CA2108712C - Multi-purpose window treatment support device - Google Patents
Multi-purpose window treatment support deviceInfo
- Publication number
- CA2108712C CA2108712C CA 2108712 CA2108712A CA2108712C CA 2108712 C CA2108712 C CA 2108712C CA 2108712 CA2108712 CA 2108712 CA 2108712 A CA2108712 A CA 2108712A CA 2108712 C CA2108712 C CA 2108712C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- elongated
- rigid member
- support device
- fabric
- rod
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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- Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
Abstract
An universal window treatment support device and method for supporting various lengths, sizes and types of curtain and/or drapery material in a wide variety of different decorative treatment arrangements. The holder is an elongated, relatively thin, flat rigid element containing a number of openings of different sizes and shapes along its length and having an elongated rod of small cross-section extending across the lower portion thereof. The device is vertically mounted in front of an area to be decorated and looped sections of material is passed from the back of the holder to its front through one or more of the openings or looped over the elongated rod after which the looped sections are fluffed out or draped in front of the holder to provide individualized decorative treatments. The elongated rod is adaptable for passing through hemmed openings of flat panels of sheer material to provide a light filtering function.
Description
MULTI-PURPOSE WINDOW TREATMENT SUPPORT DEVICE
Thls appllcatlon ls related to co-pendlng Canadlan Patent Appllcatlon No. 2,097,882 flled June 7, 1993 entltled Wlndow Treatment Support Devlce.
BACKGROUND
1. Fleld of the Inventlon The present lnventlon relates ln general to flxtures and devlces for supportlng and posltlonlng wlndow curtalns and draperles and ln partlcular to a unlversal support devlce for supportlng varlous lengths of curtaln and/or drapery materlal or fabrlc ln an unllmlted number of dlfferent decoratlve treatment arrangements.
Thls appllcatlon ls related to co-pendlng Canadlan Patent Appllcatlon No. 2,097,882 flled June 7, 1993 entltled Wlndow Treatment Support Devlce.
BACKGROUND
1. Fleld of the Inventlon The present lnventlon relates ln general to flxtures and devlces for supportlng and posltlonlng wlndow curtalns and draperles and ln partlcular to a unlversal support devlce for supportlng varlous lengths of curtaln and/or drapery materlal or fabrlc ln an unllmlted number of dlfferent decoratlve treatment arrangements.
2. The Prlor Art Curtaln and drapery flxtures, traverse rods, supports, rlng bars and the llke are known whlch are deslgned to support, shape, arrange and posltlon curtalns or drapes ln an orderly and speclflc manner. Wlth these prlor-art devlces, llttle or no varlatlon ln wlndow treatment appearance 18 posslble except by (1) substltutlon of dlfferent-coloured or dlfferent-lengthed curtalns or drapes whlch would stlll be supported ln the speclflc manner dlctated by the deslgn of the support elements, or by (11) replaclng the support elements wlth ones deslgned to create a speclflc but dlfferent wlndow treatment appearance.
Other support devlces are known whlch wlll cause unpleated curtalns or drapes to assume a pleated or folded posltlon when afflxed to such supports, but agaln there ls llttle varlatlon posslble ln the overall appearance of the wlndow treatment as substltute drapes wlll stlll appear pleated and folded drapes wlll stlll appear folded, even though thelr length or colour may be changed.
- la -'~" ~
210~712 In these prior-art devices, it is customary to mount a separate support element for draperies, for valances, for sheers and the like, resulting in a plurality of mounting devices of different types and lengths all being mounted at the top of the area being decorated. Utilization of a number of mounting elements at a single area or location is expensive, the mounting elements are crowded closely together, usually one in front of the other, and difficulty is encountered in installing and removing the various materials for cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE 1NV~N 110N
The present invention resides in an elongated relatively-flat, multi-purpose window treatment support device and mounting means for securing the support device in a vertical position above and a spaced distance in front of a window or area to be decorated.
lS The window treatment support device has a plurality of material-receiving apertures therein whereby a single length, or a number of lengths, of llnh~ -~ or finished curtain or drapery material or fabric may be simply and easily hung, arranged and displayed in a wide variety of decorative arrangements without the need for clips, pins, hooks or catches, yet such material or fabric is easily removable for washing or cleaning. This is accomplished by passing the ends or an intermediate part of the fabric lengths through one or more material-receiving apertures in the support device and then loosely draping or fluffing out the material to conceal the support device and to create any of a number of decorative treatment arrangements.
By providing material-receiving apertures of different sizes and shapes, the multi-purpose window treatment support device will simultaneously support and display fabrics and material of different thicknesses and bulkiness.
7 ~ 27 By provldlng materlal-recelvlng apertures wlth V-shaped notches, the present lnventlon wlll slmultaneously support and dlsplay heavy fabrlcs as the V-shaped notches automatlcally grip and hold the fabrlc agalnst sllppage whlch could occur wlth heavy fabrlcs that are not secured by cllp8 or other retalnlng means.
The multl-purpose wlndow treatment support devlce lncludes a transverse element or stralght rod whlch ls posltloned below the materlal-recelvlng apertures and whlch may be utlllzed to support portlons of the draped materlal that has already been passed through the materlal-recelvlng apertures from elther the front or back of the support devlce to provlde addltlonal artlstlc wlndow treatment arrangements. These transverse elements may also be utlllzed to support flat panels of llght-fllterlng materlals such as sheers, whlch heretofore were mounted on separate rods, usually behlnd the well-known traverse rods and valance supports.
In accordance wlth one aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supporting drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltionlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane; and sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged ln flrst .. ..
2~ ~7 ~ 2 Ind second rows wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof, and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous encloslng slde wall.
In accordance wlth another aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provided a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng varlous lengths and wldths of drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng a flat front surface and a flat back surface; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the sald flat front and back surfaces of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln respectlve parallel vertlcal planes; sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged ln flrst and second rows wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the sald flat surfaces thereof, and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and enclo~lng slde wall~
and the sald mountlng means posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald rlgld elongated member a spaced dlstance ln front of the area belng decorated for the unrestrlcted passage of drapery and fabrlc materlal from the back surface of the elongated rlgld memberthrough the sald materlal-recelvlng apertures to the front surface thereof.
- 3a -2~ ~7 11 ~
In accordance wlth yet another aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provided a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprislng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane;
sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and encloslng slde wall; and an elongated fabrlc support rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from the sald elongated rlgld member and extendlng longltudlnally of and parallel thereto.
