Abstract:
An adjustable bracket for mounting the headrail for a covering for architectural openings includes a stationary base member mountable on a wall or ceiling surface having a slot formed therein and a headrail holder connectable to the headrail and adjustably movable and operably connected within the elongated slot between fixed positions.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to European patent application No. 04077141.2, filed 23 Jul. 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as fully disclosed herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to an adjustable bracket assembly for mounting a head rail of a blind.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Adjustable bracket assemblies have the possibility to adjust the spacing between a wall or ceiling and a head rail of a blind. They generally include a bracket body and a slide member co-operating with the bracket body. The bracket body is fixable to a structure such as a wall or ceiling. The slide member includes means for carrying a spring clip or the like for mounting a head rail of a blind. The slidable member is used to adjust the distance between the wall or ceiling and the mounted blind.  
         [0006]     Such an adjustable bracket is e.g. known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,459. A drawback of this bracket is that in order to adjust the distance between the mounted blind and the wall or ceiling a fastener, such as a screw, must be loosened and that such fastener can generally not be reached without dismounting the blind from the bracket.  
         [0007]     Another adjustable bracket is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,131,616 where the slide body ( 11 , 51 ) includes clamping means ( 25 ,  75 ) for releasably engaging the slide body ( 11 , 51 ) to the bracket body in different positions along the bracket. The clamping means being either a latch arm ( 25 ) integrally formed to the slide body ( 11 ) having a nose ( 25   a ) for engaging detents or notches ( 19 ) on the bracket body ( 10 ) or a pivotable clamp device including a lever ( 75 ) and a cam member ( 76 ), the cam member ( 76 ) being positioned between the upper side of the bracket arm and the under side of the upper portion ( 73 ) of the slide body ( 51 ).  
         [0008]     Although the bracket can now be adjusted without having to unscrew a fastener, there are several drawbacks. The latch arm with nose has as drawback that it is actuated by a pivotal movement and it therefore has to extend sideways from the slide body. Also there is a less secure single sided engagement of the slide body to the bracket. For ceiling mounted brackets where the bracket portion that carries the head rail is vertically oriented, such a single sided latching will hardly prevent the head rail from sliding under its own weight through the engagement of the latch arm and downwardly along the bracket. The lever and cam member latching means is also a pivotably actuated latching means. Here the drawback lies in the fact that a very small lever must be handled in a small space. For disengaging it is generally possible to push the lever with the end of a screw-driver to pivot into the un-latched position. But the reverse pivot movement of the lever for latching requires that one can actually hold the lever. This means that there must be a handling space over the bracket, resulting in a bracket assembly that must be mounted to a wall relatively far removed from the ceiling or to a ceiling relatively far removed from the wall to allow for the necessary handling space.  
         [0009]     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an adjustable bracket assembly of which the clamping means is operated by linear movement of the actuating means, the linear movement being in the same direction as the direction of adjustment of the head rail.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The invention is directed to a bracket assembly for adjustably mounting a head rail in spaced relationship to a wall or ceiling said assembly comprising a stationary base member for mounting to a wall or ceiling surface, the base member comprising an elongated support leg and the support leg having an elongated slot comprised therein, the elongated slot comprising at least opposite first and second inner wall surfaces; a head rail holder for carrying a head rail, the head rail holder being slidably mounted to the support leg by a stemmed fastener projecting through the slot of the support leg such that the head rail holder is slidable in first and second directions along the support leg; clamping means engageable with the support leg for releasably retaining the head rail holder in different adjusted positions along the support leg, and actuating means for releasing or engaging the clamping means wherein the clamping means and the actuating means are mounted to the support leg by the stemmed fastener and wherein the actuating means is operatively connected to the clamping means allowing linear actuating movements relative thereto.  
         [0011]     Preferably the clamping means is an expandable, resilient means that in a first expanded position engages at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the elongated slot of the support leg of the stationary base member and retains the head rail holder against linear movement in at least one direction and in second non-expanded position is free of the at least one of the inner wall surfaces of the elongated slot allowing linear movement of the head rail holder in both directions.  
         [0012]     More preferably the clamping means is an expandable resilient means comprising an opening through which the stemmed fastener can project and at least a pair of engaging legs for resiliently engaging the first and second inner wall surfaces.  
