Disposable curtain for interiors

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a disposable curtain for interiors. The curtain (1) comprises a pleated strip (2) that can be fixed to a supporting structure (10) with one of its sides running parallel to the pleats. At least one clip (3) is also provided and is associable with the opposite side of the strip (2) to lock in gathered position a variable number of the pleats, so as to vary the degree of folding and unfolding of the curtain (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a disposable curtain for interiors.

[0002] Various types of curtain, made of valuable fabrics or not, according to interior decoration requirements, are known.

[0003] Even the cheapest and lightest curtains require the use of an appropriate supporting structure having the purpose of supporting the curtain and of allowing vertical or horizontal movement in order to vary the screening conditions of the curtain.

[0004] In any case, even the cheapest curtains, also because of the fact that they require an appropriate supporting structure, have a cost that does not make it economically convenient to use them in a throwaway manner but on the contrary forces their reuse with periodic washing and ironing and therefore with additional burdens and work on the part of the user.

[0005] A principal aim of the present invention is to solve the above problems by providing a curtain the cost whereof can be so low that it can be used just once.

[0006] Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a curtain which despite a low production cost can still perform the function of a conventional curtain and be also aesthetically pleasant.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain that does not have disposal problems at the end of its useful life.

[0008] Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain that can match other types of furniture, harmonizing the entire room in which it is placed.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain that can be installed simply and rapidly without size problems on any window, door, glazing unit, etcetera.

[0010] This aim, these objects, and others that will become apparent hereinafter are achieved by a disposable curtain for interiors, characterized in that it comprises a pleated strip that can be fixed to a supporting structure with one of its sides running parallel to the pleats, at least one clip being provided which is associable with the opposite side to lock, in gathered position, a variable number of said pleats.

[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the curtain according to the invention, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of the curtain according to the invention;

figure 2 is a perspective sectional view of the curtain of figure 1, taken along the plane II-II;

figure 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a detail of figure 1, related to the fixing of the curtain to a supporting structure;

figure 4 is a front elevation view of the curtain according to the invention in a partially lifted condition;

figure 5 is schematic view of the method for reducing the width and length of the curtain according to the invention;

figure 6 is a view of one of the possible shapes of the curtain according to the invention;

figure 7 is a view of the curtain according to the invention, used with two clips.

[0012] With reference to the above figures, the curtain according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, substantially comprises a pleated strip 2, which can be suspended from a supporting structure 10 by means of one of the two sides that are parallel to the pleats, and at least one clip 3 that is associable with the opposite side of the strip 2 to lock in gathered position a variable number of pleats to vary the degree of folding or unfolding of the curtain.

[0013] The strip 2 can be made of any low-cost material, provided that its consistency is such as to maintain the pleats that are formed. Preferably, the strip 2 is made of optionally recycled paper-like material, so-called "environmentally friendly" materials, non-woven fabric, etcetera.

[0014] The material that constitutes the strip 2 can be smooth and compact or perforated, such as lace, or provided with holes in various parts, according to the requirements.

[0015] The degree of heaviness and the coloring of the strip 2 may also be any according to the requirements. In particular, it is possible to provide, at least on the inner side of the strip 2, for decorations that match the decorations of tablecloths, napkins, etcetera, if the curtain is to be used in public places such as restaurants, snack bars, pizza-restaurants, etcetera.

[0016] The clip 3 is conveniently constituted by a spring clip, made of metal or plastics, with two-sided decorations 4 and 5.

[0017] One of the two decorations 4 and 5, depending on the folding direction of the pleats, is heavier than the other decoration in order to counterweight the pleats gathered by means of the clip 3, keeping the curtain vertical even proximate to the clip 3.

[0018] Advantageously, the strip 2 has cutting lines 6 running parallel to each other along directions that are perpendicular to the pleats and can be used to remove lateral portions of the strip 2 to vary its width according to the requirements. The cutting lines can be simply constituted by lines that are pre-printed on the strip 2 or by discontinuous and closely spaced incisions to allow the removal of lateral portions even without using a cutting tool.

[0019] The strip 2 can be connected to the supporting structure 10, which can be constituted by the horizontal side of the frame of a window, glazing unit, door, etcetera, simply by using, as connecting means, portions of double-adhesive tape 11, as shown in particular in figure 3. In addition to easy application, the double-adhesive tape 11 allows easy removal of the curtain at the end of its useful life.

[0020] In this manner, the curtain according to the invention becomes self-supporting, since it can be applied to any support made of wood, aluminum, PVC, or other materials.

[0021] It should be noted that the strip 2 may have any shape, which is easily obtainable by cutting, such as for example the contoured shape shown in figure 6, or the shape of a triangle, diamond, etcetera.

[0022] Use of the curtain according to the invention is as follows.

[0023] The curtain is installed easily and quickly by using the portions of double-adhesive tape 11, as already described.

[0024] The length of the curtain 1 can be matched to the height of the window, door, or glazing unit by horizontally cutting the excess lower part of the strip 2.

[0025] If the width of the strip 2 is excessive, the excess portion is removed by cutting or breaking.

[0026] If instead the width of the strip 2 is insufficient, it is possible to arrange two strips 2 side by side, with partial overlap and stapling in preset regions.

[0027] By means of the clip 3 it is possible to manually fold or unfold the curtain, varying the number of pleats gathered by the clip 3.

[0028] It should be noted that when the curtain is at least partially folded, the clip 3 achieves, at the lower end of the curtain, a fan-like shape that is particularly pleasant from an aesthetic point of view.

[0029] As shown in figure 7, it is possible to use two or more clips 3 instead of a single clip 3, obtaining in this case a horizontal arrangement of the lower end of the curtain.

[0030] When the curtain is dirty or worn, it is removed and replaced with a new one.

[0031] In practice, it has been observed that the curtain according to the invention fully achieves the intended aim, since it can be produced and installed with extremely low costs that make its use as disposable product economically convenient.

[0032] Another advantage of the curtain according to the invention is that it can be easily prepared, packaged, stored, and shipped so as to occupy an extremely small space, since it can be packed by using its pleats.

[0033] A further advantage is that it can be installed on any type of casement without requiring its own supporting structure and that it is adaptable to any size of the casement.

[0034] The curtain according to the invention can be used not only for public premises but also advantageously in special-purpose buildings, such as for example nursing homes and hospitals, where the concept of hygiene must be combined with the concept of comfort, and for all dwelling buildings, holiday homes, and all those cases in which the concept of economy and throwaway use is particularly appreciated.

[0035] The curtain thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0036] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. Disposable curtain for interiors, characterized in that it comprises a pleated strip that can be fixed to a supporting structure with one of its sides running parallel to the pleats, at least one clip being provided which is associable with the opposite side of the strip to lock, in gathered position, a variable number of said pleats.

2. Disposable curtain according to claim 1, characterized in that said strip is made of paper-like material.

3. Disposable curtain according to claim 2, characterized in that said paper-like material is constituted by recycled paper-like material.

4. Disposable curtain according to claim 2, characterized in that said material is constituted by fireproof material.

5. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip is perforated.

6. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip is contoured.

7. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip has decorations on at least one of its sides.

8. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said strip has cut-assisting lines running parallel to each other along directions that are perpendicular to said pleats, for optional removal to correct the width of said strip.

9. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said clip is constituted by a spring clip.

10. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said spring clip has two-sided decorations.

11. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of said two-sided decorations is heavier than the other two-sided decoration in order to counterweight the pleats gathered by said clip.

12. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for connecting said strip to said supporting structure.

13. Disposable curtain according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting means are constituted by double-adhesive tape.

Drawing