Patent Application
20140374037
The present invention relates to a highly versatile curtain for use to cover a window, wall, a doorway, even a shower stall or tub. More specifically, the present invention comprises a curtain comprising a plurality of alternative devices for hanging of the same, all of the components for the curtain for vertically hanging the same being provided and integrated into a single product, thereby making it compatible with a variety of hanging components, for example, a hidden horizontal rod, a reveal or partially revealed horizontal rod, a set of conventional curtain hooks, even a set of clips or clasps secured to the top edge of the curtain and having a set of hooks or rings to be supported on a horizontal curtain rod.
The present invention discloses a highly versatile curtain for use in or around a home, office, window, door, even a wall or shower stall or shower-tub configuration. Curtains are generally secured to and held by some horizontal rod or mechanism to prevent the curtain from falling to the ground or dropping to one side. Often the curtain is adapted to be able to slide or move laterally along the horizontal rod. In many cases, a curtain is hung on a horizontally extending rod positioned above the edge of a window, door, even a shower or tub. In other instances, the rod can be releaseably secured to the window or door sill, to the opposed walls or into a shower stall, while in others the horizontal rod or holding mechanism is fixed and secured to extend horizontally. In any event, there are a variety of fabric curtain supporting and moving/sliding mechanisms. The manufacturer of a visually pleasing new curtain desires for the consumer to buy that curtain and to be able to support the same on any one of many potential curtain rods or holding mechanisms. It is uneconomical, however, for each of the same fabric curtain to be inventoried in a retail store with individual supporting mechanisms to accommodate the various support structures, e.g., one for a simple slide-in, horizontal and concealed support rod; one for a slide-in, horizontal and partially revealed support rod (suspending the curtain by loops); one for a curtain intended to be supported by traditional curtain rods which have slides and curtain holding plastic tabs and apertures which cooperate with metallic, curtain hooks, etc. Thus, for a manufacturer of curtains, it is highly desirable to make and sell and to have resold to consumers, curtains which are capable of being supported by any one or more of the conventional support structures or devices which the consumer's residence currently has or will be provided with, at the consumer's preference and option. A curtain which can be suspended by an attractive horizontal rod by sliding rings is desired; a curtain which can be suspended by a hidden round, horizontal rod is desired; a curtain having a band of curtain tape for sliding receipt of conventional curtain hooks is also desired so that the same can be mounted upon curtain rods of the sliding carrier type, i.e., those which slide open and close by operation of a cord.
The present invention comprises a single curtain capable of being hung and supported by a number of hanging mechanisms. Like many curtains, the present invention comprises a series of large vertically-extending loops, horizontally spaced across the top horizontal axis of the curtain. The large vertically-extending loops are adapted to slidingly fit over a horizontal pole or rod, the rod itself otherwise supported in any conventional manner. The large vertical loops are mere extensions of the material of the curtain, so the rod can pass through and under each loop without risk of the loops breaking and the curtain falling. Alternatively, the loops can also be secured around the rod (rather than sliding therethrough) by snaps or buttons. In this way, the loops can be located behind the top edge of the curtain and not be visible to the viewer or, the loops can be snapped near the top edge so that the loops pass through a revealed curtain rod.
The present invention also comprises a pocket-like horizontally-extending cavity which preferably runs across the upper edge of the curtain. The pocket extends either underneath or above the large vertically-extending loops first described above. The pocket or cavity, which includes an opening on either end of the curtain, extends along the back of the curtain so that it is not viewable from the front. Indeed, the cavity or pocket is preferably formed from the same material as that of the front of the curtain, made as a simple fold over the top edge. The horizontal cavity or pocket allows for the curtain to be hung by means of a rod or pole passing into one or the other open end and through the cavity, in a manner quite similar to how the curtain is supported by a rod passing through the loops. However, using the pocket cavity formed in the curtain material, the curtain can be hung so as to substantially conceal the rod. The fold-over pocket or longitudinally extending cavity for sliding receipt of a rod presents a second hanging mechanism for the same curtain using a standard rod, and either can be chosen based solely on the user's preference. Whether the user suspends the curtain by a rod passing through the loops on the back of the curtain or by the hidden horizontal cavity or pocket, the user's preference is preserved.
As yet another alternative to using a rod which passes or slides longitudinally through the material of the present invention by either a pocket or cavity formed in the material or the large vertically-extending loops attached thereto, as described above, curtains are quite often secured to and hung by rings sliding on the horizontal rod. The clean top edge of the present curtain allows for those sliding rings to be clipped or secured to the curtain and, thus, another manner of supporting the curtain is provided. As yet another alternative for supporting the present inventive curtain, it is contemplated that the same be secured by conventional curtain hooks, which can attach on one end to some form of loop, hole, or other connecting means across the horizontal top edge of the curtain, and on the other end the hooks secure to a fixed curtain rod (operated by string to open and close the curtain). Thus, the present invention also comprises a horizontal length of curtain hook-holding “tape” for securing curtain hooks. Each hook can be inserted vertically through a series of small horizontally-extending loops of the tape, extending across the length of the curtain. The curtain hooks (conventionally available) have upwardly extending sharp tips for securing to the top of the curtain and a somewhat-rounded and inverted U-shaped top end for placement in the downwardly extending apertures of the sliding tabs of the conventional sliding curtain rods. Thus, the present invention provides another alternatively available mechanism for supporting a curtain by use of a horizontally extending curtain rod.
