Abstract:
A magnetic catch is used on coverings for architectural openings to releasably retain the coverings in an extended position and immediately adjacent to the framework of the opening. Magnetic components are installed on the covering and the framework surrounding at least part of the architectural opening. The covering is then placed in a position such that the magnetic components on the covering and the framework are close enough to attract each other through their respective magnetic forces. The magnetic forces work to releasably hold the covering in position relative to the framework.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 60/517,131 filed 3 Nov. 2003, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to retractable coverings for architectural openings, and more particularly, magnetic components installed on the coverings and the framework surrounding the architectural openings to hold the coverings in position.  
         [0004]     2. Background Art  
         [0005]     Retractable coverings for architectural openings, such as window blind assemblies, are known in the art. When a window blind assembly is installed on an open window, wind blowing through the window can cause slats of the blind assembly to swing back and forth. Further, sometimes blind assemblies are installed on doors and will undesirably swing to and from the door when it is opened and closed.  
         [0006]     One way to prevent the slats of the blind assembly from moving relative to the window or door is to secure the bottom slat to the framework surrounding the window or door. Many window blind assemblies currently available, however, do not provide a means for securing the bottom slat to the framework. Some blind assemblies do provide such means, but the assemblies require the user to mechanically latch and unlatch a mechanism which is time consuming and a nuisance.  
         [0007]     It is to overcome these shortcomings in prior art coverings that the present invention was developed.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention provides a magnetic catch to automatically releasably retain a covering adjacent to an architectural opening. Typically, magnetic components are installed on the covering and the covering is mounted in an architectural framework surrounding the architectural opening. Complementary magnetic components to that installed on the covering are then secured to the framework adjacent to the magnetic components on the covering when the covering is fully extended such that the magnetic components on the covering and the framework attract each other through their respective magnetic forces. The magnetic forces thereby work to releasably hold the covering in the fully extended position.  
         [0009]     In one aspect of the present invention, a combination of a covering for an architectural opening and a framework include in combination: a framework extending at least partially around the architectural opening, a magnetic component secured to the framework at a predetermined location, and a retractable covering adapted to extend across the opening or be retracted adjacent to one side of the opening. The covering includes a rail along one edge thereof adapted to be positioned opposite to the one side edge of the opening when the covering is extended, and the rail has a magnetic component positionable adjacent to the magnetic component on the framework such that the magnetic components will attract each other to releasably retain the rail adjacent to the magnetic component in the framework.  
         [0010]     The features, utilities, and advantages of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of embodiments of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a blind assembly in accordance with the present invention in a retracted position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a front isometric view of the blind assembly of  FIG. 1  in an extended position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary vertical section of a window frame taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1 , depicting one embodiment of a catch bracket mounted on a left side of the window frame adjacent to a lower edge thereof.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a fragmentary vertical section of the blind assembly in an extended and open position taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , depicting one embodiment of an end cap on a bottom rail of the blind assembly engaging the catch bracket.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded isometric view of the end cap engaging the bottom rail.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary vertical section of the blind assembly in an extended and closed position taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 , depicting the end cap on the bottom rail of the blind assembly magnetically interacting with the catch bracket.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a fragmentary vertical section of the blind assembly taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 4 , depicting the end cap on the bottom rail of the blind assembly magnetically interacting with the catch bracket.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is an extended view of  FIG. 6  depicting the end caps at both ends of the bottom rail of the blind assembly magnetically interacting with respective catch brackets.  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view depicting the mounting of a catch bracket to the left side of the window frame.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a second side of a catch bracket.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a catch bracket connected with a bracket extension member mounted to a rear side of the window frame.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is an exploded isometric view of the catch bracket depicted in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of the second side of the catch bracket depicted in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is an isometric of a second embodiment of a catch bracket and end cap for a blind assembly showing a portion of a tubular bottom rail attached to the end cap in dashed lines.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is an isometric similar to  FIG. 13  with the end cap and catch bracket separated.  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  is an isometric of a fully assembled catch bracket of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is an exploded isometric of the catch bracket as shown in  FIG. 15 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged section taken along line  17 - 17  of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is an isometric of an assembled end cap of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 19  is an exploded isometric similar to  FIG. 18 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 20  is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 21  is a front elevation of the catch bracket of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 22  is a side elevation of the catch bracket of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 23  is a rear elevation of the catch bracket of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 24  is an end elevation of the catch bracket of  FIG. 23 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 25  is a front side elevation of a closure cap for the magnetic of the catch bracket of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 26  is a side elevation of the closure cap of  FIG. 25 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 27  is a bottom plan view of the closure cap of  FIG. 25 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 28  is an enlarged section taken along line  28 - 28  of  FIG. 32 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 29  is an enlarged section taken along line  29 - 29  of  FIG. 32 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 30  is an isometric of half of a removal housing for the fastener used in the end cap of the embodiment of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 31  is an isometric of the other half of the housing for the fastener of the end cap of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 32  is an isometric of the fastener used in the end cap of  FIG. 13  with the housing component secured thereon.  
