FLAT-SHIPPABLE CORNICE OR VALANCE SYSTEM
A simplified and light-weight cornice or valance system that can be manufactured along with a window covering in colors and patterns to match, shipped flat, and easily installed with the window covering is disclosed. The cornice or valance system may include a single-piece core with a foldable region near each end, the foldable regions defining a central non-foldable region and an end return non-foldable region at each end of the central non-foldable region; and an angle bracket for coupling to each side of a selected foldable region to retain a desired angle between the central non-foldable region and the respective end return non-foldable region.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/791,640, filed Mar. 15, 2013, and hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND1. Technical Field
The disclosure relates generally to window treatments, and more particularly, to a cornice or valance system that can be shipped flat and is used to cover the upper portion (and hardware) of a window treatment such as a shade or drapery. The cornice or valance system may have a pre-formed pattern thereon or have fabric covering having a pre-determined pattern.
2. Background Art
Many windows are fitted with light-control treatments such as drapes, roller shades or blinds. All of these window treatments have some form of hardware at the top to mount the window treatment and enable its actuation (movement or deployment for variable coverage and light control). Such hardware systems are often unsightly and are therefore covered with cornice or valance systems. It is a desire of many users of such window treatments to have a matching pattern or color on the window treatment and the cornice or valance. Such matching has heretofore most often been achieved in workroom environments where fabric is sewn and stapled to heavy wooden or metal constructions that then are mounted over the window and hardware by brackets independent of the window treatments, requiring further carpentry and holes in the walls or window frame. This difficulty of fabrication and installation (with the associated expense) has limited the use of such fabric-covered (or upholstered) valances and cornices, despite their aesthetic appeal.
BRIEF SUMMARYA simplified and light-weight, fabric-covered or patterned cornice or valance system that can be manufactured along with a window covering in colors and patterns to match, shipped flat, and easily installed with the window covering is disclosed.
A first aspect of the disclosure provides a cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising: a single-piece core with a foldable region near each end, the foldable regions defining a central non-foldable region and an end return non-foldable region at each end of the central non-foldable region; a slot, associated with the single-piece core, to each side of each foldable region; and an angle bracket for inserting into the slots to each side of a selected foldable region to retain a desired angle between the central non-foldable region and the respective end return non-foldable region.
A second aspect of the disclosure provides a cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising: a single-piece core with a pair of foldable regions near each end, the foldable regions defining a central region and two return regions; an assembly system having a first piece coupled to each return region and a second piece coupled to the central region, each piece including a first, coupling portion for coupling to the single-piece core and a slot portion; and an angle bracket for engaging adjacent slot portions of one of the return regions and the central region to retain a desired angle between the central region and the respective return region.
A third aspect of the disclosure provides a method of creating a cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the method comprising: forming a pair of foldable regions near each end of a single-piece core, the foldable regions defining a central region and two return regions, the single-piece core includes one of a pattern and a fabric covering having a pattern; coupling a first piece of an assembly system to each return region and coupling a second piece of an assembly system to the central region, each piece including a first, coupling portion for coupling to the single-piece core and a slot portion; and providing for later assembly at least one angle bracket for engaging adjacent slot portions of one of the return regions and the central region to retain a desired angle between the central region and the respective return region.
A fourth aspect of the disclosure includes a cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising: a single-piece core with a foldable region near each end, the foldable regions defining a central non-foldable region and an end return non-foldable region at each end of the central non-foldable region; and an angle bracket for coupling to each side of a selected foldable region to retain a desired angle between the central non-foldable region and the respective end return non-foldable region.
The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solve the problems herein described and/or other problems not discussed.
These and other features of this disclosure will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the various aspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:
It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not to scale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements between the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONEmbodiments of the present invention include a cornice or valance system 10 (
Turning to
Single-piece core 12 also includes a foldable region (or band) 16 near each end. Foldable regions 16 define a central non-foldable region 18 and an end return non-foldable region 20 at each end of central non-foldable region 18. Central non-foldable region 18 has a length selected (e.g., by a user during ordering) to match that necessary for the particular window treatment, when end return non-foldable regions 20 are folded to form the elongated U-shape of the cornice or valance, as will be described in more detail herein. Foldable regions 16 may be formed in sheet material 12 by removing portions of sheet material 12 to provide more flexible regions 16. In the example shown in
Referring again to
As shown in
Turning to the details of assembly of system 10, when shipped, single-piece core 12 lies flat, as shown in
Turning to
Mounting of cornice or valance system 10 and a related method will now be described with reference to the embodiments of
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a method of creating cornice or valance system 10 for use with or over a window treatment may be provided as described herein including: forming a pair of foldable regions 16 near each end of single-piece core 12, as described herein. Foldable regions 16 define non-foldable regions including central region 18 and two end return non-foldable regions 20. As noted above, single-piece core 12 includes one of a pattern and a fabric 26 covering having a pattern. The method may further include coupling a first piece 64 of assembly system 50 to each end return non-foldable region 20 and coupling a second piece 66 of assembly system 50 to central region 18. Each piece 64, 66 includes a first, coupling portion 56 for coupling to single-piece core 12 and a slot portion 58. At least one angle bracket 60 is provided for later assembly. Angle bracket 60 engages adjacent slot portions 58, i.e., slots 40, of one of end return non-foldable regions 20 and central region 18 to retain a desired angle between central region 18 and the respective return region 20, thus creating cornice or valance system 10.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. 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. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, 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 corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
Claims
1. A cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising:
- a single-piece core with a foldable region near each end, the foldable regions defining a central non-foldable region and an end return non-foldable region at each end of the central non-foldable region;
- a slot, associated with the single-piece core, to each side of each foldable region; and
- an angle bracket for inserting into the slots to each side of a selected foldable region to retain a desired angle between the central non-foldable region and the respective end return non-foldable region.
