US3224495A

US3224495A - Drapery with concealed pockets for weights

Info

Publication number: US3224495A
Application number: US305678A
Authority: US
Inventors: Cavour L Truesdale
Original assignee: PLASTIC PRODUCTS Inc
Current assignee: PLASTIC PRODUCTS Inc
Priority date: 1963-08-30
Filing date: 1963-08-30
Publication date: 1965-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-21

Description

Dec. 21, 1965 c. 1.. TRUESDALE 3,224,495

DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POGKETS FOR WEIGHTS Filed Aug. 30, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l El U E] E :1 E1 E1 E1 [1 1:1 [3 j K "\l l I Q I 1; U f Q 13 FIG- 2 CAVOUR L.TRUESDALE INVENTOR.

AGENT 1965 c. L. TRUESDALE DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POCKETS FOR WEIGHTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 CAVOUR LVTRUESDALE INVENTOR- BY [MW AGENT United States Patent 3,224,495 DRAPERY WITH CONCEALED POCKETS FOR WEIGHTS Cavour L. Truesdale, Richmond, Va, assignor to Plastic Products, Incorporated, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Aug. 30, 1963, fier. No. 305,678 9 Claims. (Cl. 160349) This invention relates to a novel drapery construction and more particularly, to the construction of a novel structure along the lower margin of a drapery providing concealed pockets for weights.

In recent years, decorative draperies have been extensively used in schools, churches, and clubs where the fact that they can be made from nearly opaque materials confers certain advantages. Important among these advantages is that opaque draperies are especially useful in controlling the amount of daylight admitted to rooms where visual education methods such as motion pictures are frequently used.

In order properly to function as a daylight controlling means, a drapery must be constructed so that its lower margin will hang in place and resist disturbance by air currents. Weights are commonly afiixed to the lower margins of draperies for this purpose.

There are two principal forms of conventional drapery construction which make provision for such weights. In one form of construction, weights are imprisoned in a hem made along the lower margin of the drapery. The principal disadvantages of this form of construction are: (1) The total amount of weight is fixed when the weights are installed and, the process of opening and re-making the hem to change the amount of weight would be inconvenient on the users premises. (2) The built-in weights would greatly increase the weight of the drapery when boxed for shipment.

The other principal form of conventional drapery construction provides top-opening pockets formed along the lower margin o the drapery for holding removable weights. It is an improvement in this general type of drapery using removable weights which is the subject of the present invention.

The principal disadvantage of conventional drapery con struction using top-opening pockets for weights is that, when such draperies are used in schools, churches, and other buildings where children congregate, the fact that such pockets are visible and that the weights are readily accessible usually results in the loss of the weights, and often results in the tearing or ripping of the pockets as Well. For this reason alone, there exists a great need for a novel drapery construction which would allow the number of weights to be changed after installation on the users premises, but which would make it diificult for children to locate and remove the weights.

Another disadvantage of conventional drapery construction using top-opening pockets for weights is that dust, dirt, and water collect in such pockets. A novel drapery construction providing concealed pockets would also overcome this problem.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a drapery construction having concealed pockets for weights.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drapery construction comprising concealed pockets for weights which cannot be seen and which, therefore, tend to overcome the problem of pilferage of weights by school children and the accompanying tearing and n'pping of the pockets. v

A still further object of this invention is to provide a drapery construction having concealed pockets for weights without top openings in which dust, dirt, or water can collect.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exaggerated perspective view of the front and the lower corner edge of a drapery incorporating the construction of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevation of the construction of FIGURE 1 with a portion broken away to illustrate the position of a typical weight.

FIGURES 3, 4 and 5 are vertical sectional view illustrating certain structural details of the construction of the concealed pockets with the weights not shown.

FIGURE 3A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the inner panel showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 3B is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the main panel showing another alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the main panel showing an alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of the inner panel showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown in FIGURE 5.

