US2698727A

US2698727A - Mounting bracket for venetian blinds

Info

Publication number: US2698727A
Application number: US259669A
Authority: US
Inventors: Melvin C Rutledge
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc
Priority date: 1951-12-03
Filing date: 1951-12-03
Publication date: 1955-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 1972-01-04

Description

Jan. 4, 1955 Mjc. RUTLEDGE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Dec. 3, 1951 JNVNTOR. 50 MELVIN C. Run/506E BY Mwvu/ E AGE/VT United States Patent "ice MOUNTING BRACKET FUR VENETIAN BLINDS Melvin C. Rutledge, Riverside, Califi, assignor to Hunter Douglas (Corporation, Riverside, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3, 1951, Serial N 0. 259,669

7 Qlainis. (Ql. 248-264) This invention relates generally to means for supporting Venetian blinds and more particularly to means for supporting Venetian blind headrails which are U-shaped and provided with inwardly rolled upper edges. Headrails of this character are usually referred to as box or channeltype, and have proved to be very satisfactory.

The conditions encountered in mounting Venetian blinds vary considerably and it is a major object of this invention to provide a mounting bracket which will meet substantially all conditions encountered and which is adapted to be fastened to either horizontal or vertical frame members as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide mounting means which can be installed in place on the appropriate frame member of the aperture being closed and to which the headrail can then be readily attached by merely slipping it into place and latching it in position. This permits a Wide latitude in mounting the Venetian blinds since the headrail can be mounted in corners, behind cornices, facias, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple mounting bracket that can be placed at any desired position relative to the headrail to support the same at various points along its length.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a universal mounting bracket that not only facilitates operating in otherwise inaccessible locations, but which also provides a very rigid and secure mounting for the blind and at the same time can be readily unlatched to permit removal of the blind without any trouble.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the following specification and the attached drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a utility view in perspective showing a channeltype Venetian blind headrail supported by three of the brackets of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l but with the latch member in unlatched position and showing in phantom lines the initial step in mounting the headrail on the bracket;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the latch member in latching position;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective View of the bracket showing the latching member separate from the support member;

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken on the line 5-5 of Fi 2;

Tig. 6 is a perspective view of the forward end of the latching mechanism in latched position; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical partial section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6 and showing in phantom lines the unlatched position of the latching member.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, the numeral 10 indicates generally a conventional channel-type metal headrail having a bottom wall 11, a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13, the upper edges of the front and rear walls being rolled inwardly for increased stiffness as indicated by the numerals 12a and 13a, respectively. A plurality of Venetian blind slats illustrated by the slat 14 are tiltably supported by ladder tapes 15 in conventional manner. The mounting brackets, illustrated with screws for securing them to the underside of a horizontal member, are indicated generally by the numeral 20.

Referring now to the exploded view in Fig. 4 for the structural elements of the bracket 20, it is seen that the bracket is preferably formed of two separate stampings to-wit: a main supporting member 21 of substantial L- 2,698,727 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 holes 25 for the reception of screws or the like so that either of the legs can be fastened to a supporting frame member. The lower end of the vertical leg 23 is provided with inwardly extending horizontal means in the form of a lug 26 and the forward end of the upper leg 24 is provided with forwardly extending keeper fingers 27. Between the keeper fingers 27 the central portion of the horizontal leg 24 is bent downwardly and curved upwardly to provide an underslung supporting lip 28 shaped to fit under the forward rolled edge of the headrail.

