US3545523A - Drapery holder - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 1111 3,545,523

[72] Inventor DouglassR.Falkenber-g [56] ReferencesClted N ggg g 011i" UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,337,950 12/1943 Wemeretal, 160/330 [221 FM d 33: 2,497,446 2/1950 Goldingetal. 160/348 [45] C 2,524,426 10/1950 Comerfordetal 160/348 [731 W :g 2,556,886 6/1951 Reese 160/348 3,203,469 8/1965 Falkenberg 160/348 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,332 1958 Italy 248/298 541 DRAPERY nouma 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. .1 160/348 A47h 13/14 Fleldof Search 1601348,

349, 349(D), 330; 24/198; 248/298; 2l l/89 Primary ExaminerDavid J. Williamowski Assistant Examiner-Philip C. Kannan Attorney-Jerome F. Kramer ABSTRACT: A drapery holder mounted on a wall for holding drapery material in pleated fashion adjacent the wall, and around a window or door opening in the wall.

1 DRAPERY HOLDER BACKGROUND .OF THE INVENTION The drapery holder hereinafter described, is somewhat .similar to that shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,203,469, and copending Pat. application, Ser. No.536,702,

material held by the holder, is also in spaced relation from the wall surface thus, leaving-a rather unsightly space between the wall and drapery material held by the drapery holder. The purpose or object of this invention, is to provide a means for holding at least a portion of the drapery material in space covering relation between the wall surface and remaining drapery material held by the drapery holder.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a drapery holder for holding drapery material in pleated fashion in spaced relation from a wall surface and around a window or door opening disposed in said surface. An arm extends from the holder for grasping a portion of the drapery materialand holding it is space covering relation between the wall surface and remaining drapery material held by the holder.

The invention will be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a window with surrounding drapery material;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a drapery holder mounted on a bracket disposed on a wall surface; said view including a cutaway portion showing a fixed and extensible arm for grasping the drapery material to cover the space normally existing between the wall surface and remaining drapery material; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring generally to the drawing, there is shown a window or opening indicated at 10. Drapery material 12 is hung in folded or pleated fashion around the window to enhance its appearance. The drapery material 12 is held in position by a pair of drapery holders 14 secured at the upper corners of the window 10. Each holder is, mounted on a bracket 16, which is secured either to the wall adjacent the window 10, or molding, or casing surrounding the window 10.

The drapery holder 14 is somewhat similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patents, and comprises a plurality of fingers, e.g. fingers 20 having free endsfacing or extended toward the wall 18. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the pleats are formed in the drapery material by placing a fold of material 12 between adjacent fingers of the drapery holder 14. The innermost edge or fall line 22 of folded material closest the wall 18., is. normally in spaced relation from the wall 18, because the drapery holder 14 is positioned on the bracket 16 in spaced relation from the wall 18. Thus, a rather unsightly gap, or space 24 is left between the wall 18 and fall line 22 of drapery material 12.

A decorativeshield is provided for covering the plain and unattractive holder 14. Any suitable means, e.g. spring clips 28, may be used to frictionally hold the shield 26 on the drapery holder 14.

THE INVENTION In one embodiment of the invention, an arm 30, integrally l formed with the drapery holder 14, extends therefrom towards the wall 18, and is utilized for grasping and holding the outermost fold 32 of drapery material 12 in space covering relation betweenthe wall 18 and remaining folds of drapery material 12. An abutment 34 is disposed on the free arm end 36 adjacent the wall 18. A specially configured finger 38, is resiliently mounted on the arm end 36 for grasping the outermost fold 32 of drapery material 12: and compressing it against the abutment 34. In this particular embodiment, the finger 38 extends from the free arm 36 and-is reversely bent forming a loop, facing inwardly toward the fingers20 or the remaining drapery material 12 as shown in FIG. 3, the finger 38 having a free end 40 adjacent the abutment 34. The finger 38 is composed of plastic material which is comparatively thin in rela' tionto the arm 30 or abutment 34 formed thereon. The free end 40 of the finger 38, is resiliently displaceable from and towards the abutment 34. Thus, the free finger end 40 and abutment 34 act as a pair of spaced grippers or abutrnents, between which the outermost fold of folds of drapery material is firmly grasped and held adjacent the wall 18. Additionally, by the finger 38 facing inwardly toward the remaining drapery material 12, additional folds asshown at 32 can be grasped and hidden behind the material 12'. l i

In another embodiment of the invention, a similarly configured arm 300 is-coupled to the drapery holder 14 and extends therefrom towards the wall I LAs seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 30a is extensiblefrom the drapery holder 14, i.e. the arm 30a is matingly configured to slide along, or telescopically move from the fixed arm 30. The extensible am 300 is hollow, and at least partially surroundsthe fixed arm 30. The fixed arm 30 and extensible arm 30a are oval shaped to keep them from rotating relative to each other.

The fixed arm drapery holder 14. can be utilized in mostcases where smaller brackets 16d, are used. In such cases, the holder 14 is adjusted or positioned on the outstanding leg 42 of the bracket 16 in a manner as illustrated in US. Pat. No. 3,203,469, such that the free arm end 36 is adjacent, or in abutting relation to the wall 18. The extensible arm 30a is used.

drapery material 12, and compressing it against the abutment 34a. The finger 38a is similarly reversely bent in a loop and has its free end 40a adjacent the abutment 34a, to provide a pair of grippers, between which the drapery material 12 is grasped and held adjacent the wall.

The extensible arm 30a is packaged with each drapery holder 14, including the fixed arm 30. Thus, the complete unit is designed toaccommodate varying gaps or spaces which might occur between the wall 18 and drapery holder 14, or folded drapery material .12. The abutment and free end of the finger on the fixed arm is not greater than the width W of the longitudinal opening 44 which is coextensive with the extensible arm 30a. The reason for this should be obvious in that the extensible arm 30a telescopes and partially encloses the smaller similarly configured fixed arm 30.

Thus, there has been described a new and different drapery holder having either a fixed or extensible arm for holding a portion of the drapery material in covering relation over a space that normally exists betweenthe wall and adjacent folds of drapery material.

I claim:

1. In combination:

a. A drapery holder positionable adjacent a surface and having spaced fingers with free ends facing toward said surface for holding drapery material in pleated and folded fashion in spaced relation from the surface;

b. A bracket on one end of said holder for adjustably supporting said holder from the surface;

0. A first arm on the opposite end of said holder extending towards said surface; y

d. Said first arm having means on the end thereof toward said surface for grasping the outermost fold of said draperymaterial; and

e. A second arm carried by said first arm and extending toward said surface and having means on the end thereof toward said surfacefor grasping the outermost fold of said drapery material.

2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said first arm means includes an abutment, and a finger for compressing drapery material against the abutment.

- 3Q Thecornbination of claim 1, wherein said second arm [means includes anlabutment and a finger for compressing I draperyniaterial against the abutment.

4.1The combination of claim 1, wherein the first arm means [and the second arm means eachcomprise an abutment and a finger cooperating -with the abutment to grasp said drapery fingers. 4

material, each of said fingers extending toward saidspaced

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