Abstract:
A positioner and method of use thereof, wherein the positioner is comprised of a positioner first and second side. A flap having a flap first and second side may be hingedly mounted to the positioner. Both the positioner first and second sides and flap first and second sides may be fashioned with grids, wherein an aperture may be positioned at each node of each grid, and wherein one indicator corresponds to each apertures. The positioner may be used to easily and accurately position markings adjacent window frames, sills, or other structures having right angles thereon.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the filing benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of provisional U.S. Pat. App. No. 61/203,435 filed on Dec. 22, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to positioning an object adjacent a corner. More specifically, the invention is especially useful for use in positioning window treatments next to the wall recess or window frame adjacent the window. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people desire to place window treatments adjacent the interior of windows, both in residential and commercial applications. Typically, such treatments are for aesthetic, economical, or functional reasons, but may also be a combination thereof, or for other reasons. Such window treatments are often placed on the interior wall near the window, along the window frame (either the top or the sides), or on the recess adjacent a frameless window. Treatments may be placed in other areas adjacent a window and the examples given above are not meant to be exhaustive. 
     It is often extremely difficult and time consuming to position a window treatment at equal distances from the window on each side of the window treatment. Typically, this task requires the user to measure a certain distance up from a reference point on each side of the window, and then measure a corresponding distance out from a reference point on each side of the window. Often, this results in unequal spacing on the first and second ends of the window treatment, such that the window treatment is not square with the window. 
     The only solution to this problem currently available is to measure the relevant distances several times to ensure that the first and second ends of the window treatment are properly placed with respect to the window. The use of a square tool may be employed, but often the result is the same—several measurements must be taken on each side of the window to ensure the window treatment is properly placed. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved apparatus for positioning a window treatment or other structure on a wall adjacent a window. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for correctly positioning a window treatment or other structure on a wall adjacent a window with reduced time and effort required to position the window treatment or other structure. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method that will ensure a window treatment or other structure is properly placed. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a method that will allow a user to properly position a window treatment or other structure adjacent a window in an efficient manner. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will, in part, be apparent from the specification when considered in conjunction with the drawings and claims hereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limited of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  provides a full view of the positioner first side. 
         FIG. 2  provides a full view of the positioner second side. 
         FIG. 3  provides a detailed view of the positioner first side near the flap. 
         FIG. 4  provides a detailed view of the positioner second side near the flap. 
         FIG. 5  provides a full view of the positioner first side when the positioner is positioned about a window frame exterior. 
         FIG. 6  provides a full view of the positioner second side when the positioner is positioned about the exterior of a window frame. 
         FIG. 7  provides a detailed view of the flap when the flap is positioned about the window frame interior side. 
         FIG. 8  provides a detailed view of the flap when the flap is positioned about the window frame interior side opposite of the side shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  provides a detailed view of the positioner placed about the window frame interior side. 
         FIG. 10  provides a detailed view of the positioner placed about the window frame interior top. 
         FIG. 11  provides a full view of the positioner second side with the positioner placed about a window frame exterior. 
       
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   DETAILED  
                 
                 
                   DESCRIPTION - LISTING OF ELEMENTS 
                 
               
            
             
                 
                     
                   ELEMENT DESCRIPTION 
                   ELEMENT # 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner 
                   10 
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner First Side 
                   12 
                 
                 
                     
                   Positioner Second Side 
                   14 
                 
                 
                     
                   Flap 
                   16 
                 
                 
                     
                   Indicator 
                   17 
                 
                 
                     
                   Grid 
                   18 
                 
                 
                     
                   Aperture 
                   19 
                 
                 
                     
                   Window frame 
                   20 
                 
                 
                     
                   Window frame interior side 
                   22 
                 
                 
                     
                   Window frame interior top 
                   24 
                 
                 
                     
                   Window frame exterior 
                   26 
                 
                 
                     
