Abstract:
An eccentric grommet wherein the width, measured radially, is greater through a portion of its circumference. The grommet comprises a body and a washer. The washer or, alternatively, the body may be eccentric, or both. The wider portion of the grommet may have one or more openings formed therein to facilitate attachment of cords, bead chains, or other flexible connectors. The wider portion may be used to in connection with draperies and other window treatments to facilitate opening and closing of the draperies and to add an ornamental design feature.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/225,738, filed on Jul. 15, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to grommet devices, and, in particular, to an apparatus and method for using a grommet with window treatments and accessories. 
         [0003]    The decoration of windows in residential and commercial settings is often vital to create an aesthetically pleasing and finished appearance. The options available for hanging draperies and other window accessories are seemingly endless. Many of these options tend to be expensive, difficult to install, and limited in their use. Even following extensive trial and error with different window treatment accessories and options, the final window treatment installation and decor often requires the use of multiple devices that each perform separate, specific functions. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there remains a need for an improved apparatus and method that provides the user with a convenient, flexible means to hang window treatments. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention; its sole purpose is to present concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is subsequently presented. 
         [0006]    According to its major aspects and briefly stated, the present invention includes a grommet device and method for using the grommet in hanging window treatments and accessories. Traditionally, a grommet used in window treatments includes two pieces. The first piece generally has a ring-like or annular shape similar to, but not limited to, a washer. This piece can be flat, rounded, or shaped and includes a central opening. As used herein, the term “grommet washer” includes any shaped piece that is used in connection with a grommet body to impart support, reinforcement or aesthetic appeal to drapery substrate openings. Grommet washers include, but are not limited to, washers, rings, and plates. The second piece, the grommet body, typically includes a rounded or shaped flange portion surrounding a raised barrel or volcano-shaped portion with a central opening. Other shapes for the raised portion of the grommet body exist, including rectangular and oval. The raised portion is dimensioned to be received by the central opening of the grommet washer. Further, this raised portion will generally be crimped, flared, snapped or mushroomed to hold the finished assembly of the grommet pieces together. 
         [0007]    In use, a traditional grommet assembly is applied to a drapery substrate in the following manner. An opening is made into a drapery needing to be hung. Next, the raised barrel portion of the grommet body is inserted through one side of the drapery opening, as well as the opening of a grommet washer positioned on the opposing side of the drapery opening. To secure the grommet, the raised portion is crimped in a radial direction outward from the central opening to maintain the grommet washer and the grommet body in place on the drapery substrate. Alternatively, the finished assembly can be screwed or snapped together if suitable snaps, barbs or screw threads are provided in the body and washer pieces of the grommet. 
         [0008]    The present invention includes a grommet having one or more grommet pieces, such as a body and a washer. This invention is distinct from the traditional grommet devices in that one or more of the grommet pieces is eccentric and includes a means for attaching a variety of accessories, including batons, decorative trim, or stabilizing connectors. As used herein, the term “eccentric grommet” includes a piece of a grommet assembly that has a width, when measured radially, greater through a portion of its circumference. The greater or wider portion, which can generally be referred to as a flange, may be used in connection with draperies or other window treatments to facilitate opening and closing of the draperies and to add an ornamental design feature. 
         [0009]    Many other variations to the invention also exist. The wider portion or flange with an attaching means can be contained on either or both the grommet body and the grommet washer so that the functional aspects of the invention can be included on either or both sides of a drapery substrate. For example, each grommet piece of a grommet assembly can include one or more wider portions. On each wider portion can be included one or more attaching means, such as openings formed therein, to facility the attachment of wands, cords, bead chains, or other flexible connectors. 
         [0010]    More particularly, in one embodiment of the present invention, the grommet assembly includes a grommet body, a grommet washer, as well as an eccentric grommet washer having an attaching means. In an alternative embodiment, the grommet assembly includes only a grommet body in combination with an eccentric grommet washer. In another alternative embodiment, the grommet assembly includes an eccentric grommet body and a grommet washer. In yet another alternative embodiment, the grommet assembly includes an eccentric grommet body and an eccentric grommet washer. In each of these embodiments, each eccentric grommet piece can include one or more such wider portions, as well as one or more attaching means on each wider portion. 