         [0013]     Also according to the invention the actuating means includes an actuator body that is slidably contained between the first and second inner wall surfaces of the slot and the clamping means that are contained within said actuator body while allowing engagement of the clamping means to the inner wall surfaces of the slot.  
         [0014]     In a preferred embodiment the actuator body includes an oblong hole such that when the clamping means are in a first position of engagement to the inner wall surfaces of the slot and the fastener is retained in that first position, the actuator body is slidable relative to said clamping means.  
         [0015]     Advantageously the actuator body further includes a pair of left and right actuator walls which upon linear movement of the actuator body relative to the clamping means act on the clamping means disengaging the clamping means from the inner wall surfaces of the slot.  
         [0016]     In the preferred embodiment the clamping means is a torsion spring comprising at least one winding, an opening through which the stemmed fastener can project and at least one pair of engaging spring legs for resiliently engaging the first and second inner wall surfaces.  
         [0017]     In another preferred embodiment the clamping means is an X-shaped resilient body having two pairs of engaging legs. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]     Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of particular embodiments and the drawings thereof, in which:  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of the bracket assembly of the invention seen from the rear.  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the bracket assembly of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  shows the first embodiment bracket assembly in a cross-section from the rear and at the level of the actuator; the clamping means are in a first engaged position preventing adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the first embodiment bracket assembly in a cross-section from the rear and at the level of the actuator; the clamping means are in a second un-engaged position allowing adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the first embodiment bracket assembly in a cross-section from the rear and at the level of the actuator where the position of the head rail holder is lower relative to the position in  FIG. 3  and the clamping means are in the engaged position preventing further adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0024]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the bracket assembly of the invention seen from the rear side.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of the bracket assembly of the invention seen from the front side.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the bracket assembly of the invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows the second embodiment bracket assembly in a cross-section from the rear and at the level of the slide body; the clamping means are in a first engaged position preventing adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  shows a schematic perspective view of the third embodiment bracket  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  shows the third embodiment bracket assembly in a cross-section from the rear and at the level of the actuator; the clamping means are in engaged position preventing adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0030]      FIG. 11  shows the fourth embodiment bracket assembly from the rear and at the level of the actuator; the clamping means are in engaged position preventing adjustment of the position of the head rail holder.  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  shows a schematic perspective view of the stationary base member of the fifth embodiment bracket assembly for wall mounting. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a first embodiment of the bracket assembly  1  of the invention in a perspective view. The bracket assembly comprises a generally L-shaped stationary base member  3  with a mounting portion  5  and a support leg  7 . The mounting portion  5  with screw holes  9  is for mounting the base member  3  to a surface such as a wall or a ceiling. The base member  3  further includes a support leg  7  which is usually generally perpendicular to the mounting portion  5 . The particular position of the bracket of  FIG. 1  with the support leg  7  in a generally vertical direction is for mounting the bracket to a ceiling. The support leg  7  will support the head rail (not shown) and is a generally rectangular shaped support web  11  with an elongated, also generally rectangular slot  13  through the web. The elongated slot  13  includes a pair of left and right parallel and spaced apart side walls  15 ,  17  with opposite inner left or first and right or second surfaces  19 ,  21  and a pair of opposite and parallel spaced apart top and bottom walls  23 ,  25  with inner top and bottom surfaces  27 ,  29 . A head rail holder  33  is slidably mounted to the support leg  7  by a suitable stemmed fastener  41  projecting through the slot. The support leg  7  and its slot  13  further carry a clamping means  39  (not visible in  FIG. 1 ) for releasably retaining the head rail holder  33  in different adjusted positions along the support leg  7  and an actuating means  31  for operating the clamping means between a lock and a release mode. Both the clamping means  39  and the actuating means  31  are mounted to the support leg by the same stemmed fastener  41  as the head rail holder  33 . The actuating means comprises a slide body  35  that is slidably contained in the slot  13  between the left and right inner wall surfaces  19 ,  21  and a actuator grip  37  that extends adjacent the support leg  7  for operating the actuator.  
         [0033]     As is best visible in  FIG. 2 , which shows an exploded view of the first embodiment bracket assembly, the actuating means  31  includes an actuator body  35  and a actuator grip  37 . The actuator body  35  is a generally rectangular body suitably sized for it to be slidable in slot  13  of the support leg  7 . The actuator body  35  includes a generally rectangular web  63 . The web having an upper portion  64  which includes a recess  65  as is best visible in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The recess  65  is a generally U-shaped recess. The actuator body hole  36  is located in the recess  65  and is preferably a general oval oblong opening with a longitudinal axis extending co-planar with to a longitudinal axis of the rectangular actuator body. The U shaped recess  65  with its oblong hole  36  is bordered by a left, right actuator walls  67 , 69  and top recess wall  71 .  
