U.S. patent application number 11/684078 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-11 for panel track curtain system.
Invention is credited to Ian Ellbogen.
Application Number | 20080216965 11/684078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39740463 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080216965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ellbogen; Ian |
September 11, 2008 |
PANEL TRACK CURTAIN SYSTEM
Abstract
The panel track curtain system includes a plurality of panels
each suspended from a substantially rigid slat which is itself
suspended from at least one track of the panel track curtain
system. The panels at least partially overlap each other when the
curtain system is in a closed position, thus defining an
overlapping zone between adjacent ones of the panels. The
overlapping zone includes an overlapped region of an underlying
panel and an overlapping region of an overlying panel. The panels
each have at least one aesthetic characteristic on their front
surface, and includes a longitudinally extending band that has a
width determined by that of the overlapping zone. These bands
create a repeating vertical band pattern when the curtain system is
closed. This vertical band pattern reduces a level of
perceptibility of the overlapped region, which is visible through
the superimposed overlapping region.
Inventors: |
Ellbogen; Ian; (Montreal,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OGILVY RENAULT LLP
1981 MCGILL COLLEGE AVENUE, SUITE 1600
MONTREAL
QC
H3A2Y3
CA
|
Family ID: |
39740463 |
Appl. No.: |
11/684078 |
Filed: |
March 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/126 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 2023/003 20130101;
A47H 2001/047 20130101; A47H 2023/025 20130101; A47H 23/04
20130101; A47H 23/08 20130101; E06B 9/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/126 |
International
Class: |
A47H 23/00 20060101
A47H023/00 |
Claims
1. A panel track curtain system for covering a wall opening
comprising: a plurality of panels each defining an upper edge, a
lower edge, two longitudinally extending side edges and front and
back surfaces, each said upper edge being engaged to a
substantially rigid slat such that the panel hangs freely
therefrom, the slat being suspended from at least one track of the
panel track curtain system; said panels at least partially
overlapping each other when the curtain system is disposed in a
closed position such as to define an overlapping zone between
adjacent ones of the panels, the overlapping zone including an
overlapped region of an underlying panel and an overlapping region
of an overlying panel; and each of the panels having at least one
aesthetic characteristic on the front surface thereof which defines
a longitudinally extending band having a band width determined by a
width of the overlapping zone, the aesthetic characteristics of the
panels creating a repeating vertical band pattern when the curtain
system is disposed in a closed position which reduces a level of
perceptibility of the overlapped region of the underlying panel
visible through said overlapping region of the overlying panel.
2. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 1, wherein
the aesthetic characteristic includes at least one of a pattern and
colour which differs from that of a remainder of the panels.
3. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 2, wherein
the aesthetic characteristic is disposed throughout said
overlapping zone.
4. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 3, wherein
the aesthetic characteristic at least partially obscures the
overlapped region of the underlying panel.
5. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 4, wherein
the aesthetic characteristic fully obscures said overlapped
region.
6. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 5, wherein
said longitudinally extending band has an opacity greater than that
of the remainder of said panels.
7. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 1, wherein
the aesthetic characteristic is disposed outside said zone and
mimics an appearance of said overlapped region of the underlying
adjacent one of the panels visible through said zone of the forward
one of said panels.
8. The panel track system as defined in claim 1, wherein at least a
remainder of each of the panels outside said overlapping zone is
made of an at least partially translucent material.
9. The panel track system as defined in claim 8, wherein said
longitudinally extending band is defined only within said
overlapping region of each of the overlying panels.
10. The panel track system as defined in claim 8, wherein an
entirety of the panel is made of said at least partially
translucent material, said aid longitudinally extending band being
disposed overtop said at least partially translucent material
within said overlapping region of each of the overlying panels.
11. The panel track system as defined in claim 1, wherein said
overlapping region of the overlying panel is disposed along one of
said two longitudinally extending side edges thereof.
12. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a pair of tracks adapted to be mounted parallel to each
other above the opening, and first and second fastening elements
disposed at respective opposed ends of each of said slats for
suspending the slats from said pair of tracks, the first and second
fastening elements being received within a different one of said
pair of tracks such that each of the opposed ends of said slats is
suspended from said different one of the pair of tracks, the slats
and the panels thereby hanging at an angle relative to the pair of
tracks.
13. A panel track curtain system for covering a wall opening
comprising: a pair of tracks adapted to be mounted parallel to each
other above the opening; a plurality of panels each defining an
upper edge, a lower edge, two longitudinally extending side edges
and front and back surfaces, each said upper edge being engaged to
a substantially rigid slat such that the panel hangs freely
therefrom; first and second fastening elements disposed at
respective opposed ends of each of said slats for suspending the
slats from said pair of tracks, the first and second fastening
elements each having a portion received within a different one of
said pair of tracks such that each of the opposed ends of said
slats is suspended from said different one of the pair of tracks,
the slats and the panels thereby hanging at an angle relative to
the pair of tracks; and said panels at least partially overlapping
each other when the curtain system is disposed in a closed position
such as to define an overlapping zone between adjacent ones of the
panels, the overlapping zone having a first width and including an
overlapped region of an underlying panel and an overlapping region
of an overlying panel, each of the panels having a longitudinally
extending band having a second width substantially equal to said
first width, the longitudinally extending band on each of the
adjacent panels creating a repeating vertical band pattern when the
plurality of panels of the curtain system are disposed in a closed
position, said repeating vertical band pattern reducing a level of
perceptibility, within the overlapping zone, of the overlapped
region of the underlying panel visible through said overlapping
region of the overlying panel.
14. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 13, wherein
said longitudinally extending band is disposed within said
overlapping region of each of the overlying panels.
15. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 14, wherein
said longitudinally extending band fully obscures said overlapped
region of the underlying panel.
16. The panel track curtain system as defined in claim 15, wherein
said longitudinally extending band has an opacity greater than that
of a remainder of said overlying panel.
17. The panel track system as defined in claim 16, wherein at least
said remainder of the overlying panel is made of an at least
partially translucent material.
18. A panel for a panel track curtain system, the panel comprising:
an upper edge, a lower edge and two longitudinally extending side
edges, the upper edge being configured for mounting to a
substantially rigid slat from which the panel hangs; and a band
extending along one of said longitudinally extending side edges,
said band having an opacity greater than that of a remainder of
said panel, said band overlapping a portion of an adjacent panel
when a plurality of such panels are suspended by the panel track
curtain system.
19. The panel as defined in claim 18, wherein said remainder of the
panel is made of an at least partially translucent material.
20. The panel as defined in claim 19, wherein the panel is
completely made of said at least partially translucent material,
said band being applied overtop thereof along said one of said
longitudinally extending side edges.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates generally to curtain systems,
and more particularly to a panel track type curtain system having
several flat panels suspended from overhead tracks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Curtain systems which comprise several suspended
substantially flat panels, for example made of a curtain material,
are known. In the past, such systems typically comprises a number
of parallel tracks which are mounted to the ceiling above the
opening (window, door, etc.) which the curtain system is to cover,
and having a similar number of curtain panels, each one suspended
within a separate track. For example, if four curtain panels were
employed, then four distinct tracks were required, whether mounted
together in a common housing or not. Accordingly, in such a system,
it was possible for the panels to completely overlap one another,
such as when the curtain panels are drawn aside to expose the
opening there-behind. Conversely, however, when fully drawn, very
little if no overlap between each adjacent panel occurs given their
distinct tracks (i.e. the edges of two adjacent panels could be
substantially aligned such that very little overlap of the fabric
of one panel would exist over that of the next panel).
