Flexible or portable closure – partition – or panel – Plural and/or with rigid closure – Diverse types
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-12
2001-01-16
Lev, Bruce A. (Department: 3634)
Flexible or portable closure, partition, or panel
Plural and/or with rigid closure
Diverse types
C160S023100, C160S024000, C160S382000, C024S295000, C411S508000, C411S913000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173754
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to window coverings and more particularly to a window covering for doorlight within a door.
Exterior doors frequently have “doorlights” or windows, giving a feeling of openness by providing an outside view and allowing light in. The benefits of doorlights are offset by a privacy cost, of allowing people to see inside. To achieve privacy, roller shades, pleated shades, venetian blinds, and other window coverings are attached over these doorlights.
The majority of exterior doors containing these doorlights are made of thin sheet metal with a soft core. Prior art window coverings are attached to the door by screwing through the interior metal surface. Over time, the raising and lowering of these window coverings puts stress on the metal surface of the door. This stress can cause the metal to bulge outward or enlarge the screw hole to a point where the screws can no longer hold the window covering in place. If the window covering will not remain attached to the door, the homeowner has the option of replacing the door or drilling new holes in the door to reattach the window covering. Unfortunately, redrilling holes simply starts the process over again. Another drawback is that the two holes remain in the door if the window covering is removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aforementioned problems are overcome in the present invention providing a window covering apparatus that allows the hanging of a window covering on a variety of surfaces, but especially allows the hanging of a window covering on a metal door without the need for any holes. More specifically, a clip rather than screws is used to support the window covering on the door. The clip fits behind the doorlight frame and is held tightly in place between the frame and the door—not by screws in the metal surface of the door.
The advantages are numerous. First, the clip fitting between the frame and the door allows for ease of installation with no holes having to be drilled. Second, without any screws being fastened to the surface of the door, the window covering maintains a firmer attachment to the door. Third, the door remains free of holes and aesthetically pleasing if the window covering is removed.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be more readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2579788 (1951-12-01), Burns
patent: 3038571 (1962-06-01), Clements
patent: 3060988 (1962-10-01), Munse
patent: 3071827 (1963-01-01), Van Buren, Jr.
patent: 3088560 (1963-05-01), Preuss
patent: 3719220 (1973-03-01), Small
patent: 3811370 (1974-05-01), Boston, Jr. et al.
patent: 3881676 (1975-05-01), Reinwall
patent: 4074491 (1978-02-01), Bell et al.
patent: 5171165 (1992-12-01), Hwang
patent: 5297891 (1994-03-01), Rosa
patent: 5333664 (1994-08-01), Sirianni et al
patent: 5505244 (1996-04-01), Thumann
patent: 5595416 (1997-01-01), Horwill
patent: 5671790 (1997-09-01), Andersen et al.
patent: 5682627 (1997-11-01), Russell
Lev Bruce A.
ODL Incorporated
Warner Norcross & Judd
LandOfFree
Window covering system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Window covering system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Window covering system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2439925