DRAPERY BRACKETS

Description

FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The field of the invention and its embodiments relate to improved drapery brackets and methods for hanging drapery and valances using the improved drapery brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Typically, drapes are hung from a rod and brackets. The brackets are mounted on either side of a window, on the wall or the molding around the window. The brackets are installed first, then the rod is secured between the brackets, and the drape is installed onto the rod. Conventional drapery brackets can be difficult to install for many reasons. There are several tools required, anchors and screws, a level, tape measure, drill, hammer, etc. This makes for a lengthy and frustrating process.

Consequently, several attempts may be made to secure the brackets to the wall or window molding. Things to consider may be location of the bracket, style and size of the drapery, weight of the drapery, and overall vision of what is expected. Several attempts of securing the brackets to the wall or window molding can lead to damaging the wall or molding. Repairs may have to be made and can be costly. There are certain types of brackets for certain types of drapes, this has to be determined prior to installation. There is no “one size fits all” bracket, there are different size rods, so there are different size brackets, some are metal, some are wood, and some wrought iron. The drapes that are used are either purchased from a store, online, or custom made. They all have their pros and cons. Ready-made drapes (purchased from a store on online) are typically very affordable, but with that comes perimeters, you will not get a custom look, are unlined and if not installed properly can look skimpy and definitely unprofessional. Having draperies custom made is an expensive endeavor. You will get the proper fullness, lining and professional installation, but this is very expensive.

Drapes and valances are hung from a drapery bracket that is secured to a wall. Conventional drapery brackets may be difficult to install resulting in the drapery and valances that are hung from the brackets not having the desired location such as a location relative to a window of a room.

Consequently, several attempts may be made to properly install the drapery bracket. Multiple attempts to install the bracket may be time consuming since the determination regarding the location of the drapery bracket may require the securing of a bracket to a wall and then hanging a drape or valance to the bracket to see if the position of the drape or valance is satisfactory. If the position is not satisfactory, then the drape or valance is removed from the drapery bracket and the bracket is removed from the wall. The process of securing the bracket to the wall and hanging a drape or valance from the drapery bracket is repeated until a satisfactory position of the drape or valance is achieved. Such an iterative process has another drawback since multiple attachments of the bracket to the wall may result in scarring of the wall if, for example, nails, screws or adhesives are used to secure the drapery bracket to the wall. Multiple holes may be formed in the wall and, subsequently, not used if the resulting position of the drape or valance is not as desired.

Another disadvantage of conventional drapery brackets is that they are limited to holding either a drape or valance but not both. Accordingly, if a valance is used with a drape, then two separate drapery brackets are required. This results in additional scarring of the wall since additional holes or some other gripping of the wall are required for each of the two drapery brackets.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention and its embodiments relate to an improved drapery system to hang draperies that are proprietary to the Easy Drape System. The bracket and the drape work together as a unit. The bracket will not accommodate other purchased drapes from stores, unless the drapes are altered.

The simplicity and time saving features of the bracket, are what sets this bracket apart from all others. The only tools that are needed are a hammer and 4 nails. There is a built-in ruler and level in the bracket, which allows for proper positioning.

The drapery panels are attached to the 16-inch-wide bracket with a hook and loop strip that will fasten to the same on the bracket. This allows for easy installation and changing out the drapes easily. This bracket also allows the use of either 2 drapes or a drape and valance on 1 bracket. You can add a rod between the brackets and finials. It is extremely versatile, easy, and cost effective.

The drapery system of the present invention encompasses a complete package of the bracket and drapery. The bracket is made the width of a standard width drapery panel, 16 inches. The drapery panel is made to fit that 16-inch-wide bracket, lined, with the proper fullness of a custom drape and when installed will look like it was custom made. Plus, the entire process of hanging a pair of drapes, including the brackets will only take several minutes. This is much more than a bracket, it is an innovative drapery system that allows someone to get the look of custom drapes without the cost, the simplicity of installation, which is unparalled, and all the additional options for versatility.

The present invention and its embodiments also relate to improved drapery brackets and methods for hanging drapery and valances using the improved drapery brackets.

The improved drapery brackets are secured to a wall by nails. The improved drapery brackets have a lower edge that has ruler markings, and a bubble level. A method, using the ruler markings and bubble level, is provided to identify the locations in which the nails should be driven to locate the drapery bracket in the position which will cause the drapes or valances to be positioned in the desired location.

The improved drapery brackets provide for the hanging of a drape and valance from the same bracket. This provides a significant advantage since mounting a single bracket to the wall requires one less drapery bracket as compared to securing one bracket for the drape to the wall and a second bracket for the valance to the wall. This results in a simpler installation procedure. Another advantage is that a single drapery bracket is more economical since fewer brackets typically result in lower cost.

