Claims
- 1. A holder for suspending a hollow vertical section of an architectural covering, such as a hollow, fabric or plastic louver of a vertical venetian blind, from a carrier of a horizontally-extending head rail; the holder comprising:a vertically-extending, generally cylindrical, male part having an upper portion, connected to the carrier, and a lower portion; and a generally inverted U-shaped, female part having a horizontal top member with a pair of parallel, downwardly-extending legs on opposite sides and a downwardly-extending hole through it; the facing surfaces of the legs each having a first detent adjacent the bottom of the legs; the first detents extending towards each other and being adapted to be inserted through apertures in opposite sides of the hollow vertical section; and wherein the lower portion of the male part is inserted in, and force fit within, the hole of the female part.
- 2. The holder of claim 1 wherein the top member of the female part is generally rectangular and generally planar.
- 3. The holder of claim 1 wherein the hole in the top member is rectangular.
- 4. A holder for suspending a hollow vertical section of an architectural covering, such as a hollow, fabric or plastic louver of a vertical venetian blind, from a carrier of a horizontally-extending head rail; the holder comprising:vertically-extending, generally cylindrical, male part having an upper portion, connected to the carrier, and a lower portion; and a generally inverted U-shaped, female part having a horizontal top member with a pair of parallel, downwardly-extending legs on opposite sides and a downwardly-extending hole through it; the facing surfaces of the legs each having a first detent adjacent the bottom of the legs; the first detents extending towards each other and being adapted to be inserted through apertures in opposite sides of the hollow vertical section; and wherein the lower portion of the male part is inserted in, and force fit within, the hole of the female part, wherein the lower portion of the male part has (i) a radially-extending shoulder with a lower surface that extends circumferentially and horizontally around the top of the lower portion, and (ii) a pair of parallel planar vertical guide surfaces that are below the shoulder and on circumferentially opposite sides of the lower portion; each guide surface having, near its top, adjacent the shoulder and on circumferentially opposite sides of the lower portion, a radially-extending second detent; and upper surfaces of the second detents being horizontally coplanar.
- 5. The holder of claim 4 wherein, between the guide surfaces, on circumferentially opposite sides of the lower portion of the male part, are a pair of ramp surfaces which extend downwardly from between the upper surfaces of the second detents to the bottom of the lower portion and which curve inwardly of the lower portion as the ramp surfaces extend downwardly; and wherein the bottom portions of the ramp surfaces are parallel vertical surfaces.
- 6. The holder of claim 5 wherein the distance between the free ends of the first detents of the female part is no more than about the distance between the bottom portions of the ramp surfaces and the bottom portions contact the free ends of the first detents when the lower portion of the male part is force fit within the hole of the female part, so as to prevent an aperture of the hollow vertical section from slipping off a first detent.
- 7. The holder of claim 4 wherein the hole in the top member of the female part has:a width, measured between the legs, that is that is no less than the diameter, measured parallel to the guide surfaces, of a radially outer surface of the lower portion of the male part, below the lower surface of the shoulder; and a length that is no more than the radial distance, measured transverse to the guide surfaces, between radially outer surfaces of the second detents.
- 8. The holder of claim 5 wherein the hole in the top member of the female part has:a width, measured between the legs, that is that is no less than the diameter, measured parallel to the guide surfaces, of a radially outer surface of the lower portion of the male part, below the lower surface of the shoulder; and a length that is no more than the radial distance, measured transverse to the guide surfaces, between radially outer surfaces of the second detents.
- 9. The holder of claim 6 wherein the hole in the top member of the female part has:a width, measured between the legs, that is that is no less than the diameter, measured parallel to the guide surfaces, of a radially outer surface of the lower portion of the male part, below the lower surface of the shoulder; and a length that is no more than the radial distance, measured transverse to the guide surfaces, between radially outer surfaces of the second detents.
- 10. The holder of claim 7 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member of the female part, about its hole, is no more than the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents of the male part, whereby the lower portion of the male part can be urged downwardly into the hole in the top member, so that the top member is securely held, in the assembled holder, between the upper surfaces of the second detents and the lower surface of the shoulder.
- 11. The holder of claim 8 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member of the female part, about its hole, is no more than the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents of the male part, whereby the lower portion of the male part can be urged downwardly into the hole in the top member, so that the top member is securely held, in the assembled holder, between the upper surfaces of the second detents and the lower surface of the shoulder.
- 12. The holder of claim 9 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member of the female part, about its hole, is no more than the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents of the male part, whereby the lower portion of the male part can be urged downwardly into the hole in the top member, so that the top member is securely held, in the assembled holder, between the upper surfaces of the second detents and the lower surface of the shoulder.
- 13. The holder of claim 10 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member, about its hole, is, approximately the same as the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents.
- 14. The holder of claim 11 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member, about its hole, is approximately the same as the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents.
- 15. The holder of claim 12 wherein the vertical thickness of the top member, about its hole, is approximately the same as the vertical spacing between the lower surface of the shoulder and the upper surfaces of the second detents.
