RIBBON ROD ASSEMBLY

FIELD

[0001] This document relates to a ribbon rod assembly, and more particularly to a ribbon rod assembly for hanging and supporting fabric in a manner that forms complete vertical folds in the fabric.

SUMMARY

[0002] In an embodiment, the ribbon rod assembly may include a ribbon rod body, the ribbon rod body having a curved portion defining a plurality of undulating opposing curves interposed between first and second end portions, the first end portion defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving slot, while the second end portion defines an terminal slot and a lateral slot; and a pair of end brackets adapted to engage either the first or second end portions, each of said pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body with one portion of the L-shaped body being engaged to the ribbon rod body and another portion of the L-shaped body being engaged to a support surface.

[0003] In another embodiment, the ribbon rod body and fabric arrangement may include a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves interposed between opposing end portions with one of the end portions defining a terminal slot and lateral slot while the other of the end portions defining a terminal slot and a lateral curving slot; and a fabric adapted for engagement with the ribbon rod body, the fabric defining at least one sewn-in pocket defined along the length of the fabric, the at least one sewn-in pocket being adapted for engagement with the plurality of opposing curves of the ribbon rod body such that the upper portion and said lower portion of the fabric define vertical folds.

[0004] In one embodiment, a method of hanging and supporting a fabric to a curtain rod may include: providing a ribbon rod body having an undulating wave-like configuration with a plurality of opposing curves interposed between opposing end portions with one of the end portions defining at least a lateral slot while the other of the end portions defining at least a lateral curving slot; providing a fabric defining a sewn-in

pocket extending along the length of the fabric; providing a pair of end brackets, each of the pair of end brackets defining an L-shaped body having a support portion in communication with a hanging portion; inserting either one of the first or second end portions of the ribbon rod body through the sewn-in pocket of the fabric until the plurality of opposing curves is fully disposed along the length of the fabric; and securing at least one of the pair of end brackets to either one of the first or second end portions and then securing the at least one of the end brackets to a support surface.

[0005] Implementation of the above embodiments may include one or more of the folowing features:

[0006] The ribbon rod assembly according to claim A1 , wherein the lateral curving slot further defines a smaller curved portion in communication with a larger curved portion.

[0007] The lateral curving slot is adapted to be engaged to the curtain rod.

[0008] The larger curved portion is adapted to be engaged to the curtain rod.

[0009] One portion of the L-shaped body engaged to the ribbon rod body is a support portion.

[0010] Another portion of the L-shaped body engaged to the support surface is a hanging portion.

[0011 ] One portion of the L-shaped body defines a plurality of holes.

[0012] At least one retention hook is adapted to engage at least one of the plurality of holes for supporting the ribbon rod body to a wall.

[0013] A portion of the at least one retention hook is adapted to be inserted through a wall.

[0014] The support portion includes a pair of opposing depending flanges that collectively define a channel.

[0015] The channel is adapted to engage the first or second end portions of the ribbon rod body when engaging the ribbon rod body to the end bracket.

[0016] The support portion defines first and second holes, wherein the alignment and engagement of the first hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a fully inserted position relative to the end bracket.

[0017] The alignment and engagement of the second hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a partially inserted position relative to the end bracket.

[0018] The alignment and engagement of the second hole with either the lateral slot or the lateral curving slot places the first or second end portion in a partially inserted position relative to the end bracket.

[0019] The fabric defines an upper portion and a lower portion with the upper portion defining a sewn pocket adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.

[0020] The lower portion defines a sewn-in pocket adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.

[0021] The opposing end portions are adapted to engage a pair of end brackets, the pair of end brackets each having a body including a securing portion and a hanging portion, the securing portion adapted to engage a ceiling and the hanging portion adapted to engage the ribbon rod body.

