Abstract:
A decorative fabric panel system wherein one or more fabric panels are held by one or more removably positionable clip members having an openable and closable latch member. One or more hooks are preferably provided suspending the clips and fabric panels from a pre-determined location.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/815,736, entitled “Window Fingers,” filed on Jun. 21, 2006, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/912,061, entitled “Window Fingers,” filed Apr. 16, 2007, and the specifications thereof are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 
       [0004]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field) 
         [0006]    The present invention relates to decorative coverings, including but not limited to window coverings. Particularly, the present invention relates to a decorative covering system wherein panels of fabric can quickly and easily be suspended from predetermined locations. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clip for carrying fabric panels having a front face and a rear face, at least one hook, having an attachment portion, attached to the rear face of the clip, and a latch member attached to the rear face of the clip, and movable from an open to a closed position to trap a portion of at least one of the fabric panels. 
         [0008]    The clip can have first and second vertically extending, spaced apart bosses attached to the rear face of the clip, and the latch member can optionally be pivotally connected to the first boss and preferably moves in a horizontal plane from an open to a closed position. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the clip has an undercut portion adjacent to the second boss and the latch member has a catch portion which engages with the undercut and a release portion which disengages the catch portion from the undercut. The clip can also have a plurality of ribs attached to its rear face which extend between the bosses and which ribs are disposed at least substantially normal to the bosses. The clip preferably has two hooks, each attached to one of the bosses and which extend vertically therefrom and preferably substantially parallel therewith. The hooks can have an inverted “J” shape and an open end of the “J” shape preferably extends downward, thus defining the attachment portion. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the clip also has an opening extending from its front face to its rear face and the opening is optionally centered on the front face. An ornamental decoration can optionally be positioned in and held in the opening. 
         [0011]    An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a decorative fabric panel system for hanging on curtain rods having a clip including a front face and a rear face, at least one hook attached to the rear face of the clip, the hook having an attachment portion for attachment to the curtain rod, a latch member, attached to the rear face of the clip, and movable from an open to a closed position; and a fabric panel, held in place to the clip by the latch member. The system can also include at least two horizontally-spaced apart ribs and one vertically extending boss located at each end of the ribs. One or more decorative elements can optionally be provided which are removably positionable from the fabric panel. 
         [0012]    An embodiment of the present invention also relates to a method for hanging a fabric panel including securing the fabric panel to a clamp by clamping the fabric panel between a plurality of spaced-apart members, and hanging the clamp and fabric panel from a predetermined location by disposing hooked members of the clamp over an interfacing surface of the predetermined location. In the method, securing the fabric panel can include securing the fabric panel between a plurality of spaced apart members with a pivotally-connected hasp-type mechanism. Further, the hooked members can be fixedly secured to the clamp and can be disposed behind a back surface of the fabric panel. A portion of the fabric panel can be displayed through an opening which is disposed through a front face of the clamp. 
         [0013]    Objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The accompanying drawings in the attachment, which are incorporated into and form a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating one or more preferred embodiments of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view drawing illustrating a clip according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view drawing illustrating a clip according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view drawing illustrating an embodiment of the present invention wherein a latch member is in an open position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a top view drawing illustrating an embodiment of the present invention wherein a portion of a fabric panel is secured within a clip; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front view drawing illustrating a decorative fabric system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention provides another embodiment of the invention disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/815,736. The invention is further described in the documents attached hereto. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein clip  10  is provided for hanging panels of material, preferably a fabric material, from rods, such as curtain rods, to provide a decorative system. Clip  10  preferably includes at least one hook  12  attached to a rear face of clip  10 .  FIG. 1 , illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein two hooks  12  and  14  are provided. The use of two hooks  12  and  14  leads to an easier connection of clip  10  to a curtain rod. Hooks  12  and  14  are both generally “J” shaped, with open or attachment portions  16  and  18  of the “J” being positioned below, when in normal use, of clip  10 . Legs  20  and  22  of hooks  12  and  14  are preferably fastened to a rear face of clip  10 . In  FIG. 1 , front face  24  of clip  10  is visible. Clip  10  is shown as being curved, which is a preferred configuration, but could be a linear surface and still function properly. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of clip  10 . In  FIG. 2 , rear face  26  of clip  10  is visible. Rear face  26  preferably has attached to it horizontal, spaced apart, ribs  28  and  30 . Also preferably attached to rear face  26 , at each end of the ribs  28  and  30 , are vertically-spaced apart bosses  32  and  34 . Legs  20  and  22  of hooks  12  and  14  are preferably attached to bosses  32  and  34  and extend upwardly therefrom. Screws, rivets, pins, bolts or another fastener or fastening method  36  and  38  preferably attach legs  20  and  22  to bosses  32  and  34  in the embodiment shown. In an alternative embodiment, legs  20  and  22  can be welded directly onto rear face  26 . Bosses  32  and  34  preferably comprise latch member  40 . As further illustrated in  FIG. 2 , latch member  40  is illustrated in a closed position. 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 3 , latch member  40  is illustrated in an open position. Latch member  40  includes pivot arm  42  pivotally attached to boss  32  and latching head  44  at an end of pivot arm  42  which is preferably opposite a pivot connection. Latching head  44  most preferably comprises catch portion  46  and release portion and/or tab  48 . In one embodiment, catch portion  46  preferably cooperates with an undercut portion  50  formed adjacent boss  34 . In addition,  FIG. 3  further illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein third horizontal rib  52 , positioned under and spaced from the rib  30  is provided. When latch member  40  is closed, undercut  50  preferably traps catch portion  46  and prevents latch member  40  from reopening. To open latch member  40 , a user preferably moves release tab  48  to release catch portion  46  from undercut  50 , thus allowing latch member  40  to pivot and move to the position illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Latch member  40  may be made from any resilient material, including but not limited to spring steel, rubber, a plastic material, and/or combinations thereof. 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the use of clip  10  to hold fabrics according to an embodiment of the present invention. Gap  54  is preferably formed and/or provided between pivot arm  42  and ribs  30  and  52 . In this embodiment, undercut  50  preferably comprises a trap for catch portion  46 . A user preferably positions fabric panel  56  within clip  10  while latch member  40  is in an open position. When latch member  40  is closed, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , fabric panel  56  is preferably trapped and thus held in place. Accordingly, fabric panel  56  may be retained within clip  10  at any position along a length of fabric panel  56 . In an alternative embodiment, one or more small holes, for example button holes, are provided in an upper portion of fabric panel  56 . In this embodiment, the holes are preferably positioned such that hooks  12  and/or  14  of clip  10  can thus be disposed through the holes. Further, in this embodiment, one or more additional holes are also provided through which latch member  40  can be disposed, thus securing fabric panel  56  to clip  10 . Further, two adjacent fabric panels  56  can be placed side-by-side and one or more holes from each panel can be placed over a single hook,  12  or  14 , thus enabling the fabric panels to be joined together at an upper portion thereof. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates clip  10  in use with fabric panel  56 , thus providing a decorative fabric panel system. Clips  10  A-D are illustrated affixed to a curtain rod  58 . In  FIG. 5 , curtain rod  58  is illustrated with a substantially round cross-section. However, as those skilled in the art will recognize upon studying this application, curtain rod  58  can also comprise a “C” cross-section or any other shape for a traverse-type rod with carrier hooks. Hooks  12  and  14  (not shown in  FIG. 5 ) for each of clips  10  A-D are attachable to curtain rod  58 . In this embodiment, open portions  16  and  18  can be disposed over curtain rod  58 . Fabric panels  56  A-D are preferably carried by clips  10  A-D and are preferably held in place by latch members  40  as previously described. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , opening  60  is preferably provided in one or more of clips  10  A-D. In this embodiment, openings  60  preferably extend from front face  24  to rear face  26 . In one embodiment, opening  60  is preferably provided in a size and shape which allows  56  to be viewed by a user, thus providing a decorative element in itself. Alternatively, opening  60  can be provided in a size and shape which allows the attachment of one or more ornamental decorations  62  to clip  10 . Each of clips  10  A-D preferably comprises a corresponding opening  60  A-D and while ornamental decorations  62  A-D are preferably provided, they are not essential. Decorations  62  A-D can be held in place in openings  60  A-D by any suitable methods, systems, and/or fasteners known to those skilled in the art. Opening  60  may be positioned anywhere on front face  24  of clip  10 , but for the sake of symmetry, it is preferred that opening  60  be centered on front face  24 . 
         [0027]    Although the invention has been described in detail with particular reference to these preferred embodiments, other embodiments can achieve the same results. Variations and modifications of the present invention will be obvious to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover all such modifications and equivalents. The entire disclosures of all references, applications, patents, and publications cited above and/or in the attachments, and of the corresponding application(s), are hereby incorporated by reference.