CORNICE WITH DECORATIVE INSERT

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to cornices, such as those used as decorative coverings for the upper portions of windows, doorways, or other fenestrations, and more particularly to cornices having decorative inserts.

Cornices are generally provided as one component of a coordinated window treatment for enhancing the aesthetic appearance of windows. Cornices cover the upper edges of a window where other window treatments such as blinds, drapes and the like are coupled to the upper sash of the window. Oftentimes, such other window treatments are attached to the sash with bracketry and hardware that detract from the aesthetic appearance of the window. A cornice can therefore be provided to cover the bracketry and hardware and improve the aesthetic appeal of the overall window treatment.

SUMMARY

One construction of the invention provides a cornice including a decorative insert. The decorative insert includes at least one insert edge, and the cornice includes a cutout having at least one cornice edge that corresponds to the insert edge. The insert edge and the cornice edge are abutted to one another and the insert is coupled to the cornice.

Another construction of the invention provides a cornice including a decorative insert at least partially received by a cutout defined by the cornice. The insert includes insert edges that define an insert shape, and hook members depending from at least one of the insert edges. The cutout is provided along a lower edge of the cornice and includes at least one cutout edge that defines a cutout shape. The cutout shape corresponds to at least a portion of the insert shape, and the at least one cutout edge corresponds to at least one insert edge. The corresponding cutout edges and insert edges are abutted to one another and the hook members are coupled to the cornice. Adhesive is applied between the abutting insert and cutout edges and cooperate with the hook members to couple the insert to the cornice. Furthermore, the cornice may be upholstered and the insert may include hanging portions coupled to one or more of the insert edges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cornice having decorative inserts installed above a window.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the cornice and the insert of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an alternative construction for a cornice and a decorative insert.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another alternative construction for a cornice and a decorative insert.

FIG. 5 is a front view of yet another alternative construction for a cornice and a decorative insert.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of yet another alternative construction for a cornice and a decorative insert.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front view of yet another alternative construction for a cornice and a decorative insert.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a cornice and a decorative insert prior to assembly of the decorative insert and the cornice.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a decorative insert.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged front view of the decorative insert of FIG. 9 illustrating one construction of a hook member for coupling the insert to a cornice.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view of an alternative construction of a decorative insert illustrating an alternative construction for a hook member.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged front view of another alternative construction of a decorative insert illustrating another alternative construction for a hook member.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a room including walls 10 and fenestrations in the form of windows 14. Blinds 18 are coupled to an upper sash (not shown) of the windows 14 and a cornice 22 is mounted above each window 14 to a respective wall 10. Each cornice 22 includes a front panel 26 that obscures or overlies the upper sash portion of the respective window 14, and side panels 30 that extend generally perpendicularly from the front panel 26, and that are coupled to the walls 10 using brackets and/or fasteners (not shown). Each cornice 22 also includes at least one cutout 34, each cutout 34 adapted to receive an insert 38. In some constructions, the insert or inserts 38 are configured such that light (e.g. sunlight) shining through the window or from behind the cornice is refracted or filtered by, or otherwise passes through, the insert 38 in an aesthetically appealing way.

FIGS. 2-8, illustrate different constructions of cornices 22 and inserts 38. Although the specific constructions vary, the same reference numerals are utilized for the sake of clarity throughout FIGS. 2-8 to designate similar components and component features. Similarly, while the description below is directed to a single cornice 22 and insert 38, it is applicable to all of the cornices and inserts illustrated in FIGS. 2-8, except as specifically noted.

Referring to FIGS. 2-8, the front panel 26 of the cornice 22 includes a substantially straight and horizontal lower edge 42. The cutout 34 includes cutout edges 46 that are angled with respect to the lower edge 42 and that define a cutout boundary. The insert 38 includes insert edges 48. There are two types of insert edges 48, interface edges 48a and free edges 48b. The interface edges 48a are configured for mating or spaced alignment with the cutout edges 46 of the front panel 26, while the free edges 48b do not necessarily mate or align with any portion of the front panel 26. For example, the free edges 48b may extend above, below, or may be substantially aligned with (see FIG. 5), the lower edge 42 of the front panel 26. Furthermore, each edge 48, whether an interface edge 48a or a free edge 48b, may be substantially straight, arcuate, or may include a combination of substantially straight and arcuate portions. The cutout edges 46 and the interface edges 48a are configured such that the cutout 34 has a cutout shape that corresponds to at least a portion of an insert shape defined by the insert edges 48 (e.g. the portion defined by the interface edges 48a).

