Raisable panel

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a non-ballooning raisable and/or rollable fabric panel that can be easily installed on or uninstalled from a rod, such as a conventional curtain rod. In one embodiment, the panel can be easily installed by sliding a rod through a sleeve positioned at or near the top of the panel. Installation of the present invention is completed without using collateral hardware typically used in installing fabric panels over a window or from a ceiling, for example.

1 . A raisable panel suspendable from a rod, the panel comprising: 
 (i) a horizontally extending top and a horizontally extending bottom;    (ii) a front side and a back side;    (iii) a sleeve positioned at or near the top of the panel to enable insertion of the rod through the sleeve for installing and suspending the panel; the sleeve is adapted to enable the installation to be completed without collateral hardware;    (iv) a top support element positioned below the sleeve, the top support element is adapted to enable the panel to be rolled up below a lower side of the top support element; and    (v) a plurality of laterally spaced guide elements on the lower side of the top support element, multiple pull cords secured at or near the top of the panel at laterally spaced locations corresponding to the laterally spaced guide elements, each pull cord passing downward over the front side of the panel, around the horizontally extending bottom of the panel, upward over the back side of the panel, and through the guide elements such that when the pull cords are pulled down, the panel is rolled up towards the lower side of the top support element.    
     
     
         2 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is a tab-backed sleeve positioned at or near the top of the panel.  
     
     
         3 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve extends continuously along the top of the panel.  
     
     
         4 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises at least two separate sections positioned at or near the top of the panel.  
     
     
         5 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises multiple tabs extending laterally along at or near the top of the panel.  
     
     
         6 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises multiple rings extending laterally along at or near the top of the panel.  
     
     
         7 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of natural fabric or synthetic fabric.  
     
     
         8 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the natural fabric is cotton, linen or silk.  
     
     
         9 . The panel of  claim 7 , wherein the synthetic fabric is polyester or nylon.  
     
     
         10 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein, the panel is a room divider.  
     
     
         11 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a wall hanging.  
     
     
         12 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is a window treatment.  
     
     
         13 . The panel of  claim 1 , further comprising a planar bottom edge.  
     
     
         14 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the panel is about 30 inches, about 35 inches, about 40 inches, about 52 inches, or about 72 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The panel of  claim 1 , wherein the width of the panel is about 75 inches, about 72 inches, or about 84 inches.