Motorized Curtain Rod System

Abstract

A curtain rod system has a support rod surrounding a drive member with a worm screw thereon. A powered carrier engaged on the worm screw provides powered translation of a curtain engaged thereto, upon rotation of the drive member by an electric motor. The drive member can be customized for length through by assembling it from drive member segments to allow for width adjustment of the curtain rod system. The worm screw may be formed of two separate parallel thread portions forming a double helix around the exterior of the drive member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curtain rod system, comprising:
 a support rod, said support rod having a sidewall surrounding an axial passage, said support rod adapted for engagement with a mount to a wall surface;   a drive member extending between a first end and a second end, said drive member in a rotational engagement within said axial passage of said support rod;   said drive member having a worm screw formed on an exterior thereof;   an electric motor engaged with said first end of said drive member;   a powered carrier, said powered carrier having a body having a cavity communicating therethrough, said cavity having threads complimentary to said worm screw;   said body of said powered carrier having a support member extending therefrom, said support member configured to engage a leading edge of a curtain having a curtain body;   at least one non-driven carrier configured to connect to said curtain, said non-driven carriers in a sliding engagement with said support rod;   said electric motor being energizable by an electric power source to rotate said drive member in either of a first direction or opposite second direction; and   whereby said drive member rotating in said first direction translates aid powered carrier in a first direction along said support rod, and said drive member rotating in said second direction translates said powered carrier in a second direction opposite said first direction along said support rod.   
     
     
         2 . The curtain rod system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 said drive member assembled from a plurality of drive member segments;   each of said drive member segments in said plurality thereof, having mating connectors on respective opposing ends which connect to respective mating segments on adjacent said drive member segments.   
     
     
         3 . The curtain rod system of  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 said worm screw on said exterior of said drive member having a first helical thread running parallel to a second helical thread thereon thereby forming said worm screw in a double helix thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The curtain rod system of  claim 2 , additionally comprising:
 said worm screw on said exterior of said drive member having a first helical thread running parallel to a second helical thread thereon thereby forming said worm screw in a double helix thereon.   
     
     
         5 . The curtain rod system of  claim 1  wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and
 said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         6 . The curtain rod system of  claim 2  wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and
 said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         7 . The curtain rod system of  claim 3  wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and
 said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         8 . The curtain rod system of  claim 4  wherein said support rod has a rod slot communicating through said sidewall, and
 said support member extending through said rod slot from a first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         9 . The curtain rod system of  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 said elongated sleeve positioned within said axial passage of said support rod; and 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway. 
 
     
     
         10 . The curtain rod system of  claim 2  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway. 
 
     
     
         11 . The curtain rod system of  claim 3  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway. 
 
     
     
         12 . The curtain rod system of  claim 4  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; and 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway. 
 
     
     
         13 . The curtain rod system of  claim 5  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway; 
 said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and 
 said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         14 . The curtain rod system of  claim 6  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway; 
 said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and 
 said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         15 . The curtain rod system of  claim 7  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway; 
 said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and 
 said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         16 . The curtain rod system of  claim 8  additionally comprising:
 an elongated sleeve having an axial passageway therein; 
 a sleeve slot communicating through a wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; 
 said elongated sleeve in an engagement within said axial passage of said support rod; 
 said drive member located within said axial passageway; 
 said sleeve slot in an alignment with said rod slot; and 
 said support member extending through both said rod slot and said sleeve slot from said first end thereof engaged to said body of said powered carrier. 
 
     
     
         17 . The curtain rod system of  claim 8  wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises:
 a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and 
 distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage. 
 
     
     
         18 . The curtain rod system of  claim 9  wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises:
 a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and 
 distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage. 
 
     
     
         19 . The curtain rod system of  claim 11  wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises:
 a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and 
 distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage. 
 
     
     
         20 . The curtain rod system of  claim 12  wherein said engagement of said elongated sleeve within said axial passage comprises:
 a plurality of ribs extending from said wall surrounding said axial passageway of said sleeve; and 
 distal ends of said ribs positioned within respective recesses, said recesses formed into said sidewall surrounding an axial passage.