Foldable window dressing support device

A window dressing holding device for lifting and holding window dressings, such as draperies and curtains, off and above the floor and baseboards to facilitate more convenient cleaning or painting of the baseboards, lower walls or floors. The holding device includes a face plate, base plate, at least one hinge pivotally connecting the face plate to the base plate, first or left side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, second or right side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, at least one left side hinge pivotally connecting the left side panel to one end of the face plate, at least one right side hinge pivotally connecting the right side panel to an opposite end of the face plate, a left side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the left side panel, a right side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the right side panel wherein the bottom flanges support the base plate when the holding device is in use, and a plurality of suction cups wherein each suction cup is mounted to and projects outward from respective side panel flanges.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a window dressing elevation accessory, and in particular, to a foldable window dressing support device that attaches to a window, wall or other flat surface and holds curtains, drapes or other window or wall dressings in an elevated position above and off the floor or wall to facilitate convenient cleaning or maintenance of the floor, baseboard or wall below or behind the curtain. The instant invention is portable for cleaning, painting or otherwise performing maintenance on the baseboard or wall behind the curtain in multiple locations. The window curtain elevation accessory of the instant invention is also foldable for convenient packaging and storage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Curtains, drapes and other window dressings or coverings, especially those of the full-length variety, are well known to provide an obstacle to vacuuming or cleaning the floor and baseboards in homes and offices. They typically hang in front of a wall or baseboard and are difficult to work around or to hold back while cleaning the floor, baseboards or wall. In fact, the window dressings can be soiled when trying to clean or perform maintenance to the areas in their vicinity which would then require cleaning the window dressing. It is common to just hold or place the window dressing on one's arm or piece of furniture, but this impedes the ability to paint or clean and is also unreliable. Strings, straps, hooks or other types of hanger devices have also been used to hold curtains, drapes or other window coverings above or away from the floor, baseboard or wall. However, the cord must be tied or secured to a stationery object, such as a curtain rod, which can be difficult to implement and tedious, especially when someone is too short to reach the curtain rod or when dealing with multiple windows and window coverings throughout a house or office. Moreover, using cords, arms or furniture to hold window dressing can be unstable, unreliable and ultimately fail because of the weight or bulk of the curtains, drapes or coverings, which results in the curtain or drapery falling through the cord and getting soiled. This process is especially tedious, time consuming and frustrating when multiple sets of window coverings must be cleared away for routing maintenance or cleaning. There exists a need for a device that could not only reliably isolate, elevate and support window coverings away from the floor and, or wall while painting, cleaning or performing other maintenance on floors, baseboards or walls, but that could also be conveniently and easily moved from one location to another. In fact, such a device would be even more desirous if it could be quickly folded for packaging or storage. However, there are no devices known that adequately and effectively protect window coverings when performing these maintenance tasks and that may be moved easily and quickly.

It is therefore desirable to have a device that could conveniently, reliably, quickly and efficiently support curtains, draperies and other window coverings above or away from a floor or wall when cleaning, painting or performing other maintenance on multiple windows or wall surfaces. If there existed a device that addressed these shortcomings in the background art it would be well received. However, there are no devices known that conveniently, reliably and efficiently hold and protect curtains, draperies and other window dressings when performing routine cleaning or maintenance. As there are no known devices that satisfy or meet these objectives, there exists a need for such a device. It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed. The instant invention addresses this unfulfilled need in the prior art by providing a foldable, moveable and transportable window dressing support device as contemplated by the instant invention disclosed herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a window dressing holding device for lifting and holding window dressings, such as draperies and curtains, off and above the floor and baseboards to facilitate more convenient cleaning or painting of the baseboards, lower walls or floors. The holding device includes a face plate, base plate, at least one hinge pivotally connecting the face plate to the base plate, first or left side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, second or right side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, at least one left side hinge pivotally connecting the left side panel to one end of the face plate, at least one right side hinge pivotally connecting the right side panel to an opposite end of the face plate, a left side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the left side panel, a right side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the right side panel wherein the bottom flanges support the base plate when the holding device is in use, and a plurality of suction cups wherein each suction cup is mounted to and projects outward from respective side panel flanges.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a window dressing holding device that includes a face plate hinged to a base plate, at least one hinge pivotally connecting the face plate to the base plate, first side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, second side panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, at least one first hinge pivotally connecting the first side panel to one end of the face plate, at least one second side hinge pivotally connecting the second side panel to an opposite end of the face plate, a first side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the first side panel, a second side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the second side panel, first side tab pivotally connected to the first bottom flange and a second side tab pivotally connected to the second bottom flange wherein the first and second tabs pivot inward to support the base plate when the holding device is in use, a plurality of suction cups wherein each suction cup is mounted to and projects outward from respective side panel flanges and a plurality of apertures formed in the face plate and base plate to create airflow and reduce static to prevent the window dressing from clinging to the plates and to reduce weight.

