Abstract:
Supported curtain panels for use with various types of curtains and drapes are disclosed. The supported curtain panel may include a curtain panel having a support structure disposed at the top of the curtain panel and an attaching structure adapted to engage the curtain panel by engaging the support structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to copending U.S. provisional application entitled, “SUPPORTED CURTAIN PANELS AND SUPPORTED CURTAIN PANEL ASSEMBLIES,” having Ser. No. 60/533,497, filed Dec. 31, 2003, which is entirely incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This disclosure is generally related to curtain panels, and, more particularly, is related to supported curtain panels.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     In the field of interior design, curtains and other window dressings can be paramount to a room&#39;s appeal. The curtains can be designed to complement or accentuate the colors of the walls, ceilings, floors, and furniture. While the right design of curtains, and curtain panels are a primary concern to interior design, many existing supported curtain panels suffer from any of a number of deficiencies.  
         [0004]     Many supported curtain panels are difficult to attach to a drapery ring, and once attached, may not adequately secure to the drapery ring. In addition, the integrity of many supported curtain panels is compromised because the weight of the curtain panels is often too great for the fabric of the curtain panel to support.  
         [0005]     Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0006]     Supported curtain panels for use with various types of curtains and drapes are described. The supported curtain panel may include a curtain panel having a support structure disposed at the top of the curtain panel and an attaching structure adapted to engage the curtain panel by engaging the support structure. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     Many aspects of this disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of this disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a supported curtain panel having a twisted cord support structure attached to the top of the supported curtain panel.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a supported curtain panel having a self-cord support structure attached to the top of the supported curtain panel.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a supported curtain panel having a gimp, braid, or trim support structure attached to the top of the supported curtain panel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0011]     In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, embodiments of the present disclosure, in one aspect, relate to supported curtain panels and supported curtain panel assemblies. The supported curtain panel assemblies include a support structure disposed on the top portion of the supported curtain panel. The support structure can include, but is not limited to, a cord, a twisted cord, a gimp, a braid, trim, and combinations thereof An attaching structure (e.g., drapery ring) can be used to engage the support structure to securely attach the supported curtain panel to a curtain hanging apparatus.  
         [0012]     The supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly are advantageous over previous curtain panel assemblies because previous curtain panels could not be easily and securely attached to a drapery ring. For example, previous curtain panels often become disengaged with the drapery ring. In addition, the integrity of previous curtain panels was compromised because of the weight of the previous curtain panel was too great for the fabric of the previous curtain panel to withstand.  
         [0013]     Now having described the embodiments of the supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly in general,  FIGS. 1 through 3  describe some embodiments of the supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly. While embodiments of supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly are described in connection with  FIGS. 1 through 3  and the corresponding text and figures, there is no intent to limit embodiments of the supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly to these descriptions. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present disclosure.  
         [0014]     Embodiments of the supported curtain panel and supported curtain panel assembly overcome at least some of the aforementioned deficiencies. As mentioned above, the supported curtain panel includes at least one support structure disposed at the top of the supported curtain panel.  FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrate three exemplary embodiments of the support structure  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  disposed at the top portion of the curtain panel  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c , respectively. The attaching structure (not shown) can be engaged with the support structure  10   a ,  10   b , and  10   c  to easily and securely hang the curtain panel  20   a ,  20   b , and  20   c  to the curtain hanging apparatus (not shown).  
         [0015]     In  FIG. 1 , support structure  10   a  is a twisted cord attached (e.g., sewn) to the top of the curtain panel  20   a . The support structure  10   a  can be sewn, stapled, glued, snapped, attached with Velcro®, combinations thereof, or otherwise attached to the curtain panel  20   a . Additionally, the twisted cord can range from about 4/32″ to 2″ in diameter Further, the attaching structure (not shown) can include, but is not limited to, a drapery ring having a shank and drapery ring having a clip.  
         [0016]     In  FIG. 2 , the support structure  10   b  is a self-cord. The self-cord of support structure  10   b  is a raw cord that is the same fabric as the curtain. Similar to support structure  10   a , the support structure  10   b  self-cord may be attached to the top of the curtain panel  20   b  in any of a number of ways. As a nonlimiting example, support structure  10   b  may be sewn, stapled, glued, snapped, attached with Velcro®, combinations thereof, or otherwise attached to the curtain panel  20   b . The self-cord can range from about 4/32″ to 2″ in diameter. In addition, the attaching structure (not shown) can include, but is not limited to, a drapery ring having a shank and drapery ring having a clip.  
         [0017]     In  FIG. 3 , the support structure  10   c  is a gimp, a braid, or trim attached (e.g., sewn) to the top of the curtain panel  20   c . As in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , support structure  10   c  may be sewn, stapled, glued, snapped, attached with Velcro®, combinations thereof, or otherwise attached to the curtain panel  20   c . The gimp, a braid or the trim can range from about ¼″ to 1½″ in diameter. In addition, the attaching structure (not shown) can include, but is not limited to, a drapery ring having a shank and drapery ring having a clip.  
         [0018]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations, and are merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of this disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.