         [0044]      FIG. 33  is an exploded isometric of the fastener and housing shown in  FIG. 32 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0045]     Retractable coverings for architectural openings are well known in the art. Various types of such coverings are described in a PCT international patent application identified with publication No. WO 03/008751 A1, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety as if fully disclosed herein. Such coverings are movable between extended and retracted positions and when they include vanes or slats, the vanes or slats are typically additionally movable between open and closed positions. As discussed in more detail below and with reference to the attached Figures, the present invention provides a combination of a retractable covering having magnetic components mounted thereon with a framework for an architectural opening in which the covering is mounted. The framework also has magnetic components mounted thereon with the various magnetic components releasably retaining the covering in an extended position. The magnetic forces therefore help prevent the covering from swinging back and forth when the covering is utilized to cover an open window on a windy day, to hold the covering in position on a swinging door when the door is opened or closed or other such uses.  
         [0046]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show the present invention as applied to a blind assembly  50  installed on a frame  52  surrounding a window  54 . The blind assembly  50  includes a plurality of horizontal slats  56  supported on conventional cord ladders  58  suspended from a control system (not shown) housed inside a rigid slat-shaped head rail  60  as more fully described in the afore-noted PCT patent application. Conventional mounting brackets  62  at both ends of the head rail  60  secure the blind assembly  50  to the frame  52 . The cord ladders  58  provide for pivotal movement of the horizontal slats  56  between open and closed positions. Actuation of the cord ladders also allows the blind assembly to be moved between a retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and an extended position, as shown in  FIG. 2 . When the blind assembly is in the extended position, magnetic components  64  (described in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 7 ) installed in both ends of a bottom rail  66  of the blind assembly attract magnetic components  64  installed in catch brackets  68  connected with the frame adjacent to the bottom edge of the window. In the extended position, the bottom rail  66  of the blind assembly  50  is releasably held in position adjacent to the frame  52  by the magnetic forces created between the magnetic components. Moving the blind assembly from the extended position simply requires a user to actuate the control system and cord ladder to lift the bottom rail with enough force to overcome the magnetic force between the magnetic components.  
         [0047]     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the catch bracket  68  includes a main body  70  with a first side  72  defining a circular recess  74  located in a forward region  76  for seating a magnetic component  64 , and two mounting holes  78  located in a rearward region  80 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , a second side  82  of the main body  70  is generally flat. Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 8 , when mounting the catch bracket  68  to the frame  52 , two screws  84  are inserted into the mounting holes  78  of the catch bracket and threadedly engage the frame. As shown, the screws  84  have flat heads and the mounting holes  78  in the catch bracket are beveled to minimize any protrusion of the screw head from the catch bracket when installed. The catch bracket  68  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8  is mounted to a left side  86  of the frame  52 . As such, the first side  72  faces inwardly toward the blind assembly  50 . The catch bracket  68  installed on a right side  88  of the frame  52  is identical and is inverted to face in the opposite direction.  
         [0048]     Depending on the application, it may be desirable to mount the catch bracket on a rear side  90  of the frame  52 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a bracket extension member  92  can be connected with the catch bracket  68  to effectively rotate the location of the mounting holes  78  by ninety degrees. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the bracket extension member  92  is L-shaped and is defined by the intersection of a first plate  94  and a second plate  96 . Two mounting holes  78  are located in the first plate  94 , and two posts  98  extend from the second plate  96 . To connect the bracket extension member  92  with the catch bracket  68 , the posts  98  on the bracket extension member are inserted into the mounting holes in the catch bracket. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the catch bracket  68  is mounted to the rear side  90  of the frame  52  by inserting screws  84  into the mounting holes  78  in the bracket extension member  92  to threadedly engage the rear side of the frame.  FIG. 12  shows an isometric view of the second side  82  of the catch bracket when connected with the bracket extension member.  
