Abstract:
A cornice includes a substantially U-shaped return having a substantially horizontal base plate with a first end and a second end. A first substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the first end of the base plate. A second substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the second end of the base plate. A façade is removably coupled to the return via at least one fastening device. Each fastening device is configured to be repeatedly fastened and unfastened.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/898,162, filed Jan. 29, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cornice kits. 
         [0003]    A cornice is a structure that decoratively crowns a door or window. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present invention provides an affordable and easily applicable window cornice kit and return incorporating changeable and interchangeable front face facades of various predetermined and custom designs as well as enabling the effortless switching of soft cornice fabric finishes for seasonal and flexible decorating needs. The changeable feature is achieved by non-permanent bonding elements aligned to sufficiently close tolerance on the “return” and on the design-bearing “front face facade”. 
         [0005]    The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a cornice including a substantially U-shaped return having a substantially horizontal base plate with a first end and a second end. A first substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the first end of the base plate. A second substantially vertical plate has an upper end attached to the second end of the base plate. A facade is removably coupled to the return via at least one fastening device. Each fastening device is configured to be repeatedly fastened and unfastened. 
         [0006]    The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a method of assembling a cornice, including providing a substantially U-shaped return and a plurality of façades. Each of the facades is configured to being individually and removably coupled to the return. The return and the façades are packaged in a single package. The package is delivered to a user. The return and the facades are removed from the package. One of the facades is selected and is coupled to the return. The removing, selecting and coupling steps are performed by the user. 
         [0007]    The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a return for a cornice including a base plate having a first end and a second end. A first side plate includes a top end and a bottom end. The top end includes at least one screw hole alignable with the base plate. A second side plate includes a top end and a bottom end. The top end includes at least one screw hole alignable with the base plate. A first hinge includes a first leg attached to the first end of the base plate and a second leg attached to the top end of the first side plate. A second hinge includes a first leg attached to the second end of the base plate and a second leg attached to the top end of the second side plate. 
         [0008]    An advantage of the present invention is that the hard or soft façade may be easily swapped with another type of façade, either hard or soft. 
         [0009]    Another advantage is that the return may be pivoted into a compact, low-profile shape for shipping, and then easily pivoted into its operational state. 
         [0010]    Yet another advantage is that the facades can be easily removed for cleaning or laundering. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a cornice of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the return of the cornice of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of a façade that may be assembled to the return of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the return and the façade of the cornice of  FIG. 1  in a disassembled state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a cornice of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5   b  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a cornice of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5   c  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a cornice of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment or a return of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7   a  is a front view of another embodiment of a façade of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7   b  is a front view of yet another embodiment of a façade of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7   c  is a front view of still another embodiment of a façade of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 7   d  is a front view of a further embodiment of a façade of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7   e  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a package of the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a return of the present invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a façade of the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a return of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11   a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a facade of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 11   b  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of a facade of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 11   c  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a facade of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of a return of the present invention with a dow bar to be mounted thereon; 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a front view of yet another embodiment of a return of the present invention with a dow bar mounted thereon; 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a front view of still another embodiment of a return of the present invention with a mini blind mounted thereon; 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a front view of a further embodiment of a return of the present invention that is hung on L-brackets; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a front view of the return of  FIG. 15  in a folded-up position for storage or shipping. 
       
    
    
       [0036]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0037]    The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings. 
         [0038]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown one embodiment of a window cornice kit  20  of the present invention assembled into a hard cornice  21 . Window cornice kits of the present invention, which can be hard and/or soft, are top decorative window treatments resembling a box-shaped and/or similar features constructed of various materials; i.e. wood, plastics, etc. Depending on construction, window cornices of the present invention can be covered in many ways, including by covering/upholstering with fabric. In order to cover a cornice, it has to be of sufficient structural strength to support the weight. Two distinct elements of a cornice of the present invention are a U-shaped return  22  ( FIG. 2 ) and a hard front face facade  24  ( FIG. 3 ) that may be disposed on a side of return  22  that is away from the wall/window. The front face facade  24  carries various designs. 
         [0039]    Both return  22  and façade  24  may be formed of a fairly rigid or stiff material, such as wood, particle board, or a wood-based panel material, such as MDF, for example. 
         [0040]    The perimeter of façade  24  may include through-holes  23 , and the edges of return  22  may include corresponding recesses or screw holes  25 . Fasteners may be inserted through through-holes  23  and into recesses  25  in order to attach façade  24  to return  22  as discussed in more detail hereinbelow. 
         [0041]    Front face facade  24  and return  22  are made separate, but are closely matched in size along contacting surfaces and corresponding dimensions. Regardless of size, a width  26  of return  22  is equal to a width  28  of façade  24 . Return  22  and façade  24  of  FIG. 4  have equal widths, however the widths of return  22  and façade  24  may vary widely, up to about eight feet, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5   a  through  5   c . Regardless of the magnitude of the width, however, the width of the return may match the width of the façade. 
