Abstract:
An apparatus for providing fullness and a shape to the upper end of an elongated section of drapery fabric that selectably allows the drapery to be readily foldable when fullness is not needed. The apparatus may also connect the drapery to an overhead, transverse supporting rail such as through hooks and eyelets or pendants. The apparatus includes a generally heart-shaped header made of a flexible, resilient, relatively stiff material. The header is attachable to a mounting portion of the drapery fabric at an upper end of the drapery fabric. The header is designed to be capable of collapsing into a flat unit when sufficient pressure is applied to the header. The headers can be made to expand evenly when the drape is partially opened. The header is formed generally of a first leg and a second leg that are made of a flexible, resilient material. The first leg and the second leg meet and are connected at the front of the header. Ends of the first leg and the second leg extend toward the rear of the header. A connecting segment then connects the first leg to the second leg at the rear of the header.
Abstract:
A method of automatically assigning device addresses to devices communicating over a common data bus. Each of the devices may, for example, control an electrically operable system such as a panel assembly that can be disposed over a window opening to control the transmission of light, heat or air through the window and/or for producing different decorative scenes within a room. The method includes sending out a first, trial device address and waiting for an acknowledgement from all of the other devices connected to the data bus to determine whether another device acknowledges that first trial device address as its own. If an acknowledgement is received from any other device, a subsequent, different, trial address is transmitted over the data bus and further waiting ensues to check whether the second trial address has been previously assigned. This process is repeated until the device finds a previously unassigned device address which it then assigns to itself.
Abstract:
The wall hanger of the present invention is designed to minimize the damage done to a wall when hung thereon. The wall hanger has a plurality of narrow bores angling generally downward through which straight pins may be inserted to anchor the wall hanger. A variety of embodiments are provided, including hangers for pictures, plates, and curtains, and a combination frame-hanger unit. In addition, a mounting tool is disclosed that bores a hole in the wall through the bores in the hanger and then is used to push a straight pin through the bore and into the hole in the wall. A removal tool is also provided for removing pins from a mounted wall hanger. A kit is provided that consists of a wall hanger, a mounting tool, and a removal tool. In addition, methods are provided for mounting a wall hanger to a wall and for removing the wall hanger from the wall.
Abstract:
A tensile support device comprising a pair of rigid, elongated members which are horizontally disposed and attached closely together at their outer ends and held widely spaced apart by a cable or strap at their inner ends which rest against a supporting surface, such as a wall, a tree, a pole, or a plurality of balcony posts. A tensional support cable is fastened at its lower end to the outer ends of the members or to the connection between the outer ends of the members and at its upper end to the supporting surface, or to a window sill by using an auxiliary bracket, at a point substantially above the inner ends, whereby a compressive force is created along the rigid members when a plant container is hooked over the connection between the outer ends.
Abstract:
A reversible skirting assembly for attachment to a base structure. The skirting assembly has a reversible main skirting panel and a reversible flap panel. Each panel has two surfaces and the panels extend from opposite edges of an attachment strip so that the first skirting panel surface and the second flap panel surface constitute a common face, and the second skirting panel surface and the first flap panel surface constitute a common face. The attachment strip has adhering means affixed to opposite sides and the adhering means are adapted to matingly engage an adhering element affixed to the base structure.
Abstract:
A flexible transverse-L cross-section support structure is capable of being mounted around curved edges of, for example, window frames, bed-head frames and table tops. The structure is specially suitable to receive one component of a flexible two component loop and hook fastening system which it is required will remain in a flat plane while the other arm of the support is bent in a curved plane. The first arm which carries the tape on its outer face is provided on its inner face, preferably about midway along its length, with a short relatively thick third arm extending parallel to the second arm to form a channel between them. It is now possible to bend a support so that the second surface is curved without unacceptable bending or buckling of the first arm and the supported tape out of the original flat plane.
Abstract:
A new method and apparatus for the installation of sector-shaped curtains on correspondingly shaped windows requires the provision of a piece of curtain material of suitable length and width; sheer tape is attached to the top edge and the piece is gathered using the tape to the length of the curved circumferential portion of the window. One part of a two part hook-and-loop fastening is attached to the curved portion of the window while the other is sewn to the gathered curtain top edge and the curtain is then attached using thus fastening. A securing member having two protruding side-by-side impaling spikes is attached to the middle of the straight circumferential window casing portion and the curtain is then impaled while under tension on the two spikes, one half on each. The curtain is usually completed by impaling a decorative finial on a third spike disposed between the two on which the curtain is impaled so as to cover the bunched curtain material at this point.
Abstract:
A drapery or curtain structure having two or more panels adapted to be hung in a suitable known manner, wherein the juxtaposed vertical edges of the adjoining panels are formed having elongated pleats defined by a pair of sections, whereby the pleat sections of each panel are arranged to overlap each other in a locking manner by means of a securing device that is located within each pleat.
Abstract:
A drapery support system includes a conventional rod adapted to slidably support a plurality of carriers. Each carrier has an upper section that engages the rod and a downwardly depending section taking the form of a U-shaped plate with the outer section of its bight secured to the upper section so that the two plate-like arms project downwardly. The arms extend parallel to one another and normally to the axis of the rod and are spaced along the axis of the rod. Holes formed through the two arms act as female sections of a snap fastener to receive a pair of male snap fasteners secured at spaced points along a tape joined to the upper edge of the drape. The spacing between a pair of male snap fasteners on the tape exceeds the distance between the two arms of the carrier so that the drape section between the fasteners extend freely in a drape-like roll.