[0003] More recently, improved panel track type curtain systems
have been developed with employ only two parallel tracks mounted to
the ceiling, from which a plurality of flat curtain panels may be
suspended. The advantage with such a system is that fewer tracks
are required, simplifying the installation and allowing a more
visually appealing final system. However with such as system, for
example as disclosed in Canadian Patent Application No. 2,506,623,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference,
it becomes necessary that each curtain panel must at least
partially overlap the next adjacent curtain panel, even when the
curtain system is fully drawn (i.e. when the panels extends fully
across the opening which they are intended to cover). The width of
this overlap is typically of the order of 1/4 of the total width of
each panel.
[0004] While in some situations this overlap of adjacent suspended
panels in a panel track curtain system is not problematic, for
example when the panels are completely opaque (ex: wood, etc.),
when a translucent panel material is used, such as a standard
curtain material for example, these overlapped regions have found
to be unsightly to some users. Particularly, when light shines
through a window covered by such a panel track system having
overlapping curtain panels, the overlapped regions appear as darker
vertical bands caused by the double-layer of curtain panel fabric
in these regions. Although in practice no harm is done by this,
aesthetically speaking it is somewhat unattractive. Given that in
addition to their use to prevent people outside the building from
seeing therein through the given opening (ex: window or door),
another use of curtain systems is for improving the aesthetic
appeal of the inside the building, this reduced aesthetic caused by
the overlapping curtain panels of such as panel track curtain
system is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved
panel track curtain system.
[0006] Therefore, in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, there is provided a panel track curtain system for
covering a wall opening comprising: a plurality of panels each
defining an upper edge, a lower edge, two longitudinally extending
side edges and front and back surfaces, each said upper edge being
engaged to a substantially rigid slat such that the panel hangs
freely therefrom, the slat being suspended from at least one track
of the panel track curtain system; said panels at least partially
overlapping each other when the curtain system is disposed in a
closed position such as to define an overlapping zone between
adjacent ones of the panels, the overlapping zone including an
overlapped region of an underlying panel and an overlapping region
of an overlying panel; and each of the panels having at least one
aesthetic characteristic on the front surface thereof which defines
a longitudinally extending band having a band width determined by a
width of the overlapping zone, the aesthetic characteristics of the
panels creating a repeating vertical band pattern when the curtain
system is disposed in a closed position which reduces a level of
perceptibility of the overlapped region of the underlying panel
visible through said overlapping region of the overlying panel.
[0007] There is also provided, in accordance with another aspect of
the present invention, a panel track curtain system for covering a
wall opening comprising: a pair of tracks adapted to be mounted
parallel to each other above the opening; a plurality of panels
each defining an upper edge, a lower edge, two longitudinally
extending side edges and front and back surfaces, each said upper
edge being engaged to a substantially rigid slat such that the
panel hangs freely therefrom; first and second fastening elements
disposed at respective opposed ends of each of said slats for
suspending the slats from said pair of tracks, the first and second
fastening elements each having a portion received within a
different one of said pair of tracks such that each of the opposed
ends of said slats is suspended from said different one of the pair
of tracks, the slats and the panels thereby hanging at an angle
relative to the pair of tracks; and said panels at least partially
overlapping each other when the curtain system is disposed in a
closed position such as to define an overlapping zone between
adjacent ones of the panels, the overlapping zone having a first
width and including an overlapped region of an underlying panel and
an overlapping region of an overlying panel, each of the panels
having a longitudinally extending band having a second width
substantially equal to said first width, the longitudinally
extending band on each of the adjacent panels creating a repeating
vertical band pattern when the plurality of panels of the curtain
system are disposed in a closed position, said repeating vertical
band pattern reducing a level of perceptibility, within the
overlapping zone, of the overlapped region of the underlying panel
visible through said overlapping region of the overlying panel.
[0008] There is also provided, in accordance with another aspect of
the present invention, a panel for a panel track curtain system,
the panel comprising: an upper edge, a lower edge and two
longitudinally extending side edges, the upper edge being
configured for mounting to a substantially rigid slat from which
the panel hangs; and a band extending along one of said
longitudinally extending side edges, said band having an opacity
greater than that of a remainder of said panel, said band
overlapping a portion of an adjacent panel when a plurality of such
panels are suspended by the panel track curtain system.