In accordance wlth a further aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane;
- 3b -.~
and sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and encloslng slde wall; flrst and second coaxlally allgned fabrlc support rods extendlng longltudlnally of and ln spaced parallel relatlonshlp wlth sald elongated rlgld member; and means for detachably supportlng the opposlng ends of sald coaxlally allgned fabrlc support rods.
In accordance wlth yet a further aspect of the present inventlon, there ls provlded a method for creatlng decoratlve treatment arrangements utlllzlng a relatlvely flat elongated support devlce havlng a row of spaced-apart materlal recelvlng apertures extendlng along the length thereof and havlng an elongated fabrlc rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from and parallel to sald row of apertures, the method comprlslng the steps of; foldlng a plurallty of sectlons of a flrst length of decoratlve materlal; passlng the folded sectlons through respectlve apertures ln the support devlce wlth the folded portlon of each sectlon pro~ectlng forward of lts respectlve aperture; artlstlcally arranglng the materlal ln selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons to form decoratlve shapes;
foldlng and passlng other selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons through the openlng between the sald row of apertures and the support rod to form a valance forward of the support rod;
and mountlng the support devlce and fabrlc thereon ln a vertlcal - 3c -~ ~ ~ 87 ~ 2 plane ln front of the area to be decorated wlth the sald decoratlve shapes faclng forwardly therefrom.
In accordance wlth yet a further aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a method for creatlng decoratlve treatment arrangements utlllzlng a relatlvely flat elongated support devlce havlng a row of spaced apart materlal recelvlng apertures extendlng along the length thereof and havlng an elongated detachable fabrlc rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from and parallel to sald row of apertures, the method comprlslng the steps of; foldlng a plurallty of sectlons of a flrst length of decoratlve materlal; passlng the folded sectlons through respectlve apertures ln the support devlce wlth the folded portlon of each sectlon proiectlng forward of lts respectlve aperture; artlstlcally arranglng the materlal ln selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons to form decoratlve shapes; and detachlng the elongated fabrlc rod from the support devlce, passlng the fabrlc rod through hemmed openlngs of a second length of materlal and re-attachlng the fabrlc rod to the support devlce wlth the second materlal downwardly extendlng therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present lnventlon wlll be better understood from the followlng detalled descrlptlon of several embodlments of the lnventlon when consldered ln connectlon wlth the accompanylng drawlngs ln whlch5 Flg. 1 ls a front elevatlonal vlew of one embodlment of the lnventlon shown posltloned wlth respect to a wlndow whlch wlll recelve decoratlve treatment;
- 3d -., .
~ ~ ~ 8~ ~ ~
Flg. 2, taken along llnes 2-2 of Flg. 1, ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the embodlment of the lnventlon dlsclosed ln Fig. l;
Flg. 3 ls an enlarged front vlew of a portlon of the embodlment shown ln Flg. l;
Flg. 4 ls a front vlew of a plctorlal representatlon of the wlndow area ln Flg. 1 decorated wlth fabrlc or drapery supported on the lnventlve support devlce;
- 3e -210~12 Fig. 5 is a side view of a pictorial representation of the window treatment shown in Fig.4;
Fig. 6 is a front view of a portion of another embodiment of the invention with integrally formed support arms;
Fig. 7 is a front view of a portion of still another embodiment of the invention showing a single row of material-receiving apertures;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of a further embodiment of the invention showing two rows of differently sized and differently sh~re~ material-receiving apertures;
Fig 9 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a removable transverse element or fabric support rod;
Fig. 10, taken along lines 10-10 of Fig. 9, is a side elevational view of the central support element for the removable fabric support rod;
Fig 11 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a multi-element fabric support rod which is separable at its center;
Fig. 12, taken along lines 12-12 of Fig. 11, is a perspective view of the central support element for the multi-element fabric support rod;
Fiq. 13 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a fabric support rod which is integral with the window treatment support device;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a splicing sleeve which has been placed on and moved into splicing position on one section of the fabric support rod of Fig. 13 which has been severed; and 2~ ~712 Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a yieldable clamp suitable for attachment to various sections of the support device of Fig. 1 to receive and hold removable fabric support rods.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5 will now be described. In these drawings, like reference numerals will represent corresponding elements.
It is to be noted that while the various embodiments are described in connection with window treatments, the inventive support device i8 equally useful in providing decorative treatments for walls, alcoves, doorways and the like.
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the window treatment support device 10 is an elongated, relatively narrow flat structure and is shown mounted above and in front of window 20 by laterally extending mounting elements 30 having one end secured to a supporting structure such as wall 21 and the other end engaging upper rail 14 to support and maintain support device 10 in a vertical position.
While mounting element 30 is shown as a cup hook with the threaded end 31 screwed into wall 21, it could be attached to the wall by a butt plate or other securing means. Also, the semicircular hook end 32 could be V-shaped or rigidly attached to the upper rail 14 as long as support device 10 was mounted vertically. Still further, the length of shank 33 of mounting element 30 is not critical as long as it is of sufficient length to permit space for the drapery material or fabric to pass between support device 10 and wall 21. Alternatively, device 10 could be suspended from the ceiling or attached to movable floor uprights.
210871~
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, support device 10 comprises a first series of tear-shaped material-receiving apertures 11 arranged in side-by-side relationship with each material-receiving aperture 11 having a semicircular base 18 and an opposing V-shaped notched section 19 upwardly directed, and comprises a second series of similarly shaped material-receiving apertures 12 arranged in side-by-side relationship with each material-receiving aperture 12 having a semicircular base 18A and opposing V-shaped notched section l9A downwardly directed. A similarly shaped corner material-receiving aperture 13 with its V-shaped notched section directed upwardly is located at each end of the series of material-receiving apertures 11. The upper and lower peripheries of the flat support device 10 are bounded by respective upper and lower rails or strengthening structures 14 and 15.
It is to be noted that the rails 14 and 15 and the walls ~efin;ng material-receiving apertures 11, 12 and 13 are rigidly constructed and secured together to prevent any movement therebetween. Also, while these rails and walls are shown in Fig.
Other support devlces are known whlch wlll cause unpleated curtalns or drapes to assume a pleated or folded posltlon when afflxed to such supports, but agaln there ls llttle varlatlon posslble ln the overall appearance of the wlndow treatment as substltute drapes wlll stlll appear pleated and folded drapes wlll stlll appear folded, even though thelr length or colour may be changed.