         [0034]     The actuator grip  37  of the first embodiment is a ring-like portion extending from the lower part of the actuator body web  63  for operating the actuating means by pulling. Other shapes are also possible. The actuator body  35  is mounted to the slot by the stemmed fastener  41 ; the stem  42  of the fastener  41  projecting through hole  36 . The stem  42  of the fastener is long enough to also project through slot  13  of the support leg  7  of the bracket body  3 . The fastener  41  is provided with a large circular head, the inner surface  45  of the fastener head  43  lies against the rear surface  11 R of the support web  11  of the support leg  7  and prevents the actuator body  35  from falling out of the slot  13  at that side of the support leg. This is also visible in  FIG. 1 . The end portion of the fastener stem  42  projects from the other side of support leg  7  and through an opening  34  of the head rail holder  33 . A circlip  47  on the end portion of the fastener stem  42  holds the head rail holder  33  against the front surface  11  Front of the support web. This arrangement effectively prevents the actuator body from falling out of the slot  13  of the support web  11  and carries the head rail holder. The stemmed fastener operatively connects the support leg  7 , the head rail holder  33 , the clamping means  39  and the actuating means  31 .  
         [0035]      FIGS. 2-5  illustrates the assembly and operation of the bracket assembly.  
         [0036]     The clamping means  39  is engageable with at least one of the inner left and right inner wall surfaces  19 ,  21  of the slot  13  of the support leg, such that once engaged the head rail holder is retained in a first desired position on the support leg against movement in at least one direction. The clamping means  39  is provided with a through hole  40  through which the stemmed fastener  41  can project for mounting clamping means  39  to the support leg  7  of the base member  3 . The cross-sectional shape and size of the clamping means hole  40  is generally the same as that of the stem of the fastener, but slightly larger to allow the stem of the fastener to project through it.  
         [0037]     The clamping means  39  is preferably a torsion spring  49 . In the first embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1-5  it is a torsion spring  49  with a single winding  51  and a pair of left and right legs  53 ,  55  extending at an angle and downwardly on either side from the winding. The legs having left and right leg end portions  57 , 59  extending like feet at an angle from the legs. The eye  61  of the winding  51  being the hole  40  of the clamping means for the stem of the fastener to project through.  
         [0038]     The actuator body  35  of the actuator  31  accommodates the clamping means such as the torsion spring  49  in a recess  65  in an upper portion  64  of a generally rectangular web  63  of as is best visible in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The recess  65  is a generally U-shaped recess. The hole  36  of the actuator body  35  is located in recess  65  and is preferably a general oval oblong opening with a longitudinal axis extending co-planar with to a longitudinal axis of the actuator body web  63 . The U shaped recess  65  with its oblong hole  36  is bordered by a left, right actuator walls  67 , 69  and top recess wall  71 . The left and right actuator walls  67 , 69  extend downward until the level of the bottom of oblong hole  36  and preferably a bit further and include left and right thickened bottom portions  73 ,  75  that are inwardly slightly thickened to ensure good contact with the torsion spring&#39;s feet  57 ,  59  as is explained below in relation to the adjustability of the bracket assembly. Directly below the hole  36  extends a stiffening rib  77  and since the left and right actuator walls  67 , 69  ended at this level, the sides are open thus allowing the torsion spring&#39;s feet portions  57 , 59  to extend past the sides of the body and to engage the left and right slot wall&#39;s inner surfaces  19 , 21 . At the horizontal bottom portion of the stiffening rib  77  the attachment seam  38  of the actuator grip  37  is visible in cross-section.  
         [0039]     The oblong hole  36  of the actuator body  35  allows linear, vertical movement of the actuator body  35  relative to the stem  42  of the fastener  41  thus relative to the torsion spring  49 , as will be explained below in relation to the adjustability of the bracket assembly. The range of this movement is limited by the longitudinal length of the oblong opening  36 .  
