Interchangeable window treatment apparatus
A plurality of interchangeable window treatment clips is provided, and each clip includes is attachable to a wall or window frame or positioned on and slidable along the length of a mounted curtain rod. The interchangeable window treatment clips include a U-shaped mounting bracket formed to accept a mounting screw or fastener for securing the clip to the wall. Alternatively, opposite sides of the U-shaped mounting clip may be formed with a rod-accepting aperture for placement over a curtain rod. A removable clip assembly is shaped to be attachable to the U-shaped mounting bracket and includes a clip capable of grasping curtain material, such as a pleated curtain, drapery, or curtain panel. The front surface of the removable clip assembly is equipped with a fastener, such as hook-and-loop or magnetic fasteners that facilitate the attachment of the decorative and ornamental panel.
The present invention relates generally to home furnishings and decorations. The present invention is more particularly related to window coverings, and is perhaps best suited for interchangeable window treatments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the field of home decoration, there are several families of window treatments used to improve the aesthetic appearance. For instance, vertical blinds have been used for many years to provide a finishing appearance to window treatments. Also, vertical blinds have been used to provide a vertically-oriented window treatment. In some cases, these blinds have been painted, tinted, or covered with various materials such as woven fabric or decorative paper. These treatments are intended to improve the aesthetic appearance of the blinds, and to provide an overall decorative finish to the windows.
As an alternative to blinds, hanging draperies have also been used to provide cover and decoration to a window. Draperies styles have included traditional hanging pleated draperies which slide on a vertical curtain rod, and may be accessorized with an overhanging valence.
Whether using blinds or draperies, a significant drawback exists with currently existing window treatments. Specifically, when using standard horizontal blinds, commonly called mini blinds, it is necessary to permanently mount the blinds to the window frame. This includes screwing a bracket into the wall, and permanently securing the blind assembly thereto. Similarly, when using vertical blinds, a track must be permanently mounted to the upper portion of the window frame. Similarly, when using traditional draperies, it is necessary to permanently mount one or more curtain rods to the window frame, and then attach the curtains or drapes to the rods.
Because the blinds or draperies are permanently mounted to the walls or window frame, it is exceedingly difficult to change them. As a result of this permanent mounting, and the often extraordinary costs involved in replacing blinds or curtains, the home décor often remains unchanged for many years.
In light of the above, it would be advantageous to provide a window treatment capable of being easily mounted to a window frame. It would also be advantageous to provide a window treatment that is dynamic, and can be easily changed or updated to reflect the changing aesthetic choices of the homeowner without having to invest the significant financial resources required to replace blinds or draperies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA plurality of interchangeable window treatment clips is provided, and each clip includes is attachable to a wall or window frame. The interchangeable window treatment clips include a U-shaped mounting bracket formed to accept a mounting screw or fastener for securing the clip to the wall. Alternatively, opposite sides of the U-shaped mounting clip may be formed with a rod-accepting aperture for placement over a curtain rod.
A removable clip assembly is shaped to be attachable to the U-shaped mounting bracket and includes a clip capable of grasping curtain material, such as a pleated curtain, drapery, or curtain panel. The front surface of the removable clip assembly is equipped with a fastener that provides for the attachment of an ornamental panel. This panel may be attached using hook-and-loop fasteners, or magnetic fasteners.
The interchangeable window treatment clips may be positioned on and slidable along the length of a mounted curtain rod. Alternatively, a curtain rod may be slidable through a plurality of mounted interchangeable window treatment clips. In another alternative, the interchangeable window treatment clips may be used without a curtain rod and mounted directly to the wall or window frame.
The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:
Referring initially to
A more detailed view of the interchangeable window treatment clips of the present invention is shown in
As shown, a removable clip assembly 104 includes a body 105 formed with a pair of tab receivers 118 sized to receive tabs 116 of mounting bracket 102. An upper stop 121 prevents body 105 from sliding too far onto tabs 116, and ensures the proper positioning of the clip assembly 104 with respect to mounting bracket 102. As shown by dashed lines, removable clip assembly 104 may be urged downward such that tab receivers 118 receive tabs 116 until upper stop 121 strikes the sides 111. It is to be understood that conversely, removable clip assembly 104 may be removed from mounting bracket 102 simply by sliding the clip assembly 104 upwards so that the tab receivers 118 move off of tabs 116. This provides for the easy change of the clip assembly 104, as well as the decorative panel 106 which is attachable to the clip assembly 104.
Removable clip assembly 104 also includes a clip 120 having a spring 122 to provide a gripping force against body 105 to secure material, such as a curtain panel. It can be appreciated that various materials may be secured within clip 120, such as a variety of fabrics, pleated curtain panels, or any other window covering.
A fastener 124 is provided on the clip 120 of removable clip assembly for removably fastening an interchangeable decorative panel 106 (shown in
Referring now to
In a preferred embodiment, curtain rod 144 may be permanently mounted to the wall using traditional mounting hardware, and the interchangeable window treatment clip 139 may slide freely along the rod 144. In an alternative application, the interchangeable window treatment clip 139 may be permanently mounted to the wall or window frame, and the rod 144 may slide freely through aperture 142.