- la -'~" ~
210~712 In these prior-art devices, it is customary to mount a separate support element for draperies, for valances, for sheers and the like, resulting in a plurality of mounting devices of different types and lengths all being mounted at the top of the area being decorated. Utilization of a number of mounting elements at a single area or location is expensive, the mounting elements are crowded closely together, usually one in front of the other, and difficulty is encountered in installing and removing the various materials for cleaning.
SUMMARY OF THE 1NV~N 110N
The present invention resides in an elongated relatively-flat, multi-purpose window treatment support device and mounting means for securing the support device in a vertical position above and a spaced distance in front of a window or area to be decorated.
lS The window treatment support device has a plurality of material-receiving apertures therein whereby a single length, or a number of lengths, of llnh~ -~ or finished curtain or drapery material or fabric may be simply and easily hung, arranged and displayed in a wide variety of decorative arrangements without the need for clips, pins, hooks or catches, yet such material or fabric is easily removable for washing or cleaning. This is accomplished by passing the ends or an intermediate part of the fabric lengths through one or more material-receiving apertures in the support device and then loosely draping or fluffing out the material to conceal the support device and to create any of a number of decorative treatment arrangements.
By providing material-receiving apertures of different sizes and shapes, the multi-purpose window treatment support device will simultaneously support and display fabrics and material of different thicknesses and bulkiness.
7 ~ 27 By provldlng materlal-recelvlng apertures wlth V-shaped notches, the present lnventlon wlll slmultaneously support and dlsplay heavy fabrlcs as the V-shaped notches automatlcally grip and hold the fabrlc agalnst sllppage whlch could occur wlth heavy fabrlcs that are not secured by cllp8 or other retalnlng means.
The multl-purpose wlndow treatment support devlce lncludes a transverse element or stralght rod whlch ls posltloned below the materlal-recelvlng apertures and whlch may be utlllzed to support portlons of the draped materlal that has already been passed through the materlal-recelvlng apertures from elther the front or back of the support devlce to provlde addltlonal artlstlc wlndow treatment arrangements. These transverse elements may also be utlllzed to support flat panels of llght-fllterlng materlals such as sheers, whlch heretofore were mounted on separate rods, usually behlnd the well-known traverse rods and valance supports.
In accordance wlth one aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supporting drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltionlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane; and sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged ln flrst .. ..
2~ ~7 ~ 2 Ind second rows wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof, and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous encloslng slde wall.
In accordance wlth another aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provided a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng varlous lengths and wldths of drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng a flat front surface and a flat back surface; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the sald flat front and back surfaces of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln respectlve parallel vertlcal planes; sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged ln flrst and second rows wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the sald flat surfaces thereof, and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and enclo~lng slde wall~
and the sald mountlng means posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald rlgld elongated member a spaced dlstance ln front of the area belng decorated for the unrestrlcted passage of drapery and fabrlc materlal from the back surface of the elongated rlgld memberthrough the sald materlal-recelvlng apertures to the front surface thereof.
- 3a -2~ ~7 11 ~
In accordance wlth yet another aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provided a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprislng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane;
sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and encloslng slde wall; and an elongated fabrlc support rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from the sald elongated rlgld member and extendlng longltudlnally of and parallel thereto.
In accordance wlth a further aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a wlndow treatment support devlce for holdlng and supportlng drapery and curtaln materlals ln a wlde varlety of non-unlform decoratlve treatment arrangements comprlslng ln comblnatlon; an elongated non-expanslble rlgld member of a generally rectangular cross-sectlonal conflguratlon havlng at least one flat surface thereon; mountlng means for posltlonlng and malntalnlng sald elongated rlgld member a spaced dlstance ln front of an area to be decorated wlth the flat surface of sald elongated rlgld member lylng ln a vertlcal plane;
- 3b -.~
and sald elongated rlgld member havlng a plurallty of materlal-recelvlng apertures spaced along the length thereof wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture extendlng through the sald elongated rlgld member at rlght angles to the flat surface thereof and wlth each materlal-recelvlng aperture havlng a separate contlnuous and encloslng slde wall; flrst and second coaxlally allgned fabrlc support rods extendlng longltudlnally of and ln spaced parallel relatlonshlp wlth sald elongated rlgld member; and means for detachably supportlng the opposlng ends of sald coaxlally allgned fabrlc support rods.
In accordance wlth yet a further aspect of the present inventlon, there ls provlded a method for creatlng decoratlve treatment arrangements utlllzlng a relatlvely flat elongated support devlce havlng a row of spaced-apart materlal recelvlng apertures extendlng along the length thereof and havlng an elongated fabrlc rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from and parallel to sald row of apertures, the method comprlslng the steps of; foldlng a plurallty of sectlons of a flrst length of decoratlve materlal; passlng the folded sectlons through respectlve apertures ln the support devlce wlth the folded portlon of each sectlon pro~ectlng forward of lts respectlve aperture; artlstlcally arranglng the materlal ln selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons to form decoratlve shapes;
foldlng and passlng other selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons through the openlng between the sald row of apertures and the support rod to form a valance forward of the support rod;
and mountlng the support devlce and fabrlc thereon ln a vertlcal - 3c -~ ~ ~ 87 ~ 2 plane ln front of the area to be decorated wlth the sald decoratlve shapes faclng forwardly therefrom.
In accordance wlth yet a further aspect of the present lnventlon, there ls provlded a method for creatlng decoratlve treatment arrangements utlllzlng a relatlvely flat elongated support devlce havlng a row of spaced apart materlal recelvlng apertures extendlng along the length thereof and havlng an elongated detachable fabrlc rod posltloned a spaced dlstance from and parallel to sald row of apertures, the method comprlslng the steps of; foldlng a plurallty of sectlons of a flrst length of decoratlve materlal; passlng the folded sectlons through respectlve apertures ln the support devlce wlth the folded portlon of each sectlon proiectlng forward of lts respectlve aperture; artlstlcally arranglng the materlal ln selected ones of the pro~ectlng folded portlons to form decoratlve shapes; and detachlng the elongated fabrlc rod from the support devlce, passlng the fabrlc rod through hemmed openlngs of a second length of materlal and re-attachlng the fabrlc rod to the support devlce wlth the second materlal downwardly extendlng therefrom.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present lnventlon wlll be better understood from the followlng detalled descrlptlon of several embodlments of the lnventlon when consldered ln connectlon wlth the accompanylng drawlngs ln whlch5 Flg. 1 ls a front elevatlonal vlew of one embodlment of the lnventlon shown posltloned wlth respect to a wlndow whlch wlll recelve decoratlve treatment;
- 3d -., .
