Abstract:
The present invention provides a wall hanging device or cornice that can be readily covered with fabrics and other materials for decorative purposes without the need for sewing or pinning. Fabrics and other materials may be replaced to change the appearance as desired. The device includes a rigid hollow core or profile that is covered with resilient foam. The rigid profile provides a structure that allows the cornice to span wide distances without noticeable sagging. The rigid profile is also provided with slots or channels corresponding to the edges of the foam covering that accept decorative fabrics or other materials. The resiliency and coefficient of friction of the foam provides sufficient grip to hold fabric or other materials to the device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a decorative window treatment device and, more particularly, to a decorative window treatment device that can be covered with fabric or other decorative materials without sewing or pinning.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Numerous methods have been devised to provide decorations walls or windows. Many of these methods require considerable skill, time, and expense. It is desirable to have a method of providing a decorative element to windows or to walls that does not require significant time or skills, and that can be changed easily to provide multiple decorative iterations.  
           [0005]    Attempts have been made to avoid the need of sewing in such devices. Barone, U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,331, teaches a semi-soft form with a slit cut into an exterior surface, allowing the fabric to wrap the form and the ends to be tucked into the slit. Potts, U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,990, improved upon this concept by allowing for multiple slits and shapes cut into the form and attaching a rigid member for support.  
           [0006]    As suggested above, attempts have been made to simplify the attachment of fabric to a window treatment or wall hanging device. The prior art fails to provide simple means to assemble the device itself or the structural stability provided by a rigid core.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    The present invention provides a decorative window treatment device (e.g., a wall hanging device or cornice) that can be readily covered with fabrics and other materials for decorative purposes without the need for sewing or pinning. Fabrics and other materials may be replaced to change the aesthetic appearance or decor of a room as desired with great ease and minimal expense. The device comprises an elongate rigid core or profile that is covered with a layer of resilient material, preferably foam. The elongate rigid core provides a structure that allows the device to span wide distances without noticeable sagging. The elongate rigid core is also provided with at least one channel or slot through which the edge of a sheet of decorative material can be passed. The resiliency and coefficient of friction of the resilient material adjacent to the opening provides sufficient grip to hold the decorative material to the device.  
           [0008]    A principal object of the invention is to provide an elongate rigid core structure that provides a means to easily mount or change decorative materials.  
           [0009]    A further object is to provide a means to cover the ends of the cornice and span the distance between the cornice and the wall.  
           [0010]    Other objects will become apparent from the following description, which refer to the accompanying drawings.  
           [0011]    The foregoing and other features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the present invention may be employed. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 showing a preferred wall mounting means.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another portion of the device shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the device shown in FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    The decorative window treatment device according to the present invention is primarily intended for use as a window cornice. However, the device may be used in other applications where a decorative fabric covered panel is desired such as, for example, a wall hanging.  
         [0019]    Referring to FIG. 1, a device according to the invention preferably comprises a single straight section  1 , although multiple straight sections of the same length or different lengths may be used in order to incrementally adjust the width of the window treatment device to suit a particular application. Connectors  4  can be utilized, if necessary, to join straight sections together. It will be appreciated that the configuration of the connectors  4  is not critical, and various types of connectors can be used. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the connectors comprise rigid tabs that slide into receiving boxes on adjacent sections.  
         [0020]    Although connectors  4  are useful for joining straight sections together, it is preferable that the entire device be constructed of a single panel, which may be one continuous length, and may also include a means to form the end returns as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of a straight section  1  is shown. Optional end returns  3  and  4  preferably have the same cross-section. The straight section  1  comprises an elongate rigid core  5  or profile having a layer of resilient material  6  and  7  such as foam adhered thereto. The foam  6  and  7  has edges that are wrapped into slots or elongate channels  8  that are cut into the rear side of the elongate rigid core  5  and provide an opening to a first interior cavity. The foam may also have edges that butt against each other or be spaced apart slightly to form a gap. A single sheet of decorative material  10  such as fabric is shown wrapped around the foam  6  and  7  and tucked into slot  8 . The resiliency and frictional properties of the foam  6  and  7  grip the fabric and retain it in place.  
         [0022]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front side of the elongate rigid core is also provided with an elongate channel or slot that defines and opening to a front interior cavity. This configuration allows for the use of two or more sheets of decorative material such as fabric  10 , with each sheet covering a separate piece of foam  6  and  7 . Thus, a window treatment device according to this embodiment of the invention facilitates the use of different fabrics or combinations of multiple fabrics for decorative purposes. Fabric may be allowed to hang from the slot to form a curtain or drape.  
         [0023]    In addition to sheets of decorative material, other decorative objects can be tucked into the slot  8  on the front side of the window treatment device. These other decorative objects, such as tassels, cords, chains, buttons, pins, pendants, flowers, and other decorative objects, can hang from the window treatment device, rather than wrap the straight section  1  to provided additional decorative effects.  
         [0024]    Referring to FIG. 3, the elongate rigid core  5  is preferably formed of an extruded polymer material, preferably rigid vinyl or ABS plastic. It will be appreciated that other rigid materials such as, for example, aluminum, wood, and cellulose based materials, could also be used. The elongate rigid core  5  has a first elongate channel  8  or slot disposed on a rear side. The elongate channel forms a first opening into a rear interior cavity. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the elongate rigid core or profile also includes an elongate channel or slot in the front side that defines an opening into a front interior cavity. The edge of a sheet of fabric  10  and/or other decorative material can be passed through an opening and into an interior cavity. The slots  8  can also be used to receive mounting brackets  11 , such as shown in FIG. 4. The elongate rigid core  5  also preferably includes hollow or boxes  9  that receive connectors  4 , as shown in FIG. 1. The shape of the elongate rigid core  5  is preferably the same front and back, which allows for easy assembly of multiple sections.  
         [0025]    Referring to FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view of window treatment device according to the invention, a mounting bracket  11  that has been inserted into a slot  8  between the ends of the fabric  10  in order to support the weight of the device. The mounting bracket  11  preferably comprises a cornice back support  12 , which is a tab or flange that extends down across the face of the rear side of the elongate rigid core to provide angular support to the cornice to maintain a vertical orientation of the cornice when mounted. It will be appreciated that other angles may be supported if desired. The mounting bracket  11  further comprises an end  13  for attachment to a wall or other vertical support structure fasteners. Preferably, the mounting bracket  11  is provided with slotted openings for the fasteners  14  and  15 , which allows for length adjustment.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, an end return  2  having two “V” notches  16  with approximately a 45° angles cut to a depth that is almost entirely through the elongate rigid core  5  is shown. Preferably, the “V” notches  16  are spaced apart slightly from one another such that when folded they close the “V” notches to form an approximate right angle as shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, there are two different lengths  17  and  18  between the end of the end return  2  and the “V” notches  16  allowing the end return  2  to be used for two different return distances from the wall, depending on whether it is used on the right or left end of the cornice. Fabric  10  may be easily attached to the end returns  2  and  3  while they are assembled to the straight section(s)  1  and in a flat orientation, then the end returns  2  and  3  can be folded to close off the ends of the cornice to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. End return  3  is a symmetrical part to end return  2  and has the same features as end return  2 .  
         [0027]    The end return bend may also be achieved by other methods and may be made as part of a length of panel that is produced to a specified length to fit a particular size. Another method of achieving the bend for the end return is to make several parallel slots across the panel before or after the foam is attached. The slots are preferably provided in the same direction as the “V” notches in FIG.5. By modifying the number of slots, the slot spacing and width, the radius and angle of the bend in the end return can be determined.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the invention, the cornice is curved in a direction that is not the same direction as the end return. This curve allows the cornice to follow a radius or other curved section of a window or provides additional aesthetic designs. This curve or radius may be achieved by providing several parallel slots across the section  1  before or after the foam is attached. Preferably, the slots used to form the curve are perpendicular to the length of the panel and perpendicular to the “V” notches or slots used to provide the end return. By modifying the number of slots and the slot spacing and width, the radius and angle of the bend in the cornice can be adjusted.  
         [0029]    Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and illustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.