Abstract:
A method and apparatus, for pleating curtains and pleated curtains using the apparatus, are described. The apparatus may be provided as a parts kit which includes a stiffener, pleat-forming members, and fasteners. The stiffener is attached to a curtain and bent into a series of pleat-shaped formations. The pleat-forming members and fasteners are used to hold the stiffener and support the curtain, forming the created pleats in place. The curtain may then be hung on a curtain rod by a separate hanging element which couples the pleat-forming members to a curtain rod. The hanging element may form an integral part of the pleat-forming member.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is related to curtains and devices for pleating and hanging a curtain. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Curtains are a typical means for providing privacy and blocking sunlight, commonly found in the windows of homes, offices, and other buildings. Interior designers and individuals decorating their homes often desire to install or adjust curtain arrangements for aesthetic purposes. A common curtain arrangement is to hang the curtain in such a way as to produce regularly recurring folds, or pleats, in the curtain. 
   Pleats may be formed in a curtain in a labor-intensive and time-consuming manner that involves sewing folds in the upper edge of the curtain, or stitching various types of pleat curtain headings to the upper edge of the curtain. Alternatively, curtains may be purchased that have pleats professionally pre-sewn in place using special equipment; however, this hampers the flexibility and creativity of the person preparing a custom window treatment to her or his own personal taste by limiting the curtain design to the available selection of pre-sewn curtains. What is needed is a device that will enable application of pleats to non-pleated curtains in a fast and easy manner without requiring professional-level processing or advanced machinery, or further machine or hand sewing. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An apparatus in the form of a curtain pleating kit is disclosed providing a less time-consuming and labor-intensive means for producing pleats in a curtain. A method of using the kit and resulting pleated curtain structures is also disclosed. According to an embodiment of the invention, the location of pairs of openings are marked on the curtain fabric. A template, which may be optionally provided with the kit, can assist in such marking. A flexible stiffener provided in the kit is attached to the curtain. Openings are cut through the stiffener and the curtain fabric. The stiffener can be bent or folded to bring each pair of openings to face one another and a pleat-forming member provided in the kit, for example, a pin, engages each pair of openings. The pleat-forming members are secured in place by fasteners, also provided in the kit, on each end, which hold the stiffener and curtain in a series of recurring pleat-shaped curves. The curtain, having pleats formed therein, may be hung by hooking the pleat-forming member to a curtain rod. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an upper edge of a curtain with a stiffener, pleat-forming members and hangers installed according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2A  is a plan view of a template with holes placed over an edge of a curtain which may be used according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 2B  is a plan view of a template with marking material placed over an edge of a curtain according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3A  is a pleat-forming member with washer-screw fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3B  is a pleat-forming member with washer-nut fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3C  is a pleat-forming member with pop-in bead fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3D  is another pleat-forming member with washer-nut fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 3E  is another pleat-forming member with washer-screw fasteners according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4A  is an example of a decorative pleat-forming member having an integral hooking element according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4B  is a second example of a decorative pleat-forming member having an integral hooking element according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of a decorative pleat-forming member installed in a curtain. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to make and use them, and it is to be understood that structural, logical or procedural changes may be made. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a kit according to an embodiment of the invention includes a stiffener  30 , a set of pleat-forming members  40 , a set of fasteners  50  and optionally a set of hangers  60  and a template  10  ( FIG. 2A ). When the stiffener  30 , pleat-forming members  40 , fasteners  50  and hangers  60  are installed on a curtain  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , the curtain  15  is held in a series of pleat-formations and may be hung on a curtain rod. 
   One or more templates may be provided in the kit to mark the locations of pairs of openings in the stiffener  30  and/or curtain  15  through which pleat-forming members  40  are installed.  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate embodiments of suitable templates  10 ,  10 ′. Templates  10 ,  10 ′ are illustrated as having a rectangular shape but may be provided in other shapes and are not to be limited to the shape illustrated in the drawings. The templates  10 ,  10 ′ may include measurement markings or lines (not shown) to aid the user in achieving precise placement of the templates  10 ,  10 ′ and may be constructed of cloth, cardboard, paper, tissue paper, plastic or any other suitable material. The templates  10 ,  10 ′ may be provided in various embodiments to facilitate marking the locations of pairs of openings in the curtain  15  and/or the stiffener  30 . A variety of templates may be provided in the kit for enabling the creation of different sizes of pleats. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2A , an example template  10  includes openings  20  through which a user may mark the curtain  15  or stiffener  30 , for example, using a pen or a marker. After inscribing the marks in the curtain  15  at the locations designated by the placement openings  20 , template  10  may be removed and the user may cut openings or punch holes in the curtain  15  and/or stiffener  30  in accordance with the inscribed marks. 
     FIG. 2B  illustrates a second example template  10 ′ according to a second embodiment. Template  10 ′ includes marking substance  20 ′ for marking the curtain  15 . For example, in one embodiment marking substance  20 ′ comprises colored wax, which melts upon application of heat. The user employing this embodiment aligns the template  10 ′ on the curtain  15  and applies an iron or similar heating tool to alter marking substance  20 ′ to transfer to the curtain  15  appropriately positioned marks for the pairs of openings in curtain  15 . 
   A stiffener  30  is used to provide the pleat framework and holds the curtain  15  in the desired shape. Preferably, the stiffener  30  is flexible to allow easy attachment to a curtain and bending to form the pleats. Any number of suitable materials having a sturdy but flexible constitution may be used for construction of the stiffener  30 , including but not limited to cardboard, plastic, buckram, or stiff, woven or non-woven fusible or non-fusible fabric. The stiffener  30  should be attached to a hanging side of a curtain  15 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The stiffener  30  may be attached in various ways, for example but not limited to, sewing, gluing, fusing by heat application or stapling. The stiffener  30  may include openings which are in accord with the markings  20 ,  20 ′ of the template  10 ,  10 ′, or the stiffener  30  may be constructed of a material through which the user may easily create openings. 
   In one embodiment, the template  10 ,  10 ′ and stiffener  30  may be combined into a single element which may be included in the kit and attached to the curtain  15 , having openings or indicators of proposed opening placements included therein. 
   After the stiffener  30  having openings which are aligned with openings cut into the curtain  15  is installed, the stiffener  30  is bent into a series of pleat-shaped or S-shaped formations by bringing each opening to face an opposing opening such that opposite ends of each pleat-forming member  40  may be inserted into an associated pair of openings  32 . FIGS.  1  and  3 A- 3 C show the pleat-forming members  40  as pins having ends which engage the holes in the stiffener  30  and curtain  15 . A fastener  50  is attached to the ends of the pins  40 , thereby securing the stiffener  30  and the curtain  15  in the series of pleat-shaped formations, as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     FIGS. 3A-3E  show example embodiments of pin-type pleat-forming members  40   a - 40   e  and fasteners  50   a - 50   e  for engaging with the pleat-forming members  40   a - 40   e.  It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the pleat-forming member/fastener combinations illustrated and that the invention encompasses any and all equivalent devices capable of securing the stiffener  30  in pleat-shaped formations and providing a support base from which the curtain  15  may be hung. Each fastener embodiment includes washers and/or supportive bases. The fasteners function by pressing a washer tightly against another washer or a supportive base, compressing the curtain  15  in between and thereby distributing the force (due to the weight of the curtain) that is applied to the opening in the curtain over a greater area. This helps prevent the curtain  15  from tearing around the openings  32  ( FIG. 1 ) when hung. 
     FIG. 3A  shows a pleat-forming member  40   a  having opposed supportive bases  44   a  and a threaded hole  43   a  for receiving a screw  53   a  and washer  52   a  (collectively fastener  50   a ) which may be used to secure the stiffener  30  and curtain  15  to the end of the pleat-forming member  40   a  such that the stiffener  30  and curtain  15  are prevented from expanding back to a flat position, thus preserving the pleats in the curtain  15 . The stiffener  30  and curtain  15  material is compressed between washer  52  and the supportive base  44   a.    
     FIG. 3B  shows a pleat-forming member  40   b  having threaded ends  42   b  for receiving and attaching to washers  52   b,    55   b  and nut  51   b  (collectively fastener  50   b ) which may be used to secure the end of the pleat-forming member  40   b.  The stiffener  30  and curtain  15  material is compressed between washers  52   b,    55   b.    
     FIG. 3C  shows a pleat-forming member  40   c  having an accompanying pop-in bead fastener  50   c.  The pop-in bead fastener  50   c  includes a projection  47  that fits within an opening  45  in the pleat-forming member  40   c.  This embodiment may be easily constructed of plastic and facilitate a quick installation of the pleat-producing kit. 
     FIG. 3D  shows a pleat-forming member  40   d  having attached supportive bases  54 . An appropriate fastener  50   d  for member  40   d  could include a nut  51   d  and a washer  52   d.  This embodiment functions similar to the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
     FIG. 3E  shows a pleat-forming member  40   e  having non-threaded ends  42   e  that include a threaded hole  43   e.  The illustrated fastener  50   e  includes a screw  53   e  and two washers  52   e,    55   e  for securing the pleat-forming member  40   e  to the curtain  15  and stiffener  30 . Any of the above described pleat-forming members  40   a - 40   e  may be provided having adjustable length members to allow for creating pleats of different sizes. 
   The kit according to the invention may optionally include grommets  65  ( FIG. 1 ) for insertion within the openings  32  ( FIG. 1 ) for bolstering the same, and also optionally may include a standard device for installing the grommets (not shown). The use of grommets  65  would provide an alternative supportive frame for the openings in the curtain  15 , decreasing the risk of unwanted tears forming in the curtain  15  around the holes. A kit that includes grommets  65  could include a pleat-forming member  40 ′ and fastener  50 ′ as shown in  FIG. 3B , omitting washers  52 ,  55 . 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , pleat-forming members  40  in the form of pins are shown installed, providing support segments from which the curtain  15  may be hung. Hanging devices  60  are used to hang the curtain  15  from a curtain rod ( FIG. 4C ) and may be optionally provided in the parts kit. The hanging devices  60  are illustrated as C-shaped rings for convenience only, hanging devices  60  of different shapes may be used, including but not limited to S-shaped hooks, J-shaped hooks, linked-rings, single rings, rope/wire loops or the like. 
   Hanging device  60  and a pleat-forming member  40  may be combined into a single element.  FIGS. 4A and 4B  each show a decorative embodiment of a combined hook/pleat-forming member  70 ,  70 ′.  FIG. 4A  shows a figure of a basketball player, for example, suitable for use in hanging a curtain in a child&#39;s room.  FIG. 4B  shows an candy-cane figure, for example, suitable for use during Christmas holiday seasons. Other decorative embodiments may be used. The combined hook/pleat-forming member  70 ,  70 ′ includes a hanging section  75 ,  75 ′ for hanging the curtain  15  from a rod and a pleat-forming section  80 ,  80 ′ having opposed ends  82 ,  82 ′ for passing through holes in the stiffener  30  and curtain  15 , as shown in  FIG. 4C . Hooking section  75 ,  75 ′ is illustrated as a hook-shaped element, but may be constructed as any of the hanging devices  60  described above or in any equivalent manner. Pleat-forming section  80 ,  80 ′ may be constructed in accordance with the above description of pleat-forming members  40   a - 40   e  and may use fasteners  50   a - 50   e  or any other suitable structure for fastening the pleat-forming section  40  to the stiffener/curtain openings. 
   For example, if the pleat-forming section of the combined hook/pleat-forming section  70 ,  70 ′ were equivalent to the pleat-forming member  40  and fastener  50  combination, then washer  55  would allow additional compression of the pleats and prevent the pleats from expanding along the pleat-forming section  70 ,  70 ′ axis of the combined hook/pleat-forming section  70 ,  70 ′. Washer  52  and nut  51  would be used in combination to secure the stiffener  30  and curtain  15  to the end of pleat-forming sections  80 ,  80 ′ so that the stiffener  30  and curtains  15  are prevented from expanding back to a flat position, thus preserving the pleats in the curtain  15 . Similarly, if the combined hook/pleat-forming section  70 ,  70 ′ were equivalent to the pleat-forming member  40 ′ and fastener  50 ′, or to  40 ″ and  50 ″, then their function and structure would be as discussed previously for these respective pleat-forming member/fastener combinations. 
   While embodiments have been described in detail, it should be readily understood that embodiments of the invention are not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Rather the embodiments can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described.