         [0011]    The grommet of the present invention can also include other variations in addition to the use of eccentric grommet pieces. For example, the grommet pieces can be embossed. Additionally, the grommet body of the present invention can either include raised portions or ridges to enhance the gripping of substrates, or, alternatively, the grommet body can be flat. Certain portions of the grommet body can be raised or ridged, while certain other portions of the grommet body can be flat. For example, the grommet body can include a raised neck portion surrounding a central opening and a flat flange portion extending out from body. Alternatively, the grommet body flange portion can be ridged. 
         [0012]    A feature of the present invention includes the use of an eccentric grommet piece having a wider portion or flange including an attaching means. This feature offers alternative and convenient approaches to attaching and decorating window treatments. When used on the front side of draperies, any number of accessories can be connected to the attaching means of the wider portion of the eccentric grommet piece, including batons, decorative trim, and embellishments. Moreover, this feature provides a means by which multiple grommets are connected through the attaching means of the eccentric pieces. The connection of grommets, through bead chains for example, can stabilize pleating on the backside of a drapery. Traversing a grommeted drapery is facilitated through the use of the present invention, as traditional grommets tend to twist and bind on the hanging rod. Furthermore, decorative embellishments, such as tassels, can be hung from adjacent eccentric grommets. 
         [0013]    Other features and their advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled in decorative arts, techniques and equipment from a careful reading of the Detailed Description of Embodiments, accompanied by the following drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    In the drawings, 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a grommet washer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 1A  is a side view of a grommet washer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of a grommet washer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a grommet washer according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  is a top view of a grommet body; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3B  is a side elevation view of a grommet body; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4A  is a top view of a grommet body according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4B  is a side elevation view of a grommet body according to an embodiment of the present invention 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of grommet assembly including a baton according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a grommet assembly including a tassel according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a grommet assembly including multiple grommets linked by a chain according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an exploded, perspective view of a grommet assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is an exploded, perspective view of a grommet assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is an exploded, perspective view of a grommet assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  is an exploded, perspective view of a grommet assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    The present invention includes a method, apparatus, and kit for use in hanging and decorating windows. In particular, the apparatus of the present invention includes an eccentric grommet piece  10  for use in grommet assemblies for window treatments such as draperies. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 1-1B , the eccentric grommet piece  10  includes an eccentric grommet washer  40  dimensioned for use in with a grommet body  20 , shown in  FIGS. 3A-3B  to form a grommet assembly. The features of the grommet body  20  are shown so as to place the eccentric grommet washer  40  of the present invention into context. It is thus within the purview of the present invention to combine the grommet washer  40  with other grommet bodies having a variety of features and dimensions. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , grommet body  20  has a circular hole  22  formed therein with a cylindrical barrel  24  integrally formed with body  20  along the periphery of the hole  22 . Grommet body  20  may have additional features to provide stiffening, typically in the area surrounding hole  22 , such as a concave rim  26 . 
         [0033]    Eccentric grommet washer  40  also has a circular hole  42  similar in size and preferably slightly larger than hole  22  in grommet body  20 , through which barrel  24  is placed when grommet body  20  and eccentric grommet washer  40  are joined to form a grommet assembly. In use, grommet washer  40  and grommet body  20  are joined with a portion of fabric (not shown) therebetween, and barrel  24  is pressed radially outward from its cylindrical configuration to a disk-shape so that the grommet body  20  and the grommet washer  40  become secured to the fabric substrate. Grommet washer  40  may have features such as perforations  48  about its hole  42  to better grip the fabric, and may have other features to add stiffening to washer  40 , such as a concave rim  44 . Rim  26  of grommet body  20  and rim  44  of grommet washer  40 , when brought together and properly oriented, will tend to nest. 