[0022] Additional objectives, advantages and novel features will be set forth in the description which follows or will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a ribbon rod assembly showing an embodiment of a ribbon rod body in an unassembled state;

[0024] FIG. 1 B is a perspective view of the ribbon rod assembly showing another embodiment of the ribbon rod body in an unassembled state;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly shown in FIG. 1 A in an assembled state;

[0026] FIG. 3A is a top view of the ribbon rod body shown in FIG. 1A;

[0027] FIG. 3B is an opposite bottom view of the ribbon rod body shown in FIG. 3A;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a top view of the ribbon rod assembly with both returns engaged to a wall;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a top view of the ribbon rod assembly with one return engaged to the wall and the other return engaged to a curtain rod;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a top view of the ribbon rod assembly with one return engaged to the wall and the other return engaged to a window header;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a front view of a window with side panels supported by the ribbon rod assembly shown in FIG. 4;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a front view of a window with side panels supported by the ribbon rod assembly shown in FIG. 5;

[0033] FIG. 9 is a front view of a window with side panels supported by the ribbon rod assembly shown in FIG. 6;

[0034] FIG. 10 is a front view of an end bracket;

[0035] FIG. 11 is an opposing rear view of the end bracket;

[0036] FIG. 12 is a front view of the end bracket rotated 90 degrees from the view shown in FIG. 10;

[0037] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate the sequence of engaging and securing a retention hook through a wall;

[0038] FIG. 14 illustrates the method for engaging the fabric to the ribbon rod body;

[0039] FIG. 15 illustrates the method for engaging the ribbon rod body to the end bracket;

[0040] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate an alternate method for engaging the ribbon rod body to the end brackets;

[0041 ] FIG. 17 is an isometric view of a ceiling mounted end bracket;

[0042] FIG. 18 is a top view of the ceiling mounted end bracket;

[0043] FIG. 19 is a side view of the ceiling mounted end bracket;

[0044] FIG. 20 is an opposing side view of the ceiling mounted end bracket; and

[0045] FIG. 21 is a rear view of the ceiling mounted end bracket.

[0046] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding elements among the view of the drawings. The headings used in the figures should not be interpreted to limit the scope of the claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] Referring to the drawings, various embodiments of the ribbon rod assembly are illustrated and generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1 -16B. In one embodiment the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be used to hang and support a fabric 9 in a manner that forms complete vertical folds along the entire length of the fabric 9 as illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. In another embodiment, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be adapted to have both left and right returns secured to a wall 12, window header 7, or ceiling (not shown) through a bracket system. In one embodiment, one return of the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be hung directly on a curtain rod 14 supporting a valance 46 (FIG.8) in order to support side panels 48A and 48B formed from fabric 9. As used herein the term "return" refers to the end portions of the ribbon rod assembly 10 that contact, directly or indirectly, the wall 12, window header 7 or curtain rod 14 in order to support the ribbon rod assembly 10. In the alternative, vertical blinds, mini blinds, wood blinds or any other type of blinds may be used as a substitute for curtain rod 14.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1A, 1 B and 7, the structure and configuration of the ribbon rod assembly 10 will be discussed. The ribbon rod assembly 10 may include a left-sided ribbon rod body 16 (FIG. 1A) having a curved or sinusoidal configuration adapted for supporting a fabric 9, such as side panel 48A, along one portion of a window 5. In another embodiment, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may also include a right- sided ribbon rod body 16A (FIG. 1 B) having the exact same curved or sinusoidal configuration as ribbon rod body 16 that is adapted to support a fabric 9, such as side panel 48B, along an opposite portion of window 5. For purposes of describing similar

features related to both the ribbon rod body 16 and ribbon rod body 16A reference will be made only to ribbon rod body 16.

