U.S. patent application number 12/220304 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-28 for pleat-forming drapery clip ring.
This patent application is currently assigned to Umbra LLC. Invention is credited to Luciano Lorenzatti.
Application Number | 20100018019 12/220304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41567330 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100018019 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lorenzatti; Luciano |
January 28, 2010 |
Pleat-forming drapery clip ring
Abstract
A drapery clip ring for hanging drapery on a drapery rod, the
drapery clip ring including a ring arranged to receive the drapery
rod therethrough, a gripping means connected to and extending away
from the ring, and a pleat endoskeleton connected to and extending
away from the ring, the pleat endoskeleton being arranged proximate
the gripping means, wherein the pleat endoskeleton is adapted to
provide an internal framework of a pleat formed in the drapery, and
the gripping means is operatively arranged to secure the pleat
formed in the drapery.
Inventors: |
Lorenzatti; Luciano;
(Markham, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SIMPSON & SIMPSON, PLLC
5555 MAIN STREET
WILLIAMSVILLE
NY
14221-5406
US
|
Assignee: |
Umbra LLC
Buffalo
NY
|
Family ID: |
41567330 |
Appl. No.: |
12/220304 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/716 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47H 13/16 20130101;
Y10T 24/51 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/716 |
International
Class: |
A47H 13/02 20060101
A47H013/02 |
Claims
1. A drapery clip ring for hanging drapery on a drapery rod, the
drapery clip ring comprising: a ring arranged to receive the
drapery rod therethrough; a gripping means connected to and
extending away from the ring; and, a pleat endoskeleton connected
to and extending away from the ring, the pleat endoskeleton being
arranged proximate the gripping means, wherein the pleat
endoskeleton is adapted to provide an internal framework of a pleat
formed in the drapery, and the gripping means is operatively
arranged to secure the pleat formed in the drapery.
2. The drapery clip ring recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat
endoskeleton is arranged substantially in front of the gripping
means, and the gripping means is arranged to secure the pleat
formed in the drapery behind the pleat endoskeleton.
3. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat
endoskeleton comprises a substantially planar front surface bounded
by two substantially vertical side edges.
4. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the pleat
endoskeleton is adapted to provide an internal framework of a box
pleat formed in the drapery.
5. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the gripping
means comprises a clip.
6. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 5 wherein the clip
comprises a left jaw pivotally connected to a right jaw, and an
urging means operatively arranged to urge the left jaw and right
jaw toward a closed position.
7. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 6 wherein the urging
means comprises a coil spring.
8. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 6 wherein the urging
means comprises a leaf spring.
9. The drapery clip ring as recited in claim 1 wherein the ring
comprises an outer surface, an inner surface comprising a recess,
and a through-bore extending from the outer surface to the inner
surface, and the gripping means is connected to the ring via a post
extending from the gripping means, through the through-bore, to the
recess.
10. A drapery assembly comprising: a drapery rod; drapery; and, a
plurality of drapery clip rings as recited in claim 1, wherein the
rings of the plurality of drapery clip rings are slidably disposed
around the drapery rod, the drapery includes a plurality of box
pleats formed around the pleat endoskeletons and secured by the
gripping means of the plurality of drapery clip rings, and the
plurality of clip rings is operatively arranged to support the
weight of drapery via the gripping means.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention broadly relates to drapery hardware. More
particularly, the invention relates to drapery clip rings and, even
more particularly, to pleat-forming drapery clip rings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Clip rings are well known drapery hardware used for hanging
drapery and curtains. A clip ring generally comprises a simple ring
with a clip extending therefrom. The ring is arranged to fit around
a drapery rod such that it is easily slidable along the length
thereof. The clip is arranged to hang below the rod and securely
grip a portion of the fabric of the drapery.
[0003] Generally, a plurality of clip rings, arranged in succession
along the length of the rod, is used to hang the drapery. As the
clip rings are easily slidable along the rod, a user may easily
position the drapery hanging therefrom at desired locations along
the rod. When the drapery is gathered together, its fabric tends to
bunch and fold, especially near the upper portion of its fabric
where the clip rings are gripping it. Consequently, drapery is
often provided with pleats in order to provide an aesthetically
pleasing means for gathering the bunched and folded fabric.
[0004] A pleat is type of fold in fabric formed by doubling the
fabric over on itself. There are many different types of pleats,
for example, knife pleats and the box pleats. The knife pleat is
the basic pleat and is -formed by folding the fabric generally
along two roughly parallel lines, usually in a 3:1 ratio, wherein
three inches of fabric will create one inch of finished pleat. A
box pleat comprises two knife pleats arranged back-to-back. Box
pleats tend to spring out from the surface to which they are
secured.
[0005] The folds of a pleat are usually maintained in the fabric by
pressing, ironing, or heat-setting the fabric into a sharp crease.