         [0034]    Grommet washer  40  is further formed to include a wider portion  60  along its periphery. In particular, as measured from the center of hole  42 , the distance to the edge  46  of washer  40  varies about that edge  46 , increasing and then decreasing to define a wider part or portion  60  and a narrower part  61  so that washer  40  is eccentric in appearance, that is, not circular but elliptical. 
         [0035]    The wider portion  60  or flange of grommet washer  40  includes an attaching means, such as one or more openings  50  formed therein. Wider portion  60  may itself carry ornamentation such as color, etching, attached ornamentation, designs in relief, and so forth. As grommet washer  40  may be made of metal, the appearance of the metal itself, shiny or brushed aluminum, brass, stainless steel, gold, silver, chrome, brushed nickel, iron, pewter, and so on, is attractive in its own right. 
         [0036]    Depending on the application for the grommet, it may be important that the grommet washer  40  include only a single wider portion  60 , such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-1B . For example, if the grommet washer  40  is being used to carry an accessory or device that is independent from the remaining grommets along a fabric substrate. Alternatively, the use of a single wider portion  40  has aesthetic appeal, especially when the grommet washer  40  is positioned so that the wider portion is pointed downward away from the suspension rod of a fabric substrate. 
         [0037]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the eccentric grommet piece includes an eccentric grommet washer  70  that is formed to have more than one wider portion  60  that extends radially outward from the hole  42 . Each of these wider portions  60  can further include one or more attaching means, such as one or more openings  50  formed therein. The use of a grommet washer  70  including only two separate wider portions  60 , each including an attaching means, such as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be important, for example, to suspend an accessory such as a tassel from a single grommet. Hanging a tassel or other accessory may require both multiple attachment points, as well as attachment points that are spaced apart on a single grommet. 
         [0038]    In an embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B , the invention includes an eccentric grommet body  80  dimensioned for use in with a grommet washer to form a grommet assembly. The grommet washer used in connection with the eccentric grommet body  80  can either be a more conventional washer  140 , shown generally in  FIG. 8 , or an eccentric grommet washer  40 , such as previously described. 
         [0039]    As illustrated, eccentric grommet body  80  has a circular hole  82  formed therein with a cylindrical barrel  84  integrally formed with body  80  along the periphery of the hole  82 . Grommet body  80  may have additional features to provide stiffening, typically in the area surrounding hole  82 , such as a concave rim  86 . Further, grommet body  80  is formed to be wider along its periphery. In particular, as measured from the center of hole  82 , the distance to the edge  86  of grommet body  80  varies about that edge  86 , increasing and then decreasing to define a wider portion  90  and a narrower portion  91  so that body  80  is eccentric in appearance, that is, not circular but elliptical. 
         [0040]    The wider portion  90  or flange of grommet body  80  includes an attaching means, such as one or more openings  92  formed therein. Wider portion  90  may itself carry ornamentation such as color, etching, attached ornamentation, designs in relief, and so forth. As grommet body  80  may be made of metal, the appearance of the metal itself, shiny or brushed aluminum, brass, stainless steel, gold, silver, chrome, brushed nickel, iron, pewter, and so on, is attractive in its own right. Although not shown, the eccentric grommet body  80  can also include more than one wider portion  90 , with each wider portion including one or more attaching means. 
         [0041]    Depending on the application for the grommet, it may be important that the grommet body  80  include only a single wider portion  90 , such as the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4A-4B . For example, if the grommet body  80  is being used to carry an accessory or device that is independent from the remaining grommets along a fabric substrate. Alternatively, the use of a single wider portion  80  has aesthetic appeal, especially when the grommet washer  80  is positioned so that the wider portion is pointed downward away from the suspension rod of a fabric substrate. 
         [0042]    Based on the forgoing features, many variations to embodiments of the present invention are contemplated. For example, the grommet washer or, alternatively, the grommet body may be eccentric, or both. The eccentric grommet piece may include one or more wider portions. Both grommet body and washer may be congruent, that is, having the same eccentricity or different eccentricities and their wider parts may coincide or not coincide. The wider portion or portions of the eccentric piece may have one or more attaching means, and so forth. The eccentric grommet piece may be placed on the reverse side of the fabric or the front side, or both, depending on whether it is primarily functional (reverse side of fabric) or decorative (front side of fabric) or both. The ornamentation and purpose of the eccentric washer may be different than that of the eccentric body. One can support tassels on the front side of the drapery fabric and the other can support a functional bead chain to facilitate drawing the draperies on the back side of the drapery fabric. By way of example and not to limit the invention, some of these variations are generally shown  FIGS. 5-7 . 
         [0043]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , a grommet assembly of the present invention includes an eccentric grommet washer  40  having a wider portion  60  with an attaching means including an opening  50 . This attaching means can be for use in connection with a drapery baton  100 , as shown, or other ornamentation independent of that supported by adjacent grommets and attaching means. 
         [0044]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the grommet assembly can include adjacent grommet washers  40 , each including an attaching means, such as openings  50 . These openings  50  can work in cooperation to support tassels  110  or other ornamentation. Alternatively, the tassels  110  could also be suspended from a single grommet. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 7 , the grommet assembly includes adjacent, eccentric washers  40  having attaching means, such as openings  50 . In particular, the attaching means can be used with a cord, bead chain or other flexible connector  52  that is threaded through opening  50  of one washer  40  to the opening  50  of the next washer  40  and so on. Connector  52  can thus be used to conjoin or connect drapery pleats draperies and may also be used for decoration as a scalloped feature on the front side of the fabric. Connector  52  may be decorative as well and made of a narrow fabric cable or rope. 
         [0046]    Additional variations relating to the use of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 8-11 . By way of example and not to limit the invention, these embodiments illustrate various methods for assembling the grommet of the present invention to a fabric substrate. In  FIG. 8 , a grommet body  20  and an eccentric grommet washer  40  is positioned on one side of a fabric substrate  120  including a substrate opening  130 , and a conventional grommet washer  140  is positioned on the opposing side of the fabric substrate  120 . These various pieces are mated or joined so that the central barrel portion  24  of the grommet body  20  is inserted through the openings of the substrate and the washers, and thereafter is crimped to secure the grommet assembly in place. Thereafter the fabric substrate is suspended such as by a hanging rod. 
         [0047]    In  FIG. 9 , a grommet body  20  is positioned on one side of a fabric substrate  120  including a substrate opening  130 , and an eccentric grommet washer  40  is positioned on the opposing side of the fabric substrate  120 . These various pieces are mated or joined so that the central barrel portion  24  of the grommet body  20  is inserted through the openings of the substrate and the washer  40 , and thereafter is crimped to secure the grommet assembly in place. Thereafter the fabric substrate is suspended such as by a hanging rod. 
         [0048]    As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , an eccentric grommet body  80  is positioned on one side of a fabric substrate  120  including a substrate opening  130 , and a conventional grommet washer  140  is positioned on the opposing side of the fabric substrate  120 . These various pieces are mated or joined so that the central barrel portion  84  of the grommet body  80  is inserted through the openings of the substrate and the washer  140 , and thereafter is crimped to secure the grommet assembly in place. Thereafter the fabric substrate is suspended such as by a hanging rod. 
         [0049]    In  FIG. 11 , an eccentric grommet body  80  is positioned on one side of a fabric substrate  120  including a substrate opening  130 , and an eccentric grommet washer  40  is positioned on the opposing side of the fabric substrate  120 . These various pieces are mated or joined so that the central barrel portion  84  of the grommet body  80  is inserted through the openings of the substrate and the washer  40 , and thereafter is crimped to secure the grommet assembly in place. Thereafter the fabric substrate is suspended such as by a hanging rod. 
         [0050]    Those skilled in the art of grommet devices and the decorative arts will appreciate from the foregoing description of preferred embodiments that substitutions and modification can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the appended claims.