Decorative curtain rod assembly

Abstract

A modular curtain rod assembly is provided which allows a person to use any desired thin covering material to cover a curtain rod and customize the appearance of the curtain rod. The covering material is held in place by a support clip which secures the covering material to the curtain rod and which also supports the curtain rings above the covering material to prevent wear of the covering material and to provide curtains which are easy to open or close regardless of covering material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A curtain rod system comprising:
 an elongate curtain rod having a length;   a slot formed along the length of the top of the curtain rod;   a decorative covering material, wherein the decorative covering material extends along the length of the curtain rod , wherein the covering material is removably disposed around the curtain rod to cover the curtain rod, and wherein long edges of the covering material are disposed into the curtain rod slot;   an elongate support clip having a length which is approximately equal to the length of the curtain rod, the support clip having a head, a shank, and barbs;   wherein the support clip is placed into the slot so that the covering material is held between the curtain rod and the support clip and so that the head of the support clip is disposed adjacent the curtain rod with the covering material disposed between the head and the curtain rod;   a plurality of curtain hangers disposed along the curtain rod;   a curtain carried by the plurality of curtain hangers;   wherein the plurality of curtain hangers are supported by the support clip so that the plurality of curtain hangers extend above the curtain rod and are separated from the covering material and such that the plurality of curtain hangers contact the support clip.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the curtain rod is hollow, and wherein the long edges of the covering material extend into an interior space within the curtain rod. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the covering material is held around an edge of the curtain rod adjacent the slot by the support clip such that the covering material is held between the head and a barb of the support clip. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support clip has a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the same throughout the length of the support clip. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the support clip comprises a slot formed vertically through the shank of the support clip and wherein the slot extends along the length of the support clip. 
     
     
         6 . A curtain rod system comprising:
 an elongate curtain rod having a length;   a slot formed along the length of the top of the curtain rod;   a decorative covering material extending along the length of the curtain rod, wherein the covering material is wrapped around the curtain rod to cover the curtain rod and wherein the long edges of the covering material pass through the slot such that the long edges of the covering material are disposed in a center of the curtain rod;   an elongate support clip having a length which is approximately equal to the length of the curtain rod, the support clip having a head and a shank extending downwardly from the head;   wherein the support clip shank is placed into the slot such that the covering material is held between the curtain rod and the support clip and such that the head of the support clip is disposed adjacent the top of the curtain rod with the covering material disposed between the head and the curtain rod.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the curtain rod is configured to receive curtain hangers thereon and support a curtain such that the curtain hangers pass over the top of the curtain rod and contact the head of the support clip and such that the curtain is suspended beneath the curtain rod from the curtain hangers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support clip shank comprises a neck adjacent the support clip head, and wherein a width of the slot is less than a sum of the thickness of the neck and two thicknesses of the covering material such that force is applied to the covering material between the curtain rod at the slot edge and the neck. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support clip includes barbs extending along sides of the shank. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the covering material is held between the support clip head and the top of the curtain rod and wherein the covering material is held between a barb and an interior surface of the curtain rod. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the curtain rod is hollow, and wherein the long edges of the covering material extend into an interior space within the curtain rod. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support clip has a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the same throughout the length of the support clip. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the support clip comprises a slot formed vertically through the shank of the support clip and wherein the slot extends along the length of the support clip. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of curtain hangers disposed along the curtain rod;   a curtain carried by the plurality of curtain hangers;   wherein the plurality of curtain hangers are supported by the support clip so that the plurality of curtain hangers extend above the curtain rod and are separated from the covering material and contact the support clip.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the curtain rod slot comprises vertical side walls, and wherein the covering material is held between side walls of the slot and the shank of the support clip. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising barbs along the support clip shank, and wherein the covering material is held between the slot side walls and the barbs. 
     
     
         17 . A curtain rod system comprising:
 an elongate curtain rod having a length;   a slot formed along the length of the top of the curtain rod;   an elongate support clip having a length which is approximately equal to the length of the curtain rod, the support clip having a head and a shank extending downwardly from the head;   wherein the curtain rod is configured to receive an elongate strip of a decorative covering material such that the covering material extends along the length of the curtain rod, such that the covering material is wrapped around the curtain rod to cover the curtain rod, and such that the long edges of the covering material pass through the slot and are disposed in a center of the curtain rod; and   wherein the support clip shank is configured for placement into the slot such that the covering material is held between the curtain rod and the support clip and such that the head of the support clip is disposed adjacent the top of the curtain rod with the covering material disposed between the head and the curtain rod.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the support clip is configured to hold the covering material between the support clip head and the top of the curtain rod. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the support clip has a cross-sectional shape which is substantially the same throughout the length of the support clip. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the curtain rod is configured to receive:
 a plurality of curtain hangers disposed along the curtain rod;   a curtain carried by the plurality of curtain hangers;   wherein the plurality of curtain hangers are supported by the support clip so that the plurality of curtain hangers extend above the curtain rod and are separated from the covering material and contact the support clip.