GB2351994A

GB2351994A - Mounting bracket for releasably securing the head rail of a blind

Info

Publication number: GB2351994A
Application number: GB9916806A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Charles Allsopp
Original assignee: Louver Lite Ltd
Current assignee: Louver Lite Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-16
Filing date: 1999-07-16
Publication date: 2001-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-16
Also published as: GB2351994B; IE20000527A1; AU4722000A; GB9916806D0

Abstract

A mounting bracket 2 for releasably securing a head rail 14 includes bracket arm 4 having an end portion (32, figure 2) for engaging a head rail channel 26 and a rotatable locking member 16 for securing the rail in position. The locking member may include a cylindrical waist portion 42 about which it pivots and a flange 20 which passes through a keyhole-shaped slot 18 provided in the bracket arm. The locking member further includes a radially projecting portion 46 for engaging a second head rail channel 26 and may include a lever 48 and/or slot 44 to effect rotation. It is also preferably provided with a catch 50 to prevent unwanted rotation.

Description

2351994 MOUNTING 2RACKET The present invention relates to mounting

brackets and in particular but not exclusively to mounting brackets frcr securing a head rail of a blind assembly to a support surface.

one type of known mounting bracket for supporting a blind head rail consists of a bracket arm which is fixed to a support surface. The bracket arm includes a first support element extending downwardly from one end of the bracket arm, and a second support element spaced a suitable distance from the first support element. The second support element includes an engagement portion which projects parallel to the bracket arm towards the first support element. The first support element includes a threaded bore and a screw in threaded engagement with the bore such that rotation of the screw in one direction moves an engagement end of the screw towards the second support element and rotation of the screw in the other direction moves the engagement end of the screw away from the second support element. In use, the screw is rotated so that the engagement end of the screw is moved away from the second support element until the distance between the engagement end of the screw and the second support element is such that the head rail can be located in the desired position. Once in the desired position, the engagement portion of the second support element is located in one of the two opposed channels provided in the upper portion of the head rail.

The head rail is then maintained in this position while the 2 screw is rotated so that the engagement end moves towards the second support element and becomes engaged in the other of the two opposed channels. Thus, the head rail is secured in position by one of its two channels being supported by the engagement portion of the second support element and the other of its two channels being supported by the screw of the first support element.

This type of known arrangement suffers several problems. Most notably, when the bracket is to be fixed in a tight space, it is difficult to apply a screwdriver to the screw to effect rotation of it. Additionally, it is necessary for a user to support the head rail with one hand while screwing in the screw with the other. This is often a very difficult task to perform and requires the user to have a great deal of manual dexterity. Furthermore, it is not desirable to have the screw head visible on what is in use the front of the bracket and head rail as this can detract from the visual appearance of the blinds.

A further known type of mounting bracket for supporting a blind head rail consists of a bracket arm having at one end thereof a first support element and, at a suitable distance from the first support element, a second support element. The second support element consists of a curved resilient arm having a contact surface at one end. In use, one of the two head rail channels has located therein an engagement portion of the first support element. The head rail is then pushed upwards which in turn urges the curved resilient arm of the second support element to 3 move away from the first support element. Once the head rail is correctly located, the second support element snaps back towards its rest position and a portion of the second support element engages the other of the head rail channels. The head rail is supported in the desired position by the engagement portion of the first support element and the engagement portion of the second support element.

To release the head rail, the second support element must be urged away from the first support element until there is sufficient distance between the two to enable the head rail to be removed.

Again, there are several problems with this type of bracket. Firstly, in order to provide the bracket with sufficient strength to support the head rail and associated blind, the support element must have a very high degree of resilience. That is to say, it requires a very large force to urge it away from the first support element. The amount of force required means it is difficult to engage and disengage the head rail in the bracket. Indeed, the force required can often be more than a user can physically apply, it can be sufficient to damage the support surface or it can be such that it is greater than the force required to remove the bracket from the support surface.

Thus, there is perceived in the art a need for a mounting bracket which is quick and easy to use and which overcomes or ameliorates one or more of the problems 4 associated with the known mounting brackets.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mounting bracket for releasably securing thereto a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof, the mounting bracket including a bracket arm provided with a head rail channel engaging member and a locking member rotatably coupled to the bracket arm at a predetermined distance from the head rail channel engaging member, the locking member including an engagement element projecting from a portion thereof radially to the locking member axis of rotation, whereby the locking member is rotatable relative to the bracket arm between a lock position and a release position.

