Method and apparatus for producing pleats in curtains and pleated curtains and hanging said curtains using said apparatus
OwnerMarilyn Sterninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus, for pleating curtains and pleated curtains using the apparatus, are described. The apparatus may be provided as a parts kit which includes a stiffener, pleat-forming members, and fasteners. The stiffener is attached to a curtain and bent into a series of pleat-shaped formations. The pleat-forming members and fasteners are used to hold the stiffener and support the curtain, forming the created pleats in place. The curtain may then be hung on a curtain rod by a separate hanging element which couples the pleat-forming members to a curtain rod. The hanging element may form an integral part of the pleat-forming member.
Claims11
A method of producing pleats in a material, comprising:
- designating locations for openings on the curtain in a material;
- creating openings through said material according to said designated locations;
- folding the material into pleat shapes;
- attaching pleat-forming members to adjacent pairs of openings in the folded material, each pleat-forming member having an axis and an associated first pressing element and a first fastening portion at respective opposite ends thereof;
- and;
- the first fastening portion being integrally formed on each respective end of the pleat forming member;
- securing the ends of the pleat-forming members to the folded material with fasteners such that the pleat-forming members hold the material in a series of pleat-shaped formations, the material being substantially orthogonal to the axis where the pleat forming members as secured to the material, each said fastener having an associated second fastening portion for engaging with a respective one of the first fastening portions of one of the pleat-forming members, and an associated second pressing element for cooperating with a respective first pressing element to hold the material between them in areas surrounding said openings;
- and
- inserting at least one of said first and second fastening portions into said openings prior to securing the ends of the pleat-forming member to said material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.