Patent Application
20110174948
A wide variety of devices are used to permit the mounting and/or placement of drapery rods and the like. These devices include various brackets and other mounting hardware. To date however, all such devices do not permit both the mounting of drapery hardware while simultaneously permitting the mounting of additional ornamental decoration and/or additional hardware. Thus, there is a need in the art for an improved mounting device for drapery hardware that enables a user to achieve multiple decorative goals.
The disclosure relates to a device for hanging curtain rods, drapery rods, curtains, drapes, roping and/or other types of window dressing and/or hardware (hereafter called curtain rods). In one embodiment, a device comprises: a mounting base, a post coupled to the mounting base, an adjustable sleeve designed to adjustably operatively engage the post, and a front portion coupled to the adjustable sleeve. In another embodiment, a device according to the present invention comprises: a double L-shaped bracket and a front portion that is designed to be removably coupled to one end of the double L-shaped bracket.
a) is an illustration of a component of the device of
In one embodiment, a device comprises: a mounting base, a post coupled to the mounting base, an adjustable sleeve designed to adjustably engage the post, and a front portion coupled to the adjustable sleeve. In another embodiment, a device comprises: a double L-shaped bracket and a front portion that is designed to be removably coupled to one end of the double L-shaped bracket. As used herein, the term window dressing includes, but is not limited to, drapery, sashes, tie-backs. curtains, and drapery and/or curtain hardware.
In reference to
In one non-limiting example shown in
Post 104 is either permanently. or removably, mounted to base 102, extending perpendicularly away from the vertical surface. In the instance where post 104 is permanently mounted to base 102 such mounting may be accomplished by any suitable means. Such means include, but are not limited to, rivet(s), screw(s), bolt(s), nail(s), glue (or some other type of adhesive), welding, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Post 104 may be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal (including any type of metal alloy), plastic. wood, ceramic, composite/resin, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Additionally. post 104 is not limited to any one particular geometrical orientation or cross-sectional shape. Rather, any geometrical orientation or cross-sectional shape may be used without limitation. Suitable geometric orientations and/or cross-section shapes include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, circle, round, oval, polygonal, triangular, elliptical, irregular, star-shaped. etc.
Adjustable sleeve 106 may be removably, moveably and operatively engaged with post 104. Thus, adjustable sleeve 106 should be designed to have a similar geometrical orientation and/or cross-sectional shape as that of post 104. In another embodiment, adjustable sleeve 106 may further include a locking device 114 that enables adjustable sleeve 106 to be secured in a desired position to post 104. Suitable locking devices include, but are not limited to, a screw, a bolt, or a tab/slot arrangement. The adjustable sleeve 106 may be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal (including any type of metal alloy), plastic, wood. ceramic, composite/resin, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Additionally, adjustable sleeve 106 is not limited to any one particular geometrical orientation or cross-sectional shape. Rather, any geometrical orientation or cross-sectional shape may be used without limitation. Suitable geometric orientations and/or cross-section shapes include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, round, oval, polygonal, triangular, elliptical. irregular, star-shaped, etc.
Front portion 108 may be removably, and operatively engaged with one end of adjustable sleeve 106. In another embodiment, front portion 108 may further include an attachment portion that enables front portion 108 to be secured to adjustable sleeve 106. Suitable attachment portions include, but are not limited to, a screw, a bolt, a snap, hook and loop fasteners, tab and slot, tongue and groove, dowel and hole, etc. In one embodiment, a snap, or industrial strength snap, is utilized where such snap is composed of a male portion 116a and a female portion 116b. It should be noted that the placement of the male and female portions of the snap is not critical and thus is not limited to any one specific placement and/or arrangement. In another embodiment, multiple halves of either the male or female portion of a snap may be utilized so as to permit multiple different or offset placements, or arrangements, of the front portion 108 (see
Front portion 108 may be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal (including any type of metal alloy), plastic, wood, ceramic, composite/resin, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Additionally, front portion 108 is not limited to any one particular geometrical orientation or shape. Rather, any geometrical orientation or shape may be used without limitation. Suitable geometric orientations and/or shapes include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, sphere, cube, round, oval, polygonal, triangular, elliptical, irregular, star-shaped, etc. In another embodiment, front portion 108 may be designed to permit further decoration and/or customization by the end-user, or may come decorated and/or customized. In still another embodiment, front portion 108 may be formed from a material that may be painted, stained or have decoration glued and/or attached thereto.