In FIGURE 1, numeral 1 designates the main drapery panel. Disposed against the back of the main panel 1 near its lower margin is strip 2 which serves as an inner liner for the concealed pockets for weights. Short upstanding strip 4 is connected to panel 1 along a line 3 near the lower margin of panel 1. Upstanding strip 4 terminates in a free edge 5 spaced far enough above line 3 to define a concealed pocket 6 between strip 4 and strip 2 deep enough to hold a conventional curtain weight.

Upstanding strip 7 and enclosing strip 8 are disposed, respectively, in that order, in overlying relationship to strip 2 and strip 4. Upstanding strip 7 may be a separate strip sealed along its lower margin to the lower margin of strip 3, or, alternatively, strip 7 may be formed by making a reverse bend in the lower part of strip 8, as shown, and turning up enough material to form upstanding strip 7. Upstanding strip 7 terminates in a free edge 9 near free edge 5. Concealed pocket 10 is defined between panel 7 and strip 8. There is a concealed opening 11 between

panels

4 and 7 communicating with

pockets

6 and 10.

The upper portions of strip 8 may be connected to panel 1 at points 12 along a line substantially parallel to and spaced a suitable distance above the lower margin of panel 1. Connections 12 can be of any configuration or they can merge into a continuous line of attachment although this latter choice ofi'ers less resistance to tearing than do separate connections. It is not essential, however, that strip 8 be joined to main panel 1 in this fashion. An arrangement wherein strip 2 is connected to panel 1 while strip 8 is connected only to strip 2 would serve the essential function of providing an enclosure for concealed

pockets

6 and 10.

In FIGURE 2, the rear elevation shows a portion of strip 8 broken away to show a typical weight 13 resting in a concealed pocket 10 formed by a plurality of laterally spaced connections 14 which join strip 2,

strips

4 and 7 and strip 8 in FIGURE 1. The free edge 9 of upstanding strip 7 is seen above weight 13 where strip 8 has been broken away. Weight 13 equally well could be resting in one of the inner concealed pockets 6 between upstanding strip 4 and strip 2 formed by laterally spaced connections 14, but in such case, it would not be shown by solid lines unless

upstanding strips

4 and 7 were also broken away.

The purpose served by the laterally spaced connections 14 is simply to divide the structure into a plurality of concealed pockets laterally spaced along the lower margin of the drapery. The function of strip 2, serving as an inner liner for the assembly containing the concealed pockets, is to permit the laterally spaced connections 14 to divide the entire structure into a plurality of individual pockets designed to prevent lateral movement of weights. If strip 2 were omitted, connections 14 could join

strips

4, 7, and 8 only, or these connections could join

strips

4, 7, 8, and panel 1. If the connections 14 carry through to panel 1, the pattern of the connections will be visible on the front side of the drapery. In any of the structures shown in the drawings, strip 2 may be omitted if desired.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of a drapery showing the preferred embodiment, also shown in FIGURE 1, wherein like numerals designate like structures. The laterally spaced connections 14 not shown in this view may join strip 8,

upstanding strips

4 and 7 and strip 2, or, alternately, if the pattern of connections 14 would not mar the appearance of the lower portion of the front of the drapery, strip 2 may be omitted and these connections 14 may join strip 8,

upstanding strips

4 and 7, and panel 1.

FIGURE 4 shows a simplified structure in which upstanding strip 4 and strip 8 are employed to define the concealed opening 11 communicating with the concealed pocket 6 between strip 4 and panel 1. In this connection, the lower margin of strip 4 is connected to the lower margin of panel 1. Alternatively, strip 4 could be formed by making a reverse bend along the lower margin of panel 1 and turning up a short strip of material. The upper portion of strip 8 is connected to panel 1 at points along a line spaced a suitable distance above the lower margin of panel 1. As in FIGURE 3, the laterally spaced connections 14, not shown, may connect strip 2, strip 8, and upstanding strip 4 or, alternatively, if strip 2 is omitted. connections 14 may join strip 8, strip 4, and panel 1.

