Drape construction

Disclosed is a shirr-pleated drape and the method of manufacturing the drape. An elongated stiffened fabric strip, preferably crinoline which may be precut to size, is formed with evenly-spaced drapery hook pockets. The drape is provided with a longitudinal rod pocket along the top of a size to accommodate said fabric strip. The drape is gathered on said fabric strip and then attached to said fabric strip at said drapery hook pockets and at the ends of said rod pocket to retain said gathered drape on said fabric strip. When mounted on a rod such as a traverse rod, said drape has the appearance of being shirred when closed, and of being shirred and pleated when open.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to window drape construction having the appearance 
of being shirred onto a straight rod when closed, but when drawn open on 
any traversable rod, will also stack in the same manner as and with the 
appearance of a pinch-pleated drape. These pleats are not permanent. As 
soon as the drape is closed, the drape returns to its shirred-only 
appearance. 
Pleated drapes are well known and have been formed in a variety of ways. 
When pleats are formed by hand or by automatic machinery, they are sewn 
directly into the drapery material in permanent fashion. Pleats also may 
be formed by inserting various forms of specially designed hooks into the 
drape, where hook openings are designed and spaced far enough apart so 
that the insertion process will gather the material together into pleats. 
Finally, various forms of specially designed pleater tape and string, 
secured to the top of the drapes, can automate the pleating process. 
PRIOR ART 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,281 issued Nov. 6, 1962 to Bert P. Solomon discloses an 
example of specially designed resilient wire pleating hooks which must be 
inserted into the pockets of specially designed pleater tape which is 
stitched to the top hem of the drapery to be pleated. The insertion of 
these hooks will gather the drape together into permanent pleats in any 
desired contour. Each hook is a series of four upright longitudinally 
spaced and aligned pleating fingers, designed to be individually inserted 
into individually narrowly and longitudinally spaced vertical pockets in 
the fabric tape. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,530 issued Oct. 18, 1966 to Ralph Romano and Samuel 
Saewitz discloses an example using a specially designed looped fabric 
strip and pleater tape. Evenly-spaced loops are sewn into an elongated 
fabric strip at predetermined points. The strip is secured to the back of 
the drape. Pleater tape is threaded through loops in the fabric strip and 
secured to the fabric strip and drape. The tape is then pulled, bunching 
the fabric strip and drape about the loops and forming a series of 
permanent pleats. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,269,880 issued May 26, 1981 to Debra A. Nalepka discloses 
hook-based disposable self-pleating drapes and manufacturing method. An 
integral pleating strip extends along an upper marginal portion of a 
plastic sheet, where all attachments are performed with a heat-sealing 
process. A continuous-form assembly of series-connected disposable 
self-pleating drapes is made by continuously advancing an elongated web of 
disposable material, folding a longitudinally extending marginal portion 
of the advancing web in overlying relation with another portion of the 
web, and connecting the marginal portion in face-to-face relation with the 
other portion of the web at a longitudinal series of pleating locations to 
form at least two prong-receiving pockets at each pleating location. The 
prong-receiving openings are spaced apart a distance greater than the 
distance between corresponding parallel prongs on an associated drapery 
hook, so that when the hook is inserted into the prong-receiving openings 
a pleat is automatically formed in the drape. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,272 issued Apr. 7, 1987 to Legizia Reilly and Rita 
Acerra discloses an automatic pull-string-based drapery pleating device 
and its manufacturing method. An elongated strip of stiff material is 
formed by a series of transverse folds across a strip of drapery material. 
At least two adjacent panels between folds turn inwardly to form pleats 
between spaced `control panels`. Each `control panel` has at least two 
parallel-string encasement means aligned with encasement means on other 
`control panels`. A `control string` through the `control panels` draws 
all of the `control panels` into close proximity with adjacent `control 
panels` located in the same plane. Between adjacent `control panels`, 
`pleat panels` are folded inwardly to form pleats. All of the pleats are 
formed automatically and simultaneously, but the pleats must then be sewn 
permanently onto the `control panels`. The top of the drapery material is 
then folded over the strip and sewn together to form a sleeve over the 
strip. Each panel may now be sewn to the drapery material. 