The front and side panels 26, 30 of the cornice 22 can be formed of any suitable material having adequate strength and rigidity, such as plywood or particle board, for example. Each panel 26, 30 is cut to the appropriate size, based at least in part on the size of the window 14, and the side panels 30 are coupled to the front panel 26. Depending on, among other things, the length of the front panel 26, one or more cutouts 34 are formed by removing material from the front panel 26. In the illustrated embodiments, material is removed from the front panel 26 along the lower edge 42, however in other embodiments, material could be removed from a central portion of the front panel 26 such that the cutout 34 defines an aperture extending through the front panel 26. Furthermore, cutouts may also be provided in the side panels 30, or the entire side panel 30 may be formed of material or materials similar to that which defines the insert 38.

The size and shape of the cutouts 34 are generally selected to correspond with or compliment the size and shape of the interface edges 48a of the insert or inserts 38 that are to be coupled to the front panel 26 (see FIG. 8), although that is not necessarily the case. For example, a circular or semi-circular insert 38 could be coupled to or inserted within a cutout 34 having substantially straight edges. While the illustrated constructions show cornices 22 having a single type of insert 38, it should be appreciated that differently shaped cutouts 34 could be formed in the same front panel 26 to receive differently shaped inserts 38.

In some constructions, the entire cornice 22 is upholstered. It should be appreciated however that only certain portions of the cornice 22 may be upholstered, or the cornice 22 may not be upholstered at all. For an upholstered cornice 22, the cutout 34 is formed and the front and side panels 26, 30 are coupled to one another. A layer of batting (not shown) is applied to the panels 26, and a layer of fabric 50 is applied over the batting. The fabric 50 is pulled taught around the batting and the panels 26, 30, and is stapled or otherwise attached to the panels 26, 30 along edges or surfaces that are hidden from view when the cornice 22 is installed above the window 14. Welt cord 54 can be applied around the edges of the panels 26 and along the cutout edges 46. Different combinations of fabric 50 and welt cord 54 can be applied to achieve any desired aesthetic appearance (see, e.g., FIG. 3).

In some constructions, the insert 38 is comprised of an assembly of plates 58 and, optionally, pendants 62. In the illustrated constructions, the plates 58 include flat glass, beveled glass, frosted glass, stained glass and combinations thereof. Of course other types of glass, and materials other than glass, including metals such as aluminum, brass, or copper, and/or various woods and plastics, can also be used and can be combined in a variety of ways to form the plates 58. Similarly, the pendants 62 can be made of or from various combinations of glass, beads, wires, plastics and metals, without limitation. Examples of pendants 62 are illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6. The plates 58 and pendants 62 can be shaped or configured in any way to produce a desired aesthetic appearance for the insert 38.

In the illustrated constructions, the plates 58 are joined to one another by edge caining 66 that defines the insert edges 48 and divider caining 70 positioned between adjacent plates 58. The edge caining 66 and divider caining 70 are metal (e.g. a lead and/or zinc alloy) and are coupled to one another to support the plates 58. In the illustrated constructions, the edge and divider caining 66, 70 are coupled by soldering, but other coupling methods such as welding, brazing, fastening and adhesive application can also be utilized.

Referring also to FIGS. 9-12, each insert 38 is provided with one or more hook or loop members 74, which are provided for coupling the insert 38 to the front panel 26. In the illustrated constructions, each hook member 74 is formed from a looped piece of metal wire (FIGS. 8-11) or from a metal ring (FIG. 12). The hook members 74 are coupled to the edge caining 66 and/or the divider caining 70 by soldering, but the various coupling methods discussed above with respect to coupling the edge and divider caining 60, 70 to one another can also be used to couple the hook members 74 to the insert 38.

The hook members 74 are generally coupled to the interface edges 48a of the insert and are positioned such that, when the insert 38 is received by the cutout 34, the hook members 74 extend adjacent to and behind the front panel 26. In this regard, at least a portion of each hook member 74 is hidden from view when the cornice 22 is installed above the window 14. Each hook member 74 is coupled to a back surface of the front panel 26 using staples, nails, tacks, or other suitable fasteners or fastening methods. Also, adhesive can be applied between the cutout edges 46 and the interface edges 48a to further couple the insert 38 to the front panel 26. For constructions including pendants 62, additional hook members 74 are provided along or adjacent to the free edges 48b. The pendants 62 are coupled to the additional hook members 74 using pieces of wire, clips, rings, or other suitable coupling devices or methods.