[0049] As shown, ribbon rod body 16 has an elongated curved portion 26 (FIG. 2) having a plurality of opposing curves 44A and 44B defined between first and second end portions 22 and 24. In addition, a pair of end brackets 18 are adapted to be engaged to first and second end portions 22 and 24, respectively, in order to engage the ribbon rod body 16 to the wall 9, window header 7 and/or curtain rod 14 as shall be discussed in greater detail below.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1A, first end portion 22 of ribbon rod body 16 defines a terminal slot 36 and a lateral curving slot 38 adapted to act as a "left-sided" ribbon rod assembly 10 when ribbon rod assembly 10 is used in an arrangement where a curtain rod 14 supports the valance 46 such that the curving slot 38 may be hung directly on the curtain rod 14. In one embodiment, the lateral curving slot 38 of the first end portion 22 defines a larger curved portion 66 in communication with a smaller curved portion 68. The larger curved portion 66 of the lateral curving slot 38 is adapted to engage the curtain rod 14, by being hung directly on the curtain rod 14, while the smaller curved portion 68 may be adapted to engage a screw or pin (not shown) inserted through either hole 52A or hole 52B of each pair of end brackets 18 when securing a respective end bracket 18 to either end portion 22 or 24 in order to secure the ribbon rod assembly 10 to either the wall 12 or window header 7.

[0051] As shown, ribbon rod body 16A (FIG. 1 B) is a mirror copy of ribbon rod body 16 (FIG. 1A) in that ribbon rod body 16A has the first end portion 22 defining the lateral curving slot 38 on the left side of ribbon rod body 16A, while ribbon rod body 16 has the lateral curving slot 38 defined on the right side of ribbon rod body 16. Conversely, ribbon rod body 16 has the second end portion 24 with the lateral terminal slot 34 and lateral slot 36 on the left side of body 16, while ribbon rod body 16A has the second end portion 24 with the lateral terminal slot 34 and lateral slot 36 on the right side of body 16A. As such, ribbon rod body 16 may be used to engage the left portion of curtain rod 14, while ribbon rod body 16A may be used to engage the right portion of

curtain rod 14 when the ribbon rod assembly 10 is used in an arrangement that requires a curtain rod 14, such as when a valance 46 is being hung.

[0052] As further shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, one embodiment of the elongated curved portion 26 has six outward curves 44A interposed between the first and second end portions 22 and 24 that communicate with five opposing inward curves 44B for collectively defining the curved or sinusoidal configuration of the ribbon rod body 16. However, other embodiments of ribbon rod body 16 may define any of a plurality of curves 44A and 44B.

[0053] It is this curved or sinusoidal configuration of the elongated curved portion 26 that creates the complete vertical folds 60 (FIG. 7) along the entire length of fabric 9 after the fabric 9 has been engaged to the ribbon rod body 16 as shall be discussed in greater detail below. This engagement is accomplished by inserting either the first end portion 22 or the second end portion 24 through a sewn pocket 58 that is formed along the horizontal upper portion of fabric 9 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 such that complete vertical folds 60 are created due to the curved or sinusoidal configuration of the elongated curved portion 26. In one embodiment, the fabric 9 may have a sewn-in pocket 58 along either or both of the upper and lower portions of the fabric 9 in order to engage the ribbon rod body 16.

[0054] As noted above, the first and second end portions 22 and 24 of ribbon rod body 16 may be engaged to a pair of end brackets 18 in order to secure either one or both of the first and second end portions 22 and 24 to a wall 12 or window header 7 during the assembly and engagement of the ribbon rod assembly 10. In particular, one embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 4 shows the first and second end portions 22 and 24 being engaged to respective end brackets 18 in order to engage both returns of the ribbon rod body 16 to wall 12. This embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 is adapted to be engaged directly to a wall 12, such as dry wall, using a retaining hook 8 (FIG. 13A) to support the ribbon rod assembly 10 as shall be discussed in greater detail below.

[0055] Another embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 shows ribbon rod body 16 with the second end portion 24 secured to wall 12 through

end bracket 18 while first end portion 22 is directly hung on curtain rod 14. This embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 allows the ribbon rod assembly 10 to be engaged to either side of a curtain rod 14 when a curtain rod 14 is used to hang the valance 46 above window 5. Finally, an embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly 10 illustrated in FIG. 6 shows second end portion 24 engaged to wall 12 through end bracket 18 while first end portion 22 is engaged to window header 7 through another end bracket 18. In this way, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be adapted to be secured to both sides of the window header 7.