In still another embodiment, front portion 108 may be one of many decorative faces contained in a kit. The kit may contain such suitable decorative faces 108, including but not limited to, a pumpkin, Christmas tree, birthday cake, heart, Easter egg, flag, star of David, basketball, football, soccer ball, baseball, volleyball, ballet slippers, dinosaur, crown, action figure, rocket, car, truck, flowers, sun, moon, star, various animals (dog, cat, bunny, turtle, monkey, horse etc) or any suitable combination or variation thereof. The kit may contain several decorative faces 108 such that the user may interchange the faces as desired.
Regarding device 100 of
In reference to
In one non-limiting example, base section 202 has therein two mounting holes 206 designed to receive suitable sized screws, bolts, or nails 212. However, the device 200 is not limited to solely this type and/or number of mounting hardware. Additionally, although bracket 201 is shown in
Front portion 208 may be removably, and operatively engaged with one end of support post 204. In another embodiment, front portion 208 may further include an attachment portion that enables front portion 208 to be secured in a desired position to device 200. Suitable attachment portions include, but are not limited to, a screw, a bolt, a snap, hook and loop fasteners, tab and slot, tongue and groove, dowel and hole, etc. In one embodiment, a snap, or industrial strength snap, is utilized where such snap is composed of a male portion 210a and a female portion 210b. It should be noted that the placement of the male and female portions of the snap is not critical and thus is not limited to any one specific placement and/or arrangement. In another embodiment, multiple halves of either the male or female portion of a snap may be utilized so as to permit varied placements or arrangements, of the front portion 208 similar to that shown with regard to front portion 108 in
Front portion 208 may be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal (including any type of metal alloy), plastic, wood, ceramic, composite/resin, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Additionally, front portion 208 is not limited to any one particular geometrical orientation or shape. Rather, any geometrical orientation or shape may be used without limitation. Suitable geometric orientations and/or shapes include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, circle, sphere, cube, oval, polygonal, triangular, elliptical, irregular. star-shaped, etc.
In another embodiment, front portion 208 may be designed to permit further decoration and/or customization by the end-user, or may come decorated and/or customized. In still another embodiment, front portion 208 may be formed from a material that may be painted, stained or have decoration glued and/or attached thereto. In still another embodiment, front portion 208 may be one of many decorative faces contained in a kit. The kit may contain a plurality of decorative faces 208, including but not limited to, a pumpkin, Christmas tree, birthday cake, heart, Easter egg, flag, star of David, basketball, football, soccer ball, baseball, volleyball, ballet slippers, dinosaur, crown, action figure, car, truck, flowers, sun, moon, star, various animals (dog, cat, bunny, turtle, monkey, horse etc) or any suitable combination or variation thereof. The kit may contain several decorative faces 208 such that the user may interchange the faces as desired.
Regarding device 200 of
In reference to
Front portion 308 may be formed from any suitable material. Such suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal (including any type of metal alloy), plastic, wood, ceramic, composite/resin, or any suitable combination of two or more thereof. Additionally, front portion 308 is not limited to any one particular geometrical orientation or shape. Rather, any geometrical orientation or shape may be used without limitation. Suitable geometric orientations and/or shapes include, but are not limited to, square, rectangular, sphere, cube, circle, oval, polygonal, triangular, elliptical, irregular, star-shaped, etc. In another embodiment, front portion 308 may be designed to permit further decoration and/or customization by the end-user, or may come decorated and/or customized. In still another embodiment, front portion 308 may be formed from a material that may be painted, stained or have decoration glued and/or attached thereto.
In reference to
Regarding device 300 of
Although the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments detailed herein, other embodiments can achieve the same or similar results. Variations and modifications of the invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and the invention is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents.
While the systems, methods, and so on have been illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems, methods, and so on provided herein. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicants' general inventive concept. Thus, this application is intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
To the extent that the term “includes” or “including” is employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. When elements are described or claimed as having communication “between” the elements, such communication can be serial or parallel, one-way or two way. As used herein, “connection” or “connected” means both directly, that is, without other intervening elements or components, and indirectly, that is, with another component or components arranged between the items identified or described as being connected. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “or” is employed in the claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean “A or B or both”. When the applicants intend to indicate “only A or B but not both” then the term “only A or B but not both” will be employed. Similarly, when the applicants intend to indicate “one and only one” of A, B, or C, the applicants will employ the phrase “one and only one”. Thus, use of the term “or” herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See. Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).
This application incorporates by reference and claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/297.198 filed Jan. 21, 2010.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61297198 | Jan 2010 | US |
