Fabric column kit and system

In order to enhance the aesthetics of the interior of a home or building, a fabric column kit and system is disclosed. The fabric column kit or system includes at least a pair and, preferably, a plurality of fabric supports which may advantageously be of different sizes and/or shapes wherein the supports are adapted for selected positioning in spaced apart relation in compatible pairs. The fabric supports are fixedly mounted to a rigid surface in selected positions. The fabric column kit or system also includes at least a pair and preferably a plurality of rings which may advantageously be of different sizes and/or shapes wherein the rings are adapted to releasably secure opposite ends of a fabric to the respective ones of the fabric supports. With the fabric column kit or system, a fabric column may be formed between the fabric supports to aesthetically enhance the interior space of any building structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is generally directed to interior decorating and, 
more particularly, aesthetically enhancing the interior space of a 
building structure. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Over the years, there has been a growing awareness of the desirability for 
aesthetically enhancing the interior of a building structure. It is now 
well known that the aesthetics of a space which is to be inhabited has 
both a conscious and subconscious impact on those who are regularly 
exposed to that space. For instance, the color, texture, and materials for 
wall coverings and floor coverings are known to create or enhance certain 
moods. 
In one area, there have been many diverse approaches concerning design 
techniques. In particular, the very different types of window and/or door 
treatments has run the gamut as to style and functionality over the course 
of history of interior decorating. While many interesting designs exist, a 
need has continued to exist for system and/or kits. 
More specifically, it would be highly desirable for window treatments 
and/or door treatments to have significant versatility. This follows from 
not only the myriad of tastes in interior decorating but also from the 
very different types of windows and doors that are often encountered. 
Still further, it would be highly desirable to be able to change the 
"look" without having to change the overall "hardware". 
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the 
foregoing problems and achieving one or more of the resulting objects. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide 
an entirely unique fabric column kit and system. It is a further object of 
the present invention to provide such an arrangement wherein the fabric 
column can be fashioned into different sizes and/or shapes by selectively 
utilizing components of the kit. It is an additional object of the present 
invention to provide components that are easy to use, inexpensive to 
manufacture, and require minimal tools. 
In one respect, the present invention is directed to a fabric column 
system. The system includes a pair of fabric supports each adapted for 
selective positioning in spaced apart relation. Means are provided for 
fixedly mounting the fabric supports to a rigid surface in any of a 
variety of selected positions. The system also includes a fabric having 
opposite ends adapted for positioning adjacent ones of the fabric 
supports. Means are provided for releasably securing the opposite ends of 
the fabric to the respective ones of the fabric supports. Preferably, the 
releasable securing means includes a rod pocket ring for the fabric. 
In an exemplary embodiment, the fabric supports each include a base plate 
and a hold down plate. It is also contemplated that the rings be adapted 
to fit through rod pockets which are suitably formed at opposite ends of 
the fabric. Further, means are provided for securing the hold down plates 
to the base plates with the rings therebetween. 
Preferably, the base plates are formed to be larger than the rings and the 
rings are formed to be larger than the hold down plates. It is 
contemplated that the hold down plates will be generally of the same shape 
but smaller than the rings. With this construction, the securing means may 
comprise a bolt extending from each of the base plates through the 
respective one of the hold down plates. 
Still further, the rings and hold down plates are preferably formed so as 
to be generally arcuate. This permits the hold down plates to each have an 
outer perimeter radially inwardly of the outer perimeter of the respective 
one of the rings when the hold down plates are secured to the base plates. 
As a result, the fabric may extend about the rings so as to hide the hold 
down plates from view. 
In one highly preferred embodiment, the rings and hold down plates each 
define an arc extending through at least 180.degree.. In this manner, 
these components may form a fabric column also extending through at least 
180.degree.. Preferably, the base plates will be larger than the rings and 
the rings and hold down plates will be centered thereon. 
Additionally, the selected positions for mounting the fabric supports may 
in one application be advantageously vertically spaced at one side of a 
window. The rings and hold down plates may then each have a 
drapery-receiving void. Preferably, the drapery-receiving voids are 
arranged such that the fabric column is necessarily formed to have a 
vertically extending drapery-receiving void generally facing the window. 