The advantage of this aspect of the present invention is that a user can simply and quickly engage or disengage a head rail from the mounting bracket with the minimum of effort and without the need for considerable manual dexterity. In use, the user first rotates the locking member into a release position. He then locates the channel engaging member in a first head rail channel and then rotates the locking member about its axis of rotation into a lock position. In the lock position, the locking member engagement element is located in the second head rail channel so that the downwardly facing surface of the first head rail channel is supported by the channel engaging member and the downwardly facing surface of the second head rail channel is supported by the locking member engagement element. This arrangement prevents downward movement of the head rail once it is secured by the mounting bracket w i t h the locking member in its lock position.

To disengage the head rail, a user simply rotates the locking member about its rotational axis from a lock position to a release position. This is turn moves the locking member engagement element out of engagement with the second head rail channel and thus permits removal of the head rail from the bracket.

To aid rotation of the locking member, it preferably includes a lever portion, preferably projecting away from the bracket arm. This provides the user with a relatively large surface to which he can apply a rotational force, which is preferably applied using one or more digits of a user's hand.

Additionally, or alternatively, the locking member may include an elongate slot, which preferably intersects the locking member axis of rotation, the slot being engageable by a torque inducing apparatus, e.g. a screwdriver. The slot may be useful for causing rotation of the locking member about its rotational axis if, for example, there is insufficient space available for a user easily to rotate the locking member using one or more digits of his hand. Thus a screwdriver (or other torque inducing apparatus) may be used when the head rail and bracket are mounted in an area where space is limited or restricted.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking member includes 6 rotation resisting means capable of resisting the rotation 0'. the locking member out of the 'Lock position or capable of releasably ret- aining the locking means in the lock position. Such an arrangement prevents or reduces the risk 5 of accidental release of the head rail from the bracket.

The rotation resisting means may include the locking member engagement element having a cammed profile comprising two or more lobes which define therebetween one or more inter lobal regions, wherein the or one of the inter lobal region may be arranged adjacent a portion of the head rail such that neighbouring or adjacent lobes of the engagement element are capable of engaging the head rail and thereby resist rotation of the locking member out of the lock position.

Additionally or alternatively, the rotation resisting means may include a catch apparatus wherein the locking member includes a first catch element and the bracket arm includes a second catch element and the first and second catch elements are engageable one with the other, such that when engaged, the two catch elements resist rotation of the locking member out of the lock position. In a preferred embodiment, the first catch element includes an upstanding fin and the second catch element comprises two ridge members defining therebetween a catch channel sized to receive at least a portion of the upstanding fin.

The terms "resist rotation" or "resisting rotation" do not mean that rotation is prevented. They simply mean that 7 for rotation to occur, a predetermined resistive force must first be overcome. in the case of a cammed profile, the force that has to be overcome is the frictional force between a lobe of the cammed profile and a portion of the head rail and in the case of a catch apparatus, the force required to rotate the locking element is the force required to urge the first catch element out of engagement with the second catch element.

The locking member is rotatably coupled to the bracket arm. This may be achieved by any known means, however, in a preferred embodiment, the bracket arm includes a keyholeshaped slot for the location of a portion of the locking member therein. 15 The locking member may include a mounting portion comprising a substantially cylindrical pivot portion and a flange extending from an (in use) upper end thereof, the mounting portion being engageable with the e.g. keyhole slot in the bracket arm.

In the case where the bracket arm includes a keyhole slot and the locking member includes a mounting portion, the flange may be sized such that it can pass through the relatively wide part of the keyhole slot, but cannot pass through the relatively narrow part of the keyhole slot. Of course, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the substantially cylindrical pivot portion may be located in the relatively narrow portion of the keyhole slot and therein rotate about the longitudinal axis of the 8 pivot portion. The arrangement of the locking member including a mounting portion and the provision of a keyhole slot in the bracket arm results in the locking member being releasably connectable to the bracket arm. 5 In order to be able to fix the mounting bracket as closely as possible to one or more support surfaces, the bracket arm preferably includes a channel in which the optional keyhole slot is located. In this arrangement, the e.g. locking member flange may be retained within the channel and does not extend beyond the plane of the (in use) uppermost surface of the bracket arm.

