U.S. patent application number 10/236860 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-11 for pleated window treatments.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Linda, Smith, Park B..
Application Number | 20040045684 10/236860 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31990711 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040045684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith, Park B. ; et
al. |
March 11, 2004 |
Pleated window treatments
Abstract
A pleated window treatment is suspended on a rod by means of a
rod engaging means which may comprise a continuous rod pocket or a
series of straps that are affixed to the back side of a pleated
window treatment at a point where it is desired to have the window
treatment supported by a rod.
Inventors: |
Smith, Park B.; (New York,
NY) ; Johnson, Linda; (Lloyd Harbor, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COUDERT BROTHERS
ATTN: LEWIS REFF
1114 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
31990711 |
Appl. No.: |
10/236860 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/348 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 13/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/348 |
International
Class: |
A47H 013/14 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A pleated window treatment having at its upper portion means for
suspending said window treatment on a rod, said means comprising a
rod engaging means affixed to the back side of said window
treatment at a point where said window treatment is supported by a
rod.
2. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 1 wherein said
window treatment is selected from the group consisting of
draperies, curtains, valences, soft shades and soft blinds.
3. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 1 wherein said
rod engaging means for suspending said window treatment comprises
one or a plurality of channels arranged transversely to the
longitudinal axis of said window treatment.
4. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 1 wherein said
rod engaging means for suspending said window treatment comprises a
plurality of straps arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis
of said window treatment.
5. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 2 wherein said
rod engaging means comprises a plurality of channels arranged
transversely to the longitudinal axis of said window treatment.
6. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 3 wherein each of
said plurality of straps is segmented into separate sections to
form a means for transversely engaging a rod at different
levels.
7. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 1 wherein the
pleat is a pleat selected from the group consisting of box pleats,
pinch pleats, pencil pleats, french pleats, parisian pleats, goblet
pleats, butterfly pleats, reverse pinch pleats, unlined pinch
pleats, roll pleats, grouped pleats and double pinch pleats.
8. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 7 wherein the
pleats are tab back pinch pleats.
9. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 7 wherein the
pleats are rod pocket pinch pleats.
10. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 7 wherein the
pleats are tab back box pleats.
11. A pleated window treatment as defined in claim 7 wherein the
pleats are rod pocket box pleats.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Windows such as those which are found in residential
settings are typically provided with window treatments. The term
window treatment is used herein to include pleated curtains,
pleated draperies, pleated fabric panels and the like. Any type of
drapery fabric or curtain fabric derived from natural or man-made
materials may be used to make the pleated window treatments of the
invention.
[0002] The primary function of a window treatment is to restrict
the amount of light and visual access through windows but the
aesthetic result is considered by most purchasers as being the
primary basis for selection of one of a plurality of competing
styles. Pleated window treatments are selected for a particular
window treatment to provide a distinct style due to arrangement of
the pleats towards the upper edge of the window treatment which
cause the fabric to hang in the form of gracefully expanding folds
that provide an esthetically acceptable appearance to the window
treatment.
[0003] In the prior art, pleated window treatments have been hung
on support rods by the means of metal hooks that have one end
shaped to engage a support rod and the other end affixed to a
reinforcing band of material that is affixed to the upper edge of
the pleated window treatment. The metal hooks have been attached to
reinforcing band of material by the insertion of a sharpened end of
the metal hook or by being sewn or fixed to the band of material by
a suitable fastener.
[0004] The applicant has devised a means of suspending a pleated
window treatment which avoids the need to use metal hooks or a
reinforcing band of material as a mounting means on the upper
inside part of the pleated window treatment for the purpose of
receiving metal hooks that are used to engage a rod.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention provides a novel means for suspending a
pleated window treatment on a rod by means which is formed into a
rod engaging means that may comprise a continuous rod pocket or a
series of straps that are affixed to the back side of a pleated
window treatment at a point where it is desired to have the window
treatment supported by a rod. The rod is used to support the
pleated window treatment and the rod engaging means are preferably
affixed to a surface which is in close proximity to the pleats on
the window treatment.
[0006] The term window treatment is used to include draperies,
curtains, valences, soft shades and soft blinds.
[0007] Accordingly it is a primary object of the invention to
provide a novel pleated window treatment that can be suspended on a
rod without the use of metal hooks.
[0008] It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel
construction for a pleated window treatment that maintains the
traditional appearance of a pleated window treatment without the
need to include a reinforcing band of material at the inside of the
upper part of the pleated window treatment.
[0009] These and other objects of the invention will become
apparent from a review of the specification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an upper portion of a
rod pocket pinch pleated window treatment according to the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is top view of a rod pocket pinch pleated window
treatment according to FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of a rod pocket pinch pleated window
treatment according to FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a back view of a tab back; pinch pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a front view of a tab back; pinch pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a back view of a tab back, pinch pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a top view of a tab back, pinch pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a tab back, pinch pleated
window treatment with open straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a back perspective view of a tab back, pinch
pleated window treatment with segmented straps to be used as
support elements according to the invention.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front view of a tab back, pinch pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a back view of a tab back, pinch pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a top view of a tab back, pinch pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a tab back, pinch pleated
window treatment with segmented straps to be used as support
elements according to the invention.
[0023] FIG. 14 is a back perspective view of a tab back box pleated
window treatment with open straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0024] FIG. 15 is a front view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0025] FIG. 16 is a back view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0026] FIG. 17 is a top view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with open straps to be used as support elements according
to the invention.
