Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
  • A47H2/00—Pelmets or the like
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/262—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
  • A47H2201/00—Means for connecting curtains
  • A47H2201/02—Hook-and-loop fasteners
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/262—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens
  • E06B2009/2622—Gathered vertically; Roman, Austrian or festoon blinds

Definitions

• the present patent document relates generally to window treatments and more specifically to an interchangeable window treatment for a Roman-style shade.
• the present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a window treatment that can be easily removed and attached to a shade.
• the window treatment includes a front portion and rear portion with a top, left, right and bottom edges.
• a number of fasteners are located on the top edge of the rear portion window treatment and near the bottom edge of the rear portion of the window treatment.
• the fasteners at the top edge are configured to attach to a head rail of a shade assembly and the fasteners near the bottom edge are configured to attach to a lifting mechanism of the shade assembly.
• the window treatment further includes a number of guides on the rear portion of the window treatment that guide the lifting mechanism in order to form decorative pleats in the window treatment as it is raised by the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly.
• FIG. 1 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a rear view of a preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a rear view of a lifting mechanism and head rail assembly of a shade
• Fig. 4 is a front view of a user separating the fasteners at the top edge of the window treatment from the reciprocal fastener on the head rail of the shade assembly;
• Fig. 5 is a rear view of a user separating the fasteners near the bottom edge of the window treatment from the reciprocal fastener on the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• Fig. 6 is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention attached to a shade assembly;
• Fig. 7a is a close up view of a guide engaged with a pocket on the window treatment and the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• FIG. 7b is a close up view of a user partially removing a guide from the pocket on the window treatment and the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• FIG. 7c is a close up view of a user partially removing a guide from the pocket on the window treatment and wholly separating the guide from the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• FIG. 8a is a perspective view of a clip used as a guide on the window treatment of the present invention.
• FIG. 8b is a side view of a clip used as a guide on the window treatment of the present invention.
• Fig. 9a is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention being partially lifted by the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• Fig. 9b is a front perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention being partially lifted by the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• Fig. 10a is a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention being partially lifted by the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• Fig. 10b is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the window treatment of the present invention being partially lifted by the lifting mechanism of the shade assembly;
• FIG. 11 a is a rear view of a alternative window treatment of the present invention showing the use of a unitary wire loop as guides;
• FIG. 11 b is a rear view of a alternative window treatment of the present invention showing the use of wire hooks as guides;
• FIG. 11 c is a rear view of a alternative window treatment of the present invention showing the use of a unitary rod as guides;
• FIG. 11 d is a rear view of a alternative window treatment of the present invention showing the use of a cloth pocket as guides.
• the window treatment 10 has a decorative front portion 12 and a rear portion 14.
• the window treatment 10 may include multiple panels 16 or be a single large panel.
• the window treatment 10 further includes a top edge 18, a left side edge 20, a right side edge 22 and a bottom edge 24.
• the window treatment 26 may further include an optional valance portion 28 depending from the top edge 18 of the window treatment 10.
• an exemplary shade assembly is shown generally at 30.
• the shade assembly 30 includes a support assembly 31 , a head rail 32 and a lifting mechanism 34.
• the head rail 32 supports the window treatment 10 as further described below.
• the support assembly 31 supports the head rail 32 and lifting mechanism 34.
• the lifting mechanism 34 is configured to raise and lower the window treatment 10, which is further described below.
• the lifting mechanism 34 includes a take up member 33 rotatably attached to the support assembly 31.
• a lifting member 37 is attached to the take up member 33.
• the take up member 33 is configured and arranged to gather and release the lifting member 37.
• the support assembly 31 may include one or more brackets 35.
• the brackets 35 are configured to be mounted to a wall opening, such as a doorway, window opening or casement with fasteners, such as screws, nails or bolts.
• the brackets 35 may be configured to mount horizontally, vertically or at another angle to the wall or window opening. Additional spacers and braces may be used to support the brackets 35 against the wall opening.
• the head rail 32 may be connected to the brackets 35 of the support assembly 31.
• one or more fasteners 36a are provided at the top edge 18 of the window treatment 10, which are configured to attach to a head rail 32 of a shade assembly 30.
• the fasteners 36a may be hook-and-loop fasteners, eyes to be fitted over hooks or buttons, snaps, zippers, and the like.
• the head rail 32 has the mating half 36b of the fasteners 36a to allow the window treatment 10 to be secured thereto.
• one or more fasteners 38a are provided near the bottom edge 24 of the window treatment 10, which are configured to attach to the lifting mechanism 34 of the shade assembly 30.
• the fasteners 38a may be hook-and-loop fasteners, eyes to be fitted over hooks or buttons, snaps, zippers, and the like.
• the lifting mechanism 34 on the shade assembly 30 has the mating half 38b of the fasteners 38a to allow the window treatment 10 to be secured thereto. Operation of the lifting mechanism 34 of the shade assembly 30 raises the window treatment 10 as further described below.
• the window treatment 10 may be removed from the shade assembly 30. This feature permits the user replace the window treatment 10 with another window treatment, e.g. a light summer window treatment may be replaced with a heavier winter window treatment, or a holiday patterned decorative window treatment, such as a pumpkin-themed pattern for
• Halloween for instance may be hung to celebrate a particular holiday.
• This feature also permits the window treatment 10 to be easily cleaned because the user can take down and wash or clean the window treatment 10.
• the guides may be formed as a pair of opposing clips 40 retained in a pocket 42 formed on the rear portion 14 of the window treatment 10.
• the clips 40 include a first guide element 44 and a second guide element 46 spaced apart from the first guide element 44.
• a slot is formed between the first guide element 44 and the second guide element 46.
• the clip 40 further includes a toothed retaining element 48 spaced apart from the second guide element 46 that is received in the pocket 42 on the rear portion 14 of the window treatment 10.
• the second guide element 46 may also include reciprocal teeth facing the retaining element 48. The teeth on the retaining element 48 and the second guide element 46 prevent the clip 40 from being accidentally dislodged from the pocket 42 on the window treatment 10.
• a unitary wire loop 48 instead of a clip 40, a unitary wire loop 48, wire hooks 50, unitary rod 52, or a cloth loop 54 may also be used.
• the critical factor is that the guides must allow the lifting member 37 to travel freely through the guide without undue snagging or resistance.
• the clips 40 guide the lifting member 37 as the take up member 33 gathers the lifting member 37 when the take up member 33 is rotated thereby causing the window treatment 10 to fold upon itself as the clips 40 are drawn together, forming decorative pleats 50 in the window treatment 10.
• the take member 33 is rotated in the opposite direction the take up member 33 releases the lifting member 37 causing the window treatment 10 to close.
• the lifting mechanism 34 is configured to gather and release the lifting member 37.
• the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing an interchangeably window treatment for a Roman-style shade that permits the user to easily remove, clean and replace the window treatment, or interchange a window treatment for another more desirable window treatment.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=45929280

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (1)

Citations (5)

• 2010
  • 2010-07-02 EP EP10797685.4A patent/EP2451320A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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