[0056] Referring to FIGS. 10-12 and 15, each end bracket 18 includes an L- shaped body 39 defining a hanging portion 40 adapted to engage either the wall 12 or window header 7 using retaining hooks 8 or other suitable means of attachment and a support portion 42 adapted to engage either end portion 22 or 24 of ribbon rod body 16. As shown, support portion 42 includes opposing depending flanges 74 that collectively define a channel 72 adapted to secure end portion 22 or 24 in either in full or partial insertion positions corresponding to holes 52A and 52B, respectively, defined along the support portion 42. In addition, the hanging portion 40 includes opposing outward flanges 76 that provide a surface for contacting and spacing apart either the wall 12 or window header 7 from the end bracket 18.

[0057] As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the hanging portion of the L-shaped body 39 defines a plurality of holes 50 adapted to engage one or more retention hooks 8 or other attachment means, such as a screw or nail, suitable for securing end brackets 18 against a supporting surface, such as a wall 12 or window header 7. The retention hooks 8 engaged to wall 12 or the screws or nails engaged to the window header 7 are to support the combined weight of fabric 9 and ribbon rod body 16 without bending or pulling out the end brackets 18 from the supporting surface.

[0058] In one embodiment, either first or second end portions 22 or 24 may be fully inserted into channel 72 of end bracket 18 such that either the lateral slot 34 of end portion 24 or the lateral curving slot 38 of end portion 22 are aligned with hole 52A. A pin or screw (not shown) may then be inserted through the aligned hole 52A to secure either end portion 22 or 24 in the fully inserted position relative to end bracket 18. In

another embodiment, either end portion 22 or 24 may be placed in a partially inserted position into channel 72 such that either the lateral slot 34 or the lateral curving slot 38 are aligned with hole 52B such that either end portion 22 or 24 is in the partially inserted position relative to end bracket 18. In the partially inserted position, the ribbon rod body 16 is spaced farther away from end brackets 18 relative to fully inserted position wherein the ribbon rod body 16 is spaced closer to the end brackets 18. In this way, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may support the fabric 9 either closer or farther from the window 5.

[0059] FIGS. 4-9 illustrate three different aspects of supporting the fabric 9 as briefly described above. As shown in FIG. 4 and 7, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may have both returns engaged to the wall 12 on one side of window 5 through end brackets 18 that secure end portions 22 and 24 to the wall 12 by retention hooks 8. In one embodiment, the method for securing the ribbon rod assembly 10 to wall 12 on opposing portions of window 5 requires that the wall 12 be made from dry wall in order to permit insertion and retention of one or more retention hooks 8 through wall 12.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 13A and 13B, the retention hook 8 used to secure the end brackets 18 to wall 12 will be discussed. One embodiment of the retention hook 8 includes a body 54 that defines a curved middle portion 63 interposed between a hook-shaped proximal portion 62 adapted to engage the end bracket 18 through one or more holes 50 and a pointed distal portion 64 adapted to facilitate insertion of the retention hook 8 through wall 12, such as dry wall, and contact the interior portion of wall 12 in a biased position. If the user desires to secure the ribbon rod assembly 10 directly to the wall 12, the user takes the pointed distal portion 64 of the retention hook 8 and inserts portion 64 completely through wall 12. As the user is inserting the pointed distal portion 64 through wall 12 along direction A (FIG. 13A) the retention hook 8 is twisted through the wall 12 and the pointed distal portion 64 oriented in direction B (FIG. 13B) such that the pointed distal portion 64 contacts the interior portion of wall 12 in a biased position due to the inherent flexibility of the retention hook 8. This procedure of inserting and engaging the retention hook 8 to wall 12 is repeated for as many retention hooks 8 required to support end brackets 18. In one embodiment, the retention hook 8

may be a HERCULES HOOK™ that is commonly sold in the interior design market, however other hanger or hook arrangements for supporting the combined weight of the ribbon rod body 16 and fabric 9 are contemplated.

