Abstract:
The present invention relates to a bracket for a roller blind, for the fitting of a roller blind to a surface. The bracket comprises a clip ( 220, 260 ) and a base part ( 200, 240 ), the said clip and the said base part being of a design that permits them to be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools, and when assembled prevents them from coming apart, by means of snap lock mechanism.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to roller blinds, in particular to fittings for roller blinds.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     To function, a roller blind needs two points of suspension, one at each end of the roller. At least one of the points of suspension must be able to withstand and counteract not only the weight of the roller and the fabric, but also the torque created by a drive, spring, or brake mechanism.  
         [0003]     One solution according to prior art comprises two fittings, usually made of sheet metal or plastics, one bracket being provided with a hole for a cylindrical journal pin, rigidly attached to the external face of the roller, and the other with a slot, one end of which opens towards the periphery of the bracket. The roller is fitted between these fittings by first entering the cylindrical journal pin into the round hole of the first bracket, and then entering a torque-transmitting roller pin, typically flat, connected with the spring mechanism of the blind, into the corresponding slot in the second bracket (see  FIG. 1 ).  
         [0004]     This prior art solution usually gives rise to a certain play between the torque-transmitting flat roller pin and the bracket, resulting in a risk of instability and excessive loads on bracket and blind, as well as increased wear. One problem with prior art solutions comprising fittings in one piece is that the torque-transmitting roller pin must be flat, its flatness permitting it to be entered sideways into the slot of the bracket, and also ensuring transmission of torque during the operation of the blind. The roller needs to be fitted to prior art fittings of this kind from above, to prevent the roller from falling out of the bracket during use. To enable fitting from above there must be some free space above the bracket, which is not always the case. With the prior art fittings there is also a risk of poor attachment to the wall, since the wall sections directly behind the fittings are not always suited for attaching screws. Thus, there is a need in the marketplace for a stable and safe bracket, which also enables a simple, quick and effortless fitting of the blind.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention relates to a set of roller blind fittings, comprising a first and a second roller blind bracket, wherein at least one of the said fittings comprises a clip, provided with a receptacle for the pin of a roller, and a base part, provided with means for attaching the said base part directly or indirectly to a surface, said clip and said base part being designed to allow disassembly and assembly and comprising an assembly mechanism that allows the clip to be fitted to the base part to form an assembled unit. Preferably, the base part is also provided with means, such as holes for screws or a slot for a rail, to enable attachment of the base part to a supporting element, for example a wall, a ceiling or a recessed surface.  
         [0006]     The invention also relates to the corresponding clip and base part as separate devices. It is within the scope of the invention to attach a first clip to the torque-transmitting roller pin and a second clip to the cylindrical journal pin. The roller blind can then be fitted to a first and a second base part, these base parts having been attached beforehand to the surface that supports the blind.  
         [0007]     The receptacles of the clips are preferably adapted to the respective sizes of the roller pins, to establish a suitable fit between each receptacle and its corresponding roller pin. According to different embodiments of the invention, the receptacle for the torque-transmitting roller pin is adapted to receive a pin that is flat, cross-shaped, hexagonal, square, splined or of any other suitable shape.  
         [0008]     During assembly, the assembly procedure is simplified by the fact that the clip and its corresponding base part may be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools.  
         [0009]     A preferred method of fitting a roller blind according to the invention comprises: entering the first roller pin into its corresponding bracket, which is already attached to the mounting surface, fitting a clip to the other roller pin, and snapping this clip with the fitted roller pin into its corresponding base part.  
         [0010]     According to a particularly cost-effective embodiment only one of the fittings can be disassembled and assembled, the other one being manufactured in one piece, this alternative being less costly both at the manufacturing stage and the distribution stage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     To describe the invention in greater detail and present its benefits and features, a preferred embodiment will be described below, with reference to the enclosed drawings, of which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a set of roller blind fittings according to the prior art;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows roller blind fittings according to the invention, before assembly;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows the roller blind fittings of  FIG. 2 , partly assembled;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows the roller blind fittings of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , fullly assembled;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows two clips from disassemblable roller blind fittings according to the invention; and  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a bracket, attached to a corresponding mounting rail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]     The following description is based on the assumption that the roller blind is mounted in fittings with one roller end journalled and the other end being able to transmit a torque. It is fully within the scope of the invention, however, to provide the roller with two torque-transmitting ends, for example with one end spring-loaded and the other equipped with an auxiliary spring or a brake mechanism, which is particularly useful in connection with large roller blinds.  
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a set of roller blind fittings according to the prior art. Both fittings  100 ,  102  comprise an angled cantilever part  100 ,  102 , usually made of sheet metal, consisting of an inner part  103 ,  113 , bearing against the wall, and an outer extended part  105 ,  114 . The outer extended part  105 ,  114  also provides the receptacles  110 ,  112 .  
         [0020]     The bracket intended to receive the torque-transmitting roller pin is provided with a receptacle comprising an elongated slot  110 , into which the torque-transmitting pin fits. The bracket that receives the cylindrical journal pin of the roller is provided with a round hole  112 , into which the said cylindrical journal pin fits.  