The present invention curtain can be suspended or hung by use of curtain clips secured on one end to the top edge of the curtain and rings to be held on a horizontal rod.
Accordingly, the present invention discloses a new inventive vertically suspended curtain, capable of being hung in a variety of ways. Thus, for a consumer, retailer, and the manufacturer, a single visibly aesthetic curtain can be made, bought by the retailer, stored, and sold to a consumer and the same can be hung by any one of the four potential yet all provided holding mechanisms—large loops for a horizontal rod; a longitudinal cavity or pocket for the horizontal rod; conventional curtain hooks held in the curtain tape or band which hooks are then secured into the sliding tabs of the curtain rod, and clips, secured to the top edge of the curtain which are secured on the other end to rings, the rings slidingly held over an attractive horizontal rod.
There are many styles and types of curtains known in the prior art. These curtains are generally hung to have the top edge extending horizontally. Conventionally, the curtains are meant to be attractive to cover a window, door, opening, tub, even a wall portion. More traditionally, the curtains are secured by large loops or via a hidden, horizontal cavity or pocket in the top edge of the curtain. Conventionally, these curtains represent two different styles of curtain with two different support mechanisms. Both, however, use a horizontally extending support rod. It would be highly efficient for manufacturer, retailer and consumer to be able to make, sell and buy and install, a single curtain, primarily based on the fabric of the curtain, and, yet, for the curtain to be able to be suspended over a bar via rings, with a bar extending through loops of the curtain and/or with conventional curtain hooks for suspending the same from curtain rods with slides having curtain hook capturing apertures of downwardly suspended tab elements.
The present invention allows manufacturers, retailers, and consumers to make, sell, and buy, respectively, a single curtain providing an aesthetic surface and yet allowing the consumer the flexibility to hang the same in any one of four alternative manners.
The present invention comprises a curtain having a first side which is aesthetically pleasing and a second side which is either the same as the front, the mere back of the front, a lining material of a complementary or different style, or an entirely different back, fabric, plastic sheet, etc. The curtain generally comprises a top edge, a bottom edge, and two opposing side edges. The top segment of the curtain is provided with a tubular cavity or rod-holding pocket extending horizontally. The front surface of the pocket is the rear of the material for the curtain but the rear surface of the pocket is made of curtain hook-holding tape. In addition, the top segment of the curtain is provided with several large vertically and downwardly extending loops, the loops secured to the top edge of the material. The large loops are adapted to provide openings for a simple pole or curtain-supporting rod to be passed therethrough. This provides an independent second manner of supporting or suspending the curtain. The small horizontally-extending loops of the horizontally extending curtain tape, one side of which defines the back wall of the pocket, the other side having the small holding loops for curtain hooks, provides another independent mechanism for suspending the curtain. Also, the top edge of the curtain can be straight and is thus capable of being held onto by clips whose upper ends have large rings which can slide over an attractive horizontal cylindrical rod to support the same. Thus, the present inventive curtain is adapted to be hung by a plurality of means all presented by a single aesthetic style for the bulk of the curtain. This provides the consumer with great flexibility as to hanging method and allows the retailer to only “carry” a single style of fabric for the curtain, not several for each style, to accommodate the various hanging methods which a consumer may desire to employ.
Description will now be given of the invention with reference to the attached
A support rod R is normally horizontally supported between two or more brackets held in a wall, sill or opposed walls. The rod R is intended to suspend the curtain and, where appropriate, allow the curtain 10 to slide thereover. The horizontal support rod R for the curtain 10 is usually located at about six, seven, eight or more feet above the floor so that individuals can easily grasp one end of the curtain and slide it over the rod, to open and close the same or to use a drawstring secured to the curtain rods provided with slide mechanisms into which curtain hooks are held for sliding movement. The overall height of the curtain 10 is usually sufficient to allow the same to extend from the support rod downwardly over the area to be covered (window, wall, door, etc.) and, yet, often the bottom edge will be closely adjacent to but suspended above the floor. According to the present invention, the curtain 10 is provided in overall physical dimensions to be substantially the same as conventional and presently available curtains. The materials and fabrics for the curtains made consistent with the present invention are also intended to match those conventionally made.
The present invention, however, is primarily a new, integrated top edge segment for the curtain 10 which allows for the curtain to be supported by any one of four different mechanisms—all from a horizontally extending rod, pole or curtain rod. In this connection, a curtain rod (hereinafter generically referred to as “a rod”) may be a cylindrical piece of wood, metal or plastic (with sufficient rigidity and strength) to extend between the opposed or adjacent brackets or walls of the space to be “covered” and to provide suspending support to the curtain. The rod R is usually held between the opposing walls of the area or, more likely, between two or more wall-mounted support brackets. The curtain 10 is suspended therefrom to attractive advantage. The rod can be the sole means of support for the curtain, if the rod is used to engage the large loops (described hereafter) or if the rod is slid within the interior pocket of the curtain. The rod can hold a set of rings, too, which are clipped to the top edge of the curtain and the rod can hold conventional curtain hooks which are held to curtain tape secured to the top edge, too, of the curtain.