~ ~ ~ 8~ ~ ~
Flg. 2, taken along llnes 2-2 of Flg. 1, ls a slde elevatlonal vlew of the embodlment of the lnventlon dlsclosed ln Fig. l;
Flg. 3 ls an enlarged front vlew of a portlon of the embodlment shown ln Flg. l;
Flg. 4 ls a front vlew of a plctorlal representatlon of the wlndow area ln Flg. 1 decorated wlth fabrlc or drapery supported on the lnventlve support devlce;
- 3e -210~12 Fig. 5 is a side view of a pictorial representation of the window treatment shown in Fig.4;
Fig. 6 is a front view of a portion of another embodiment of the invention with integrally formed support arms;
Fig. 7 is a front view of a portion of still another embodiment of the invention showing a single row of material-receiving apertures;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of a further embodiment of the invention showing two rows of differently sized and differently sh~re~ material-receiving apertures;
Fig 9 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a removable transverse element or fabric support rod;
Fig. 10, taken along lines 10-10 of Fig. 9, is a side elevational view of the central support element for the removable fabric support rod;
Fig 11 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a multi-element fabric support rod which is separable at its center;
Fig. 12, taken along lines 12-12 of Fig. 11, is a perspective view of the central support element for the multi-element fabric support rod;
Fiq. 13 is a front elevational view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 with a fabric support rod which is integral with the window treatment support device;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of a splicing sleeve which has been placed on and moved into splicing position on one section of the fabric support rod of Fig. 13 which has been severed; and 2~ ~712 Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a yieldable clamp suitable for attachment to various sections of the support device of Fig. 1 to receive and hold removable fabric support rods.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 through 5 will now be described. In these drawings, like reference numerals will represent corresponding elements.
It is to be noted that while the various embodiments are described in connection with window treatments, the inventive support device i8 equally useful in providing decorative treatments for walls, alcoves, doorways and the like.
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the window treatment support device 10 is an elongated, relatively narrow flat structure and is shown mounted above and in front of window 20 by laterally extending mounting elements 30 having one end secured to a supporting structure such as wall 21 and the other end engaging upper rail 14 to support and maintain support device 10 in a vertical position.
While mounting element 30 is shown as a cup hook with the threaded end 31 screwed into wall 21, it could be attached to the wall by a butt plate or other securing means. Also, the semicircular hook end 32 could be V-shaped or rigidly attached to the upper rail 14 as long as support device 10 was mounted vertically. Still further, the length of shank 33 of mounting element 30 is not critical as long as it is of sufficient length to permit space for the drapery material or fabric to pass between support device 10 and wall 21. Alternatively, device 10 could be suspended from the ceiling or attached to movable floor uprights.
210871~
As best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, support device 10 comprises a first series of tear-shaped material-receiving apertures 11 arranged in side-by-side relationship with each material-receiving aperture 11 having a semicircular base 18 and an opposing V-shaped notched section 19 upwardly directed, and comprises a second series of similarly shaped material-receiving apertures 12 arranged in side-by-side relationship with each material-receiving aperture 12 having a semicircular base 18A and opposing V-shaped notched section l9A downwardly directed. A similarly shaped corner material-receiving aperture 13 with its V-shaped notched section directed upwardly is located at each end of the series of material-receiving apertures 11. The upper and lower peripheries of the flat support device 10 are bounded by respective upper and lower rails or strengthening structures 14 and 15.
It is to be noted that the rails 14 and 15 and the walls ~efin;ng material-receiving apertures 11, 12 and 13 are rigidly constructed and secured together to prevent any movement therebetween. Also, while these rails and walls are shown in Fig.
3 with a circular cross-section, the entire device 10 when viewed from either end has a rectangular cross section. However, it is to be noted that the rails and walls in Fig. 3 could have square or rectangular cross-sectional shapes as shown in Figs. 6 through 8 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, while support device 10 is illustrated as having twenty five material-receiving apertures, the number and sizes of material-receiving apertures could be increased or decreased to fit various sized areas which might be selected to receive decorative treatment.
The openings 17 formed from the abutment of the walls of material-receiving apertures 12 with the upper rail 14 provide a suitable space for the semicircular hook end 32 of mounting element 30 to engage and mount support device 10 in a vertical position.
210~:12 When heavy drapery fabric or material is used, additional mounting elements 30 may be used to engage upper rail 14 intermediate its ends to prevent any possible distortion of support element 10 from the weight of the fabric.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, a brief description will be given of one example of the use of the inventive device for decorative treatment of the window shown in Fig. 1.
In the particular treatment being described, the length of the fabric 40 to be used is generally determined by adding the lengths of the two sides and top of the treatment being planned, plus approximately one foot for each material-receiving aperture 11 or 12 that will be used, plus approximately one yard for each corner of the window treatment. The decorator will maintain the middle of the selected length of material in the center of support device 10 and will pass one foot of looped material from the back of device 10 to the front thereof through an end material-receiving aperture 12 and then pass one yard of looped material through the adjacent corner material-receiving aperture 13. The r ~in;ng material on the half-length that is being arranged will hang or drape in folds 43 or puddle on the floor. The other half-length of the material 40 is similarly looped through the other end material-receiving aperture 12 and corner material-receiving aperture 13.
The material looped through material-receiving apertures 12 is billowed out to form ruffle 41 and the material looped through material-receiving apertures 13 is arranged in the form of draped sleeves 42. Finally, slight adjustments are made to provide symmetry between both sides of the decorative treatment.
Decorative material may be passed through the material-receiving apertures while the support device 10 is vertically mounted but many users prefer to do most of the decorative arrangements while the support device is flat on a work table, for example.
2~ 7l~
It is to be noted that the material looped through any of the material-receiving apertures may be again looped and passed between rail 115 and the fabric support rod 150 shown in Fig. 9, or passed between rail 215 and the fabric support rod 270 shown in Fig. 11, or passed between rail 305 and the fabric support rod 370 shown in Fig. 13. This material looping over the fabric support rods in addition to being passed through the material-receiving apertures permits numerous unique decorative treatments by creating double draped sleeves, for example.
While two or more contrasting types of fabric can be used, only one type of fabric is illustrated and while numerous of the other material-receiving apertures 11 and 12 can be used to support the fabric, only the corner material-receiving apertures 13 and immediately adjacent material-receiving apertures 12 are used in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 pictorial representation. However, it can be seen that an unlimited number of decorative treatments can be created by using different ones of the material-receiving apertures, with or without utilizing the fabric support rod~, and by arranging the looped material in different lengths and forms.
Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawings, the embodiment there disclosed will be described.
The window treatment support device 60 differs from support device 10 of Fig. 1 in that the walls between adjacent material-receiving apertures of support device 60 are of a rectangularly-shaped cross-sectional configuration and in that the mounting bracket 66 and stablizing bracket 68 are an intergal part of the upper and lower rail sections 64 and 65.
The window treatment support device 60 is mounted on the wall or window area by hooking notch 67 over a nail or screw which is appropriately secured to the wall. The stablizing bracket 68 aids in maintaining the support device in a vertical position, and if desired, the free end thereof may be rigidly secured to the wall.
210~7~2 The material-receiving apertures 61, 62 and 63 of Fig. 6 are tear-shaped with a semicircular base and opposing V-shaped notch and are arranged in side-by-side relationship, all as described in connection with respective material-receiving apertures 11, 12 and 13 of Fig. 3.
A support device 70, shown in Fig. 7, is specifically designed for window treatments using heavy or bulky material in that only one series of side-by-side material-receiving apertures 72 are provided and such apertures have their V-shaped notches downwardly ext~n~ing. As previously pointed out, the weight of the free ends of heavy or bulky fabric will tend to pull the short looped portions out of the material-recéiving apertures. This problem has been overcome by providing the material-receiving apertures with the noted V-shaped notches which wedge portions of the fabric together and thus prevent easy retraction of the looped material unless it is deliberately moved out of the gripping notch. The longer looped length of fabric used to form sleeves has relatively equal weight on both sides of material-receiving aperture 73 so that the looped fabric has little tendency to pull out of its captivating aperture. While window treatment support device 70 shows an opening 77 for receiving, for example, a hook end such as shown on mounting bracket 30 of Fig. 3, it is to be understood that device 70 could have a mounting bracket similar to bracket 66 of Fig. 6.
Some window treatments may use two or more fabrics with different prints, colors or weaves, or such window treatments may use heavy fabrics together with sheer fabrics. The window treatment support device 80 shown in Fig. 8 is specifically designed for supporting both heavy-weight and light-weight material. As pointed out in connection with the description of support device 70, the loop-receiving apertures 72 with downwardly extending V-shaped notches securely hold heavy fabrics in position. Thus, window treatment support device 80 contains a series of side-by-side loop-receiving apertures 82 for receiving heavy or bulky fabrics.
2las7l2 Support device 80 also includes a series of side-by-side loop-receiving apertures 81 of generally circular configeration through which light-weight or sheer material may be looped without the t~n~lency of the loops to be pulled out of their apertures as the free ends of such material does not exert much downward force. The circular apertures 81 encompass less area that the tear-shaped apertures 82 and thus less opening is visible when a small volume of sheer fabric is passed therethrough.
As pointed out hereinbefore, it is customary to provide separate support rods or devices for sheer fabrics since the support rods for sheer materials are preferably straight as sheer or light filtering fabrics are usually hung as flat panels without cluster~ of folds or thick gatherings of material. Drapery support devices or valance support devices are usually designed to arrange materials in decorative arrangements and it is common for such devices to have non-linear configurations which are unsuitable for the flat panels of sheer materials.
Referring to Figs. 9 through 15, a number of further variations of the support device of Fig. 1 to support both flat panels of sheer material and decorative arrangements of drapery materials will now be described. While not shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 13, it is to be understood that the support devices 100, 200 and 300 may be mounted in a vertical plane by the mounting means such as those described in connection with Figs. 1 through 8.
Support device 100 comprises a first and second series of material-receiving apertures 111 and 112 arranged in side-by-side relationship with a pair of end apertures 113, all as generally disclosed and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig.9 however, the semicircular base 123 of each of the end apertures 113 has a short stub or pin 125 extending horizontally therefrom in opposing relationship to each other and parallel to lower rail 115.
A hollow fabric support rod 150 of a length slightly shorter than the distance between the opposing sidewalls 123, is supported at its ends by studs 125 being manually positioned into the hollow portion of the rod. Rod 150 is slightly flexible along is axis and after the hollow end is slipped over one stud 125, the rod is flexed or bowed intermediate its ends sufficient for the free end of the rod to be guided to encircle the other stud 125. While rod 150 is shown as a hollow tube, it could have a solid cross-section with openings at its ends. Conversely, the ends of the fabric support rods 150 could contain projections adaptable to pass through corresponding opening~ in the sidewalls 123 of device 100.
As best seen in Fig. 10, rod support element 160 has an S-shaped configuration with the curved upper portion 161 partially encircling the sidewall 118 of centrally located aperture 111 and the curved lower portion 162 partially encircling rod 150. The rod support element 160 is easily positioned over rod 150 and the sidewall 118 of aperture 111 by hooking the curved upper portion 161 over the sidewall 118, slightly flexing rod 150 in a direction toward bottom rail 115 and then hooking the curved lower portion 162 over rod 150.
In order to install sheers or light-filtering fabric on support device 100, the rod 150 is flexed in the direction of bottom rail 115, the rod support element 160 is removed from encircling relationship with rod 150, rod 150 is then flexed intermediate its length to disengage one of its ends from stud 125, and the other end is then removed from the other stud. Once removed from support device 100, rod 150 is then fed through the hemmed opening of one or more panels of fabric to be hung. Thereafter rod 150, with the sheer panels supported thereon, is flexed sufficiently to engage the studs 125 after which it is again flexed to permit rod support element 160 to be positioned to support rod 150 at its midpoint.
21Q~
If an odd number of panels of sheer material is placed on rod 150, it may be necessary to pass the lower curved section 162 of support element 160 through the hemmed material of the center panel in order for element 160 to properly engage rod 150. In order to remove the panels, the support element 160 is unhooked and the rod is flexed and removed from the studs 125.
Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, another embodiment of the invention will be described.
In this embodiment, the semicircular base 223L of the end aperture 213L has a flexible rod 270 extending laterally therefrom toward the center of support device 200 and similarly the semicircular base 223R of end aperture 213R has a flexible rod 280 extending laterally therefrom toward the center of support device 200, with the free ends of rods 270 and 280 being supported by the curved portion 262 of rod supporting device 260 which is integrally formed with lower rail 215.
In order to install sheer fabrics on support device 200, the free end of support rods 270 and 280 are each flexed upwardly and outwardly to disengage them from the curved portion 262 of rod supporting element 260. Thereafter, the h~ ?~ openings of one or more panels of sheer material are passed over rod 270 and similarly the hemmed openings of one or more other panels of sheer material are passed over rod 280. Both rods 270 and 280 are then flexed to again seat the end portions of such rods within the curved portion 262 of rod support element 260. The reverse procedure is followed to remove the sheer panels when desired.