The latch member 22 comprises

parallel side plates

29 and 30 joined at one end by transverse means such as a latch bar 31 having a slighly depressed center section terminating in a downturned flange 32. The rear ends of the

side plates

29 and 30 are not connected but are notched to provide rearwardly extending latching fingers 33 adapted to slide under the rolled edge of the rear side wall of the headrail. The

side plates

29 and 30 are also provided with instruck tabs 34 which are loosely received in horizontal slots 36 provided in the side flanges of the channel-shaped horizontal support leg 24. The latch member 22 is mounted on the horizontal leg 24 by spreading the side plates 29 and 39 While positioning the tabs 34 opposite their respective slot 36 and then releasing the

plates

29 and 30 to permit the tabs to seat in said slots for sliding movement therein. The resilience of the latch members keeps tabs 34 engaged in their respective slot 36.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in the form illustrated the support member 21 is mounted from above with its

legs

23 and 24 in vertical and horizontal positions respectively. The latch member 22 is in retracted or unlatched position, i. e., its most forward position, with the flange 32 spaced outwardly beyond the ends of the keeper fingers 27 and its rearwardly extending latch fingers 33 in retracted position. The latch can be maintained in this position by allowing the latch bar 31 to rest on the outer ends of the keeper fingers 27 or if desired, the latch member can be dropped to permit the latch bar 31 to rest loosely on the forwardly extending supporting lip 28.

With the latch member positioned as just described, the headrail 10 is mounted by first hooking the upper rolled edge 12a of the forward wall 12 in the forwardly extending curved supporting lips 28 of the brackets to which the headrail is being mounted. This position of the headrail is shown in phantom lines in Fig. 2 with the headrail angularly disposed with respect to the bracket.

The headrail is then rotated rearwardly as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 to a position where the rolled edge 13a of the rear wall 13 is positioned up against the under face of the horizontal leg 24, the wall 13 abuts the edges of vertical leg 23, and the juncture of the headrail bottom wall and rear wall is seated on the forwardly extending horizontal lug 26. This operation is relatively easy to perform since the lug 26 provides a temporary rest or positioning support for the headrail. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that in this position, the latching fingers 33 of the latch member 22 are positioned forwardly of the rolled edge 13a. During this mounting operation, the latch bar 31 is displaced from its initial position and the forward ends of the

latch side plates

29 and 30 are resting on the upper face of the rolled edge 12a.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the latch member 22 has been moved rearwardly (to the left as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3), thus moving the latch fingers 33 rearwardly to a position underneath the rear edge roll 13a to support and confine the same. It will be noted that the side flanges of horizontal support leg 24 are recessed at their rear ends adjacent the vertical leg 23 to provide. with the adjacent wall of the vertical leg, notches 37 just slightly larger than the horizontal width of the rear edge roll 1311. Thus when the headrail is rotated to assembled position, the edge roll 13a will be seated in the notch 37, as best seen in Fig. 2. The size of the notch 37 is such as to preclude any substantial horizontal motion of headrail when in assembled but unlatched position.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the rear wall of the notches in the

side plates

29 and 30, which were cut away to form the latching fingers 33, substantially abut the inner face of the edge roll 13:: and are in substantial alignment with the forward wall of the notch 37. As a result of this arrangement, the edge roll 13:: is securely locked in position, being substantially confined on four sides with its weight being carried by the fingers 33.

it will be noted that the forward ends of the keeper fingers 27 on bracket leg 24 have their under faces beveled. The dimensions of the parts are such that when the latch member 22 is resting on the forward edge roll 12a of the headrail, the upper face of the latch bar 31 is positioned at an elevation just below the beveled ends of fingers 27. Thus when the latch is pushed rearwardly, the latch bar 31 engages the beveled under faces of fingers 27 and slides downwardly and rearwardly therealong to a position beneath the main body portion of the fingers 27 where it is securely held against the upper face of the edge roll 12a, thus confining and locking said edge roll against the lower supporting lip 28.

A small dimple 40 provides a button on the under face of latch bar 31 to provide a frictional snap lock to hold the latch in its latched position, with the downturned flange 32 engaging the upper edge of the forward wall 12.

It will thus be seen that in the latched position illustrated in Fig. 3, the headrail is securely held by locking both edge rolls against both vertical and horizontal movement. In this position, the lug 26 may or may not be carrying any of the weight of the headrail and usually is not, since the fingers 33 are proportioned to normally engage the lower edge of the roll 13a and push it up snugly into engagement with the walls of the notch 37.

