Patent Application
20130167326
The invention broadly relates to a drapery system, more specifically to a drapery system having an uninterrupted track, and even more particularly to a drapery system having an uninterrupted track that may be configured in a variety of lengths and shapes, and may be mounted on a variety of surface types.
Draperies, hangings, privacy screens and the like have been used for many years to provide coverings for windows, decorations along walls, separations between portions of a room, etc. Traditionally, such hangings are mounted on and moveable along a fixed rod via a set of rings. The rod is mounted on a ceiling or wall using mounting hardware, and the rings, having larger inner diameters than the rod outer diameter, slide back and forth along the rod. Due to the positions of the mounting hardware, ring movement is often impeded as the hardware limits such movement to the lengths between the hardware. In other words, the rings cannot pass by the mounting hardware.
Moreover, conventional drapery systems have limited lengths and/or length ranges. For example, the rods described above may be fixed in length or may comprise two or more nested rods which move coaxially relative to each other. Such nested rod assemblies may be expanded to a desired length and then secured using mounting hardware; however, the length range is not unlimited, it is typically configured as several options, e.g., 36-72″, 72-144″, etc.
Additionally, conventional drapery systems are limited in shape, e.g., linear or slightly arcuate. The above described rods limit the shape of the drapery system to the rods' original shapes, thereby preventing more complex arrangements designed to fit a unique space as opposed to merely providing a fixed arrangement.
As can be derived from the variety of devices and methods directed at slidably securing draperies and/or hangings, many means have been contemplated to accomplish the desired end, i.e., free movement of a drapery along an entire length of a mounting system where such mounting system can be customized to fit a variety of spaces. Heretofore, tradeoffs between length, shape and mounting hardware locations were required. Thus, there is a long-felt need for a drapery system having a modifiable length and a modifiable shape. There is a further long-felt need for a drapery system which can be mounted on a variety of surface types without the need for mounting hardware that impedes the movement of the drapery or hanging.
The present invention broadly comprises an apparatus for mounting a drapery including a mounting bracket, a track having an upper mounting portion and a lower engagement portion, wherein the upper mounting portion complementarily engages the mounting bracket, and a drapery securing means having an upper engagement portion and a lower securing portion, wherein the upper engagement portion slidably engages the lower engagement portion of the track and the lower securing portion releasably engages the drapery.
In some embodiments, the apparatus for mounting a drapery further includes a bracket arm, wherein the mounting bracket includes an aperture and the bracket arm is secured to the mounting bracket through the aperture. In some embodiments, the bracket arm includes first and second extensions arranged substantially perpendicular relative to each other. The first extension is arranged to be secured to a substantially vertical surface and the second extension is secured to the mounting bracket.
In some embodiments, the mounting bracket includes a substantially planar portion having oppositely disposed first and second j-shaped portions integrally formed thereon. In some embodiments, the mounting bracket is arranged to be secured to a substantially horizontal surface.
In some embodiments, the track is an extruded body. In some embodiments, the extruded body is formed from a metal material or a plastic material. In some embodiments, the upper engagement portion is a partial spherical ball, and in some embodiments, the lower engagement portion of the track includes a partially curved surface arranged to receive the partial spherical ball. In some embodiments, the lower securing portion is a clip. In some embodiments, the track further includes an inner frame structure having a thinned portion arranged to permit removal of the track from the mounting bracket by application of pressure proximate the lower engagement portion
In a further embodiment, the present invention broadly comprises a system for mounting a plurality of draperies including a plurality of mounting brackets, a plurality of tracks each having an upper mounting portion and a lower engagement portion, wherein each upper mounting portion complementarily engages one of the plurality of the mounting brackets, and a plurality of drapery securing means each having an upper engagement portion and a lower securing portion, wherein the plurality of mounting brackets are arranged parallel to each other, the plurality of tracks are arranged parallel to each other, each upper engagement portion slidably engages the lower engagement portion of one of the plurality of tracks and each lower securing portion releasably engages one of the plurality of draperies.
