Abstract:
A multifunctional window covering system for securing various lengths, sizes and types of curtains and/or drapery or other fabric material in a wide variety of different window treatment styles and configurations with respect to a window structure includes at least one securing device with a securing section and a loop section. The securing device is configured to wrap around a fabric material and/or support structure disposed proximate the window, with the securing section capable of being inserted through the loop section to facilitate engagement of the securing section with the loop section so as to hold and maintain the fabric material in a desired configuration with respect to the window structure.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/359,714, entitled “Multi-functional Window Covering System” and filed Feb. 27, 2002. The disclosure of the above-mentioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to a system for securing fabric material with respect to a window structure in a variety of window treatment styles and configurations.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Most drapery hardware and related devices presently designed are known to suspend, manipulate, arrange and position fabric for curtains, drapes, etc. in a specific arrangement or style. Certain drapery hardware/devices that provide alternative window treatment arrangements are limited to a few variations (e.g., providing shorter or longer lengths, combining the same arrangement a number of times to create a larger version of the same arrangement, providing the same window covering style in different colors and/or textures, etc.).  
           [0006]    Other devices must be suspended or attached to a main support bar at all times in order to form different styles. Little variation is seen as the drapery fabric often remains in the same general vertical position.  
           [0007]    Still other devices are required to be installed into a main support system such as a window or wall in order for the device to function properly, and, thus, these devices are limited to use with the same hanging support device.  
           [0008]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a window covering and securing system that is versatile and facilitates a variety of styles and arrangements for fabric secured about one or more windows.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a multifunctional device that enables draperies and window coverings to be manipulated into numerous (e.g., greater than twenty) configurations of varying styles and arrangements.  
           [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a device that can be utilized without permanent installation of the device or a hanging support bar or hardware into a main support system.  
           [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device that is inexpensive, easy to use, and requiring very little time and effort to achieve a selected window treatment style for a particular fabric material.  
           [0012]    The aforesaid objects are achieved individually and/or in combination, and it is not intended that the present invention be construed as requiring two or more of the objects to be combined unless expressly required by the claims attached hereto.  
           [0013]    A multifunctional window covering system designed to create numerous window covering configurations in a variety of styles and sizes includes a securing device to fasten fabric material in a selected manner. The securing device includes an elongated elastic loop section connected to a securing section disposed at a longitudinal end of the securing device. The loop section wraps around one or more selected portions of fabric material, and the securing section is inserted through the loop section to engage the securing and loop sections thus securing the fabric material in the selected configuration. The system may further include two or more securing devices coupled together to form a combined securing device configured for use with fabric materials of varying dimensions, weight, thickness, etc.  
           [0014]    The system is configured for use with multiple lined or unlined flexible fabric panels in varying lengths and widths. The panels can be interchangeable, suspend from a horizontally suspended bar or other suitable support structure and are joined and secured into different configurations by the securing device. The device and/or panels may then be wrapped around the support bar or left to hang unsuspended at the securing location between the device and the panels.  
           [0015]    The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are utilized to designate like components. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 depicts a securing device including a loop section and a securing section to facilitate fastening of the securing device with a fabric material in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]    FIGS.  2 - 4  depict alternative embodiments for the securing device of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 depicts two securing devices of FIG. 1 coupled to form a combined securing device with added length for heavier or thicker panels.  
         [0019]    FIGS.  6 - 9  illustrate different methods for securing a fabric material to a support bar in accordance with the present invention utilizing the securing device of FIG. 5.  
         [0020]    FIGS.  10 - 33  depict a variety of different hanging styles and configurations for securing fabric material to a support bar in accordance with the present invention utilizing the securing device of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]    Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed below, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are only examples of the invention that may be embodied in various forms other than those embodiments shown. Therefore, the structural and functional elements of the embodiments made known are merely representative in form and are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for which the various window covering configurations can be achieved.  
         [0022]    A window covering system includes a securing device to facilitate fastening of fabric material in a variety of different configurations. Referring to FIG. 1, securing device  10  includes an elongated and closed loop section  12  formed from a flexible piece of material (e.g., cord), with one longitudinal end of the loop section being connected to a securing section  14 . Specifically, the longitudinal end of the loop section is secured in an opening  16  of the securing section (e.g., via an adhesive bond). Alternatively, the loop section may be open at one longitudinal end to form two terminal end members that may be secured within the securing section. The loop section is preferably constructed of an elastic material to facilitate resilient stretching of the device during use.  
         [0023]    Securing section  14  includes a spherical geometric configuration to serve as a knob type fastener for the loop section when the loop section is wrapped around a fabric material, support bar or other structure in a manner described below. Alternatively, the securing section may have any other suitable geometric configuration (e.g., square, triangular, multifaceted, etc.) that is also capable of fastening the loop section when the loop section is wrapped around any structure.  