In Fig. 13, a support fabric rod 370 is provided which is parallel to lower rail 315 of support device 300 and which extends between the semicircular base 323L of end aperture 313L
and the semicircular base 323R of end aperture 313R. The ends of rod 370 are rigidly and non-removably secured to respective ones of such end apertures and the middle of rod 370 is rigidly and non-removably secured to lower rail 315 by link 360.
2~712 In order to support panels of sheer material, the rod 370 is severed at each end near the point where it is connected to the end apertures and the free ends thereof are flexed to permit the passage thereover of the hemmed opening of panels of sheer material. After the sheer material is supported on rod 370, a sleeve element 390, having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of rod 370, is each passed over the respective free ends of the rod. The severed ends of the rods are then re-aligned and the sleeves 390 are positioned as shown in Fig. 12 to prevent the sheer panels from sliding off the severed ends of support rod 370. To remove the panels, the sleeve is moved away from the point of rod severance, the rod is flexed and the sleeve and sheer panels are removed.
A yieldable clamp 490, such as shown in Fig. 15, could be attached by suitable means to the front of the support devices 100, 200 or 300 at the various points where the support rods of Figs. 9 through 13 are attached to the respective end apertures. Under such arrangements, the ends of support bars having sheer materials supported thereon could be readily snapped into and securely engaged by the clamps 490.
It is to be noted that the presence of sheer or other material on the fabric support rod will not preclude material already passed through the material receiving apertures from being further looped over the fabric support rod as hereinbefore described.
While several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made to the inventive device without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set out in the appended claims.
The openings 17 formed from the abutment of the walls of material-receiving apertures 12 with the upper rail 14 provide a suitable space for the semicircular hook end 32 of mounting element 30 to engage and mount support device 10 in a vertical position.
210~:12 When heavy drapery fabric or material is used, additional mounting elements 30 may be used to engage upper rail 14 intermediate its ends to prevent any possible distortion of support element 10 from the weight of the fabric.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, a brief description will be given of one example of the use of the inventive device for decorative treatment of the window shown in Fig. 1.
In the particular treatment being described, the length of the fabric 40 to be used is generally determined by adding the lengths of the two sides and top of the treatment being planned, plus approximately one foot for each material-receiving aperture 11 or 12 that will be used, plus approximately one yard for each corner of the window treatment. The decorator will maintain the middle of the selected length of material in the center of support device 10 and will pass one foot of looped material from the back of device 10 to the front thereof through an end material-receiving aperture 12 and then pass one yard of looped material through the adjacent corner material-receiving aperture 13. The r ~in;ng material on the half-length that is being arranged will hang or drape in folds 43 or puddle on the floor. The other half-length of the material 40 is similarly looped through the other end material-receiving aperture 12 and corner material-receiving aperture 13.
The material looped through material-receiving apertures 12 is billowed out to form ruffle 41 and the material looped through material-receiving apertures 13 is arranged in the form of draped sleeves 42. Finally, slight adjustments are made to provide symmetry between both sides of the decorative treatment.
Decorative material may be passed through the material-receiving apertures while the support device 10 is vertically mounted but many users prefer to do most of the decorative arrangements while the support device is flat on a work table, for example.
2~ 7l~
It is to be noted that the material looped through any of the material-receiving apertures may be again looped and passed between rail 115 and the fabric support rod 150 shown in Fig. 9, or passed between rail 215 and the fabric support rod 270 shown in Fig. 11, or passed between rail 305 and the fabric support rod 370 shown in Fig. 13. This material looping over the fabric support rods in addition to being passed through the material-receiving apertures permits numerous unique decorative treatments by creating double draped sleeves, for example.
While two or more contrasting types of fabric can be used, only one type of fabric is illustrated and while numerous of the other material-receiving apertures 11 and 12 can be used to support the fabric, only the corner material-receiving apertures 13 and immediately adjacent material-receiving apertures 12 are used in the Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 pictorial representation. However, it can be seen that an unlimited number of decorative treatments can be created by using different ones of the material-receiving apertures, with or without utilizing the fabric support rod~, and by arranging the looped material in different lengths and forms.
Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawings, the embodiment there disclosed will be described.
The window treatment support device 60 differs from support device 10 of Fig. 1 in that the walls between adjacent material-receiving apertures of support device 60 are of a rectangularly-shaped cross-sectional configuration and in that the mounting bracket 66 and stablizing bracket 68 are an intergal part of the upper and lower rail sections 64 and 65.
The window treatment support device 60 is mounted on the wall or window area by hooking notch 67 over a nail or screw which is appropriately secured to the wall. The stablizing bracket 68 aids in maintaining the support device in a vertical position, and if desired, the free end thereof may be rigidly secured to the wall.
210~7~2 The material-receiving apertures 61, 62 and 63 of Fig. 6 are tear-shaped with a semicircular base and opposing V-shaped notch and are arranged in side-by-side relationship, all as described in connection with respective material-receiving apertures 11, 12 and 13 of Fig. 3.
A support device 70, shown in Fig. 7, is specifically designed for window treatments using heavy or bulky material in that only one series of side-by-side material-receiving apertures 72 are provided and such apertures have their V-shaped notches downwardly ext~n~ing. As previously pointed out, the weight of the free ends of heavy or bulky fabric will tend to pull the short looped portions out of the material-recéiving apertures. This problem has been overcome by providing the material-receiving apertures with the noted V-shaped notches which wedge portions of the fabric together and thus prevent easy retraction of the looped material unless it is deliberately moved out of the gripping notch. The longer looped length of fabric used to form sleeves has relatively equal weight on both sides of material-receiving aperture 73 so that the looped fabric has little tendency to pull out of its captivating aperture. While window treatment support device 70 shows an opening 77 for receiving, for example, a hook end such as shown on mounting bracket 30 of Fig. 3, it is to be understood that device 70 could have a mounting bracket similar to bracket 66 of Fig. 6.
Some window treatments may use two or more fabrics with different prints, colors or weaves, or such window treatments may use heavy fabrics together with sheer fabrics. The window treatment support device 80 shown in Fig. 8 is specifically designed for supporting both heavy-weight and light-weight material. As pointed out in connection with the description of support device 70, the loop-receiving apertures 72 with downwardly extending V-shaped notches securely hold heavy fabrics in position. Thus, window treatment support device 80 contains a series of side-by-side loop-receiving apertures 82 for receiving heavy or bulky fabrics.
