Abstract:
A curtain restraining apparatus is disclosed by the present disclosure. The apparatus has a pleasing and decorative appearance, will not mar or detract from the appearance of the window trim through the necessity of additional hardware and presents no protrusions or wall mounted hardware to interfere with dusting the window trim. A curtain restraining apparatus includes at least two curtain securing elements each further made of a locking end, an outer boundary and an inner boundary; a flexation point; and at least one position securing element located on the inner boundary.

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a curtain (or drape) restraining apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a hardware-free curtain (or drape) retraining apparatus that is adapted to restrain curtains in a pre-selected arrangement in a window opening or otherwise while providing a decorative look or appeal to the curtains and the room they are in. The curtain restraining apparatus has a pleasing and decorative appearance. The decorative appearance can be adapted to personal taste and may include sports, seasonal or other customized motifs. It will not mar or detract from the appearance of the window trim through the necessity of additional hardware. Further, the curtain restraining device is small, easy to use and presents no protrusions or wall mounted hardware to interfere with dusting the window trim. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    To further advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings are not to be considered limiting in scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of one embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus in a closed position. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of one embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus in an open position. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  shows a top view of an alternate embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus including leverage elements. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus of  FIG. 4  in an open position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  shows an alternate embodiment of the curtain restraining apparatus. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7   a - 7   e  show various embodiments of methods of use of the curtain restraining apparatus. 
         SUMMARY 
         [0011]    In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a curtain restraining apparatus comprising: a plurality of curtain securing elements each further comprising a locking end, an outer boundary and an inner boundary; a flexation point; and at least one position securing element located on the inner boundary. In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides a curtain restraining apparatus comprising: two curtain securing elements each further comprising a locking end, an outer boundary and an inner boundary, the locking ends further comprising two magnets; a spring-loaded hinge located opposite the locking ends; and at least tooth located on the inner boundary. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    The present disclosure relates to a hardware free curtain restraining apparatus  2  adapted to restrain curtains in a pre-selected position. 
       The Apparatus 
       [0013]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , in one embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  includes a plurality of curtain securing elements  4 , 6  each having a locking end  8 , 10  and an outer boundary  14  and an inner boundary  16 ; a flexation point  12  and at least one position securing element  18  located on the inner boundary  16 . 
         [0014]    The curtain restraining apparatus  2  may be a variety of shapes, as shown in  FIGS. 1-7   d  in one preferred embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  is an annular ring, although square, rectangular or other shapes should be considered within the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the curtain restraining apparatus  2  generally has two (2) configurations, opened and closed. Generally, the closed configuration of  FIG. 1  is the configuration which the curtain restraining apparatus  2  takes while restraining the curtain in a pre-selected position. The open configuration as in  FIG. 2  allows the curtain restraining apparatus  2  to be placed around a curtain, or in other words, for the curtain to be placed within the confines of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6 . 
         [0016]    In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the curtain restraining apparatus  2  includes at least one position securing element  18  located on the inner boundary  16  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6 . The at least one position securing element  18  functions to keep the curtain restraining apparatus  2  in placed (as shown in  FIGS. 7   a - 7   d ) while restraining a curtain. In one embodiment the at least one position securing element  18  is a series of projections or “teeth” spaced around the inner boundary  16  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6 . In one further embodiment, the projections are spaced roughly evenly, but not continously around the inner boundary  16  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  as shown in  FIG. 3 . In an alternate embodiment, projections making up the at least one position securing element  18  are continuous around the inner boundary  16  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6 . In yet another alternate embodiment, the at least one position securing element  18  is a rubberized polymer capable of providing sufficient friction between the inner boundary  16  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  and the curtain to resist the force of gravity attempting to pull the curtain restraining apparatus  2  to the floor. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the flexation point  12  is a spring-loaded hinge with sufficient restoring force to maintain the curtain restraining apparatus  2  in a closed position (as shown in  FIG. 1 ) and to provide sufficient friction between the least one position securing element  18  and the curtain to maintain the position of the curtain restraining apparatus  2 . In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the pivot point  12  is a deformable region within the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  wherein the deformable region is constructed from a material which can allow the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  to move into an open position and then the material will force the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  into a closed position. In one embodiment, the deformable region is constructed from a different material than the securing elements  4 , 6 . In an alternate embodiment, the restraining apparatus  2  is constructed from a material, such as a plastic, which allows the restraining apparatus  2  to move to the open position from the closed position to receive the curtain then back to the closed position. In this embodiment, the flexation point  2  may not be defined by a single point or axis of flexation but may occur generally on the portion of the securing elements  4 , 6  opposite the locking end  8 , 10 . In one embodiment the pivot point  12  is located opposite the locking end  8 ,  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , although the pivot point  12  may be located anywhere along the curtain securing elements  4 , 6 . In other embodiments the flexation point  12  is a hinge that is not spring-loaded. 
