Abstract:
A window covering for a window having a window casement, or other opening in a wall, such as a doorway or a case-less window opening, with an inside portion adjacent to the window and an outside portion adjacent to the inside portion, the outside portion having a left side portion and a right side portion is disclosed. The window covering comprising includes a support assembly configured and arranged to attach to an inside portion of a window casement and a window treatment suspended from the support assembly and overlapping at least a portion of a left side portion and a right side portion of an outside portion of the window casement whereby the window treatment covers the window.

Description:
This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. 29/362,812, filed on Jun. 1, 2010 now U.S. Pat. No. D637,854. This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: No. 61/223,914, filed on Jul. 8, 2009; No. 61/332,349, filed on May 7, 2010, 61/332,354, filed on May 7, 2010; and No. 61/348,413, filed on May 26, 2010, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to window treatments and more particularly to a hybrid mounting assembly for window treatments, such as a cordless roll-up shade. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Window treatments having cords to raise and lower the window treatment are well known in the art. However, these prior-art corded window treatments suffer from the disadvantage of exposing children and animals to a potential strangulation hazard. In particular, it is well documented that children or animals can become caught in the cords and be strangled. Various regulations and methods have been adopted to reduce the potential of strangulation to occur, such as using detachable cords and cords that have no continuous loops. However, the potential of strangulation is so great that it is desirable to produce a window treatment that lacks cords entirely, yet can still be mechanically raised and lowered. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a window treatment that lacks cords to adjust the height of the window treatment. 
     Also, window treatments that are suspended from brackets that are attached to a wall surrounding a window opening are well known in the art. The prior art brackets are often configured to attach to in two different ways: (a) to the wall which faces the interior space of the structure, and since such wall is outside of the window opening, it is referred to as an “outside mount,” or (b) a within the recess the window opening, which is referred to as an “inside mount.” However, these prior art systems suffer from a couple of disadvantages. Outside mount assemblies necessarily space the window treatment away from the plane of the wall or window frame, which makes the window treatment drafty and less heat efficient. Inside mount assemblies are limited by the width of the window opening because the window treatment is also within the confines of the window opening, and disadvantageously permit light and draft to pass by the sides of the window treatment. 
     Accordingly, there is a perceived need in the industry for a method of mounting a window treatment in a window opening that permits the window treatment to overlap the sides of the window opening like an outside mount, yet is nearly flush with the window opening like an inside mount. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problems of the prior art by providing a cordless roll-up shade that eliminates the use of cords to raise and lower the shade. Specifically, the shade includes a lifting member attached to a roll-up shade rod which is part of a support assembly that preferably includes two brackets. The brackets are configured to be affixed to a portion of wall which extends inwardly to define the recess of a window opening, with or without an optional head rail. The lifting member is connected to the lower end of the rear face of a decorative front panel, such as a Roman shade. A wand is configured and arranged to drive the shade rod. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a hybrid mounting assembly having a pair of brackets that are mounted on an inward-facing portion of structure which defines the window opening. A head rail assembly attaches to the brackets and extends left-right beyond the outside edges of the opening. A window treatment is suspended from the head rail. 
     An objective of the present invention is the provision for a hybrid mounting assembly to permit a window treatment that is wider than the window to be mounted nearly flush with the vertical wall within which is the window opening. 
     Another objective of the present invention is the provision for a hybrid mounting assembly that is mounted on the portion of inward-facing structure which defines the recess of the window opening yet permits attachment of a wider window treatment to the mounting assembly. 
     Yet another objective of the present invention of the provision for a hybrid mounting assembly that includes a head rail that is wider than the window, yet still permits a nearly flush mount of a window treatment to the head rail. 
     Another provision of the present invention is the inclusion of a handle that includes a cleat to engage the handle, thereby preventing the handle from rotating. The cleat also has the added advantage to preventing the handle from wandering or swinging as well. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of a cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial left side view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the  FIG. 1  embodiment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a front view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention mounted within a window opening. 
         FIG. 5B  is a left side cross-section view through line  5 B- 5 B of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A , showing a head rail affixed to brackets and support assembly which are set within the window opening. 
         FIG. 5C  is a close up view of a portion of the assembly shown in  FIG. 5B . 
         FIG. 5D  is a left side view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention mounted within a window opening 
         FIG. 5E  is a close up view of a portion of the assembly shown in  FIG. 5D . 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial rear view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention showing the wand. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention with the decorative front panel partially rolled up. 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention with the decorative front panel partially rolled up. 