         [0049]     As previously mentioned and as shown in more detail in  FIGS. 4-7  and  4 A, magnetic components  64  are located in both ends of the bottom rail  66 , which attract the magnetic components  64  located in the catch brackets  68  when the blind assembly  50  is in the extended position of  FIG. 2 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 4A, 6  and  7 , end caps  100  are installed in both ends of the bottom rail  66 . Each end cap  100  includes an extension wall  102  adapted to be inserted into an open end of the hollow bottom rail  66 . The end cap  100  also defines an end wall  104  to cover the end of the bottom rail  66 , with the end wall having an inner surface  106  with a recess  108  to hold the associated magnetic component  64 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , a rear plug  108  and a rear edge portion  110  extend from the inner surface  106  of the end cap  100 . When connecting the end cap  100  to the bottom rail  66 , the end cap engages a longitudinally extending extrusion  112 , which is connected with the bottom rail  66 . The longitudinally extending extrusion  112  defines an extrusion tube  114 , an upwardly facing top channel  116 , a downwardly facing bottom channel  118 , and a rear channel  120 . The upwardly facing top channel  118  and the downwardly facing bottom channel  120  are adapted to receive narrow edges  122  on the bottom rail  66 . The extrusion tube  114  on the longitudinally extending extrusion  112  is adapted to receive the rear plug  108  on the end cap, and the rear channel  120  is adapted to receive the rear end portion  110  of the end cap.  
         [0050]     When the blind assembly is in the extended position, the magnetic components housed in the end caps of the bottom rail are located adjacent to the magnetic components in the catch brackets. Equal magnetic forces pulling in opposite directions on the ends of the bottom rail hold the bottom rail in a centered position in the architectural opening that provides for no contact between the end caps and the catch brackets even though as can be seen in  FIG. 6 , even if the magnetic force in one direction was greater than the other so that one end of the bottom rail engaged an associated catch bracket, the blind would shift only minimally and imperceptibly. Also, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the magnetic forces hold the bottom rail  66  in position, but allows the bottom rail  66  to rotate about the magnetic components  64  as the blind assembly  50  is changed from the open position to the closed position.  
         [0051]     The magnetic components  64  used in the present invention can be of various types. For example, the magnets could be ceramic, iron or steel and could be mounted in both the bottom rail and a catch bracket such that opposite poles of the magnets were positioned adjacent to each other for the desired attraction. Magnets could be installed only in the bottom rail with magnetic components in the form of metallic objects installed in the catch brackets, or the magnets could be installed in the catch brackets with metallic objects installed in the bottom rail. The catch brackets could also be positioned at different locations on the frame to releasably secure the bottom rail of the blind assembly at a different position than a fully extended position. Further, additional magnetic components could be installed in other horizontal slats  56  to cooperate with corresponding additional catch brackets.  
         [0052]     A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 13-33 . In this embodiment, modifications have been made to both the catch bracket and the end cap. The second embodiment is specifically designed for use with a magnet and a metallic object as the magnetic components even though variations thereof would be known to those skilled in the art.  
         [0053]     With reference first to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the catch bracket  124  and end cap  126  (shown mounted in the end of a tubular bottom rail  66  shown in dashed lines) are illustrated interconnected in  FIG. 13  and separated in  FIG. 14 . The catch bracket is adapted to be mounted in the framework of an architectural structure and includes a magnet  130  which is adapted to attract a metallic fastener  132  anchored in the end cap  126 .  
         [0054]     Looking first at the catch bracket  124  as probably best seen in  FIGS. 15-19 , it will be seen to include a main body  134  having a cylindrical seat  136  on a distal end and an integral base  138  extending perpendicularly to the main body at the opposite end. The base has a pair of passages  140  therethrough for receipt of mounting fasteners (not shown) and the main body similarly has a pair of passages  142  therethrough for receipt of fasteners with either set of passages being utilized depending upon the location in which the bracket is mounted in a framework as discussed previously. The cylindrical seat  136  has diametrically opposed slots  144  formed in its outer surface adapted to releasably receive a circular closure cap  146  having diametrically opposed legs  148  with catches  150  on their distal ends adapted to be releasably received in the slots. The catches  150  on the ends of the legs are receivable in a depression  152  at the innermost end of each slot  144  but the catch is designed so that an outward force applied to the closure cap will cause the cap to be released from the cylindrical seat.  
