Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 Drapery Holdback
2 FIELD OF THE INVENTION
3 [0001] The invention broadly relates to a device that draws back curtains,
draperies, or
4 the like from a window opening, and, more specifically, to a floating
holdback device that draws
back drapes from a window opening at various positions without wall-mounted
accessories.
6 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
7 [0002] Accessories for holding back curtains, drapery or hanging panels are
well known.
8 Specifically, drapery holdbacks are both functional and decorative devices
used to draw back
9 drapes from a window opening. These devices allow the maximum amount of
sunlight into a
room when the drapes are open, while adding a decorative touch to the window
treatment and
11 the room's decor.
12 [0003] One type of drapery holdback is a tieback. Tiebacks are rope-like
devices in
13 which two opposing ends of the tieback are wrapped about a hanging drape
and tied or joined
14 together. Once the tieback is secured around the drape, it is removably
attached to a wall-
mounted hook.
16 [0004] One problem with the tieback type is that a user is limited to only
one fixed
17 position in which they can draw back drapes from a window opening. Thus,
the user is unable to
18 adjust the position of the drape to give the room a desired amount of
sunlight. Another problem
19 with tiebacks is the awkwardness of searching for the wall-mounted hook
hidden behind the
hanging draperies to attach the tieback and the cumbersome task of tying the
tieback
21 consistently around the drapes every time you draw the drapes from the
window.
22 [0005] Another type of drapery holdback is the hardware mounted drapery
holdback.
23 Generally, this type of holdback is used as a mounted hook or holder that
is positioned on the
24 wall, a short distance from a window. Similar to the tieback type device,
the wall-mounted
holdback limits the drapery fabric to be drawn back to a single fixed location
behind the holdback
26 to keep it in place. Wall-mounted drapery holdbacks are secured to the wall
to keep the drapes
27 looking the same regardless of who draws the drapes back from the window.
However, once
28 mounted, a wall-mounted holdback cannot be easily transferred from one room
to another.
29 [0006] Another problem with these previous holdbacks is the process of
positioning and
mounting one or two holdbacks uniformly onto the wall. The task is quite time
consuming and
31 requires a certain level of skill to install the holdbacks correctly. If
the wall-mounted hardware is
22073328.1 1
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 not installed correctly, due to the weight of the drapery fabric resting on
the mounted hook, the
2 hardware will become unfastened and eventually become dislodged from the
wall.
3 [0007] Thus, there is a long-felt need for a drapery holdback device that
draws back
4 drapes from a window opening without the need of wall-mounted accessories.
There is also a
long-felt need for a drapery holdback that draws back drapes from a window
opening at various
6 positions and not just to one fixed position. There is also a long-felt need
for a drapery holdback
7 that is aesthetically pleasing and simple to secure around and remove from
hanging drapes.
8 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
9 [0008] The present invention broadly comprises a drapery holdback device
including a
flexible body having a first ply and a second ply. The body also includes a
first end and a second
11 end, a first magnet fixedly secured between the first and second plies
proximate the first end,
12 and a second magnet fixedly secured between the first and second plies
proximate the second
13 end. The flexible body is adapted to wrap about a drape and draw back the
drape from a free
14 hanging position when the first magnet is magnetically engaged to the
second magnet through a
thickness of the drape.
16 [0009] It is a general object of the present invention to provide a device
that draws back
17 a drape from a free hanging position without using wall-mounted
accessories.
18 [0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a device
made of fabric that
19 draws back drapes from a window without using wall-mounted accessories and
complements
the fabric of the drapes in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
21 [0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device
that draws back
22 drapes from a window opening at various positions and not just to one fixed
location.
23 [0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
device that is not
24 permanently mounted to one window area but can be easily transported and
used in various
rooms.
26 [0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will
be readily
27 appreciable from the following description of the preferred embodiment and
alternative
28 embodiments of the invention and from the accompanying drawings and claims.