2las7l2 Support device 80 also includes a series of side-by-side loop-receiving apertures 81 of generally circular configeration through which light-weight or sheer material may be looped without the t~n~lency of the loops to be pulled out of their apertures as the free ends of such material does not exert much downward force. The circular apertures 81 encompass less area that the tear-shaped apertures 82 and thus less opening is visible when a small volume of sheer fabric is passed therethrough.
As pointed out hereinbefore, it is customary to provide separate support rods or devices for sheer fabrics since the support rods for sheer materials are preferably straight as sheer or light filtering fabrics are usually hung as flat panels without cluster~ of folds or thick gatherings of material. Drapery support devices or valance support devices are usually designed to arrange materials in decorative arrangements and it is common for such devices to have non-linear configurations which are unsuitable for the flat panels of sheer materials.
Referring to Figs. 9 through 15, a number of further variations of the support device of Fig. 1 to support both flat panels of sheer material and decorative arrangements of drapery materials will now be described. While not shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 13, it is to be understood that the support devices 100, 200 and 300 may be mounted in a vertical plane by the mounting means such as those described in connection with Figs. 1 through 8.
Support device 100 comprises a first and second series of material-receiving apertures 111 and 112 arranged in side-by-side relationship with a pair of end apertures 113, all as generally disclosed and described in connection with Figs. 1 and 3. In Fig.9 however, the semicircular base 123 of each of the end apertures 113 has a short stub or pin 125 extending horizontally therefrom in opposing relationship to each other and parallel to lower rail 115.
A hollow fabric support rod 150 of a length slightly shorter than the distance between the opposing sidewalls 123, is supported at its ends by studs 125 being manually positioned into the hollow portion of the rod. Rod 150 is slightly flexible along is axis and after the hollow end is slipped over one stud 125, the rod is flexed or bowed intermediate its ends sufficient for the free end of the rod to be guided to encircle the other stud 125. While rod 150 is shown as a hollow tube, it could have a solid cross-section with openings at its ends. Conversely, the ends of the fabric support rods 150 could contain projections adaptable to pass through corresponding opening~ in the sidewalls 123 of device 100.
As best seen in Fig. 10, rod support element 160 has an S-shaped configuration with the curved upper portion 161 partially encircling the sidewall 118 of centrally located aperture 111 and the curved lower portion 162 partially encircling rod 150. The rod support element 160 is easily positioned over rod 150 and the sidewall 118 of aperture 111 by hooking the curved upper portion 161 over the sidewall 118, slightly flexing rod 150 in a direction toward bottom rail 115 and then hooking the curved lower portion 162 over rod 150.
In order to install sheers or light-filtering fabric on support device 100, the rod 150 is flexed in the direction of bottom rail 115, the rod support element 160 is removed from encircling relationship with rod 150, rod 150 is then flexed intermediate its length to disengage one of its ends from stud 125, and the other end is then removed from the other stud. Once removed from support device 100, rod 150 is then fed through the hemmed opening of one or more panels of fabric to be hung. Thereafter rod 150, with the sheer panels supported thereon, is flexed sufficiently to engage the studs 125 after which it is again flexed to permit rod support element 160 to be positioned to support rod 150 at its midpoint.
21Q~
If an odd number of panels of sheer material is placed on rod 150, it may be necessary to pass the lower curved section 162 of support element 160 through the hemmed material of the center panel in order for element 160 to properly engage rod 150. In order to remove the panels, the support element 160 is unhooked and the rod is flexed and removed from the studs 125.
Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, another embodiment of the invention will be described.
In this embodiment, the semicircular base 223L of the end aperture 213L has a flexible rod 270 extending laterally therefrom toward the center of support device 200 and similarly the semicircular base 223R of end aperture 213R has a flexible rod 280 extending laterally therefrom toward the center of support device 200, with the free ends of rods 270 and 280 being supported by the curved portion 262 of rod supporting device 260 which is integrally formed with lower rail 215.
In order to install sheer fabrics on support device 200, the free end of support rods 270 and 280 are each flexed upwardly and outwardly to disengage them from the curved portion 262 of rod supporting element 260. Thereafter, the h~ ?~ openings of one or more panels of sheer material are passed over rod 270 and similarly the hemmed openings of one or more other panels of sheer material are passed over rod 280. Both rods 270 and 280 are then flexed to again seat the end portions of such rods within the curved portion 262 of rod support element 260. The reverse procedure is followed to remove the sheer panels when desired.
In Fig. 13, a support fabric rod 370 is provided which is parallel to lower rail 315 of support device 300 and which extends between the semicircular base 323L of end aperture 313L
and the semicircular base 323R of end aperture 313R. The ends of rod 370 are rigidly and non-removably secured to respective ones of such end apertures and the middle of rod 370 is rigidly and non-removably secured to lower rail 315 by link 360.
2~712 In order to support panels of sheer material, the rod 370 is severed at each end near the point where it is connected to the end apertures and the free ends thereof are flexed to permit the passage thereover of the hemmed opening of panels of sheer material. After the sheer material is supported on rod 370, a sleeve element 390, having an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of rod 370, is each passed over the respective free ends of the rod. The severed ends of the rods are then re-aligned and the sleeves 390 are positioned as shown in Fig. 12 to prevent the sheer panels from sliding off the severed ends of support rod 370. To remove the panels, the sleeve is moved away from the point of rod severance, the rod is flexed and the sleeve and sheer panels are removed.
A yieldable clamp 490, such as shown in Fig. 15, could be attached by suitable means to the front of the support devices 100, 200 or 300 at the various points where the support rods of Figs. 9 through 13 are attached to the respective end apertures. Under such arrangements, the ends of support bars having sheer materials supported thereon could be readily snapped into and securely engaged by the clamps 490.
It is to be noted that the presence of sheer or other material on the fabric support rod will not preclude material already passed through the material receiving apertures from being further looped over the fabric support rod as hereinbefore described.
While several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed and described, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made to the inventive device without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set out in the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. A window treatment support device for holding and supporting drapery and curtain materials in a wide variety of non-uniform decorative treatment arrangements comprising in combination;
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane; and said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged in first and second rows with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof, and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous enclosing side wall.
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane; and said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged in first and second rows with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof, and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous enclosing side wall.
2. A window treatment support device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lower side walls of certain of said material-receiving apertures each comprise a downwardly extending V-shaped wall section.
