This invention relates to window blinds that also incorporate an upper valance having an integral decorative lighting system.
Window treatments have existed almost as long as windows were included in building structures. First, window treatments were most likely developed to insulate the interior of the building from the effects of the outdoor environment such as wind, rain, and snow. Early applications of window treatments were oiled animal skins thereby creating translucence to allow a degree of light to illuminate the room. Once the development of transparent glass was introduced into the industry to allow the full transmissibility of light, other window treatments were developed and added over the years.
Today, window treatments can take many forms to correspond to an occupant's practical and aesthetic tastes. Windows can include shutters, either interior or exterior, flexible shades of many types, cloth curtains of any color or design, or even blinds comprising a plurality of overlapping slats. The slats of the blinds can be oriented either vertically or horizontally and are typically supported by a rod or rigid support structure at the top of the window. In a desire to maintain pleasing aesthetics, the support rods or support structure are covered with a valance that is complementary to the curtains, shades, or blinds.
However, there is often a desire to further enhance the visual aspects of the window in addition to the window treatment. Often this enhancement is accomplished by placing lighting close to the window which illuminates the window area when the blinds are closed typically in the evenings when there is no available ambient natural light. In the past this lighting primarily comprised attempts to incorporate lighting into the blinds or one or more of incandescent lamps with shades, torchiere lamps, or other lighting devices separate from the curtains, shades, or blinds. Interior designers, lighting designers and end users always have an interest in new and novel lighting solutions, there is a desire to incorporate lighting in concert with the window treatment. Often, the heat of incandescent lamps or the coldness of fluorescent lights makes this application impractical or undesirable. Thus, a method of incorporating decorative lighting within the valance at the top area of the blinds is desired.
In accordance with the invention, a window blind assembly of the type having a headrail supporting a plurality of slats depending therefrom and an aesthetic valance attached to the headrail for concealing the headrail further comprises a plurality of light mount assemblies attached to the headrail. Each light mount assembly has a support, a headrail clip attached to a first end of the support and engages the headrail, and a light clip attached to a second end of the support. An extrusion having a generally inverted U-shape defines a channel therein is engaged in the light clips and extends along and substantially parallel to the headrail. A strip light is retained in the channel, and a lens extends between ends of the legs of the inverted U-shaped extrusion.
In a further aspect of the invention a controller is mounted to the headrail and electrically connected to the light strip.
In another aspect of the invention, the headrail clip is shaped as an inverted U, each leg of the U-shape defining a recess wherein the recesses engage oppositely extending flanges at the top of the headrail.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the light clip is shaped as an inverted U, each leg of the U-shape forming inwardly facing ridges, the ridges engaging recesses defined by the outer surface of the extrusion.
In another aspect of the invention, the strip light is a Light Emitting Diode strip light.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a vertical leg at the second end thereof and further wherein a light clip is affixed to the vertical leg to horizontally orient the extrusion and direct the light strip toward the valance.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the valance defines a cutout area for the strip light to radiate light therethrough.
In a further aspect of the invention, the cutout area of the valance is covered by a lens.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a horizontal leg extending toward the valance at an end of the vertical leg, the horizontal leg having a second light clip affixed to a bottom surface thereof, a second elongated U-shaped extrusion is retained by the second light clips, and a second light strip is retained in the second elongated extrusion.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a horizontal leg extending toward the headrail at an end of the vertical leg, the horizontal leg having a second light clip affixed to a bottom surface thereof, a second elongated U-shaped extrusion is retained by the second light clips, and a second light strip retained in the second elongated extrusion.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the valance is supported on the headrail with valance mounts engaged thereon, the blind assembly further includes a light clip affixed to an upper surface of the valance mount, a second elongate U-shaped extrusion defining a channel therealong and retained in the valance mount light clips wherein the U-shape is oriented upwards, and a second light strip retained within the U-shaped extrusion channel.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the extrusion channel is oriented at 45 degrees to the horizontal.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a lighting system for window blinds of the type having a headrail supporting a plurality of slats depending therefrom includes a plurality of light mount assemblies adapted to attach to the headrail, each light mount assembly has a support, a headrail clip attached to a first end of the support for engaging the headrail, and a light clip attached to a second end of the support. An extrusion having a generally inverted U-shape defines a channel therein and is engaged in the light clips and extending along and substantially parallel to the headrail. A strip light is retained in the channel, and a lens extends between ends of the legs of the inverted U-shaped extrusion.
In a further aspect of the invention, the headrail clip is shaped as an inverted U, and each leg of the U-shape defines a recess wherein the recesses are adapted to engage oppositely extending flanges at the top of the headrail.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the light clip is shaped as an inverted U, each leg of the U-shape forming inwardly facing ridges, the ridges engaging recesses defined by the outer surface of the extrusion.