FIGURE shows still another simplified structure in which strip 8 and upstanding strip 7 are employed to define pocket 10 communicating with concealed opening 11 between strip 7 and panel 1. In this construction, upstanding strip 7 is formed by making a reverse bend along the lower margin of strip 8 and turning up a short strip of material, thereby defining pocket 10. The upper portion of strip 8 is connected to panel 1 at points along a line spaced a suitable distance above the lower margin of panel 1. As in FIGURE 4, the laterally spaced connections 14, not shown, may connect strip 2, upstanding strip 7, and strip 8, or, alternatively, if strip 2 is omitted, connections 14 may join strip 8, strip 7, and panel 1.

FIGURE 3A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of inner panel 8 showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown in FIG. 3 in which inner panel 8 has no reverse fold and upstanding strip 7A is a separate strip of plastic which is attached to panel 8 on a line of juncture near the bottom margin of panel 8.

FIGURE 3B is a vertical sectional View of the lower part of main panel 1 showing an alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 3 in which said main panel 1 terminates in a reverse fold and said reverse fold terminates in an upstanding strip 4A in lieu of separate strip 4 as shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of main panel 1 showing an alternative modification of the structure shown in FIGURE 4 in which said main panel 1 terminates in a reverse fold and said reverse fold terminates in an upstanding strip 4A in lieu of separate strip 4 as shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5A is a vertical sectional view of the lower part of inner panel 8 showing an alternative modification of this structure as shown in FIGURE 5 in which inner panel 8 has no reverse fold and upstanding strip 7A is a separate strip of plastic which is attached to panel 8 on a line of juncture near the bottom margin of panel 8.

The essence of this invention is the novel solution to the problem of providing a drapery structure having pockets for individual weights, constructed in such a manner that weights can easily be added to the drapery after installation on the users premises, while also providing for the concealment of such weights so that the condition of their being unattached to the drapery is not readily discernable, and also providing a structure which makes it difficult to remove such Weights from the drapery. The concept which distinguishes this invention from the prior art comprises the provision of concealed pockets hidden in a novel structure along the lower margin of a drapery in such fashion as to be accessible only via concealed openings in said structure.

It is precisely this combination of concealed openings for insertion of individual weights communicating with concealed interior pockets covered by an enclosing strip, which provides the sorely needed solution to the problem of overcoming pilferage of weights while still retaining the advantages inherent in using unattached individual weights.

It is expressly stipulated that any of the strips of material employed in the construction of the novel structure of this invention may be a turned up portion, formed by means of a reverse bend, of an adjacent strip, or of the main panel itself, when this is the adjacent member.

What I claim is:

1. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided with openings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel having a bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin, and a lower margin, said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, said upper margin being attached to said main panel at points on a line spaced above said bottom edge, said lower margin terminating in a reverse fold, said reverse fold terminating in an upstanding strip having a first free edge disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, an intermediate panel having a top margin and a bottom margin, said intermediate panel being disposed between said upstanding strip and said main panel, said bottom margin being attached to said main panel at points on a line of juncture near the bottom edge of said main panel, said top margin terminating in a second free edge spaced close to said first free edge, and a buffer panel disposed between said intermediate panel and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said upstanding strip, said intermediate panel, and said bufier panel being joined at intervals throughout their lengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines of attachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially on a line with the lower margin of said intermediate panel, thereby forming a first series of concealed pockets for weights between said inner panel and said upstanding strip, said first series pockets having openings defined between said first free edge and said inner panel, and a second series of concealed pockets for weights between said intermediate panel and said buffer panel, said second series pockets having openings. defined between said second free edge and said buffer panel, said lines of attachment defining bottom openings in said hem for insertion of weights between said up standing strip and said intermediate panel.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said intermediate panel is the terminal portion of a second reverse fold formed at the bottom edge of said main panel.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said reverse fold is omitted and a separate upstanding strip having an margin, said intermediate panel being disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, said lower margin being attached to said main panel at points on a line near said bottom edge, said upper margin terminating in a free edge, and a buffer panel disposed between said intermediate panel and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said intermediate panel, and said butler panel being joined at intervals through their lengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines of attachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially on a line with the lower margins of said intermediate panel, thereby forming a plurality of concealed pockets for weights between said intermediate panel and said buffer panel, said pockets having openings defined between said free edge and said bufier panel, said lines of attachment defining bottom openings in said hem between said inner panel and said intermediate panel.