This enables the (in use) uppermost surface of the bracket arm to be located adjacent a ceiling or other downwardly facing surface. The ceiling or other downwardly facing surface may or may not be a support surface.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of releasably securing a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof to a mounting bracket including a bracket arm provided with a head rail channel engaging member and a locking member rotatably coupled to the bracket arm at a predetermined distance from the head rail channel engaging member, the locking member including an engagement element projecting from a portion thereof radially to the locking member axis of rotation, whereby the locking member is rotatable relative to the bracket arm between a lock position and a release position, the method including rotating the locking 9 member to a release position, locating the head rail in the desired position wherein the head rail channel engaaing member is engaged in one of the head rail channels and rotating the locking member to a lock position thereby locating the locking member engagement element in the other of the head rail channels such that the head rail is secured to the mounting bracket.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blind mounting apparatus comprising a mounting bracket according to the first aspect of the invention and a blind head rail.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a mounting bracket according to the present invention and a head rail secured thereto; Figure 2 shows in more detail a bracket arm which can be used in the present invention; Figure 3a shows a locking member which can be used in the present invention and which has been enlarged to show more detail; Figure 3b shows the locking member of Figure 3a in plan view from below; Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a mounting bracket according to the present invention and a head rail secured thereto; Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of a mounting bracket according to the present invention; and Figure 6 shows the mounting bracket of Figure 5 and a head rail secured thereto.

In a first embodiment, the mounting bracket 2 comprises a bracket arm 4 having a head rail channel engaging portion 6, a fixing plate 8 and a locking member 16.

The fixing plate 8, bracket arm 4 and head rail engaging portion 6 are formed as a one-piece component by injection moulding a suitable plastics material, e.g.

nylon.

The fixing plate 8 depends from one end of the bracket arm 4 and is substantially perpendicular thereto. The head rail engaging portion 6 depends from the other end of the bracket arm 4 and includes a support arm 30 substantially perpendicular to the bracket arm 4 and an engagement arm 32 projecting a short distance towards the fixing plate 8 from an end portion of the support arm 30. The engagement arm 32 is substantially parallel to the bracket arm 4 and substantially perpendicular to the support arm 30 (see figure 2).

The fixing plate 8 includes two lug portions 11, each of which com-orises an aperture 10, 12 size--' to receive a suitable fixing means (not shown) such as a screw, for affixing the fixing plate 8, and thereby the mounting bracket 2, to a vertical support. surface (not shown). As shown in the drawings, the aperture 12 is an elongate slot and the aperture 10 has a substantially circular cross section. This allows for a small degree of rotation about the fixing means (not shown) which passes through aperture 10 so that the bracket 2 can be fixed to the support surface with the bracket arm 4 lying in a horizontal plane.

The bracket arm 4 includes a channel 5 extending along its longitudinal axis. The channel 5 includes a floor 3 having an upwardly facing surface 7.

A keyhole shaped slot 18 is provided through the floor 3 of the channel 5 and is arranged so that the relatively narrow portion of the keyhole slot 18 projects towards the fixing plate 8. The keyhole slot 18 is spaced a predetermined distance from the head rail engaging portion 6 such that, when located in the slot 18, the locking member 16 is correctly positioned to engage and disengage the head rail 14.

As shown in Figure 2, the bracket arm 4 includes on its downwardly facing surface 23 two ridges 24 which define therebetween a catch channel 22. The catch channel 22 is sized to receive and releasably retain therein an upstanding catch element 50 (described in detail below).

12 As shown in Figure 3a, the locking member 16 comprises an elongate body 41 having at one end portion thereof a mounting element 23 comprising a cylindrical base portion 25, a cylindrical waist portion 42 having a smaller diameter than the base portion 25 and a flange 20 extending outwardly from an upper portion of the cylindrical waist portion 42. The flange 20 includes a planar annular downwardly facing surface 40. The centreline through the flange 20, the cylindrical waist portion 42 and the base portion 25 defines an axis of rotation 21 about which the locking member 16 may rotate.

Extending from a lower portion of the cylindrical base portion 25, away from the body portion 41, is an engagement element 46 which is sized to be capable of engaging a channel 26 provided in an upper portion of a head rail 14.

In Figure 3b, the locking member 16 is shown in plan from below. This view shows more clearly the engagement element 46 which includes a cammed peripheral surface having two lobes 52 and an inter lobal region 54 therebetween.

The engagement element 46 and the locking member body 41 define therebetween a slot 44 which intersects the axis of the rotation 21. The slot 44 includes straight parallel side portions and is sized to be capable of receiving a bladed screwdriver.