In some embodiments, the system for mounting a plurality of draperies further includes a bracket arm, wherein the plurality of mounting brackets each include an aperture, each of the apertures are in registered alignment and the bracket arm is secured to the plurality of mounting brackets through each respective aperture. In some embodiments, the bracket arm includes first and second extensions arranged substantially perpendicular relative to each other. The first extension is arranged to be secured to a substantially vertical surface and the second extension is secured to the plurality of mounting brackets. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of draperies is separately moveable along each of the plurality of tracks.
In yet a further embodiment, the present invention broadly comprises a system for mounting a drapery including a plurality of mounting brackets, a plurality of tracks each having an upper mounting portion and a lower engagement portion, wherein each upper mounting portion complementarily engages one of the plurality of the mounting brackets, a connecting means, and a plurality of drapery securing means each having an upper engagement portion and a lower securing portion, wherein the connecting means aligns and releasably secures adjacent tracks of the plurality of tracks, the plurality of mounting brackets are arranged collinearly relative to each other, the plurality of tracks are arranged collinearly relative to each other, each upper engagement portion slidably engages the lower engagement portion of one of the plurality of tracks and each lower securing portion releasably engages one of the plurality of draperies.
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a drapery track system which may be configured to provide a variety of window treatment orientations, wall coverings, privacy screens and the like.
It is another general object of the present invention to provide a drapery track system which may be configured at a variety of lengths and shapes.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a drapery track system which can be secured to a variety of surface types and does not require mounting hardware that impedes the movement of a drapery or hanging slidably secured thereon.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciable from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects.
Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It should be appreciated that the term “drapery” is synonymous with terms such as “hanging”, “window treatment”, “covering”, “screen”, “curtain”, etc., and such terms may be used interchangeably as appearing in the specification and claims. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described.
Adverting now to the figures,
Drapery track system 10 is an apparatus for mounting drapery 20. System 10 comprises mounting bracket 14, track 12 and drapery securing means 16. Track 12 comprises upper mounting portion 22 and lower engagement portion 24. Upper mounting portion 22 complementarily engages mounting bracket 14. It should be appreciated that “complementarily engages”, as used herein, is intended to mean that one structure has a shape and configuration that interlocks with the shape and configuration of another structure, e.g., the inverted j-shaped structures of upper mounting portion 22 complementarily engage the j-shaped structures of mounting bracket 14. Drapery securing means 16 comprises upper engagement portion 26 and lower securing portion 28. Upper engagement portion 26 slidably engages lower engagement portion 24 of track 12 and lower securing portion 28 releasably engages drapery 20. It should be appreciated that “slidably engages”, as used herein, is intended to mean that two structures are permitted to slide relative to each other along an axis, while relative movement in other directions is prevented. For example, drapery securing means 16 are permitted to slide along the length of track 12; however, drapery securing means 16 are not permitted to move downwardly out of track 12.
As is best understood in view of
In some embodiments, drapery track system 10 further comprises bracket arm 18. In such embodiments, mounting bracket 14 comprises aperture 30 and bracket arm 18 is releasably secured to mounting bracket 14 through aperture 30. Bracket arm 18 comprises first and second extensions 32 and 34, respectively, arranged substantially perpendicular to each other. First extension 32 is arranged to be secured to a substantially vertical surface (See
Mounting bracket 14 comprises substantially planar portion 36 having oppositely disposed first and second j-shaped portions 38a and 38b, respectively. As can be seen in the figures, first and second j-shaped portions 38a and 38b, respectively, are integrally formed with substantially planar portion 36. Mounting bracket 14 is arranged to be secured to a substantially horizontal surface, e.g., the horizontal surface shown in
In some embodiments, track 12 is an extruded body such as extruded body 42. Extruded body 42 may be formed from a variety of materials such as metal, e.g., aluminum, steel, etc., or plastic, e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, acetal, acrylic, polyamides, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, etc.