Unfortunately, these methods are time-consuming, arduous, and not
particularly effective as repeated movement and use of the drapery
tends to deform the pleats. Consequently, pleats are often
maintained in the fabric by sewing the folded fabric together.
Sewing is problematic in that it is both arduous and requires
specialized skill and knowledge. Additionally, while it may be
desirable to fashion pleats in one's drapery, it may not be
desirable to permanently alter the drapery by sewing the pleats
into the fabric, especially if one wishes to later eliminate the
pleats.
[0006] Thus, there is a longfelt need for a means for forming and
maintaining pleats in the fabric of drapery that is not
time-consuming, arduous, nor requires specialized skill and
knowledge. There is also a longfelt need for such a means that does
not require sewing or otherwise permanently altering the fabric of
the drapery.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention broadly comprises a drapery clip ring
comprising: a ring having a an outer surface; a gripping means
connected to the outer surface; and, a pleat endoskeleton connected
to the outer surface and arranged substantially in front of the
gripping means, wherein the pleat endoskeleton is operatively
arranged to provide an internal framework of a pleat, and the
gripping means is operatively arranged to secure the pleat when
formed around the pleat endoskeleton.
[0008] The invention may further comprise a drapery assembly
comprising: a drapery rod; drapery; and, a plurality of the drapery
clip rings as described supra, wherein the rings of the plurality
of drapery clip rings are slidably disposed around the drapery rod,
the drapery includes a plurality of box pleats formed around the
pleat endoskeletons and secured by the gripping means of the
plurality of drapery clip rings, and the plurality of clip rings is
operatively arranged to support the weight of drapery via the
gripping means.
[0009] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a
means for forming and maintaining pleats in the fabric of drapery
that is not time-consuming, arduous, nor requires specialized skill
and knowledge.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide for
such a means that does not require sewing or otherwise permanently
altering the fabric of the drapery.
[0011] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention will be readily appreciable from the following
description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the
accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention
will now be more fully described in the following detailed
description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing
figures, in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a drapery assembly
employing a plurality of first embodiment drapery clip rings of the
present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the drapery
formed into a box pleat via the drapery clip ring shown in FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the section of the
drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 2;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the section of the
drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 2;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded rear perspective view of the section
of the drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown
in FIGS. 1-5;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a back plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown
in FIG. 6;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a side plan view of a second embodiment drapery
pleat ring;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a back plan view of the drapery pleat ring shown
in FIG. 8;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a section of the drapery
formed into a box pleat via the drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 9;
and,
[0023] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the section of the
drapery and drapery clip ring shown in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing
numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or
functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While
the present invention is described with respect to what is
presently considered to be the preferred aspects, it is to be
understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the
disclosed aspects.
[0025] Furthermore, it should be understood that this invention is
not limited to the particular methodology, materials and
modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It should
also be understood that the terminology used herein is for the
purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended
to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only
by the appended claims.
[0026] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms
used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of
ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although
any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those
described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the
invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now
described.
[0027] The following description is best understood in view FIGS.
1-7. FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of drapery assembly 200
comprising drapery rod 210, which is preferably arranged
substantially horizontally and secured proximate a vertical
surface, such as a wall, a plurality of first embodiment drapery
clip rings 100 slidably disposed around drapery rod 210, and
drapery 215 hanging from the plurality of clip rings 100. Drapery
210 rod may be any suitable rod operatively arranged to hang
drapery thereon. Drapery 215 may be made of any suitable material,
such as textile, fabrics, plastics, or the like, and comprises a
plurality of box pleats 220 formed via the plurality of drapery
clip rings 100. The plurality of clip rings 100 is operatively
arranged to support the weight of drapery 215 as described
infra.
[0028] Drapery clip ring 100 comprises ring 110 having outer
surface 112, gripping means 140 connected to and extending away
from ring 110, and pleat endoskeleton 120 connected to and
extending away from ring 110 and arranged proximate gripping means
140. Preferably, pleat endoskeleton 120 is arranged substantially
in front of gripping means 140. Ring 110 further includes inner
surface 114, which preferably comprises recess 116, and
through-bore 117, which extends from inner surface 114 to outer
surface 112. Ring 110 is arranged to slidably receive rod 210
therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, pleat endoskeleton 120 is
connected to outer surface 112 via member 118, which may be a
substantially straight extension tangentially connected to ring
110.
[0029] Pleat endoskeleton 120 comprises back surface 130 and front
surface 122, which is preferably substantially planar and bounded
by left and right side edges 124a and 124b, respectively, bottom
edge 128, and top edge 126. Left and right side edges, 124a and
124b, are preferably substantially vertical and parallel, in order
to provide the internal framework for the substantially parallel
folds of a box pleat. Top edge 126 is preferably arranged such that
it does not extend past the top edge of drapery 215 when in
use.