At the other end of the locking member body 41, there 13 s provided an upstanding catch element 50 and depending -P from the body portion 47opposite to zhe catch element 50 is a lever element 48.

In use, the fixing plate 8 is fixed to a vertical support surface by screws (not shown) which pass through apertures 10, 12. Once the bracket arm 4 is thus secured in place, the locking element 16 is located in position. This is achieved by inserting the flange 20 and waist portion 42 of the mounting element 33 through the relatively wide portion of the keyhole slot 18 and then moving the locking member 16 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bracket arm 4 towards the fixing plate 8 so that the waist portion 42 is located in the relatively narrow part of the keyhole slot 18 and the downwardly facing surface 40 of the flange 20 is supported by the upwardly facing surface 7 of the channel floor 3. In this arrangement, the locking member 16 is free to rotate about its axis of rotation 21 but is prevented from downward vertical translational movement by the interaction between the flange 20 and the bracket arm 4. Similarly, upward vertical movement of the locking member 16 is prevented by interaction between the cylindrical base portion 25 and the downwardly facing surface of the bracket arm 4.

The locking member 16 is then rotated to a release position in which.the longitudinal axis of the body 41 is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bracket arm 4. This allows the head rail 14 to be located in the desired position with a first of the two channels 14 26 of the upper portion of the head rail. 14 being engaged by the engagement arm 32 of the head rail channel engaging portion 6. The upwardly racing surface of engagement arm 32 supports the downwardly facing surface 28 of the channel 26 to thereby prevent downward translational movement of one side of the head rail 14.

The other side of the head rail 14 is temporarily supported in position by a user while the locking member 16 is rotated into a lock position in which the longitudinal axis of the body 41 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bracket arm 4 and the engagement element 46 is located in the second of the two head rail channels 26. When in the lock position, the upwardly facing surface of the engagement element 46 supports the downwardly facing surface 28 of the channel 26 and thus prevents downward translational movement of the other side of the head rail 14.

Rotation of the locking member 16 may be achieved either by the user using one or more digits of a hand to exert a force on the lever 48 or by the user inserting an e.g. bladed screwdriver into slot 44 and rotating the screwdriver which in turn causes the locking member 16 to rotate.

Rotation of the locking member 16 out of its lock position is resisted in two ways. Firstly, when the locking member 16 is in the lock position, the inter lobal region 54 of the engagement element 46 lies adjacent to a portion of the head rail channel 26 having a vertical planar surface. To rotate the locking member 16 out of its lock position, a user must apply sufficient force to urge one of the 'Lobes 52 past the vertical planar surface of the head rail channel 26 (i.e. to overcome the frictional forces between the lobe 52 and the head rail channel 26).

Additionally, when the locking member 16 is in its lock position, the upstanding catch element 50 is located in the catch channel 22 defined by the ridges 24. To rotate the locking member 16 out of its lock position, it is necessary to apply sufficient force to urge the catch element 50 over one of the ridges 24.

A further embodiment of a mounting bracket 102 is shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 102 is adapted to be fixed to a horizontal support surface, e.g. a ceiling. In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 102 includes a bracket arm 104 having a head rail engaging portion 6 and a locking member 16. The mounting bracket 102 differs from the mounting bracket 2 in that instead of having a fixing plate 8, the mounting bracket 102 includes an aperture 110 through the bracket arm 104.

The aperture 110 includes a countersunk portion 111 to enable the mounting bracket 102 to be affixed to a horizontal support surface via a screw (not shown) without the screw head interfering with the operation of the mounting bracket 102.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that 16 either one of the two means for resisting the rotat'Lon of the locking member 16 would be effective on its own.

These preferred embodiments have been described by way of an exam-ole and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alterations can be made that are still within the scope of the invention.

17

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for releasably securing thereto a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof, the mounting bracket including a bracket arm provided at one end with a head rail channel engaging member and spaced a predetermined distance from the head rail channel engaging member a locking member rotatably coupled to the bracket arm, the locking member including an engagement element projecting radially with respect to the locking member axis of rotation, whereby the locking member is rotatable relative to the bracket arm between a lock position in which the engagement element is capable of engaging a head rail channel and a release position.

2. A mounting bracket according to claim 1 wherein the locking member includes a lever portion.

3. A mounting bracket according to claim 2 wherein the lever portion projects away from the bracket arm.

4. A mounting bracket according to any preceding 18 claim wherein the locking member includes an elongate slot capable of being engaged by a torqueinducing apparatus.

