Grommet Spacers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grommet spacer tool. More specifically, the spacer tool is a cylindrical or tubular shaped structure of a predeterminable length having a longitudinal slit. The longitudinal slit of the spacer tool allows the slit edges to be pulled apart to fit the spacer tool on a curtain rod/panel between consecutive or adjacent grommet rings of the curtains. Once the spacer tool is placed between the grommet rings, the spacer tool maintains a consistent gap between the grommet rings to maintain uniform, neat, and structured pleats, while obviating additional maintenance, adjustment, and upkeep to the curtain spacing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A spacer system for maintaining a predefined spacing between adjacent curtain grommets, the spacer system comprising:
 a grommet spacer having a generally cylindrical shape and a lengthwise slit along a length of said grommet spacer;   said grommet spacer comprises a material selected from a thermoplastic polymer;   said grommet spacer generally from about 2 inches to about 6 inches in length, and from about 3 inches to about 8 inches in diameter;   said grommet spacer comprises a resilient configuration and flexes from a first generally cylindrical shape, to a second slightly planar shape, and then to a third generally cylindrical shape for mounting said grommet spacer to a curtain rod; and   said grommet spacer setting the predefined spacing between adjacent curtain grommets based on said length of said grommet spacer.   
     
     
         2 . The spacer system of  claim 1 , wherein the material is selected from a group consisting of a polyethylene, a polybutylene, a polypropylene, a polyurethane, a fluoroplastic, and a polyamide. 
     
     
         3 . The spacer system of  claim 1 , wherein said grommet spacer comprises a roll including perforations for separating each said grommet spacer into a predefined length. 
     
     
         4 . The spacer system of  claim 1 , wherein said grommet spacer is generally from about 3 inches to about 4 inches in length, and from about 5 inches to about 6 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         5 . The spacer system of  claim 1 , wherein said grommet spacer further comprises curved terminal opposing edges, and further wherein said curved terminal opposing edges comprise an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The spacer system of  claim 1 , wherein said grommet spacer further comprises an internal surface layer, and further wherein said internal surface layer comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . A plurality of grommet spacers for maintaining a consistent predeterminable spacing between curtain grommets, the plurality of grommet spacers comprising:
 the plurality of grommet spacers, wherein each grommet spacer comprises a generally cylindrical shape having a lengthwise slit along a length of each of said plurality of grommet spacers;   said plurality of grommet spacers comprise a material selected from a thermoplastic polymer, and wherein each of the plurality of grommet spacers comprises a resilient configuration and flexes from a first generally cylindrical shape to a second slightly planar shape and then to a third generally cylindrical shape for mounting said each grommet spacer around a curtain rod; and   said each of the plurality of grommet spacers setting the predeterminable spacing between adjacent curtain grommets based on said length of said each grommet spacer, when said each grommet spacer is mounted around the curtain rod between an adjacent pair of curtain grommets.   
     
     
         8 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 7 , wherein said each of said plurality of grommet spacers is generally from about 2 inches to about 6 inches in length, and from about 3 inches to about 8 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 8 , wherein said each of said plurality of grommet spacers comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a polyethylene, a polybutylene, a polypropylene, a polyurethane, a fluoroplastic, and a polyamide. 
     
     
         10 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 9 , wherein said plurality of grommet spacers comprise a roll including a plurality of perforations for separating said each of said plurality of grommet spacers into a predefined length. 
     
     
         11 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 10 , wherein said each of the plurality of grommet spacers is generally from about 3 inches to about 4 inches in length, and from about 5 inches to about 6 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         12 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 9 , wherein said each of the plurality of grommet spacers further comprises curved terminal opposing edges, and further wherein said curved terminal opposing edges comprise an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The plurality of grommet spacers of  claim 9 , wherein said each of the plurality of grommet spacers further comprises an internal surface layer, and further wherein said internal surface layer comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . A method for maintaining a plurality of pleats of a drape evenly spaced, the method comprising:
 predetermining a length of a plurality of grommet spacers;   positioning the plurality of grommet spacers along a curtain rod;   mounting each of said plurality of grommet spacers in a series between adjacent curtain grommets along the curtain rod;   maintaining a consistent and predeterminable spacing between said adjacent curtain grommets based on said predeterminable length of the plurality of grommet spacers, wherein said each of the plurality of grommet spacers including a generally cylindrical shape having a lengthwise slit along a length of said grommet spacer, and further wherein said each one of said plurality of grommet spacers further comprises a resilient configuration and flexes from a first generally cylindrical shape to a second slightly planar shape and then to a third generally cylindrical shape for mounting said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers around the curtain rod.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers is generally from about 2 inches to about 6 inches in length, and from about 3 inches to about 8 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers comprise a material selected from a group consisting of a thermoplastic polymer, a polyethylene, a polybutylene, a polypropylene, a polyurethane, a fluoroplastic, and a polyamide. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of grommet spacers comprise a roll including a plurality of perforations for separating said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers is generally from about 3 inches to about 4 inches in length, and from about 5 inches to about 6 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers further comprises curved terminal opposing edges, and further wherein each of the curved terminal opposing edges comprises an adhesive. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said each one of the plurality of grommet spacers further comprises an internal surface layer, and further wherein the internal surface layer comprises an adhesive.