GB2032498A

GB2032498A - Roller Blind Support System

Info

Publication number: GB2032498A
Application number: GB7841852A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: BESTOBELL HOME PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: BESTOBELL HOME PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 1978-10-25
Filing date: 1978-10-25
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: GB2032498B; NL7907754A

Abstract

A support system for a rolling blind includes a bearing to receive an end of the blind roller 2, and a housing 32 to be mounted on a wall or other support structure. To mount the roller blind, one end of the blind roller 2 is located in a conventional wall mounted bracket 4 and the other end of the blind 2 is located in the bearing. The blind roller 2 is manoeuvered to bring the bearing into engagement with the wall mounted housing 32. The bearing may include a drive roller 8 which is rotatably mounted in a seating 24. The drive roller-seating combination is arranged to make a firm sliding fit in the housing 32. The support assembly of the invention enables the blind roller 2 to be readily mounted or dismounted without having to remove or adjust the end bracket 4 or the housing 32. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Roller Support System Technical Field The present invention relates to a roller support system. The invention is particularly concerned with but not exclusively limited to a roller support system for a roller blind assembly including a blind roller which can be readily replaced.

Background Art A conventional roller blind assembly includes a cord roller driving a blind roller on which the blind is wound; the two rollers being coaxial with one another. The roller combination is supported at opposite ends on two mounting brackets which are secured to adjacent room walls, window frames or other suitable support structures.

Statement of Invention and Advantages It is an aim of the invention to provide an improved roller support system, accordingly there is provided a roller support system comprising a housing member adapted for attachment to a support structure, and an end bearing to receive one end of the roller in which the bearing and housing member are mutually engageable to support said one end of the roller after the other end has been supported. This means that the said other end of the roller may be located in a suitable end bearing and the said one end of the roller may then be located in its supported operational position. In order to remove the roller, the end bearing and the housing member are disengaged from one another thereby enabling the said other end of the roller to be removed from its support in order to release the roller.

The end bearing may comprise a bracket seating and a drive roller to receive said one end of the blind roller; the drive roller being rotatably mountable in the seating.

In this Specification the expression "drive roller" means a roller which is rotatable so as to rotate the blind roller to wind or unwind the blind.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drive roller is a friction drive roller which is rotatable by an endless cord wound thereon and is adapted to remain in any set position until moved by further movement of the cord.

A stud may project axially from the drive roller in order to make a push fit in the blind roller.

The bracket seating may include a coaxial recess and aperture to receive the mounted drive roller and the stud respectively. The bracket seating may make a firm fit in the housing member, and may be slidably locatable in the housing member.

The invention includes within its scope a roller blind assembly including the aforementioned roller support system.

Figures in the Drawings An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one roller blind assembly of the invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view of a component of the assembly of Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Drawings Referring to the drawings, one roller blind assembly of the invention includes a blind roller 2 extending between and rotatably mounted on an end bracket 4 and a support system to be hereinafter described which are secured to suitable support structures such as for example a window frame or opposed walls. A roller blind is wound on the roller 2 which is driven by a cord roller 8 having therein a circumferential groove 10 to receive an endless cord 12. The cord 12 is retained in the groove 10 by an inwardly biased arcuate clamp 14 which extends around approximately 80% of the groove to leave a gap 16 through which the cord 12 enters and leaves the groove 10.

A cylindrical stud 20 projects coaxially from the cord roller 8; this stud 20 being dimensioned to make a push fit in one end of the blind roller 2.

An elongate recess 22 is formed in the curved surface of the stud 20 parallel to its longitudinal axis so as to mate with a corresponding projecting key in the blind roller 2.

The cord roller 8 rests in a generally square end bracket seating 24 having therein a coaxial circular recess and a circular hole 28 to receive and to make a rotatable fit with the cord roller 8 and the stud 20 respectively. When the cord roller 8 is located in the bracket seating 24 the stud 20 projects through the hole 28 and the cord roller 8 fills the recess to lie flush with the wall facing surface of the seating 24. The blind cord 12 passes from the gap 16 in the cord roller 8 through one of two diagrammatically opposed recesses 30 in the seating 4.

The assembled cord roller 8 and seating 24 make a firm sliding fit in a housing 32 having opposed major faces 33 and 34. These faces 33 and 34 are rectangular and are connected to one another along three of their edges to provide a generally box-like structure having an open side 36 through which the seating 24 enters or leaves the housing 32. The housing face 34 has a cutaway portion 38 extending from the open side 36 to enable the stud 20 to project through the face 34 into the blind roller when the seating 24 is located in the housing 32. The cut-away part 38 includes an arcuate rim 40 which grips an annular collar 42 on the seating 24 to retain the seating in its fully inserted position in the housing 32. Two spaced runners 44, formed on the face 33, extend the length of the housing 32 parallel to adjacent edges 46 and 48 of the face 33.The seating 24 and the housing 32 are arranged so that the seating 24 makes a first sliding fit with the runners 44 and the face 34 thereby enabling the seating 24 to be slid into and out of the housing 32 and to be retained fully in the housing 32 by the action of the rim 40 on the collar 42.