[0061] After two or more retention hooks 8 are inserted through wall 12 as described above the user may then assemble the ribbon rod assembly 10. As shown in FIG. 14, the user inserts one end of the ribbon rod body 16 through the pocket seam 58 sewn along the top portion of the fabric 9 along direction C until the entire pocket seam 58 is engaged to the ribbon rod body 16 between the first and second end portions 22 and 24.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 15, once the fabric 9 is fully engaged to the ribbon rod body 16 as described above such that complete vertical folds 60 are formed by the fabric 9 the user may then engage the end brackets 18 to the retention hooks 8 by inserting a respective retention hook 8 through a respective hole 50 of end bracket 18. Once both end brackets 18 are secured to the wall 12 through retention hooks 8 on respective opposing portions of the window 5, the ribbon rod body 16 which is supporting the fabric 9 may be engaged to the end brackets 18 by inserting the end portion 22 into the channel 72 of one end bracket 18 and the other end portion 24 into the channel 72 of the other end bracket 20 as shown in FIG. 15. In this embodiment, either ribbon rod body 16 or 16A may be utilized on either side of window 5. As described above, the end portions 22 and 24 may be fully or partially inserted into respective end brackets 18 and then a pin or screw may be inserted through either hole 52A or 52B in order to secure end portions 22 and 24 with the respective end brackets 18 in either the full or partially inserted positions.

[0063] This procedure of securing the ribbon rod assembly 10 to the left side of window 5 may be duplicated for the right side of the window 5 so that a respective ribbon rod assembly 10 supporting a side panel 48A or 48B may be secured to opposing portions of the window 5 as illustrated in FIG. 7. Although the method of assembling and securing the ribbon rod assembly 10 is described above, the sequence of securing the retention hooks 8, attaching the fabric 9 to the ribbon rod body 16 and securing the ribbon rod body 16 to either respective end brackets 18 may be

accomplished in any suitable sequence. For example, the retention hooks 8 may be engaged to the wall 12 after the fabric 9 has been engaged to the ribbon rod body 16 or end brackets 18 may be engaged to the ribbon rod body 16 before being engaged to the retention hooks 8.

[0064] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 8, a method of mounting the ribbon rod assembly 10 on both sides of the valance 46 supported by a curtain rod 14 is illustrated. In this method, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be secured to the left and right portions of the curtain rod 14 that supports the valance 46 across the top portion of window 5. As shown, ribbon rod body 16 may be engaged to the left portion of the curtain rod 14 for supporting a left side panel 48A of fabric 9, while ribbon rod body 16A may be engaged to the right portion of the curtain rod 14 for supporting a right side panel 48B of fabric 9. To assemble, the user engages the fabric 9 with the respective ribbon rod body 16 and 16A in the manner illustrated in FIG. 14. The user then engages the end portion 24 with the end bracket 18 that is mounted to the wall 12 as described above, while the lateral curving slot 38 of end portion 22 is engaged or otherwise hung on the left portion of the curtain rod 14. In particular, the larger portion 68 of lateral curving slot 38 is hung to the curtain rod 14. Similarly, the user also engages the end portion 24 of ribbon rod body 16A with end bracket 18 that is mounted to the wall 12 as noted above and then engages or otherwise hangs the lateral curving slot 38 to the right portion of the curtain rod 14 in order to complete the arrangement of supporting the left and ridge side panels 48A and 48B shown in FIG. 8.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, a method of mounting the ribbon rod assembly 10 to the window heater 7 is illustrated. The ribbon rod assembly 10 may have one return engaged to the wall 12 while the other return is engaged to the window header 7. As described above, the user engages the fabric 9 with the ribbon rod body 16 or 16A. The user may then engage one end bracket 18 to the wall 12 and the other end bracket 18 to the window heater 7. The ribbon rod body 16 is engaged to the left side of the window header 7 by securing end portion 22 to the end bracket 18 while securing the end portion 24 to the other end bracket 18 secured to the window header 7. This procedure is duplicated for the other ribbon rod body 16 or 16A such that the

