Patent Application
20200123767
For a more complete understanding of the present Invention and the advantages thereof, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
The invention is for a method and process of preparing and assembling certain products in a particular way, which once followed, results in a high end prefabricated product to serve as a window covering or room divider. The purposes is to not only patent our process, but also serve as ensuring the finish product is facially clean and unmarked, preserving the aesthetic quality and beautify of the finished product, as well as offer the user simple, unilateral installation that doesn't require having multiple parties on hand to assist with the installation.
Once the method and process of preparing and assembling the specific products described herein (the “Invention”) is performed by the user, the end result will be a beautiful, clean, facially non-marked prefabricated product to serve as a window covering/window treatment, or room divider (the “End Product”).
The Invention will require the use of four (4) specific goods manufactured by the Inventor.
The 4 specific pieces are as followed: (a) a DFW product, rectangular in shape and design, which is designed for the purposes hanging up stationary fabric panels, associated with room dividers and window treatments, used for commercial or residential purposes. This will serve a variety of uses in the finished product, which may or may not be visible to the consumer but in most instances, 2 pieces are on the top and 2 pieces are used on the bottom; (b) Suspension Rods which serve for purposes of mounting and stability; (c) a Locking Pin to secure the suspension rods; and (d) a Rubber Gasket, used to attach the fabric to the decorative finished wood pieces.
First, you mount the Suspension Rods to the ceiling. Depending on the size of the End Product, the user may be required to use multiple Suspension Rods.
The DFW has either two (2) or four (4) pieces, depending on the type of installation. For purposes of this application and description, this description will assume that there are four (4) separate DFW's, as this particular summary will describe the Invention in the contents of a room divider. Recall that the End Product has the ability to serve as either a room divider (effectively partitioning a room) or window treatment (i.e. similar to blinds, verticals, roller shades, etc.). We will identify each DFW as A, B, C and D respectively. DFW A and DFW B will refer to the two (2) DFW's attached to the ceiling, and DFW C and DFW D will refer to the two (2) DFW's attached to the fabric as a weight located at the bottom of the End Product.
DFW A and DFW B will be attached to the ceiling. Specifically, DFW B will be mounted to the Suspension Rod, as DFW's will have an insert on the inside that is designed to fit the bottom of the Suspension Rod, so as to hold it in place. Additionally, DFW B mounted to the Suspension Rod will have another insert that will contain a Rubber Gasket, which is designed to hold the fabric in place once ready to install. Once you have secured the Suspension Rod to the ceiling, the user will take DFW B and attach it to the Suspension Rod. The user will use a Locking Pin to secure and fasten DFW B to the Suspension Rod.
Once DFW B is connected to the Suspension Rod, and secured with the Locking Pin, the user will move to the DFW A, that will ultimately be connected to DFW B, securing the fabric from the top.
DFW A is first placed on the floor, and the side with the incisions are face up. The user will notice that DFW A has surface mounted double-sided tape, which is installed directly on each DFW during the manufacturing of the piece, and designed to hold the fabric in place until fully secured. The user will then attach the fabric to surface mounted double-sided tape of DFW A, which will hold the fabric in place until it is fastened securely by the Rubber Gasket attached to DFW B.
Once the user has attached the fabric to the double-sided tape on DFW A, the user will then proceed to attach DFW A and DFW B together where the Rubber Gasket will press against the fabric, securely holding it in place from the top.
During the manufacture of the goods, the DFW has an insert cut into the product. The insert is designed to hold a metal disc, of which one or both sides will be magnetized. The intention of the metal disc is to serve as a magnetic attaching mechanism, of which the user can securely fasten both DFW A and DFW B without the need of using additional screws or nails. The intention of such is two-fold (a) to preserve the finished look, unmarked and unscathed, and (b) to enable single person installation.
Once DFW A and DFW B are connected, the Rubber Gasket fully secures the fabric, holding it in place, as DFW A and DFW B are securely fastened to the suspension rod.
The user will be able to choose one (1) of three (3) options as it relates to finishing the installation at the bottom of the unit, at the lower end of the fabric. The lower end of the fabric will need to be secured, and the following options are offered:
The user will take the remaining DFW's—DFW C and DFW D respectively, and mount them to the floor using inverted and truncated Suspension Rods. The user will place the Suspension Rod into DFW C, and will physically cut the suspension rod to end flush with DFW C on the bottom. At this time, the user will connect DFW C and DFW D in the same fashion, by connecting them via magnetized metal places inserted into DFW C and DFW D, securely attaching them together, serving as a finished assembled unit on the bottom.
At the bottom of the Suspension Rods attached to DFW C and DFW D, recall that it was cut flush with the bottom of the pieces. The user will then connect a small magnetized disc at the bottom of the Suspension Rod, which was cut flush.
The user will then attach a small metal plate to the floor, under DFW C and DFW D, so that it lines up with the small magnetized disc that was placed on the cut-flush end of the Suspension Rod. At this time, the small metal disc, which is magnetized, will attach to the metal place on the floor, and this will hold the End Product in place securely.
The user will have the option to install the Suspension Rods to the floor in the same fashion and method, as they would install to the ceiling, simply inverted.
Specifically, the Suspension Rods will be secured to the floor, directly opposite from its installation to the ceiling. At this point, the user will attach DFW C, inverted, to the Suspension Rods. DFW D will function in the same way as the top, but in this instance, the user will not need to secure the fabric to the double sided tape since as gravity and the weight of the fabric will hold it in place.
The user will simply attach DFW D and DFW C together, and the Rubber Gasket will press against the fabric, securely holding it in place on the bottom.
This is the easiest option of them all, and typically is expected to be used when the End Product is used as a window treatment or window coverage. In this instance, it will be free hanging, with no weights attached. Gravity will simply weight it down.
The invention descried herein has two (2) primary advantages to the user.
The first advantage is the simplicity in the method and system, which will enable unilateral installation. By enabling the user to engage in unilateral installation, they have a net effect of (a) saving money by not having to hire additional help; (b) enabling themselves to install the product at their own time, without having to consider other's schedules, which could unnecessarily delay and prolong installation; and (c) by giving the user full control over the installation, they can install the product exactly as they deem fit and appropriate, as opposed to relying in good faith on a third party vendor to install the product in the exact same fashion as the user envisions. Certainly, being in direct control saves money, and ensures that the user will be able to see the finished product installed exactly as the user sees the finished product in mind.
A second big advantage here is that based on how the method and system operates, and how each component interplays with each other, the user upon installation will see a clean and finished product, without any marks, scars, scratches or any other imperfections. At no point is the user required to drill into, or mark up, any facially visible component of the unit. Rather, all installation points are inserted directly into the product components during installation, so as opposed to having to physically go into any facially visible components using tools that would mark up or scuff the components, the user simply puts the pieces together similar to a puzzle. This has a tremendous benefit to the user who is looking to have a clean, unmarked facially visible product, in their home, office, or anywhere for that matter. In situations where looks and appeal are important to the user, for instance in a personal home, in an art display, or even in a hi-end office where the user is required to hosts guests and clients, this method and system offers a solution for the user to procure a product has both significant utility and style.