         FIG. 10A  is a partial cross-section view showing a preferred embodiment of a flexible shaft transmission shown with an optional guide block of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10B  is a partial cross-section view showing an alternative embodiment of a worm gear transmission of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10C  is a partial cross-section view showing an alternative embodiment of a bevel gear transmission of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10D  is a partial cross-section view showing an alternative embodiment of a universal joint gear transmission of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11A  is a partial front view of an alternative embodiment of a wand having three linked portions of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11B  is perspective view of an operator&#39;s hands aligning the three linked portions of the alternative embodiment of the wand into a crank. 
         FIG. 11C  is a perspective view of an operator using the three linked portions of the alternative embodiment of the wand articulated as a crank. 
         FIG. 12A  is a close-up view of a first embodiment of the wand engaged on an anti-rotation cleat. 
         FIG. 12B  is a close-up view of a first embodiment of the wand disengaged from the anti-rotation cleat. 
         FIG. 13A  is a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present configured for larger window openings. 
         FIG. 13B  is a rear view of an alternative embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention showing the use of multiple roll-up shades. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-4 , an embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention is shown generally at  10 . The cordless roll-up shade includes a take up member, such as a shade rod  12 . Wrapped about the shade rod  12  is a back panel  14 , or lifting member, which raises the front panel  26  as further described below. The back panel  14  is preferably narrower than the front panel  26 , but could be as wide or wider than the front panel  26 . The back panel  14  may be made of any light flexible material that can be wound about the shade rod, such as mesh, cloth, fabric, polyester, nylon, polyester mesh, nylon mesh, silk, plastic, vinyl, and combinations and blends thereof. The back panel  14  may also be of different widths provided it is sufficiently wide enough to avoid being a strangulation hazard as cords are prone to being. For example, narrower ribbons of material may be used as the back panel  14 . 
     The shade rod  12  is attached to a support assembly. Specifically, the shade rod  12  may include tube end connectors  13  held in a pair of opposing bearing blocks  15 . The shade rod  12  is configured and arranged to rotate within the bearing blocks  15 . The bearing blocks  15  or tube end connectors  13  may have bushings to permit the shade rod  12  to rotate more freely and smoothly. The bearing blocks  15  are supported by a pair of brackets  16 . 
       FIG. 5A  through  FIG. 5E  show Roman shade assemblies mounted on a frame  32  which defines a window opening  39  in a vertical wall having an inside surface  31 . A window sash  33 , which is spaced apart from the plane of vertical wall  31  and the plane of the front face  37  of frame  32  is shown in  FIG. 5B  and  FIG. 5C . The brackets  16  are configured to be mounted to an inward-facing portion  35  of frame  32  one of four inward-running portions  35  which define the top, bottom and sides of the window opening. The brackets may be attached using fasteners, such as screws, nails or bolts. The brackets  16  may be configured to mount horizontally, vertically or at another angle to a frame portion  35 . Additional spacers and braces may be used to support the brackets  16 . As shown, particularly in  FIG. 5C , the head rail  18  and bearing blocks are attached to the brackets, and the front panel is attached to the head rail. Alternatively, head rail  18  may be used to hold the brackets  16  within the recess of window opening. The head rail  18  may also be used to secure the front panel  26  to the wall or window frame. See  FIGS. 5D and 5E . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8  and  9 , wand  20  is configured to drive the shade rod  12  through a linkage or transmission. An operator rotates the wand  20  to raise and lower the back panel  14  by winding and unwinding it about the shade rod. In one embodiment, a flexible shaft  22  (best seen in  FIG. 10A ), such as a spring or cable is used as a transmission or linkage to connect the wand  20  to the shade rod  12 . However, a universal joint would also function as well (as seen in  FIG. 10D  at  24 ). The flexible shaft  22  translates or links the rotational movement of the wand  20  into rotational movement of the shade rod  12 , which in turn raises or lowers the back panel  14  wound about the shade rod  12  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The shade rod  12 , back panel  14 , wand  20  and flexible shaft  22  (or other transmission  24 ,  38 ,  40 ) form the lifting assembly to raise and lower the decorative front panel  26 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , wand  20  may comprise two articulated parts  20   a ,  20   b.    