         [0040]     The torsion spring  49  is designed so that it automatically is biased into engagement with the left and right slot wall&#39;s inner surfaces  19 , 21 , resulting in a first situation as is shown in  FIG. 3 , where the head rail carrier  33  is fixed by the stemmed fastener  41  and the torsion spring  49  in a first position relative to the support leg against movement in a downward direction.  
         [0041]     The distance between the spring feet  57 , 59  is chosen such that it is at least slightly bigger than the width of the slot  13 . The spring&#39;s force will bias the spring feet  57 , 59  to expand to it&#39;s widest position. So if the width of the slot  13  is slightly smaller, the spring will be biased into engagement with the inner wall surfaces. Even with the torsion spring in an engage or locked position, the oblong hole  36  of the actuator body  35  allows relative sliding movement of the actuator body  35  within the slot  13  of the bracket. Extending downward from the bottom portion at seam  38  of the actuator body web  63  is actuator grip  37  for operating the actuator  31 . The actuator grip is best visible in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0042]     In operation, when the actuator grip  37  is pulled downwardly the actuator body  35  will slide downwardly and over the clamping spring  49 . As the actuator body  35  is being pulled downwardly over the spring, the bottom portions of the left and right actuator walls  73 ,  75  bear down on the left and right spring feet  57 ,  59  pushing them inwardly and thus disengaging the spring leg ends  57 , 59  from the inner slot wall surfaces  19 , 21 . This second position of the actuator  31  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Here the clamping means are in a second or release mode with the spring leg ends  57 , 59  disengaged and the head rail holder  33  and an installed head rail or blind can now be moved relative to the bracket support leg  7 . The downward movement of the actuator body  35  will be stopped when the top of the oblong hole  36  abuts against the stationary stem  42  of fastener  41 . Continued downward pulling of the actuator grip  37  will now result in movement of the head rail holder  33 . The position of the head rail holder can thus be adjusted to a desired new position. Once that desired new position is reached the actuator grip  37  can be released. By releasing the grip the resilient spring legs expand outward and lock by to the inner surfaces  19 , 21  of the slot. This new position  89  of the legs relative to the inner wall surfaces of the slot  13  is shown in  FIG. 5 . The actuator  31  will by the same action be pushed back to its original position relative to the spring as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  shows the bracket assembly with head rail holder  33  in its new, adjusted position, which is lower relative to the original position of  FIG. 3 . The clamping spring is engaged to the slot.  
         [0043]     In order to ensure a good grip of the spring leg&#39;s feet  57 , 59  on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls  19 , 21  of slot  13  it is desirable that these surfaces are been provided with a ribbed profile. Such a profiled surface  81  is shown in the  FIGS. 1-5  of the first embodiment. Upper rib  83  and lower rib  85  indicate the outer limits for the spring leg&#39;s feet  57 , 59  to engage the profiled inner surfaces  19 , 21 . Range  87  shows the possible relative positions of stem  41  and therefore of the center opening  34  of the head rail holder.  
         [0044]     A second embodiment of the bracket is shown in  FIGS. 6-8 , in the description of this embodiment like parts have the same referral numbers as those used in the first embodiment with suffix A.  
         [0045]     The second embodiment bracket assembly  1 A comprises the same parts as the first embodiment.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the generally L-shaped stationary base member  3 A, the mounting portion  5 A, the support leg  7 A, the screw holes  9 A and the generally rectangular shaped support web  11 A with the elongated, also generally rectangular slot  13 A in the support web  7 A. The elongated slot  13 A having the left and right sidewalls  15 A,  17 A. the actuating means  31 A and the head rail holder  33 A.  
         [0046]     As is best visible in  FIG. 7 , the elongated slot  13 A includes a pair of left and right parallel and spaced apart side walls  15 A,  17 A with opposite inner left or first and right or second surfaces  19 A,  21 A and a pair of opposite and parallel spaced apart top and bottom walls  23 A,  25 A with inner top and bottom surfaces  27 A,  29 A. The left and right inner wall surfaces  19 A,  21 A are provided with a suitable profile  81 A, similar to the first embodiment. Near the bottom wall  25 A, the slot is slightly wider by the accommodation of a left and right recess  20 A,  22 A in the left and right inner wall surfaces  19 A,  21 A. These surfaces are not profiled. The support leg  7 A and its slot  13 A carry an actuating means  31 A. the actuating means  31 A is slidably contained in slot  13 A between the left and right inner wall surfaces  19 A,  21 A and carries by a stemmed fastener  41 A a head rail holder  33 A.  
