Hidden grommet panel

Abstract

The hidden grommet panel includes a panel body having a front side and a back side; a grommet strip coupled to the backside of the panel body and having a plurality of grommets formed therein; and a sleeve formed by the panel body and the grommet strip, wherein each of the sleeve and the plurality of grommets in the grommet strip have the size and shape for select slide through reception of a rod. The panel body extends above the grommet strip, concealing the grommets from view when observed from the front.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hidden grommet panel comprising:
 a panel body having a front side and a back side, and   a grommet strip coupled to the back side of the panel body and having a plurality of grommets formed therein; and   a sleeve formed by the panel body and the grommet strip, wherein each of the sleeve and the plurality of grommets in the grommet strip have the size and shape for select slide through reception of a rod.   
     
     
         2 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 1  wherein the panel body extends above the grommet strip concealing the grommets from the front side. 
     
     
         3 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 2 , wherein the sleeve includes a first opening and a second opening, the first opening having a size and shape for select slide in reception of the rod and the second opening having a size and shape for select at least partial removal of the rod out from within the sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The hidden grommet curtain panel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of grommets comprises a first grommet, a final grommet, and at least one intermediate grommet pair positioned between the first grommet and the final grommet. 
     
     
         5 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 1 , wherein the grommet strip comprises a multi-layer strip at least partially formed from an extension of the panel body folded over itself. 
     
     
         6 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 1 , wherein the grommet strip comprises a separate piece of material than the panel body having one or more layers secured to the back side of the panel body. 
     
     
         7 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 1 , including a liner positioned between the grommet strip and the panel body visible only from the back side. 
     
     
         8 . The hidden grommet panel of  claim 1 , wherein the panel body includes at least one decorative pleat comprising a pinched pleat or an inverted pleat. 
     
     
         9 . A method of hanging a hidden grommet panel, comprising the steps of:
 inserting a first end of a rod into a first opening of a sleeve defined by a grommet strip coupled to a panel body;   threading the first end of the rod through at least two grommets in the grommet strip; and   removing the first end of the rod through a second opening of the sleeve.   
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a hidden grommet curtain panel, comprising the steps of:
 providing a panel body having a front side and a back side;   forming a grommet strip having a plurality of spaced-apart grommets therein; and   securing the grommet strip to the back side of the panel body to define a sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , including the steps of:
 folding an extension of the panel body to create a two-layer strip; and   inserting the plurality of grommets through the two-layer strip.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , including the step of stitching the two-layer strip along at least one edge. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including the steps of:
 folding the grommet strip toward the back side of the panel body; and   stitching an edge of the grommet strip to the panel body.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , including the step of further positioning a liner between the between the grommet strip and the panel body. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of forming the grommet strip by folding a rectangular piece of fabric separate from the panel body in half to form a two-layer strip. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , including the step of inserting the plurality of grommets through the two-layer strip. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , including the step of positioning a liner between the grommet strip and the panel body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , including the step of securing the grommet strip by stitching around but not over a decorative pleat, thereby allowing the decorative pleat to remain visible when the hidden grommet curtain panel is viewed from the front.