one end portion 22 or 24 is secured to the right side of the window header 7 through end bracket 18 and the other end portion 22 or 24 is secured to the wall 12 through the other end bracket 18. In this method of attachment, either end portion 22 or 24 of ribbon rod body 16 or 16A may be used to support either side panel 48A or 48B. In one embodiment, the end brackets 18 may be secured to the window header 7 using nails or screws (not shown). In addition to securing the ribbon rod assembly 10 to both sides of the window 5, other embodiments contemplate that the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be secured to the wall above the window 5 or the ceiling proximate the window 5.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 16A and 16B, a method for assembling another embodiment of the ribbon rod assembly, designated 10A, for securing the end portions 22 of the ribbon rod body 16B to an alternate embodiment of the end brackets 18A is illustrated. In this embodiment, end brackets 18A each define an identical L-shaped body 69 having a support portion 71 defining a plurality of holes 78 adapted to engage end portions 22 of the ribbon rod body 16B. In addition, the support portion 71 of end bracket 18A communicates with a hanging portion 73 defining a plurality of holes 79 adapted for securing the end brackets 18A to the wall 12 or window header 7 as described above, using retention hooks 8, screws or nails (not shown).

[0067] As shown, the ribbon rod body 16B may be engaged to the end brackets 18A by first engaging screws 56 through one or more of the plurality of holes 78. The user then engages the terminal slots 32 and 36 of the end portions 22 to the screws 56 secured to the end brackets 18A as illustrated in FIG. 16A. Once so engaged, the ribbon rod body 16B is pivoted about the screw 56 engaged to the terminal slots 32 and 36 until the lateral slot 34 and the curving slot 38 become engaged to other respective screw 56.

[0068] In one embodiment, the ribbon rod body 16 may be made from a metallic material, such as stainless steel, however other flexible metallic and plastic materials suitable for supporting the weight of the fabric 9 is contemplated. The end brackets 18 may also be made from a similar metallic or plastic material, while the retaining hook 8 may be made from a flexible metallic material capable of bending yet strong enough to completely penetrate through the wall 12 and support the combined

weight of the ribbon rod assembly 10 and fabric 9 once secured in a biased position against wall 12.

[0069] In another embodiment, the ribbon rod body 16 or 16A may be engaged to a pair of ceiling mounted end brackets 19 adapted to be secured from the ceiling (not shown) proximate the window 5. Referring to FIGS. 17-21 , the ceiling mounted end bracket 19 may include a body 81 having a securing portion 82 and a hanging portion 84 with a slot 108 defined between portions 82 and 84 adapted to secure fabric 9. The securing portion 82 of the end bracket 19 is adapted to engage the body 81 to the ceiling, while the hanging portion 84 is adapted to secure the fabric 9 and ribbon rod body 16 to the end bracket 19. In particular, the securing portion 82 may define a pair of holes 88 adapted to receive bolts (not shown) that mount the securing portion 82 to the ceiling. The hanging portion 84 defines a channel 106 adapted to engage the ribbon rod body 16. The hanging portion 84 further defines a pair of threaded holes 88 adapted to engage a respective thumbscrew (not shown) to either the first end portion 22 or second end portion 24 of the ribbon rod body 16. As such, the thumbscrews may be engaged through the threaded holes 88 aligned with either the terminal slot 36 and curving lateral slot 38, respectively, of the first end portion or the terminal slot 34 and the lateral slot 34, respectively, of the second end portion 24 in order to secure the ribbon rod body 16 to the ceiling mounted end bracket 19.

[0070] In one aspect, the ribbon rod assembly 10 may be used with swags (not shown) that have ready-made pleats already formed in the fabric 9 that may also form separate rod pockets adapted to receive a curtain rod 14 or the like for hanging the swag.

[0071] It should be understood from the foregoing that, while particular embodiments have been illustrated and described, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teachings of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.