         [0024]    Other exemplary geometric configurations that are useful for the securing device are illustrated in FIGS.  2 - 4 . In particular, FIG. 2 depicts a securing device  100  with a knob fastener section  114  constructed by forming a knot with one of the longitudinal ends of loop section  112 . In FIG. 3, a securing device  200  includes a securing section  214  having a truncated cone or frustoconical geometry, with the smaller surface area longitudinal end of the securing section being attached via connection  215  to loop section  212 . FIG. 4 depicts a securing device  300  having a securing section  314  consisting of a hook extending from a longitudinal end of loop section  312 . It is to be understood that each of the securing devices depicted in FIGS.  2 - 4  are capable of being utilized in a substantially similar manner as device  10 .  
         [0025]    In another embodiment, two or more securing devices may be coupled together to form a longer, combined securing device for use in particular situations such as those described below. Referring to FIG. 5, two devices  10  can be coupled to form a combined device  18  by inserting securing section  14  of the first device  10  through loop section  12  of the second device  10 . The securing section of the first device is then inserted through loop section  12  of the first device and pulled to tighten the loop section of the first device around the loop section of the second device, thus securing the two devices together to form the combined device  18 . As depicted in FIG. 5, both securing sections  14  of the devices  10  are disposed at opposing longitudinal ends of the combined device  18 . However, the combined device may also be formed with one securing section being disposed at the location where the two securing devices are joined, thus yielding a combined device with the securing section of one securing device being disposed at one longitudinal end of the combined device and a loop section end of the other securing device being disposed at the other longitudinal end of the combined device. It is noted that two or more securing devices may be coupled together in any other suitable manner to form a combined device having any selected dimensions and geometric configurations.  
         [0026]    Securing device  10  can be attached to one or more flexible fabric panels in a variety of different ways. In one embodiment, depicted in FIG. 6, support section  14  of device  10  is wrapped around a flexible fabric panel  22  at a selected location of the panel, is inserted through loop section  12  and pulled tight. One or more wrapping cycles of the securing section around the fabric panel may be required depending upon the thickness and weight of the flexible fabric panel and its tail portion  27 . Once the securing section of the device is sufficiently wrapped around the fabric panel and inserted through the loop section, the securing section provides a catch or a stop to effectively inhibit or prevent the loop section from disengaging from the securing section without manual assistance.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIGS. 13 and 15 depict window treatment styles that utilize the wrapping configuration depicted in FIG. 6 to secure fabric panels  22  in selected configurations with respect to a horizontally oriented hanging support bar  24 . In the window treatment configurations of FIGS. 13 and 15, device  10  is utilized for gathering and securing the flexible fabric panel  22  into particular arrangements  36  and  40 . The fabric panels are supported on support bar  24  by feeding the support bar through a rod pocket  28 , secured by stitches  29 , formed at a top portion of the fabric panels.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 7, securing device  10  secures a flexible fabric panel  22  directly to a hanging support bar  24 . The looped segment  12  of the securing device  10  is wrapped around the flexible fabric panel  22  and the support bar  24 , in a substantially similar manner as the previous embodiment described above and depicted in FIG. 6, until a tight fit is obtained. In this embodiment, as in the previous embodiment, securing section  14  effectively inhibits or prevents disengagement of loop section  12  from the securing section, thus maintaining the hold of device  10  with respect to fabric panel  22  and support bar  24 . The window treatment configuration of FIG. 12 utilizes the wrapping configurations of FIG. 7 to form an arrangement  34 .  
         [0029]    Securing device  10  is further capable of securing a flexible fabric panel  22  to a support bar  24  in another configuration as depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. Initially, device  10  is secured about panel  22  as indicated in FIG. 6. Next, tail portion  27  of fabric panel  2  (i.e., the terminal end portion of the fabric panel that is not covered by the securing device) is wrapped or folded over support bar  24 , as depicted in FIG. 8, such that the main portion of panel  22  lies in front of the support bar (i.e., the support bar is disposed between the main portion of the panel and a window supporting surface) and the tail portion lies in back of the support bar (i.e., the tail portion is disposed between the support bar and the window supporting surface). After the tail portion is folded over the support bar, securing section  14  is wrapped around both the main fabric panel section  22  and its tail section  27  to secure the fabric in place. The securing section is then inserted through any suitable portion of loop section  12 , as depicted in FIG. 9, to firmly hold the fabric panel to the support bar in a desired configuration. The window treatment illustrated in FIG. 11 is one example in which the wrapping configuration of FIGS. 8 and 9 is utilized to form an arrangement  32 .  
         [0030]    Coupling of the two or more devices together, such as described above and illustrated in FIG. 5, renders the system capable for constructing alternative window treatment styles, such as those depicted in FIGS. 10, 14,  21 ,  27 ,  28  and  30 . In each of these window treatment styles, the fabric panels are initially supported by a support bar  24  by feeding the support bar through a rod pocket  28  in each of the fabric panels  22 , where the rod pocket is formed by stitches  29  at the top of each panel  22 . In certain situations, the distance and location required to secure the panel to achieve the desired style is longer than a single device  10  can accommodate. Therefore, in such situations (e.g., as depicted in FIGS. 10, 14,  21 ,  27 ,  28  and  30 ), two devices  10  are coupled together to form a combined device  18  that is utilized to achieve the desired style. In addition, in situations where fabric panels have extended lengths or increased bulk, coupling of two or more devices  10  together may also be required to achieve any of the securing configurations described above and illustrated in FIGS.  6 - 9 .  
