Patent Application
20160037953
The present invention relates to the field of curtains and curtain supporting structures. More specifically, the invention relates to light blocking apparatuses for securing sliding curtains and the like.
Multiple devices for the securement of curtains and shades are known in the art. These devices seek to cover windows, doors, and the like to prevent light from entering into a room. Furthermore, a type of opaque curtain known as the “blackout curtain” seeks to block or blackout as much light as possible. Blocking light from entering the room is desirable for a variety of reasons such as improved sleep and other activities that are best accomplished in the absence of light. One type of curtain securing device known in the art comprises a rod to which a curtain is slidably engaged. The rod may pass through apertures in the curtain, or the rod may extend through a generally cylindrical aperture extending the length of the curtain allowing the curtain to slide along the curtain rod to various positions on the rod.
Another type of curtain securing device comprises a curtain rail configured to slidably secure a curtain. Typically, these devices comprise a channel that extends the length of the rail. A plurality of fasteners secures the top of a curtain at one end and slidably secure to the rail at a second end. These fasteners may comprise rolling assemblies that are positioned at the second end which reduce friction as the rolling assemblies move within the channel.
One drawback common to all of these types of devices for the sliding securement of curtains is a universal inability to block light from escaping around their perimeters and into the room. The inability to block light is most prevalent at the top of the curtain as light seeps in around the rod or rail that typically secures the curtain over a door or window. One solution to block light from entering into a room over the top of the curtain is to secure the curtain directly to the wall above the door or window. Unfortunately, this method prevents movement of the curtain away from the door or window making their use extremely difficult.
Another solution that attempts to block light from entering into a room over the top of the curtain is to secure a curtain rod or rail a significant distance above a window or door and then to secure a very long curtain to the rail or rod. This method requires permanent modification to the curtain rod or rail and also is unable to block all of the light from entering a room and often results in a difficult manipulation of the curtain in order to use the door or window it is covering.
Therefore, a need exists for novel curtain apparatuses that block or blackout as much light as possible from entering the room for sleep and other activities that are best accomplished in the absence of light. There also exists a need for novel curtain apparatuses with the ability to block light from escaping around the curtain perimeter and into the room. Finally, there exists a need for novel curtain apparatuses that are able to block light from entering a room without resulting in a difficult manipulation of the curtain or the door or window the curtain is covering.
A sliding blackout curtain apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be secured to structures proximate to a window or door that the apparatus is positioned to cover, and the apparatus may be configured to provide blockage of light from the door, window, or other light source. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise: a traverse rod which includes a track that extends along a portion of the traverse rod, and wherein the track is configured to slidably engage a plurality of curtain flap carriers; a curtain comprising a head with a length; a curtain flap which is joined to the curtain proximate to the head of the curtain and along the length of the head; and a plurality of curtain flap carriers with each curtain flap carrier comprising a first end and a second end, and each curtain flap carrier may be slidably engaged to the track of the traverse rod at a first end and configured to couple to the curtain flap at a second end.
In further embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise a faceplate. The faceplate may be coupled to the traverse rod and may extend down and away from the traverse rod a greater distance than the distance the curtain flap carriers extend away from the traverse rod.
In further embodiments, the curtain flap may extend from the curtain head down under the faceplate and up to be secured by the second ends of the plurality of curtain flap carriers.
In still further embodiments, the traverse rod may comprise two or more traverse rod telescoping sections with a first traverse rod telescoping section is telescopically coupled to a second traverse rod telescoping section and with a faceplate coupled to each traverse rod telescoping section.
Some embodiments of the present invention are illustrated as an example and are not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements and in which:
FIG. 1—
FIG. 2—
FIG. 3—
FIG. 4—
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
In describing the invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these has individual benefit and each can also be used in conjunction with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Accordingly, for the sake of clarity, this description will refrain from repeating every possible combination of the individual steps in an unnecessary fashion. Nevertheless, the specification and claims should be read with the understanding that such combinations are entirely within the scope of the invention and the claims.
New curtains and supporting structure apparatuses are discussed herein. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below.
The present invention will now be described by example and through referencing the appended figures representing preferred and alternative embodiments.
In further embodiments, a curtain 40 may comprise one or more extension flaps 50 that may function to extend the width of the curtain 40 past the width of the curtain 40 that engages the curtain rod 200, the faceplate 12, and/or the curtain flap carriers 20. In further embodiments, the curtain 40 may comprise an extension flap 50 that extends past the width of the curtain 40 that is engaged to the curtain flap carriers 20. An extension flap 50 may be coupled to and positioned on the right side and/or left side of a curtain 40, thereby extending the width of the curtain 40. Preferably, two curtains 40 may be engaged to a curtain rod 200 with each curtain 40 comprising an extension flap 50 so that when the two curtains 40 are drawn together, their extension flaps 50 may overlap.
