RIBBON ROD ASSEMBLY
A ribbon rod assembly for hanging and supporting a fabric such that complete vertical folds are formed is disclosed. The ribbon rod assembly includes a ribbon rod body having a curved portion defining a plurality of opposing curves interposed between a pair of end portions adapted to directly engage a curtain rod, window header, ceiling and/or wall using one or more end brackets.
This document relates to a ribbon rod assembly, and more particularly to a ribbon rod assembly for hanging and supporting fabric in a manner that forms complete vertical folds in the fabric.
SUMMARYIn an embodiment, the ribbon rod assembly may include a ribbon rod body, the ribbon rod body having a curved portion defining a plurality of undulating opposing curves interposed between first and second end portions, the first end portion defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving portion, while the second end portion defines an terminal slot and a lateral slot; and a pair of end brackets adapted to engage either the first or second end portions, each of said pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body with one portion of the L-shaped body being engaged to the ribbon rod body and another portion of the L-shaped body being engaged to a support surface.
In another embodiment, the ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement may include a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves interposed between opposing end portions with one of the end portions defining a terminal slot and lateral slot while the other of the end portions defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving slot; and a fabric adapted for engagement with the ribbon rod body, the fabric defining at least one sewn-in pocket defined along the length of the fabric, the at least one sewn-in pocket being adapted for engagement with the plurality of opposing curves of the ribbon rod body such that the upper portion and said lower portion of the fabric define vertical folds.
In one embodiment, a method of hanging and supporting a fabric to a curtain rod may include: providing a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves interposed between opposing end portions with one of the end portions defining at least a lateral slot while the other of the end portions defining at least a lateral curving portion; providing a fabric defining a sewn-in pocket extending along the length of the fabric; providing a pair of end brackets, each of the pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body having a support portion in communication with a hanging portion; inserting either one of the first or second end portions of the ribbon rod body through the sewn-in pocket of the fabric until the plurality of opposing curves is fully disposed along the length of the fabric; and securing at least one of the pair of end brackets to either one of the first or second end portions and then securing the at least one of the end brackets to a support surface.
Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of the following features:
The ribbon rod assembly according to claim Al, wherein the lateral curving slot further defines a smaller curved portion in communication with a larger curved portion.
The lateral curving slot is adapted to be engaged to the curtain rod.
The larger curved portion is adapted to be engaged to the curtain rod.
One portion of the L-shaped body engaged to the ribbon rod body is a support portion.
Another portion of the L-shaped body engaged to the support surface is a hanging portion.
One portion of the L-shaped body defines a plurality of holes.
At least one retention hook is adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of holes for supporting the ribbon rod body to a wall.
A portion of the at least one retention hook is adapted to be inserted through a wall.
The support portion includes a pair of opposing depending flanges that collectively define a channel.
The channel is adapted to engage the first or second end portions of the ribbon rod body when engaging the ribbon rod body to the end bracket.
The support portion defines first and second holes, wherein the alignment and engagement of the first hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a fully inserted position relative to the end bracket.
The alignment and engagement of the second hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a partially inserted position relative to the end bracket.
The alignment and engagement of the second hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a partially inserted position relative to the end bracket.
The fabric defines an upper portion and a lower portion with the upper portion defining a sewn pocket adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.
The lower portion defines a sewn-in pocket adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.
The opposing end portions are adapted to engage a pair of end brackets, the pair of end brackets each having a body including a securing portion and a hanging portion, the securing portion adapted to engage a ceiling and the hanging portion adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.
Additional objectives, advantages and novel features will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to the drawings, various embodiments of the ribbon rod assembly are illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in
Referring to
As shown, ribbon rod body 16 has an elongated curved portion 26 (
As shown in
As shown, ribbon rod body 16A (
As further shown in
It is this curved or sinusoidal configuration of the elongated curved portion 26 that creates the complete vertical folds 60 (
As noted above, the first and second end portions 22 and 24 of ribbon rod body 16 may be engaged to a pair of end brackets 18 in order to secure either one or both of the first and second end portions 22 and 24 to a wall 12 or window header 7 during the assembly and engagement of the ribbon rod assembly 10. In particular, one embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 illustrated in
Another embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 illustrated in
Referring to
As illustrated in
In one embodiment, either first or second end portions 22 or 24 may be fully inserted into channel 72 of end bracket 18 such that either the lateral slot 34 of end portion 24 or the lateral curving slot 38 of end portion 22 are aligned with hole 52A. A pin or screw (not shown) may then be inserted through the aligned hole 52A to secure either end portion 22 or 24 in the fully inserted position relative to end bracket 18. In another embodiment, either end portion 22 or 24 may be placed in a partially inserted position into channel 72 such that either the lateral slot 34 or the lateral curving slot 38 are aligned with hole 52B such that either end portion 22 or 24 is in the partially inserted position relative to end bracket 18. In the partially inserted position, the ribbon rod body 16 is spaced farther away from end brackets 18 relative to fully inserted position wherein the ribbon rod body 16 is spaced closer to the end brackets 18. In this way, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may support the fabric 9 either closer or farther from the window 5.