Another advantage of the improved drapery brackets is the fastener material secured to the bracket, drapery and valance. The fastener material includes one piece of material that has small hooks and another that has small loops. An example of such material is Velcro®. The use of such material enables the drapery and valances to be readily attached and detached from the drapery bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the plate member of the improved drapery bracket according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts the portion of FIG. 1 enclosed by the circle 2, the portion of FIG. 1 enclosed by the circle 2 being enlarged in FIG. 2 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 3 depicts a cross sectional view in the plane indicated by line 3-3 in FIG. 2 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts the portion of FIG. 1 enclosed by the circle 4, the portion of FIG. 1 enclosed by the circle 4 being enlarged in FIG. 4 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 5 depicts a cross sectional view in the plane indicated by line 5-5 in FIG. 4 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 6 depicts the support member of the improved drapery bracket according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 7 depicts the support member of FIG. 6 secured to the plate member of FIG. 1 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 8 depicts an end view of the support member of FIG. 6, FIG. 8 being enlarged relative to FIG. 6 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 9 depicts the portion of FIG. 8 enclosed by the circle 9, the portion of FIG. 8 enclosed by the circle 9 being enlarged in FIG. 9 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 10 depicts an end view of the plate and support members of FIG. 7; FIG. 10 being enlarged relative to FIG. 7 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 11 depicts a front elevational view of drapes and valances secured to a wall by the improved drapery bracket according to at least some embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 depicts a cross sectional view in the plane indicated by line 12-12 in FIG. 11 according to at least some embodiments described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

When the term “about” is used in conjunction with a numerical range, it modifies that range by extending the boundaries above and below those numerical values. In general, the term “about” is used herein to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 20%, 10%, 5%, or 1%. In certain embodiments, the term “about” is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 10%. In certain embodiments, the term “about” is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 5%. In certain embodiments, the term “about” is used to modify a numerical value above and below the stated value by a variance of 1%.

When a range of values is listed herein, it is intended to encompass each value and sub-range within that range. For example, “1-5 ng” is intended to encompass 1 ng, 2 ng, 3 ng, 4 ng, 5 ng, 1-2 ng, 1-3 ng, 1-4 ng, 1-5 ng, 2-3 ng, 2-4 ng, 2-5 ng, 3-4 ng, 3-5 ng, and 4-5 ng.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The improved drapery bracket 20 is shown in FIG. 1. The bracket 20 includes an elongate plate member 22 having lower and upper edges 25, 27. The plate member 22 also has outer and inner surfaces 30, 32. Ruler markings 35 are formed on the outer surface 30 adjacent to the lower edge 25. The ruler markings 35 extend the entire length of the plate member 22 as shown in FIG. 1.

A plate fastener material 37 is secured to the outer surface 30 above the ruler markings 35. The plate fastener material 37 extends the length of the plate member 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The plate fastener material 37 has hook structures and may be Velcro® material.

A bubble level 40 is connected to the outer surface 30 above the plate fastener material 37 as shown in FIG. 1. The bubble level 40 may include a tube 42 filled with liquid having a bubble therein. The bubble level 40 is mounted on the plate member 22 by flex tabs 45 such that the tube 42 is parallel to the lower edge 25. If the bubble is located midway between the ends of the tube 42, this indicates that the plate member 22 is level and has a horizontal orientation.

Four plate holes 47 extend through the plate member 22 from the outer surface 30 to the inner surface 32. The plate holes 47 are located above the plate fastener material 37 as shown in FIG. 1. The plate holes 47 are equally spaced from one another in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 1. The plate holes 47 are also equidistant from the upper edge 27 as shown in FIG. 1.

The plate holes 47 each have an angled orientation as shown in FIG. 3. The angled orientation is provided by the intersection of the plate holes 47 with the outer surface 30 of the plate member 22 having a higher elevation relative to the intersection of the plate holes with the inner surface 32.

Two mounting protrusions 50 extend outwardly from the outer surface 30 of the plate member 22 as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. The protrusions 50 are located equidistant from the bubble level 40 on opposite sides thereof as shown in FIG. 1. Each of the protrusions 50 has a T-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 5.

The drapery bracket 20 includes an elongate support member 52 having a length equal to the length of the plate member 22 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The support member 52 has a cross section that is partially circular and angular as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

The elongate support member 52 has an outer surface 55. The outer surface 55 has an upper section to which a support fastener material 57 is secured. The support fastener material 57 is secured to the inner half of the upper section as shown in FIG. 8. The support fastener material 57 has hook structures and may be Velcro® material. The support fastener material 57 extends the entire length of the support member 52 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The support member 52 has a rear surface 60 and two support holes 62. The support holes 62 extend inwardly from the rear surface 60 as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The support holes 62 are located relative to the ends of the support member 52 such that the support holes are aligned with respective ones of the mounting protrusions 50 when the support member is positioned above the mounting protrusions.

