Patent Publication Number: US-7213633-B2

Title: Method of forming scalloped configuration in curtains

Description:
RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/555,921 filed Mar. 24, 2004. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates generally to swaging curtains and draperies and is specifically related to a method of forming scalloped configuration in curtains and draperies used for hanging from windows, thus imparting desired decorative and aesthetic appearance thereto. More specifically, this invention provides such method in an extremely simple, effective and quick manner. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Curtains and draperies are frequently used to hang from windows and it is often desirable to gather the curtain material into folds for decorative and aesthetic effects. Gathering the curtain materials into decorative folds and fixing it into position can be accomplished by hand, but needless to say that is cumbersome and time consuming task. The difficulty is exacerbated when it is desired to hand decorative curtains from high windows such as theatres, art galleries or over large windows at homes. 
   Several prior art patents describe different methods of handing draperies for hanging from windows. An early patent, i.e., Design Pat. No. 14,621 issued Feb. 5, 1884 shows a design for a lambrequin wherein an upper portion shapes two festoons over the lower portion, and has two ends falling below the sides of the lower portion. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,668,587 issued Feb. 9, 1954 describes and illustrates a class of draped window curtains having a “tie back” construction which forms an integral part of the curtain as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,671,508 issued Mar. 9, 1954 describes improvements in hanging draperies. To a valance drapery made from a piece of rectangular material are secured eyelets arranged along parallel lines running longitudinally of the material thereby forming folds or pleats when the eyelets are threaded together. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,579 issued Sep. 26, 1961 describe the use of swaging tape which is applied to the material to be gathered, the tape being applied to the drapery material by sewing or stitching operation. 
   None of the previously described prior art methods of other known methods provide a simple, effective and inexpensive method of gathering the drapery material in order to form a desired scalloped configuration as is possible by the method of this invention. 
   Therefore, it is the object of this invention to provide a method of gathering drapery material to form a scalloped configuration for hanging the drapery over a window. 
   It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of forming a scalloped-shaped design in draped curtains while the curtain is hanging from a window. 
   It is also an object of the present invention to provide such method which can readily be used in homes with simplicity and efficiency at minimal costs. 
   The foregoing and other objects of this invention will become more apparent from the ensuing detailed description and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a method for forming scalloped configuration in single layer or multi-layer (e.g., double layer) curtains. A double layer curtain comprises a front panel and a back panel with each panel being defined by an upper edge and a lower generally parallel edge, and two generally parallel sides. In applying the method of this invention to such curtains, the curtain is provided with two pairs of spaced apart ties, each tie having an upper end conjointly attached to one of said panels a finite distance from the top edge and its respective side edge, and are freely hanging at their lower ends. A solid object such as a bead, which may be spherical in shape, and has a channel or passageway extending through the bead, is slipped through each pair of ties and the bead is raised until a scalloped configuration is formed which is discernible by visual observation. At that point, the ends of the ties are bowed to prevent the beads from falling down and remain in their scalloped configuration position. By untying the bows, the beads may be slipped down through the ties and the curtain will return to its original position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to the different figures in the drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts; 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a double-layer curtain having a front layer or panel and a back layer or panel with two pairs of ties as shown and hereinafter described; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  with each pair of ties is inserted through a spherical bead having a channel for passage of the ties therethrough, wherein the ties are in initial free-hanging positions; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view similar to  FIG. 2  but wherein the beads are raised to form the desired scalloped design in the curtain; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 2 ; and 
       FIGS. 5–8  are views corresponding to  FIGS. 1–4 , respectively, for a single-layer curtain. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a curtain  10  comprising a front layer or panel  11  and a back layer or panel  12  stitched or sewn together along the top of each panel to form a channel or passageway  13  for the insertion of a curtain rod (not shown) therethrough for hanging the curtain from a window. The panel  11  is defined by the longitudinal, generally parallel top and bottom edges  11   a  and  11   b , a generally vertical left side edge  11   c  and right generally parallel side edge  11   d . Also, the back panel  12  is defined by similar top and bottom edges  12   a ,  12   b  and similar side edges  12   c ,  12   d . A pair of ties  14   a ,  14   b  (e.g., ribbons or bands made from the same or different material as the curtain) are attached or sewn to the curtain at their conjoint ends such as at  14   c , a finite desired distance from the top edge and left side of the curtain panel, and are normally freely hanging at their lower ends  14   d ,  14   e . A similar pair of ties  15   a ,  15   b  are also attached or sewn to the curtain at their conjoint ends such as at  15   c , a finite desired distance from the top edge and right edge of the curtain panel, and are normally freely hanging at their lower ends  15   d ,  15   e . Preferably the conjoint ends  14   c  and  15   c  lie on a common line  16  which is generally parallel to the top and bottom edges, and the distance between each conjoint end  14   c  and  15   c  from their respective sides and edges are approximately equal in order to form the desired scalloped design as herein described. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown the beads  17  and  18 ; one for each pair of ties. Each bead is usually spherical or round in shape having a central passageway extending centrally therethrough, between the top and bottom of the bead for insertion and passage of each pair of said ties through each bead. The width or diameter of the passageway must of course be large enough to accommodate the pair of ties such that the bead can be slidably raised and lowered as desired. 
