BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to blackout drapery linings, and more particularly, to retrofit linings which may be installed for use with preexisting drapery.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional draperies are primarily designed for style and appearance, and are generally made from premium fabrics of various colors. While such fabrics may serve the purpose of creating a desired visual effect, and may provide a desired level of privacy, they are generally ineffective for preventing a substantial quantity of light penetration into a room from outside sources, and a corresponding illumination of the room to an undesired level.

The problem of undesired illumination is particularly noticeable in any room used for sleeping. Even with eyelids closed, 20% of this undesired environmental light still is admitted to the eyes, interfering with proper sleep. Lack of sleep is related to other health problems, and results in lost productivity in the workplace due to related mistakes, illnesses and absences. Further, the Department of Transportation estimates that 200,000 traffic accidents each year may be sleep related.

For those living in densely populated urban or suburban areas, the amount of light penetration into a bedroom at night may be considerable due to sources such as street lights, light from adjacent buildings and automobile headlights.

However, the problem of unwanted light penetration is especially acute for those who sleep during the daytime, for example, the 20 million shift workers who work at night. Napping infants are also deprived of sleep due to unwanted penetration of sunlight.

Accordingly, complete elimination of undesired light from bedrooms is a desirable goal. Blackout drapery linings are known in the art, and serve to eliminate unwanted light penetration. With reference to Fig. 1, such linings 1 are hung adjacent drapery 3 and include a plurality of loops 21 extending from an upper edge which are designed to suspend the lining from a plurality of drapery hooks 5. Hooks 5 are the same drapery hooks from which drapery 3 is suspended. However, in known linings, the degree to which light penetration may be precluded is limited due to light penetrating around the outer edges of the linings, that is, between the linings and the window frame. The degree of light blockage is further degraded for multi-panel draperies, which require the use of a corresponding number of blackout lining panels. In this situation, unwanted light penetrates through the slit between adjacent panels. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a blackout drapery lining for use with a drapery disposed to cover a window. The lining includes at least one substantially light impermeable panel. The lining is suspended adjacent the drapery. The outer vertical edges of the lining are secured to surfaces adjacent the window and thereby prevent light penetration between the lining and the surfaces.

In a further embodiment a securing strip is disposed along the outer vertical edges of the lining. The strip is positioned so as to be adjacent a corresponding strip fixed to the surfaces such that the strips disposed on the lining may be removably fixed to the corresponding strips to secure the edges of the lining to the surfaces and thereby prevent light penetration.

In a further embodiment the drapery is suspended from a plurality of hooks. A plurality of loops are integrally formed with and extend from one edge of the lining. The loops are spaced at intervals from each other and fit over the plurality

of hooks such that the lining may be suspended from the same hooks as the drapery.

In a further embodiment, the blackout drapery lining is for use with a preexisting drapery having at least two panels, and includes two substantially light impermeable panels, each suspended adjacent a corresponding drapery panel. The inner vertical edges of the lining panels are substantially overlapped, and secured together so as to preclude light penetration therebetween.

The present invention provides the advantage that light penetration around the outer edges of the lining, or between the inner vertical edges of a multi-panel lining is avoided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a prior art drapery lining.

Fig. 2a is a rear view of a drapery lining according to one embodiment of the invention disposed adjacent a drapery.

Fig. 2b is a rear view of a drapery lining according to a second embodiment of the invention disposed adjacent a drapery.

Fig. 3 is a partial cutaway view showing the drapery and lining disposed on a transverse rod.

Fig. 4 is a front view of a window frame showing a plurality of hook and loop strips forming part of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is an overhead view of a gripper element in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6a is an overhead view showing the gripper clip attached to and closing a blackout lining and drapery.

Figure 6b is an overhead view showing the gripper clip attached to the left drapery lining.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing a plurality of gripper clips attached to one lining.

Figure 8 is a partial cutaway view showing the gripper clip of Figure 5 disposed so as to close the drapery and lining.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Fig. 2a, a retro-fit blackout drapery lining attached to a drapery according to the present invention is shown. Retro-fit blackout lining 10 includes two panels 10a and 10b which are substantially 100% light impermeable, and which include a plurality of integrally formed loops 21 disposed across and extending from the upper edge. Each panel of lining 10 further includes cord access slot 7 formed therethrough near the upper and outer vertical edge. A plurality of magnets 11 are sewn inside a hem formed on the inner vertical edge of each panel 10a and 10b. Hook and loop fastening strips 9, for example, VELCRO ^® , are disposed along the outer vertical edges of each panel of lining 10, and extend from top to bottom. Strips 9 are disposed on the inner side of panels 10a and 10b, that is, the side which in use would face the window frame. In the situation shown where the lining includes two panels, the outer vertical edge of panel 10a and the outer vertical edge of panel 10b serve as the outer vertical edges of the lining as a whole. Of course, if the lining includes only one panel, then the outer vertical edges of that one panel would serve as the outer vertical edges of the lining as a whole, and each edge would have strip 9 disposed thereon.