Recesses may extend inward from each end of the support member 52. The longitudinal central axis of each recess coincides with the longitudinal central axis of the support member 52. Each recess has a circular cross section and helical threads. Each recess may receive a post the outer surface of which has outer threads which correspond to the helical threads of the recess. The post is rotatably screwed into the recess as a result of the corresponding helical threads. The outer end of the post is attached to a cap that has a transverse cross section which is larger than the adjacent end of the support member 52.

The support member 52 is secured to the plate member 22 by positioning the support member above the mounting protrusions 50 such that the support holes 62 are aligned with the mounting protrusions. The support member 52 is then lowered relative to the plate member 22 such that each of the support holes 62 catch on to a respective one of the mounting protrusions 50. As a result, the support member 52 is secured to the plate member 22 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 10. When the support member 52 is secured to the plate member 22, the adjacent ends of the plate and support members align with one another as shown in FIG. 7.

The drapery bracket 20 is secured to a wall 65 by locating the drapery bracket at the desired position relative to the top of an associated window 67 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The desired lateral positions of the drapery brackets 20 relative to the side edges of the window 67 are determined using the ruler markings 35 and bubble level 40. More specifically, the desired lateral positions of the drapery brackets 20 are determined by orienting the plate members 22 such that the bubble level indicates the plate members are horizontal. The horizontal plate members 22 are then placed on the top of the window 67 such that the ends of the plate members are located at the desired lateral distances from the sides of the window. The desired lateral distances are located using the ruler markings 35. Vertical lines are drawn on the wall 65 for determining the desired elevation of the drapery brackets 20. The vertical orientation of the lines results from the orthogonal edges of the plate members 22.

The elevations of the drapery brackets 20 relative to the top edge of the window 67 are determined using the ruler markings 35. More specifically, the desired elevations of the drapery brackets 20 are determined by orienting the plate members 22 such that they adjoin the vertical lines drawn on the wall 65. This results in the plate members 22 being vertical. The desired elevations of the drapery brackets 20 are located using the ruler markings 35.

The plate member 22 is then placed against the wall 65 such that the inner surface 32 is flush with a surface of the wall. The plate member 22 is moved to a horizontal orientation by tilting it such that the bubble in the bubble level 40 is midway between the ends of the tube 42 of the bubble level. When this position of the bubble in the tube 42 is achieved, the plate member 22 has a horizontal orientation.

The plate member 22 is secured to the wall 65 by two nails 70, each of which extends through the respective plate holes 47 nearest the ends of the plate member as shown in FIG. 12. It is also possible to use additional nails to extend through the plate holes 47 located between the plate holes nearest the ends of the plate member 22.

It may be desirable for a plate member 22 to be secured to the wall 65 adjacent to each of the two upper corners of a rectangular window 67 as shown in FIG. 11. The following description will be directed to the drapery bracket 20 adjacent to the upper right-hand corner of the window 67 shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. It will be understood that the description is equally applicable to the drapery bracket 20a adjacent to the upper left-hand corner of the window 67.

Following securement of the plate member 22 to the wall 65, the support member 52 is secured to the plate member. This is provided by positioning the support member 52 above the mounting protrusions 50 such that the support holes 62 are aligned with the mounting protrusions. The support member 52 is then lowered relative to the plate member 22 such that each of the support holes 62 catch on to a respective one of the mounting protrusions 50.

A drape 72 is then secured to the plate member 22. This is provided by the drape 72 having a drape fastener material 75 secured to its inner surface adjacent to the upper edge of the drape. The drape fastener material 75 has loop structures which, when placed against the hooked structures of the plate fastener material 37, results in the drape fastener material being secured to the plate fastener material. Consequently, the drape 72 is secured to the plate member 22 as shown in FIG. 12.

A valance 77 may be secured to the support member 52 in a similar manner as the drape 72 to the plate member 22. The valance 77 has valance fastener material 80 fastened to its inner surface adjacent to the upper edge of the valance. The valance fastener material 80 has loop structures which, when placed against the hooked structures of the support fastener material 57, results in the valance fastener material being secured to the support fastener material. Consequently, the valance 77 is secured to the support member 52 as shown in FIG. 12.

In an alternative embodiment, the drape 72 may be secured to the support member 52. This is provided by the drape fastener material 75 being placed against the hooked structures of the support fastener material 57 resulting in the drape fastener material being secured to the support fastener material.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to