6. The structure of claim 5 wherein said intermediate panel is the terminal portion of a reverse fold formed at the bottom edge of said main panel.

7. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided with openings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel having a bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin and a lower margin, said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, said upper margin being attached to said main panel at points on a line spaced above said bottom edge, said lower margin terminating in a reverse fold, said reverse fold terminating in an upstanding strip having a free edge disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, and a buffer panel disposed between said upstanding strip and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said upstanding strip, and said bufler panel being joined at intervals throughout their lengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines of attachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially on a line with the lower margin of said main panel, thereby forming a plurality of concealed pockets for weights between said inner panel and said upstanding strip, said pockets having openings defined between said free edge and said inner panel, said lines of attachment defining bottom openings in said hem for insertion of weights between said upstanding strip and said buffer panel.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said reverse fold is omitted and a separate upstanding strip having an upper and a lower margin is disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, the lower margin of said upstanding strip being attached to said inner panel at points on a line of juncture near the lower margin of said inner panel.

9. A drapery construction of the type having a hem provided with openings therein for insertion of weights comprising a main panel having a bottom edge, an inner panel having an upper margin and a lower margin, said inner panel being disposed against said main panel, said upper margin being attached to said main panel at points on a line spaced above said bottom edge, a strip of material disposed between said inner panel and said main panel, and a butler panel disposed between said strip and said main panel and being attached to said main panel; said inner panel, said strip, and said buffer panel being joined at intervals throughout their lengths at points on a plurality of substantially vertical lines of attachment, the lower margin of said inner panel being substantially on a line with the lower margin of said strip, said strip cooperating with said inner panel and said buffer panel to define a plurality of concealed pockets on one side of said strip, said lines of attachment defining bottom openings in said hem for insertion of weights along the other side of said strip.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 962,595 6/1910 Smith.

1,828,678 10/ 1931 Peterman et a1 160-349 1,936,198 11/1933 Kirsch 2-273 X 2,359,372 10/1944 Leader -1 2,777,575 1/ 1957 Chamberlin 206-83 2,817,850 12/1957 Barbour et a1.

2,921,731 1/ 1960 Volckening et al 206-56 3,015,918 1/1962 Schoen 206-46 X 3,084,738 4/ 1963 Truesdale -330 3,107,361 10/1963 Glutting 4-149 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

REINALDO P. MACHADO, Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. A DRAPERY CONSTRUCTION OF THE TYPE HAVING A HEM PROVIDED WITH OPENINGS THEREIN FOR INSERTION OF WEIGHTS COMPRISING A MAIN PANEL HAVING A BOTTOM EDGE, AN INNER PANEL HAVING AN UPPER MARGIN, AND A LOWER MARGIN, SAID INNER PANEL BEING DISPOSED AGAINST SAID MAIN PANEL, SAID UPPER MARGIN BEING ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN PANEL AT POINTS ON A LINE SPACED ABOVE SAID BOTTOM EDGE, SAID LOWER MARGIN TERMINATING IN A REVERSE FOLD, SAID REVERSE FOLD TERMINATING IN AN UPSTANDING STRIP HAVING A FIRST FREE EDGES DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INNER PANEL AND SAID MAIN PANEL, AN INTERMEDIATE PANEL HAVING A TOP MARGIN AND A BOTTOM MARGIN, SAID INTERMEDIATE PANEL BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPSTANDING STRIP AND SAID MAIN PANEL, SAID BOTTOM MARGIN BEING ATTACHED TO SAID MAIN PANEL AT POINTS ON A LINE OF JUNCTURE NEAR THE BOTTOM EDGE OF SAID MAIN PANEL, SAID TOP MARGIN TERMINATING IN A SECOND FREE EDGE SPACED CLOSE TO SAID FIRST FREE EDGE, AND A BUFFER PANEL DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INTERMEDIATE PANEL AND SAID MAIN