In another aspect of the invention, the strip light is a Light Emitting Diode strip light.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a vertical leg at the second end thereof and further wherein a light clip is affixed to the vertical leg to horizontally orient the extrusion for directing the light strip toward the valance.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a horizontal leg extending toward the valance at an end of the vertical leg, the horizontal leg having a second light clip affixed to a bottom surface thereof, a second elongated U-shaped extrusion is retained by the second light clips, and a second light strip is retained in the second elongated extrusion.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the light mount assembly support includes a horizontal leg extending toward the headrail at an end of the vertical leg, the horizontal leg having a second light clip affixed to a bottom surface thereof, a second elongated U-shaped extrusion is retained by the second light clips, and a second light strip retained in the second elongated extrusion.
In a further aspect of the invention, the lighting system further includes a controller for mounting to the headrail and is electrically connected to the light strip.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the extrusion channel is oriented at 45 degrees to the horizontal.
Further embodiments and features of the invention will become apparent in conjunction with the detailed description of the inventions and their preferred embodiments provided hereafter.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals denote like elements and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
The embodiments described herein relates to the field of window treatments and more specifically to decorative lighting incorporated with indoor blinds. The indoor blinds include a valance for decoratively concealing the headrail from which the blinds depend, and a light emitting diode (LED) light strip substantially extending parallel to the headrail and behind the valance.
In one exemplary implementation of the invention, a blind assembly 100 including a backlit valance is shown in
A vertical blind assembly 100 includes a headrail 106 which is mounted to a wall utilizing a plurality of mount brackets 103. Headrail 106 has suspended therefrom a plurality of laterally arranged vertical slats 104. Headrail 106 further contains therein a mechanism known in the art for laterally translating the vertical slats 104 along headrail 106 and for rotating the individual slats 104 about a central axis defined by suspension rods 105. Manual control of these functions is accomplished by one or both of a control rod 108 and a control cord (not shown). A valance 102 is mounted to the headrail 106 to aesthetically conceal the headrail 106 and operating mechanism.
A light system 110 is mounted to the headrail 106. In a most preferred embodiment, the light system 110 comprises a plurality of mount assemblies 130 and a light emitting diode (LED) strip light 120 having a plurality of LED lights arranged as a rope or similar light string in a configuration known in the industry. Other lighting configurations are contemplated but not illustrated herein, and references to an LED strip light are not to be construed as limiting but are intended to be inclusive of other light string configurations.
As shown in
Turning now to
The controller 112 is powered by low voltage electric current utilizing a transformer plugged into a standard wall outlet with a power cord 114 extending therebetween in a manner known in the art and not further shown herein. A control cable 116 extends between the controller 112 and the LED light strip 120 (
At an end of support 132 opposite from the headrail clip 134 a light clip 142 is fastened to an underside thereof with a screw 148. The light clip 142 includes two opposing semi-resilient legs 144. The legs 144 are formed to include opposing ridges 146. The light clip 142 receives an elongated extrusion 170 wherein the opposing ridges 146 engage recesses 171 at each side of the extrusion 170 (
The elongated extrusion 170 is formed in the general shape of an inverted U thereby defining a downward facing channel 172. The downward facing channel 172 receives the LED light strip 120 wherein the LED light strip 120 is further retained in the channel 172 typically by a double sided tape (not shown) adhesively affixed between the light strip 120 and the extrusion 170. A lens 173 extends across the opening of the inverted U channel 172. The lens 173 can be transparent, translucent, or colored and can also be faceted to provide a variety of lighting effects.
In use, the valance 102 is disengaged from the valance mounts 150. A plurality of light mount assemblies 130 are installed on the headrail 106 by engaging the flanges 107 of the headrail 106 in the respective recesses 140 of the headrail clip 134. The light strip 120 of LED light assembly 110 is inserted into the U-shaped channel 172 of extrusion 170 and a lens 173 is engaged over the opening to the U-shaped channel 172. The extrusion 170 is then inserted in the light clips 142 by engaging the ridges 146 of the light clip 142 in the side recesses 171 of the extrusion 170 such that the light from the LED light strip is directed downward. The controller 112 is affixed to the controller brackets 118 which are then engaged on the headrail 106 in the same manner as the light mount assemblies 130. The low voltage supply (not shown) is plugged into a wall outlet in the LED light assembly 110 is activated using the known remote control. The various inputs to the remote control directed the color of light radiating from the LED lights and also of the mode of the lights such as steady, pulsing, traveling, flashing, etc.
The lighting effect can be enhanced by the addition of one or more light strips 120 connected to the controller 112. In an additional embodiment as illustrated in
Referring now to
Further embodiments of the light mount assembly are illustrated in
As shown in
Referring now to
Additionally, the LED light strip 120 may be desired to be oriented at a 45° angle with respect to the horizontal. This can be accomplished as illustrated in
Alternatively, as shown in
Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the afore described preferred embodiments of the invention, the intention herein is that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.