S. A mounting bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the locking member includes a rotation resisting means capable of resisting the rotation of the locking member out of the lock position.

6. A mounting bracket according to claim 5 wherein the rotation resisting means includes the locking member engagement element having a cammed profile comprising two or more lobes which define therebetween one or more inter-lobal regions, wherein the or one of the inter-lobal region is capable of being arranged adjacent a portion of the 1.5 head rail when the locking member engagement element is in the lock position.

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7. A mounting bracket according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the rotation resisting means includes a catch apparatus wherein the locking member includes a first catch element and the bracket arm includes a second catch element and the first and second catch elements are engageable one with the other when the locking member is in the 19 lock position.

B. A mounting bracket according to claim 7 wherein the fist catch element includes an upstanding fin and the second catch element includes two ridge members defining therebetween a catch channel sized and positioned to be capable of receiving atleast a portion of the upstanding fin.

9. A mounting bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the bracket arm includes a keyhole shaped slot, the locking member includes a mounting portion and the locking member is rotatably coupled to the bracket arm by the mounting portion being engaged in the keyhole-shaped slot.

10. A mounting bracket according to claim 9 wherein the bracket arm includes a channel and the keyhole shaped slot is located in the channel such that the mounting portion of the locking member is retained within the channel.

11. A method of releasably securing a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof to a mounting bracket according to any preceding claim, the method including rotating the locking member to a release position, locating the head rail such that the head rail channel engaging member is engaged in one of the head rail channels and rotating the locking member to a lock position whereby the locking member engagement element is engaged in the other of the head rail channels whereby the head rail is secured to the mounting bracket.

12. A blind mounting apparatus including a mounting bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and a blind head rail.

13. A method of securing a head rail to a mounting bracket substantially as described herein in any one embodiment with reference to the drawings.

13. A mounting bracket substantially as described herein in any one embodiment with reference to the drawings.

14. A method of securing a head rail to a mounting bracket substantially as described herein in any one embodiment with reference to the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A mounting bracket for releasably securing thereto a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof, the mounting bracket including a bracket arm provided at one end with a head rail channel engaging member and spaced a predetermined distance from the head rail channel engaging member a locking member rotatably coupled to the bracket arm, the locking member including an engagement element projecting radially with respect to the locking member axis of rotation, wherein the bracket arm includes a keyhole-shaped slot, the locking member includes a mounting portion and the locking member is rotatably coupled to the bracket arm by the mounting portion being engaged in the keyhole-shaped slot, whereby the locking member is rotatable relative to the bracket arm between a lock position in which the engagement element is capable of engaging a head rail channel and a release position.

E, a 2. A mounting bracket according to claim 1 wherein the locking member includes a lever portion.

4. A mounting bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the locking member includes an elongate slot capable of being engaged by a torqueinducing apparatus.

5. A mounting.:racket according to any preceding claim J_ 2- wherein the locking member includes a rotation resisting means capable of resistLng the rotation of the locking member out of the lock position.

6. A mounting bracket according to claim 5 wherein the rotation resisting means includes -the locking member engagement element having a cammed profile comprising two or more lobes which define therebetween one or more interlobal regions, wherein the or one of the inte---lobal region is capable of being arranged adjacent a portion of the head rail when the locking member engagement element is in the lock position.

7. A mounting bracket according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the rotation resisting means includes a catch apparatus wherein the locking member includes a first catch element and the bracket arm includes a second catch element and the first and second catch elements are engageable one with the other when the locking member is in the lock position.

8. A mounting bracket according to claim 7 wherein the first catch element includes an upstanding fin and the second catch element includes two ridge members defining therebetween a catch channel sized and positioned to be capable of receiving at least a portion of the upstanding fin.

9. A mounting bracket according to any preceding claim 30 wherein the bracketarm includes a channel and the keyhole- 2-3 shaped slot is located in the channel such that the mounting portion of the locking member is retained within the channel.

10. A method of releasably securing a head rail having a pair of opposed channels in an upper portion thereof to a mounting bracket according to any preceding claim, the method including rotating the locking member to a release position, locating the head rail such that the head rail channel engaging member is engaged in one of the head rail channels and rotating the locking member to a lock position whereby the locking member engagement element is engaged in the other of the head rail channels whereby the head rail is secured to the mounting bracket.

11. A blind mounting apparatus including a mounting bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and a blind head rail.

12. A mounting bracket substantially as described herein in any one embodiment with reference to the drawings.