Easy installation headrail assembly

An apparatus for installing a window covering is disclosed. A rotational cam member is provided for extending a first piston on one side of a headrail and compressing a second piston on the opposite side of the headrail between a window casing. A lever arm is provided for rotating the rotational cam. Easy installation of a window covering headrail may be achieved as one arm is used to hold the headrail while the other hand is able to actuated the lever arm. Mounting brackets are provided for easy window covering removal after installation.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to systems and methods for installing window coverings and other window coverings.

Background of the Invention

Window coverings and other similar window coverings are typically installed in windows using mounting brackets that are screwed into the upper corners of window casings. Although effective, this installation technique may require a user to make measurements to ensure that the brackets are installed in the correct locations, as well as require tools (e.g., drills, screwdrivers, etc.) to drive the screws into the window casing. Unfortunately, this installation technique may also leave unsightly holes in the window casing and potentially damage the paint or finish thereon. This installation technique can also be quite time consuming. In a home or building containing many windows to be outfitted with window coverings or other window coverings, the installation time may increase accordingly.

In order to reduce the amount of time and/or effort needed to install window coverings, installation techniques have been developed. One such technique involves placing spring-loaded mounting brackets at the end of a window covering headrail. When the window covering headrail is placed into a window casing, the spring-loaded mounting brackets are released to provide a compression fit between the window covering and the window casing. Unfortunately, in some cases, such springs may generate insufficient force to secure the window covering to the window casing, particularly with long or heavy window coverings. This can result in movement or creep of the window covering relative to the window casing allowing the window covering to become dislodged or even fall.

In view of the foregoing, what is needed are improved systems and methods to securely install window coverings in window casings. Ideally, such systems and methods will eliminate and/or reduce the need for tools when installing window coverings. Such systems and methods will also ideally eliminate and/or reduce the need for screws or other fasteners when installing window coverings.

SUMMARY

This invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available systems and methods. Accordingly, improved systems and methods have been developed to install window coverings. Features and advantages of different embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

Consistent with the foregoing, a first end cap assembly for attachment to a first end of a headrail of a window covering, and a second end cap assembly for attachment to a second end of the headrail are disclosed. A rotational cam is provided within the first end cap assembly to extend a first piston of the first end cap assembly and compress a second piston of the second end cap assembly. When the cam is rotated, a compression fit between a window casing and a headrail is created as pressure from a first piston of the first end cap assembly pushes against one side of a window casing while the second piston on the opposite side of the headrail is compressing because of the pressure against the other side of the window casing. As the cam is rotated a window covering headrail is installed. The rotational cam may be rotated by a lever arm attached to the cam. The first end cap assembly and the second end cap assembly may interface with mounting brackets by magnetic force. One or more magnets may be attached to the pistons of the first and second end cap assemblies. The mounting bracket may have one or more spikes, barbs, or cleats protruding in different directions on each mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may be made of ferrous material. Spacers may be used in connection with the first and second end cap assemblies to lengthen a headrail to allow proper installation of a headrail in a window casing. The pistons of the first and second end cap assemblies may include marks or indicia for detecting a properly sized and installed window covering.