- 16. A holder for suspending a hollow vertical section of an architectural covering, such as a hollow, fabric or plastic louver of a vertical venetian blind, from a carrier of a horizontally-extending head rail; the holder comprising:a vertically-extending, generally cylindrical, male part having an upper portion, connected to the carrier, and a lower portion; and a generally inverted U-shaped, female part having a horizontal top member with a pair of parallel, downwardly-extending legs on opposite sides and a downwardly-extending hole through it; the facing surfaces of the legs each having a first detent adjacent the bottom of the legs; the first detents extending towards each other and being adapted to be inserted through apertures in opposite sides of the hollow vertical section; and wherein the lower portion of the male part is inserted in, and force fit within, the hole of the female part, and wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: i) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 17. The holder of claim it wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 18. The holder of claim 5 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 19. The holder of claim 6 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 20. The holder of claim 7 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 21. The holder of claim 8 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 22. The holder of claim 9 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 23. The holder of claim 10 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: i) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 24. The holder of claim 11 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 25. The holder of claim 12 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 26. The holder of claim 13 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 27. The holder of claim 14 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 28. The holder of claim 15 wherein each first detent has a generally cylindrical configuration with: I) its axis being normal to the leg to which it is attached; ii) a smooth outer surface; and iii) its outer diameter being less, preferably only slightly less, than the diameter of one of the apertures whereby the opposite sides of the hollow vertical section can slide easily apart on the pair of first detents after the first detents have been inserted in the apertures.
- 29. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of any one of claims 1-3; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 30. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 4; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 31. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 5; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 32. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 6; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 33. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 7; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 34. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 8; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 35. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 9; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 36. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 10; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 37. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 11; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 38. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 12; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 39. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 13; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 40. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 14; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 41. A head rail for an architectural covering comprising:the holder of claim 15; and an elongated track for receiving the holder.
- 42. An architectural covering comprising the holder of any one of claims 1-3.
- 43. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 4.
- 44. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 5.
- 45. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 6.
- 46. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 7.
- 47. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 8.
- 48. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 9.
- 49. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 10.
- 50. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 11.
- 51. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 12.
- 52. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 13.
- 53. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 14.
- 54. An architectural covering comprising the holder of claim 15.
- 55. A holder and louver combination comprising the holder of any one of claims 1-3 and a louver, the louver includes the hollow vertical section, wherein the hollow vertical section is a deformable, generally tubular vane.
- 56. A holder and louver combination comprising the holder of claim 11 and a louver, the louver includes the hollow vertical section, wherein the louver has three-dimensional and torsional stability along its length.
- 57. A holder and louver combination comprising the holder of claim 12 and a louver, the louver includes the hollow vertical section, wherein the louver is made of a fabric having diagonal dimensional stability.
- 58. A holder and louver combination comprising the holder of claim 13 and a louver, the louver includes the hollow vertical section, wherein the apertures are in opposite sides of an upper marginal portion of the hollow vertical section.
- 59. The holder of claim 4 wherein the top member of the female part is generally rectangular and generally planar.
- 60. The holder of claim 4 wherein the hole in the top member is rectangular.
- 61. The holder of claim 16 wherein the top member of the female part is generally rectangular and generally planar.
- 62. The holder of claim 16 wherein the hole in the top member is rectangular.
- 63. A vertical blind system comprising:an elongated substantially horizontal head rail a plurality of hollow substantially vertically-orientated louvers, each louver having a pair of generally spaced apart sides proximate a top end of the louver with an aperture passing through each side of the pair of spaced apart sides proximate the top end; a plurality of carriers, the plurality of carriers being slidably attached to the head rail; and a plurality of holders, each holder of the plurality of holders including, (i) a substantially vertically-extending male part having upper and lower portions, the upper portion being generally cylindrical and coupled to a carrier of the plurality of carriers, and (ii) a generally inverted U-shaped female part having (a) a generally horizontally-orientated, generally planar top section, the top section including a pair of spaced apart opposite edges and a vertically-extending opening passing therethrough, the lower portion of the male part being received and secured within the opening and, (b) a pair of substantially parallel, downwardly extending legs, each leg of the pair of legs intersecting with an edge of the pair of spaced apart opposite edges, each leg of the pair of legs having a detent extending towards the detent of the other leg of the pair of legs, each detent being received in an aperture of a louver of the plurality of louvers.
- 64. The vertical blind system of claim 63, wherein the top section is substantially rectangular.
- 65. The vertical blind system of claim 63, wherein the vertically-extending opening is substantially rectangular.
- 66. The vertical blind system of claim 63, wherein for each holder the lower portion of the male part extends downwardly between the detents of the pair of legs of the female part.
- 67. the vertical blind system of claim 63, wherein the detent on each leg of the pair of legs is located proximate a bottom end of the leg.
- 68. A holder for suspending a vertical louver from a carrier of a vertical blind system, the holder comprising:a substantially vertically-extending male part having upper and lower portions, the upper portion being generally cylindrical and adapted for coupling to said carrier; and a generally inverted U-shaped female part having (a) a generally horizontal-orientated, generally planar top section, the top section including a pair of spaced apart opposite edge and a vertically-extending opening passing therethrough, the lower portion of the male part being received and secured within the opening and, (b) a pair of substantially parallel, downwardly extending legs, each leg of the pair of legs intersecting with an edge of the pair of opposite edges, each leg of the pair of legs having a detent extending towards the detent of the other leg of the pair of legs.
- 69. The holder of claim 68, wherein the detent of each leg of the pair of legs is located proximate a bottom end of the leg.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
99204291 |
Dec 1999 |
EP |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO REALTED APPLICATION
This application corresponds and claims priority to European Patent Application No. 99204291.1, filed Dec. 14, 1999 which is hereby incorporated by reference as though fully disclosed herein.
US Referenced Citations (17)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
2715018 |
Oct 1978 |
DE |
8523104 |
Jan 1986 |
DE |