[0009] There is further provided, in accordance with another aspect
of the present invention, a method of manufacturing a panel for a
panel track curtain system, the method comprising: producing a
substantially rectangular panel of a first material, the panel
having an upper edge, a lower edge and two longitudinally extending
side edges; and providing a band extending along one of said
longitudinally extending side edges of said panel, said band having
an opacity greater than that of a remainder of said panel.
[0010] There is further provided, in accordance with another aspect
of the present invention, a method of obscuring an overlapped
region of a panel in a panel track curtain system having a
plurality of said panels, the method comprising providing each of
said panels with an at least partially opaque band extending along
a longitudinally extending side edge thereof, said band overlapping
said overlapped region of a next adjacent one of said panels when
the curtain system is disposed in a fully closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken
in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a panel track curtain system
of the prior art;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the panel track curtain
system in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is schematic cross-sectional view taken through line
A-A in FIG. 2; and
[0015] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a single panel for use
in a panel track curtain system of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a panel track curtain system of the prior art,
which includes generally a rail assembly having two rails 7,8 which
are mounted to the ceiling 12 of the room, above the opening to be
covered by the curtain system. Such an opening may include, for
example, a window, a glass door, etc. A number of substantially
flat curtain panels 9 are suspended from the two rails 7,8. The two
rails 7,8 are run parallel to one another at a small distance away
from each other. Each curtain panel 9 comprises a panel carriage
with a substantially rigid slat 1, from which the curtain panel 9
may freely hang. A hollow seam at the upper edge of the curtain
panel may for example be provided such that the slat 1 is received
therethrough. So that the curtain material hangs freely, the lower
seam of the panel may also be provided with tensioning weights, for
example including a weighted rod disposed within the lower hollow
seam of the panel. Each slat 1 on which the curtain panel 9 hangs
is provided at both opposed ends with fastening means 4 which are
engaged with a slider or roller 6 that is received within the rails
7 or 8. For each curtain panel 9, the left ends 2 of the slats 1
with their fastening means 4 are hung on the sliders 6 which slide
in the front rail 7 facing the observer. The respective the right
ends 3 of the slats 1 on the other side, with their fastening means
4 are hung on the sliders 6 which slide in the rail 8 behind the
front 7. Therefore, as a result of this arrangement, the individual
panels 9 are compelled to hang at a slightly oblique angle with
regard to the running direction of the rail 7, 8.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 2, the panel track curtain system 10
in accordance with one aspect of the present invention is shown.
The panel track curtain system 10 generally includes a pair of
tracks or rails 7,8, and a plurality of substantially flat panels
14 which hang from substantially rigid slats 1 having opposed ends
2,3 that are respectively supported within the rails 7,8 by
fastening elements 6, the fastening elements engaging the opposed
ends 2,3 of each of the slats 1 and being suspended within the
tracks 6,7 for displacement therewithin. The fastening elements 6
may comprise any suitable attachment member which permits an end of
the slat 1 to be suspended therefrom (preferably being removably
engaged thereto) and which includes a portion which is received
within the tracks for displacement therealong. This portion of the
fastening elements 6 which is received within the tracks may
include a slider, a roller, or the like, permitting relatively
smooth sliding motion of the fastening element within the tracks.
The substantially rigid supporting slats 1 may be made of any
suitable material, such as metal, wood, plastic, composites, etc,
providing they have sufficient strength.
[0018] The tracks 7,8 are mounted spaced apart from each other
above the opening (not shown) to be covered by the curtain system.
As noted above, such an opening may include a door, a window, a
room partition or the like. In the depicted embodiment, these
tracks 7,8 are mounted to the ceiling 12 and are substantially
parallel to each other. The tracks 7,8 may also be integrated into
a common housing, rather than being individual as depicted, and the
rails 7,8 can of course also be mounted on a suitable support
structure, such as a board or a box assembly, which is disposed
lower than the ceiling 12 and may be mounted to the wall itself,
for example.