An apparatus for installing a window covering is disclosed. A rotational cam member is provided for extending a first piston on one side of a headrail and compressing a second piston on the opposite side of the headrail between a window casing. A lever arm is provided for rotating the rotational cam. Easy installation of a window covering headrail may be achieved as one arm is used to hold the headrail while the other hand is able to actuated the lever arm. Mounting brackets are provided for easy window covering removal after installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIG. 1A, a front view of an uninstalled headrail104with a first end cap assembly106and a second end cap assembly108. The first end cap106assembly is coupled to a first end of head rail104and the second end cap assembly108is coupled to a second end of headrail104. The second end cap assembly108and the first end cap assembly106are configured to retain the window covering headrail104within a window casing102by creating a compression fit between the headrail104and the window casing102. The first end cap assembly106is configured to extend a first piston126relative to the second end cap assembly108of the headrail104in order to create a compression fit against the inside of the window casing102. Lever arm114may be connected to a rotational cam member132with in the first end cap assembly. Lever arm114is shown in an open position or uninstalled position. When lever arm114is in an open position, the second end cap assembly108is not compressed and the first end cap assembly is not extended. The first and second end cap assemblies may include a mark or indicia138and/or140which informs an installer about an installed condition of the head rail. InFIG. 1A, installation marks138are visible indicating that headrail104is not properly installed and that the second piston128is not compressed. Additionally, the line on end cap assembly106is not visible indicating that headrail is not installed properly and that the first piston126is not fully extended. Marks138may be red in color indicating a not installed or poorly installed condition. The marks138may indicate a number of spacers needed to lengthen the headrail104for proper installation. The hidden line on end cap assembly106may be green in color and may be visible when the headrail is installed properly as shown inFIG. 1Bat140. When headrail104is initially installed, mounting brackets112and110may be held to pistons126and128by magnetic force. One or more magnets may be embedded within a face of the pistons to hold the mounting brackets in place while the headrail is installed. This allows a person to hold the headrail in one hand and move lever114with the other hand to easily install headrail104. InFIG. 1B, headrail104is in an installed position with lever arm120being in a position which is substantially parallel with the headrail104. The installation marks138are not visible indicating that the head rail is installed properly. If installation marks138are visible after a headrail installation this may indicate an improperly sized headrail. The installation marks138may be red in color indicating a problem. After the headrail is installed, mounting brackets112and110may become attached to the window casing allowing headrail104to slide in a forward direction out of the mounting brackets when the installation lever is in position114shown inFIG. 1A. The present invention provides a secure headrail that will not fall when force is applied to drawstring116in a direction134as the blinds are lifted or lowered. The first end cap assembly106forms a solid connection with the window casing102when lever120is substantially parallel to headrail104. The compression only take place in the second end cap assembly108which is on the other side of the drawstring116. The installation marks138may also indicate a size or number of headrail spacers needed to extend the headrail. In the event of a headrail being too small, spacers218may be placed between the first end cap assembly or the second end cap assembly and the headrail220as shown inFIG. 2at spacer cross-section218.

InFIG. 2, a cross-section of a first end cap assembly (with cross-hatching) is shown with spacer218between the end cap assembly and the headrail220. One or more spacers may be used to achieve a desired headrail length. As shown, the first end cap assembly contains an outer member204, a first piston206, a cam member202, and a mounting bracket208. The piston206moves or extends outward as cam212is rotated. As cam member202is rotated around an axis of rotation212, cam member202pushes piston member206away from outer member204resulting in an extension of piston206. Outer member204may, in certain embodiments, slide into an end of the headrail220. In other embodiments, outer member204slides over the end of the headrail220, such as in cases where the end of the headrail220is closed. The end cap assembly may be sized to fit snugly within the headrail220. The end cap assembly may also be provided in different sizes to accommodate headrails220of different dimensions. In other embodiments, the end cap assembly may include different adapters to fit different sizes of headrails220, thereby allowing a uniform-size end cap assembly to be installed in different size headrails220. A spacer218may be used to lengthen a headrail when a headrail and window casing are not properly matched. One or more magnets214and216may be embedded into piston204or be near a front surface of piston204. The magnets214and216may be used to attract and hold, by magnetic force, mounting bracket208while the headrail is installed. Mounting bracket210may include protrusions for entering a surface of a window casing. The protrusions may be spikes210, barbs210, or cleats210. The protrusions may be grouped in groups of four310as shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 3shows a mounting bracket308which attaches to both the first and the second end cap assemblies. The bracket308may have three sides which are formed by bending 90 degrees allowing the headrail to slide in on the non-bend side. Mounting bracket308may include protrusions310for entering a surface of a window casing. The protrusions may be spikes310, barbs310, or cleats310. The protrusions may be grouped in groups of four310as shown. The protrusions within each group may be oriented in different positions relative to each other.

FIG. 4shows a view of magnets402positioned within a first or second end cap assembly400. The magnets402may be planer, recessed, or embedded within a front face of a first and second end cap assemblies. The magnets402on each first and second end cap may be used to hold a first and second mounting bracket300as shown inFIG. 3while a headrail is installed.