         [0031]    Combined device  18  secures a fabric panel in a selected configuration with respect to the support bar by wrapping device  18  about a selected portion of the fabric panel (and, optionally, the support bar) such that securing sections  14  are brought together. The securing section  14  of a first device  10  of the combined device  18  is then inserted through the loop section  12  of a second device  10  of the combined device  18  such that the securing sections of both the first and second devices engage each other. Further, the geometric configuration of each securing section  14  of the first and second devices  10  prevents or inhibits separation of their engagement without manual assistance, thus holding the fabric panel in the selected style or configuration with respect to the support bar. In an alternative combined device embodiment, where the securing section of a first securing device is disposed at one longitudinal end of the combined device and a loop section end of a second securing device is disposed at the other longitudinal end of the combined device, the securing section of the first securing device engages the loop section of the second securing device to secure the fabric panel in the selected style or configuration.  
         [0032]    FIGS.  10 - 33  depict a variety of different window treatment styles that may be formed utilizing one or more devices  10 , alone or coupled to form combined devices  18 , to secure fabric panels in any one or more configurations as described above. In particular, FIG. 10 depicts a flexible fabric panel  22  arranged in a balloon style valance  30 . The fabric is suspended from support bar  24  by passing the support bar through rod pocket  28  of the panel and using a pair of combined devices  18  to secure the fabric in place.  
         [0033]    In FIG. 11, a single flexible fabric panel  22  is gathered at the corners and secured to a support bar  24  by attaching a securing device  10  to each panel corner. The fabric or material above the securing device, the tail  27 , is folded over the support bar and secured to the main fabric panel by wrapping each securing device  10  around both sections of fabric and securing the securing section  14  of each device  10  under a section of the loop section. Thus, a window treatment configuration  32  is formed.  
         [0034]    In FIG. 12, a single flexible fabric panel  22  is hung from a support bar  24  by passing the support bar through rod pocket  28  in a portion of the panel. A securing device  10  is attached to one bottom corner of the flexible fabric panel, drawn upwards and secured to the support bar to form a window treatment configuration  34 .  
         [0035]    In FIG. 13, two fabric panels  22  are hung from a support bar  24  by passing the support bar through rod pockets  28  disposed on the panels. A first panel is gathered and draped from the back to permit its tail portion  27  to hang over the front of the second fabric panel. The tail portion of first fabric panel is gathered together and secured with a securing device  10  to form a window treatment configuration  36 .  
         [0036]    In FIG. 14, two flexible fabric panels  22  are hung from a support bar  24  by passing the support bar through rod pockets  28  disposed in the panels. The upper one third of each fabric panel  22  is gathered up towards a respective corner and secured in place by a combined device  18  by wrapping the combined device around the gathered fabric panel and the hanging support bar. Thus, a window treatment configuration  30  is formed.  
         [0037]    In FIG. 15, a first flexible fabric panel  22  is hung from a support bar  24  by passing the support bar through a rod pocket  28  disposed in the panel. A second fabric panel  22  is secured, underneath the first fabric panel, to the support bar by attaching a securing device  10  (not visible in FIG. 15) to each of two opposing upper corners of the second fabric panel and then securing the securing devices to the support bar. Each of the first and second fabric panels is then gathered from center toward its outer side and secured in place with another securing device  10 .  
         [0038]    FIGS.  16 - 33  depict further exemplary embodiments of valance, mid-length and floor length window styles and arrangements (e.g., scallop, tail, asymmetric balloon, fan, swag, drape, etc.) that are possible using the one or more devices  10  and/or combined devices  18  of the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize and appreciate that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Rather, the system of the present invention may be utilized to achieve a wide variety of selected window treatment configurations.  
         [0039]    Referring to FIG. 31, a pair of fabric panels are suspended from support bar  24 , and the fabric panels are directed such that one panel crosses over the other panel. A lower portion of each fabric panel is also secured by a respective securing device  10  to hold the lower portion in a suspended position. It is noted that, in this embodiment, the securing device for each fabric panel is wrapped about the fabric panel as well as an additional support structure extending from the window supporting surface to facilitate suspension of the lower portion of each fabric panel as depicted in FIG. 31.  
         [0040]    The system of the present invention may further include a kit including one or more of the securing devices as described above, a fabric support structure (e.g., a support bar as described above and illustrated in the figures) as well as suitable mounting hardware (e.g., brackets, screws, etc.) for mounting the support structure to a selected support surface, and one or more fabric panels, optionally having rod pockets or other suitable structure (e.g., loops disposed along an upper surface of the fabric panels) for engaging with the fabric support structure. The kit may also include one or more instruction manuals to provide appropriate instructions for assembly of the support structure to the support surface, and securing the one or more fabric panels in selected window treatment configurations utilizing one or more securing devices (e.g., utilizing the methods described above and illustrated in FIGS.  5 - 9 ).  
         [0041]    Having described a novel multifunctional window covering system and corresponding methods for securing fabric material with respect to a window structure, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forth herein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations, modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.