[0019] Referring particularly now to the panels 14, the panels 14
comprise an upper edge 16, a lower edge 18 and a pair of
longitudinally extending side edges 20 extending between the upper
and lower edges. Preferably, the panels 14 are substantially
rectangular in shape, however it is to be understood that alternate
shapes and configurations are possible. Further, although the
panels 14 may be substantially flat in at least one embodiment, in
that they hang in a substantially planar manner, it is to be
understood that these panels 14 may be made of a fabric and as such
may have wrinkles, creases, and the like therein, and further that
they may have ornamentation and/or other decorative elements
disposed thereon. As such, the panels 14 may not necessarily be
flat in the sense of lack of surface roughness, but rather are flat
in that they typically hang down in a given plane. Further, the
panels 14 may also be provided with a certain curvature. For
example, the panels 14 may be either concave or convex along the
longitudinal length of the panels.
[0020] Each of the panels 14 includes at least one aesthetic
characteristic thereon, and more particularly on a front surface
thereof (i.e. a surface facing the room, as opposed to a surface
facing the window or door covered by the curtain system), which
defines a longitudinally extending band 22. The longitudinally
extending band 22 defines a band width 26 which is less than a
total width of the panel 14. In one embodiment, the band width 26
is less than half of this total panel width, and in yet another
more preferred embodiment, the band width 26 is approximately one
third of the total panel width. Of course, alternate configurations
are possible, for example in which the band width 26 is less than
one third of the total panel width. The width 26 of the band 22 is
in fact determined by a width of an overlapping zone 28 (best seen
in FIG. 3) which is defined between adjacent panels 14 which at
least partially overlap each other when the curtain system 10 is
disposed in a closed position, i.e. when the curtain panels 14 are
drawn closed such that they substantially cover the wall opening
therebehind. Thus, when the curtain system is closed, the adjacent
panels 14 thereof each substantially overlap one another due to the
common tracks 7,8 from which they are all suspended. When the
panels overlap, they define such an overlapping zone 26 between
adjacent and overlapping panels. Referring more particularly to
FIG. 3, each of these overlapping zones 26 between adjacent panels
14 include an overlapped region 30 of an underlying panel 32 and an
overlapping region 34 of an overlying panel 36. Of course, as
several of such "pairs" of overlapping panels exist in the curtain
system 10, the overlying panel 36 would become an underlying panel
relative to a next adjacent panel (for example to the right of the
panel 36 in FIG. 3).
[0021] Referring back to FIG. 2, each of the panels 14 thus include
an aesthetic characteristic thereon which defines the
longitudinally extending band 22. Thus, with several of such panels
adjacent each other in a closed position of the curtain system,
this creates a repeating vertical band pattern, which helps to
reduce a level of perceptibility (that is to the user standing
within the room) of the overlapped region 30 of each of the
underlying panels 32 that is visible through the overlapping region
34 of the associated overlying panels 36. As noted above, in most
prior art panel track curtain systems, the overlapped regions of
each of the underlying panels is otherwise visible through the
overlying panel (for example when light shines through the window
covered by the curtain system), which can be unsightly. This
problem is obviated or at least significantly reduced with the
curtain system 10.
[0022] Although the bands 22 may be disposed elsewhere on the panel
14, in at least one embodiment (such as that one depicted), the
bands 22 extend along one of the longitudinal side edges 20 of each
of the panels, within the aforementioned overlapping zone 28. More
specifically, each of the panels 14 includes this band 22 along the
same longitudinal edge 20 (i.e. such as along the left-hand side
edge of each of the panels in the curtain assembly 10 shown in FIG.