As shown inFIG. 5, a second end cap assembly500has a mounting bracket502installed with protrusions510for entering a surface of a window casing. The protrusions may be spikes510, barbs510, or cleats510. Mounting bracket502is attached to the second end cap assembly500by a magnetic force of magnets518and520. Mounting bracket502allows a window covering headrail to be removed and reinstalled after its initial installation. A corresponding mounting bracket208ofFIG. 2may be provided on a first end cap assembly206on an opposite side of the window covering headrail104. The mounting bracket502may, in certain embodiments, be coated with an adhesive512. When installing a window covering headrail104in a window casing102, the mounting bracket502may be adhered to the window casing at a desired location. A lever arm rotational member800, ofFIG. 8, may then be rotated to create a compression fit between the window covering headrail104and the window casing102. This will press the adhesive512against the window casing102to improve the bond therebetween. The adhesive512in combination with the spikes510, barbs510, or cleats510may improve the bond with the window casing102. Once the mounting bracket502is attached to the window casing102, the window covering headrail with the first and second end cap assemblies may be removed from the window casing by simply sliding the headrail out of the mounting brackets502when the cam is in a rotationally uninstalled position. The mounting brackets502may stay in place on the window casing102. Another example of a mounting bracket for use with a window covering headrail is shown inFIG. 10. The window covering headrail may be reinstalled by simply sliding the window covering back into the mounting brackets502and rotating the cam into an installed rotational position. The second end cap assembly500is made to compress under pressure. Compression members508and/or516may compress under pressure allowing a second piston506to move relative to outer portion504. One or more compressible members508and516may be selected from one or more of springs, foam, compliant springs, pistons, or compressible material. Compress happens when the rotational cam (in the first end cap assembly inFIGS. 7 and 9) is rotated to an installed position forcing the first piston in the first end cap assembly to push against a first inside surface of a window casing and causing the second piston in the second end cap assembly to compress against a second inside surface of a window casing.

InFIG. 6, the mounting bracket642may be coated with an adhesive648to adhere the mounting bracket642to a window casing102. The mounting bracket642is also configured with one or more spikes, barbs, or cleats602-623, to penetrate the window casing102and prevent slippage between the window casing102and the window covering headrail. Recesses652may engage a protruding portion650of slide locks644and646. The slide locks provide a way to keep the headrail ofFIG. 1Bfrom slipping forward within mounting brackets642when the headrail is in an installed state120, ofFIG. 1B. When the headrail is in an uninstalled state114, ofFIG. 1A, slide locks644and646disengage the mounting bracket at650allowing the headrail to slide out of the mounting brackets642. Mounting bracket642may include three angled sides638,636, and640which allow the mounting bracket642to slide in and out of a window casing. An end cap compliant member634may provide necessary resistance to secure a first or second end cap to a headrail of a window covering.

InFIG. 7, a cross-section of a first end cap assembly is shown in an installed rotational position718. Rotational cam710has a bump712which is received into groove714. A lever arm800may be attached to an axis of rotation716. The second end cap assembly700contains an outer member708, a first piston706, a cam member710, and a mounting bracket704. As cam member706is rotated around an axis of rotation716, cam member710pushes first piston706away from outer member708resulting in an extending of piston706and locking bump712into groove714. Piston706may, in certain embodiments, slide into a first end of a headrail. The end cap assembly may be sized to fit snugly within a headrail. As cam710is rotated718around axis of rotation716, piston706is extended away from the cam710. One or more magnets724and722may be embedded into piston706or be near a front surface of piston706. The magnets724and722may be used to attract and hold, by magnetic force, mounting bracket704while the headrail is installed. Mounting bracket704may include protrusions for entering a surface of a window casing. The mounting bracket may be made of a ferrous material such as iron or an alloy containing iron.

InFIG. 8, a lever arm is shown connected to a rotational cam member. The rotational cam member may comprise circular bearing portions808and806on each side of a middle cam section810. Middle cam section810may have a bump for locking the lever arm in an installed position substantially parallel to a headrail of a window covering. The lever arm may comprise a face portion804and an arm portion802. The face portion804may be connected to arm portion802forming a 90-degree angle. As the lever arm is rotated, a first end cap assembly attached to a first end of a headrail of a window covering extends while a second end cap assembly attached to a second end of the headrail of a window covering compresses to create a compression fit between the headrail and the window covering.

As shown inFIG. 9, a first end cap assembly900which corresponds to a different view of the first end cap assembly ofFIG. 7. Return springs902and904are shown connected to the piston706and to outer member708. The function of the return springs is to retract the piston member when the lever arm is rotated in an uninstalled position. Allowing the slide locks644and646to disengage from mounting bracket642. One or more springs902and904may be used to retract the piston depending on the size or scale of the headrail.

InFIG. 10, the spikes, barbs, or cleats are provided in a circular configuration on the mounting bracket1004, although other patterns are also possible. The illustrated configuration allows the mounting bracket1004and associated spikes, barbs, or cleats to be fabricated from stamped sheet metal, although other materials and fabrication techniques may also be used. The mounting bracket1004may be coated with an adhesive1002to adhere the mounting bracket1004to a window casing102. The adhesive1002may substantially cover an entire planar surface of mounting bracket1004.