Referring to
After two or more retention hooks 8 are inserted through wall 12 as described above the user may then assemble the ribbon rod assembly 10. As shown in
Referring to
This procedure of securing the ribbon rod assembly 10 to the left side of window 5 may be duplicated for the right side of the window 5 so that a respective ribbon rod assembly 10 supporting a side panel 48A or 48B may be secured to opposing portions of the window 5 as illustrated in
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
As shown, the ribbon rod body 16B may be engaged to the end brackets 18A by first engaging screws 56 through one or more of the plurality of holes 78. The user then engages the terminal slots 32 and 36 of the end portions 22 to the screws 56 secured to the end brackets 18A as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the ribbon rod body 16 may be made from a metallic material, such as stainless steel, however other flexible metallic and plastic materials suitable for supporting the weight of the fabric 9 is contemplated. The end brackets 18 may also be made from a similar metallic or plastic material, while the retaining hook 8 may be made from a flexible metallic material capable of bending yet strong enough to completely penetrate through the wall 12 and support the combined weight of the ribbon rod assembly 10 and fabric 9 once secured in a biased position against wall 12.
In another embodiment, the ribbon rod body 16 or 16A may be engaged to a pair of ceiling mounted end brackets 19 adapted to be secured from the ceiling (not shown) proximate the window 5. Referring to
In one aspect, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be used with swags (not shown) that have ready-made pleats already formed in the fabric 9 that may also form separate rod pockets adapted to receive a curtain rod 14 or the like for hanging the swag.
It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A ribbon rod assembly comprising:
- a ribbon rod body, said ribbon rod body having a curved portion defining a plurality of undulating opposing curves interposed between first and second end portions, said plurality of undulating opposing curves each defining side portions, wherein each of said side portions being in parallel arrangement with one another, said first end portion defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving slot, while said second end portion defines a terminal slot and a lateral slot; and
- a pair of end brackets adapted to engage either said first or second end portions, each of said pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body with one portion of said L-shaped body being engaged to said ribbon rod body and another portion of said L-shaped body being engaged to a support surface.
2. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 1, wherein the lateral curving slot further defines a smaller curved portion in communication with a larger curved portion.
3. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 2, wherein the lateral curving slot is adapted to be engaged to a curtain rod.
4. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 3, wherein the larger curved portion is adapted to be engaged to the curtain rod.
5. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 1, wherein said one portion of said L-shaped body being engaged to said ribbon rod body is a support portion.
6. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 1, wherein said another portion of said L-shaped body being engaged to said support surface is a hanging portion.
7. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 1, wherein said one portion of said L-shaped body defines a plurality of holes.
8. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 7, wherein at least one retention hook is adapted to engage at least one of said plurality of holes for supporting said ribbon rod body to a wall.
9. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 8, wherein a portion of said at least one retention hook is adapted to be inserted through a wall.
10. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 5, wherein said support portion includes a pair of opposing depending flanges that collectively defines a channel.
11. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 10, wherein said channel is adapted to engage said first or second end portions of said ribbon rod body when engaging said ribbon rod body to said end bracket.
12. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 5, wherein said support portion defines first and second holes, wherein engagement of the first hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a fully inserted position relative to said end bracket.
13. The ribbon rod assembly according to claim 12, wherein engagement of the second hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a partially inserted position relative to said end bracket.
14. A ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement comprising:
- a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves, said plurality of opposing curves each defining respective side portions, wherein each of said side portions being in parallel arrangement with one another, said plurality of opposing curves being interposed between opposing end portions with one of said end portions defining a terminal slot and lateral slot while the other of said end portions defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving slot; and
- a fabric adapted for engagement with said ribbon rod body, said fabric defining at least one sewn-in pocket defined along the length of said fabric, said at least one sewn-in pocket being adapted for engagement with said plurality of opposing curves of said ribbon rod body such that said upper portion and said lower portion of said fabric define vertical folds.
15. The ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said fabric defines an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion defining said sewn-in pocket adapted to engage said ribbon rod body, said at least one sewn-in pocket being adapted for engagement with said plurality of opposing curves of said ribbon rod body such that said upper portion and said lower portion of said fabric define complete vertical folds.
16. The ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement according to claim 15, wherein said upper portion of said fabric includes said sewn-in pocket adapted to engage said ribbon rod body.
17. The ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement according to claim 14, wherein said opposing end portions are adapted to engage a pair of end brackets, said pair of end brackets each having a body including a securing portion and a hanging portion, said securing portion adapted to engage a ceiling and said hanging portion adapted to engage said ribbon rod body.
18. A method of hanging and supporting a fabric to a curtain rod comprising:
- providing a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves interposed between opposing end portions, said plurality of opposing curves each defining side portions, wherein each of said side portions being in parallel arrangement with one another, one of said end portions defining at least a lateral slot while the other of said end portions defining at least a lateral curving slot;
- providing a fabric defining a sewn-in pocket extending along the length of said fabric;
- providing a pair of end brackets, each of said pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body having a support portion in communication with a hanging portion;
- inserting either one of said first or second end portions of said ribbon rod body through said sewn-in pocket of said fabric until said plurality of opposing curves is fully disposed along the length of said fabric; and
- securing at least one of said pair of end brackets to at least one of said first and second end portions and then securing the at least one of said end brackets secured to at least one of said first and second end portions to a support surface.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said support surface is a wall.
20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said support surface is a window header.
21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising securing said lateral curving slot directly to a curtain rod.
22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said fabric defines an upper portion and a lower portion, said sewn-in pocket being defined along the length of said upper portion.
23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said fabric defines an upper portion and a lower portion, said sewn-in pocket being defined along the length of said upper portion.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 6, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 11, 2008
Inventors: Sue Forbes (Carterville, IL), William Louis Tacchella (Sturgis, MI)
Application Number: 11/759,124
International Classification: A47H 1/144 (20060101); A47H 1/12 (20060101);