Abstract:
The no-sew window drapery system comprises tucking fabric into a rod. The rod has a profile that creates an opening across the entire length and sufficient space in the interior to accept the fabric. The rod may additionally incorporate a locking system to secure the fabric ends inside the rod. The fabric employed is fed into the opening created by the profile, arranged into the style desired and secured into place. Because of the characteristics of the plastic, and the close-fit force exerted on the fabric, the result is to provide a rod which holds the fabric in place. Yet it is easy to install the fabric without the need for any sewing and still give the fabric a customized look.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based upon provisional application Serial No. 60/095,866, filed Aug. 10, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to styles for decorating or covering windows and, more particularly, to window treatment styles for creating valance and “topper” arrangements simply and inexpensively. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As it is well known and understood, window treatment stylings are typically manufactured by skilled professionals who either have “ready-made” styles mass produced in which case the cost is low and the selection is limited, or have “custom” styles attained through a designer on an individual basis, in which case the selection is unlimited but the costs are extremely high. Also these window treatments are fairly permanent due to the sewing process involved. It would be advantageous, therefore, if a new and unique manufacture were available to make these applications more cost effective, and to provide a “custom look” easily and inexpensively with the additional advantage of being able to change the fabric or styling with little effort. In my U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,152,331 and 5,383,635, I have disclosed various techniques for providing window treatment, fabric wrapped tables and the like wherein the fabric is secured around a semi-soft foam in a no-sew wrap and tuck process. It would be advantageous through this invention to create drapery pole styles where gathered as well as flat fabric styles can be easily created. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As will become clear in the description that follows, the drapery system of the present invention accepts the same types of coverings as now available in the industry, and allows for a multiplicity of designs, by inserting fabrics in different stylings and by combining different shapes of decorative hardware. As will also be seen, the window treatment will be easy to create without any sewing and just as easy to install, using a simple screw-in device. As will also become clear from the description below, the window treatment of the invention is reusable, allowing an easy change of fabrics and or stylings, all in an easy, fast and inexpensive manner. 
     More particularly, and as will be seen from the description below, the window treatment of the invention follows from the use of a plastic rod or length whose profile allows for the insertion of fabric. The rod utilized will be seen to be designed as a particular profile which creates an opening across the length of the rod. The fabric employed will be seen to have its ends fitted through the opening of the profile so that they are stored inside the rod. Because of the characteristics of the rigid plastic, having the ability to stretch open enough to insert the fabric, yet exerting enough pressure against the fabric after it is installed to be secured into place, the end result is to provide a rod which holds the fabric in place. Additionally, the profile may provide for a method of locking or closure of the ends to further secure the fabric in place. And because of these characteristics, the window treatment can thus be completed without the need for any “sewing” whatsoever, so as to provide a customized look easily and inexpensively. 
     As will also be seen, by using such a drapery system of the invention, it then becomes possible, and as will be more fully described below, to design and arrange the treatment in different stylings as well as to combine different lengths and decorative hardware to create modern, traditional, or other arrangements or stylings according to one&#39;s preference. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of rigid plastic rod profile of pre-determined shape and dimension, in accordance with this invention; 
     FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 1 along the line  1 A— 1 A; 
     FIGS. 1B and 1C are views similar to FIG. 1A of alternative practices of the invention; 
     FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the opened and closed positions of the rod profile where one would insert fabric to be held in place; 
     FIG. 4 shows a manner of joining two typical lengths together in what could be a telescoping method to develop window treatment designs of varied sizes; 
     FIGS. 5A and 5B are perspective views of alternative methods of securing the window treatment of this invention; and 
     FIGS.  6 A- 6 D show various end treatments including end caps, finials and elbow returns used with this invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now more particularly to FIGS.  1 - 3 , system  10  includes a plastic profile  12  of pre-determined shape and dimension, cut to any length desired, either by the purchaser of the rod, or by the manufacturer of prearranged treatments. The rod profile shown in use (FIG. 1) is of hollow tubular form into which fabric  14  is tucked through the opening  16  so that the fabric may be stored in the interior cavity  18  of the profile. The fabric may be doubled over, with the raw ends inserting into slit  16  as to give a finished look. See FIGS. 1 and 1A. 