None of the above-identified patents disclose shirred drapes. However, 
Belgian Patent No. 675,250 issued to Jean A. P. Gonon discloses a method 
and structure for forming alternately-shirred and permanently-pleated 
drapes by mounting a specially-designed tape at the top of the drapery 
material. This tape is formed of non-elastic portions and elastic portions 
alternately and serially connected together in a longitudinal direction. 
The non-elastic portions are provided with spaced pockets for conventional 
drapery hooks. The tape is stretched and then attached to the drapery 
material near the top thereof. When the tape is released, the drapery 
material shows a shirred effect between the non-elastic portions. By 
inserting a two-pronged drapery hook into adjacent pockets on the 
non-elastic portions of the tape, permanent pleats are formed between the 
shirred portions of the drape. The shirring effect is not continuous 
across the width of the drape. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide drapes that have a shirred 
appearance when closed which is continuous across the width of the drapes, 
and a shirred and pleated appearance when the drapes are open. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a method of manufacturing 
drapes which have the appearance of being shirred continuously across the 
width of the drape when closed and the appearance of being shirred and 
pleated when open. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide shirred, pleated 
drapes which are economical to manufacture and pleasing to the eye in both 
the open and closed positions, without the necessity of an excessive 
amount of sewing. 
The foregoing objects are achieved by the economically manufactured drapery 
of this invention. Manufacturing economy starts with the use of only 
readily available conventional materials, including coarse stiffened 
material strips such as crinoline, standard drapery hooks, and tranversing 
rods such as a traverse rod or deco' rod, and drapery fabric. Economy is 
maintained with the elimination of the need for two standard drapery 
machines: the pleating machine and the bar tack. Only three standard 
machines need be used: the overlock, the hemmer, and the straight-stitch. 
The process uses far less labor and machine time than conventionally 
pleated drapery manufacturing methods. 
The manufacturing process involves the following steps. First, 
evenly-spaced drapery hook pockets are sewn into any coarse, stiffened 
fabric such as crinoline. The crinoline or coarse fabric strip is 
pre-measured for exact drapery size prior to making the drapery, thus 
eliminating any waste of the crinoline and, in turn, increasing 
cost-efficiency. Next, the top of the drape is folded and pressed over 
onto itself to form a rod pocket about one-half inch wider than the coarse 
fabric strip. The coarse fabric strip is placed into the folded rod pocket 
as if the coarse fabric strip was a straight rod. The rod pocket is then 
stitched to the coarse fabric strip at one end and along the bottom edge 
of the rod pocket to close the pocket. The coarse fabric strip and the 
drape are pulled in opposite directions to shirr the drape over the coarse 
fabric strip while simultaneously sewing the rod pocket. The opposite end 
of the rod pocket is stitched to the coarse fabric strip, securing the 
shirred effect. After ensuring that the gathering of the drape is evenly 
distributed along the length of the coarse fabric strip the drape is sewn 
or stitched onto the drapery hook pockets on the back side of the drape. 
Subsequently, as the drapes are hung, standard drapery hooks are inserted 
through the back of the drapes into drapery hook pockets, and the tops of 
the drapes are manually vertically creased halfway between each drapery 
hook pocket to form temporary pleats. 
Because of the pleating capability represented by the drapery hook pockets 
and the creased coarse stiffened fabric, the drape has the appearance of 
being pleated only when open. The drape opens (stacks back) evenly, giving 
the look of shirred and pleated drapery. As a result of the gathered 
(shirred) design, the drape always will have the appearance of being 
shirred. When the drapes are closed, they appear to be continuously 
shirred across the width thereof without pleats. 
Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent 
from the following detailed description and the appended claims, reference 
being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the 
specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding 
parts of the several views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND METHOD 
Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood 
that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of 
construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying 
drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that 
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of 
description, and not limitation. 
