Suspension system.

Abstract

A suspension system for a drapery item in which the drapery item and a suspension element are provided with magnetically attracting elements. The suspension system also provides mechanical interference to assist in countering forces exerted on the drapery item so that the drapery item is not solely supported by magnetic attraction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An assembly, comprising:
 a drapery item suspended substantially vertically, the drapery item being provided with a plurality of drapery magnetic elements mounted to the drapery item at spaced apart locations along a top end portion thereof;   an elongated guide; and   a plurality of sliders mounted along the elongated guide, each slider including a base and a slider attachment extending from the base, the base being mounted to the guide so as to be movable therealong, the slider attachment being provided with a slider magnetic element, the slider magnetic elements being configured for magnetically attracting the drapery magnetic elements;   wherein the slider attachments each define a receiving portion adjacent the slider magnetic element removably receiving at least part of a respective one of the drapery magnetic elements thereinto, the drapery magnetic elements being removable from the receiving portion by pulling substantially horizontally thereonto, and vertical movements of the drapery magnetic elements relative to the receiving portion being prevented through mechanical interference between the drapery magnetic elements and the receiving portion while the drapery magnetic element is received in the receiving portion.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the slider attachment defines a recess delimited by an end wall and a peripheral wall extending therefrom, a recess aperture leading into the recess opposite the end wall, the slider magnetic element being provided at the end wall, and the peripheral wall defining the receiving portion. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the slider attachment is rotatable relative to the base about a substantially vertical rotation axis. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the slider magnetic elements each include a magnet. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the drapery magnetic elements each include a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the drapery magnetic elements are riveted to the ribbon. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the guide includes an elongated wire, and the base defines a mounting aperture receiving the wire thereinto so that the base is slidable along the wire. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the drapery magnetic elements are mounted to a ribbon, the ribbon being mounted to the drapery item. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the drapery item is a curtain. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the drapery and slider magnetic elements abut against each other at a location substantially vertically aligned with the guide. 
     
     
         11 . A suspension kit for a drapery item, comprising:
 a plurality of drapery magnetic elements mountable to the drapery item at spaced apart locations along a top end portion thereof;   an elongated guide;   a plurality of sliders mountable along the elongated guide, each slider including a base and a slider attachment extending from the base, the base being mountable to the guide so as to be movable therealong, the slider attachment being provided with a slider magnetic element, the slider magnetic elements being configured for magnetically attracting the drapery magnetic elements;   wherein the slider attachments each define a receiving portion adjacent the slider magnetic element for removably receiving at least part of a respective one of the drapery magnetic elements thereinto after the drapery magnetic elements have been mounted to the drapery item; and   wherein, in operation with the sliders mounted to the guide and the drapery magnetic elements received in a respective one of the receiving portions, the drapery magnetic elements are removable from the receiving portion by pulling substantially horizontally thereonto, and vertical movements of the drapery magnetic elements relative to the receiving portion are prevented through mechanical interference between the drapery magnetic elements and the receiving portion.   
     
     
         12 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the slider attachment defines a recess delimited by an end wall and a peripheral wall extending therefrom, a recess aperture leading into the recess opposite the end wall, the slider magnetic element being provided at the end wall, and the peripheral wall defining the receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the slider attachment is rotatable relative to the base about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the recess. 
     
     
         14 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the rotation axis is substantially parallel to a free surface of the slider magnetic element and extends substantially adjacent thereto. 
     
     
         15 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the slider magnetic elements each include a magnet and the drapery magnetic elements each include a ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         16 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the drapery magnetic elements are mounted to a ribbon mountable to the drapery item. 
     
     
         17 . The suspension kit as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the guide includes an elongated wire, and the base defines a mounting aperture for receiving the wire thereinto so that the base is slidable along the wire. 
     
     
         18 . A suspension assembly for suspending a drapery item therefrom, the drapery item being provided with a plurality of drapery magnetic elements mounted to the drapery item at spaced apart locations along a top end portion thereof, the suspension assembly comprising:
 an elongated guide;   a plurality of sliders mounted along the elongated guide, each slider including a base and a slider attachment rotatably mounted to the base for rotating about a rotation axis, the base being mounted to the guide so as to be movable therealong, the slider attachment defining a recess extending substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis and delimited by an end wall and a peripheral wall extending therefrom, a recess aperture leading into the recess opposite the end wall, a slider magnetic element being provided in the recess adjacent the end wall, the slider magnetic elements being configured for magnetically attracting the drapery magnetic elements, the recess being configured for at least partially receiving removably a respective one of the drapery magnetic elements thereinto through the recess aperture;   
     
     
         19 . The suspension assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the slider magnetic elements each include a magnet. 
     
     
         20 . The suspension assembly as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the guide includes an elongated wire, and the base defines a mounting aperture receiving the wire thereinto so that the base is slidable along the wire, the rotation axis intersecting the mounting aperture.