     Fabric  14  or the like may be styled flat and smooth or gathered and ruffled into place while the profile is in the open position (FIG. 2) and then fixed into place when put into the closed position (FIG.  3 ). While the insertion and arrangement of fabric can be done by hand, the use of a straight edge, such as a ruler may also be utilized. But by employing a rigid plastic of polyvinylchloride, for example, the fabric  14  will be held in place, especially when profile  12  with opening  16  and cavity  18  is of a particular shape to exert pressure on fabric  14  and close in a locked position to keep the fabric in place. Such polyvinylchloride plastic may have a wall thickness between 0.020 and 0.070. Other rigid materials and thicknesses may be used for rod or profile  12 . Preferably the material should be sufficiently rigid to be shape retaining but capable of being distorted out of its shape and then have enough resiliency to return toward its undistorted shape. 
     FIG. 1A shows the interlocking relationship between the fabric  14  and the tubular profile or rod  12 . As shown therein, and as also shown in various other figures, the slit  16  is defined by a pair of generally parallel spaced edges. One of the edges has a guide surface  13  and then bends up and around to terminate in an offset portion  15  which is generally parallel to the guide surface  13 . This forms the U-shaped edge best shown in FIG.  2  and into which the fabric  14  would be inserted. The other edge which forms slit  16  is the locking edge  17  which likewise is generally parallel to a guide surface  13  and offset portion  15 . When the fabric has been insected into the slit  16  by being pushed into the U-shaped edge formed by guide surface  13  and offset portion  15 , the hollow rod is squeezed so that the locking portion  17  may be moved outwardly beyond surface  13  and squeezed sufficiently downwardly to be located directly in line with the U-shaped edge. Upon release of pressure the locking edge then enters the U-shaped edge and presses into the fabric  14  as illustrated in FIG.  1 A. Accordingly, the fabric  14  is forced to assume a tortuous path wherein the fabric is locked between guide surface  13  and locking portion  17  and then is located around locking portion  17  between locking portion  17  and offset portion  15 . Finally, fabric  14  extends over and around offset portion  15  and into cavity  18 . 
     The invention may also be practiced by covering the rod  12  with a fabric. FIG. 1B, for example, shows how a fabric  14 A may be wrapped around rod  12  prior to the application of fabric  14 . As shown therein fabric  14 A, after being wrapped around rod  12  is held in place in slit  16  by wrapping around the slit edges  13 ,  15  and  17 . FIG. 1C shows an alternative where fabric  14  is wrapped rod  12  and locked in slit  16  while hanging downwardly to form the drape. 
     When it is desired to remove the fabric, the reverse procedures are used wherein the rod  12  is squeezed to move locking portion  17  outwardly from being within the U-shaped edge. The rod is released when locking portion  17  is again above offset portion  15  as shown in FIG.  2 . This permits the fabric to be removed and a new fabric to be inserted. 
     As will be appreciated, such rod  12  of the invention requires no saving to hold fabric  14  in place, can be cut to measure and can be easily disassembled to change fabric stylings as desired at later times. 
     As is apparent from the above description and from FIGS. 1,  1 A,  2  and  3  the slit  16  includes a U shaped edge which forms an open channel between guide surface  13  and offset portion  15 . The open channel is exposed to the exterior to permit a fabric  14  to be placed in the open channel and extend around offset portion  15 . Offset portion  15  is thus spaced from the inner surface of the rod  12  a sufficient distance to accommodate the fabric  14 . As best shown in FIG. 1A, offset portion  15  is substantially shorter in length than the length of guide surface  13  to permit the creation of the open channel, and yet provide the sufficient clearance which is needed. The above figures also clearly illustrate that the U shaped edge is oriented transverse to a tangent to the generally closed periphery of rod  12  over the remainder of the rod. FIG. 1A for example, shows the fabric  14  to be in a tangential relationship with the periphery, while the U shaped edge formed by guide surface  13  and offset portion  15  and the straight locking edge  17  are generally transverse to that tangential direction. As also illustrated in FIG. 1A, slit  16  extends radially from the center of the rod  12 . As further shown, locking edge  17  is of sufficient length relative to offset portion  15  so that the locking edge extends beyond the spacing between the inner surface of rod  12  and offset portion  15 , and the locking edge  17  extends sufficiently into the open channel. These relative lengths permit the locking edge  17  to be easily withdrawn from the channel upon a squeezing of the rod  12 , as previously described. 
