Abstract:
A mounting bracket for a covering for architectural openings such as windows, doors, archways, and the like, includes complementary components on the headrail and the mounting bracket to permit the head rail to be inserted into and automatically locked to the mounting bracket. A lock lever is provided with access forwardly of the head rail that automatically locks the head rail in position on the mounting bracket and conditions the mounting bracket for manual release of the headrail.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/474,564 (“the &#39;564 application”) filed Jun. 26, 2006, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/696,203 (“the &#39;203 application”), which was filed on Jun. 30, 2005 and entitled “Lock Lever Mounting Bracket For Headrails on Coverings for Architectural Openings.” The &#39;564 application and &#39;203 applications are incorporated by reference into the present application in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to systems for mounting a headrail for a covering for an architectural opening and more specifically to a mounting bracket having a lever lock for securing the headrail to the mounting bracket.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Relevant Art  
         [0005]     Coverings for architectural openings such as windows, doors, archways and the like typically include a retractable panel of material supported by a headrail. The coverings are typically movable between extended positions wherein the panel of material extends across the architectural opening and a retracted position where the panel of material is either wrapped or gathered within or immediately adjacent to the headrail. The headrail further includes control systems for moving the covering between extended and retracted positions and in the case of *Venetian blinds for tilting the slats of the blind between open and closed positions.  
         [0006]     Headrails are provided in various forms and configurations dictated partly by aesthetics and partly by function. In any circumstance, mounting brackets are provided that can be secured to a frame around the architectural opening and utilized to support the headrail.  
         [0007]     In most instances, the mounting brackets have some form of a release mechanism so that the headrail is releasably secured to the mounting bracket whereby when in use it is reliably secure to prevent an inadvertent removal but can be released and removed for cleaning purposes or the like.  
         [0008]     Systems for releasably securing a headrail to mounting brackets have taken numerous forms including brackets with detents, depressible release arms, snap-on fingers or the like and efforts are continuing for devising more reliable and easy to operate systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The present invention embodies a system for releasably mounting a headrail for a covering for an architectural opening to mounting brackets in a reliable, efficient, and easy to operate manner. The headrail and mounting brackets are complementary in that the headrail can be temporarily snapped onto the mounting brackets and then firmly locked in a mounted position with a readily accessible lever arm.  
         [0010]     The mounting bracket has a depressible catch arm that is automatically depressed by a ledge on the headrail as the headrail is advanced to a predetermined position relative to the mounting bracket at which point the catch arm snaps into a temporarily secured position. A lever arm on the bracket can then be manually pivoted to a lock position to activate a slide-lock bar that prevents the catch arm from again being depressed thereby securely locking the headrail to the mounting bracket to prevent an inadvertent removal of the headrail. The lever arm of course can be moved to a release position to permit depression of the catch arm by applying reasonable manual force to the headrail.  
         [0011]     Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is an isometric of a headrail for a covering for an architectural opening mounted on the mounting brackets of the present invention with lock levers in a locked position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric similar to  FIG. 1  with the lock levers in a release position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged section taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a section similar to  FIG. 3  with the lock lever in a release position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a section taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a section similar to  FIG. 7  with the slide-lock bar in a release position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a section similar to  FIG. 9  with the headrail positioned relative to the mounting bracket as it would be immediately before a temporary connection.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a section similar to  FIG. 10  with the headrail removed from the mounting bracket.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is an isometric looking downwardly on the mounting bracket.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is an isometric looking upwardly at the bottom of the mounting bracket of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a left end elevation of the bracket as shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the mounting bracket.  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a side elevation of the mounting bracket.  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged section taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged section taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is an isometric looking downwardly on the slide-lock bar of the mounting bracket.  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is an isometric looking upwardly at the bottom of the slide-lock bar of  FIG. 19 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is an end elevation of the slide-lock bar as shown in  FIG. 22 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  is a top plan view of the slide-lock bar.  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  is a side elevation of the slide-lock bar.  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  is a bottom plan view of the slide-lock bar.  
         [0036]      FIG. 25  is an isometric of the lock lever of the mounting bracket.  
         [0037]      FIG. 26  is a top plan view of the lock lever.  
         [0038]      FIG. 27  is a side elevation of the lock lever.  
         [0039]      FIG. 28  is a top plan view of the lock lever.  
         [0040]      FIG. 29  is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the mounting bracket of the present invention with the lock lever shown in a locking position and with a portion of the head rail shown in dashed lines.  
         [0041]      FIG. 30  is an enlarged vertical section taken along line  30 - 30  of  FIG. 29 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 31  is a top plan view of the bracket of  FIG. 29  with the lock lever in a release position with a portion of the head rail shown in dashed lines.  
         [0043]      FIG. 32  is an enlarged vertical section taken along line  32 - 32  of  FIG. 31 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 33  is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the bracket in engagement with the head rail and with the lock lever in a locking position.  
         [0045]      FIG. 34  is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the bracket in engagement with the head rail and with the lock lever in a release position.  
         [0046]      FIG. 35  is a perspective looking downwardly on the lock lever used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 32-36 .  
         [0047]      FIG. 36  is a perspective looking upwardly at the bottom of the lock lever used in the embodiment of  FIGS. 32-36 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0048]     With reference first to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a pair of mounting brackets  30  in accordance with the present invention are seen with a headrail  32  for a covering for an architectural opening (not shown). While the frame for the architectural opening to which the brackets  30  can be mounted is not illustrated, the connection will be fully appreciated with the description of a bracket hereafter.  
         [0049]     Before describing a bracket  30  in detail, it is best to understand the structure of the headrail  32  adapted for mounting on the bracket and the headrail is probably best illustrated in  FIG. 11 . The headrail can be seen to have a generally flat front wall  34  with an arcuate lower edge  36  and a relatively flat top wall  38  projecting rearwardly from the top edge of the front wall. The top wall has a depressed ledge  40  along its rearwardmost edge defining a bevel surface  42  and a rib spacer  44  projecting downwardly at an intermediate location between the front wall  34  and the ledge  40 . The headrail is typically extruded so that all of its features extend the full length of the headrail. At a predetermined spacing below the top wall, a support arm  46  extends rearwardly from the front wall of the headrail with the support arm having a lip  48  along its rearwardmost edge. The lip  48 , ledge  40 , and rib spacer  44  all cooperate in defining a pocket  50  in which a portion of the mounting bracket can be inserted.  
         [0050]     In  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the headrail  32  is shown connected to a mounting bracket  30  of the present invention with  FIG. 4  showing the mounting bracket in a release position and  FIG. 3  in a locking position. Further, a roller  52  which might be found in a headrail of a roll-up shade is illustrated positioned within the headrail and beneath the mounting bracket for illustrative purposes only. The mounting bracket is probably best seen in  FIGS. 12-18 . The bracket is made of a somewhat rigid plastic material having some flexibility depending upon the thickness of the plastic for purposes which will become apparent with the description hereafter.  
         [0051]     The bracket  30  can be seen to have a horizontal base  54 , a downturned back wall  56  off the rear edge of the base, and upper  58  and lower  60  horizontal flanges extending rearwardly from the back wall. The upper flange, the back wall, and the base all have openings  62  therethrough as possibly best seen in  FIGS. 12, 13 ,  14 , and  18  through which fasteners (not shown) can extend to secure the bracket to the frame around an architectural opening. The openings  62  are provided in both vertical and horizontal surfaces of the bracket so the bracket can be mounted to a vertical or horizontal surface of the frame depending upon the type of mounting desired for the covering.  
         [0052]     The base  54  has a relatively thick rear portion  64  with a flat upper surface  66  and a slide plate  68  projecting forwardly from the rear portion along a lower edge thereof. The slide plate has a pair of support arms  70  along opposite sides and an integral lead bar  72  connecting the support arms along the forwardmost edge of the slide plate so as to define a rectangular opening  74  therebetween. The opening has a spring catch arm  76  positioned therein with the catch arm having a relatively thin portion  78  integrally connected with and extending forwardly from the relatively thick rear portion  64  of the base in a living hinge and a bevel head  80  at the forwardmost end of the thin portion. The bevel head has front  82  and rear  84  upwardly directed bevel surfaces for purposes to be described hereafter.  