         [0047]      FIG. 7  further shows the actuator  31 A with the grip  37 A and the actuator body  35 A. The actuator grip  37 A is a generally rectangular sleeve-like member having a pair of opposite and parallel front and rear walls  93 A,  95 A and interconnecting left and right side walls  97 A,  99 A which connect the front and rear walls forming a sleeve-like grip body. When assembled to the support leg  7 A, the actuator grip  37 A partially surrounds the support leg, the side walls  97 A,  99 A being parallel to the sides of the support leg. This makes the actuator grip is now very easy to handle without it expanding the size of the bracket assembly.  
         [0048]     The actuator body  35 A extends from the inner surface  96 A of the rear wall of the actuator grip  37 A and is shaped similar to the actuator body of the first embodiment, in that it is a generally rectangular web  63 A, having an upper portion  64 A which includes the generally U-shaped recess  65 A. The actuator body mounting opening  36 A is located in the recess  65 A and is preferably a general oval oblong opening with a longitudinal axis extending co-planar with to a longitudinal axis of the rectangular actuator body. The U shaped recess  65 A with its oblong hole  36 A is bordered by a left, right actuator walls  67 A, 69 A and top recess wall  71 A.  
         [0049]     For assembly purposes the front wall  93 A of the actuator grip  37 A is not directly opposite the rear wall  95 A, but preferably starts at a lower level along the side walls  97 A,  99 A. This way the inner surface  96 A of rear wall  95 A and its extending actuator body  35 A, are kept free for the slot of the support leg  7 A to be put over it. The inner bottom wall surface  29 A abutting against the bottom part of the actuator body, while the rear surface of the bottom wall  25 A of the support leg  7 A lies against the inner surface  96 A of the rear wall  95 A. This position also ensures that the legs of the clamping means lie next to the left and right recesses  20 A,  22 A facilitating its assembly to the slot.  
         [0050]     When large and heavy blinds are mounted the weight of the blind on the clip forces the lower halve of the clip against the front wall  93 A of the actuator grip  37 A. The weight of the blind closes the normally present small gap of approximately 0.2 mm, and the front wall  93 A provides support and prevents a head rail and blind (not shown) when mounted to the head rail holder  33 A from sliding downwardly and prevents the head rail holder from flexing downward under the weight of a blind and thus from disengaging the blind from the head rail holder  33 A under its own weight. Further the front wall  93 A is provided with a bottom ledge  107 A extending further out than the rim. The ledge  107 A provides a wedge surface for a tool that can be pushed between the ledge and the head rail holder  33 A for lifting the head rail holder from rim  103 A when it is desired to open the spring clip head rail holder  33 A. This is particularly necessary for heavy blinds that are mounted to a vertically oriented the support leg  7 ,  7 A and a spring clip is used as head rail holder.  
         [0051]     The actuator body  35 A and the clamping means  39 A are similarly assemble as to those of the first embodiment, in that the recess  65 A of actuator body  35 A accommodates the torsion spring  49 A. The left and right actuator walls  67 A, 69 A extend downward until the level of the bottom of oblong hole  36 A or a bit further. Directly below the hole  36 A extends a stiffening rib  77 A and since the left and right actuator walls  67 A, 69 A ended at this level, the sides are open thus allowing the ends  57 A,  59 A of the torsion spring left and right legs to engage the left and right slot wall&#39;s inner surfaces  19 A, 21 A. The clamping means  39 A of the second embodiment is preferably also a torsion spring  49 A with a single winding  51 A and a pair of left and right legs  53 A,  55 A extending downward on either side from the winding. Unlike the previous embodiment there are no extending feet portions but straight end portions  57 A,  59 A. This makes their assembly of the spring into the slot easier, as does the wider lower portion of the slot between left and right recesses  20 A,  22 A. The actuator body  35 A is also adjusted to the shape of the clamping means  39 A, in that the left and right lower portions  73 A, 75 A of the left and right actuator walls  67 A,  69 A are slanted downwardly and outwardly.  
         [0052]     The stemmed fastener  41 A can be projected through the parts and held in place by front and rear circlips or other closure means. Front and rear retaining discs  89 A  91 A provide the surfaces needed to securely hold the parts together and prevents the actuator body  35 A from falling out of the slot  13 A. Also headed rivet type fasteners as used in the first embodiment are more expensive and with the separate parts it is easier to chose type and size of the retaining discs.  