22073328.1 2
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
2 [0014] The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be
more fully
3 described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with
the accompanying
4 drawing figures, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the drapery
holdback
6 device of the present invention shown wrapped about a drape;
7 Figure 2a is a front elevational view of the drapery holdback shown in
Figure 1
8 illustrating the device drawing back the drape at a first distance from a
window;
9 Figure 2b is a view of the present invention similar to Figure 2a showing
the
drapery holdback drawing back the drape at a second distance from a window;
11 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the drapery holdback device taken
generally
12 along line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating a first end having a first magnet
magnetically engaged to a
13 second magnet at the second end through the drape;
14 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the drapery holdback device shown in
Figure 1
illustrating the device in a folded position with the magnets engaging one
another;
16 Figure 5a is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the
drapery
17 holdback device in an unfolded position revealing one magnet;
18 Figure 5b is a view of the present invention similar to Figure 5a showing
the
19 drapery holdback device revealing the north pole of a first magnet facing a
first ply and the south
pole of the second magnet facing the first ply;
21 Figure 6a is a perspective view of the drapery holdback device illustrating
the
22 south pole of the first magnet facing the first ply and the north pole of
the second magnet facing
23 the first ply;
24 Figure 6b is a perspective view of the drapery holdback showing the north
pole of
the first magnet facing the first ply and the north pole of the second magnet
facing the first ply;
26 Figure 6c is a view similar to Figures 6a and 6b showing the south pole of
the first
27 magnet facing the first ply and the south pole of the second magnet facing
the first ply;
28 Figure 6d is a perspective view of the drapery holdback shown in Figure 6b
29 illustrating a flexible body of the device being twisted;
22073328.1 3
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 Figure 7a is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the drapery
holdback
2 device;
3 Figure 7b is a view of the second embodiment of the present invention
similar to
4 Figure 7a showing the drapery holdback device revealing two magnets;
Figure 8a and 8b are perspective views of a third embodiment of the drapery
6 holdback device;
7 Figure 9a is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the present
invention
8 illustrating a drapery holdback device having a flexible body being
comprised of braided rope;
9 Figure 9b is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the present
invention
illustrating a drapery holdback device having a flexible body being comprised
of linked chain;
11 Figures 10a is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the present
invention;
12 Figure 1 Ob is a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of the present
13 invention; and,
14 Figure 1 Oc is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the present
invention.
16 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
17 [0015] At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on
different
18 drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural
elements of the invention. While
19 the present invention is described with respect to what is presently
considered to be the
preferred aspects, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not
limited to the
21 disclosed aspects.
22 [0016] Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the particular
23 methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of
course, vary. It is also
24 understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of
describing particular aspects
only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which
is limited only by the
26 appended claims.
27 [0017] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used
herein have the
28 same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to
which this invention
29 belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent
to those described
herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred
methods, devices,
31 and materials are now described.
22073328.1 4
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 [0018] Adverting now to the figures, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of
drapery
2 holdback device 10 holding drape 16 away from window 20. The drapery
holdback device or
3 floating holdback device, hereafter referred to as device 10, is seen to
comprise flexible body 11
4 including first end 12a and first magnet 14a being secured proximate to the
first end; and second
end 12b and second magnet 14b being secured proximate to the second end. The
first and
6 second ends are structured and arranged to magnetically attract each other.
As seen in Figure
7 1, flexible body 11, having first surface 18, is operatively arranged to
gather at least a portion of
8 a drape within middle portion 13 when flexible body 11 is wrapped about
drape 16 and first
9 magnet 14a is magnetically engaged to second magnet 14b through a thickness
of drape 16.
[0019] It should be appreciated that device 10 is adapted to draw back drapes
from a
11 window opening at various positions without the use of wall-mounted
accessories. For example,
12 Figure 2a shows a front view of device 10 being suspended from drape 16 and
holding drape 16
13 away from window 20 at first length D1. As best seen in Figure 2a,
substantially half of device 10
14 is noticeable when the device is suspended from the drape. By noticeable,
we mean that when
the drapery holdback is wrapped about the drape, second half portion of first
surface 18b,
16 second end 12b and second magnet 14b face outward and away from window 20
or wall and
17 can be seen, while first end 12a, first magnet 14a and a first half portion
of the first surface face
18 inward and toward window 20 or wall and cannot be seen. Figure 2b, which is
similar to the view
19 of Figure 2a, illustrates device 10 holding drape 16 away from window 20 at
second length D2.
This is particularly advantageous because a pair of drapes, curtains, or the
like can be drawn
21 back to various positions according to a user's preference and not just to
one fixed position. In
22 other words, drapes can be pulled back to a plurality of positions, e.g.,
from a free hanging
23 position to being totally pulled away from a window opening.
24 [0020] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken
generally along
line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating a first end having a first magnet being
magnetically engaged,
26 through a thickness of a drape, to a second end having a second magnet.
Specifically, flexible
27 body 11, having first surface 18 and second surface 19, forms inner loop 15
when first end 12a
28 and second end 12b are joined together. Preferably, flexible body 11 is
adapted to wrap about
29 drape 16, gathering at least portion of drape 16a within inner loop 15 when
first magnet 14a is
magnetically engaged to second magnet 14b through thickness of drape 16b.
