Cornice fixture

Abstract

A cornice fixture for decorating a wall and a method of installing the cornice fixture are disclosed. The cornice fixture includes a rod from which window treatments are hung and at least one bracket. Typically, the cornice fixture includes a pair of brackets, and the rod is slidably coupled to the brackets. Slidably coupling the rod to the brackets enables the installer to center the rod about a given point after the rod has been coupled to the bracket.

1 . A method of mounting a cornice fixture, the method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) mounting two brackets to a wall, wherein the two brackets define a line connecting the two brackets;    (b) slidably coupling a rod to the two brackets, wherein when the rod is in operable position with respect to the brackets, the rod can be slid in a direction that is generally parallel to the line connecting the two brackets, wherein the rod includes a face extending between a pair of opposed end portions; and    (c) attaching a window treatment to the face of the rod.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 after step (b), sliding the rod in a direction that is generally parallel to the line connecting the two brackets such that the rod is centered around a given point on the line connecting the two brackets.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of: 
 aligning the rod above the two brackets;    pressing the rod downward; and    engaging a tab disposed on a first bracket of two brackets, wherein the engagement of the tab holds the rod onto the first bracket.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) further comprises the step of: 
 aligning the rod approximately in front of the brackets, wherein the rod defines an exterior surface and hollow interior, the exterior surface defines a slot that extends to the hollow interior;    pressing the rod towards the wall; and    engaging a first bracket of the two brackets, wherein the first bracket includes a leg that extends generally outward from the wall, and wherein at least a portion of the leg extends through the slot and is received by the hollow interior.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (b) further comprises the steps of: 
 aligning the rod approximately in front of the brackets, wherein the rod defines an exterior surface and hollow interior, the exterior surface defines a slot that extends to the hollow interior;    aligning a mounting member with a first bracket of the two brackets, wherein the mounting member is slidable along at least a portion of the hollow interior of the rod, and wherein the first bracket includes a leg having an end that defines a hollow interior; and    engaging the hollow interior of the first bracket with a portion of the mounting member.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein step (c) is preformed prior to performing step (b).  
   
   
       7 . A fixture for decorating a wall, the fixture comprising: 
 a bracket adapted to couple to the wall;    a rod having a longitudinal length, wherein the rod includes a transverse face extending between a pair of opposed end portions, wherein the face includes means for affixing a window treatment thereto;    a mounting means for slidably mounting the rod to the bracket, wherein when the rod is slidably coupled to the bracket, the longitudinal length of the rod can be slid through the mounting means.    
   
   
       8 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the bracket includes a leg, wherein when the bracket is coupled to the wall, the leg extends generally outward from the wall to an end, wherein the mounting means includes: 
 a pair of coupling members that extend generally upward from the bracket, wherein the pair of coupling members are configured to receive the rod between the coupling members.    
   
   
       9 . The fixture of  claim 8 , wherein when the rod is positioned between the pair of coupling members, the pair of coupling members exert pressure on the rod.  
   
   
       10 . The fixture of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the pair of coupling members is resilient, wherein the at least one resilient coupling member is pressed away from its natural state while the rod is being coupled to the bracket, and the at least one resilient coupling member moves back towards its natural state when the rod is in operational position.  
   
   
       11 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting means includes a leg of the bracket, wherein the rod defines an exterior surface and a generally hollow interior, the exterior surface defining an opening to the hollow interior, and wherein the opening and the hollow interior are configured to receive at least a portion of the leg therein.  
   
   
       12 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the mounting means includes a leg of the bracket and a mounting member, wherein the rod defines an exterior surface and a generally hollow interior, the exterior surface defining an opening to the hollow interior, and wherein the opening and the hollow interior are configured to receive the mounting member, and wherein the mounting member is configured to couple to the leg.  
   
   
       13 . A cornice fixture for decorating a wall, the cornice fixture comprising: 
 a pair of brackets, each bracket having a first leg for coupling to a wall and a second leg, wherein the second leg extends generally outward from the first leg;    a telescopic rod having an inner member and an outer member, wherein the outer member defines a first generally hollow interior, and wherein the inner member is configured to slide in and out of the outer member through at least a portion of the first hollow interior, and wherein the inner member and the outer member each define an exterior surface;    a window treatment attachment member for removably attaching at least one window treatment to the rod, wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed on the exterior surface of the rod; and    mounting means for slidably coupling the rod to the pair of brackets, wherein when the rod is in operable position, the rod can slid in a direction that is generally parallel to a line connecting the pair of brackets.    
   
   
       14 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein the outer member of the rod defines a first upper surface extending between a first front portion and a first rear portion, wherein the inner member of the rod defines a second upper surface extending between a second front portion and a second rear portion, wherein the first upper surface is bowed, and wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed on the first upper surface and the second upper surface.  
   
   
       15 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein the outer member of the rod defines a first rear surface extending between a first upper portion and a first lower portion, wherein the inner member of the rod defines a second rear surface extending between a second upper portion and a second lower portion, wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed on the first rear surface and the second rear surface, wherein when the rod is in operable position a substantial portion of the first and second rear surfaces face towards the wall.  
   
   
       16 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein the inner member defines a second generally hollow interior and an opening to the second hollow interior, wherein the outer member defines an opening to the first hollow interior, wherein the mounting means includes the second legs of each of the brackets, and wherein the openings and the hollow interiors of the inner member and the outer member are configured to receive at least a portion of the second legs therein.  
   
   
       17 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein the inner member defines a second generally hollow interior and a slot extending to the second hollow interior, wherein the outer member defines a slot extending to the first hollow interior wherein the mounting means includes the second legs of each of the brackets and a pair of mounting members, wherein the slot of the inner member and the second hollow interior are configured to receive at least one of the mounting members, wherein the slot of the outer member and the first hollow interior are configured to receive at least one of the mounting members, and wherein the mounting members are configured to couple to the second legs.  
   
   
       18 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein each of the second legs of the pair of brackets includes a pair of coupling members, wherein when the brackets are in operable position, each coupling member extends generally upward, and wherein each pair of coupling members are configured to receive the rod between the coupling members.  
   
   
       19 . The cornice fixture of  claim 18 , wherein when the rod is positioned between the pair of coupling members, the pair of coupling members exert pressure on the rod.  
   
   
       20 . The fixture of  claim 18 , wherein for each pair of coupling members, at least one of the coupling members is resilient, wherein the at least-one resilient coupling member is pressed away from its natural state while the rod is being coupled to the brackets, and the at least one resilient coupling member moves back towards its natural state when the rod is in operational position.  
   
   
       21 . A cornice fixture for decorating a wall, the cornice fixture comprising: 
 a telescopic rod having an inner member and an outer member, wherein the outer member defines a first generally hollow interior, and wherein the inner member is configured to slide in and out of the outer member through at least a portion of the first hollow interior, and wherein the inner member and the outer member each define an upper surface;    a window treatment attachment member for removably attaching at least one window treatment to the rod, wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed on the upper surface of the rod; and    a pair of brackets, each bracket having a first leg for coupling to a wall and a second leg, wherein the second leg extends generally outward from the first leg, wherein each second leg includes a pair of coupling members that extend generally upward in operational position, and wherein in operational position, the rod is slidably coupled by each pair of coupling members, wherein the rod is slidable in the direction of a line connecting the pair of brackets.    
   
   
       22 . The cornice fixture of  claim 21 , wherein when the rod is positioned between the pair of coupling members, the pair of coupling members exert pressure on the rod.  
   
   
       23 . The fixture of  claim 21 , wherein for each pair of coupling members, at least one of the coupling members is resilient, wherein the at least one resilient coupling member is pressed away from its natural state while the rod is being coupled to the brackets, and the at least one resilient coupling member moves back towards its natural state when the rod is in operational position.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the face of the rod having the window treatment attached thereto defines an upper face, and further including the step of: 
 coupling an attachment means to the upper face.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the an upper face of the rod defines at least one channel, wherein the attachment means is generally disposed along a length of the at least one channel.  
   
   
       26 . The fixture of  claim 7 , wherein the face defines a channel, and wherein the means for attaching a window treatment is disposed along a length of the channel.  
   
   
       27 . The fixture of  claim 26 , wherein the face is an upper face.  
   
   
       28 . The cornice fixture of  claim 13 , wherein the exterior surface defines at least one channel, wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed along a length of the at least one channel.  
   
   
       29 . The cornice fixture of  claim 21 , wherein the upper surface defines at least one channel, wherein the window treatment attachment member is disposed along a length of the at least one channel.