         [0021]     The fitting of a blind typically comprises mounting the fittings to the surface, which is part of the wall, the ceiling or a recess, near the window which is to be shaded, fitting the blind to the fittings by entering the cylindrical journal pin into the first bracket  102  and then slipping the torque-transmitting roller pin into the slot  110  of the second bracket  100 . If the blind is to be fitted to a recess, the fittings must be given a slightly different design, however. It is not unusual that there is a play between the flat roller pin and the slot, the said play comprising a fraction of a millimetre. This play may cause instability and excessive wear. Since the slot is open upwards and the roller end is not fixed, there is a risk that the blind will jump out of the bracket, if handled carelessly.  
         [0022]     These drawbacks are eliminated by the present invention, which is also well suited for being manufactured from plastics, resulting in a low cost of production.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows roller blind fittings according to the invention, before assembly. As indicated above, a set of two fittings is needed for the fitting of a roller blind. The roller blind may be provided with a spring mechanism, a brake mechanism, a side-winding mechanism or an electric motor, or with some other mechanism that requires the roller ends of the blind to brace against a stationary structure outside the roller, so as to enable transmission of torque thereto. The fittings must be able to withstand these torques, as well as the forces exerted by a person pulling at a cord to operate the blind. According to a first embodiment, the set of fittings comprises a first bracket, adapted to receive the torque-transmitting roller pin, and a second bracket, adapted to receive the journal pin, which is typically cylindrical, but may be of some other shape. In the latter case, the bracket in question is designed to be able to receive a journal pin of such other shape. The two fittings according to the invention are generally of similar construction, and if nothing is said to the contrary, the description at hand is valid for both fittings.  
         [0024]     The first bracket consists of a base part  200  and a clip  220 . The clip  220  has a central body  222 , which fits in a recess in the base part  200 . The said central body  222  is provided with a receptacle  224 , which is adapted to receive the torque-transmitting roller pin. This receptacle may be a cross-shaped hole, a straight slot, or some other recess that will receive a many-sided body suited for the transmission of torque. Further, the clip has two resilient arms  226 ,  228 , extending from the central body. Both of these resilient arms are provided with a grip area  230 , indicating the proper point of pressure for the least resistance during compression of the resilient arms with the fingers. Advantageously, the grip area  230  is provided with knurls or some other distinct markings, to indicate the proper place to apply pressure when compressing the resilient arms  226 ,  228 . These markings also enhance the grip during compression, by increasing friction versus a smooth surface. At the far end of the resilient arms, a catch is provided, adapted to interact with a corresponding catch  202  in the base part  200 , thereby forming a snap lock mechanism, which keeps the clip attached to the base part after assembly of the bracket.  
         [0025]     To improve the stability and strength of the assembled bracket, supporting panels  204 ,  206 ,  242  have been provided to support the central body  222  of the clip and its nose section  264 . To support and guide the resilient arms, supporting panels  205 ,  207  have been provided.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a set of fittings where the two fittings have been partially assembled. The drawing clearly indicates how the central body  222 ,  262  of the clip fits into the corresponding recess in the base part  200 ,  240 , and how the catches  234  and  202  approach each other.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the fittings fully assembled, the assembled unit being essentially smooth on the surface facing away from the blind. Near the grip area, the edges  420 ,  421  of the external supporting panels  205 ,  207  of the base part are shaped to make the external profile of the base part smaller than that of the resilient arms  226 ,  228 , when these are not compressed. When the arms are to be compressed, i.e. when the catch  234  is to be disengaged, the fingers of the disengaging person are thus allowed to carry out the compression without being impeded by the external profile of the base part. Put in other words, the edge of the base part  240  is provided with cut-outs, which when the bracket is assembled facilitate the compression of the resilient arms  226 ,  228 . The drawing also shows that the base part is provided with grooves  410 ,  412 , enabling the attachment of the bracket to a mounting rail or the like, without the use of tools. The base part is also provided with a resilient lug  431 ,  650 , having a first and a second peg at its outer end, one on each side. The first peg, the one facing the mounting surface (not visible in the drawing), is adapted to snap into a recess in a mounting rail, to keep the bracket from moving sideways in the rail (see  FIG. 6 ). The resilient lug  431  and the grooves  410 ,  412 , plus the second peg  432 , can also be used to attach various auxiliary equipment to the bracket, such as a cord guide or a winding stop, when mounting the bracket to the rail.  
         [0028]     Advantageously, a cassette may be attached to the fittings, using special fixtures in the form of grooves, holes or lugs. Such a cassette protects the blind all along its top side and front, but leaves a slot open downwards, through which the fabric of the blind will run when in use. The cassette can also improve the visual appearance of the roller blind as a whole, in particular when the blind is fully raised.  
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows two clips  500 ,  550  according to the invention, having receptacles  501 ,  551  adapted to receive the cylindrical and the torque-transmitting roller pins, respectively.  
         [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a bracket  600 , attached to a mounting rail  610 . The profile  620  of the rail  610  comprises a base section  620 , side sections  625 ,  626  and flanges  630 ,  631 , adapted to interact with structures  410 ,  412  of corresponding shapes belonging to the bracket  400 ,  600 , with a frictional fit. In addition, the fittings are kept in place by a locking mechanism comprising a resilient lug  650 , provided with the said first peg, which enters a hole in the central face  640  of the rail. The bracket  400 ,  600  may be fitted to the rail without the use of tools. To dismount the bracket  600  from the mounting rail  610 , only a simple tool is necessary, to press the first peg on the resilient lug  650  out of the central face  640  of the rail.