When it is desired to remove the headrail from the brackets, the latch 22 is pulled forwardly to retracted position by the simple expedient of inserting a screw driver or similar tool between the flange 32 and the front wall 12 of the headrail to disengage the button 40 and permit easy retraction of the latching member. With the latch withdrawn, the headrail can be removed by reversing the series of operations previously described.

While the presently preferred form of the invention illustrated herein is fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages herein set forth, it will be understood that various modifications of the invention can be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending from the upper end thereof provided with lip means on its forward end for receiving and supporting the forward of said rolled edges and a recessed portion at its rearward end adjacent said vertical leg to receive the rearward of said rolled edges; and a latch member slidably mounted on said horizontal leg having finger means on its rearward end adapted to slide under and support said rearward rolled edge in said recess, and latching means cooperating with other means on the forward end of said horizontal leg engaging and confining said forward rolled edge in said lip means.

2. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leg having at its forward end an underslung supporting lip adapted to receive a rolled edge of said headrail and a keeper finger spaced above said lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edge received thereby; a latch member mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof having a latch finger on its rear end and latch means on its forward end; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch means slides under said keeper finger to engage a rolled edge received in said supporting lip and said latch finger moves to a position under the other of said rolled edges to support the same in the angle of said supporting member.

3. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leg having at its forward end an upwardly curved supporting lip adapted to receive a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeper fingers spaced above said lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edge received thereby, the underface of said horizontal leg adjacent its juncture with said vertical leg being recessed to accommodate the other of said rolled edge and substantially prevent horizontal movement thereof; a latch member mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof and having a latch means on its rear end adapted to cooperate with said recess and a latch bar on its forward end; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch bar slides under said keeper fingers to engage a rolled edge received in said supporting lip and said latch means moves to a position engaging the other of said rolled edges to support the same in the angle of said supporting member.

4. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leg having at its forward end a portion shaped to receive and support a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeper fingers spaced above said portion and adapted to engage said rolled edge received thereby; a bifurcated latch member comprising a pair of parallel plates adapted to fit over and engage the sides of said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof each plate having a latch finger on its rear end, and a latch bar joining the forward ends of said parallel plates; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch bar moves under said keeper fingers to engage a rolled edge received in said supporting portion of said horizontal leg and said latch fingers move to a position under the other of said rolled edgesbto support the same in the angle of said supporting mem er.

5. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leg having at its forward end a supporting portion adapted to receive a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeper fingers spaced above said portion to overlie said rolled edge received thereby, said vertical leg having an angular lug extending inwardly from its lower end adapted to receive and support the lower rear edge of said headrail during mounting; a latch member mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof having a latch finger on its rear end and latch means on its forward end; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch means cooperates with said keeper fingers to engage a rolled edge received in said supporting portion and said latch finger moves to a position to support the other of said rolled edges in the angle of said supporting member.

6. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leg having at its forward end an underslung supporting lip adapted to receive a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keepers spaced above said lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edge received thereby, said vertical leg having an angular lug extending inwardly therefrom adapted to receive and support the lower rear edge of said headrail during mounting; a bifurcated latch member comprising a pair of parallel plates adapted to fit over and engage the sides of said horizontal leg mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof and having latch fingers on its rear end and a latch bar on its forward end joining said parallel plates; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch bar moves under said keepers to engage a rolled edge received in said supporting lip and said latch fingers move to a position under the other of said rolled edges to support the same in the angle of said supporting member.

7. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blind headrail having laterally spaced, inwardly rolled upper edges, said bracket comprising an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, at least one of said legs being provided with screw holes, a lip on the outer end of said horizontal leg projecting down into said headrail and projecting under the forward of said rolled edges to support the same, and a latch member UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,414 Vroom Oct. 25, 1932 2,255,326 Mintz Sept. 9, 1941 2,267,160 McKerlie Dec. 23, 1941 2,454,550 Burns Nov. 23, 1948