Alternatively, the selected positions for mounting the fabric supports are 
vertically spaced adjacent a doorway in which case the rings and hold down 
plates will have a wall-facing void. Specifically, the wall-facing void 
will then be arranged such that the fabric column is formed to also have a 
wall-facing void which generally faces a wall comprising the rigid 
surface. 
Additional details of the fabric column system may include the utilization 
of a pair of retention brackets in one embodiment. Each of the retention 
brackets may advantageously extend between the rigid surface and the 
respective one of the fabric supports. As will be appreciated, the 
retention brackets may be provided to support and maintain the fabric 
supports in a desired orientation. 
In an alternative embodiment, the releasable securing means also includes a 
rod pocket at each of opposite ends of the fabric. However, the fabric 
supports in this embodiment each include an open ring which is made to fit 
through the respective one of the rod pockets formed in the opposite ends 
of the fabric. In addition, the mounting means comprises a pair of 
brackets and the rigid surface comprises a wall upon which the brackets 
can be fixedly mounted. 
In this embodiment, the brackets each have a pair of parallel, spaced apart 
openings adapted to receive opposite ends of the respective one of the 
open rings. These openings may advantageously be defined by a pair of 
tubular extensions. Still further, the brackets may each include a wall 
plate supporting the tubular extensions and having a pair of parallel 
slots each adapted to receive a tension screw. 
With this arrangement, the tension screw is well suited for adjusting the 
wall plate position on the wall within the limits of the slots. Each of 
the wall plates may also include a pair of spaced apart holes each adapted 
to receive a final positioning screw for fixedly mounting the wall plates 
in the selected positions following adjustment. Still further, the tubular 
extensions may each include integral means for retaining the respective 
one of the opposite ends of the opening rings therein. 
In this embodiment, the brackets may also each include a rigid ring support 
extending from the wall plate to the open ring. It will extend to a 
central point of the open ring remote from the wall plate. As a result, 
the rigid ring support holds the open ring in a preselected orientation 
relative to the wall against the weight of the fabric. 
In still another embodiment, the releasable securing means may include a 
first strip of a hook and loop fastening means at each of the opposite 
ends of the fabric. The fabric supports then may include a base plate 
having at least one recess and which is formed into a desired shape for 
forming a fabric column. In addition, the releasable securing means may 
further include a second strip of the hook and loop fastening means about 
the outer perimeter of the base plates. 
In still another embodiment, the releasable securing means may again 
include a first strip of a hook and loop fastening means at each of the 
opposite ends of the fabric. The fabric supports then each include a base 
plate having an outer perimeter formed into a desired shape for a fabric 
column. As before, the releasable securing means further includes a second 
strip of the hook and loop fastening means about the outer perimeter of 
the base plates. 
In another respect, the present invention is directed to a fabric column 
kit including a plurality of fabric supports of different sizes and/or 
shapes adapted for selected positioning in spaced apart relation in 
compatible pairs. Means are provided for fixedly mounting the fabric 
supports to a rigid surface in selected positions. With this arrangement, 
the fabric column kit also includes a plurality of means for releasably 
securing opposite ends of a fabric to the respective ones of the fabric 
supports wherein such securing means are of different sizes and/or shapes. 
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be 
apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
In the illustrations given, and with reference first to FIG. 1, the 
reference numeral 10 designates generally a fabric column system which may 
be formed from a kit in accordance with the present invention. The system 
10 includes a pair of fabric supports 12 each adapted for selected 
positioning in spaced apart relation. As also shown in FIG. 1, the system 
10 includes a fabric 14 having opposite ends 14a and 14b adapted for 
positioning adjacent respective ones of the fabric supports 12 (see, also, 
FIG. 2). 
As best shown in FIG. 3, the system 10 includes means for releasably 
securing the opposite ends 14a and 14b of the fabric 14 to the respective 
ones of the fabric supports 12. In particular, the releasable securing 
means includes a rod pocket ring 16 for the fabric 14 and the fabric 
supports 12 each include a base plate 18 and a hold down plate 20 whereby 
the rings 16 are adapted to fit through rod pockets 22 at the opposite 
ends 14a and 14b of the fabric 14. Further, the system 10 includes means 
for securing the hold down plates 20 to the base plates 18 in such a 
manner that the rings 16 are firmly retained in position therebetween. 
As will be appreciated from FIG. 4, the base plates 18 are larger than the 
rings 16 and the rings 16 are larger than the hold down plates 20. It will 
also be seen and appreciated that the hold down plates 20 are 
advantageously generally of the same shape but smaller than the rings 16. 
Preferably, the securing means comprises a bolt 24 extending from each of 
the base plates 18 through the respective one of the hold down plates 20 
to cooperate with a wing nut 26. 
Still referring to FIG. 4, the rings 16 and hold down plates 20 may 
advantageously be formed so as to be generally arcuate. It will be seen 
that the hold down plates 20 each have an outer perimeter 20a radially 
inwardly of the outer perimeter 16a of the respective one of the rings 16 
when the hold down plates 20 are secured to the base plates 18 by means of 
the bolt 24 and wing nut 26. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fabric 14 
will extend about the rings 16 so as to hide the hold down plates 20 from 
view. 
Referring once again to FIG. 4, the rings 16 and hold down plates 20 may be 
generally arcuate and still be of a wide variety of different shapes and 
sizes. It will be appreciated that each of the illustrated rings 16, 16', 
etc. define an arc extending through at least 180.degree. so as to form a 
fabric column 28 also extending through at least 180.degree. (see FIG. 3). 
In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the base plates 18 are 
larger than the rings 16 with the rings 16 and hold down plates 20 being 
centered thereon. 
As will be appreciated from FIG. 1, the selected positions for fixedly 
mounting the fabric supports 12 are at vertically spaced locations 
generally at opposite sides of a window 30. The rings 16 and hold down 
plates 20 may each have a drapery-receiving void as at 32 (see FIG. 3). In 
this embodiment, the drapery-receiving voids 32 of the respective pairs of 
fabric supports 12 face each other and the window 30 so permit drawing 
draperies thereinto. 
Alternatively, and referring to FIG. 5, the selected positions for mounting 
the fabric supports may be at vertically spaced locations generally 
adjacent a doorway 34. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 is slightly 
different, and the details will be described hereinafter, but if the 
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 is placed in a doorway, the rings 
16 and hold down plates 20 each will have a wall-facing void essentially 
corresponding to the drapery-receiving void 32 previously described but 
possibly enlarged as would be the case by utilizing either of rings 16"" 
or 16""' (see FIG. 4). With such arrangements, the wall-facing void will 
naturally cause the fabric column 28 to have a corresponding wall-facing 
void generally facing a wall 36 or other rigid surface associated with the 
doorway 34. 
Referring to FIG. 4, the system 10 also includes means for fixedly mounting 
the fabric supports 12 to a rigid surface such as a wall in selected 
positions. The mounting means preferably includes what comprises a pair of 
retention brackets 38 and each of the retention brackets 38 is formed so 
as to extend between the rigid surface or wall and the respective one of 
the fabric supports 12 as will be appreciated from FIG. 4. In the 
illustrated embodiment, the retention brackets 38 comprise angle brackets 
such as the one secured to the top surface 12a of the fixed support 12. 
Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternative embodiment of the present 
invention has been illustrated which includes a different form of fabric 
supports 112. The fabric supports 112, as illustrated, each comprise an 
open ring which is made to fit through the respective one of the rod 
pockets 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting means comprises a pair of 
brackets 138 and the rigid surface comprises a wall 136 upon which the 
brackets 138 can be fixedly mounted. 
As best shown in FIG. 7, the open rings 112 can be formed so as to have a 
variety of different sizes and/or shapes each defining an arc extending 
through at least 180.degree.. The rings 112', 112", etc. can thereby form 
a fabric column (such as 28 which is illustrated in FIG. 3 in connection 
with 180.degree.. As shown in FIG. 6, the brackets 138 each have a pair of 
parallel, spaced apart openings 140 adapted to receive opposite ends 142 
of the respective one of the open rings 112. 