Specifically, inner
31 loop 15 comprises second surface 19a-b that faces inward and comes in
contact with portion of
32 drape 16a; thus, the surface is not visible when device 10 is wrapped about
drape 16, while
33 second half portion of first surface 18b and first half portion of first
surface 18a face outward and
22073328.1 5
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 can be seen by a passerby. In the present embodiment, first surface 18 and
second surface 19
2 include matching patterns and/or colors; however, first surface 18 and
second surface 19 can
3 include a variety of patterns and/or colors to complementarily coordinate
with the fabric of the
4 drape. By pattern, we mean a decorative design that is not limited to a
single color, but can
include multiple colors and designs such as, for example, plaid, striped,
checkered, or the like. In
6 one embodiment, first surface 18 can include one particular pattern and/or
color, while second
7 surface 19 can include an entirely different pattern and/or color. This
arrangement is particularly
8 advantageous because it enables a user to change the appearance and/or the
decor of a room
9 by flipping the drapery holdback to expose either the first surface having a
first pattern and/or
color or the second surface having a second pattern and/or color.
11 [0021] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in
Figure 1
12 illustrating device 10 arranged in a folded position in which flexible body
11 forms inner loop 15
13 when first end 12a and second end 12b are joined together. It is should be
understood that the
14 flexible body of device 10 enables the device to enfold about a hanging
drape or portion of a
drape permitting first end 12a and second end 12b to magnetically engage each
other through a
16 thickness of the drape. It should also be understood that device 10 may be
made of any flexible
17 material such as, for example, plastic, leather, suede, denim, rubber, or
the like. Preferably,
18 flexible body 11 is a made of a cloth/fabric. This is particularly
advantageous because the
19 floating holding device can be made of a fabric material that
complementarily coordinates with
the fabric of a drape, curtain, or hanging panel from which the device is
being suspended.
21 [0022] Figure 5a is a perspective view of the present invention shown in
Figure 1
22 illustrating the drapery holdback device arranged in an unfolded position.
Specifically, flexible
23 body 11 is folded about its longitudinal axis forming first ply 24 and
second ply 25 in which a
24 middle pocket is formed between first ply 24 and second ply 25. First
magnet 14a is fixedly
secured between first ply 24 and second ply 25 proximate first end 12a and
second magnet 14b
26 is fixedly secured between first ply 24 and second ply 25 proximate second
end 12b. It should be
27 understood that any suitable means to secure magnets between the first and
second plies can
28 be used. Preferably, first ply 24 and second ply 25 are stitchedly secured
22 along its edges to
29 conceal and retain first and second magnets 14a and 14b, respectively.
However, for illustrative
purposes first ply 24 has been shown as being unstitched and lifted up
proximate second end
31 12b to reveal magnet 14b. Figure 5b further illustrates device 10 where
flexible body 11 is seen
32 to comprise first end 12a having first end layer 26a and second end layer
26b forming first end
33 pocket 23a; and second end 12b having second end layer 27a and second end
layer 27b
22073328.1 6
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 forming second end pocket 23b. Preferably, magnet 14a and magnet 14b are
fixedly secured
2 within first end pocket 23a and second end pocket 23b, respectively.
Specifically, magnets 14a
3 and 14b are secured within respective end pockets 23a and 23b by a stitching
means for
4 stitching around the shape of the magnets. The stitched end pockets 23a and
23b ensure that
respective magnets 14a and 14b are aligned where their opposite polarized ends
are directed
6 toward the same direction and do not flip over within the end pockets. For
example, as illustrated
7 in Figure 5b, north pole NI of first magnet 14a faces first ply 24 and south
pole S2 of second
8 magnet 14b faces first ply 24. Similarly, south pole S1 of first magnet 14a
faces second ply 25
9 and north pole N2 of second magnet 14b faces second ply 25.