In some embodiments, upper engagement portion 26 of securing means 16 is a partial spherical ball, e.g., partial spherical ball 44. Lower engagement portion 24 of track 12 comprises opening 46 having partially curved surface 48 arranged to receive partial spherical ball 44. It should be appreciated that other arrangements of both upper engagement portion 26 and lower engagement portion 24 are also possible, e.g., upper engagement portion 26 may be frustoconical shaped and lower engagement portion 24 may comprise linear angular surfaces arranged to slidably engage the frustoconical shaped upper engagement portion, and such variations are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In some embodiments, lower securing portion 28 is a clip, e.g., clip 50. It should be further appreciated that securing portion 28 may take other forms, e.g., hooks, and such variations are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. It should be yet further appreciated that the surface characteristics of the upper engagement portion of the securing means and the lower engagement portion of the track may be selected such that friction therebetween is minimized, e.g., upper engagement portion 26 may be formed from a plastic material having a low coefficient of friction such as PTFE. Upper engagement portion 26 and drapery securing portion 28 may be connected by any means known in the art, e.g., wire 52. As shown in
The present invention drapery track system may include more than one track arranged parallel to each other. In such embodiments of the present invention drapery track system, e.g., drapery track systems 60 and 64, the system comprises a plurality of mounting brackets, e.g., mounting brackets 68a, 68b and 68c or mounting brackets 70a, 70b, 72a, 72b, 74a, 74b, 76a, 76b, 78a and 78b. The system further comprises a plurality of tracks, e.g., tracks 62a, 62b and 62c or tracks 66a and 66b. Each track comprising an upper mounting portion, e.g., upper mounting portions 84a, 84b and 84c, and comprises a lower engagement portion, e.g., lower engagement portions 88a, 88b and 88c. Each upper mounting portion complementarily engages at least one of the plurality of the mounting brackets, as is best understood in view of
In some embodiments, the drapery track system further comprises a bracket arm, e.g., bracket arm 56 or 58. In such embodiments, the plurality of mounting brackets each comprise an aperture, similar to aperture 30 as shown in
The present invention is arranged such that adjacent tracks may be assembled to form a greater length. To do so, tracks 112a and 112b are joined together via connecting means 106 and 108, as shown in
It should be further appreciated that curved portions 118a and 118b of tracks 66a and 66b may be integrally formed with tracks 66a and 66b, or alternatively, curved portions 118a and 118b may be independent of tracks 66a and 66b and connected to such tracks as described above with respect to the use of connecting means 106 and 108. It should be yet further appreciated that the shapes of the tracks are not limited to the shapes depicted in the figures, that such shapes may take other forms, e.g., arcuate, and that such variations are within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.
Bracket arm 18 is secured to wall 202 using fastener 212, e.g., a screw or a screw with an anchor. Subsequently, mounting bracket 14 is secured to bracket arm 18 by passing extension 34 through aperture 30 in mounting bracket 14, as described above, and then securing fastener 213 through openings 214 and 216 within bracket arm 18 and mounting bracket 14, respectively. Fastener 213 may be a screw if opening 214 is a threaded opening, or fastener 213 may alternatively comprise a nut and bolt combination if opening 214 is not threaded. Upper mounting portion 22 of track 12 is secured to j-shaped portion 38a and then track 12 is rotated as shown by arrow 218 so that upper mounting portion 22 is secured to j-shaped portion 38b. If more than one mounting bracket 14 is used, track 12 may be installed simultaneously or serially to each of the mounting brackets.
Mounting bracket 14 is secured to ceiling 222 using fastener 224, e.g., a screw or a screw with an anchor. Upper mounting portion 22 of track 12 is secured to j-shaped portion 38a and then track 12 is rotated as shown by arcuate arrow 226 so that upper mounting portion 22 is secured to j-shaped portion 38b. If more than one mounting bracket 14 is used, track 12 may be installed simultaneously or serially to each of the mounting brackets.
It should be appreciated that the present invention drapery track systems, e.g., systems 200 and 220, may be disassembled in a similar fashion. The inner frame structure of track 12 may include thinned portion 228 which permits the flexing of track 12 about thinned portion 228 along the longitudinal axis of track 12, thereby releasing upper mounting portion 22 from mounting bracket 14. In other words, pressure may be applied on or near lower engagement portion 24, i.e., proximate lower engagement portion 24, which causes upper mounting portion 22 to expand outwardly. The expansion of upper mounting portion 22 releases track 12 from mounting bracket 14. Upon removal of the pressure, track 12 returns to its original shape thereby permitting track 12 to again be secured to mounting bracket 14.
Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