As will be appreciated, the brackets 138 each comprise a wall plate having 
a pair cf parallel slots 144 each adapted to receive a tension screw 146 
for adjustment of wall plate position on the wall 136. It will also be 
seen that each of the wall plates 138 has a pair of tubular extensions 148 
for receiving the opposite ends 142 of the respective one of the open 
rings 112 therein. These tubular extensions 148 define the spaced apart 
openings 140 (see FIG. 6). It will further be seen that the tubular 
extensions 148 include means for retaining the respective one of the 
opposite ends 142 of the open rings 112 therein. In the embodiment 
illustrated in FIG. 6, the retaining means may by way of example comprise 
set screws 150 for threadingly engaging the opposite ends 142 of the open 
rings 112 in the tubular extensions 148. 
Still referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the wall brackets 138 each include a pair 
of spaced apart holes 152 adapted to receive a final positioning screw for 
fixedly mounting the wall brackets 138 in the selected positions therefor. 
It will also be seen that the wall plates 138 may each have a rigid ring 
support 154 extending from the wall plate 138 to the open ring 112 at a 
central point remote therefrom. In this manner, the rigid ring support 154 
can adequately support the open ring 112 in a preselected orientation 
relative to the wall 136 against the weight of the fabric. 
As before, the selected positions for mounting the fabric supports 112 may 
be vertically spaced at opposite sides of a window or adjacent a doorway. 
It can be appreciated from FIG. 7 that the open rings such as 112' may 
include a drapery-receiving void 132 generally corresponding to the 
drapery-receiving void 32 in connection with the earlier described 
embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 through 4. Alternatively, a wall-facing 
void may be provided, also as previously suggested, by forming an open 
ring such as 112". 
Referring to FIGS. 8 through 11, yet another embodiment of fabric column 
system has been illustrated wherein the releasable securing means 
comprises a first strip 260 of a hook and loop fastening means at each of 
the opposite ends of a fabric 214. The fabric supports 212 each include a 
base plate 216 having a recess or recesses 262 formed into a desired shape 
for a fabric column 228. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the 
art, the releasable securing means will further include a second strip 264 
of the hook and loop fastening means about the outer perimeter of the base 
plates 216 to cooperate with the first strip 260. 
As best shown in FIG. 10, the base plates 216', 216", etc. have outer 
perimeters which have been formed into various desired shapes for fabric 
columns. The overall configurations are generally circular or arcuate, 
although FIG. 9 illustrates that virtually any shape is a possibility. 
However, in keeping with typical column design, FIG. 10 is believed to 
illustrate the versatility of the invention in conformity with the shape 
of standard columns. 
With the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 through 10, the base plates 216 
are essentially entirely hidden from view. Thus, the fabric columns 228 
will essentially include no exposed base plates whatsoever at the opposite 
ends thereof. If desired, an entirely different form of base plate 266 may 
be utilized as shown in FIGS. 11 through 13. 
In this connection, the base plate 266 may be formed as a capital. Thus, it 
may have a recess 268 wherein the first strip 260 of hook and loop 
fastening means is provided on the outwardly facing surface of &he fabric 
and the second strip 264 is provided on the inner surface of the recess 
268 of the capital 266. In this manner, a fabric column system may be 
formed substantially as illustrated in FIG. 11. 
As for FIGS. 12 and 13, they illustrate the utilization of capitals 266 
with the embodiment previously described in connection with FIGS. 6 
through 8. It will be seen and appreciated that the wall plates 138 are 
simply mounted such that the open rings 112 will be suitably positioned 
within the recesses 268 of the capitals 266. As a result, the capitals 266 
provide for two alternative means of forming a fabric column therewith. 
In another respect, the present invention will be understood to be directed 
toward and to provide a fabric column kit. The kit includes a plurality of 
fabric supports of different sizes and/or shapes adapted for selected 
positioning in spaced apart relation in compatible pairs. This can be 
appreciated by referring, e.g., to FIGS. 4, 7, 9, 10 and 13. The kit also 
includes a plurality of means of different sizes and/or shapes for 
releasably securing opposite ends of a fabric to the respective ones of 
the fabric supports. With such an arrangement, the kit will allow the 
purchaser to have a great deal of flexibility in designing a fabric 
column. 
While in the foregoing there have been set forth preferred embodiments of 
the invention, it will be appreciated that the details hereingiven may be 
varied by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit 
and scope of the appended claims.