[0023] Figures 6a, 6b, and 6c further illustrate the various arrangements of
the magnet
11 poles, similarly shown in Figure 5b. For example, Figure 6a illustrates
north pole NI of first
12 magnet 14a facing second ply 25 and south pole S2 of second magnet 14b
facing second ply
13 25. Figure 6b illustrates device 10 comprising first magnet 14a having
north pole N1 and south
14 pole S1 and second magnet 14b having north pole N2 and south pole S2. First
and second
magnets 14a and 14b are arranged between first and second plies 24 and 25 such
that north
16 pole N1 of first magnet 14a faces first ply 24 and south pole S2 of second
magnet 14b faces
17 second ply 25. This magnet arrangement requires flexible body 11 to be
twisted at least once
18 when the opposing poles are magnetically engaged. Figure 6c illustrates
first magnet 14a and
19 second magnet 14b being arranged between respective first and second plies
24 and 25 such
that north pole N1 of first magnet 14a faces second ply 25 and south pole S2
of second magnet
21 14b faces first ply 24. This magnet arrangement requires flexible body 11
to be twisted at least
22 once or 1800 when the opposing poles are magnetically engaged. For example,
Figure 6d
23 illustrates device 10 having the same magnet arrangement according to
Figure 6c; however,
24 flexible body 11 has at least one twist T1 enabling south pole S1 of first
magnet 14a to face the
same direction as north pole N2 of second magnet 14b. The twisting effect is
particularly
26 advantageous because it adds an inherent aesthetically pleasing style to
the floating holdback
27 device when first magnet 14a and second magnet 14b are magnetically engaged
through a
28 thickness of a drape for gathering at least a portion of the drape around
the flexible body to draw
29 back the drape from a free hanging position. It should be appreciated that
the arrangement of
the magnetic poles with respect to the flexible body may be modified without
departing from the
31 scope of the appended claims. For example, the holdback device can be made
in the form of a
32 flexible magnetic strip including a top surface having a north pole and a
bottom surface having a
33 south pole. The flexible body is adapted to twist 180 positioning a
portion of the south pole of
22073328.1 7
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 the bottom surface to face the same direction as a portion of the north pole
of the top surface.
2 This configuration enables the body to be wrapped about a drape and the
opposing poles to
3 magnetically attract through the drape. Additionally, the poles of the
magnetic strip can be
4 arranged similar to that of a refrigerator magnetic, such that the strip
would be constructed with
alternating north and south poles, horizontally arranged on the same surface
of the plane. When
6 either the top or bottom surfaces are folded together, the magnets will
alternately repel and/or
7 attract each other as they are perpendicularly moved a few millimeters;
thus, enabling the
8 opposing ends of each surface to magnetically engage each other without
twisting the flexible
9 body.
[0024] In one embodiment at least one end may include a magnet and the
opposing end
11 may have an element comprised of a conducting ferromagnetic material such
as, for example,
12 iron, nickel, cobalt, and other alloys. In a preferred embodiment, first
end 12a having first magnet
13 14a and second end 12b having second magnet 14b have sufficient magnetic
strength to
14 magnetically engage each other through a thickness of a drape, where the
device is adapted to
suspend from the drape without being attached to a substantially vertical
surface. Specifically,
16 first and second magnetic ends 16a and 16b are adapted to magnetically
engage through
17 various types of fabric window treatments such as, for example, curtains,
lace, sheers, drapery,
18 or the like. The magnetic strength of each magnet is strong enough to
magnetically engage
19 through curtains, which are made of lightweight fabrics and most often are
unlined or draperies,
which tend to be lined, and are sewn of heavier fabric. In a preferred
embodiment, the magnet
21 strength of each magnet is greater than 1995 gauss and less than 2100
gauss. Preferably, the
22 magnet strength of each magnet is 2060 gauss. It should be apparent that
the required strength
23 of the magnets is dependent upon the thickness and the material of the
drape or hanging panel
24 and may vary accordingly. In a preferred embodiment, magnets 14a and 14b
are oriented
magnets (also known as "Anisotropic magnets"). These types of magnets are
preferred because
26 they have a preferred direction in which they should be magnetized, thus
making them much
27 stronger than unoriented magnets (also known as "Isotropic magnets"), which
can be
28 magnetized in any direction. More preferably, magnets 14a and 14b are rare
earth magnets.
29 Specifically, of the rare earth type magnets, Neodymium-Iron-Boron and
Samarium Cobalt type
magnets are preferred. In a preferred embodiment, magnets 14a and 14b are disk
shaped;
31 however, in accordance with the invention, the magnets may be any shape
such as, for
32 example, rectangular, circular, oval, or the like. It should be understood
that the size of the
33 magnets can vary based upon the length and width of the floating holdback
device. Specifically,
22073328.1 8
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 the diameter of the magnets is approximately 2 cm and the thickness of the
magnets is
2 approximately 3 mm.
3 [0025] Figures 7a and 7b show another embodiment of the floating holdback
device. In
4 this embodiment device 30 is seen to comprise flexible body 31 including
first end 32a, second
end 32b, and middle portion 33. Each end 32a and 32b includes first and second
magnets 34a
6 and 34b, respectively. Specifically, first magnet 34a is fixedly secured
proximate first end 32a
7 and second magnet 34b is fixedly secured proximate second end 32b. More
specifically, as
8 illustrated in Figure 7b, a portion of flexible body 31 is folded about a
first horizontal axis
9 proximate first end 32a forming first end pocket 35a having first and second
first end layers 36a-
b. A portion of flexible body 31 is folded about a second horizontal axis
proximate second end
11 32b forming second end pocket 35b having first and second first end layers
38a and 38b.