     As described further below in the alternative embodiments (shown in  FIGS. 10B-10D ), a different type of transmission or gearbox may also be used to translate the rotational movement of the wand  20  into rotational movement of the shade rod  12  also. Additionally, a guide block  21  (best seen in  FIG. 10A ) may be provided to orient the flexible shaft  20  downwards and parallel to the back panel  14  to prevent the wand  20  from wandering. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1-4 , decorative front panel  26  may be suspended from the head rail  18 . Alternatively the front panel  26  may be suspended from the window opening in front of the shade rod  12  by one or more fasteners. The front panel  26  has a front face and a rear face. The rear face of the front panel  26  is that which is oriented toward the window sash  33 . In a preferred embodiment, the front panel  26  is in the form of a Roman shade. The front panel  26  may also be formed as a mini-blind or roll-up shade. Additionally, the front panel  26  may also be made of a number of different materials as is known in art, such as cloth, fabric, polyester, nylon, plastic, vinyl, and bamboo. The front panel  26  may also include a privacy liner or blackout liner. 
     In the case of a Roman shade, the front panel  26  is formed from a number of sections having a pleat formed between each section. Extending from the rear face of the front panel  26  at each pleat is a pair of inwardly facing hooks or guides  30  that guide the front panel  26  (best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ) along the back panel  14 . As the back panel  14  is rolled up on shade rod  12 , the guides  30  cause folds to be formed in the front panel  26  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . The back panel  14  is secured near the bottom of the front panel  26  with fasteners, such as hook and loop or buttons, for instance. Alternatively, the back panel  14  may be anchored to the bottom-most pair of guides  30  on the front panel  26 . The guides  30  may be formed as a unitary wire loop, wire hooks, or a cloth pocket may also be used. Additionally a unitary rod may be used as a guide  30  as well. 
     A head rail  18  may be used to suspend the shade rod  12  and the front panel  26  at window opening rather than fastening the brackets  16  directly to the inward facing portions of frame which define or bound the window opening. As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , however, it is preferable that the head rail  18  is supported by the support assembly set in the recess of window opening, which permits the use of a hybrid mounting assembly described further below in  FIGS. 5A-5E . Specifically the bearing blocks  15  combine with a head rail support member  34 , described further below. 
     The front panel  26  may be suspended from the head rail with fasteners, such as hook and loop or buttons, for instance. The head rail  18  may be fastened to the window opening wall to suspend the cordless roll-up shade  10  thereto. An optional decorative valence  28  may be included to disguise the head rail  18  and hide the support assembly and lifting assembly. 
     A ratchet (not shown) may be included on one or both of the bearing blocks  13  to further reduce the risk of the cordless roll-up shade  10  from unfurling once it is rolled up. The ratchet includes a spring-biased plunger, or detent, that engages recesses on the tube end connector  15  to prevent the shade rod  12  from spinning loose freely. 
     Another aspect of the invention involves how the head rail is positioned relative to the window opening  32 .  FIGS. 5A-5E  show preferred embodiments of a cordless roll-up shade  10  of the present invention which include a hybrid mounting assembly supporting a window treatment  36 , such as a cordless roll-up shade of the present invention. However, it must be understood that the window treatment  36 , may be mounted in another wall opening such as a doorway. Also, the window opening may or may not include a window frame. The hybrid mounting assembly of  FIGS. 5B and 5C  includes at least one support assembly, preferably two, such as the brackets  16  and the bearing blocks  15  described previously. The support assembly is attached to the topmost inward-facing structure portion  35 , one of the four portions  35  which define the rectangular recess of the window opening  32 . As shown, each inward-facing portion  35  runs perpendicularly from the front face  37  of window frame  32  to vicinity of sash  33 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5B and 5C , extending from the bearing blocks  15  is a head rail support member  34 , which supports a head rail  18  that extends across the window and over left-right portions of the front face  37  of frame  32  which are adjacent the window opening  39 . The head rail support member  34  extends forward of the inward facing structure portion  35  of the window opening, i.e., in a direction away from the sash  33 , a minimal, yet sufficient, distance in order to keep the head rail  18  close to the vertical face  37  of frame  32  which it overlaps. Furthermore, the depth of the head rail  18  itself is small in order to minimize the distance that an attached window treatment  36  is spaced from the vertical face  37 . 