The present invention, as will be explained, is a totally functional and highly versatile curtain which can be suspended from a rod or conventional curtain rod in any one of four deployments so that the consumer has the choice of which hanging mechanism to employ and, yet, all four mechanisms are allowed to be used by a single curtain, formed consistent with the present invention. By providing four separate components or mechanisms in a single curtain 10 the consumer benefits from having the versatility of selection of which suspension mechanism to use and the manufacturer and retailer also benefit as they need to make and stock, respectively, only one such curtain for each aesthetic fabric on the outside layer and not be concerned with providing multiple curtains for each aesthetic outside layer to accommodate the different manners of suspension possibly desired by the ultimate consumer or user.
The top edge 16 of curtain 10 preferably is provided with one or more large, vertically-extending and horizontally-spaced loops 22 which preferably extend a short distance downwardly from the top horizontal edge 16 of the curtain 10. These large vertically-extending loops 22 can be made of the same material as the curtain 10, or can be made of an alternative fabric or material, but, in any event, a material which is desirably somewhat flexible is desired to allow for them to lie flat during shipping and storage and, yet, when a cylindrical or other rod R is slid through the aligned apertures A of the loops 22, the rod R easily passes therethrough. Thus, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the curtain is provided with a set of aligned large loops 22 which allow the curtain 10 to easily be suspended and supported by a rod R passing therethrough. The rod R is conventionally supported by appropriate brackets.
The plurality of large loops 22 are preferably spaced apart across the top horizontal edge 16 of the curtain 10 and are spaced for ease of sliding placement of the curtain rod therethrough. The rod R is then able to be secured to the supporting brackets (not shown).
Significantly, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pocket 24 is formed by the rear of the front layer of the curtain or the rear of the liner layer and a length of curtain hook tape, extending along the top edge of the curtain. In
This tubular pocket or cavity 24 is preferably large enough to easily slidingly allow for a curtain rod R to pass therethrough, so as to hang the curtain from the rod R, without the rod R being substantially seen when the curtain 10 is stretched horizontally across the rod R, either from the far side of the curtain 10 (with outer layer 11 visible) or from the inside 13 of the curtain, i.e., from the perspective of view by one inside the curtained off area. In either situation, the bulk of the length of the horizontal support rod R is hidden within the tubular pocket or cavity 24 of the curtain 10. The tubular pocket or cavity 24 preferably passes through the curtain 10 at or near the top horizontal edge 16 of the curtain 10. Preferably the large vertically-extending loops 22 are spaced and secured to the top and bottom of the curtain tape, used to create the pocket 24 of the curtain 10. This can be seen in
Provision of a second mechanism for supporting the curtain 10 by use of a horizontal rod, by use of the tubular pocket or cavity 24 in lieu of the large loops 22, is an advance over the prior art and provides versatility to the device. Forming the pocket with curtain tape is synergistic and non-obvious. Which of the supporting mechanisms (pocket for rod or large loops for rod) to be used will be based on a user's preference, an option not generally available in the prior art.
A rear elevational view of the present inventive curtain 10 as would be seen when hung with a curtain rod R through the tubular pocket or cavity 24 is shown in
In addition to those alternative mechanisms for use in connection with supporting the curtain 10 onto a rod R, another mechanism is provided, too. The present invention also comprises means for support of the curtain 10 to a curtain rod R by use of curtain clips 32, as seen in
Additionally, the top segment, preferably extending to the top edge 16, is provided with a horizontally extending fabric curtain tape 50, similar to that used for conventionally now sewn to curtains for use in connection with those curtain rods with sliders and downwardly extending, usually plastic tab elements with apertures for engaging the hooks held by the curtain tape. This tape 50 provides structural strength to the top of the curtain 10 and, preferably, is the rear of the holding pocket 24. It can be seen in
All alternative mechanism provided to the present inventive curtain for suspending the same are integrated into the top segment of the curtain 10. The mechanism to be used by the consumer is entirely based on the choice of the consumer and other available materials—the curtain clips 32, the hooks H, or merely using a rod R by itself.
A highly versatile curtain 10 is thus provided. It allows the consumer to select which mechanism to use for support of the same on a curtain rod R. This then allows a manufacturer and a retailer to make and stock a single fabric or aesthetic curtain and, yet, it has versatility in that it provides a multiple of mechanisms for supporting the same. This provides an advantage to manufacturer, to the retailer and to the consumer.
Conventionally available curtain tape 50 is provided with a large set of horizontally spaced tight loops 70 (closer to top edge 16 of the curtain 10) and larger and horizontally spaced loops 72 (See
It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular feature or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.