[0030] Gripping means 140 may be any gripping means known in the
art, and is preferably in the form of clip 140 for first embodiment
drapery clip ring 100. Clip 140 comprises left and rights jaws 146a
and 146b, respectively, which are pivotally connected to each
other, and an urging means operatively arranged to urge left and
right jaws, 146a and 146b, toward a closed position. The urging
means may be any suitable means known in the art, and is preferably
in the form of coil spring 150 for first embodiment drapery clip
ring 100. Clip 140 may be connected to ring 110 by any means known
in the art, and is preferably connected thereto via post 142, which
is attached to or integral with coil spring 150 and extends through
through-bore 117 to inner surface 114, preferably within recess
116. Post 142 may include head 141, which is arranged to prevent
the rest of post 142 from sliding out of through-bore 117.
[0031] Pleat endoskeleton 120 is adapted to provide an internal
framework for pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, and clip 140 is
operatively arranged to secure pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, as
described in detail infra.
[0032] To form pleat 220 using drapery clip ring 100, a user places
a section of drapery 215 against front surface 122, and then wraps
drapery 215 around left and right side edges, 124a and 124b, such
that the material of drapery 215 meets behind pleat endoskeleton
120 to form pleat joint 226. Clip 140 is operatively arranged to
secure the formation of pleat 220 by gripping pleat joint 226
behind pleat endoskeleton 120.Left and right jaws, 146a and 146b,
and coil spring 150 are adapted to support the weight of drapery
215, at least in the aggregate when a plurality of drapery clip
rings 100 are employed to hang drapery 215.
[0033] It is contemplated that front surface 122 and left and right
side edges, 124a and 124b, may be modified in order to provide the
internal framework for various types of pleats and other forms. For
example, front surface 122 may be arcuate in order to provide the
framework for a bulging pleat, and side edges 124a and 124b may be
nonparallel in order to provide the framework for folds in drapery
215 that are divergent or convergent, i.e., that flare out or
taper.
[0034] FIGS. 8-11 show second embodiment drapery clip ring 300.
Drapery clip ring 300 comprises ring 310 having outer surface 312,
gripping means 340 connected to and extending away from ring 310,
and pleat endoskeleton 320 connected to and extending away from
ring 310 and arranged proximate gripping means 340. Preferably,
pleat endoskeleton 320 is arranged substantially in front of
gripping means 340. Ring 310 further includes inner surface 314,
which preferably comprises recess 316, and through-bore 317, which
extends from inner surface 314 to outer surface 312. Ring 310 is
arranged to slidably receive rod 210 therethrough. In a preferred
embodiment, pleat endoskeleton 320 is connected to outer surface
312 via member 318, which may be a substantially straight extension
tangentially connected to ring 310. In this embodiment, ring 310 is
substantially circular.
[0035] Pleat endoskeleton 320 comprises back surface 330 and front
surface 322, which is preferably substantially planar and bounded
by left and right side edges 324a and 324b, respectively, bottom
edge 328, and top edge 326. Left and right side edges, 324a and
324b, are preferably substantially vertical and parallel, in order
to provide the internal framework for the substantially parallel
folds of a box pleat. Top edge 326 is preferably arranged such that
it does not extend past the top edge of drapery 215 when in
use.
[0036] In this embodiment, gripping means 340 is in the form of
clip 340. Clip 340 comprises left and rights jaws 346a and 346b,
respectively, which are pivotally connected to each other, and an
urging means operatively arranged to urge left and right jaws, 346a
and 346b, toward a closed position. The urging means is preferably
in the form of leaf spring 350 for this embodiment. Clip 340 may be
connected to ring 310 by any means known in the art, and is
preferably connected thereto via post 342, which is preferably
attached to either left jaw 346a or right jaw 346b and extends
through through-bore 317 to inner surface 314, preferably within
recess 316. Post 342 may include head 341, which is arranged to
prevent the rest of post 342 from sliding out of through-bore
317.
[0037] Pleat endoskeleton 320 is adapted to provide an internal
framework for pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, and clip 340 is
operatively arranged to secure pleat 220 formed in drapery 215, as
shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. To form pleat 220 using drapery clip ring
300, a user places a section of drapery 215 against front surface
322, and then wraps drapery 215 around left and right side edges,
324a and 324b, such that the material of drapery 215 meets behind
pleat endoskeleton 320 to form pleat joint 226. Clip 340 is
operatively arranged to secure the formation of pleat 220 by
gripping pleat joint 226 behind pleat endoskeleton 320. Left and
right jaws, 346a and 346b, and leaf spring 350 are adapted to
support the weight of drapery 215, at least in the aggregate when a
plurality of drapery clip rings 300 are employed to hang drapery
215.
[0038] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention
are efficiently obtained, although modifications and changes to the
invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill
in the art, which modifications are intended to be within the
spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. It also is understood
that the foregoing description is illustrative of the present
invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore,
other embodiments of the present invention are possible without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
* * * * *