         [0042]    During assembly, after determination or choice of size, a kit including a return  22  ( FIG. 6 ) and a plurality of facades  24   a  through  24   d  ( FIGS. 7   a  through  7   d ) is made and shipped in a low profile container  30  ( FIG. 7   e ). In order to facilitate the low profile of the kit during shipping, a top side or plate  32  of return  22  may be hingedly attached to left-hand side or plate  34  and right-hand side or plate  36  via respective hinges  38 ,  40 . Hinge  38  includes legs  38   a ,  38   b  attached to side plate  34  and base plate  32 , respectively. Hinge  40  includes legs  40   a ,  40   b  attached to side plate  36  and base plate  32 , respectively. In order to reduce the profile or height of return  22  during shipping, sides  34 ,  36  may be pivoted in respective directions  42 ,  44  until sides  34 ,  36  are parallel to top side  32 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . Upon unpacking return  22  from container  30 , the user may pivot sides  34 ,  36  in directions opposite to directions  42 ,  44  to place return  22  in the state shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0043]    Return  22  may be hung on a wall, such as by hanging top side  32  on upper legs  43  of L-brackets  45  ( FIG. 15 ), the lower legs  47  of which may be screwed into the wall. In this installed state, tope side  32  may be oriented horizontally, and sides  34 ,  36  may be oriented vertically. 
         [0044]    The flat façade  24  may then be attached to the return  22  by the aligning through-holes  23  of façade  24  with recesses  25  of return  22 . Non-permanent bonding elements or fasteners, such as flat head, counter sunk screws  27  ( FIG. 3 ), for example, may be inserted through the through-holes  23  and into recesses  25  to thereby secure façade  24  to return  22 . The bonding elements or fasteners may be removed, i.e., are removable, such that façade  24  is non-permanently attached to return  22  and may be removed therefrom. Because the front face façade  24  can be removed, various facades, such as facades  24   a - d  may be swapped for each other, and different façade designs can be used, i.e., installed on return  22 , at various times. 
         [0045]    The ability to swap facades  24  enhances the marketability of kit  20  as the customer can pick and choose from the available front face façade designs, as well as periodically disassemble and rebuild cornice  21  with ease. 
         [0046]    An embodiment of a hard cornice  21  and a kit  20  for assembling a hard cornice has been described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-7   d . Below is described an embodiment of a soft cornice and a kit for assembling a soft cornice. 
         [0047]    A more flexible embodiment of a cornice kit of the present invention includes a return  22  ( FIG. 8 ) and a plurality of detachable and re-attachable soft cornice front facades  124 , an example of which is shown in  FIG. 9 . Facades  124  are referred to herein as “soft” because they are made of a soft or flexible material. In one embodiment, facades  124  are formed of a fabric material. The hard front face façade  24  may be replaced by a soft façade  124  in the form of a fully finished tailored fabric resembling a “slip cover”. 
         [0048]    In the case of a soft façade  124 , non-permanent fasteners or bonding elements  46  may be provided on the inner surface of façade  124 . Fasteners  46  may be in the form of sewing snaps, metal/magnetic strips, hook and loop fasteners, or magnets sewn into the fabric, for example. 
         [0049]    The outer surface of return  22  may be provided with corresponding fasteners or bonding elements  48  at locations on return  22  that are chosen such that, when fasteners  46 ,  48  are fastened together, façade  124  covers return  22 . That is, return  22  may not be visible when covered by façade  124 . Fasteners  48  may be in the form of sewing snaps, metal/magnetic strips, hook and loop fasteners, or magnets, for example. Fasteners  48  may be counter sunk into the surfaces of top side  32 , left-hand side  34 , and right-hand side  36  such that top side  32 , left-hand side  34 , and right-hand side  36  have substantially smooth, planar surfaces without any fastening elements projecting beyond the planes defined by the surfaces. Fasteners  48  in the form of counter sunk magnets  50  in return  22  are shown in  FIG. 15 . 
         [0050]    Although the locations of the fasteners or bonding elements in the case of soft facades are different from the locations of the fasteners or bonding elements in the case of hard front face facades, the fastening elements on the return and façade may be closely aligned regardless of whether a soft façade or hard façade is employed. That is, in the case of a hard façade, the through-holes and recesses line up in close tolerance. Likewise, in the case of a soft façade, the fastening elements on the return and the soft façade line up in close tolerance. 
         [0051]    The non-permanent bonding or fastening elements in the soft cornice covers, i.e., facades  124 , are aligned and connected with tight tolerances to the permanent bonding or fastening counter sunk elements on the returns  22 . The tight tolerances of the bonding, fastening or connecting elements may provide sharp edges which gives the illusion of a professional hard cornice board finished look. Thus, the cornice of the present invention provides an alternative to an upholstered/covered hard cornice board. In addition, the ease with which the soft facades, i.e., fabric covers, can be removed, and a new, mood appropriate or seasonally correct pattern can be reinstalled, is unparalleled. The present invention also provides for quick and easy cleaning or laundering of such sophisticated window treatments. 