With further reference to Fig. 2a and to Fig. 3, drapery 30 also includes two panels 30a and 30b, each having a plurality of conventional drapery pins or hooks 5 with which the draperies may be suspended from conventional overhead drapery rods. Retro-fit lining 10 may be installed into a preexisting drapery 30 by first removing the drapery panels from the drapery rods, and laying the drapery panels face down. Each panel of lining 10 is laid adjacent the interior side of a corresponding drapery panel, with loops 21 disposed adjacent hooks or pins 5. Loops 21 are disposed over pins 5 to secure each panel of lining 10 adjacent each panel of drapery 30. The combined drapery and lining is then rehung on transverse drapery rods 15 as shown in Fig. 3.

In this manner, a conventional and preexisting drapery may be converted into a blackout drapery which eliminates unwanted light penetration. The purchase of new drapery or the installation of new drapery rods is avoided. Since lining 10

is suspended from the same pins as drapery 30, lining 10 is opened and closed simultaneously with drapery 30. Thus, the blackout effect is automatically achieved every time the draperies are closed, with the lining fully extended across the window to allow a complete blackout effect. In addition, the lining acts as a thermal barrier to provide better room insulation, prevents fading of the drapery from exposure to sunlight, and other damage which results from the effects of ultraviolet rays.

With further reference to Fig. 3, the combined drapery 30 and lining 10 is shown suspended from transverse rod 15. The inner vertical edges of the left and right lining panels are overlapped, and securely fixed to each other by magnets 11 , eliminating formation of cracks between each lining panel which otherwise would allow sunlight to penetrate into the room. The present invention thus increases the degree of the blackout effect achieved by the blackout drapery lining for multi- panel draperies. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 2b, hook and loop fastening strips 12, for example, VELCRO ^® , could be used in place of magnets 11 to removably secure the inner vertical edges of each panel.

As a further alternative, a plurality of gripper clips 20 could be used to removably secure the inner vertical edges of each panel, as shown in Fig. 8. Preferably two or three gripper clips 20 which are vertically spaced as shown would be used to securely close the inner vertical edges of lining 1. Gripper clips 20 may be molded in flexible plastic/nylon, and may be spaced at approximately 18" along the lining. As shown in Figure 5, gripper clips 20 have a double "bobby pin" shape, with serrated inner surfaces 24 to grip the lining and drapery fabric. Ends 22 of clips 20 are bent outwardly so as to preclude snagging of the lining or drapery.

With further reference to Figs. 6a and 6b, the manner in which clips 20 secure the inner edges of lining 10 and drapery 30 is disclosed. With the drapery and lining closed, the "inner loop" of clip 20 is flexed and secured over both left drapery panel 30a and left lining panel 10a, which for purposes of example are disposed inward of right drapery panel 30b and right lining panel 10b. The

flexibility of clip 20 holds the drapery and lining panels taut. Right lining panel

10b is disposed in the "outer loop" of clip 20, thereby securing the inner vertical edges of lining panels 10a and 10b to each other in an overlapping configuration, and precluding light penetration therebetween. Right drapery panel 30b is allowed to fall in front of clips 20, hiding them from view. Although as shown in Fig. 6a the left panels are disposed inwardly of the right panels, the panels could also be secured together by reversing the clip and disposing the right panels inwardly of the left panels.

With further reference to Fig. 6b, the flexibility and no-snag design of clips 20 ensures that if the drapery is opened while the clips are in use, the clips will remain on one side without damaging the drapery or lining. For example, clips 20 remain attached to the left side. Further, left drapery panel 30a can be removed from inside the inner loop of clips 20, and allowed to fall in front of the clips. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6b, clips 20 will remain attached to only left lining panel 10a, and will be hidden from view by left drapery panel 30a. As shown in Fig. 7, clips 20 may be sewed to left lining panel 10a, permanently securing them thereon. Holes 26 are provided for this purpose.

With reference to Fig. 4, the manner in which the present invention increase the blackout effect for both single and multi-panel draperies is shown. Vertically extending hooks and loop fastening strips 19, for example, VELCRO ^® strips, are fixed to the wall adjacent each side of window 17. Strips 19 are conventional and may include adhesive back surfaces for applying to the wall. Strips 19 are fixed to the wall so as to line up with the ends of rod brackets 15, so as to be essentially adjacent strips 9 on lining 10. After the combined lining and drapery is rehung on hooks 5, drapery cord 13 is pulled through cord access slot 7 and allowed to hang exteriorly of lining 10. Thereafter, strips 9 are removably fixed to strips 19, thereby securing both vertical sides of lining 10 to the wall or window frame, eliminating any cracks therebetween through which light could penetrate. A substantially complete light-proof seal is thus achieved at the outer edge of the

lining, with complete access to the drapery cord maintained so that the drapery can be easily opened and closed.

Although as shown in Fig. 2 lining 10 is in the form of two separate panels which are designed for use with a two-panel drapery, lining 10 could also comprise a single panel for use with a single panel drapery. Such a lining would be attached to the drapery in the same way as shown in Fig. 2, and would have strip 9 disposed on each outer vertical edge.

Blackout drapery linings according to the present invention may be made from conventional fabric materials such as woven textile, knit or non-woven materials, which are generally coated in a known fashion with an opaque layer to achieve a blackout effect. The opaque layer may comprise an acrylic latex based compound including an opaque material such as a pigment. Of course, any suitable blackout material may be used.

This invention has been described in detail in connection with the preferred embodiments. These embodiments, however, are merely for example only and the invention is not restricted thereto. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that other variations and modifications easily, can be made within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.