         [0053]     The thin portion  78  is adapted to flex slightly at the living hinge so that the bevel head  80  can be depressed within the rectangular opening  74  in the slide plate  68 . The thin portion of the catch arm itself has a rectangular slot  86  formed therein for a purpose to be described hereafter. A pair of overhanging lips  88  project forwardly from the relatively thick rear portion  64  of the base in spaced overlying relationship with a rear portion of the slide plate  68 . The overhanging lips define a space therebetween that is continuous with a shallow groove  90  formed in the flat upper surface  66  of the rear portion  64  of the base. A vertical hole  92  is provided in the shallow groove for receipt of a removable pivot pin  94  having an enlarged head as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 9 - 11 . The pivot pin pivotally secures a lock lever  96  to the base as will be described later.  
         [0054]     As possibly best seen in  FIG. 13 , the rectangular opening  74  in the slide plate  68  in which the spring catch arm  76  is positioned is continuous with a relatively narrow recessed channel  98  in the bottom of the relatively thick rear portion  64  of the base, which in turn is continuous with a slot-like opening  100  through the rear portion. As possibly best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 8 and 13 , a pair of support shoulders  102  extend along the sides of the slot-like opening  100  in the base along the bottom thereof.  
         [0055]     A slide-lock bar  104  shown in detail in  FIGS. 8 and 19 - 24  is slidably positioned within the opening  74  in the slide plate, the continuous recessed channel  98  and slot-like opening  100  in the rear portion of the base. The slide-lock bar slidably underlies the spring catch arm  76 . Referencing  FIGS. 19-24 , the slide-lock bar can be seen to have a flat paddle head  106  with a beveled leading edge  108 , a guide block  110  extending upwardly from a rear portion of the paddle head and a slide arm  112  extending rearwardly from the paddle head. The slide arm has a raised block  114  at approximately its longitudinal center with the raised block having a cylindrical guide pin  116  projecting upwardly. The underside of the slide arm has an elongated centered tongue  118  formed integrally thereon ( FIG. 20 ) which projects downwardly a small amount from the remainder of the slide arm. The tongue is also relatively narrow so as to define support edges  120  along opposite sides of the slide arm which are adapted to ride upon the support shoulders  102 .  
         [0056]     As probably best seen in  FIGS. 7-13 , the slide-lock bar  104  is positioned in the base  54  so that the support edges  120  on the underside of the slide-lock bar are supported on the support shoulders  102  for sliding movement and the paddle head  106  is disposed within the rectangular opening  74  in the slide plate  68  immediately beneath the spring catch arm  76 . The guide block  110  on the paddle head projects into the rectangular slot  86  formed in the spring catch arm to assist in guiding sliding movement of the slide-lock bar. The slide-lock bar is also made of a relatively thin plastic so it too has some flexibility along its length. It should be noted that when the spring catch arm is depressed downwardly, it engages the top surface of the paddle head of the slide-lock bar also depressing the paddle head downwardly due to their uniform flexibility.  
         [0057]     The lock lever  122 , which is used to engage and disengage the locking mechanism in the bracket, is seen in detail in  FIGS. 25-28 . It can there be seen to have an elongated relatively flat body  124  with a diagonal gripping rib  126  at one end, a semicircular opposite end  128 , a circular passage  130  extending vertically through the body at a location relatively close to the opposite end and an arcuate push-pull slot  132  extending vertically through the flat body between the circular opening and the opposite end of the flat body from the gripping rib. The push-pull slot while being arcuate extends at approximately a  45  degree angle relative to the length of the lever arm for a purpose to be described hereafter.  
         [0058]     The lock lever  122  is secured to the base  54  by positioning the gripping rib  126  at a location beyond the slide plate  68  of the base with the opposite end  128  of the lock lever being positioned within the shallow groove  90  provided in the top surface of the base. The circular passage  130  through the lock lever is aligned with the hole  92  in the shallow groove in the base and the pivot pin  94  is inserted into the hole to pivotally connect the lock lever to the base. It should be appreciated the width of the lock lever body  124  is less than the width of the shallow groove so the lock lever is free to pivot within limits about the pivot pin. A notch  134  is provided in a side of the flat body  124  to accommodate the adjacent overhanging lip  88  when the lock lever is in the locking position of  FIG. 3 . With the lock lever attached to the base as described, the guide pin  116  on the slide-lock bar  104  extends into the push-pull slot  132  of the lock lever. As will be appreciated by pivoting the lock lever about the pivot pin, the push-pull slot forces the guide pin to move linearly along the length of the bracket so that the slide-lock bar can be moved reciprocally forwardly and rearwardly along the length of the bracket with pivotal movement of the lock lever.  