         [0052]    A cornice kit of the present invention may include a return  22  with fastening elements  48 , as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , as well as a variety of soft facades  124  ( FIGS. 11   a - c ) having corresponding fastening elements  46  at corresponding locations. That is, the covers of  FIGS. 11   a - c  fit over return  22 . Non-permanent bonding or fastening elements on the soft cornice covers  124  align and connect with bonding or fastening counter sunk elements on the return  22 . The fastening elements  48  may be permanently and/or fixedly installed on return  22 . Conversely, and at the same time, fastening elements  46  on facades  124  may be non-permanently and/or non-fixedly attached to facades  124 . 
         [0053]    The hanging of accessories may also be provided for by the present invention. Illustrated in  FIG. 12  is the use of wall socket inserts including predrilled holes, screws, and a dow rod holder. The inside of the return may allow for installation of various hardware that enables a product to be displayed under the return. As an example illustrated in  FIG. 12 , wall socket inserts  52  may be attached to the inner surfaces of left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  as indicated by the dashed lines such that inserts  52  may receive and support a dow rod  54 . Other fixtures that could be attached to left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  include tension rods for sheers, brackets for holding mini blinds, roller shades, roman shades, traverse rods, etc., among other various options. One advantage of installing such fixtures on return  22  is that it avoids installing the fixtures on the walls of a room and the associated need to drill holes in the walls. The hardware can be offered as an optional element of the cornice kit for both hard and soft cornices. Commercially available brackets are standardized in their size and shape, and thus predrilled holes can be provided in left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  in order to aid the installation of such upgrades. Alternatively, hardware can be installed in the pre-assembly stage and can be shipped with the kit as requested by the customer. 
         [0054]    Other hardware examples for using returns for supporting accessories are shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . In the example shown in  FIG. 13 , a tension rod  56  is used for hanging sheers, curtains, or other hangable material. Tension and traverse rods such as rod  56  can be inserted into brackets  58  for use in hanging sheers and curtains. Brackets  58  may be screwed into left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36 , as indicated at  60 . 
         [0055]    In another example illustrated in  FIG. 14 , bracket holders  62  are attached to return  22  for supporting blinds. More particularly, bracket holders  62  may support a mini blind top  64 . Bracket holders  62  may be used for supporting mini blinds, roman shades, roller shades, etc. Bracket holders  62  can also be installed on the undersurface of top side  32  and/or on the inner surfaces of left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  of return  22 . As examples of different combination can be utilized, a tension rod may be installed on the inner surfaces of left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  for supporting sheers. Alternatively a tension rod may be installed on the undersurface of top side  32  for supporting blinds and their bracket holders. 
         [0056]    In the case of a soft façade  124 , return  22  does not receive structural reinforcement from the façade, as it does from a hard façade  24  that is fastened to the edges of return  22 . Thus, after left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  have been pivoted to the position shown in  FIG. 15 , screws  66  may be inserted through left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  and into top side  32  in order to hold or fix return  22  in the position shown in  FIG. 15 . Multiple screws  66  may be used to fix left-hand side  34  to top side  32 , with the screws being aligned in a direction into the page of  FIG. 15 . Likewise, multiple screws  66  may be used to fix right-hand side  36  to top side  32 , with the screws being aligned in a direction into the page of  FIG. 15 . Screws  66  may be counter sunk such that they do not project beyond the outer surfaces of left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36 . Through-holes may be provided in left-hand side  34  and right-hand side  36  for receiving screws  66 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . These through-holes may be aligned with base plate  32  such that screws  66  can screw into base plate  32 , as also shown in  FIG. 15 . Further, pre-drilled screw holes may be provided in top side  32  for receiving screws  66 . 
         [0057]    A kit of the present invention may include a return  22  and both a variety of hard facades  24  and a variety of soft facades  124 . That is, it is possible for a soft façade  124  to be swapped with a hard facade  24  on a given return  22 . Likewise, it is possible for a hard façade  24  to be swapped with a soft facade  124  on a given return  22 . 
         [0058]    Facades  24  and facades  124  are described herein as being interchangeable with other facades by virtue of the ease of repeatedly fastening and unfastening one or more of fasteners  27 ,  46 ,  48 . For example, screws  27  may be repeatedly screwed and unscrewed for purposes of swapping facades  24 . In one embodiment, fasteners  46  may be unfastened by a single unidirectional force. For example, a user may grab a fastener  46  and unfasten fastener  46  by a single pull of fastener  46  in a single direction. 
         [0059]    In a method of assembling a cornice of the present invention, a return and a plurality of hard and/or soft facades may be packaged in a single package  30  that is delivered to the consumer user. The return may include recesses  25  for attachment of hard facades as well as fasteners  48  for attachment of soft facades. Other fasteners, such as screws  27 ,  66  may be included in package  30 . The user may remove the contents of package  30  and select a façade for coupling to the return. Later, the user may choose to decouple the façade from the return, selected another façade, and then couple the newly selected façade to the return. 
         [0060]    While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.