GB2246592A - Roller mounting bracket - Google Patents

Abstract

A bracket for supporting a roller, such as a roller blind to a wall or a ceiling comprises a body 2 for attachment to a surface and a rotatable locking member 2, both including slots 12, 20, 21 which can be aligned by relative rotation of the locking member and the body to admit a pin of a roller; subsequent rotation of the locking member moving the slots out of alignment to prevent withdrawal of the pin via the slot. As rotation of the slots out of alignment following admittance of the roller pin prevents withdrawal via the slot, accidental upward displacement of the pin cannot take place. The bracket is preferably arranged so that the pin can be admitted at a point away from the wall or ceiling to facilitate easy installation. <IMAGE>

Description

A BRACKET This invention relates to a bracket and particularly to a bracket for supporting and securing a roller, such as a roller blind.

It is known to support a roller blind using a bracket having a slot which is fixed to a wall or ceiling. In use the slot is substantially vertical. However, although this device is able to support the weight of the roller blind satisfactorily, it is possible to displace the roller blind upwards, by accidentally knocking the blind, to disengage the roller from the slot, which is clearly undesirable.

The major disadvantage associated with the vertical slot is that it does not allow the blind to be installed closer to a ceiling than its own thickness. When the bracket is fitted for ceiling mounting, in the "top fix position" the top of the vertical slot, where the roller pin is admitted, is close to the ceiling. The close proxirity of the ceiling greatly hampers installation of the roller blind. These problems are exacerbated if the roller blind is to be installed into a recess or "blind box", since the walls of the blind box" restrict lateral movement of the roller blind. This is unsatisfactory since installation of the roller blind into a "blind box" is often preferable for aesthetic reasons.

The present invention overcomes the above problems and provides a bracket which supports and secures a roller and facilitates easy installation. The roller blind pin can be admitted into the bracket via a slot positioned away from the ceiling, so that installation into the "top fix position" and into a "blind box" is simple. This device may be used for several types of roller, such as a roller blind; rollers for paper; or rollers for towels.

According to the invention there is provided a bracket comprising a body for attachment to a surface and a rotatable locking member, both including slots which can be aligned by rotation of the locking member to admit a pin of a roller; subsequent rotation of the locking member moves the slots out of alignment to prevent withdrawal of the pin via the slot.

As rotation of the slots out of alignment following admittance of the roller pin prevents withdrawal via the slot, accidental upward displacement of the pin cannot take place.

Preferably the bracket includes means to prevent complete rotation of the locking member. This may comprise a stop on the body which engages a surface of the locking member.

Advantageously, the assembled bracket includes a slot in an outer portion of the body located at a distance greater than that between the centre of the locking member and the point at which the body is fixed to a wall or ceiling. Such an arrangement allows the roller pin to be admitted at a point away from the wall or ceiling, overcoming the problems mentioned previously with regard to conventional vertical slots, which tend to hamper installation.

Preferably, the locking member includes means to facilitate rotation by hand. Suitable means include projections on an outer portion of the locking member or alternatively, the outer portion of the locking member may overhang the edge of the body so that the locking member can be rotated by hand, like a dial.

The bracket can be used in conjunction with any type of roller blind.

A preferred bracket embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan view of the locking member; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the body; Fig. 3 is a section on the line x-x' of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on the line y-y' of Fig. 2; Figs. 5-7 are plan views of the bracket, showing rotation of the locking member; and Fig. 8 is a side view of the bracket of Figs. 5-7 and a roller blind pin fitted into it.

The bracket 1 is formed by engagement of the body 2 and the locking member 3. As shown in Fig. 1 and 3, the locking member 3 comprises a disc having a circular central hole 4 defined by an axially extending cylindrical boss 5.

A slot 12 extends from the centre hole 4 through the boss 5 to the edge of the disc. The slot is bordered by walls 8.

At the edge of the disc each of the walls 8 merges with an outer part-circular wall 9 extending around the whole of the circumference of the disc apart from the slot 12 itself. The inner ends of the walls 8 merge with an inner part-circular wall 11 also extending around the whole of the disc apart from the slot 12. The boss 5, and walls 8 and 9, are co-axial. An inner recess 13 is defined between the boss 5 and the part-circular wall 11.

The disc further includes radial projections 14 located on a diameter perpendicular to the slot 12. These projections facilitate rotation of the locking member by hand.

The body 2 includes an axially extending circumferential rim 18 and a part-circular wall 17 as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, and the space between the part-circular wall 17 and the rim 18 defines an annular recess 19.

The rim 18 and part-circular wall 17 include aligned slots 20 and 21 respectively. The slots 20 and 21 are diametrically opposite a circular post 22 disposed in the recess 19, as shown in Fig. 2.

The body further includes conventional fixture means 23 to enable it to be fixed to a wall or ceiling. This may comprise a plate provided with screw holes for example.

When the body 2 and the locking member 3 are assembled together, the wall 17 of the body is located in the inner recess 13 of the locking member. The outer surface 24 of the wall 9, engages the inner surface 25 of the rim 18 so that the locking member is rotatable within the body as shown in Figs. 5-7.

In use, the slots in the body and the locking member are aligned by rotating the locking member and the pin of a roller blind inserted as far as the central hole via the aligned slots. The locking member is again rotated until the post 22 engages the wall 8 and the slots are out of alignment. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the pin cannot then be withdrawn via the slots and the roller is secured.

Since the slot 20 of the rim is diametrically opposite the fixture means 23, the pin 27 of a roller blind 26 can be easily installed into the bracket fixed to a wall or ceiling as shown in Fig. 8.

Claims (7)

1. A bracket comprising a body for attachment to a surface and a rotatable locking member, both including slots which can be aligned by relative rotation of the locking member and the body to admit a pin of a roller, subsequent rotation of the locking member moving the slots out of alignment to prevent withdrawal of the pin via the slot.

2. A bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket includes means to prevent complete rotation of the locking member relative to the body.

3. A bracket as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means comprises a stop on the body which engages a surface of the locking member.

4. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the slot of the body is located in an outer portion of the body, away from the surface to which the body is to be fixed.

5. A bracket as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking member includes means to facilitate rotation by hand.

6. A bracket as claimed in claim 5, wherein the means to facilitate rotation by hand comprise projections on an outer portion of the locking member.

7. A bracket substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.