The roller blind assembly includes a stud 48 which is basically similar to the stud 20 except that it includes a projecting post 50 designed to be rotatably mounted in a bearing housing 52 in the end bracket 4. Both the housing 32 and the end bracket 4 have appropriately positioned holes therein to receive mounting screws or bolts to secure the housing 32 and the bracket 4 to a wall or other support structure. A recess 54 is formed in each of the two opposed side walls 56 of the housing 32 to enable the blind cord 12 to pass to and from the cord roller 8 when located in the housing 32.

To mount the roller blind assembly, the end bracket 4, and the housing 32 are screwed or bolted to their respective opposed walls or other suitable support structures. The cord roller 8 is placed in the circular recess in the bracket seating 24 with the stud 20 projecting through the hole 28, and with the blind cord 12 passing through one of the two recesses 30. The studs 20 and 48 are then pushed into respective opposite ends of the blind roller 2, and the post 50 is located in the bearing 52 in the end bracket 4. The blind cord 12 is then passed through the lower one of the two recesses 54, and the blind roller 2 is manoeuvered to bring the seating 24 to the open side 36 of the housing 32. The seating 24 is then aligned with and slid fully into the housing 32 thereby causing the rim 40 to grip the collar 42 on the seating 24. The blind cord 12 is then pulled through the recess 54 until the cord 12 hanges downwardly ready for use.

To remove the blind roller 2, all that is necessary is to pull out the seating 24 from the housing 32 thereby swinging the blind roller 2 away from its mounted position, and then withdrawing the post 50 from the bearing 52 in the end bracket 4. It will be appreciated that the blind roller 2 can be mounted and removed quickly and easily without having to detach either the end bracket 4 or the housing 32.

Although the aforementioned example of the invention is a friction roller blind, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited for use with a friction roller blind assembly, but can be used to support a roller intended for other purposes.

Claims

1. A roller support system comprising a housing member adapted for attachment to a support structure, and an end bearing to receive one end of the roller, in which the bearing and housing member are engageable to support said one end of the roller after the other end of the roller has been supported.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the end bearing comprises a bracket seating and a drive roller to receive said one end of the first roller, in which the drive roller is rotatably mountable in the seating.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, in which the drive roller is a friction-drive roller.

4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, in which a stud projects axially from the drive roller to make a push fit in the first roller.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4, in which the bracket seating includes a coaxial recess and aperture to receive the drive roller and stud respectively.

6. A system as claimed in Claim 5, in which the bracket seating makes a firm fit in the housing member.

7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, in which the bracket seating is slidably locatable in the housing member.

8. A system as claimed in Claim 7, in which the seating makes a firm sliding fit with two laterally spaced parts of the housing member.

9. A system as claimed in Claim 8, in which each of said spaced parts comprises a face of the housing member and an elongate rim projecting from an opposed face of the housing member.

10. A roller support system substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A roller blind assembly substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A roller blind assembly including a support system as claimed in any preceding Claim.

12. A roller blind assembly substantially as herein described and shown in accompanying drawings.

New Claims or Amendments to Claims Filed on 14/12/79 Superseded Claims 1-12 New or Amended Claims:-1-1 1

1. A roller support system comprising a housing member adapted for attachment to a support structure, and an end bearing to receive one end of the roller, in which the bearing and housing member are mutually engageable to support said one end of the roller after the other end of the roller has been supported, the end bearing comprises a bracket seating and a drive roller to receive said one end of the first roller, and the drive roller is rotatably mountable in the seating.

2. A system as claimed in Claim 1, in which the drive roller is a friction-drive roller.

3. A system as claimed in Claim 2, in which a stud projects axially from the drive roller to make a push fit in the first roller.

4. A system as claimed in Claim 3, in which the bracket seating includes a coaxial recess and aperture to receive the drive roller and stud respectively.

5. A system as claimed in Claim 4, in which the bracket seating makes a firm fit in the housing member.

6. A system as claimed in Claim 5, in which the bracket seating is slidably locatable in the housing member.

7. A system as claimed in Claim 6, in which the seating makes a firm sliding fit with two laterally spaced parts of the housing member.

8. A system as claimed in Claim 7, in which each of said spaced parts comprises a face of the housing member and an elongate rim projecting from an opposed face of the housing member.

9. A roller support system substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

10. A roller blind assembly including a support system as claimed in any preceding Claim.