Hardware for ready-made balloon shade

A curtain, drape, shade, or the like movable to a position in which it has a ballooning effect is mounted in a simple and effective manner. A first conventional curtain rod supports a fabric sheet comprising the shade, or the like, at a top portion of the sheet. A second conventional curtain rod is spaced from the first rod and is adjacent the top of the sheet. A number of rings, disposed in columns, are formed on the back of the fabric sheet, and a cord passes through all the rings in a column. Each cord is connected at a first end to a bottom portion of the fabric sheet, and the second end of each cord passes through one or more eyelets mounted in a fixed position with respect to the second curtain rod. Each eyelet may be moved to any desired position along the curtain rod by loosening a screw fastener, and when the screw fastener is tightened it is fixed at the particular position to which it has been moved along the curtain rod.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Shades, curtains, drapes, or the like, having a ballooning effect can 
provide a very desirable treatment for windows, sliding glass doors, and 
the like. Conventional hardware associated with such shades, curtains, or 
draperies include a board onto which a number of eye hooks are attached. 
The board is mounted adjacent the top of the window or door with which the 
shade, curtain, or drape is to be associated, and pull cords passing 
through eyelets formed on the back of the shade, or the like, pass through 
the eye hooks. While such a structure is successful in accomplishing the 
desired ballooning effect, it is a relatively complex, cumbersome, and 
complicated structure. 
According to the present invention, a balloon shade (curtain, drape or the 
like) assembly is provided which is simplified compared to the common 
commercial prior art structures. The assembly according to the present 
invention includes a conventional rod in place of the wooden board. A 
number of eyelet means are associated with the curtain rod, and may be 
affixed to the curtain rod at desired selected positions along the curtain 
rod. These eyelet means receive the pull cords in the same manner that the 
eye hooks receive the pull cords in conventional assemblies. 
Each of the eyelet means preferably includes an eyelet forming body member, 
a holding member, and a fastener means. The fastener means operatively 
attached the body member and the holding member to the curtain rod in a 
selected position to which they have been moved along the curtain rod. 
The eyelet forming body member and the holding member are preferably 
distinct portions of an integral body, which preferably is made of 
plastic. The holding member comprises a hollow member having an interior 
hollow opening having basically the same cross-sectional shape and 
dimensions as the curtain rod, and adapted to slide as a sleeve over the 
curtain rod. The eyelet forming body member is an extension of the sleeve, 
extending outwardly from one side thereof, and including an opening 
through which the cord passes. The fastener means preferably comprises a 
screw which screws through a wall of the holding member to operatively 
frictionally engage the curtain rod to hold the body member and the 
holding member in the selected position to which they have been moved 
along the curtain rod. 
Alternatively, the eyelet forming body member may comprise an integral 
piece of plastic having aligned free ends with means defining aligned 
openings in the free ends, and a looped central portion. The holding means 
then comprises a sheet metal nut of rectangular shape, and curved about an 
axis through a central portion thereof, a sheet metal nut disposed within 
an interior volume defined by the curtain rod. The fastener means then 
comprises a screw which passes through the aligned openings in the free 
ends of the eyelet body member, and into operative engagement with the 
sheet metal nut. When the screw is loosened the eyelet may be moved to any 
desired position along the curtain rod, and when the screw is tightened 
down the eyelet is fixed in place along the curtain rod. 
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a simple yet 
effective mechanism for hanging a balloon shade, curtain, drape, or the 
like. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an 
inspection of the detailed description of the drawings, and from the 
appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
In the following description reference will be made to a ballooning 
"shade", for convenience of description. However it is to be understood 
that the structure designated as a "shade" may be, or may be considered, 
as a curtain, drape, or the like. 
A conventional ballooning shade in a position wherein it has a ballooning 
effect is illustrated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1. The 
same shade 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein it is in a position where 
it does not have a ballooning effect. 
The shade 10 comprises a fabric sheet 12 having a top portion 13, bottom 
portion 14, front 15 (see FIG. 1), and back 16 (see FIG. 2). As is 
conventional for ballooning shades, along the back 16 a plurality of rings 
are disposed in columns. For instance rings 17 are disposed in one column, 
rings 18 in another, and so forth for rings 19-21. 
At the top portion 13 of the shade 12, there are means formed for attaching 
the shade to a fixed horizontal support. For the embodiment illustrated in 
FIG. 2, the fixed top horizontal support comprises a conventional first 
curtain rod 23 which is received within a channel formed between 
overlapping top portions of the shade 12. 
Associated with the rings 17-21 are a plurality of pull cords 27-31, 
respectively. Each pull cord 27-31 is operatively connected at a first end 
thereof to the bottom portion 14 of the shade 12. For instance as shown 
with respect to the cord 29, the first end 33 thereof is looped through 
the bottom ring 19 and then tied in a knot to an intermediate portion of 
the cord 29, but adjacent the end 33 thereof. To accentuate the ballooning 
effect, a number of the rings adjacent the bottom 14 of the shade 12 may 
be tied together utilizing small pieces of cord, or the free end 33 could 
be tied to an intermediate portion of the cord 29 up above several of the 
rings 19 (and the same would be true with respect to each of the cords 27, 
28, 30, and 31 too). Each of the cords 27-31 also has a second end portion 
thereof, the second end portions ultimately coming together in close 
proximity to each other and being shown collectively by the reference 
numeral 35 in FIG. 2. Each of the cords 27-31 passes through one or more 
of the eyelet means 37 according to the present invention, as will be 
hereinafter described, and when a pulling force is exerted on the 
collective ends 35 the shade 12 will move from the position illustrated in 
FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the bottom portion 14 moving 
toward the top portion 13 and a ballooning effect taking place. When the 
desired position of the shade 12 has been reached, the cords 27-31, 
adjacent the collective ends 35 thereof, may be tied to a conventional 
cleat 38 (see FIG. 2) which is affixed to the window frame, door frame, or 
like structure that is stationary with respect to the curtain rod 23. 
With particular reference to FIGS. 3 through 6, one exemplary form of the 
eyelet means 37 according to the present invention is illustrated 
associated with a second conventional curtain rod 40. The curtain rod 40, 
in this case, includes a front wall 41, a back wall having means defining 
the elongated slot 42 therein (the slot 42 elongated in the same dimension 
of elongation as the elongated tubular member comprising the curtain rod 
40), and an interior volume between the back wall and the front wall 41. 
The back wall includes a front surface 43, and a back surface 44 (see 
FIGS. 5 and 6), and the front wall 41 is spaced from the surface 44. 
As seen most clearly in FIGS. 3 through 5, the eyelet means 37 includes an 
eyelet forming body member 47, a holding member 48, and fastener means 49. 
The body member 47 preferably is an integral piece of material, such as a 
plastic, having first and second end portions 50, 51 thereof which are in 
alignment, and a looped central portion 52 which actually forms the "eye" 
through which the cord or cords 27-31 will pass. Formed in the end 
portions 50, 51 are aligned openings (see opening 53 in FIG. 3) through 
which the fastener 49 passes. The member 47 is adapted in use (see FIGS. 2 
and 6) to be disposed exteriorly of the interior volume of the second 
curtain rod 40, and in engagement with the front surface 43 of the back 
wall of the curtain rod 40. 
The holding member 48 preferably comprises, as illustrated, a sheet metal 
nut which has a rectangular shape and is curved about an axis through a 
central portion thereof (as is most clear from FIG. 4). The sheet metal 
nut 48 includes a central opening which receives the fastener 49, which 
comprises a screw fastener having a threaded shank 55 which passes through 
the openings 53 and into operative association with the central opening in 
the nut 48. The screw fastener 49 also includes head 56 which may be 
engaged by a conventional screwdriver. The nut 48 is adapted to be 
disposed within the interior volume of the curtain 40, and engage the back 
surface 44 of the back wall thereof. 
The eyelet means 37 are moved into operative association with the second 
curtain rod 40 by inserting one edge of the nut 48 into the open end of 
the smaller section of the second curtain rod 40 (the right hand section 
in FIGS. 2 and 6), as illustrated in FIG. 5. Depending upon the width of 
the internal volume of the curtain rod 40, either the small edge of the 
rectangular nut 48, or the large edge of the rectangular nut 48, will be 
inserted. In the FIG. 5 embodiment, the width of the interior volume of 
the second curtain rod 40 is such that the smaller edge of the nut 40 is 
inserted. Also, care is taken to ensure that the nut 48 curves toward the 
surface 44, so that it will engage it when tightened down (see FIGS. 4 and 
5 in particular). 
After all the eyelets 37 are inserted into operative association with the 
smaller section of the curtain rod 40, the sections of the curtain rod 40 
as assembled together and the eyelets 37 are slid along the length of the 
slot 42 to the desired locations (i.e. in alignment with the columns of 
eyelets 17-21). Then each of the eyelets 37 is affixed in place by 
inserting a screwdriver blade into operative association with the slotted 
head 56 of the screw 49, and tightening the screw, which causes the eyelet 
body member 47 to press tightly against the curtain rod surface 43, and 
causes the edges of the curved surface of the nut 48 to press tightly 
against the curtain rod surface 44. 
FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate another embodiment of the eyelet according to 
the present invention. In this embodiment each eyelet 37' is particularly 
adapted to be used on a wide variety of different types of conventional 
curtain rods whether or not they have an elongated slot (such as the slot 
42) therein. For instance the curtain rod 40' illustrated in FIG. 7 while 
having a cross-sectional shape and dimensions generally comparable to the 
curtain rod 40 illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, has solid front, back, 
top, and bottom walls; i.e. no slot is provided therein. The eyelet 37' 
can be used with either the curtain rods 40, or 40', and by varying the 
internal shape and dimensions of the holding member 70, can fit other 
types of curtain rods. 
The eyelet 37' includes an eyelet forming body member 71, which has a 
through-extending eye 72 through which a cord (e.g. cord 27) passes. While 
the body member 71 is distinct from the holding member 70, preferably the 
holding member 70 and the body member 71 are formed with an integral piece 
of plastic. The holding member 70 comprises a substantially 
circumferentially continuous member having a through-extending cavity 73 
therein which has a shape corresponding to the shape of the curtain rod 
40, 40', and has dimensions slightly greater than the dimensions of the 
curtain rod 40, 40' so as to slide as a sleeve thereover. 
Formed in one wall of the holding member 70, preferably the bottom wall 75 
thereof, is a screw threaded opening 77 extending generally perpendicular 
to the wall 75. The fastener means preferably comprises a screw 78 having 
a shank portion 79 which is exteriorly threaded to engage the interior 
threads of the opening 77, and having a slotted head 80. The screw 78 when 
passing through the wall 75 into the cavity 73 (see FIG. 7) fictionally 
engages the bottom of the curtain rod 40', 40 to hold the eyelet 37' in a 
selected position to which it has been moved along the curtain rod. 
OPERATION 
In an exemplary manner of utilization and operation of the assembly 10 
according to the present invention, the first curtain rod 23 is moved into 
operative association with a receiving means therefor at the top portion 
13 of the sheet 12, and the first curtain rod 23 is mounted on 
conventional supports so that it is substantially horizontal and supports 
the sheet 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. If the cords 27-31 are 
not already in place with respect to the eyelets 17-21, each of the cords 
27-31 is tied to the bottom eyelet of each of the columns of eyelets 
17-21, is threaded through all of the rings in its associated column of 
rings, and the second ends of the cords are then free, and adjacent the 
top portion 13 of the sheet 12. 
With reference to the FIGS. 2-6 embodiment, the eyelet means 37 are moved 
into operative association with the second curtain rod, in the manner 
illustrated in FIG. 5, and after the right and left hand portions of the 
second curtain rod 40 are assembled the second curtain rod 40 is mounted 
by conventional supports so that it is generally horizontally disposed, 
preferably in approximately the same horizontal plane as the first curtain 
rod 23, and spaced from the first curtain rod 23 in the manner illustrated 
in FIG. 2. Then the eyelets 37 are slid along slot 42 into the appropriate 
position along the length of the curtain rod 40, each eyelet means 37 
being in alignment with a column of rings 17-21. 
Assuming that the user wishes the shade 12 to be raised from the left hand 
side (as viewed in FIG. 1), the second ends of the cords 27-31 are passed 
through the eyelets defined by the looped portions 52 of the eyelet means 
37 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. That is the cord 27 passes through 
all five eyelet means 37, the cord 28 through four, the cord 29 through 
three, the cord 30 through two, and the cord 31 through one. The reverse 
would be true if it were desirable to have the shade 12 raised from the 
right hand side. 
Once all of the cords 27-31 have been threaded through the eyelet means 37, 
the free ends 35 thereof are tied together in a knot (see FIG. 2) so that 
the free ends 35 are positioned near, or slightly above, the cleat 38. 
To raise the shade 12, with a ballooning effect, one merely pulls on the 
collective cord ends 35, causing the bottom 14 of the shade 12 to move 
toward the top 13 any desired degree, to achieve a ballooning effect as 
illustrated in FIG. 1. When the desired position of the shade 12, and 
ballooning effect, are achieved, the cords 27-31 adjacent the collective 
ends 35 thereof are wrapped around the cleat 38 to hold the shade 12 in 
place. 
Operation for the FIGS. 7-9 embodiment in generally the same. The screw 78 
being loosened to position the eyelets 37' approximately along the length 
of the rod 40', and tightened when the selected positions are reached. 
It will thus be seen that according to the present invention a simple and 
effective balloon shade assembly, and a combination of a curtain rod and 
eyelet means, have been provided. While the invention has been herein 
shown and desired in what is presently conceived to be the most practical 
and preferred embodiment thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary 
skill in the art that many modifications may be made thereof within the 
scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest 
interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent 
structures and devices.