2. A cornice or valance system according to claim 1, wherein the desired angle is substantially 90 degrees.
3. A cornice or valance system according to claim 1, wherein the single-piece core is comprised of a sheet material with outer skins and a less substantial inner structure.
4. A cornice or valance system according to claim 3, wherein the sheet material includes a fluted polymer or a corrugated polymer.
5. A cornice or valance system according to claim 1, wherein the core is covered with a fabric.
6. A cornice or valance system according to claim 6, wherein a pattern of the fabric matches a pattern of an associated window covering material of the window treatment.
7. A cornice or valance system according to claim 6, wherein the fabric is printed to order with a unique, buyer-specified pattern or color.
8. A cornice or valance system according to claim 1, wherein the slot is provided by an assembly system attached to the single-piece core.
9. A cornice or valance system according to claim 8, wherein the assembly system receives a mounting bracket for attaching the single-piece core to a fixed support.
10. A cornice or valance system according to claim 9, wherein the mounting bracket engages a window treatment headrail.
11. A cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising:
- a single-piece core with a pair of foldable regions near each end, the foldable regions defining a central region and two return regions;
- an assembly system having a first piece coupled to each return region and a second piece coupled to the central region, each piece including a first, coupling portion for coupling to the single-piece core and a slot portion; and
- an angle bracket for engaging adjacent slot portions of one of the return regions and the central region to retain a desired angle between the central region and the respective return region.
12. A cornice or valance system according to claim 11, wherein the desired angle is substantially 90 degrees.
13. A cornice or valance system according to claim 11, wherein the single-piece core is comprised of a sheet material with outer skins and a less substantial inner structure.
14. A cornice or valance system according to claim 13, wherein the sheet material includes a fluted polymer or a corrugated polymer.
15. A cornice or valance system according to claim 11, wherein the single-piece core is covered with a fabric.
16. A cornice or valance system according to claim 14, wherein a pattern on the fabric matches a pattern of an associated window covering material of the window treatment.
17. A cornice or valance system according to claim 14, wherein the fabric is printed to order with a unique, buyer-specified pattern or color.
18. A cornice or valance system according to claim 11, wherein the first coupling portion receives a mounting bracket for attaching to a fixed support.
19. A cornice or valance system according to claim 18, wherein the mounting bracket engages a window treatment headrail.
20. A method of creating a cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the method comprising:
- forming a pair of foldable regions near each end of a single-piece core, the foldable regions defining a central region and two return regions, the single-piece core includes one of a pattern and a fabric covering having a pattern;
- coupling a first piece of an assembly system to each return region and coupling a second piece of an assembly system to the central region, each piece including a first, coupling portion for coupling to the single-piece core and a slot portion; and
- providing for later assembly at least one angle bracket for engaging adjacent slot portions of one of the return regions and the central region to retain a desired angle between the central region and the respective return region.
21. A cornice or valance system for use with or over a window treatment, the system comprising:
- a single-piece core with a foldable region near each end, the foldable regions defining a central non-foldable region and an end return non-foldable region at each end of the central non-foldable region; and
- an angle bracket for coupling to each side of a selected foldable region to retain a desired angle between the central non-foldable region and the respective end return non-foldable region.
22. A cornice of valance system according to claim 21, further comprising a slot, associated with the single-piece core, to each side of each foldable region, wherein the angle bracket is inserted into the slots to couple the angle bracket to each side of the selected foldable region.
23. A cornice or valance system according to claim 22, wherein the slot is provided by an assembly system attached to the single-piece core.
24. A cornice or valance system according to claim 23, wherein the assembly system receives a mounting bracket for attaching the single-piece core to a fixed support.
25. A cornice or valance system according to claim 21, wherein the desired angle is substantially 90 degrees.
26. A cornice or valance system according to claim 21, wherein the single piece core is comprised of a sheet material with outer skins and a less substantial inner structure.
27. A cornice or valance system according to claim 26, wherein the sheet material includes a fluted polymer or a corrugated polymer.
28. A cornice or valance system according to claim 21, wherein the single-piece core is covered with a fabric having a pattern that matches a pattern of an associated window covering material of the window treatment.
Type: Application
Filed: May 29, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventors: Jason M. VanDervoort (Wynantskill, NY), Richard D. Watkins (Lake Luzerne, NY)
Application Number: 13/904,328
International Classification: A47H 2/00 (20060101);