The present invention relates to curtains and more particularly to a temporary covering for a window in which the covering is adapted to either raise or lower by operating two locking mechanisms so as to choose a desired length of a foldable slat assembly hanged over a window.
Conventionally, curtains, draperies, or blinds are mounted on windows, sliding doors, or the like. Typically, there is no furniture and even no curtains and/or blinds for a new home or an apartment to be rented. Draperies are not cheap and are typically bought for long time use purpose. Thus, a new homeowner or renter may take a considerable period of time to acquire draperies for installation. In another aspect, draperies are varied in its texture, type, color, etc. Thus, choosing a desired drapery may take more than one week for a careful person. In other words, there is no covering for window for the period of time between taking possession of an apartment or home and the installation of permanent draperies.
Moreover, washing or replacement of a drapery may be needed after a period of time of use. As such, there is no window covering during this period of time, i.e., no privacy for persons living in the home or apartment.
It has been suggested to install a temporary covering at a window in which the covering is adapted to either raise to let in light or look through or lower to limit view therethrough. A prior patent discloses such suggestion is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,655 to Ogino. The patented temporary drapery assembly comprises a sheet of drapery material and a pair of stiffening strips mounted on top and bottom of the sheet of drapery material respectively. Also, a cord is threaded through bores of the strips and openings of the sheet of drapery material at either side of the temporary drapery assembly. A person may either raise or lower the foldable drapery assembly by pulling or letting down the sheet of drapery material respectively. Such raising and lowering means is advantageous. However, forming of the bores and openings and running the cords therethrough may inevitably increase the manufacturing cost. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a temporary covering for a window comprising a foldable slat assembly including a top including a removable strip of paper and an adhesive disposed under the strip of paper such that removal of the strip of paper will enable an attachment of the exposed adhesive to a window or window frame, a plurality of slats disposed under the top wherein the slats are formed of a combination of opaque material and paper coated with a resilient material, one slat is adapted to fold onto an immediately lower one, and either side of each slat comprises an opening wherein the openings are aligned, and a bottom adapted to extend downward from the top due to weight of the slats and adapted to unfold and position the slat assembly in a fully folded one, a fully extended one, or an intermediate one therebetween; and two locking mechanisms each mounted in either side of the slat assembly, wherein each locking mechanism is adapted to insert through the openings of a selected number of slats and lock the same, thereby determining an area of the window covered by the slat assembly.
In one aspect of the present invention, the covering is folded prior to storing in a box formed of cardboard for ease of carrying.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, there is shown a temporary covering 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The covering 10 comprises a foldable slat assembly 11 including a top 12, a bottom 13, and a plurality of rectangular slats 14 disposed under the top 12 in which one slat 14 is folded onto an immediately lower one (see
An adhesive 20 is coated on the top 12 such that the slat assembly 11 can be attached to window or window frame. The adhesive 20 is covered initially with a removable strip of paper 21 having a free lower face 22 which may be waxed or otherwise coated for easy removal for exposing an adhesive surface 23 of adhesive 20 without disturbing the adhesive 20 prior to attaching the slat assembly 11 to a window frame (see arrow in
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A user may press the cap 32 onto the post 33 on the base 31 for inserting the spherical member 35 through the channel 39 into the hole 34 for disposing therein. The spherical member 35 is flexibly compressed toward its center slit 37 (i.e., diameter decreased) during the insertion. As an end, the spherical member 35 is adapted to insert through the channel 39 into the hole 34 for disposing therein. That is, the cap 32 is secured to the post 33 on the base 31. Moreover, a cord 36 is formed to interconnect the cap 32 and the base 31. The provision of the cord 36 can facilitate the storage and use of the locking mechanism 30.
For choosing a desired length of the covering 10 hanged over a window, a user may insert the post 33 on the base 31 through the opening 17 at the bottom 13 and the openings 17 of a desired number of slats 14 thereover. That is, the slats 14 are put on the post 33. Finally, press the cap 32 onto the post 33 for defining the number of slats 14 between the cap 32 and the base 31. As an end, the purpose of choosing a desired length of the covering 10 (i.e., the slat assembly 11) hanged over the window is achieved.
In brief, the invention employs two locking mechanisms for enabling a person to choose a desired length of a slat assembly of a temporary covering hanged over a window. Thus, there is no need for a new homeowner or renter to worry a lack of privacy while living therein due to no installation of permanent draperies initially.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.