In an additional aspect, the present invention provides a window dressing holding device that includes a face plate hinged to a base plate, at least one hinge pivotally connecting the face plate to the base plate, left side upper panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, left side lower panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, right side upper panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, right side lower panel having inward projecting flanges at opposite ends, at least one left side upper hinge pivotally connecting the upper left side panel to a left end of the face plate, at least one left side lower hinge pivotally connecting the lower left side panel to the left end of the face plate, at least one right side upper hinge pivotally connecting the right side upper panel to a right end of the face plate, at least one right side lower hinge pivotally connecting the right side lower panel to a right end of the face plate, a left side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the left side panel, a right side bottom flange projecting inward from a lower end of the right side panel, first side tab pivotally connected to the first bottom flange and a second side tab pivotally connected to the second bottom flange wherein the first and second tabs pivot inward toward to support the base plate when the holding device is in use, a left side support bracket connected to the left side upper panel and lower panel to stabilize the left side upper and lower side panels and to facilitate the use of less material, a right side support bracket connected to the right side upper panel and lower panel to stabilize the right side upper and lower side panels and to facilitate the use of less material, a plurality of suction cups wherein each suction cup is mounted to and projects outward from respective side panel flanges and a plurality of apertures formed in the face plate and base plate to create airflow and reduce static to prevent the window dressing from clinging to the plates and to reduce weight.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings in which like reference designators refer to like elements,FIGS. 1 to 11depict the preferred and alternative embodiments of the instant invention which is generally referenced as a window dressing support device, support device and, or by numeric character10. There is shown inFIGS. 1-8a window dressing support device10for holding or supporting window dressings1, such as curtains and drapery, above a floor or away from a wall to facilitate convenient cleaning, painting or maintenance of the floor or wall. The instant invention10may also be used to hold cleaning and maintenance items when working. The support device10may be secured to a window or wall, as shown inFIG. 4, or window and provides a trough for placing the window dressing when lifted off or above the floor. The device10is foldable into a rectangular cube for convenient packaging when shipping or sold, storage and relocating. The device10is easily moveable to other positions or locations for use throughout a house or office.

With reference toFIGS. 1-8, the preferred embodiment of the window dressing support device10provides a window dressing holding device that includes a face plate12hinged to a base plate18, at least one hinge11pivotally connecting the face plate12to the base plate18, left side upper panel14ahaving inward projecting flanges14cat opposite ends, left side lower panel14bhaving inward projecting flanges14dat opposite ends, right side upper panel16ahaving inward projecting flanges16cat opposite ends, right side lower panel16bhaving inward projecting flanges16dat opposite ends, at least one left side upper hinge15apivotally connecting the upper left side panel14ato a left end of the face plate12, at least one left side lower hinge15bpivotally connecting the lower left side panel14bto the left end of the face plate12, at least one right side upper hinge17apivotally connecting the right side upper panel16ato a right end of the face plate12, and at least one right side lower hinge17bpivotally connecting the right side lower panel17bto a right end of the face plate12. The left side panels14a,14band right side panels16a,16bfold outward to pivot the base plate18into place at a ninety degree angle with the face plate12and then inward toward the outside edges of the base plate18to support the base plate18for use. The device10includes a left side bottom flange14eprojecting inward from the lower end of the left side panel14and a right side bottom flange16eprojecting inward from a lower end of the right side panel16e. A left side tab34is pivotally connected to the left side bottom flange14eand a second side tab35is pivotally connected to the right side bottom flange16ewherein the first and second tabs34,35pivot inward toward and under the base plate18to support the base plate18when the holding device is in use, as shown inFIGS. 3 and 4. In an alternative embodiment, the support tabs34,35may be pivotally connected, mounted or attached to the lower side panels14b,16b, such as in an embodiment of the invention10that does not utilize bottom flanges14e,16e.

Now referring toFIGS. 1-4, the side panels14a,band16a,bare narrow substrates that form a separation as supported by the face plate12. This provides the effect of a complete side panel without using all the material necessary for a full panel to reduce weight and manufacturing cost. To stabilize the upper and lower side panels14a,band16a,b, the instant invention10includes a left side support bracket32connected to the left side upper panel14aand left side lower panel14band a right side support bracket33connected to the right side upper panel16aand right side lower panel16b.

Now referring toFIGS. 1-8, the window dressing support device10is supported on a window or wall1by suction cups40. The support device10includes a plurality of suction cups40wherein each suction cup40is mounted to and projects outward from respective side panel flanges14c,dand16c,d. The side flanges14c,dand16c,dinclude apertures which receive a knob on the inside end of the suction cups40to support the suction cups40.

Now referring toFIGS. 1-5, the face plate12and base plate18include a plurality of apertures22,19, respectively, for an aerodynamic advantage that creates airflow and reduces static to prevent the window dressing from clinging to the plates12,18while reducing weight. As the window dressing1tends to rest in on the bottom plate18, the bottom plate18preferably has more apertures than the face plate12. The side panels14a,band16a,bmay also have apertures. The device10, and more particularly the face panel12, base panel18, and side panels14a,band16a,b, are preferably manufactured from polypropylene plastic or comparable substitute for weight reduction and mass production. The device10may be manufactured from another material without departing from the scope and spirit of the instant invention10.

Now referring toFIGS. 5-8, the window dressing support device10is able to fold into a compact form by virtue of the hinges11,15and17and the shape of the side panels14a,b,16a,b, including the side panel flanges14c,dand16c,d(generally and collectively referenced by numerals14and16), and the dimensions of the face plate12and base plate18relative to the side panels14,16. The base plate18is pivotally connected to the face plate12by at least one and preferably a plurality of hinges11that enable the base plate18to swing backward over the outside front surface of the face plate12, as shown inFIG. 5. Meanwhile, the side panels14,16swing inward over the rear surface of the face panel12, as shown inFIGS. 6-8. Referring toFIG. 6, the support tabs34,35are shown extended before being pivoted into and over the bottom flanges14e,16e, respectively. InFIG. 7, the tabs34and35are shown fully pivoted inside the lower side panels14b.16b.

There is shown inFIGS. 9-11an alternative embodiment of the window dressing support device10for holding or supporting window dressings1, such as curtains and drapery, above a floor or away from a wall to facilitate convenient cleaning or maintenance of the floor or wall. The instant invention10may also be used to hold cleaning and maintenance items when working. The support device10may be secured to a window, as shown inFIG. 11, or wall and provides a trough for placing the window dressing. The device10is extendable and retractable for accommodating larger or smaller window dressings. The device10is easily moveable to other positions or locations for use throughout a house or office and is foldable for convenient packaging when sold or storage when not in use.

