Split Grommets For Curtains

Abstract

Curtain grommets that can be easily installed on curtain rods are described. Each grommet includes a front split ring and a rear split ring forming a grommet split at the top that is aligned with a split or gap in the curtain at or above the grommet. Each split grommet is sufficiently flexible to allow the grommet to be installed on the rod without the necessity of stringing the grommets from the end of the rod or removing the rod from its mounting brackets. A liner hook may be attached to the bottom of the split grommet, for example, on the rear ring, and may be rotatable from an extended position for supporting a curtain liner to a flattened or stowed position for packaging, storage and transportation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curtain and grommet assembly comprising:
 a curtain; and   multiple curtain grommets secured adjacent to an upper edge of the curtain, wherein each curtain grommet comprises:
 a front ring contacting a front of the curtain and having a front split portion at an upper end thereof; 
 a rear ring contacting a rear surface of the curtain and having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof; 
 multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings and through the curtain structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together with a portion of the curtain located between the front and rear rings, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet that is aligned with an adjacent split in the curtain; and 
 a liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the liner hook is attached to the rear ring. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the liner hook is rotatably mounted on the rear ring. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the liner hook is rotatable around a vertical axis. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the liner hook is rotatable from an extended position structured and arranged to receive and support a liner to a flattened position in a plane substantially parallel with a plane defined by a rear face of the rear ring. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the rear ring comprises a hook support projection extending rearwardly away from the rear face of the rear ring, and the liner hook comprises an attachment end inserted in the hook support projection. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment end of the hook comprises deformable opposing fingers contacting and retained within the hook support projection. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the split in the curtain comprises a vertical slit in the curtain. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the vertical slit in the curtain extends vertically upward from a top portion of the grommet to an upper edge of the curtain. 
     
     
         11 . A split curtain grommet for attachment to a curtain, the split curtain grommet comprising:
 a front ring having a front split portion at an upper end thereof;   a rear ring having a rear split portion at an upper end thereof;   multiple pins extending between the front and rear rings structured and arranged to secure the front and rear rings together, wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are aligned to form a split in the curtain grommet; and   a liner hook attached to a bottom portion of the grommet.   
     
     
         12 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 11 , wherein the liner hook is attached to the rear ring. 
     
     
         13 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 12 , wherein the liner hook is rotatably mounted on the rear ring. 
     
     
         14 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 13 , wherein the liner hook is rotatable around a vertical axis. 
     
     
         15 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 11 , wherein the liner hook is rotatable from an extended position structured and arranged to receive and support a liner to a flattened position in a plane substantially parallel with a plane defined by a rear face of the rear ring. 
     
     
         16 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 15 , wherein the rear ring comprises a hook support projection extending rearwardly away from the rear face of the rear ring, and the liner hook comprises an attachment end inserted in the hook support projection. 
     
     
         17 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 16 , wherein the attachment end of the hook comprises deformable opposing fingers contacting and retained within the hook support projection. 
     
     
         18 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 11 , wherein the front split portion of the front ring and the rear split portion of the rear ring are vertically aligned. 
     
     
         19 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 11 , wherein the multiple pins extend from the front ring and are received in holes in the rear ring. 
     
     
         20 . The split curtain grommet of  claim 19 , wherein the pins are cylindrical.