   In order to form the desired scallop design in the curtain panels, the ties  14   a ,  14   b  are inserted through the passageway in the bead  17  and the bead  17  is raised to the desired height until it results in the formation of part of the scalloped design  19   a  at which point the ties or ribbons may be tied into a bow as in  20   a . Similarly, the ties  15   a ,  15   b  are slipped through the passageway in the bead  18  and bead  18  is raised to the desired height, which is usually equal to the height to which the bead  17  is raised, to form the other part of the scalloped design  19   b  and the ties are then bowed as in  20   a  after forming of the scalloped design  19   a ,  19   b ,  19   c , the ties are bowed as aforesaid remain raised while the curtain is hanging from the window. In order to remove the curtain, such as for cleaning, the bows are untied and the beads are slipped down to their initial positions. The scalloped design may result in ruffled or gathered portions, if desired, for improved aesthetic appearance. Thus, a quick and simple method is provided for forming scalloped designs in a curtain which does not require the complicated and time-consuming operation normally required for forming the desired curtain designs. 
   The method of formation of scalloped design for a mono-layered curtain is described by reference to  FIGS. 5–8  of the drawings. In  FIG. 5  the curtain  110  is formed by a single layer or panel  111  having an overlapped and stitched or sewn top segment which forms a passageway  112  for the passage of a curtain rod (not shown). The panel  111  is defined by the top, and lower generally parallel edges  111   a ,  111   b , and generally parallel side edges  111   c ,  111   d . A pair of ties  114  and  114   b  (e.g., ribbons or bands made from the same or different material as the curtain) are attached or sewn to the panel  111  at their conjoint ends such as  114   c , a finite desired distance from the top edge and left side of said panel, and are normally freely hanging at their lower ends  14   d ,  14   e . A similar pair of ties  115   a ,  115   b  are also attached or sewn to the panel  111  at their conjoint point  115   c , a finite desired distance from the top edge and left side of said panel, and are normally freely hanging at their lower ends  115   d ,  115   e . Preferably the conjoint ends  114   c  and  115   c  lie on a common line  116  which is generally parallel to the top and bottom edges, and the distances between each conjoint end  114   c  and  115   c  from its respective sides and edges are approximately equal in order to form the desired scalloped configuration in the curtain panel. 
   The method of forming the scalloped design in the single layer curtain panel  111  is the same as hereinbefore described for the double-layer curtain, using the beads  117 ,  118  each of which has a central passageway extending between the top and bottom of each bead. As in the double layer curtain, in order to form the scalloped configuration in the single layer curtain, each pair of ties is passed through the passageway of each bead, each bead is raised by slipping up to the desired height until forming the scalloped configurations defined by the curtain panel segments  119   a ,  119   b  and  119   c , and each pair of ties may be bowed as in  120  and  121 . Once again the scalloped design may result in gathered or ruffled portion which enhances the aesthetic view of the curtain. 
   Although a spherical bead is used in the method described herein, the shape of the bead is not critical, per se, so long as the bead is provided with a through passage for insertion of the ties such that the bead can be manipulated by sliding it through and up to the desired height in the curtain. Other changes and modifications are suggested from the foregoing detailed description without departing from the scope of the present invention.