With reference toFIGS. 9 and 10, in the alternative embodiment the window dressing support device10generally includes a face plate12, base plate18, left side panel14and right side panel16, which form a trough for holding or supporting a window dressing, and a pair of suction cups40removably attached to the side panels14,16, respectively, for mounting the support device10to a window or wall. The support device10, more particularly, includes an exterior face plate12, interior face plate13, bottom base plate18, top base plate28, left side panel14connected to the rear face plate13and right side panel16connected to the front face plate12. The support device10includes a base plate18to prevent the window dressing1from falling through the support device10. The exterior face plate12preferably has an upper flange20and lower flange21that each define opposing channels for slidably receiving the interior face plate13. The interior face plate13slides through the flange channels formed by the flanges20,21to adjust the width of the face plate12,13. The interior face plate13may be connected or connectable to the left side plate14to facilitate the sliding of the interior face plate13. Similarly, the bottom base plate18has an inner flange30and outer flange31that each define opposing channels for slidably receiving the top base plate28. The top base plate28slides through the flange channels formed by the flanges30,31to adjust the width of the base plate18,28. The top base plate28may be connected or connectable to the left side plate14to create movement of the top base plate28. The interior face plate13and top base plate28preferably extend and retract together or simultaneously for adjusting the width of the support device10. To facilitate the simultaneous sliding of the interior face plate13and top base plate28, the left side plate14is preferably connected to the interior face plate13and top base plate28. In an alternative embodiment, the left side plate14may be connected to the exterior face plate12and the right side plate16connected to the interior face plate13so long as the interior face plate13is slidable within the channels of the front face plate12. Similarly, the left side plate14may be connected to the bottom base plate18and the right side plate16connected to the top base plate28.

Continuing to refer toFIGS. 9 and 10, the window dressing support device10is preferably foldable wherein the left side plate14or right side plate16are connected to the interior face plate12or exterior face plate by a hinge15and hinge17, respectively. The hinges15,17may facilitate pivoting movement of the left side plate14and right side plate16inward or outward with respect to the exterior or interior face plate12,13. Likewise, the bottom base plate18is preferably connected to the exterior face plate12by a hinge11, as shown inFIG. 1, which may allow pivoting movement inward or outward with respect to the exterior face plate12. The left side plate14or right side plate16may be releasably connectable to the top base plate28by snapping together with grips, tabs, apertures and, or grooves that cooperate to snap in place when pressed together which causes the top base plate28to slide when the left side plate14or right side plate16are pulled or pushed. The left side plate14or right side plate16may be detached from the top base plate28by securing the plate28when pulling on the left or right side plate14,16. When detached, the side plates14,16and base plates18,28may be pivoted inward or outward toward and against the exterior or interior face plates12,13to fold the window dressing support device10for packaging or storage.

Referring toFIGS. 9-11, the face plates12,13and base plates18,28are preferably perforated. The exterior face plate12includes a plurality of apertures22and the interior face plate13includes a plurality of apertures23. The bottom base plate18includes a plurality of apertures19and the top base plate28includes a plurality of apertures29. The perforated plates12,13,18and28help to alleviate or prevent static electricity with the window dressing while reducing the amount of material required to produce the plates so as to reduce manufacturing costs.

Still referring toFIGS. 9 and 10, the left side plate includes a flange24and the right side plate includes a flange26. The flanges24,26may be hinged to the left side plate24and right side plate26to facilitate folding of the support device10. The left side flange24includes an aperture25and the right side flange26includes an aperture27. A suction cup40having a mounting knob42is mountable to each flange24and26, respectively, by inserting the mounting knob42of each cup40into a corresponding flange aperture26or27. An alternative lockable suction cup50may be employed to facilitate more reliable mounting to wall surfaces made from wood, concrete or drywall. The lockable suction cup50includes a base52with a bladder53and a hook54pivotally connected to the bladder53to pull it inward when rotated thereby creating suction on the mounting surface to securely mount the suction cup50. The window dressing support device10is then mountable to the hooks54as needed for lifting and supporting window dressings.

Now referring toFIG. 1, the window dressing support device10is shown mounted to a window1. A curtain or drape2is lifted and placed in the trough of the support device10when the window, baseboard or wall require cleaning or maintenance, as shown. The support device10may be widen to accommodate larger window dressings by pulling on the side plate14or16that is connected to the interior face plate13and top base plate28.

The window dressing support device10is preferably manufactured from a thermoplastic, plastic or other material amenable to injection molding and mass production. The support device10may alternatively be made from fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel or other rustproof material.