Claims
- 1. A bottom rail for a covering for an architectural opening, said bottom rail having a longitudinal axis and a first end and a second end, said bottom rail comprising
a compression plate, and a bottom plate snappingly engaged with said compression plate.
- 2. The bottom rail of claim 1, wherein said bottom plate has an inside surface and at least one wall projecting from said inside surface toward said compression plate, and wherein said compression plate has an inside surface and at least one complementary wall projecting from said inside surface toward said bottom plate, wherein said wall and complementary wall comprise interlocking ledges that removably secure said bottom plate to said compression plate.
- 3. The bottom rail of claim 2, wherein said at least one wall comprises two walls projecting from said inside surface of said bottom plate, and wherein said at least one complementary wall comprises two complementary walls projecting from said inside surface of said compression plate, and wherein a weight channel is defined between said two walls projecting from said inside surface of said bottom plate.
- 4. The bottom rail of claim 3, wherein an adjustable weight is slidably mounted in said weight channel.
- 5. The bottom rail of claim 2, wherein said wall and complementary wall extend for substantially the entire length of said bottom rail in a longitudinal direction.
- 6. The bottom rail of claim 5, wherein said bottom plate is made from plastic.
- 7. The bottom rail of claim 6, wherein said compression plate has a substantially arcuate cross-section.
- 8. The bottom rail of claim 7, wherein said compression plate is made from aluminum.
- 9. The bottom rail of claim 5, wherein said bottom plate has an interior surface and two longitudinal edges, and wherein a strip of gripping material extends along said interior surface adjacent said two longitudinal edges.
- 10. The bottom rail of claim 9, wherein said covering comprises a first flexible sheet, a second flexible sheet, and a plurality of vanes attached between said first and second flexible sheets, and wherein said first and second sheets are pinched between said gripping material on said bottom plate and said interior surface of said compression plate.
- 11. The bottom rail of claim 10, further comprising
a first end cap frictionally mounted to said first end; and a second end cap frictionally mounted to said second end.
- 12. The bottom rail of claim 11, wherein said first and second end caps each comprises an inside surface having an upper projection and two lower projections extending therefrom, wherein said upper and lower projections frictionally engaging said compression plate and said bottom plate to removably secure said end caps to said bottom rail.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a division of co-pending nonprovisional application Serial No. 09/338,332, filed Jun. 22, 1999 (the '332 application), allowed, which claimed priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/090,278, filed Jun. 22, 1998 (the '278 application). The '332 application and the '278 application are both hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein. The '332 application also is related to application Ser. No. 09/050,507, filed Mar. 30, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,325 (the '325 patent), which claimed priority to provisional application Serial No. 60/041,791, filed Apr. 2, 1997. The '325 patent and the '791 application are both hereby incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60090278 |
Jun 1998 |
US |
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09338332 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09741240 |
Dec 2000 |
US |