2). However, it at least one alternate embodiment (not shown), the
band 22 of the aesthetic characteristic may be disposed outside
this overlapping zone 28, that is on the "remainder" 24 of the
panel. In such an alternate embodiment, rather than merely
obscuring or hiding completely the overlapped region 30 of each
underlying panel 32, the band 22 may mimic the appearance of this
overlapped region 30 visible through the overlapping region 34 of
the overlying panel 36, such as to create another
similarly-appearing vertical band. Thus, while the overlapped
region 30 remains visible to the user, the band 22 on each panel
appears much as the overlapped region does, thus creating an
overall visual appearance in which it becomes difficult for the
user to distinguish the overlapped region 30, visible through the
overlapping region 34, from the adjacent band 22 located more
centrally on the panel (i.e. away from the longitudinal side edges
20).
[0023] In one embodiment, such as that depicted in FIG. 2 for
example, the band 22 disposed along one of the longitudinal side
edges 20 within the overlapping zone 28 has an opacity which is
greater than that of the remainder 24 of the panel 14, or in other
words, the band 22 lets sufficiently less light therethrough than
the remainder 24 of each panel 14 (which are therefore necessarily
more translucent that the bands 22). As such, light shining from
the rear side of the panels (such as through the window covered by
curtain system) does not result in the overlapped portion 30 of the
underlying panel 32 being visible through the associated overlying
panel 36.
[0024] In another embodiment, rather than simply being more opaque
that the remainder of the panel, the aesthetic characteristic which
includes the band 22 may include either a pattern or a colour which
differs from the remainder 24 of the panel, such as to provide the
same visual effect, i.e. reduce the level of perceptibility of the
overlapped region of the underlying panels through the superimposed
overlying panels.
[0025] The bands 22 may be applied to each of the panels 14 in a
number of fashions. Referring now to FIG. 4, the bands 22 may be
superimposed on top of the material from which the remainder 24 of
the panel 14 is composed, in which case the panel is made up of a
first layer of a substantially translucent curtain material 25
extending the full width W of the panel 14 (i.e. having a total
width W equal to the band width 26 plus a width 27 of the exposed
portion of the material 25), upon which a second layer (i.e. making
up the band 22) is applied overtop within the overlapping zone 28
(see FIG. 3). The second layer constituting the band 22 may be
adhered, sewn, or otherwise attached to the underlying fabric 25 to
which it is overlaid. Alternately, however, a longitudinal side
edge 31 of the band 22 may be simply fixed to the remainder portion
24 of the panel along a corresponding longitudinally extending side
edge 29 thereof. For example, the band 22 and the remainder portion
24 may be sewn together along abutting longitudinal edges thereof,
such as to create each panel 14. In this embodiment, material
making up the band 22 is not superimposed upon the base material
25, but rather merely fastened thereto to create a composite
panel.
[0026] Accordingly, the panels 14 of the panel track curtain system
10 may be manufactured by producing a substantially rectangular
panel of a first material, the panel having an upper edge, a lower
edge and two longitudinally extending side edges, and subsequently
providing a band extending along one of the longitudinally
extending side edges of the panel, whether this be by applying the
band overtop of the first material or attaching the band to a
longitudinal edge of the first material. In both cases, the band
extends along one of the longitudinally extending side edges of the
finished panel. In one embodiment, this band has an opacity greater
than that of the remainder of the panel (i.e. of the first
material).
[0027] The panel track curtain system 10 as described above thus
provides a method of obscuring an overlapped region of a panel
thereof. This method, broadly stated, comprises providing each of
the panels with an at least partially opaque band extending along a
longitudinally extending side edge thereof. The band overlaps the
overlapped region of a next adjacent one of the panels (i.e. one of
the underlying panels) when the curtain system is disposed in a
fully closed position.
[0028] The embodiments of the invention described above are
intended to be exemplary. Those skilled in the art will therefore
appreciate that the forgoing description is illustrative only, and
that various alternatives and modifications can be devised without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly,
the present is intended to embrace all such alternatives,
modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *