Abstract:
A window treatment for a window opening adapted to be suspended from a curtain hanging means, has one or more channels for cord means which are fixed to one point on said window treatment, said cord means being adapted to slide through said channel to cause said window treatment to form multiple folds on the surface of said window treatment which extend from said channel across the surface of said window treatment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    Windows such as those which are found in residential settings are typically provided with window treatments. The term window treatment is used herein to include curtains, drapes, fabric panel, blind and valences. Any type of drapery fabric or curtain fabric derived from natural or man-made materials may be used to make the window treatment of the invention. The primary function is to restrict the amount of light and visual access through windows but the aesthetic result is considered by most purchasers as being the primary basis for selection of one of a plurality of competing styles. Once a particular window treatment style is chosen it is usually not possible to vary the visual effect that a particular style provides when the window treatment is placed in front of a window. Examples of several prior art window treatments are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,668,587; 2,611,428; 6,142,210 and 3,952,988.  
           [0002]    The applicant has devised a window treatment which may be placed in front of a window in several different configurations due to the inclusion of elements in the window treatment that can be used to vary the shape of the window treatment and provides several distinctly different visual effects.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    The invention provides a window treatment which is sized to fit substantially over a window opening, said window treatment having means affixed to one edge for suspending said window treatment from a curtain hanging means, said window treatment including one or more channels for cord means which are fixed to one point on said window treatment, said cord means being adapted to slide through said channel to cause said window treatment to form multiple folds on the surface of said window treatment which extend across the surface of said channel.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a window treatment that can be arranged in different configurations when it is hung in front of a window.  
           [0005]    It is also an object of the invention to provide a window treatment that can be arranged in many configurations to provide different visual impressions.  
           [0006]    It is also an object of the invention to provide a window treatment which may be easily opened and closed to act as a privacy closure for a window as well as a decorative window treatment.  
           [0007]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a review of the specification. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a drape having tab tops and a horizontal channel for the cord means.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a drape having a rod pocket and a horizontal channel for the cord means.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a front plan view of a drape having three vertical channels for the cord means and a rod pocket.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a front plan view of a drape having four vertical channels for the cord means.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drape of FIG. 4 in the raised position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose an embodiment of a drape where channels  16  and  17  are placed on the horizontal axis of the drape. Channels  16  and  17  are preferably constructed by attaching a strip of fabric to one side of the drape in such a manner that two transverse spaces are provided which are sized to accommodate, in sliding engagement, two cord means.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 illustrates the use of fabric loops  2   a  for suspending the drape on suspending means which are typically curtain rods or the like. FIG. 2 shows the use of a rod holding channel  2   b  for suspending the panel. Two looped cords are used to permit opposite upright edges  18 ,  20  to be moved simultaneously towards one another. Two folded cords may be provided in channels  16  and  17  by threading a first folded cord with end loop  22  through channels  16  and  17  in such a manner that two free ends  26 ,  28  are exposed on edge  20  and end loop  22  is secured by a mounting means  30   a  at the edge of upright edge  18 . A second folded cord is provided which has loop  22   a  secured by mounting means  30  at the edge of upright edge  20  and free ends  26   a ,  28   a  at the opposite upright edge  18 .  
         [0015]    The mounting means prevents loop  22  and loop  22   a  from moving through the channel and controls the deflection of upright edges  20  and  18 .  
         [0016]    Various fabrics may be used to achieve any desired degree of transparency, stiffness, opacity or thermal efficiency.  
         [0017]    In accordance with the invention, a drape  1  of fabric as shown in FIG. 3, is provided with channels  2  that are provided by having a second layer of the same or a different fabric sewn onto drape  1  in order to provide a space which will confine cord  4  in such a manner that is held in a substantially straight direction. The distal end  3  of the cord  4  is preferably attached to a position  6  which is in close proximity to the point of support  8  of the drape. The cord may be sewn, glued or woven into the position  6  in an inelastic manner that will cause the cord  4  to be anchored to position  6  in order to prevent any substantial movement of the distal end  3  or cord  4  relative to point of support  8 .  
         [0018]    The channel  2  may be made as shown in FIG. 3 with plain sewn edges or it may have any type of decorative gathering, embroidery or lace edging provided. The channel  2  is sized to allow the fabric to move over the cord when a pressure is applied to edge  10  of the panel to cause the drape to assume an open position as shown in FIG. 5. The position of the drape in FIG. 5 is in the raised position but the drape position may be varied to provide as much of an open or closed look that may be chosen. The end of cord  4  may be provided with end device  12  which provides a gripping surface when it is desired to have the drape assume a different position and to hold the drape in the desired position. End device  12  is preferably a cord stop or a toggle that can be moved to any desired position along the cord.  
         [0019]    As shown in FIG. 4, the drape is provided with vertical channels  2  which allow the drape to be raised vertically to an open position by raising the drape while firmly gripping the end device  12  of the cords. As shown in FIG. 5, the panel is in a fully raised position which provides draped segments  34 ,  36 ,  38 , which at the tangent of each segment form a substantially flat profile on edge  14 , but it is understood that each of cords  4   a ,  4   b ,  4   c , and  4   d  may be manipulated independently of one another to provide a myriad of curved or angled shapes to edge  14 . Device  12  may be sized to act as a retainer on cords  4   a , 4   b , 4   c  and  4   d  to maintain the draped segments in any desired position. The term window treatment base is used herein to define the element to which the suspending means, channels and cords are attached.  
         [0020]    The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. All such obvious modifications and variations are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.