Decorative external curtain assembly and system for exterior decoration |
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申请号 | US10647618 | 申请日 | 2003-08-25 | 公开(公告)号 | US20050045285A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2005-03-03 |
申请人 | Susan Katz; | 发明人 | Susan Katz; | ||||
摘要 | A decorative external curtain assembly is disclosed for applying decorative fabric material to an external facade of a building, the assembly comprising: a sheet of fabric material having top and bottom edges: and complementary engageable fastener strips respectively affixed to the sheet of fabric material and the external façade of the building for fastening at least one edge of the fabric material to the external façade of the building. The engageable fastener strips are preferably made of VELCRO™ Tape having co-acting miniature hooks and loops formed of relatively rigid filament material for fastening the fabric material to the external façade of the building. | ||||||
权利要求 | |||||||
说明书全文 | 1. Field of the Invention This invention generally relates to a novel decorative curtain assembly for application to the exterior of buildings and similar structures, and more particularly to a decorative external curtain assembly which is adapted for ease of application and removal to create a system of exterior decoration for application to the exterior of buildings that provides decorative and commercial displays in a manner that takes advantage of a full range of artistic expression. 2. Background of the Invention It is well known to hang flags and banners from a porch using poles during a Fourth of July celebration or from the façade of a retail store or restaurant to advertise a holiday sale. Such display arrangements, however, are limited by their ability to adapt the display to the structure variations in the façade of the building and thereby fail to provide a full range of possible decorative displays available for application to the exterior of a building. In that regard, merely hanging a flag or banner from a pole or over the edge of balcony is quite a restrictive expression which does not consider application of fabric like materials to the varied recesses and surface features of the façade of a building and its ancillary exterior structures such as a balcony. In addition to the foregoing noted limitations, known arrangements for supporting and attaching flags and banners, such as flag pole holders and grommet fastening, are limited in their application to the façade of the building, require support structures that anchor into the building and therefore cannot be easily or inexpensively applied to the building. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a decorative, external curtain assembly for decorating the external facades of building structures that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative, external curtain assembly for application to building structures to create a system of exterior decoration whereby building structures, such as houses, restaurants, retail stores, tents, apartment buildings and office high-rises, having facades and ancillary exterior structures, such as porches, balconies, eaves, gables, roof lines are decorated using fabrics and/or flexible sheet materials for display for any occasion such as during national holidays, festivals as well as for advertising purposes. Another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative external curtain assembly and system of exterior decoration that is versatile in their ability to apply external curtains, such as, valances, flags, banners, advertising displays, to almost any type of exterior building façade. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a decorative external curtain assembly and system that is simple to use and inexpensive to make and use. One particular advantageous feature of the present invention afforded by the easy of application of the decorative external curtain assembly is that it provides for a system of exterior decoration that allows for changes of exterior decoration to accommodate different seasons, holidays and even for an appropriate day or night look. Another advantageous feature of the present invention is that the decorative external curtain assembly provides an easy and affordable basic design element of the system of exterior decoration for manipulating the look, mood and atmosphere of an exterior of a building as well as an associated exterior area, such as a courtyard, plaza or the like. These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention are achieved, according to one embodiment, by a decorative external curtain assembly for applying fabric material to an external facade of a building, the assembly comprising: a sheet of fabric material and complementary engageable fastener strips respectively applied to the sheet of fabric material and the external façade of the building for fastening the fabric material to the external façade of the building. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the complementary engageable fastener strips are made of VELCRO™ tape to create a temporary bond between the building and the fabric that is easily broken by pulling apart the VELCRO™ strips. The VELCRO™ strips are respectively attached to the building, for example, with any existing adhesive or hot glue and to the fabric material either by sewing or adhesive. According to the present invention, there is further provided a system of exterior decoration of a building having a facade, the system comprising: a decorative external curtain assembly for applying fabric material to an external facade of a building, the assembly comprising: a sheet of fabric material and complementary engageable fastener strips respectively applied to the sheet of fabric material and the external façade of the building for fastening the fabric material to the external façade of the building to create a temporary bond between the building and the fabric that is easily broken by pulling by pulling the fastener strips apart. Referring to Generally indicated at 21 are complementary engageable fasteners, such as, for example, made of VELCRO™ tape or strips, that are used to attach the decorative curtain assembly 11 to the external facade 15. The complementary engageable fasteners 21 create a strong and yet temporary bond between the building and the fabric that is easily broken by pulling apart the VELCRO™ strips. The VELCRO™ strips are preferable and respectively attached to the building with any existing adhesive or glue and to the fabric material by either sewing or adhesive. In Options similar to the goals and versatility of interior curtains are available by altering the fabric weight, content, weave, color and drapery (folds of fabric), with auxiliary embellishments as part of its basic design such as piping, fringe, ties, tassels; or separate additions attached with at appropriate placement, using glue or VELCRO™, such additional attachments including, for example, bows, bells, banners and communications can accent the beauty and look of the of building 17. Possible artistic options include sun and weather resistant fabric, often used in standard awnings, of colors accenting the house; or seasonal changes such as a light fabric of cotton or linen in light colors of white, beige, tan or blue in solids or stripes draped in a swage or generous flounce for summer decoration. Additional decorations of piping, cording, tassels, fringe or even novelty decorations such as seashells, etc., can either be part of the basic design or an additional option added with a VELCRO™ attachment. The look of the exterior area can easily be changed for evening; an example decoration would be a loose weave metallic fabric. Autumn lends itself to heavier fabric of colors of gold and oranges or perhaps a forest green with a metallic gold edging. The exterior curtain can easily be changed for Halloween decorations; an example would be a synthetic mesh looking like spider webs with scary auxiliary decorations. Again, ease of application allows for appropriate changes for holiday decorations. A red, white and blue theme for Memorial Day and Fourth of July can be designed from traditional flag material typically nylon, or a cotton or cotton blend fabric allowing for greater range of print options. Christmas decoration possibilities include traditional, cultural and innovative expression of the holiday. Fabric of dense weave with colors of deep reds, greens and gold in solids or traditional seasonal patterns can be embellished with fringe, tassels and ties; polyester white chiffon can be draped in a swage tied with red bows; nostalgic, religious or humorous decorations are all appropriate for this holiday. Artistic expression of a current cultural fad such as a denim, the diversity of our ethnic culture or sporting events using a variety of fabrics, colors, drapery (folds of fabric), appropriate words such as “HAPPY HOLIDAYS”, “WELCOME”, “GO TEAM”; auxiliary embellishments as part of its basic design or as additions attached with appropriate VELCRO™ placement including the possibility of decorative lights of safe voltage and placement are all in the range of this application. Referring to As is well known, VELCRO™ the co-acting miniature hooks and loops, on separate side of the VELCRO™ strip, engage one another so that the VELCRO™ strips adhere together using the same action that is employed when a burr attaches itself to a piece of clothing or the like. One side of the strip 21a of the VELCRO™ tape is attached to the external façade 15 of the building 17 at the appropriate location, using, for example, any suitable existing adhesive or hot glue; while the other side of the strip 21b of VELCRO™ tape is either sewn or appropriately adhered, by hot glue or convention adhesive, in this instance, to top edge of the decorative fabric material 19. In the embodiment illustrated in As shown in This particular design could also be constructed in the following way. The three swags 77 and the jabot 88 that form the decorative fabric 19 would each be constructed separately. Along the top edge of each swag 77 and jabot 88 VELCRO™ tape 21b would be attached to the fabric side facing outward. On the right and left sides of swags 77b would have a strip of VELCRO™ tape 21a attached parallel to the VELCRO™ tape 21b on the side of the fabric facing inward. The overlap of each section could be manipulated so the length of the decorative fabric 19 could vary to fit the structure. In this embodiment of the invention, a temporary outdoor structure such as a tent 33 the goals and versatility expressed for Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications and alterations might be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as specified in the following claims. |