         [0053]      FIG. 8  shows the arrangement of the actuator body  35 A, the clamping means  39 A and the operation of the assembly.  
         [0054]     In operation, when the actuator grip  37 A is pulled downwardly the actuator body  35 A will slide downwardly and over the clamping spring  49 A. As the actuator body  35 A is being pulled downwardly over the spring, the bottom portions of the left and right actuator walls  73 A,  75 A bear down on the left and right spring ends  57 A,  59 A pushing them inwardly and thus disengaging the spring leg ends  57 A, 59 A from the inner slot wall surfaces  19 A, 21 A. The downward movement of the actuator body  35 A will be stopped when the top of the oblong hole  36 A abuts against the stationary stem  42 A of fastener  41 A. Continued downward pulling of the actuator grip  37 A will now result in movement of the head rail holder  33 A. The position of the head rail holder can thus be adjusted to a desired new position. Once that desired new position is reached the actuator grip  37 A can be released. By releasing the grip the resilient spring legs will expand to their widest position and lock by to the inner surfaces  19 , 21  of the slot.  
         [0055]     In order to ensure a good grip of the spring leg ends  57 A, 59 A on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls  19 A, 21 A of slot  13 A it is desirable that these surfaces are been provided with a suitable ribbed profile  81 A.  
         [0056]     A third embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10  and is specifically for use in wall mounted brackets with the support leg extending generally horizontally.  
         [0057]     In the description of this third embodiment like parts have the same referral numbers as those used in the first embodiment with suffix B.  
         [0058]     The third embodiment bracket assembly  1 B comprises the generally same parts as the first and second embodiments.  FIG. 9  show the generally L-shaped stationary base member  3 B, the mounting portion  5 B, the support leg  7 B, the screw holes  9 B and the generally rectangular shaped support web  11 B with the elongated, also generally rectangular slot  13 B in the support web  7 B. The elongated slot  13 B also having the left and right sidewalls  15 B,  17 B, the actuating means  31 B and the head rail holder  33 B. In  FIG. 9  in shadow lines a head rail  2 B is shown to indicate the orientation of the bracket assembly.  
         [0059]     The third embodiment is shown with an actuator grip  37 B that similar to the actuator grip  37 A of the second embodiment. The third embodiment actuator grip  37 B does no longer have the ledge  107 A since this could interfere with the bi-directional linear movement of the actuator.  
         [0060]      FIG. 10  clearly shows that this embodiment provides a clamping means  39 B that locks the head rail carrier  33 B against all linear of movement along the support leg  7 B. The actuator means  31 B acts in the same linear directions as the actuator of the first and second embodiment but the clamping means  39 B is now an X-shaped resilient means. The X-shaped resilient clamping means  109 B includes a central opening  111 B for accommodating the stem  42 B of the stemmed fastener  41 B. It further comprises two pairs of legs, top left and right legs  113 B,  115  B with end portions  117 B,  119 B and bottom left and right legs  121 B,  123 B with end portions  125 B,  127 B. The X-shaped resilient clamping means  109 B can be formed by a pair of torsions springs  49 B.  
         [0061]     The arrangement of the actuator body  35 B, the clamping means  39 B and the operation of the assembly is generally similar to that of the first embodiment.  
         [0062]     The recess  65 B of actuator body  35 B accommodates the X-shaped member or double torsion spring  49 B. The left and right actuator walls  67 B, 69 B extend along the oblong hole  36 B. Optionally stiffening ribs  77 B can extend from either side of the oblong hole  36 B. The main difference is that the third embodiment recess  65 B does not have a top wall. The length of the left and right actuator walls  67 B, 69 B is chosen such that open sides remain allowing the top left and right ends  117 B,  119 B as well as the bottom left and right ends  125 B,  127 B of the X-shaped resilient clamping means  109 B to engage the left and right slot wall&#39;s inner surfaces  19 B, 21 B. This effectively prevents movement in both linear directions along the length of the support leg.  
