1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to drapery, and more specifically to reversible drapery. The invention further relates to reversible drapery that is lined.
2. Related Art
Drapes are typically used to cover all or part of a window in a decorative manner. Drapes are typically hung or supported by a rod secured to the window frame or the wall surrounding the window. The upper portion of the drape may be provided with rings or straps that encircle the rod, or the upper portion of the window drape may define a loop or pocket through which the rod is passed.
Drapes usually come in a side variety of colors, fabrics and sizes. Often the homeowner or decorator may choose a particular color or fabric at the time of purchase, however, the homeowner may decide that they want to be able to change the color or fabric depending on the season or to preserve the longevity of the fabric. It is expensive and time consuming to continually purchase and discard window drapes, and therefore, many people are prevented from changing their drapes for the various seasons and/or altering the look of the drapes.
Reversible drapes allow the homeowner or decorator to selectively change the fabric or color of the drapes. However, the problem with most reversible drapes is that they are unlined; one fabric is usually directly disposed behind another fabric in turn exposing one fabric to the window at all times. The fabric facing the window is subject to fading from exposure to sunlight. Therefore, there is still a need for reversible drapery that is also lined in order to protect the fabric from fading due to exposure to sunlight.
Levi (U.S. Pat. No. 3,109,474) discloses a reversible cover for an article of furniture, equipage or accouterment wherein the exposed face or surface of the cover always comprises the finished or display side of a fabric material.
Mole (U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,826) discloses a solar energy system for selectively absorbing or reflecting radiant energy entering through a window of a structure, the system comprising a window drape having a decorative side a and a back side, and a removable liner adjacent the backside of the window drape.
Constance (U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,865) discloses a thermal drapery construction including first and second fabric panels having outwardly facing metalized surfaces, a third panel of high loft, low density, randomly oriented fibers disposed between the first and second panels and a thermal drapery liner located adjacent the metalized surface of the second fabric panel.
Bordenave, Sr. et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,350) discloses a bedspread comprising a plurality of panels which are each reversible and interchangeable.
Broder (U.S. Pat. No. 5,664,269) discloses a bedding cover including a flap positioned at its center; the flap may be folded to cover one or the other ends of the cover and when it is folded the entire surface of the cover presents a uniform appearance , but of a selected different design or color, etc.
Leaderman et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,741,582) discloses a blackout drapery lining having a material or cloth fabric on both external surfaces.
O'Brien (U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,876) discloses a window drape including a face panel and a liner having marginal portions secured to a back side of the face panel and an intramarginal portion carrying plural lengths of shirring tape oriented to extend between top and bottom marginal portions of the liner and a plurality of guide elements arranged in a plurality of rows and columns.
Sapp (U.S. Pat. No. 5,940,909) discloses a reversible pillowcase which is formed by folding a single piece of fabric into substantially three equal portions; the portions are attached together along two sides, thus forming first and second pockets with openings at opposite ends. Inverting the first pocket forms a pillowcase by exposing one decorative surface and inverting the second pocket exposes a second decorative surface.
Burton et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,648) discloses a liner fabric hemmed separately from a cover fabric; the liner fabric is allowed to drape independently from the cover fabric.
Palmer et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,264) discloses an interchangeable upholstery cover for the sofa or chair, having an inner and outer surface.
Benavides (U.S. Pat. No. 6,687,931) discloses a cover for a pet cushion for selectively displaying differing surface patterns thereon.
The present invention is a reversible drape, and more specifically, a reversible drape comprising at least two decorative fabrics and a liner. Preferably, the back of the drape contains an opening, preferably in the liner, through which the drapery can be inverted so that a first decorative fabric is displayed on one side of the drapery, the liner is displayed on the other side, and the heading of the first decorative fabric is at the top of the drape, while a second decorative fabric is disposed entirely within the drapery body along with the heading of the second decorative fabric. Alternatively, the drapery may be inverted again through the opening, so that the second decorative fabric is displayed on one side of the drapery, the liner is displayed on the other side, and the heading of the second decorative fabric is at the top of the drape, while the first decorative fabric is disposed entirely within the drapery body along with the heading of the first decorative fabric now at the bottom of the drapery body.
The reversibility feature allows one fabric to be selectively displayed with a second fabric hidden inside the drape and a third fabric is always displayed regardless of whether the first fabric or the second fabric is showing. Preferably, the third fabric is a liner to protect the drape from fading due to exposure to sunlight and/or to limit the amount of light penetration into a room. The construction of the drapery allows the raw edges to be hidden regardless of which decorative fabric is shown.
Referring to the figures, there are shown some, but not the only embodiments of the invented reversible, lined drapery. In the preferred embodiment, a finished drape 10 comprises at least two decorative fabrics 130, 140 and a liner 120. Preferably, the drape 10 comprises an opening 52 in the liner 120 through which the drape can be inverted to display one of the two decorative fabrics 130, 140 while continually displaying the liner 120. While one decorative fabric is being displayed (either 130 or 140) the other decorative fabric is hidden from view within the body of the drape 10 along with its respective heading which may include for example a header (either 132 or 142) and a rod pocket (either 139 or 149) or pleating.
