliding track 36, a release cavity 38, outer walls 42, end caps 12 and ventilation openings 46. The top section 32 of the extendable tube 14 has a generally circular interior. The end caps 12 are releasably connected to the outer walls 42 of the extendable tube 14 and the sliding track 36 is attached to the bottom section 34 of the extendable tube. The sliding track 36 has a generally rectangular configuration and is aligned in a parallel configuration to the top section 32 of the extendable tube 14. The release cavity 38 provides for the quick release of the circular balls 18 into the sliding track 36 and the spreading of the curtain 16 through the sliding track 36. The outer walls 42 of the extendable tube have circular openings 48 for receiving the mating rods 24. The outer walls 42 function as receiving elements for the mating rods 24. The mating rods 24 can be connected to said circular openings by screwing, force fitting, extension towards said end caps 12, and by utilizing additional methods of connecting a rod to a vertical plane.

(10) The ventilation openings 46 are exit points for humidity and heat within the extendable tube 14. They provide for the removal of heat, water and humidity from the inside of the extendable tube 14 and allow the curtains to dry after use. The ventilation openings 46 provide positive pressure ventilation when used in tandem with the existing openings along the sliding track 36.

(11) The mating rods 24 extend through said cartridges 28 and allow for their independent rotation. The mating rods 24 are in parallel configuration with the extendable tube 14. The cartridges 28 are loosely held within the extendable tube 14 and are held in parallel configuration with the extendable tube 14 and the mating rods 24. The mating rods 24 and the cartridges 28 do not collide with the release cavity 38 or other areas of the extendable tube 14. The cartridges 28 conform to the general shape of the release cavity 38 and prevent entanglement or of the curtain 16 during storage and while extracting the curtain 16 therefrom.

(12) The curtain 16 has circular balls 18 and a guide piece 22 that is attached thereon. For dispensing purposes, the guide piece 22 can be tongues, ropes, pins, ties, studs or any similar guide to aid in the removal of the curtain 16. The curtain 16 is sufficiently sized to easily pull away from the cartridge 28 when the guide piece 22 is pulled. The curtain 16 is released by slightly pulling the guide piece 22 until the curtain 16 travels downwardly through the sliding track 36. The sliding track 36 catches and supports the circular balls 18 once the curtain 16 is released and thereby causing the circular balls 18 to spread within the sliding track 36.

(13) The arrangement 10 can be shortened or lengthened by sliding the extendable tube 14 and the mating rods 24 longitudinally towards or away from the outer walls 42 of the extendable tube 14.

(14) As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the curtain 16 is dispensed as the guide piece 22 is drawn downwardly. The guide piece 22 is then used to extend the curtain 16 across the sliding track 36. The cartridge 28 rolls around the mating rods 24 and is prevented from dropping into the release cavity 38 as the curtain 16 is drawn downwardly and moved across the sliding track 36.

(15) The arrangement 10 can hold a plurality of cartridges 28 and is adapted to dispense a plurality of themed curtains 16 that can be selected as needed based on the celebratory needs of the user. The themes can include Halloween, religious celebrations, Thanksgiving, birthdays, university emblems, patriotic symbols and various other types of celebratory or decorative themes.

(16) Manufacturing of the arrangement 10 and in particular both the extendable tube 14 and the mating rods 24 can be simplified by making these elements the same length. The cartridge 28 can be constructed in various sizes and utilize additional retaining elements to facilitate a quick release of the curtains 16 and prevent entanglement of the curtain 16 when not in use. The extendable tube 14, mating rods 24 and circular balls 18 of the present invention may be constructed from stainless steel, molded plastic, iron, plated brass, or any other rigid material. Thermoplastic synthetic materials would also provide a smoother surface to allow the frictionless movement of the cartridges 28, circular balls 18, and mating rods 24. The material used to produce the curtain will depend on the use of the arrangement. For example, wrinkle free fabrics can be used to dispense curtains in a formal setting while a plastic material could be used in a shower.

(17) Various types of fabrics can be used to manufacture the curtains 16. These include netting fabrics, silk, wool, flax, hemp, cotton, plastic, woven and non-woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, technical fabrics (such as Gore-Tex and Gannex) and fabrics consisting of natural or artificial fibers. This invention can be used as curtains 16 in an open room arrangement, window box coverings, showers, dormitories, hotels, hospitals, and nursing homes, airplanes or as a hanging arrangement in any location where privacy is desired.

(18) Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown to illustrate the principles of the invention, it should be clear that many modifications can be made that do not depart from these principles and therefore this invention should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the following claims.