         [0059]     As will be appreciated with the description later, when the lock lever  122  is aligned with the base as in  FIG. 4 , the slide-lock bar  104  is fully retracted toward the rear of the bracket  30  whereas when the lock lever is pivoted into the position shown in  FIG. 3 , the push-pull slot  132  advances the guide pin  116  pulling the slide-lock bar forwardly relative to the base  54 . This movement of the slide-lock bar is probably best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 . The lock lever has arcuately spaced detents  136  in its opposite end  128  that releasably receives vertical beads  138  formed in the adjacent arcuate wall  140  of the shallow groove  90 . The detents and beads assist in retaining the lock lever in either a locking or release position to be described in more detail hereafter.  
         [0060]     Looking next at  FIG. 11 , the mounting bracket  30  is shown positioned to receive the headrail  32  with  FIG. 10  showing the headrail having been advanced partially onto the mounting bracket so that the lead bar  72  of the slide plate  68  is inserted into the pocket  50  in the headrail between the rib spacer  44  and the support arm  46 . It should be noted in the position of  FIG. 10 , the front bevel  82  on the bevel head  80  has engaged and passed by the rear ledge  40  of the top wall  38 . The engagement of the front bevel with the rear ledge cams the bevel head downwardly into the position of  FIG. 10 . In  FIG. 9 , the headrail is shown fully advanced onto the bracket in a neutral position where it will be appreciated the bevel head is positioned immediately in front of the bevel  42  on the rear ledge  40  of the top wall of the headrail. The rear bevel surface  84  on the catch arm  76  is engaged with the bevel  42  on the top wall of the headrail so that the headrail is temporarily but releasably secured to the bracket. As will be appreciated, if the headrail were to be pulled forwardly from the position illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the beveled engagement of the bevel  42  on the top wall with the rear bevel  84  on the catch arm would cam the catch arm downwardly as seen in  FIG. 10  which would allow the headrail to be released from the bracket with a predetermined amount of force. As mentioned previously, the catch arm can be depressed from the position of  FIG. 9  even though the slide-lock bar  104  is positioned therebeneath because both elements are somewhat flexible.  
         [0061]     With the headrail  32  temporarily connected to the mounting bracket  30  as shown in  FIG. 9 , however, the lock lever  122  can be pivoted into the position of  FIG. 3 , which as mentioned previously, causes the slide lock bar  104  to move forwardly relative to the base  54  and as seen in  FIG. 7 , this extreme forward limited movement of the slide-lock bar causes the paddle head  106  to overlie the lip  48  on the support arm  46  of the headrail which prevents the slide-lock bar and the overlying catch arm  76  from being pivoted downwardly. As will be appreciated, if the catch arm cannot pivot downwardly, the headrail is prevented from removal from the mounting bracket due to the engagement of the bevel surfaces  42  and  84 .  
         [0062]     Obviously, to remove the headrail  32  from the support bracket  30 , the lock lever  122  is simply pivoted into alignment with the base  54  as shown in  FIG. 4  causing the slide-lock bar  104  to be retracted further into the base so that the paddle head  106  no longer overlies the lip  48  of the support arm  46  whereby upon an outward pull on the headrail, the beveled engagement of the surfaces  42  and  84  will cause the catch arm  76  to pivot downwardly with the slide-lock bar as in  FIG. 10  permitting removal of the headrail from the support bracket.  
         [0063]     As mentioned previously, the transverse profile of the headrail  32 , as illustrated in the drawings, is continuous along the length of the headrail so that any number of support brackets  30  can be positioned for receipt of the headrail. Each support bracket would be operated similarly to remove the headrail from the support bracket or to permit its mounting. It should also be appreciated the gripping rib  126  on the lock lever protrudes forwardly from the front wall  34  of the headrail  32  a sufficient distance to allow an operator to grip the lock lever and move it between locking and release positions. Further, the lock lever can be made of a clear plastic material so as to be less visible for aesthetic purposes.  