     As described above, the window treatment  36  is supported by the head rail  18  and hangs down in front of the window. Because the head rail  18  extends wider than the width of the window opening, an operator can select a window treatment  36  that overlaps at least a portion of the frame  32  adjacent the window opening, thus blocking light. Because the head rail  18  is small in depth and has little projection from the plane of frame front face  37 , and because the bearing blocks  15 , head rail support member  34  and brackets  16  are mounted on the topmost inward-facing structure portion  35  of the frame  32  of the window opening, the window treatment  36  is kept nearly flush to the vertical face  37 , which minimizes draft and light coming through the window opening. See  FIGS. 5B and 5D . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5B , the wand  20  and associated transmission elements, in particular flexible shaft  22 , which serve to rotate shade rod  12  responsive to turning of the wand, are positioned in the space between the window sash  33  and the front panel  26  of window treatment  36 , which space is of course also bounded by the four inward-facing wall portions  35 . As described in connection with  FIGS. 1-4 , and as further described in connection with  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 13B , a window treatment  36  may comprise front panel  26  and associated lifting panel  14 , also called back panel. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10B , in another embodiment a transmission including a worm gear  38  may be used to translate or communicate the rotational motion of the wand into the shade rod  12 . The worm gear  38  has the added advantage of being self-locking, i.e. the cordless roll-up shade  10  will remain up or down in the position it was set by the operator and will resist slipping. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10C , in another embodiment a transmission includes a pair of bevel gears  40  may be used to translate or communicate the rotational motion of the wand  20  into the shade rod  12 . Although a one-to-one ratio is shown, other ratios of the bevel gears  40  may be selected. The ratios of the bevel gears  40  may be selected as desired to control how fast or slow the back panel  14  of the present invention may be furled or unfurled by rotating the wand  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10D , in another embodiment a transmission includes a universal joint  24  which may be used to translate the rotational motion of the wand  20  into the shade rod  12 . The universal joint  24  also includes the advantage of being self-locking like the worm gear  38 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11A-11C , the wand  20  may include three jointed sections  20 A- 20 C that permit the operator to form a crank. The crank allows the operator to easily rotate the wand  20  to raise and lower the cordless roll-up shade  10 . Optionally, a wand  20  with two jointed sections may also be used to form a crank (best seen in  FIGS. 7 and 13B ). 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 ,  12 A, and  12 B, the wand  20  may further include a grip  42  connected to the wand  20 . The wand  20  is configured to attach to a window treatment adjustment mechanism, such as the transmissions illustrated in  FIGS. 10A-10D , in order to raise or lower the window treatment or, alternatively in another application, adjust the pitch of the window treatment (e.g. mini-blinds). Rotating the wand  20  engages the window treatment adjustment mechanism. 
     The grip  42  includes at least one engagement surface  44 , such as an aperture through the grip  42  that is configured to releasably couple to a reciprocal mating surface, such as a prong  46 , of a cleat  48 . The cleat  48  is further configured and arranged to be fixedly secured to a surface, such as a wall or window opening, to prevent the cleat  48  from moving. Preferably the cleat  48  includes two prongs  46 , but may have a single prong  46  or a number of prongs  46  to engage the grip  42 . The grip  42  is preferably configured to include the same number of engagement surfaces  44  as prongs  46  on the cleat  48 , but more (or fewer) engagement surfaces  44  may be provided. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 13A and 13B , an alternative embodiment of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention is shown generally at  100 . The alternative embodiment  100  includes two back panels  14 , or lifting members, and associated guides  30 , to raise and lower the front panel  26 . The alternative embodiment  100  may include additional support assembly components such as a center support member  102 , configured and arranged to further support the shade rod  12  and/or head rail  18 . Optionally, the alternative embodiment  100  may include additional support assembly components, such as bearing blocks  13  and brackets  16 , and multiple shade rods  12  and tube end connectors  15  as well to support additional bank panels  14 . As can be seen the alternative embodiment is useful for covering wide window openings. As described previously, the width of the roll-up shades  14  may be selected to be sufficiently wide to avoid known strangulation hazards. 
     Therefore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a window treatment that does not use cords to raise and lower the window treatment, such as a Roman shade. Specifically, embodiments of the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention uniquely include a take up member, such as a shade rod, configured to gather a back panel, which raises or lowers a front panel. Also, the cordless roll-up shade of the present invention uniquely provides for a transmission or linkage for converting rotational movement on a wand into rotational movement on a take up member, such as a shade rod, to raise and lower and window treatment. 
     Furthermore, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a method of mounting a window treatment in a window opening that permits the window treatment to overlap the sides of the window opening like an outside mount, yet is nearly flush with the window opening like an inside mount. The unique support assembly and head rail configuration of the hybrid mount of the present invention permit a window treatment that is wider than the window to be mounted nearly flush with the face of the window opening frame or wall, by having a support assembly mount on the inwardly-facing portion of the window opening. Similarly, a head rail that is wider than the window opening may be used to support the upper end of the window treatment, permitting a nearly flush mount of a window treatment to the head rail and face of the frame or wall of the window opening. 
     Also, it can be seen that the present invention provides a unique solution to the problem of providing a handle with an anti-rotation mechanism suitable for adjusting a window treatment by providing a wand with a grip that engages prongs on a cleat. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such modifications and changes are intended to be within the scope of the present invention except insofar as limited by the appended claims.