         [0063]     In operation, when the actuator grip  37 B is pulled the actuator body  35 B will slide toward the bottom wall  25 B of the support leg  7 B and is pulled over the bottom left and right legs  121 B,  123 B of X-shaped clamping means  49 B. As the actuator body  35 B is being pulled the bottom portions of the left and right actuator walls  73 B,  75 B bear down on the bottom left and right clamping means ends  125 B,  127 BA pushing them inwardly and thus disengaging the ends  125 BA, 127 B from the inner slot wall surfaces  19 B, 21 B. The movement of the actuator body  35 B will be stopped when the top of the oblong hole  36 B abuts against the stationary stem  42 B of fastener  41 B. Continued pulling of the actuator grip  37 B will now result in movement of the stemmed fastener  41 B together with the head rail holder  33 A. The top legs  113 B,  115  B of the X-shaped clamping means with end portions  117 B,  119 B will still be against the inner wall surfaces  19 B,  21 B but this will not prevent the movement towards the bottom wall  25 B of the support leg  7 B due to the inward resiliency of the legs in combination with the profile  81 B of the inner surfaces. The position of the head rail holder can thus be adjusted to a desired new position. Once that desired new position is reached the actuator grip  37 B can be released. After releasing the grip the inwardly pushed lower legs of the resilient X-shaped clamping means will force the actuator body to move a little bit towards the top wall  23 B of the support leg so that all four leg ends are free and lock to the inner surfaces  19 B, 21 B of the slot. This movement is relative to the stationary stemmed fastener  41 B so it will not act on the new position of the head rail carrier.  
         [0064]     For movement in the opposite direction the actuator grip  37 B is pushed and the actuator body  35 B will slide toward the top wall  25 B of the support leg  7 B and is pushed over the top left and right legs  113 B,  115 B of X-shaped clamping means  49 B. As the actuator body  35 B is being pushed the top portions of the left and right actuator walls  72 B,  74 B bear down on the top ends  117 B,  119 B of the top left and right legs  113 B,  115 B pushing them inwardly and thus disengaging the ends  117 B,  119 B from the inner slot wall surfaces  19 B, 21 B. The movement of the actuator body  35 B will be stopped when the bottom of the oblong hole  36 B abuts against the stationary stem  42 B of fastener  41 B. Continued pushing of the actuator grip  37 B will now result in movement of the stemmed fastener  41 B together with the head rail holder  33 B. The bottom legs  121 B,  123 B with end portions  125 B,  127 B will still be against the inner wall surfaces  19 B,  21 B but this will not prevent the movement towards the top wall  23 B of the support leg  7 B due to the inward resilience of the legs. The position of the head rail holder can thus be adjusted to a desired new position. Once that desired new position is reached the actuator grip  37 B can be released. The effect of releasing the grip will be that all four leg ends are free and lock to the inner surfaces  19 B, 21 B of the slot, analogous to the effect explained in relation to the pulling movement.  
         [0065]     In order to ensure a good grip of the X-shaped clamping means on the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls  19 B, 21 B of slot  13 B it is desirable that these surfaces are been provided with a suitable ribbed profile  81 B.  
         [0066]     The fourth embodiment bracket assembly  1 C comprises the generally same parts as the previously described first, second third embodiments.  
         [0067]      FIG. 11  shows the arrangement of the actuator body  35 C, the clamping means  39 C and the operation of the assembly of the fourth embodiment bracket assembly.  
         [0068]     The actuator body  35 C and the clamping means  39 C are different from the first three embodiments, but the same in function. The clamping means  39 C is an expandable resilient means, preferably a plastic resilient member  50 C. The actuator body  35 C and the clamping means  39 C are similarly assembled as to those of the first embodiment, in that the recess  65 C of actuator body  35 C accommodates a resilient member  50 C. The recess  65 C is a two-wall hook shaped recess having a top actuator wall  71 C and right actuator wall  69 C, the right actuator wall extending downward until the level of the bottom of oblong hole  36 C or a bit further. The plastic resilient clamping member  50 C comprises a base portion  131 C with a mounting hole  133 C for receiving the stemmed fastener  41 C (not shown). Depending from the base portion  131 C is leg portion  135 C. The leg portion  135 C is resilient, expandable and generally rectangular and hollow shaped and comprises a left leg  137 C, a bottom leg  139 C and a right leg  141 C with a knee portion  143 C for engaging the right inner wall surface  21 C. The left and right legs  137 C,  141 C extend from the base  131 C.  
         [0069]     The stemmed fastener  41 C (not shown) can be projected through the parts and held in place by front and rear circlips or other closure means.  
