Abstract:
The present invention provides a fabric assembly for interior decoration. The fabric assembly contains a base fabric having a receiving section adapted to receive a removable fabric section; one or more removable fabric sections adapted to be interchangeably attached to the receiving section; and fastening means for attaching the removable section to the receiving section of the base fabric. The removable fabric section is affixed to the base fabric to create a decorative scheme, and the decorative scheme can be easily changed by replacing the existing removable fabric section with another removable fabric section. The interchangeability between different removable fabric sections provides consumers with more decorative options without increasing the cost of decoration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/487,159, filed Jul. 14, 2003, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to fabric assemblies for interior decoration, and more particularly, to bed covers, window treatments, and similar applications with removable parts that facilitate changes in room decor.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Typically, consumers decorate and re-decorate rooms of their houses, condominiums, or apartments multiple times. It can be very time-consuming and expensive to replace window treatments and bedding every time a consumer feels the need to re-decorate. It is also quite cumbersome to physically change bedding and re-hang window treatments.  
         [0004]     Thus, there is a need for bed covers and window treatments that can be quickly and inexpensively replaced, adjusted, and interchanged with different styles of decoration for ease in decorating and re-decorating rooms to accommodate changes in room decor.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     The present invention provides a fabric assembly for interior decoration. The fabric assembly contains a base fabric having a receiving section adapted to receive a removable fabric section; one or more removable fabric sections adapted to be interchangeably attached to the receiving section; and fastening means for attaching the removable fabric section to the receiving section of the base fabric. The removable fabric section is affixed to the base fabric to create a decorative scheme, and the decorative scheme can be easily changed by replacing one removable fabric section with another removable fabric section.  
         [0006]     The decorative fabric assembly is used as bedcover, window treatment, or for a similar application. The incorporation of the fastening means in the fabric assembly allows easy and quick removal or replacement of part of the fabric assembly, therefore facilitates change of room decor. Moreover, the interchangeability between components of different fabric assemblies provides consumers with more decorative options without increasing the cost of decoration.  
         [0007]     These and other advantages, aspects, and features will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the specification. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings:  
         [0009]      FIGS. 1A-1C  depict an embodiment of the present invention, in which the fabric decorative assembly is used as a bedcover.  
         [0010]      FIGS. 2A-2C  depict another embodiment of the present invention, in which the fabric decorative assembly is used as a bedcover.  
         [0011]      FIGS. 3A-3C  depict another embodiment of the present invention, in which the fabric decorative assembly is used as a bedcover.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 4A-4C  depict another embodiment of the present invention, in which the fabric decorative assembly is used as a bedcover.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  depicts yet another embodiment of the present invention, in which the fabric decorative assembly is used as a window treatment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     The present invention is directed to fabric decorative assemblies having removable and interchangeable parts to provide versatility and facilitate re-decoration of beds, windows, and similar applications. A base fabric assembly includes one or more sections in which a removable or interchangeable section may be fixedly attached using various fastening means. The removable sections can be interchanged to produce different decorative effects. The fabric decorative assemblies are useful for bedcover and window treatment applications, for example. As used herein, the term “bedcover” refers to any fabric assembly used to cover the surface of a bed, including but are not limited to, comforters, sheets, bedspreads, quilts, throws, coverlets, and blankets. As used herein, the term “window treatment” refers to any fabric assembly used to cover a window or part of a window, including but are not limited to, curtains, valances, and draperies. Other applications include slip covers for sofas, chairs, and day beds, decorative wall panels, area rugs, shower curtains, doorway curtains, cabinet curtains, and similar applications.  
         [0015]      FIGS. 1A-1C  show an embodiment of the fabric decorative assembly that is used as a bedcover  100 . In this embodiment, the bedcover  100  contains a center panel  102  and a side panel  104  ( FIG. 1A ). As shown in  FIG. 1B and 1C , the center panel  102  is removably attached to the side panel  104  using fasteners  106 . Alternatively, the center panel  102  may be fixed and the side panels  104  may be removable.  
         [0016]     Based on the needs of a consumer, the center panel  102  and the side panel  104  can be made of the same type of fabric or different types of fabric. The center panel  102  and the side panel  104  can have the same or different color, pattern, or style. The fasteners  106  can be any type of fastening device as is known in the art, such as buttons, snaps, ribbons, zippers, Velcro, and hooks with string. Any number of fasteners  106  can be used, as long as the center panel  102  is securely fastened to the side panels  104 . Preferably, the fasteners  106  are located on a surface of the center panel  102  that is facing the side panel  104  and the fasteners  106  are not visible after the center panel  102  is secured to the side panel  104 . The center panel and the side panel  104  can be made of one or more layers of fabric or synthetic fabric, or a combination thereof.  