[0027] FIG. 18 is a back view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0028] FIG. 19 is a front view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0029] FIG. 20 is a back view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
[0030] FIG. 21 is a top view of a tab back box pleated window
treatment with segmented straps to be used as support elements
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Pleats are well known decorative folds of fabric that are
fixed in place by stitching. Examples of pleats include but are not
limited to box pleats, pinch pleats, pencil pleats, french pleats,
parisian pleats, goblet pleats, butterfly pleats, reverse pinch
pleats, unlined pinch pleats, roll pleats, grouped pleats, double
pinch pleats and the like. Many pleats are illustrated in Sunset
Curtains, Draperies and Shades, Library of Congress Catalog No.
92-62829, PP 60-65, which are incorporated by reference.
[0032] FIG. 1 discloses an embodiment of a pleated window treatment
2 having a trifold pleat 4 and a rod pocket 6. The rod pocket 6 is
positioned at the top 8 of the back of the pleated window treatment
2. Folds 12 are formed by the fabric that extends from the pleats
downwardly to the lower part of the front of window treatment 2.
The rod pocket 6 is sized to accommodate any standard sized rod to
provide support for the hanging of the window treatment. The rod
pocket 6 makes it possible to eliminate the need to employ any
stiff material that is traditionally used to engage the metal hooks
that have been used to support window treatments.
[0033] Conventional pleat stiffening materials, e.g. buckram, may
be used as a backing for the pleat forming areas of fabrics.
Fabrics, which lack sufficient body to maintain a fixed position,
usually require the addition of a stiffening material in order to
hold the pleat in the desired shape. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the
window treatment of FIG. 1 which shows the top 10 of trifold pleat
4 and the folds 14 that are formed by the fabric that hangs from
the pleat.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1 which shows the rod pocket
6. The side edge of panel 2 is hemmed to provide a finished edge on
the panel.
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a tab back pinch pleat type of window treatment
which has pinch pleats that are identical to the pinch pleat
construction of FIG. 1. This window treatment differs from the
window treatment of FIG. 1 in that it has straps 18 that form a
series of separate support elements that are placed at the back of
the pinch pleats and at the top back edges of the window treatment
to form a means that will engage a rod that is inserted
transversely to the longitudinal axis of the window treatment.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a front view of a pleated window treatment having
pleats that are the same as FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a back view of FIG. 4
which shows straps 18 as the support means for transversely
engaging a rod and FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 4. The side of
strap 18 is shown in FIG. 8.
[0037] FIG. 9 shows a tab back pinch pleat type of window treatment
which has pinch pleats that are identical to the pinch pleat
construction of FIG. 1. This window treatment differs from the
window treatment of FIG. 1 in that it has straps 26 that form a
series of separate support elements that are placed at the back of
the pinch pleats and at the top back edges of the window treatment
to form a means that will engage a rod that is inserted
transversely to the longitudinal axis of the window treatment. FIG.
9 varies from FIG. 4 in that the straps 26 are separated into
segments by stitching 28 and 30 that form a series of pockets 25,
27, and 29 that may be used to transversely engage a rod at
different heights.
[0038] The segments that are formed by stitching 28 and 30 as shown
in FIG. 9 make it possible for the window treatment to be hung at
different levels that may be selected at the time that the window
treatment is installed.
[0039] FIGS. 10-13 are front, back, top and front perspective views
of a pinch pleat window treatment having straps 26 on the back side
of the window treatment. These straps are segmented into pockets
25, 27 and 29 by stitching 28 and 30.
[0040] FIG. 14 shows a tab back box pleat construction having
straps 38 that form a series of separate support elements that are
placed at the back of the box pleat to form a means that will
engage a rod that is inserted transversely to the longitudinal axis
of the window treatment. FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are, respectively, the
front, back and top view of the drapery of FIG. 14. It may be seen
that FIG. 18 varies from FIG. 14 in that the straps 46 are
separated into segments by stitching 48 and stitching 50 which
forms a series of pockets 54, 56, and 58 that may be used to
transversely engage a rod at different heights. By the use of the
segments that are formed by stitching 48 and 50 in FIG. 18, it is
possible for the window treatment to be hung at different levels
that may be selected at the time that the window treatment is
installed. This is made possible by selecting one of a plurality of
levels where a rod may be transversely passed through pockets 54,
56, and 58. While it has not been illustrated, it is also within
the scope of the invention to modify a continuous rod pocket such
as the rod pocket 6 in FIG. 3 by placing transverse rows of
stitching through the pocket to create different channels which may
be utilized to transversely engage a rod.
[0041] FIG. 19 shows a front view of a window treatment of FIG. 18
and FIG. 20 shows a back view of the window treatment of FIG. 18.
The straps 46 are separated into segments by stitching 48 and
stitching 50 which forms a series of pockets 54, 56, and 58 that
may be used to transversely engage a rod at different heights. By
the use of the segments that are formed by stitching 48 and 50 in
FIG. 18, it is possible for the window treatment to be hung at
different levels which may be selected at the time that the window
treatment is installed. This is made possible by selecting one of a
plurality of levels where a rod may be transversely passed through
pockets 54, 56, and 58. FIG. 21 is a top view of FIG. 19 which
shows the front and rear profiles of the window treatment.
* * * * *