         [0018]    The locking end  8 , 10  of the curtain securing elements  4 , 6  may be adapted to engage one another in a manner as to maintain the curtain restraining apparatus  2  in the closed position. The locking end  8 , 10  may be constructed to fit together so that one locking end is a female end and the other end is a male end, may include a latch and loop structure or may include magnets which exert magnetic force to keep the curtain restraining apparatus  2  in the closed position. In an alternate embodiment, the locking end  8 , 10  are constructed to butt against one another and the force necessary to maintain the curtain restraining apparatus  2  in the closed position is supplied by a spring loaded hinge at the flexation point  12 . 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  includes a plate  22  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) which may serve several purposes. First, the plate  22  may serve to conceal the junction of the locking ends  8 , 10  from sign then improving the overall aesthetics of the curtain restraining device. Secondly, the plate  22  may be shaped in a decorative fashion further improving the aesthetics of the restraining apparatus  2 . There are numerous shapes available for the plate including letters, sports team logos, animals, and cars. In a further embodiment the plate  22  is adapted to reversibly receive a decorative element. In this embodiment, the decorative element may be reversibly secured to the plate  22  by a magnet or some other manner known in the art. The decorative element may take a variety of shapes. In some embodiments the plate  22  is shaped to mimic a precious stone such as a diamond or ruby. 
       Use 
       [0020]    Generally, one advantage (but not the only advantage) of the restraining apparatus  2  is that it does not require any hardware to restrain a curtain (or a drape) in a pre-selected position. To use the curtain restraining apparatus  2 , all that is required is to approach the curtain, gather or bunch the curtain at the location where a bunch or gather is desired and open the curtain restraining apparatus  2  to the open position, insert the curtain within the securing elements  4 , 6  and allow the restraining apparatus  2  to return to the closed position. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  includes leverage elements  20  (as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) which allows a user to open the restraining apparatus  2 . Generally, by squeezing the leverage element  20  together, the flexation point  12  is operated so that the locking ends  8 , 10  are moved apart thus positioning the curtain restraining apparatus  2  into the open position. The leverage elements  20  may have a decrotive design to them. In one embodiment, the leverage elements  20  mimic the wings of a butterfly. 
         [0022]    Now, referring to  FIGS. 7   a - 7   e,  it is apparent that the curtain restraining apparatus  2  can be used in a wide variety of settings.  FIG. 7   a  shows how a normal curtain  28  “hangs” in a window  24  without the curtain restraining apparatus  2 .  FIGS. 7   b - 7   e  show the restraining apparatus  2  in use. The curtain restraining apparatus  2  may also be used in a door frame  30 /door  32  construction with side light  34  as shown in  FIG. 7   d.    
         [0023]    In a further embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  may be reversibly attached to a placement element such as, but not limited to a rope, string or a chain, and said placement element may in turn be attached to a wall mounted hook. This embodiment allows an user to position their curtains at the edges of the windows rather than the center (as shown in  FIGS. 7   b - 7   d ). 
         [0024]    In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 7   e , the restraining apparatus  2  may be used to position the curtain  28  to the edge of a window or window trim  40  by first gathering the curtains into the restraining apparatus  2  then clamping the restraining apparatus  2  to the edge of a ledge of the window trim. 
       Materials: 
       [0025]    The curtain restraining apparatus  2  may be constructed from a wide variety of materials including plastic, wood and metals. In one embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  is constructed from a plastic that offers sufficient flexibility at the flexation point  12  to allow the curtain restraining apparatus  2  to move freely from the open position to the closed position yet stay in closed position and exert enough force/friction against a curtain through at least one position securing element  18  to maintain proper positioning. In an alternate embodiment, the curtain restraining apparatus  2  is made from a previous metal such as gold, silver or titanium. 
         [0026]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed here.