                   Wall 
                   30 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before the various embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front”, “back”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, and the like) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” are used herein and in the appended claims for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIG. 1  provides a full view of the positioner first side  12  for one embodiment of the positioner  10  as disclosed and claimed herein. The positioner  10  has a first and second side,  12 ,  14  respectively. On both the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14  are identical grids  18 , which is made evident through a comparison of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , wherein  FIG. 2  shows the positioner  10  as viewed from the positioner second side  14 . 
     In the embodiment as pictured herein, the grid  18  has multiple lines that are spaced approximately one inch from one another in both the vertical and horizontal directions, wherein adjacent vertical lines are parallel to one another and adjacent horizontal lines are parallel to one another, such that the vertical and horizontal lines are perpendicular to one another. The grids  18  on both the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14  are identical, and each grid  18  is the same distance from the periphery of the positioner  10 . In other embodiments not pictured herein, the lines of each grid  18  are spaced at other distances, such as one centimeter. In still other embodiments not pictured herein, the lines comprising each grid  18  is angled with respect to the periphery of the positioner  10 . Accordingly, the lines for each grid  18  may be spaced from one another by any amount and in any orientation within the spirit and scope of the present invention so long as the grid  18  on the positioner first side  12  is identical to the grid  18  on the positioner second side  14 , and so long as each grid  18  is the same distance from the positioner  10  periphery. 
     At various places on the grid  18 , indicators  17  serve to identify a specific aperture  19 . In the embodiment as pictured herein, each indicator  17  is a number having a distinct numerical value. However, in other embodiments not pictured herein, the indicators  17  are letters, and any distinct marking may be used for an indicator  17  without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each aperture  19  extends from the positioner first side  12  through the positioner  10  to the positioner second side  14 . Each indicator  17  corresponds to a specific aperture  19  on both the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14 . That is, the indicator  17  labeled “32” on the positioner first side  12  shown in  FIG. 3  corresponds to the same aperture  19  adjacent the indicator  17  labeled “32” on the positioner second side  14  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Accordingly, each indicator  17  on the positioner first side  12  matches the corresponding indicator  17  on the positioner second side  14  for a given aperture  19 . In the embodiment shown herein, the apertures  19  are located at nodes (i.e., intersections of the lines of each grid  18 ) of the grids  18 . However, in other embodiments not pictured herein, the apertures  19  may be differently positioned. Accordingly, the location of the apertures  19 , grids  18 , and or indicators  17  in no way limits the scope of the positioner  10  as disclosed and claimed herein. 
     The positioner  10  may also includes a flap  16  that has first and second sides corresponding to the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14 . The flap  16  in the embodiment pictured herein is integrally formed with the main portion of the positioner  10 , but in other embodiments not pictured herein it may be separately formed and then joined to the positioner  10  through any means know to those skilled in the art, such as flexible polymers, tape, or any other device without departing from the spirit and scope of the positioner  10 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  show the interface between the flap  16  and positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14 , respectively. 
     In an embodiment not pictured herein, the flap  16  may also include a separate grid (not shown), apertures (not shown), and corresponding indicators (not shown) fashioned in the same manner as described above for the positioner  10 . In another embodiment not pictured herein, the interface between the flap  16  and the positioner  10  may have a small circular cut-out at the top side so that the positioner  10  and/or flap  16  will assuredly be square with the relevant surface. The flap  16  may be made to any size that is convenient without departing from the spirit and scope of the positioner  10  so long as the flap  16  forms a right angle with the positioner  10  at the interface therebetween. Furthermore, if the flap  16  includes a grid (not shown), apertures (not shown), and indicators (not shown), those elements may have different scales and relative positions compared to the grid  18 , apertures  19 , and indicators  17  on the positioner  10 . That is, the grid  18  on the positioner  10  may be at one-inch increments and the grid (not shown) on the flap  16  may be at one-centimeter increments and vice versa. Accordingly, the dimensions of the relative grids  18 , apertures  19 , and indicators  17  may be varied in an infinite number of ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the positioner  10  as disclosed and claimed herein. 