12 Preferably, as shown in Figure 7a first and second first end layers 36a and
36b are stitchedly
13 secured 39 along its edges to conceal and retain first magnet 34a and first
and second first end
14 layers 38a and 38b are stitchedly secured 39 along its edges to conceal and
retain second
magnet 34b. However, for illustrative purposes first and second first end
layers 36a and 36b
16 proximate first end 32a and first and second first end layers 38a and 38b
proximate second end
17 32b have been shown as being unstitched and lifted up to reveal magnets 34a
and 34b,
18 respectively.
19 [0026] Figure 8a is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present
invention
illustrating device 50 including first ply 55a and second ply 55b in which a
middle pocket is
21 formed between first ply 55a and second ply 55b. First magnet 54a and
second magnet 54b are
22 fixedly secured between first ply 55a and second ply 55b. Figure 8b further
illustrates device 50
23 having first end 52a, second end 52b, and middle portion 53. First magnet
54a being stitchedly
24 secured proximate first end 52a and second magnet 54b being stitchedly
secured proximate
second end 52b. Preferably, first ply 55a and second ply 55b are stitchedly
secured 56 along its
26 edges and around the magnets to conceal and retain first magnet 54a and
second magnet 54b.
27 [0027] While Figures 1 through 8 show the floating holdback device having a
flexible
28 body comprised of an integral strip or strips of material, it should be
understood that the
29 particular form and shape of the flexible body may be modified without
departing from the scope
of the appended claims. In alternative embodiments, in accordance with the
invention, the
31 flexible body may be any form, such as braided rope, linked chain, beaded
rope, or the like. For
32 example, Figure 9a is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the
present invention
33 illustrating device 60 having flexible body 61 including first end 62a and
first magnet 64a being
22073328.1 9
CA 02729444 2011-01-28
Agent Ref: 68849/00091
1 fixedly secured proximate to the first end; and second end 62b and second
magnet 64b being
2 fixedly secured proximate to the second end. Flexible body 61 is seen to
include middle portion
3 63 being comprised of braided rope 65. Figure 9b is a perspective view of a
fifth embodiment of
4 the present invention illustrating device 70 having flexible body 71
including first end 72a and
first magnet 74a being fixedly secured proximate to the first end; and second
end 72b and
6 second magnet 74b being fixedly secured proximate to the second end.
Flexible body 71 is seen
7 to include middle portion 73 being comprised of linked chain 75.
8 [0028] While Figures 1 through 9 show the floating holdback device having
magnets
9 being fixedly secured proximate to respective ends, by a stitching means,
alternatively, Figure
1 Oa illustrates device 80 having a separate sewn-in pocket 84b to secure
magnet 83b proximate
11 second end 82b.
12 [0029] Figure 10b illustrates a seventh embodiment of device 90 including
flexible body
13 91 having first end 92a, second end 92b, and middle portion 95. In the
alternative embodiment,
14 flexible body 91 includes single ply 94 of a magnetic strip of material in
which magnetic sheet
93a is secured to first end 92a and magnetic sheet 93b is secured to second
end 92b.
16 [0030] Alternatively, Figure 10c illustrates device 100 including flexible
body 101 having
17 first end 102a and second end 102b. In this embodiment, flexible body 101
includes single ply
18 104 of material in which first magnet 103a is fixedly secured to the outer
surface of flexible body
19 101 proximate first end 102a, and second magnet 103b is fixedly secured to
the outer surface of
flexible body 101 proximate second end 102b. While Figures 1 through 1 Ob show
the floating
21 holdback device comprising magnets having a disk-shape, it should be
understood that the
22 particular shape of the magnet may be modified without departing from the
scope of the
23 appended claims. For example, Figure 10c illustrates magnets 103a and 103b
being square
24 shaped. However, the magnets may be any shape such as, triangular,
hexagonal, octagonal, or
the like.
26 [0031] Thus, it is seen that the objects of the present invention are
efficiently obtained,
27 although modifications and changes to the invention should be readily
apparent to those having
28 ordinary skill in the art, which modifications are intended to be within
the spirit and scope of the
29 invention as claimed. It also is understood that the foregoing description
is illustrative of the
present invention and should not be considered as limiting. Therefore, other
embodiments of the
31 present invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope
of the present
32 invention.
22073328.1 10