         [0055]     A cavity  154  is defined by the cylindrical seat  136  and the closure cap  146  which is adapted to receive the cylindrical magnet  130 .  FIG. 17  shows the magnet seated in the cavity and the closure cap snapped into position on the cylindrical seat. The closure cap also has a pimple  155  at its geometric center which projects axially away from the closure cap for a purpose to be described later. The catch bracket is preferably made of a somewhat rigid material that might flex slightly to desirably attract and removably retain the end cap  126  of the bottom rail of a covering or blind assembly as will become more clear hereafter.  
         [0056]     Referring next to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the end cap  126  is very similar to the previously described end cap  100  in that it includes an extension wall  102  adapted to be inserted into an open end of a hollow bottom rail  66 . The end cap also defines an end wall  104  to cover the end of the bottom rail with the end wall having an inner surface  106  having a cylindrical boss  156  integrally formed thereon with the boss having a circular threaded passage  158  therethrough and a cylindrical recess  160  opening through the end wall  104  as best seen in  FIG. 20 . As with the previously described end cap  100 , the end cap  126  also has a rear plug  108  and a rear edge portion  110  extending from the inner surface  106  of the end cap. The cylindrical recess  160  in the boss is adapted to seat the metallic fastener  132  which is threadedly received in the passage  158  through the boss to hold it in position.  
         [0057]     The fastener  132  is best shown in  FIG. 20  to comprise a threaded bolt having a crowned head  162  which is confined within a two-piece housing  164  shown best in  FIGS. 28-33 . A first half  166  of the housing, as seen in  FIG. 30 , is generally semi-cylindrical in configuration having a semi-circular passage  168  through an end wall, a catch arm  170  extending downwardly off one side, and a catch groove  172  formed in the opposite side. The interior of the first half of the housing has a semi-cylindrical recess  174  ( FIG. 20 ) in axial alignment with a second recess  176  which communicates with a semi-circular opening  178  through the opposite end wall. The recesses are identical to similar recesses  180  and  182 , respectively, shown in the second half  184  of the housing shown in  FIG. 31 .  
         [0058]     The second half  184  of the housing  164  is also generally semi-cylindrical in configuration having the semi-cylindrical recess  180  and the second axially aligned recess  182  formed therein. A catch arm  186  and a catch groove  188  in opposite sides are also on the second half which are positioned to releasably cooperate with the catch groove  172  and the catch arm  170 , respectively, on the first half  166  of the housing. In other words, when the housing components  166  and  184  are placed in confronting face-to-face relationship so as to form a complete cylinder, the catch arm  186  on the second half releasably engages the catch groove  172  on the first half and the catch arm  170  on the first half releasably engages the catch groove  188  in the second half. Similar to the first half, the second half of the housing has semi-circular passages  190  and  192  through opposite end walls which are axially aligned.  
         [0059]     The second recesses  176  and  182  in the first and second housing components have a curved surface  194  which conforms with the crowned head  162  of the fastener so that when the housing components are secured together, the head of the fastener is seated in the cavity formed by the confronting second recesses as shown in  FIG. 28 . Accordingly, when the housing is snapped in place around the head  162  of the fastener, the distal end of the threaded shank  196  of the fastener is positioned to be threadedly received in the boss  156  of the end cap  126  and the fastener can be advanced into the boss until the housing  164  is fully received within the cylindrical recess  160  in the outer wall of the boss.  
         [0060]     Preferably the fastener is rotatable with an Allen wrench so that it has a hexagonal recess  198  in its head. The hexagonal recess opens through the opening in the outer end of the housing and can thereby releasably receive the pimple  155  on the closure cap of the catch bracket. This provides a releasable mechanical interlock between the catch bracket and the end cap which helps to center and retain the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the metallic fastener at a predetermined position.  
         [0061]     The present invention can also be applied to other styles of blind assemblies and covers for architectural openings, and should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments described specifically herein. For example, the present invention is also applicable to blinds having solid slats or vanes or no vanes at all or to blinds having bottom rails that are not necessarily hollow. In addition, the present invention would be applicable to vertical blind arrangements such that a side rail in the vertical blind could be releasably retained adjacent to a side frame member of the architectural opening.  
         [0062]     Although various embodiments of this invention have been described above with a certain degree of particularity or with reference to one or more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could make numerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments, and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the basic elements of the invention as defined in the following claims.