     The positioner  10  is shown adjacent a window frame exterior  26  in  FIG. 5 , where the positioner first side  12  is visible and the positioner second side  14  is fitted flush against the wall  30 . The positioner  10  is shown adjacent the opposite side of the window frame exterior in  FIG. 6 , where the positioner first side  12  is fitted flush against the wall  30  and the positioner second side  14  is visible. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the flap  16  pivots with respect to the positioner  10  to allow the positioner  10  to fit flush against the wall  30 , wherein the flap may be oriented perpendicularly to the positioner  10 . Because the grid  18  is identical on both the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14 , and because the indicators on both the positioner first and second sides  12 ,  14  correspond to the same apertures  19 , the user may simply mark the desired location of a window treatment with respect to the window frame  20  on one side through the relevant aperture  19 , flip the positioner  10  over and mark the location of the other side of the window treatment by using the same indicator  17  and aperture  19 . That is, the user may change the orientation of the positioner  10  such that the positioner second side  14  is flush with the wall and adjacent the opposite side of the window frame  20  with respect to the side of the window frame  20  adjacent the positioner  10  with the positioner first side  12  flush with the wall  30 . 
     Another method for using the positioner  10  is illustrated by  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In those figures, the flap  16  is positioned adjacent a window frame interior side  22 . This method of use would be especially convenient for embodiments of the positioner  10  wherein the flap  16  includes a grid (not shown), apertures (not shown), and indicators (not shown).  FIG. 7  indicates how the flap  16  would be used to position the first side of a window treatment along a first window frame interior side  22 .  FIG. 8  indicates how the flap  16  would be used to position the second side of a window treatment along a second window frame interior side  22 . This method for positioning a window treatment on the window frame interior sides  22  is completely analogous to that described above, wherein the same indicators  17  on each side of the flap  16  would correspond to the same aperture  19 . This method is especially useful for recessed windows (not shown) wherein the window treatment is positioned on the sides of the recess. 
     Yet another method for using the positioner  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In  FIG. 9 , instead of using the flap  16  to locate the position of a window treatment on the window frame interior side  22 , the positioner  10  itself is used. As with the methods described above, the correct position for the window treatment on the opposite window frame interior side  22  may be located using the indicator  17  with the same label on the other side of the positioner  10  and the corresponding aperture  19 . 
     Still another method of using the positioner  10  is shown in  FIG. 10 . In  FIG. 10 , the positioner  10  is being used to locate the proper position for a window treatment affixed to a window frame interior top  24 . As with the other methods described herein, the user may simply flip the positioner  10  over to the opposite side and find the indicator  17  having the same label and make a mark using the corresponding aperture  19 . The flap  16  may also be used in the manner shown in  FIG. 10  in certain embodiments, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 11  shows another method of using the positioner  10 . The method shown in  FIG. 11  is most analogous to that shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , wherein the positioner  10  is shown being used to locate the two sides of a window treatment on a window frame exterior  26 . However, in  FIG. 11 , the user is simply using the periphery of the positioner  10  and not the flap  16 . As with the other methods disclosed herein, the user may simply flip the positioner  10  to the other side (such that the opposite side of the positioner  10  is adjacent the wall  30 ) and mark the aperture  19  adjacent the indicator  17  with the same label. Because all four edges of the positioner  10  are square, the method shown in  FIG. 11  ensures the relative ends of the window treatment will be positioned correctly with respect to the window frame  20 . 
     Other methods of using the positioner  10  will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the methods and embodiments pictured and described herein are for exemplary purposes only. The positioner  10  may also be used to position structures other than window treatments adjacent windows, and therefore the specific structure the positioner  10  is used to mount, whether on the interior or exterior of a building, in no way limits the scope of the positioner  10 . 
     The positioner  10  may be constructed of any suitable material known to those skilled in the art. The embodiment as pictured herein is constructed of cardboard, but other embodiments may be constructed of other cellulosic materials, thin metal alloys, polymers, etc., or any combinations thereof. It is contemplated that one embodiment of the positioner  10  will be integrated into existing packaging for window treatments or other structures. For example, if the positioner  10  was constructed of cardboard, the positioner  10  may be integrated into the cardboard packaging of a blind, curtain, or other window treatment. Furthermore, the positioner  10  may simply be marketed and packaged with a window treatment or other item to be mounted to a wall  30  rather than integrally formed with the packaging for such an item. 
     It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar apparatuses and methods for positioning a window treatment or other structure adjacent an object with a right angle. Modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Furthermore, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of any method of use of the present invention. While certain methods have been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modifications, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the method following, in general, the principles of the method and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the method pertains and as may be applied to the essential features herein before set forth, and as follows in the scope of the appended claims.