In FIG. 1, there is shown a strip of pre-cut stiffened fabric 10 such as 
crinoline. Drapery hook pockets 12 are pre-sewn into the fabric strip 10 
as indicated by the stitching 14. Pockets 12 are about 4 inches apart 
across the width of drape 16, and about 2 inches apart at the "drapery 
return" located at the ends of drape 16, perpendicular to the wall. Each 
drapery hook pocket is about 3/8th-inch deep. 
In FIG. 2, a drape 16 is shown being gathered onto fabric strip 10 
functioning as a supporting rod. Drape 16 has a rod pocket 18 sewn at the 
top of the drape 16 to receive fabric strip 10, as by stitching 19. As 
shown in FIG. 4, prongs 22 of drapery hooks 24 are pushed directly through 
the fabric of drape 16 to enter drapery hook pockets 12 at the rear of 
drape 16. Drapery hook 24 in turn is mounted through an opening 26 in a 
depending link 28 connected to a roller 30 which rides in a channel 32 
formed in traverse rod 34. In FIG. 2, once drape 16 has been gathered on 
stiffened fabric strip 10, one end of rod pocket 18 is sewn to fabric 
strip 10 as by double stitching 48. Thereafter drape 16 is shifted to the 
right relative to fabric strip 10 to gather the material to create the 
shirred effect 36. By gathering drap 16 on the fabric strip 10 a 
continuous shirred effect is achieved as shown at 36, seen from the front 
of the drape when the drape is closed. Alternatively, pocket 18 may be 
stitched simultaneously as drape 16 is being pulled to the right and 
fabric strip 10 is being pulled to the left in FIG. 2, after the right end 
of rod pocket 18 has been sewn to the right end of fabric strip 10. 
As shown in FIG. 3, once drape 16 has been gathered sufficiently on fabric 
strip 10, the left end of pocket 18 is attached to fabric strip 10 by 
another row of double stitching 48 to hold the shirred gathering in place. 
Thereafter, the drape is also attached to opposing drapery hook pockets 
12, as indicated by stitching 38, to retain the relative positioning of 
drape 16 on fabric strip 10. 
When opened, pleats 40 are superimposed on the shirred effect 36 of drapes 
16 as shown in FIG. 4. If traverse rod 34 is used, as shown in FIG. 4, a 
drawstring 42 will serve to open and close drape 16 in a known manner. 
Drawstring 42 is passed over a pulley 44 which cooperates with a pulley 46 
to guide drawstring 42. In addition, the top of drape 16 has been manually 
creased as at 21 between drapery hook pockets 12 as an aid to creating 
pleats 40. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to 
traverse rods, but may be used with any form of supporting rod, including 
a Deco' Rod (not shown). 
FIG. 5 shows drape 16 mounted on traverse rod 34 in a substantially closed 
condition, wherein pleats 40 are not visible, and the shirred effect 36 is 
shown to be continuous across the entire width of drape 16. 
Each of the prior art arrangements disclosed in the patents cited above use 
unique specialty tapes and/or cords and/or hooks. This invention produces 
a new drape which uses standard drapery supplies, a new manufacturing 
method, and a new look for traversable drapes. While closed, the 
appearance is that of a shirred drape on a fixed rod. When opened, the 
appearance is that of a shirred and pleated drape on a rod. The readily 
available crinoline gives the drape the required stiffness to hold its 
shape while being opened and closed, and makes the drape durable enough to 
hold its shape after dry-cleaning. 
This new manufacturing method saves labor, material and machine costs. It 
is contemplated that the crinoline would be pre-pocketed by a crinoline 
manufacturer, thereby saving additional drapery manufacturing time and 
associated costs. In any case, crinoline (pre-pocketed or not) is cheaper 
than specialty pleater tapes, hooks, and cords. 
While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention 
herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above-stated, 
it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, 
variations and change without departing from the proper scope or fair 
meaning of the subjoined claims.