         [0017]     The bedcover  100  allows a consumer to quickly and conveniently redecorate a bed by replacing the center panel  102  or the side panel  104  with a substitute panel of a different color, reflection, pattern, or style. The interchangeability also allows the consumer to create new decorative styles by making new center/side panel combinations from existing bedcovers  100 , therefore saving the expense of purchasing another bedcover  100 . The center panel  102  and side panels  104 , as well as the assembled bedcover  100 , can be of varying sizes, depending on the size of the bed and the consumer&#39;s needs. The area covered by the center panel  102 , designated area  108 , can be a continuous part of the side panel  104 . Alternatively, area  108  can be an open space on the side panel  104  and the center panel  102  is attached to the side panel  104  through fasteners  106  located along borders  110  of the area  108 .  
         [0018]      FIGS. 2A-2C  depict another embodiment of the fabric decorative assembly, generally designated as bedcover  200 . In this embodiment, there are one center panel  102  and multiple side panels  104 . The side panels  104  are attached to each other through fasteners  106  at the edges of each side panel  104 . The side panels  104  can also be attached to the center panel  102  in various combinations desired by a consumer. For example, a consumer may decide to attach one, two, three, or four side panels  104  to the center panel  102  to fit beds of different sizes or decorate the same bed in different styles. This embodiment thus provides more flexibility and interchangeability in the use of the bedcover  200  which, when combined with other bedcovers  200 , would allow an even larger number of possible combinations and vastly expanded decorative choices.  
         [0019]      FIGS. 3A-3C  depict yet another embodiment of the fabric decorative assembly as bedcover  300 . In this embodiment, the center panel  102  has a length that is the same as the length of the side panel  104  and a width that is smaller than the width of the side panel  104 . Preferably, the center panel  102  is removably attached to the side panel  104  through fasteners  106  that are not visible after attachment. In this embodiment, the side panel  104  is a single piece of fabric and the center panel  102  covers the center portion  108  of the side panel  104 . Alternatively, there can be two side panels  104  and  104 ′, each attached to one side of the center panel  102  through fasteners  106 , as shown in  FIGS. 4A-4C .  
         [0020]      FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of the fabric decorative assembly as a window treatment  500 . The window treatment  500  contains a top panel  502  and a lower panel  504 . The top panel  502  is preferably attached to a rail or board or any kind of support above a window. The lower panel  504  is removably attached to the top panel  502  using fasteners  506 . Based on the needs of a consumer, the top panel  502  and the lower panel  504  can be made of the same type of fabric or different types of fabric. The top panel  502  and the lower panel  504  can also have the same or different color, pattern, or style. The fasteners  506  can be any type of fastening device known in the art, such as buttons, snaps, ribbons, zippers, Velcro, and hooks with string. Any number of fasteners  506  can be used, as long as the lower panel  504  is securely fastened to the top panel  502 . The fasteners  506  allow the lower panel  504  to be detached from and reattached to the top panel  502 , so that lower panels of various color, size, and style can be interchanged easily and quickly, depending on the consumers&#39; needs.  
         [0021]     In other embodiments, the fabric decorative assembly can be used to decorate beds in the form of comforters, sheets, bedspreads, quilts, throws, coverlets, blankets, and windows in the form of curtains, valances, draperies, and the like. The fabric decorative assembly can also be used as slip covers for sofas, chairs, and day beds, decorative wall panels, area rugs, shower curtains, doorway curtains, cabinet curtains, and other similar applications. The removable and interchangeable feature of the fabric decorative assembly allows easy and quick rearrangement of panels of different sizes, colors, and styles and, therefore, facilitates changes in room decor.  
         [0022]     The fabric decorative assembly may be packaged as a kit that includes the base fabric and one or more interchangeable, removable fabric sections. Additional interchangeable, removable fabric sections may be acquired to supplement the fabric decorative assembly kit. Thus, a consumer may purchase the fabric decorative assembly kit. When the consumer decides to change decor, but is no longer satisfied with the decorative choices in the kit, the consumer may purchase additional interchangeable, removable fabric sections that suit the consumer&#39;s current decorating ideas.  
         [0023]     Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the area within the principle and scope of the invention.