         [0070]     In operation, when the actuator grip  37 C is pulled downwardly the actuator body  35 C will slide downwardly and over the resilient member  50 C. As the actuator body  35 C is being pulled downwardly over the resilient member  50 C, the bottom portion  75 C of the right actuator wall  69 C bears down on the knee portion  143 C pushing it inwardly and thus disengaging the knee portion  143 C from the inner slot wall surface  21 A. The left leg portion  137 C has no knee portion to engage the inner wall surface of the support member. The resilient member  50 C is preferably made from plastic and the shape of the knee portion  143 C allows inward flexing as well as outward bias into engagement with the ribbed inner surface wall  21 C of the slot  13 C of the support leg  7 C. The downward movement of the actuator body  35 C will be stopped when the top of the oblong hole  36 C abuts against the stationary stem  42 C of fastener  41 C. Continued downward pulling of the actuator grip  37 C will now result in movement of the head rail holder  33 C. The position of the head rail holder can thus be adjusted to a desired new position. Once that desired new position is reached the actuator grip  37 C can be released. By releasing the grip the resilient member  50 C will expand by it&#39;s inherent resiliency to its widest shape and lock knee portion  143 C will lock to right, profiled inner surface  21 C, while the left leg portion  135 C will provide a general wedging force to the left inner surface  19 C of the support member, without being actually engaged in a profiled portion. So in this embodiment, in order to ensure a good grip of the knee portion  143 C on the right inner surface of the right side walls  21 A of slot  13 A it is desirable that this surfaces is provided with a suitable ribbed profile  81 C. Although it is not necessary to provide the left inner surface  19 C also with a ribbed profile, it is present for ease of production and also in order that the bracket can be assembled to the support leg on either side.  
         [0071]     The operation is similar to that of the first and second embodiments. Like these embodiments the fourth embodiment is most suitable for situations where the support leg  7 C is vertically oriented. The clamping means  39 C, when engaged, prevents movement of the head rail holder  33 C in one direction only; the downward direction so that the weight of the blind helps to engage the clamping means.  
         [0072]     A fifth embodiment base is shown in  FIG. 12  and is specifically for use as a wall mounted bracket with the mounting portion and support leg extending generally vertically. In the description of this fifth embodiment like parts have the same referral numbers as those used in the first embodiment with suffix D.  
         [0073]     FIGS.  12  shows the stationary base member  3 D, the mounting portion  5 D, the support leg  7 D, the screw holes  9 D and the generally rectangular shaped support web  11 D with the elongated, also generally rectangular slot  13 D in the support web  7 D. The base member  3 D of the fifth embodiment is shown to have a mounting portion  5 D parallel to the support leg  7 D and on either side thereof, in the shape of a left mounting wing  129 D and a right mounting wing  131 D. The mounting wings  129 D and  131 D are provided with the screw holes  9 D.  
         [0074]      FIG. 12  also shows the elongated slot  13 D including a pair of left and right parallel and spaced apart side walls  15 D,  17 D with opposite inner left or first and right or second surfaces  19 D,  21 D and a pair of opposite and parallel spaced apart top and bottom walls  23 D,  25 D with inner top and bottom surfaces  27 D,  29 D. The left and right inner wall surfaces  19 D,  21 D are provided with a suitable profile  81 D, similar to the first embodiment. Near the top wall  27 D, the slot is slightly wider by the accommodation of a left and right recess  20 D,  22 D in the left and right inner wall surfaces  19 D,  21 D. These surfaces are not profiled, these recesses facilitate the assembly to the slot of the clamping means  39 D (not shown) in the same manner as that of the second embodiment. The clamping means  39 D as that of the second embodiment is preferably also a torsion spring with a single winding and a pair of left and right legs extending downward on either side from the winding, and with straight end portions. This makes the assembly of the spring into the slot easier, as does the wider upper portion of the slot between left and right recesses  20 D,  22 D.  
         [0075]     This invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described specific embodiments which may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard the recesses ( 20 A, 22 A,  20 D,  22 D) near top or bottom wall of the leg portion of the second and fifth embodiments are mutually exchangeable. Further, in this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as, “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “right”, “top” and “bottom”, have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the bracket assembly of the invention as shown in the orientation of  FIGS. 1-12 . It is specifically the case that the blind carrier can be mounted on either side of the support leg in the first four embodiments, which would already change the indications of left and right etc.