French door covering

• US 6,672,366 B1
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bette Designs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Bette Designs, Inc.
• Inventors: Wade, Bette, Wade, Trudy Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): LEV, BRUCE ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US09/996,297
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 160/330, 160/90, 160/368.1, 160/371, 160/395, 522/02
• US Class Current: 160/371
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/24 Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blindsoperating, guiding or securing devices or arrangements for roll-type closures E06B9/56; free-hanging flexible screens A47H23/00

Abstract

A plurality of barriers cover windows in French doors in which the window in each door has a first area smaller than a second area of the French door in which it is located. Each barrier includes a rigid frame defining a third area larger than the first area. First and second fabric covers stretched on opposite sides of the frame provide opacity and decoration. The barrier is hung on a French door so that the window is covered by the barrier without tools or manipulation of parts. The decorative fabric covers cooperate with one another to make a unitary decorative scene.

Claims

1. In combination with a French door having a glass window in which the window has a first area that is smaller than the area of the French door, a barrier adapted to be secured to the interior of the French door comprising

a frame defining a rigid perimeter around a third area that is larger than the window and smaller than the door,

first and second fabric covers on opposite sides of the frame, and

means for removably hanging the barrier on the French door so that the window is covered by the barrier.

2. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second fabric covers are stretched across and cover the frame.

3. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the fabric covers provides opacity to the barrier.

4. A barrier as claimed in claim 3 wherein the fabric cover that provides opacity faces the door.

5. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the fabric covers is decorative.

6. A barrier as claimed in claim 5 wherein the fabric cover that is decorative faces away from the door.

7. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the fabric covers provides opacity to the barrier and the other fabric cover is decorative.

8. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for hanging permits the barrier to be hung on or removed from the French door without tools or manipulation of parts.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is a wooden frame.

10. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame is a rigid plastic.

11. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second fabric covers are joined together to make a sleeve and the frame is inserted within the sleeve.

12. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for hanging includes a projection from one side of the barrier that cooperates with a sawtooth-topped strap affixed to the French door.

13. A barrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hanging means includes a receiver portion on the frame that cooperates with a post or hook on the French door.

14. A plurality of barriers and French doors as claimed in claim 1, wherein the French doors are adjacent one another and one of the fabric covers of each barrier is decorative and each decorative fabric cover is unique from the decorative covers of the other barriers, and the decorative covers of the plurality of barriers cooperate to make a unitary decorative scene as hung on the plurality of French doors.

15. A plurality of barriers and a plurality of French doors for covering windows on the French doors, each French door having a glass window that has a first area smaller than a second area of the French door in which the window is located, each barrier comprising

a frame defining a rigid perimeter around a third area that is larger than the first area and smaller than the second area,

first and second fabric covers stretched on opposite sides of the frame, wherein one of the fabric covers provides opacity to the barrier and the other fabric cover is decorative, and

means for hanging the barriers from the French doors so that the windows are covered by the barriers, the means for hanging permitting the barriers to be hung on or removed from the French doors without tools or manipulation of parts,

wherein the decorative fabric cover of each barrier is unique from the decorative covers of the other barriers, and the decorative covers of the plurality of barriers cooperate with one another when hung on the French doors to make a unitary decorative scene.

16. A method of decorating and providing privacy to a room with a French door that has a window in it comprising

at selected times, hanging on the French door a rigidly-framed barrier that has an area larger than the window in the French door, so that a view through the window is blocked by the barrier and covered with a decorative image on the barrier, and

at other selected times, removing the barrier from the French door to allow light to pass from outdoors into a building and to allow occupants of the building to see out of the window in the door.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein hanging includes hanging on multiple French doors to make a composite decorative image.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein hanging includes hanging an opaque barrier to black out outside light from the building.

19. A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising storing a removed barrier away from the window in the French door.

20. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein hanging includes lowering an upper frame section of the barrier onto a support on the French door.

21. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein removing includes raising an upper frame section of the barrier off of a support on the French door.

22. A method of decorating and providing privacy to a room with French doors that have windows in them comprising

at selected times, hanging on the French doors, rigidly-framed, opaque barriers that have an area larger than the windows in the French doors, so as to black out outdoor light from the room, block views through the windows and cover the windows with decorative images on the barriers to make a composite decorative image, including lowering upper frame sections of the barriers on to supports on the French doors, and

at other selected times, removing the barriers from the French doors to allow light to pass from outdoors into the room and to allow occupants of the room to see out of the windows, including raising upper frame sections of the barriers off of supports on the French doors and storing removed barriers away from the windows in the French doors.