3. A window treatment support device for holding and supporting various lengths and widths of drapery and curtain materials in a wide variety of non-uniform decorative treatment arrangements comprising in combination;
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a flat front surface and a flat back surface;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member in front of an area to be decorated with the said flat front and back surfaces of said elongated rigid member lying in respective parallel vertical planes;
said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged in first and second rows with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the said flat surfaces thereof, and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall; and the said mounting means positioning and maintaining said rigid elongated member a spaced distance in front of the area being decorated for the unrestricted passage of drapery and fabric material from the back surface of the elongated rigid member through the said material-receiving apertures to the front surface thereof.
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having a flat front surface and a flat back surface;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member in front of an area to be decorated with the said flat front and back surfaces of said elongated rigid member lying in respective parallel vertical planes;
said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof and arranged in first and second rows with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the said flat surfaces thereof, and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall; and the said mounting means positioning and maintaining said rigid elongated member a spaced distance in front of the area being decorated for the unrestricted passage of drapery and fabric material from the back surface of the elongated rigid member through the said material-receiving apertures to the front surface thereof.
4. A window treatment support device for holding and supporting drapery and curtain materials in a wide variety of non-uniform decorative treatment arrangements comprising in combination;
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane;
said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall; and an elongated fabric support rod positioned a spaced distance from the said elongated rigid member and extending longitudinally of and parallel thereto.
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane;
said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall; and an elongated fabric support rod positioned a spaced distance from the said elongated rigid member and extending longitudinally of and parallel thereto.
5. A window treatment support device as set forth in claim 4, wherein each end of said elongated rigid member has a downwardly extending element and wherein the fabric support rod extends between said downwardly extending members and is supported thereby.
6. A window treatment support device as set forth in claim 4 wherein each end of said elongated rigid member has a downwardly extending element and wherein the fabric support rod extends between said downwardly extending elements and is detachably secured thereto.
7. A window treatment support device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the said fabric support rod and the said elongated rigid member lie in the same plane.
8. A window treatment support device for holding and supporting drapery and curtain materials in a wide variety of non-uniform decorative treatment arrangements comprising in combination;
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane; and said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall;
first and a second coaxially aligned fabric support rods extending longitudinally of and in spaced parallel relationship with said elongated rigid member; and means for detachably supporting the opposing ends of said coaxially aligned fabric support rods.
an elongated non-expansible rigid member of a generally rectangular cross-sectional configuration having at least one flat surface thereon;
mounting means for positioning and maintaining said elongated rigid member a spaced distance in front of an area to be decorated with the flat surface of said elongated rigid member lying in a vertical plane; and said elongated rigid member having a plurality of material-receiving apertures spaced along the length thereof with each material-receiving aperture extending through the said elongated rigid member at right angles to the flat surface thereof and with each material-receiving aperture having a separate continuous and enclosing side wall;
first and a second coaxially aligned fabric support rods extending longitudinally of and in spaced parallel relationship with said elongated rigid member; and means for detachably supporting the opposing ends of said coaxially aligned fabric support rods.
9. A method for creating decorative treatment arrangements utilizing a relatively flat elongated support device having a row of spaced-apart material receiving apertures extending along the length thereof and having an elongated fabric rod positioned a spaced distance from and parallel to said row of apertures the method comprising the steps of;
folding a plurality of sections of a first length of decorative material;
passing the folded sections through respective apertures in the support device with the folded portion of each section projecting forward of its respective aperture;
artistically arranging the material in selected ones of the projecting folded portions to form decorative shapes;
folding and passing other selected ones of the projecting folded portions through the opening between the said row of apertures and the support rod to form a valance forward of the support rod; and mounting the support device and fabric thereon in a vertical plane in front of the area to be decorated with the said decorative shapes facing forwardly therefrom.
folding a plurality of sections of a first length of decorative material;
passing the folded sections through respective apertures in the support device with the folded portion of each section projecting forward of its respective aperture;
artistically arranging the material in selected ones of the projecting folded portions to form decorative shapes;
folding and passing other selected ones of the projecting folded portions through the opening between the said row of apertures and the support rod to form a valance forward of the support rod; and mounting the support device and fabric thereon in a vertical plane in front of the area to be decorated with the said decorative shapes facing forwardly therefrom.
10. The method as set forth in claim 9 wherein a second fabric is passed over and supported by the elongated fabric rod.
11. A method for creating decorative treatment arrangements utilizing a relatively flat elongated support device having a row of spaced apart material receiving apertures extending along the length thereof and having an elongated detachable fabric rod positioned a spaced distance from and parallel to said row of apertures, the method comprising the steps of;
folding a plurality of sections of a first length of decorative material;
passing the folded sections through respective apertures in the support device with the folded portion of each section projecting forward of its respective aperture;
artistically arranging the material in selected ones of the projecting folded portions to form decorative shapes; and detaching the elongated fabric rod from the support device, passing the fabric rod through hemmed openings of a second length of material and re-attaching the fabric rod to the support device with the second material downwardly extending therefrom.
folding a plurality of sections of a first length of decorative material;
passing the folded sections through respective apertures in the support device with the folded portion of each section projecting forward of its respective aperture;
artistically arranging the material in selected ones of the projecting folded portions to form decorative shapes; and detaching the elongated fabric rod from the support device, passing the fabric rod through hemmed openings of a second length of material and re-attaching the fabric rod to the support device with the second material downwardly extending therefrom.
12. The method set forth in claim 11 wherein certain of the projecting folded portions are disposed downwardly and forward of the fabric support rod to form a valance therealong.
Applications Claiming Priority (6)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/964,159 US5238044A (en) | 1992-10-20 | 1992-10-20 | Window treatment support device |
| US07/964,159 | 1992-10-20 | ||
| US08/067,358 US5377740A (en) | 1992-10-20 | 1993-05-24 | Multi-purpose window treatment support device |
| US08/067,476 US5392839A (en) | 1992-10-20 | 1993-05-24 | Multi-purpose window treatment support device |
| US08/067,358 | 1993-05-24 | ||
| US08/067,476 | 1993-05-24 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2108712A1 CA2108712A1 (en) | 1994-04-21 |
| CA2108712C true CA2108712C (en) | 1998-08-11 |
Family
ID=27371137
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2108712 Expired - Fee Related CA2108712C (en) | 1992-10-20 | 1993-10-19 | Multi-purpose window treatment support device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2108712C (en) |
-
1993
- 1993-10-19 CA CA 2108712 patent/CA2108712C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2108712A1 (en) | 1994-04-21 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |