Abstract:
A drapery system comprises a drapery. A drapery track is mounted to a support structure, while a plurality of drapery track carriers slide within the drapery track. A plurality of quick release decorative fasteners releasably retains the drapery to the drapery carriers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to drapery and, more specifically, to a drapery system comprising drapery that is reinforced along it top end with a band of stiffened material allowing the drapery to be folded into undulating longitudinal ripples with the folds extending the length of the drapery. 
     The band is formed by taking a length of drapery material, at least twice the width of the stiffening material, then placing the stiffened material approximately along one edge of the drapery material then folding the remaining material over the stiffening material forming the band that will be attached along one end of a drapery material forming the top of the drapery. The stiffened fiber material allows the band to be folded into undulating longitudinal waves with the waves extending the drapery band folds through the length of the drapery. 
     The drapery band further provides a plurality of sequentially spaced grommets that receive a decorative element having a decorative element front portion and one of a mating fastener element on the back side of the decorative element that is mateable to a respective drapery carrier incorporating a fastener receptacle. 
     Furthermore, the plurality of decorative elements attachment to the plurality of carrier fasteners supporting the drapery therebetween provides a quick means to take down the drapery for cleaning or changing a window treatment that also provides for easily changing the decorative elements to any desired decorative motif. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other methods that provide for drapery with folds. While these methods may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a drapery with a reinforced band along the top end of a drapery fabric having a plurality of spaced apart grommeted apertures whereby a plurality of decorative fasteners are then used to fasten said drapery to the drapery track carriers. 
     It is further desirable to provide a decorative fastener having a decorative portion and a fastener portion with the fastener portion insertable through a respective drapery grommet then fastened to a respective drapery carrier incorporating a fastener receptacle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system for a ripple fold drapery having drapery track carrier fasteners enabling quick mounting and dismounting of the drapery from the drapery track carriers with a drapery track carrier fastener incorporating a decorative member having a frontal decorative portion and a back side fastener portion mateable to the carrier&#39;s fastener receptacle. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system wherein said drapery incorporates a reinforced band along it top end. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system wherein said reinforced drapery band encompasses a strip of stiffened fabric material that provides the wavy rigidity of the drapery header. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system wherein said stiffened material is preferably buckram. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system wherein said drapery band further incorporates a plurality of spaced apart grommets. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system having a plurality of decorative elements mateable to the drapery carriers. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative element having a decorative element front portion and a fastener portion on the back side. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery carrier having a fastener receiver mateable to the decorative element fastener. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system wherein the mating fasteners of the decorative element and drapery carrier is selected from the group of snaps, bolt and nut, screw an socket, quarter turn fastener and post and socket. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a drapery system where the decorative element is easily detached from the drapery carrier so that the drapery can be easily attached and detached from the drapery track carriers. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a drapery system comprising drapery that is reinforced along it top end with a band of stiffened material allowing the drapery to be folded into undulating longitudinal ripples with the folds extending the length of the drapery with the drapery releasably fastened to drapery track carriers by a decorative element having a decorative element portion on the front side and a fastener portion on the back side that is mateable to a fastener receptacle with each of the drapery carriers. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view an enablement of one of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the drapery system of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the decorative element and drapery carrier. 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded sectional view of the drapery band and fastener elements. 
         FIG. 6  is an assembled sectional view of the drapery system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial cutaway view of the drapery having a band with a stiffening material therein. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view an enablement of another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of an enablement of yet another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view an enablement of still yet another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an enablement of a further fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the drapery system of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       20  drapery system     22  drapery of drapery system  20       24  drapery track of drapery system  20       26  decorative fastener of drapery system  20       28  drapery track carrier of drapery system  20       32  decorative front portion of decorative fastener  26       34  rear fastener portion of decorative fastener  26       36  post for fastener portion  34       38  socket of drapery track carrier  28       40  reinforced drapery band of drapery  22       42  grommet of drapery  22       44  fastener receptacle of decorative fastener  26       46  pliable wing on fastener receptacle  44       48  stem portion of drapery track carrier  28       49  flange on stem portion  48       50  stiffening material of drapery  22       52  screw for fastener portion  34       54  female snap receptacle shaft for fastener portion  34       56  male snap fastener plug for fastener receptacle  44       58  bolt for fastener portion  34       60  nut for fastener receptacle  44       62  quarter turn shaft for fastener portion  34       64  quarter turn retainer for fastener receptacle  44     

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. The present invention is a system  20  and components for the attachment of drapery  22  to a drapery track  24  by a plurality of decorative fasteners  26  mateable to the drapery track carriers  28 . Shown is one possible fastener  26  comprising a decorative front portion  32  and a rear fastener portion  34 , in this case a post  36 , which is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  having a socket  38  for receiving the decorative element post  36 . Also shown is a reinforced drapery band  40  having a plurality of grommets  42  for receiving the plurality of decorative elements  26 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is an enablement of one of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. The present invention provides a decorative element  26  having a front side decorative element portion  32  and back side fastener portion  34  that is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  incorporating a fastener receptacle  44 . As illustrated, the decorative element  26  has a post  36  and the drapery carrier  28  has a fastener receptacle  44  comprising pliable wings  46  so that the post  36  can be easily inserted during mounting of the drapery  22  and easily detached from the drapery carrier  28  when dismounting the drapery  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is an illustrative view of the drapery system of the present invention in use. Shown is an assembled illustrated view of the present invention for the attachment of drapery  22  to existing drapery track rail carriers  28  comprising a decorative drapery fastener  30  having a face decorative portion  32  and a backside fastener portion  34  mateable to a drapery carrier fastener receptacle  44 . The post  36  is inserted within each carrier fastener receptacle  44  thereby fixedly attached. The decorative element fastener portion  34  is inserted through the drapery band grommet  42  then inserted in the drapery carrier  28  thereby securing the drapery  22  to the drapery track carriers  28 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is an exploded sectional view of the decorative element and drapery carrier. The drapery carrier  28  of the present invention comprises a stem portion  48  and a docket  38  for the fastener receptacle  44 . The stem portion  48  has flanges  49  that ride along the drapery track  24 . The distance between the drapery carriers  28  is a design question dependent on the size of the folds desired in the drapery  22 . The present invention provides several types of mating fasteners  30 . The one illustrated is a post  36  and socket  38 . The fastener receptacle  44  has a plurality of pliable wings  46  that will grasp the post  36  of the decorative element fastener  30  when fully seated. The present invention also provides that the drapery carrier fastener receptacle  44  is preferably an integral part of the drapery carrier  28  but may be a separate part insertable into existing sockets  38  of the drapery carriers  28  for the secondary market. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is an exploded sectional view of the drapery band and fastener elements. Shown is an exploded sectional view of the components for the attachment of drapery  22  having the drapery band  40  incorporating a plurality of grommets  42  for receiving a respective decorative element  26  having a fastener portion  34  that is inserted through a grommet  42  and releasably anchored to a drapery carrier  28  having a fastener receptacle  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6  is an assembled sectional view of the drapery system of the present invention. Shown is a sectional view of the components for the attachment of drapery  22  having the drapery band  40  incorporating a plurality of grommets  42  for receiving a respective decorative element  26  having a fastener portion  34  that is inserted through a grommet  42  and releasably anchored to a drapery carrier  28  having a fastener receptacle  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , shown is a partial cutaway view of the drapery having a band with a stiffening material therein. The band  40  is formed by taking a length of drapery material, at least twice the width of the stiffening material  50 , then placing the stiffened material  50  approximately along one edge of the drapery material then folding the remaining material over the stiffening material  50  forming the band  40  that will be attached along one end of a drapery material forming the top of the drapery  22 . The stiffened fiber material  50  allows the band  40  to be folded into undulating longitudinal ripples with the ripples extending the drapery band folds through the length of the drapery  22 . Also shown are a plurality of grommets  42  for receiving the fastener portion  34  of decorative element  26  that is then inserted into a respective carrier  28  having a fastener receptacle  44 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8  is a perspective view an enablement of another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. The present invention provides a decorative element  26  having a front side decorative element portion  32  and back side fastener portion  34  that is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  incorporating a fastener receptacle  44 . As illustrated, the decorative element  26  has a screw  52  and the drapery carrier  28  has a fastener receptacle  44  comprising pliable wings  46  so that the screw  52  can be easily inserted during mounting of the drapery  22  and easily detached from the drapery carrier  28  when dismounting the drapery  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , shown is a perspective view an enablement of yet another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. The present invention provides a decorative element  26  having a front side decorative element portion  32  and back side fastener portion  34  that is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  incorporating a fastener receptacle  44 . As illustrated, the decorative element  26  has a female snap receptacle shaft  54  and the drapery carrier  28  has a male snap fastener plug  56  so that the female snap receptacle shaft  54  can be easily inserted during mounting of the drapery  22  and easily detached from the drapery carrier  28  when dismounting the drapery  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , shown is a perspective view an enablement of still yet another of the fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. The present invention provides a decorative element  26  having a front side decorative element portion  32  and back side fastener portion  34  that is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  incorporating a fastener receptacle  44 . As illustrated, the decorative element  26  has a bolt  58  and the drapery carrier  28  has a fastener receptacle  44  comprising a nut  50  so that the bolt  58  can be easily inserted during mounting of the drapery  22  and easily detached from the drapery carrier  28  when dismounting the drapery  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , shown is a perspective view of an enablement of a further fastening means for attaching the decorative element to the drapery track carrier. The present invention provides a decorative element  26  having a front side decorative element portion  32  and back side fastener portion  34  that is mateable to a drapery carrier  28  incorporating a fastener receptacle  44 . As illustrated, the decorative element  26  has a quarter turn shaft  62  and the drapery carrier  28  has a quarter turn retainer  64  so that the shaft  62  can be easily inserted during mounting of the drapery  22  and easily detached from the drapery carrier  28  when dismounting the drapery  22 .