A method of fabricating a window drape 10 in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
After the fabrics 20, 30, and 40 are cut to their respective sizes, the lining 20 is cut into two sections, an upper section 21 and a lower section 22 (see
Following the cutting of the lining 20 and the attachment of the fasteners 27′, 28′, the three fabrics 20, 30, and 40 are stacked, as shown in
After the fabrics 20, 30, 40 are stacked in their particular orientation, the side edges 25, 26, 35, 36, 45, 46 are sewn, trimmed, and serged; this process is usually done using a serge machine, however, other methods may be used. Preferably, the top edges 23, 33, 43 and the bottom edges 24, 34, 44 are left “open”. As shown in
The drape 10 is then oriented so that the face 30A of the first fabric 30 is placed on a flat surface. The top edges 23, 33, and 43 are folded “back”, meaning away from the flat surface and toward the face side 20A of the lining 20, about 9″ (see
The drapery 10 is then turned inside out again, through the opening 52 created by the free edges 27, 28 of the lining 20, so that the second fabric 40 is pulled through the opening 52 and the first fabric 30 is disposed between the second fabric 40 and the lining 20 (see
The drape 10 is then oriented so that the face side 40A of the second fabric 40 is placed on a flat surface. The original bottom edges 24, 34, 44 are folded “back”, meaning away from the flat surface and toward the back surface 20B of the lining 20, about 9″ (see
After the drape 10 has been sewn, the drape 10 can be reversed between two alternative orientations 130 and 140. When the drape 10 is in the first alternative orientation 130, the hook-and-loop fasteners 27′, 28′ are positioned near the top of the header 132 and rod pocket 139, and the header 142 and rod pocket 149 of the second alternative orientation 140 are located within the body of the drape 10 (see
In the preferred embodiment, the first fabric 30 and the second fabric 40 are preferably silk because they are a lighter weight and the drape is less bulky. However, a variety of fabrics may be used, such as cotton, polyester, satin, velvet, suede, etc. Preferably, the liner 20 is a blackout liner to protect the fabric from sunlight and to limit the amount of light that is able to enter the room. Alternatively, the liner may be any UV resistant fabric, or another decorative fabric depending on the desired need of the consumer. Additionally, other fabric patterns may be used to achieve a desired look.
The drape(s) may be fitted with tassels, beads, fringe, beaded fringe, rhinestones, braiding, embroidery, rope, and/or tiebacks, or other decorative items to add style. The size of the drape(s) may also be varied in order to cover a specific sized window, or the drape(s) may be manufactured and sold in standard sizes.
Embodiments of the invented reversible drape, therefore, may comprise a drape with a first decorative fabric, a second decorative fabric, and a liner fabric; wherein said drape is reversible to a first orientation wherein said first fabric is visible on a front side of the drape and the liner fabric is visible on a back side of the drape; and wherein said drape is reversible to a second orientation wherein said second fabric is visible on the front side of the drape and the liner fabric is visible on the back side of the drape. A portion of the first decorative fabric may be formed into a first heading adapted to connect to a drapery rod, and a portion of the second decorative fabric may be formed into a second heading adapted to connect to a drapery rod. In the first orientation, the first heading is preferably exposed for connection to the drapery rod and the second heading is preferably enclosed inside an interior space of the drape. In the second orientation, the second heading is preferably exposed for connection to the drapery rod and the first heading is preferably enclosed inside the interior space of the drape. The preferred first heading and the second heading are located on opposite ends of the drape.
As described above, said first fabric and second fabric each have right sides that are preferably visible in the first orientation and the second orientation, respectively, and each have wrong sides that preferably are not visible in the first orientation and not visible in the second orientation. When the first fabric, second fabric, and liner fabric are sewn together at side seams, and raw edges of said side seams are preferably hidden inside said drape between the said wrong sides of the first and second fabrics. The opening through which the drape reverses preferably extends substantially all the way across the drape, but may also be shortened somewhat to help prevent fringe, tassels, or other trim, for example, from getting caught on the hook and loop fastener or from getting caught in between the fasteners. Also, although the opening is shown as substantially nearer one of the headings than the other, alternative embodiments may have the opening and its fasteners at any place along the length of the liner fabric, for example, generally midway along the length of the liner fabric. In less preferred methods of making the drape, the opening may even be at an extreme end of the liner, so that the opening is formed between the liner and another portion of the back of the drape (for example, a tab or flap extending from a heading, rather than between two portions of the liner).
Embodiments of the invented drape may be described as comprising a first decorative fabric on a front side of the drape, and a Liner fabric on a back side of the drape, and the drape further having an interior space defined by an interior surface of the drape and an opening into the interior surface, wherein said interior surface may comprise a second decorative fabric and the liner. The drape is preferably reversible through said opening so that the drape is turned inside out to place the second decorative fabric on the front side of the drape, the first decorative fabric in the interior space of the drape defining the interior surface, and the liner fabric remaining on the back side of the drape. As described above, said drape preferably has a first heading at one end of the drape, and a second heading at an opposing end of the drape. The first heading preferably comprises said first decorative fabric and is exposed and connectable to a drapery rod when the drape is reversed to make the first decorative fabric visible on the front side of the drape. The second heading preferably comprises said second decorative fabric and is exposed and connectable to a drapery rod when the drape is reversed to make the second decorative fabric visible on the front side of the drape. When said first decorative fabric, second decorative fabric, and liner fabric are sewn together at left and right side edges, seams with raw edges are formed, wherein said raw edges are hidden inside the drape then the drape is in any of its reversible orientations.
While the preferred embodiments are described as comprising first and second decorative fabrics and a liner fabric, one may see that the invented apparatus and methods are adaptable to include other layers as well, other decorations, and other additions. For example, insulation may be added, although it is not preferred due to the bulk of such materials. The first and second decorative fabrics each may be a single sheet of a single material, or, alternatively, each may be an assembly of several materials sewn or woven together, for example. Although this invention has been described above with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims priority of provisional U.S. application Ser. No. 60/543,807 filed Feb. 11, 2004, and entitled “Reversible Lined Drapery”, which is incorporated herein by this reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US05/04324 | 2/10/2005 | WO | 8/10/2006 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60543807 | Feb 2004 | US |