         [0064]     An alternative embodiment  142  of the bracket is shown in  FIGS. 29-32  and is substantially similar to the first-described bracket  30 , so that corresponding parts of the bracket have been shown with the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, however, the push-pull slot  132  of the first-disclosed embodiment, which was slightly arcuate in configuration, has been replaced with a generally L-shaped push-pull slot  144  defining detents  146  and  148  at opposite ends of the L-shaped slot for releasably retaining the guide pin  116  in either the locking position of  FIGS. 29 and 30  or the release position of  FIGS. 31 and 32 .  
         [0065]     In this embodiment of the invention, a horizontally disposed compression spring  150  has been provided with its rear end seated and supported on a horizontal pin  152  disposed on a vertical wall  154  of the bracket forwardly of the downturned back wall  156  as seen in FIGS.  30  and  32 . The opposite end of the compression spring is received and seated in a recess  156  formed in the rear wall of the block-like base  158  on which the guide pin  116  is formed. The compression spring, therefore, biases the slide-lock bar  104  in a forward direction, even though the bias can be overcome by pivotal movement of the lock lever  96  between the locking and release positions, which causes the guide pin  116  to be cammed along the L-shaped push-pull slot  144 .  
         [0066]     As can be best appreciated by reference to  FIGS. 29 and 31 , movement of the lock lever  96  between the locking position of  FIG. 29  and the release position of  FIG. 31  forces the guide pin  116  rearwardly until it is allowed to snap into one of the detents  146  or  148  at opposite ends of the push-pull slot  144 . Once the guide pin is positioned in a detent at either end of the push-pull slot, it is releasably retained in the detent under the bias of the compression spring which exerts a force on the block  158  from which the guide pin is formed.  
         [0067]     In this embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated the lock lever  96  can therefore be positively, but releasably, positioned in either the locking position of  FIG. 29  or the release position of  FIG. 31 , and the guide pin actually snaps into one of the detents at the ends of the push-pull slot giving an audible notification that the lock lever is in the locking or release position.  
         [0068]     With reference to  FIGS. 11 and 29 - 36 , the lock lever  96  can be seen to have, at an intermediate location along its length, a downwardly projecting boss  160  integrally formed thereon. As possibly best seen in  FIGS. 29, 31 ,  33 , and  34 , the boss is at an elevation within the bracket  142  to engage the leading edge  162  of the ledge  40  on the head rail  32  as the bracket is being mounted on the head rail  32 . In other words, as the bracket is inserted onto the top wall  38  of the head rail, the ledge  40  projects into the bracket ( FIGS. 30 and 32 ) so the ledge  40  engages the boss on the lock lever. The boss is offset laterally from the pivot  94  of the lever arm so that when the lock lever is in the release position of  FIG. 34 , advancement of the bracket onto the head rail causes the ledge  40  to engage and pivot the boss and the lock lever  96  about the pivot  94  until the ledge  40  is fully inserted into the bracket thereby moving the boss and the lock lever from the release position of  FIG. 34  to the locking position of  FIG. 33 . Thus, when the bracket is fully mounted on the ledge  40 , the lock lever is in its locking position of  FIG. 33  and the guide pin  116  is seated in the detent  146  at one end of the push-pull slot  144 . As mentioned previously, when the guide pin snaps into the detent  146  at the end of the push-pull slot, there is an audible sound notifying a user that the bracket is fully inserted onto and latched into its locked position on the head rail.  
         [0069]     When removing the bracket  142  from the head rail  32 , the lock lever  96  is manually moved from the locking position of  FIG. 33  to the release position of  FIG. 34 , which causes the boss  160  on the lock lever to force the bracket away from the ledge  40  on the head rail, thereby releasing the bracket from the head rail and in doing so, the guide pin  116  snaps into the other detent  148  in the push-pull slot  144 , again giving an audible signal that the bracket is free for removal from the head rail. Movement of the lock lever from its locking position to its release position, of course, is manually done by an operator.  
         [0070]     Other than the boss, the shape of the push-pull slot and the presence of the compression spring and its mounting, the bracket is identical to the previously described bracket and functions the same in releasably securing the bracket to a head rail as previously described.  
         [0071]     Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood the present disclosure has been made by way of example and changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.