Weighted Draperies, Devices and Methods

Abstract

Weight devices, draperies and methods for weighing down draperies include a weight wrapped in a pocket of a weight holder which weight holder is connected to vertical seams and / or vertical hems of the drapery. The weight is elongated and vertically oriented and connected along the vertical seam at a backside of the drapery which in some instances is an overlocked serged seam and provides concealed placement. Drapes are also retrofitted with the weight holders and weights which in some aspects the weights include lead rods.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention[0001]This invention relates to the field of draperies, and particularly to draperies having weights added to the drapery fabric, and further to light-weight draperies having weights, and devices and methods for making such weighted draperies.2. Background Information[0002]Adding weights to draperies is common. In most instances draperies include a bottom hem. The hem may define a pocket or space into which a weight is inserted to assist in weighing down the drapery fabric. The weight is usually not removed from the drapery. There are many instances, however, where a bottom hem is not present or not possible or desirable to be created, such as with lightweight or sheer fabrics, and thus, no pocket for insertion of a weight. For instance, a rolled hem, also sometimes called a Merrow-stitched bottom hem (Merrow is a brand of industrial machine that rolls the hem using an overlock (serger)), is commonly used for sheer types of drapes;...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text describes a way to hold weights in place on drafts to prevent them from moving or causing wrinkles on the fabric. The weight holder is made of a cylindrical or metal rod that is wrapped in a fabric sleeve or plastic holder. A tab on the holder is stitched to a vertical seam on the drapery, allowing the weight to hang from the seam in a vertical orientation. This stitching is done so that no stitching is visible on the front side of the drapery and doesn't cause the fabric to get puckered.

Problems solved by technology

Applicant has recognized that use of a bead weight at a bottom edge of a drapery is insufficient for weighing down the drapery, especially where the drapery is of long lightweight material, such as sheer fabric.

Applicant has also recognized that use of a bottom hem which creates a pocket into which a weight is positioned is not always desired or workable with some draperies.

Particularly, with longer draperies, and especially with long sheer drapery, the material will tend to flutter, lift or whisk / billow upward or outward into the room or at unwanted orientations due to air currents or breezes.

The bead weights are often too light to counteract such forces.

Moreover, due to the stitching of adjacent panels along vertical lengths, especially at serges (i.e., seams having been prepared using a serger or serging device / machine), the vertical joints tend to buckle, pucker or ripple or otherwise distort, especially with lightweight and / or sheer material.

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