Referring to
Referring now to
Posts 210 slide within slot 206 so that the slide 208 may move to alternative positions (shown by dashed lines 210A), so that slide 208 may slide away from mounting bracket 202 and tabs 216 are extended away to a second position (shown by dashed lines 216A). In a shortened configuration, slide 208 is seated into mounting bracket 202 to maintain the removable clip assembly (not shown this Figure) closest to the mounting bracket 202 and wall or window frame. In an extended configuration, slide 208 is extended away from mounting bracket 202 and the wall or window frame.
Referring now to
From the various views presented herein, it is shown that decorative panel 106 may be formed with a variety of shapes. For instance, herein has been shown a maple leaf, star, and football helmet, and it is to be appreciated that these examples are merely exemplary of preferred embodiments, and that no limitations whatsoever are intended. The decorative panel 106 of the present invention may be formed with virtually any shape, and from virtually any suitable material, to provide the user with the desired aesthetic look.
U-shaped mounting bracket 102 has been shown to be formed with a circular rod-shaped aperture 112, and U-shaped mounting bracket 140 has been shown to be formed with a rectangular rod-shaped aperture 142. The particular shape of these apertures is merely exemplary of preferred embodiments, and that no limitations other than those specifically identified are intended. Further, apertures having different shapes may be utilized to provide different aesthetic appearances, as well as to accommodate curtain rods having different cross-sectional shapes.
Referring now to
As shown, the interchangeable window treatment apparatus of the present invention is shown having a variety of U-clip structures, accommodating rods having differing cross-sectional shapes, and rods that may be inserted through the U-clip, or placed in a slot in the U-clip. It is to be appreciated that these embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments which describe the present invention, and that any combination of features described herein may be combined without departing from the present invention.
While there have been shown what are presently considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
Claims
1. An interchangeable window treatment, comprising:
- a U-shaped mounting bracket, said bracket having a center panel and a pair of sides extending from said center panel, said sides each formed with a rod aperture sized to receive a curtain rod;
- a removable clip assembly removably attachable to said mounting bracket; and
- an interchangeable decorative panel removably attachable to said removable clip assembly.
2. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said center panel is formed with one or more mounting holes sized to receive a mounting screw.
3. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said sides of said U-shaped mounting bracket extend perpendicularly from said center panel and are each formed with right-angle tabs
4. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a body formed with a pair of tab receivers sized to receive tabs of said mounting bracket.
5. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 5, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises an upper stop adjacent said tab receivers to prevent said body from sliding too far onto tabs.
6. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 5, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a clip having a spring to urge said clip against said body.
7. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 5, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a fastener attached to said clip for removably fastening an interchangeable decorative panel to the clip assembly.
8. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 7, wherein said fastener is a magnetic fastener.
9. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 8, wherein said interchangeable decorative panel is formed from a ferrous material.
10. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 7, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
11. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said decorative panel is fixedly attached to said removable clip assembly.
12. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said rod aperture is round.
13. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 1, wherein said rod aperture is rectangular.
14. An interchangeable window treatment, comprising:
- an extendable U-shaped mounting bracket having a back panel formed with one or more mounting holes;
- a pair of sides extending from said back panel, each said side formed with an adjustment slot extending perpendicularly from back panel and having a length;
- a U-shaped slide positioned within said sides of said mounting bracket, said U-shaped slide having sides formed with a tab;
- a rod extending from each side of said U-shaped slide and positioned to slide within one said adjustment slot formed in said mounting bracket;
- wherein said slide is positionable with said rod sliding within said slot.
15. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said U-shaped slide is formed with a back panel formed with one or more mounting holes sized to receive a mounting screw.
16. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said sides of said U-shaped slide extend perpendicularly from said center panel and are each formed with right-angle tabs.
17. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a body formed with a pair of tab receivers sized to receive tabs of said U-shaped slide.
18. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises an upper stop adjacent said tab receivers to prevent said body from sliding too far onto said tabs.
19. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a clip having a spring to urge said clip against said body.
20. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 14, wherein said removable clip assembly further comprises a fastener attached to said clip for removably fastening an interchangeable decorative panel to the clip assembly.
21. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 20, wherein said fastener is a magnetic fastener.
22. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 21, wherein said interchangeable decorative panel is formed from a ferrous material.
23. The interchangeable window treatment of claim 20, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
24. An interchangeable window treatment, comprising:
- a U-shaped mounting bracket, said bracket having a center panel and a pair of sides extending from said center panel, said sides each formed with a slot sized to receive a curtain rod;
- a removable clip assembly removably attachable to said mounting bracket; and
- an interchangeable decorative panel removably attachable to said removable clip assembly.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 11, 2010
Inventor: Lynne Kristine Eagan (Marina Del Ray, CA)
Application Number: 12/228,150
International Classification: A47H 1/142 (20060101); A47H 1/122 (20060101);