In further embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise a curtain flap 30 which further comprises one or more extension flaps 50 that may extend the width of the curtain flap 30 past the width of the curtain 40 and/or curtain flap 30 that engages the curtain rod 200, the faceplate 12, and/or the curtain flap carriers 20. An extension flap 50 may be coupled to and positioned on the right side and/or left side of a curtain flap 30. Preferably, two curtains 40 may be engaged to a curtain rod 200 with each curtain flap 30 comprising an extension flap 50 so that when the two curtains 40 are drawn together, their extension flaps 50 may overlap.
In some embodiments, an extension flap 50 may be coupled to a curtain flap 30 and/or to a curtain 40 by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as Velcro type fasteners, tongue and groove fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners such as screws and bolts, buckle type fasteners and the like, or any other suitable joining method capable of temporarily securing portions of a curtain flap 30, an extension flap, and/or a curtain 40 together. In other embodiments, an extension flap 50 may be substantially permanently joined to a curtain flap 30, and/or a curtain 40 with heat bonding, chemical bonding, stitching, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, by being integrally woven or formed together, or any other suitable joining method capable of substantially permanently securing portions of an extension flap 50, a curtain flap 30, and/or a curtain 40 together.
In some embodiments, the curtain 40, an extension flap 50, and/or a curtain flap 30 may comprise various types of flexible plastics such as polyvinyl chloride, natural or synthetic rubber, synthetic fabrics such as polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, lastex, and Kevlar, and natural fabrics such as coir, cotton, hemp, jute, leather, linen, ramie, wool, silk, or any other suitable flexible natural or synthetic material including combinations of materials. In further embodiments, the curtain 40, an extension flap 50, and/or a curtain flap 30 may comprise a triple weave fabric and optionally including black thread woven between the panels of the curtain 40, extension flap 50, and/or a curtain flap 30.
In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may comprise a curtain fastener 42 (
In some embodiments, a curtain fastener 42 may comprise Velcro type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners such as screws and bolts, buckle type fasteners and the like, or any other suitable joining method capable of temporarily securing portions of a curtain 40 to structures adjacent to the window or door that the curtain 40 is positioned to cover. In further embodiments, a curtain 40 may be substantially permanently joined to structures adjacent the curtain 40, or to the window or door that the curtain 40 is positioned to cover by a curtain fastener 42 comprising with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, by being integrally molded or formed together, or any other suitable substantially permanently joining method.
In some embodiments, the traverse rod 11 may be secured to a window header or to any other structures or areas adjacent to a window or door that the curtain 40 is positioned to cover with one or more traverse rod fasteners 14. A traverse rod fastener 14 may be positioned on the top, sides or anywhere else on the traverse rod 11 and configured to secure the traverse rod 11 to a window header or any other structure.
In some embodiments, a traverse rod fastener 14 may comprise clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners such as screws and bolts, buckle type fasteners and the like, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, a slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the function of temporarily securing portions of a traverse rod 11 to structures or areas adjacent to a window or door that the curtain 40 is positioned to cover. In other embodiments, a traverse rod fastener 14 may comprise heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, or any other suitable joining method capable of substantially permanently securing portions of a traverse rod 11 to structures or areas adjacent to a window or door that the curtain 40 is positioned to cover.
In some embodiments, the traverse rod 11 may be of a fixed length. In alternative embodiments, the traverse rod 11 may be telescopic in structure and comprise two or more traverse rod telescoping sections 18 configured to extend from or retract into one or more other traverse rod telescoping sections 18. In this manner a first traverse rod telescoping section 18 may be telescopically coupled to a second traverse rod telescoping section 18. Telescopically coupling two or more traverse rod telescoping sections 18 together may allow the traverse rod 11 to secure a curtain flap 30 of a plurality of widths and to be secured to structures or areas adjacent to a window or door that the curtain flap 30 and/or curtain 40 is positioned to cover of a plurality of widths.
As shown in
A faceplate 12 may extend down and away from the traverse rod 11 a greater distance than the distance the curtain flap carriers 20 extend away from the traverse rod 11. In some embodiments, the curtain flap 30 may extend from the curtain head 41 down under the faceplate 12 and up to be secured by a plurality of curtain flap carriers 20. In further embodiments, the faceplate 12 may comprise a flap contacting surface 13 configured to contact a portion of the curtain flap 30 to direct the portion of the curtain flap 30 down and away from the traverse rod 11 a greater distance than the distance the curtain flap carriers 20 extend away from the traverse rod 11. In embodiments, in which the traverse rod 11 comprises a fixed length, the apparatus 100 may comprise a faceplate 12 which is coupled to and extends the length of the transverse rod 11. In embodiments, in which the traverse rod 11 comprises two or more traverse rod telescoping sections 18, a faceplate 12 may be coupled to and extend the length of each traverse rod telescoping section 18. In further embodiments, a faceplate 12 may be coupled to and extend the length greater than, less than, or equal to the length of a traverse rod telescoping section 18 and/or the length of the transverse rod 11.
In some embodiments, a faceplate 12 may be temporarily joined to a traverse rod 11 and/or to a traverse rod telescoping section 18 by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as tongue and groove fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners such as screws and bolts, buckle type fasteners and the like, or any other suitable joining method capable of temporarily securing portions of a faceplate 12 to a traverse rod 11 and/or to a traverse rod telescoping section 18. In other embodiments, a faceplate 12 may be substantially permanently joined to a traverse rod 11 and/or to a traverse rod telescoping section 18 with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, by being integrally molded or formed together, or any other suitable joining method capable of substantially permanently securing portions of a faceplate 12 to a traverse rod 11 and/or to a traverse rod telescoping section 18.
A flap contacting surface 13 may extend along the bottom of a faceplate 12 to provide a preferably low friction surface for the curtain flap 30 to contact and slide against. The flap contacting surface 13 of a faceplate 12 may direct and maintain the position of portions of the curtain flap 30 below the curtain flap carriers 20 allowing the curtain flap carriers 20 to move freely along the length of the traverse rod 11 within a track 15 (
The traverse rod 11 may comprises a track 15 (
Turning now to
In some embodiments, a conveyance 23 may comprise a wheel and the conveyance 23 may be rotatably joined to the first end 21 on an axle, with ball bearings, or with any other suitable joining method allowing the conveyance 23 to rotate while being joined to the first end 21. A conveyance 23 may be configured to fit inside the track 15 (
As shown in
The second end 22 of a curtain flap carrier 20 may be configured to couple to a curtain flap 30. In some embodiments, the second end 22 of a curtain flap carrier 20 may comprise a curtain flap fastener 24, such as a spring loaded clip or alligator clip, which may be removably coupled to the curtain flap 30. In other embodiments, a curtain flap fastener 24 may removably couple a curtain flap carrier 20 to the curtain flap 30 by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as Velcro type fasteners, tongue and groove fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners such as screws and bolts, buckle type fasteners and the like, or any other suitable joining method capable of temporarily securing portions of a second end 22 of a curtain flap carrier 20 to a the curtain flap 30. In other embodiments, a curtain flap fastener 24 may be configured to permanently couple to the curtain flap 30 with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, by being integrally molded or formed together, or any other suitable joining method capable of substantially permanently coupling portions of a curtain flap fastener 24 to a curtain flap 30.
In preferred embodiments, the first end 21 may be joined to the second end 22 with a swivel 25 or other rotatable connection method. In other embodiments, the first end 21 may be joined to the second end 22 with a pivotally joining method such as a butt hinge, butterfly hinge, flush hinge, barrel hinge, concealed hinge, continuous hinge, T-hinge, strap hinge, double-acting hinge, Soss hinge, a flexible material hinge, or any other type or style of hinge. In further embodiments, the first end 21 may be joined to the second end 22 with a static or non-movable connection method such as heat bonding, chemical bonding, by being integrally molded or formed together, or any other static or non-movable connection method.
While some materials have been provided, in other embodiments, some of the elements that comprise the apparatus 100 such as the traverse rod 11, curtain flap carrier 20, and optional faceplate 12 may be made from durable materials such as aluminum, steel, other metals and metal alloys, wood, hard rubbers, hard plastics, fiber reinforced plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, resins, polymers or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, one or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the apparatus 100 may be coupled or connected together with heat bonding, chemical bonding, adhesives, clasp type fasteners, clip type fasteners, rivet type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, other types of fasteners, or any other suitable joining method. In other embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the apparatus 100 may be coupled or removably connected by being press fit or snap fit together, by one or more fasteners such as hook and loop type or Velcro® fasteners, magnetic type fasteners, threaded type fasteners, sealable tongue and groove fasteners, snap fasteners, clip type fasteners, clasp type fasteners, ratchet type fasteners, a push-to-lock type connection method, a turn-to-lock type connection method, slide-to-lock type connection method or any other suitable temporary connection method as one reasonably skilled in the art could envision to serve the same function. In further embodiments, one or more of the elements that comprise the apparatus 100 may be coupled by being one of connected to and integrally formed with another element of the apparatus 100.
In some embodiments, the traverse rod 11, end cap 17, and/or faceplate 12 may be made from extruded metal alloys or folded sheet metal alloys. One or more elements may be made from or comprise durable and slightly flexible materials such as soft plastics, silicone, soft rubbers, or any other suitable materials including combinations of materials. Additionally, the apparatus 100 may comprise low friction plastics such as Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), low friction ceramics, low friction or lubricated metal alloys, or any other low friction material that is suitable for reducing friction such as on the traverse rod 11, track 15, faceplate 12, and/or on the flap contacting surface 13.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplated thereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/033,818, filed on Aug. 6, 2014, entitled “SLIDING BLACKOUT CURTAIN APPARATUS”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62033818 | Aug 2014 | US |
