GB2264323A

GB2264323A - Window blind mounting bracket

Info

Publication number: GB2264323A
Application number: GB9203715A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Ralton
Original assignee: Eclipse Blinds Ltd
Current assignee: Eclipse Blinds Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-21
Filing date: 1992-02-21
Publication date: 1993-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2012-02-21
Also published as: GB9203715D0; GB2264323B; GB2264323B8

Abstract

Bracket means (1) for attachment to a wall, window frame or ceiling in order to provide a support for a window blind, the bracket means having latching means (7) for temporary fixing of a casing (6) of the window blind loosely in position prior to fixedly securing the casing (6) to the bracket means (1). <IMAGE>

Description

BRACKET MEANS This invention relates to brackets for fixing window blinds above a window and, more particularly, to a latching means for retaining a window blind on a fixing bracket.

When fixing window blinds such as slatted blinds (horizontal or vertical) to a bracket means above a window the blind must be held manually in position in the bracket means whilst being fixed to the bracket. For an installer working alone this can be a long and tedious job. Larger blinds are generally held in place above the head of one installer while another installer finely positions the blind and fixes the blind to the brackets. Therefore, at least two installers are usually required to position and fix the larger blinds above a window which can be inconvenient and time consuming.

Furthermore the blind may be dropped before it is properly attached to the bracket means causing personal injury or material damage.

The present invention aims to overcome or at least mitigate the problems associated with the prior art devices.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided bracket means for attachment to a wall, window frame or ceiling in order to provide a support for a window blind, the bracket means having latching means for temporary fixing of a casing of the window blind loosely in position prior to fixedly securing the casing to the bracket means.

Advantageously, the latching means comprises a resilient finger which captures the casing within the bracket prior to fixing.

Advantageously, the latching means is further provided with secondary fixing means for fixedly securing the casing to the bracket means. Conveniently, the secondary fixing means comprises a through bore which enables securing means to pass through the bracket and the latching means to fixedly secure the casing to the bracket means.

Conveniently, the resilient finger is bifurcated to provide a passage for the securing means through the latching means.

Preferably the latching means is substantially U-shaped in cross-section.

One embodiment of the application will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a bracket means according to one aspect of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a side view of a latching means of the bracket means of FIGURE 1, and FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the latching means of FIGURE 2.

Turning now to figures 1-3 there is shown a bracket means 1 which is substantially right angled to allow the bracket means to be fixed to wall or the like above a window. The horizontal arm 2 of the bracket means is provided with an inturned lip 3 which has an aperture 4 provided therein.

A punched-out tongue 5 is formed on the horizontal arm 2 of the bracket means a predetermined distance from the inturned lip 3. The distance is chosen depending on the size of window blind to be fitted in particular the width of the casing 6 along the top of the blind.

A latching means 7 is provided on the inside of the lip 3, the latching means having front and rear walls 8,9 and a channel 10 defined therebetween. An integral boss 11 is provided in the front wall 8 of the latching means and a bore 12 is provided therethrough for receiving an attaching screw (not shown) The boss 11 is of slightly smaller diameter than the aperture 4 in the lip 3 in order that the boss may pass through the aperture to attach the latching means 7 to the bracket means 1.

The rear wall 9 of the latching means is bifurcated to provide two resilient fingers 13 separated by a passage 14.

The passage 14 in the rear face 9 of the latching means is aligned with the boss 11 in the front wall 8 of the latching means in order that the attaching screw passes through the boss 11 in the front wall and the passage 14 in the rear wall of the latching means.

The height of the resilient fingers 13 of the rear wall 9 of the latching means is less than the height of the front wall 8.

The latching means 7 may, for example, be formed of a plastics material such as "nylon 66" material or any suitable material which is strong enough to hold the casing 6 of the window blind prior to fixing but which is also resilient enough to allow the casing 6 to pass over the fingers 13 prior to fixing of the casing to the latching means 7.

The bracket means 1 may be a plurality of narrow brackets each with a tongue 5 or it may be a rail having a plurality of tongues 5 and apertures 4 each to receive a latching means 7.

In use, a bracket means 1 is fixed to a wall or ceiling above a window where the blind is to be fitted. The casing 6 of the window blind is then inserted into the bracket means 1 by engaging the tongues 5 of the bracket means in a longitudinal groove 15 along one side of the casing 6 and pivoting the casing upwards around the tongue 5 in order that a lip 16 along the other side of the casing 6 passes over the resilient fingers 13 in the rear wall 9 of the latching means 7. Thus the casing 6 is loosely held in position on the bracket means 1 by the latching means 7.The fixing screw is then passed through the aperture 4 in the lip 3 of the bracket means and through the boss 11 in the latching means 7, through the passage 14 between the resilient fingers 13 of the rear wall 9 and abuts the lip 16 of the window blind casing 6 in order to fixedly hold the casing in position on the bracket means.

It can be seen that when the casing 6 is loosely held in position by the latching means 7, the casing 6 is completely supported by the bracket means 1 and thus does not require the casing to be held in position during fixing as is common with known window blinds. Thus the latching means 7 as described above allows a window blind system to be fitted quickly and easily by one person.

It is to be understood that a number of brackets 1 each having a latching means 7 as described above will be provided at predetermined positions along the length of the window, the number of latching means 7 depending upon the length of the blind to be fitted.

Claims

1. Bracket means for attachment to a wall, window frame or ceiling in order to provide a support for a window blind, the bracket means having latching means for temporary fixing of a casing of the window blind loosely in position prior to fixedly securing the casing to the bracket means.

2. Bracket means according to claim 1 wherein the latching means comprises a resilient finger which captures the casing within the bracket prior to fixing.

3. Bracket means according to claim 2 wherein the latching means is further provided with secondary fixing means for fixedly securing the casing to the bracket means.

4. Bracket means according to claim 2 wherein the secondary fixing means comprises a through bore which enables securing means to pass through the bracket and the latching means to fixedly secure the casing to the bracket means.

5. Bracket means according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the resilient finger is bifurcated to provide a passage for the securing means through the latching means.

6. Bracket means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the latching means is substantially U-shaped in crosssection.

7. Bracket means for attachment to a wall, window frame or ceiling in order to provide a suppdrt for a window blind substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.