     The invention may broadly be practiced where the slit  16  omits the offset portion  15 . In such practice, the slit could be distorted by moving locking portion  17  away from guide surface  13  to enlarge the size of slit  16 . After the fabric has been inserted over guide surface  13 , locking portion  17  is released and presses against the fabric to hold the fabric in slit  16 . 
     While rod  12  is shown as circular in cross section, other shapes such as oval, square, rectangular, etc. may also be used. 
     As will be apparent, some window treatment designs, according to the size needed, might require the rod lengths to be joined as shown in FIG.  4  and because of the flexibility or resiliency of the rigid plastic rod  12 , this can be accomplished by inserting one rod inside the other so the profile shapes interlock with one another and create system  10 A. 
     In FIGS. 5A and 5B, show two methods for installing the window treatment of the invention. There, fastening members, such as screws  20  or  20 A are installed into the wall or other support structure either above or on the window molding, with the bent end, as shown, either hooking into the opening  16  at any place across the rod as shown in FIG. 5A, or by cradling the rod  12  to support it from the bottom as shown in FIG.  5 B. 
     FIGS.  6 A- 6 C illustrate different treatments to finish off one or preferably both ends of a rod. The end piece is preferably made of the same or like material which has been cast, molded or extruded into a particular shape. Such shapes may be employed at the rods ends by fitting the treatments either over the edges of the rod profile  12  as end cap  22  shown in FIG. 6A or by inserting a projection into the cavity  18 , as finials  24  shown in FIG. 6B or by inserting the elbow  26 , which is made from the same profile shape, into or over the rod  12 , the same way one would connect rod lengths, as shown in FIG.  6 C. 
     FIG. 6D shows an alternative where the finial  24 A has a cavity instead of a projection. A fabric  14 A is wrapped around finial  24 A and then tucked into the finial cavity. The fabric wrapped finial is then telescoped over rod  12  and thereby mounted to rod  12 . End pieces  22  and  26  may also be modified to be wrapped by a fabric, such as by having a cavity into which the fabric would be tucked with the end piece telescoped over the rod. The wrapping of the fabric and the securing of the end piece to the rod may be accomplished in other manners in accordance with the invention. 
     While there have been described what are considered to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated that modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. Thus, while a profile  12  with opening  16  and cavity  18  has been described for accepting the fabric  14 , any shaped profile with sufficient opening and interior space can be employed as long as there is exertion on the fabric  14  enough to hold it in place. In similar fashion, while the opening  16  preferably extends the entire length of the rod  12 , it will be seen that in an actual construction, all that is necessary is that the ends of rod  12  have a sufficient opening enough to accept the insertion of fabric  14 . 
     In the preferred practice of this invention the profile rod  12  is of completely hollow tubular form. This permits a rigid material to be used while still having sufficient springiness or resiliency to permit a squeezing and locking action to take place for inserting and holding the fabric in place. The invention in its broad sense, however, may also be practiced where some or all of the interior is solid and a tortuous path is created between a guide surface, a locking portion and an offset portion having the physical relationship shown in FIG.  1 A and in FIG.  3 . In such practice it would be necessary to force the fabric into the slit and around the guide surface and then around the offset portion. The illustrated embodiment, however, is the preferred practice since it permits the fabric to be readily inserted into the open U-shaped edge and then locked in place by the springiness of the looking edge. Additionally, the completely open or hollow tubular form for the rod  12  provides the cavity for readily receiving the end portion of the fabric. 
     In the preferred practice of the invention the edges which form slit  16  are of continuous unbroken construction. The invention, however, may be practiced where the edges themselves are slit to form a plurality of spring fingers wherein one spring finger would be of U-shaped form to provide the guide surface  13  and offset portion  15  and the other spring fingers would be of generally planar form to provide the locking portion  17 . 
     Other variations of the invention will be apparent to one reading the specification herein.