Abstract:
The decorative border comprises an elongated strip of flexible material. An external reinforcing member engages the front face of the strip and elongated fastening members attach the reinforcing member and the strip to the corner of a wall. Pockets may be provided along the length of the strip and reinforcing slats placed therein. The border has two panels which are sewn together and can be reversed to create different decorative effects.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a decorative border and method for using same. 
     Decorative borders have in the past been provided to wall surfaces within rooms. These decorative strips have been formed from wallpaper, and on some occasions are done by stencil or painting. Once the strips are applied to the walls, they require either removal of the wallpaper strip or repainting of the stenciled strip. This is often a time consuming and difficult task. 
     Therefore a primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border and method for using same. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that can be removed quickly and easily when desired. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that has one decorative pattern on one surface and another decorative pattern on the opposite surface and can be reversed to expose one or the other of these two decorative patterns. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that can be washed and vacuumed easily. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of a decorative border that can be matched with curtains, bed attire and other fabrics within the room. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that requires no glue. 
     Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that can be placed over prior wallpaper or stenciled borders. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that minimizes the time necessary for installation. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of a decorative border that permits its opposite ends to be tucked within one another. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that can be easily stored or packaged. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border that can be transferred to a room of different size by simply adding or subtracting material product. 
     A further object of the present invention is the provision of an improved decorative border and method for using same which are economical to manufacture, durable in use and attractive in appearance. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing objects may be achieved by a decorative border adapted to be attached to a plurality of walls each having corners therebetween. The border comprises an elongated strip of flexible material having an elongated upper edge, an elongated lower edge, first and second opposite ends, a front face and a rear face. An external reinforcing member engages the front face of the strip. An elongated fastening member extends through both the external reinforcing member and the front and rear faces of the strip, and has an inner end penetrating one of the walls adjacent one of the corners between the walls. 
     According to one feature of the invention the decorative border may be of double thickness comprising first and second layers in face to face relation. 
     According to another feature of the invention the border can include a plurality of pockets spaced apart along the length of the strip. Each of the pockets has a closed end adjacent the lower edge of the strip, opposite closed sides extending outwardly therefrom, and an open upper end. An elongated rigid reinforcing member is within each of the pockets and has a substantially vertically oriented longitudinal axis. 
     According to another feature of the invention a tape having tacky adhesive on first and second opposite sides thereof is positioned between the strip and the wall. One tacky side of the tape adheres to the strip and the other tacky side adheres to the wall. 
     The method of using the decorative border involves taking the elongated strip of decorative material and placing the rear face of the elongated strip in facing engagement with at least one of the walls so that it spans between first and second corners of the walls. The longitudinal axis of the strip extends generally horizontally. It may be positioned adjacent the ceiling or it could be positioned spaced downwardly from the ceiling of the room. The method also includes positioning first and second elongated reinforcing members in the first and second corners respectively with the elongated strip being between the first corner and the first reinforcing member and also between the second corner and the second reinforcing member. The method further comprises securing the first and second reinforcing members to the first and second corners respectively by elongated securing members extending through the first and second reinforcing members, through the strip, and into the wall adjacent the first and second corners respectively. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a room showing two of the strips, one positioned adjacent the ceiling and the other in a position spaced downwardly from the ceiling. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmented perspective view of the decorative border used in the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of the elongated decorative border, showing the various stitching patterns therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIG. 1 the numeral  10  designates an upper decorative border and the numeral  12  designates a lower decorative border spaced downwardly there from. Border  10  can be placed at the top, middle, bottom, or anywhere on the wall of a room. 
     The decorative borders  10 ,  12  are located within a room  14  having a plurality of walls  16  with corners  18  therebetween. A ceiling  20  and a floor  22  are also provided in the room  14 . 
     Strips  10 ,  12  are identical in construction and therefore the following description applies to both. Strip  10  includes a front panel  24  and a back panel  26 . These panels may be fabric, plastic, or other flexible sheet material. The preferred material is fabric having predetermined decorative patterns printed thereon. Front panel  24  can have one decorative pattern and rear panel  26  can have an entirely different decorative pattern. These two panels thus can be reversible to create a different decorative border as desired. Between the front and rear panels  24 ,  26  is an open center  28  which provides an elongated pocket similar to that found with a pillow slip. Referring to FIG. 6, the elongated strip  10  is formed by stitching. The numeral  29  refers to an upper stitch line which extends along the upper edge of the strip  10 . The numeral  31  refers to a lower stitch which extends along the bottom edge of strip  10 . It should be noted that upper strip  29  has certain intervals therein which are provided with vertically extending spaced apart pocket stitch lines  33 . These pocket stitch lines  33  together with the lower stitch line  31  combine to form a pocket  34  having pocket side walls  36  and having a pocket bottom wall  38 . The top of the pocket is designated by the numeral  40  in FIG.  5 . Fitted within each pocket  34  is an elongated reinforcing slat designated by the numeral  42  in FIG.  5 . 
     A pair of corner reinforcing members  30  are shown positioned adjacent the two corners  18  (FIG.  1 ). The corner reinforcing members  30  are shown in more detail in FIG.  2 . The reinforcing members  30  press the strip  10  into the corners  18  and a plurality of tacks  32  pierce each of the reinforcing members  30  as well as the strip  10  and extend into the wall  16  to secure the reinforcing member and the strip  10  in place. FIG. 4 shows the tacks  32  extending into the wall  16 . While tacks are shown, screws, or other devices may be used to attach the corner members  30  and the strip  10  into the corners  18 . 
     At various places along the length of the strip  10  a double-sided tape  44  (FIGS. 2 and 3) may be used to help hold the strip  10  in place. This double-sided tape  44  adheres on one side to the rear panel  26  and on the other side to the wall  16 . 
     In installation, it is preferable that the strip  10  be starched and flattened, perhaps by ironing, so that it provides a smooth flat surface. Then one of the corner members  30  is secured in place to secure the strip  10  to one of the corners  18 . Next the strip is stretched to the next adjacent corner  18  and an additional corner member  30  is tacked in place. The reinforcing slats  42  help maintain the shape of the strip  10 . 
     The strip  10  may be extended completely around the room. As can be seen in FIG. 4, one end of the strip designated by the numerals  24 ′,  26 ′ maybe tucked inside the envelope  28  of the other panels  24 ,  26  at the opposite end of strip  10 . Tacks  32  go through the corner piece and through the two tucked in ends of the strip  10  as shown in FIG.  4 . While three tacks are shown in FIG. 4, the number may vary without detracting from the invention. The preferred number of tacks it two. 
     The fabrics for panels  24 ,  26  may be chosen to match other fabric patterns within the room. Furthermore, the strip  10  can be removed quickly and easily and reversed to expose the rear panel  26  instead of the front panel  24 . 
     There are several advantages to the present invention. The border can be reversed which provides two alternative patterns that may be used. In this regard the strip  10  does not necessarily need to be a double panel strip. It could be made from a single panel  24  without detracting from the invention. 
     The border is washable and vacuums easily. There is no glue or other messy material that would be used with this invention. It can be placed directly over the top of an old wallpaper border without having to remove the border. It can be installed very quickly, particularly if two people are working to install the strip. The corner pieces  30  may be made of wood, composite material, plastic, or other materials. They can be painted or matched to the particular décor desired. They can also be covered with fabric or painted. 
     Furthermore, the border can be stored or packaged conveniently. All that is necessary is to roll the border up into a roll and secure the roll with a rubber band to store the border. 
     In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and the proportion of parts as well as in the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims.