Patent Application
20190010756
The present innovation relates to window coverings. For example, the present innovation relates to window coverings, mechanisms utilized to help facilitate the installment and positioning of window coverings and mechanisms utilized to help control the position of window covering material adjacent a window.
Window coverings can be configured so that a material is moveable to partially or fully cover a window. Examples of window coverings can be appreciated from U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,596,594, 8,307,879, 8,051,993, 7,984,745, 7,331,370, 7,311,133, 7,228,797, 7,108,038, 7,025,107, 7,021,360, 6,843,299, 6,817,402, 6,761,203, 6,725,897, 6,672,359, 6,644,373, 6,644,372, 6,601,809, 6,601,635, 6,571,853, 6,289,965, 6,234,236, 6,283,192, 6,129,131, 6,024,154, 5,706,876, 5,667,178, 5,482,100, 5,105,871, 5,105,492, 5,042,553, 4,840,216, 4,607,818, 4,399,856, 4,399,917, 4,221,255, 3,129,750, 2,498,067, 2,420,301, 767,899, and 13,251 and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. Nos. 2014/0069595, 2012/0111509, 2011/0036516, 2010/0243177, 2009/0283226, 2007/0056692, and 2007/0051477.
Spring motors that may be employed in window coverings can often include spring elements that can add substantial cost to the spring motor unit. For instance, the spring member of the spring motor unit may require use of a substantial transmission system as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,283,192 or may require use of a type of spring member that has a special construction that can be expensive to help facilitate the support of the variable load of the window covering material as that material is raised or lowered.
Users of window coverings can also have difficulty installing window coverings adjacent a window. For instance, users can have difficulty mounting brackets adjacent a window that are configured to hold a window covering. After installation, users can also be unhappy with the stability of a mounted window covering. Often, this can be due to the fact that the window covering is not properly mounted due to installation error.
I have determined that a new window covering design is needed that can permit effective height adjustment of window covering material while also permitting a user to more easily and properly install a window covering in a desired position. In some embodiments, the window covering can be configured as a cordless window covering that does not have any exposed operator cord. In other embodiments, the window covering can include exposed lift cords or an exposed operator cord (e.g. a loop cord). A mechanism for the improved stability and ease of installation for a window covering and window covering material position adjustment mechanism, and methods of making and using window coverings and such mechanism are provided herein.
In some embodiments, a window covering includes a shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, window covering material connected to the shaft, a first bracket, a second bracket spaced apart from the first bracket, and a window covering material position control mechanism connected to the first bracket. The window covering material position control mechanism can be configured as a spring motor unit that includes a first spring motor pulley above a second spring motor pulley and a spring extending from the first spring motor pulley to the second spring motor pulley. The second end of the shaft can be connected to the second bracket such that the shaft is rotatable in a first rotational direction for extending the window covering material and is rotatable in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction for retracting the window covering material. The first end of the shaft can be connected to the first spring motor pulley or the second spring motor pulley such that the shaft is rotatable in the first rotational direction and is also rotatable in the second rotational direction and such that the spring biases the shaft to rotate in the second rotational direction for retracting the window covering material.
In some embodiments, the first end of the shaft is connected to the first spring motor pulley. In other embodiments the first end of the shaft is connected to the second spring motor pulley. In yet other embodiments, the window covering material position control mechanism can be configured as a loop cord drive, an electric motor, or other type of control mechanism used for retracting and extending window covering material.
The first spring motor pulley can have a hole and the second spring motor pulley can have a hole. Each hole can receive an axle about which the spring motor pulley is rotatable. A first axle can extend from a body of the first bracket into the hole of the second spring motor pulley. The hole of the first spring motor pulley can be configured to receive a projection extending from the first end of the shaft. For example, a first end shaft connector connected to the first end of the shaft can have a projection that extends into the hole of the first spring motor pulley via a hole in a housing attached to the first bracket that encloses the first and second spring motor pulleys within the first bracket for coupling the first end of the shaft to the first spring motor pulley.
Some embodiments of the window covering can include a second end shaft connector connected to the second end of the shaft. The second end shaft connector can have a projection that extends into an aperture of a rotatable shaft connection mechanism attached to the second bracket for connecting the second end of the shaft to the second bracket. In yet other embodiments, the projection of the second end shaft connector can be rotatably received within an aperture or receptacle defined in a body of the second bracket or a shaft connector attached to the second bracket. In some embodiments, the projection of the second end shaft connector is extendable into and out of a body of the second end shaft connector and/or the projection of the first end shaft connector is extendable into and out of a body of the first end shaft connector. For example, each extendable and retractable projection can be coupled to a body of an end shaft connector such that rotation of a rotatable member attached to that body moves the projection into or out of the body of the connector so that rotation of the rotatable member in one direction (e.g. clockwise or counterclockwise) moves the projection toward a fully retracted position and rotation of the rotatable member in an opposite direction moves the projection toward a fully extended position.
Embodiments of the window covering can also include a rail extending between the first bracket and the second bracket. The rail can be positioned above the shaft. The rail may be an elongated member that is shaped like a bar, beam, rod, or other type of elongated element that has a length. The rail may extend linearly along its length for some embodiments. The rail can have a first end having a first locator hole and a second end opposite the first end of the rail that has a second locator hole. Each locator hole can be configured to receive a finger that may be attached to a top of a bracket.
For example, embodiments of the window covering can include a first resilient finger attached to a top of the first bracket or otherwise structured in the top of the first bracket and a second resilient finger attached to the top of the second bracket or otherwise structured in the top of the second bracket. The first resilient finger can be configured to resiliently move downwardly in response to contact from the rail when the rail is slid along the top of the first bracket and subsequently resiliently moves into the first locator hole when the first locator hole is aligned with the first resilient finger. Similarly, the second resilient finger can be configured to resiliently move downwardly in response to contact from the rail when the rail is slid along the top of the second bracket and subsequently resiliently moves into the second locator hole when the second locator hole is aligned with the second resilient finger.
The first and second brackets and the rail can also be configured to help facilitate locating the first and second resilient fingers into the first and second locator holes. For example, the top of the first bracket can have a profile that defines a first groove and a second groove so that the first resilient finger is positioned between the first groove and the second groove of the top of the first bracket. The top of the second bracket can also have a profile that defines a first groove and a second groove so that the second resilient finger is positioned between the first groove of the top of the second bracket and the second groove of the top of the second bracket. The rail can have a first side and a second side so that the first side of the rail has a profile configured to fit within and slide along the first groove of the top of the first bracket and the first groove of the top of the second bracket and the second side of the rail has a profile configured to fit within and slide along the second groove of the top of the first bracket and the second groove of the top of the second bracket. The first side of the rail can be a front side of the rail and the second side of the rail can be a rear side of the. Each end of the rail may extend between the first and second sides of the rail.
In some other embodiments of the window covering, only the first bracket or only the second bracket may have a finger. For such embodiments, the rail may still have first and second locator holes or may be configured so that only one end of the rail has a locator hole.
Some embodiments of the window covering may have different configurations that may be configured to utilize different types of window covering material position control mechanisms, such as roller spring and clutch arrangements, a cord lock that is coupled to lift cords that are wound about a shaft or pulleys attached to the shaft. Such embodiments may include a first bracket that has a top having a first resilient finger and a second bracket spaced apart from the first bracket that a top having a second resilient finger. A shaft can be positioned between the first bracket and the second bracket so that the shaft is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. Window covering material can be connected to the shaft so that the window covering material is extendable when the shaft rotates in the first rotational direction and is retractable when the shaft rotates in the second rotational direction. A rail can extend from the first bracket to the second bracket so that the rail is positioned above the shaft. The rail can have a first end having a first locator hole and a second end having a second locator hole. The first resilient finger can be resiliently interlocked within the first locator hole and the second resilient finger can be resiliently interlocked within the second locator hole.
In some embodiments, the first resilient finger is configured to resiliently move downwardly in response to contact from the rail when the rail is slid along the top of the first bracket and subsequently resiliently moves into the first locator hole when the first locator hole is aligned with the first resilient finger and the second resilient finger is configured to resiliently move downwardly in response to contact from the rail when the rail is slid along the top of the second bracket and subsequently resiliently moves into the second locator hole when the second locator hole is aligned with the second resilient finger. The top of the first bracket can have a profile that defines a first groove and a second groove such that the first resilient finger is positioned between the first groove and the second groove of the top of the first bracket. The top of the second bracket can have a profile that defines a first groove and a second groove so that the second resilient finger is positioned between the first groove of the top of the second bracket and the second groove of the top of the second bracket. The rail can have a first side and a second side opposite this first side. The first side of the rail can have a profile configured to fit within and slide along the first groove of the top of the first bracket and the first groove of the top of the second bracket and the second side of the rail can have a profile configured to fit within and slide along the second groove of the top of the first bracket and the second groove of the top of the second bracket.
A method of fabrication and/or installation of an embodiment of a window covering is also provided. For example, an embodiment of installing a window covering can include providing a kit. The kit can include a shaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the shaft, window covering material connected to the shaft, a first bracket that has a top including a first resilient finger, a second bracket having a top including a second resilient finger, and a rail having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the rail. The first end of the rail has a first locator hole and the second end of the rail has a second locator hole. The method can also include sliding the first end of the rail along the top of the first bracket such that the rail contacts the first resilient finger to resiliently move the first resilient finger downwardly until the first resilient finger is aligned with the first locator hole and resiliently moves into the first locator hole for interlocking with the first end of the rail, sliding the second end of the rail along the top of the second bracket such that the rail contacts the second resilient finger to resiliently move the second resilient finger downwardly until the second resilient finger is aligned with the second locator hole and resiliently moves into the second locator hole for interlocking with the second end of the rail; and mounting the rail, first bracket and second bracket to a structure adjacent a window. The method can also include coupling the shaft to the first and second brackets such that the shaft is positioned between the first and second brackets so that the shaft is rotational in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction that is opposite the first rotational direction. The window covering material can be extendable when the shaft is rotated in the first rotational direction and the window covering material can be retractable when the shaft is rotated in the second rotational direction.
In other embodiments of the method, the kit can include a window covering material position control mechanism that is connected to or is connectable to the first bracket. The window covering material position control mechanism can be configured as a loop cord drive, an electric motor, a spring motor unit, or other type of control mechanism used for retracting and extending window covering material. The kit can also include a first end shaft connector and a second end shaft connector. Each such connector may be separate from the shaft within the kit or may be provided already attached to the ends of the shaft. The first end shaft connector can have a projection that extends into a hole of a first spring motor pulley or a hole of a pulley of a looped cord drive or hold of a pulley of a motor via a hole in a housing attached to the first bracket that encloses the window covering material position control mechanism. The second end shaft connector can have a projection that extends into an aperture of a rotatable shaft connection mechanism attached to the second bracket for connecting the second end of the shaft to the second bracket. In yet other embodiments, the projection of the second end shaft connector can be rotatably received within an aperture or receptacle defined in a body of the second bracket or a shaft connector attached to the second bracket. The kit can also include instructions that may illustrate and/or utilize text to describe a process by which a customer may interconnect the elements of the kit and use tools and/or fasteners. Such tools and/or fasteners can be provided with the kit or be identified so that a customer may acquire those tools and fasteners separately.
Other details, objects, and advantages of the window covering, window covering positional adjustment mechanism, and methods of making and using the same will become apparent as the following description of certain exemplary embodiments thereof proceeds.
Exemplary embodiments of the window covering, window covering positional adjustment mechanism, improved stability and installation mechanism, and methods of making the same are shown in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that like reference numbers used in the drawings may identify like components.
As can be appreciated from
Embodiments of the window covering 1 can include a first rail 2 that extends from the top of a first bracket 2 to the top of a second bracket 5 above the shaft 11 and window covering material 13. The first bracket 3 can be attached to a window covering material position control mechanism 7 that is connected to a first end 11a of a rotatable shaft 11 for connection of the rotatable shaft 11 to the first bracket 3. The second bracket 5 can be connected to a second end 11b of the rotatable shaft 11 that is opposite the first end of the rotatable shaft 11. A rotatable shaft connection mechanism 9 can be attached to the second bracket for coupling the second end 11b of the rotatable shaft 11 to the second bracket 5.
The rotatable shaft can be a roller, a bar, a rod, an elongated member, a tube, a cylinder, or other type of shaft. Window covering material 13 can be wound upon on the shaft 11 so that the window covering 1 is configured as a roller shade type of window covering. Rotation of the shaft in a first direction may wind the window covering material on the shaft 11 for raising the position of the window covering material 13 and rotation of the shaft in a second direction can unwind the window covering material from the shaft for lowering of the window covering material to a lowered position. In some embodiment, the first rotational direction may be clockwise and the second rotational direction may be counterclockwise. In other embodiments, the first rotational direction can be counterclockwise and the second rotational direction can be clockwise.
In other embodiments, it is contemplated that the window covering material 13 can be coupled to lift cords that are wound and unwound from the rotatable shaft For such embodiments, the window covering material can be raised or lowered via the winding and unwinding of the lift cords about the shaft. The lift cords may be wound directly on the shaft and unwound directly from the shaft 11 or may be received within one or more pulleys that may rotate via rotation of the shaft for the unwinding and winding of the lift cords from the shaft 11. Such embodiments can be configured as a Roman shade, pleated shade, or other type of window covering.
The window covering material position control mechanism 7 can include a spring motor unit that is retained within a housing 7d coupled to the body 3a of the first bracket 3. The window covering material position control mechanism can include a first spring motor pulley 7a, a second spring motor pulley 7b and a spring 7c that extends from the first spring motor pulley 7a to the second spring motor pulley 7b. The spring 7c can include a spring member that is configured to wind upon one of the spring motor pulleys during raising of the window covering material and is to unwind from that pulley and wind about the other spring motor pulley when the window covering material is lowered. The spring 7c can be configured to retain the position of the window covering material 13 at a user selected position when a user removes a force for lowering of the window covering material. The spring 7c can be configured to wind about one of the spring motor pulleys to drive rotation of the shaft 11 for winding up the window covering material about the shaft or otherwise raising the window covering material in response to a user providing an upward force on the window covering material.
For example, the first spring motor pulley 7a can be positioned above the second spring motor pulley 7b and can have a central hole that receives a projection 17 extending from a first end shaft connector 18 that extends through a hole 7e in a housing 7d attached to the first bracket. The length of this projection 17 can be any length that may be desired for ensuring the projection can extend from adjacent the first end 11a of the shaft 11 for attachment to the window covering material position control mechanism 7.
The first end shaft connector 18 is coupled to the first end of the shaft 11 such that rotation of the spring motor pulley 7a causes the shaft 11 to rotate (e.g. rotation of the first spring motor pulley 7a in the first rotational direction causes the shaft 11 to rotate in the first rotational direction and rotation of the first spring motor pulley 7a in the second rotational direction causes the shaft 11 to rotation in the second rotational direction). The second spring motor pulley 7b can have a central hole that receives a projection 3b extending from the body 3a of the first bracket 3 such that the second spring motor pulley 7b is rotatable about the axis defined by this projection 3b in opposite directions. When a user grabs the window covering material 13 to unwind the material from the shaft 11 for lowering the window covering material 13, the first and second spring motor pulleys may rotate in first rotational directions such that the spring unwinds from one of those pulleys and winds about the other of the pulleys for providing a biasing force on the spring motor pulleys to prevent the first spring motor pulley 7a from rotation after a user releases the window covering material 13 so that the user-selected position of the window covering material is maintained at that user selected position. Thereafter, a user may provide an upward force on the window covering material 13 to actuate the raising of the window covering material. In response to that upward force, the spring 7c may unwind from one of the spring motor pulleys and wind about the other of the spring motor pulleys to cause the first spring motor pulley 7a to rotate to drive rotation of the shaft 11 so that the window covering material is wound upon the rotating shaft for raising of the window covering material. The user may stop providing the upward force after the window covering material is at a new user-desired position (or is fully raised such that the window covering material is fully wound upon the shaft) such that the spring stops its movement and acts to bias the spring motor pulleys for retaining the position of the window covering material at the new position.
The second end of the shaft 11 can be connected to the second bracket 5 via a second end shaft connector 22 that is connected to the second end 11b of the shaft 11 for coupling the second end 11b of the shaft 11 to the second bracket 5. The second end shaft connector 22 can include a projection 23 that extends into an aperture 42 for rotatably receiving the projection 23 so that the shaft is rotatable in opposite directions. The length of this projection 23 can be any length as desired to help facilitate a connection between the second end 11b of the shaft 11 and the second bracket 5. The aperture 42 may be defined in a bracket connector (e.g. a receptacle attached to or defined in the bracket, etc.) that is attached to the second bracket 5 for attachment of the second end 11b of the shaft 11 to the second bracket 5. In some embodiments, the aperture 42 is configured so that the projection 23 can pass through that aperture 42 and into an opening 5b defined in a body 5a of the second bracket 5. That opening 5b can be configured as a hole, a slot, a slit, or other type of opening that is aligned with the aperture 42 for receiving a distal end of the projection 23 of the second end shaft connector 22.
In other embodiments, (as may be appreciated, for example, from the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The shaft connection body 26 can include a profile for interlocking with an opening at the second end 11b of the shaft for providing an interlocking connection with the second end 11b of the shaft. The profile of the shaft connection body can include a plurality of fins 26c attached to a member 26b of the shaft connection body 26 and one or more grooves 26a defined in the member 26b of the shaft connection body 26.
Referring to
As shown in
Referring to
The projection could alternatively be a projection 7f that extends from a spring motor pulley for passing through hole 7e and being received within an aperture defined in a body of the second end shaft connector 22. For embodiments in which the projection 7f extends from a spring motor pulley, the body of the second end shaft connector 22 can be defined to include a projection receiving aperture 42a that is defined by a first part 9c′ that is integral to a distal body portion of the second end shaft connector 22 and a moveable second part 9b′ that is rotatably connected to the first part 9c′ for movement between open and closed positions. In some embodiments, the second part 9b′ can be shaped similar to second part 9b of the rotatable shaft connection mechanism 9 and the first part 9c′ can be shaped similarly to the first part 9c of the rotatable shaft connection mechanism 9. In other embodiments, these parts may have a different shape, size, and configuration.
The moveable second part 9b′ can be moveable to an open position so that the projection 7f can be passed into the aperture 42a and subsequently moved to a closed position to retain the distal end of the projection 7f within the aperture 42a for coupling the second window covering material position control mechanism 7 to the second end 11b of the shaft 11. This coupling can permit the spring 7c of the second window covering material position control mechanism 7 to bias motion of the shaft 11 to complement the force provided by the spring of the first window covering material position control mechanism 7 connected to the first end 11a of the shaft 11.
It should be appreciated that embodiments of the first window covering material position control mechanism 7 coupled to the first bracket 3 may alternatively be configured to have a projection 7f extending from a spring motor pulley or other drive pulley (e.g. pulley of a loop cord drive) and that the first end shaft connector 18 can be configured to define an aperture for receiving that projection.
Referring to
The shaft end connector 100 can include a body 100a that has a plurality of ribs 100b that extend from the body to define grooves between immediately adjacent ribs 100b. A distal end of the body can have an enlarged rotatable member 100d attached to the distal end of the body 100a so that the member can be positioned at a distal end of the shaft 11 and be sized to extend beyond the outer periphery of the shaft 11 to function as an endwall for helping to retain window covering material 13 on the shaft and retain that material on the shaft as it is wound about the shaft during retraction of the window covering material 13 and to help retain the material on the shaft as it is moved during extension of the window covering material 13. The rotatable member 110d can be shaped as a circular member, be shaped as a plate or have another type of shape or orientation (e.g. be an oval in shape, be polygonal in shape, etc.). The rotatable member 100d can have teeth 100e defined thereon or attached to a peripheral edge of the member. The teeth 100e can be configured to help a user grip the member to rotate the member 100d in opposite rotational directions. The rotatable member 100d can be connected to a distal end of the body 100a so that a user must provide at least a pre-specified or pre-determined amount of force to effect rotation of the rotatable member 100d in either direction via the connection defined or formed between the rotatable member 100d and the body 100a.
A retractable and extendable projection 100c can be attached to the body 100a so that the projection 100c is extendable from the body 100a and is also retractable within the body 100a. The projection 100c can be retractable such that the entirety of the projection 100c is positioned within the body 100a and rotatable member 100d when the projection 100c is moved to a first fully retracted position. When the projection 100c is moved to a fully extended position, a distal end of that first projection and a portion of the middle portion of the projection 100c can extend out of the body and be external to the body 100a and rotatable member 100d such that a portion of the projection 100c extends a length away from the rotatable member and away from the end of the shaft 11 to which the connector 100 is attached. The projection 100c can have a cross-sectional shape and sized configured to pass through a hole 7e in a housing 7d for engagement with a spring motor pulley or other pulley or for attachment to a portion of a bracket and/or window covering material position control mechanism attached to a bracket. The projection 100c can also (or alternatively) be shaped and sized for attachment to a connector attached to the bracket to facilitate attachment of the end of the shaft 11 to a bracket by being received within a receptacle of the bracket or bracket connector.
Referring to
The rail 2 can include a first end 2a and a second end 2b opposite its first end. Each end may have the same profile for facilitating attachment to the first and second brackets 3 and 5. Each of the first and second brackets 3 and 5 may also have a similar (or the same) structure defined in the top of the bodies 3a and 5a of the brackets to facilitate attachment to either end of the rail 2.
As may be seen from at least
The first groove 55 can be configured to receive a first side 2c of the rail that may be configured to have a groove or other profile that is to slideably mate with the shape of the first groove 55 and the second groove 57 can be configured to receive a second side 2d of the rail 2 that is opposite its first side 2c of the rail so that the second side 2d of the rail slideably mates with the second groove 57. The top profile 51 of the bracket can be shaped and otherwise configured so that the first and second sides 2c and 2d of the rail adjacent an end of the rail is slideably receivable within the first and second grooves so that a middle portion between the first and second sides 2c and 2d passes over a top portion of the body of the bracket. The end of the rail 2 (e.g. the first end 2a or second end 2b) can be locked into position on the top profile 51 of the bracket when at least one locating hole 2e is passed over a corresponding at least one resilient finger 53. Each resilient finger 53 can be configured so that it resiliently flexes, bends, or otherwise moves downward in response to a middle portion of the body of the rail contacting the finger as the rail is slid over the top of the profile 51 and over the finger 53 and, in response to the locating hole 2e define in the rail 2 passing over the finger 53, the finger 52 can then be biased to move upwardly into the hole 53 immediately upon that hole 2e being aligned with a portion of the finger such that a distal upper part of the finger 53 can extend through the locating 2e hole to interlock with the rail 2 within the locating hole 2e for locating the rail 2 on the top profile 51 of the bracket and for attachment of the rail 2 to the bracket. The biasing of the finger 53 can be provided via resiliency of the material of the finger (e.g. material property of the material that composes the finger) and/or is integrated structure within the profile 51 and/or attachment to the bracket for positioning within the top profile 51 of the bracket.
For instance, in some embodiments, a spring (e.g. a torsion spring) may be coupled to an axle to which the finger 53 is attached and/or the finger 53 adjacent the top profile 51 of the bracket for providing the biasing force that acts on the finger 53. In other embodiments, the resilient property of the material composition of the finger in connection with its connection and/or integration into the top profile 51 of the bracket can provide the biasing force. For example, the finger 53 can be defined within a body of the bracket to be part of the top profile 51 and can be composed of a polymeric material or an elastomeric material that provides the resiliency of the finger needed to facilitate bending or flexing in response to the rail sliding over the finger and the finger moving upwardly through the locating hole 2f once that hole is aligned with the finger 53. For such embodiments, the entirety of the bracket body may be composed of the polymeric material or just the top portion of the bracket may be composed of this material and may be attached via over molding, fasteners, bonding, welding, or other type of attachment mechanism to another portion of the body of the bracket. In yet other embodiments, the finger 53 may be attached to a biasing mechanism positioned on the bracket or attached to the bracket such that the finger extends upwardly above the top of the bracket's top profile 53 for resiliently moving below a rail when the rail is slide over the finger 53 and subsequently moving into the locating hole 2e via the biasing force provided by the biasing mechanism (e.g. a spring, a torsion spring, a coil spring, etc.) in response to the locating hole 2e in the rail 2 being aligned with the finger 53 as the rail is slid along the top of the rail via first and second grooves 55 and 57.
After the rail is located on the top profile and interlocked with at least one finger 53 via at least one locating hole 2e for attachment of each end of the rail to a respective bracket's top profile 51, the rail and bracket can be fastened adjacent a window (e.g. to a portion of a window frame such as a head jamb or side jamb of a window frame etc. or to structure located adjacent a window frame such as a part of a wall above a window opening or adjacent a side of a window opening or the head jamb or a side jamb of a window frame). The rail and bracket can be fastened to that structure via fasteners passed through holes of the bracket and rail that are aligned with each other when the one or more fingers 53 are interlocked within the locating hole(s) 2e of the top profiles 51 of the first and second brackets. For example, screws or bolts can be passed through holes in the top of the bracket that are aligned with first and second installation holes 2f and 2g defined adjacent the first and second ends 2a and 2b of the rail that are positioned between the more distally located locating holes 2e.
As can be appreciated from
In yet other embodiments of the method, such as the embodiment shown in
It should be appreciated that the fingers 53 and profiles 51 of the first and second brackets 3 and 5 interlocking with the rail 2 can help ensure that the spacing of the first and second brackets 3 and 5 is sufficient for the shaft 11 to extend between the brackets and accurately position the window covering material to cover the window while also permitting the window covering material position control mechanism 7 to be effectively coupled to the shaft for controlling positioning of the window covering material. In this regard, the length of the rail 2 can be set by the manufacturer to work in combination with the fingers 53 and the locating holes 2e to help ensure that the first and second brackets 3 and 5 are properly spaced apart to facilitate the accurate installation of the window covering in a relatively easy, intuitive way.
After the rail 2 and first and second brackets 3 and 5 are mounted to the window frame or a structure adjacent the window frame above and relatively adjacent to a window, the shaft 11 can be connected between the first and second brackets 3 and 5. For instance, after the rail and brackets are mounted, the user may then couple the shaft 11 having the window covering material 13 wound thereon to the first and second brackets 3 and 5 to complete the installation of the window covering. For instance, the first end 11a of the shaft can be connected to the window covering material position control mechanism 7 that is connected to the first bracket 3 and the second bracket 5 can be connected to a second end 11b of the rotatable shaft 11 that is opposite the first end of the rotatable shaft 11 via the rotatable shaft connection mechanism 9 attached to the second bracket 5 (or a second the window covering material position control mechanism 7 that may be coupled to the second bracket 5). For example, a user or installer may insert the projection 17 of the first end shaft connector 18 connected to the first end 11a of the shaft 11 so that the projection 17 passes through hole 7e in housing 7d to interlockingly mate within a central opening in a spring motor pulley of the window covering material position control mechanism 7 coupled to the first bracket 3 and may thereafter move the shaft to insert projection 23 of the second end shaft connector 22 into aperture 42 of the rotatable shaft connection mechanism for being retained in the aperture 42 for coupling the second end 11b of the rotatable shaft 11 to the second bracket 5. The window covering material 13 can be pre-coupled and pre-wrapped about the shaft 11, which may also have the first end shaft connector 18 and second end shaft connector 22 attached to the first and second ends of the shaft so that an installer need not have to position or attach those connectors or the window covering material 13. This way, once the shaft 11 is coupled to the first and second brackets, the shaft 11 is operatively connected to an element of the window covering material position control mechanism 7 so that the window covering material can be moved to a desired position and maintained in that position. Thereafter, the window covering material 13 can be manipulated by a user of the installed window covering 1 to change the position of the window covering material between fully retracted (e.g. fully wrapped about shaft 11 or fully raised position of the window covering material 13) and fully extended positions (e.g. fully unwound from shaft or fully lowered position).
Of course, in alternative embodiments the first end shaft connector 18 and second end shaft connector 22 could be separate elements within a kit or box that is sent to a customer or bought by a customer that need to be attached to the shaft 11 prior to coupling the shaft 11 to the brackets. Similarly, the window covering material 13 could be a separate element within the kit or box and need to be coupled to the shaft 11 prior to or after attachment of the shaft 11 to the first and second brackets 3 and 5 via the first end shaft connector 18 and second end shaft connector 22.
It should be understood that different embodiments of my window covering may include different elements to meet different sets of design criteria. For instance, the window covering material position control mechanism 7 can be configured as a loop cord drive that has a looped cord operator cord instead of utilizing a spring motor unit or may utilize a roller spring positioned within the shaft 11 instead of the spring motor unit or use of a looped cord drive. In yet other embodiments, the window covering may utilize yet another type of window covering material position control mechanism. As another example, the window covering material 11 can be configured to extend or retract from the rotatable shaft 11 or from adjacent the rotatable shaft 11 without being wound and unwound from that shaft 11 via the use of lift cords and/or pulleys that are connected to the shaft 11. As yet another example, the window covering material can be composed of fabric, a film, woven wood, woven bamboo, be another type of window covering material. As yet another example, some embodiments of the window covering may not utilize a rail 2 that extends between the first and second brackets 3 and 5. Yet other embodiments of the window covering may utilize a U-shaped member instead of a flat, linearly extending rail such that front and rear sidewalls of the U-shaped member extend below the top of the rail to cover the shaft 11 or house the shaft 11 within a channel defined by the U-shaped member. As yet another example, the end shaft connections between the first and second ends of the shaft 11 and the first and second brackets 3 and 5 can be configured so that a projection extends from an element connected to the bracket for receipt within an aperture of a connector attached to the end of the shaft 11 or so that a projection extending from the end of a shaft is received within a hole or other type of aperture of a structure attached to the bracket. Each end of the shaft may have a similar connection mechanism to its respective bracket or may have a different connection mechanism utilized for its connection to its respective bracket. Thus, while certain exemplary embodiments of window covering 1, window covering material position control mechanism 7, improved stability and installation mechanism, and methods of making and using the same have been shown and described above, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
