Abstract:
A rod hanging system for use with window blinds, the rod hanging system including a curtain rod brace including an attachment plate and a rod support branch with a rod notch, a mounting clip including a cavity, wherein the cavity removably receives the attachment plate of the curtain rod brace, and wherein the mounting clip further includes an attachment member that removably clasps the window blinds.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/142,365, filed on Apr. 2, 2015, of which the entirety is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a rod hanging system and apparatus, and more particularly, to removable, lightweight curtain rod clip for attachment to a preexisting window blind. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Current rod hanging systems include curtain rod braces that are permanently fastened to a wall surrounding a window. The curtain rod brace typically includes an attachment plate portion that is substantially perpendicular to a support arm. The curtain rod brace typically is formed in an “L” shape. The support arm may include a curved groove to support a curtain rod. The attachment plate portion typically includes multiple openings designed to accept screws for mounting to the wall surrounding the window. Installation requires the user to permanently fasten the curtain rod brace to the wall. Such installation is time consuming and difficult to accomplish. While many curtain rod braces exists in the prior art, none address near-instant installation and removability without marring the wall surrounding the window. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a system and apparatus for hanging rods. The rod hanging system includes a rod brace and an attachment or mounting clip that is attached to a preexisting structure, including a window blind or a mounting bracket. The attachment clip includes a fastener, including a spring clip, which is slid or clipped to the window blind or mounting bracket. The attachment clip further includes a slot or enclosed cavity or chamber. The rod brace includes a support arm and an attachment plate. In one embodiment, the rod brace is an “L” shaped bracket and the support arm is substantially perpendicular to the attachment plate. The attachment plate is inserted into the slot or cavity of the attachment clip. The support arm includes a notch or groove at the end opposite of the attachment plate. The notch or groove provides a structure to support the rod, including a curtain rod. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    A more complete appreciation of the invention is provided by reference to the following detailed description of the appended drawings and figures. The following descriptions, in conjunction with the appended figures, enable a person having skill in the art to recognize the numerous advantages and features of the invention by understanding the various embodiments. These drawings are provided to facilitate the reader&#39;s understanding of the invention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale. The following figures are utilized to best illustrate these features. 
           [0006]    Some of the figures included herein illustrate various embodiments of the invention from different viewing angles. Although the accompanying descriptive text may refer to such views as “top,” “bottom” or “side” views, such references are merely descriptive and do not imply or require that the invention be implemented or used in a particular spatial orientation unless explicitly stated otherwise. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a rod hanging system including a window blind, a rod brace and an attachment clip. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0012]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are side and top views of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7A-7D  are side views various embodiments of an attachment clip. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a top view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an attachment clip. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that the invention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and that the invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    A rod hanging system, according to one embodiment, is configured to allow easy, near-instant installation and further allow removability without marring of the wall surrounding the window. Referring now to  FIGS. 1-10 , various embodiments of the rod hanging system are shown. In one embodiment, the rod hanging system  100  includes an attachment or mounting clip  110  and a rod brace  105 . The rod brace  105 , in one embodiment, is an “L” shaped brace including an attachment plate  130  and an arm  125  substantially perpendicular to the attachment plate  130 . The rod brace  105  may be formed from a variety of designs without detracting from the spirit of the invention, including but not limited to, a curved brace with an attachment plate end and an opposite rod attachment end. Further, the angle formed by the attachment place  130  and arm  125  may vary without detracting from the spirit of the invention, including but not limited to angles ranging from near zero to near one hundred eighty (180) degrees. 
         [0019]    The arm  125  includes a groove  120  or indention or notch for supporting a rod. In one embodiment, the groove size is the same or greater than the diameter of the rod. The groove  120  may include a wide variety of shapes without detracting from the spirit of the invention, including but not limited to, a “V” shaped notch, a curved groove, a partially closed entrance groove, and a substantially half-circle groove. Additionally, the groove  120  may include a partially closed entrance with an entrance diameter less than the diameter of the groove  120 . In this embodiment, a rod may be pushed through the partially closed entrance, in to the groove  120 , through the use of physical force. Once the rod has been inserted, the partially closed entrance may lock or restrict the movement or removal of the rod. The rod brace  105  may be formed from a variety of materials, including but not limited to plastics, metal, and wood, and may be formed in a variety of sizes, including length, width, and thickness and may be formed in a variety of colors or textures without detracting from the spirit of the invention. A wide variety of articles, including but not limited to curtains, drapes, tapestries, and screens, may be hung from the rod without detracting from the spirit of the invention. Further, a wide variety of rod shapes, including varying widths and lengths, may be implemented without detracting from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0020]    The attachment clip  110  includes a slot or cavity or chamber  205  for removably accepting and holding in place the attachment plate  130  of the rod brace  105 . No fasteners, such as screws, are needed to attach the rod brace  105  to the attachment clip  110 . The attachment plate  130  of the rod brace  105  may be inserted through both the bottom and top openings  210  of the slot or cavity or chamber  205  of the attachment clip  110 . Additionally, in another embodiment, the attachment plate  130  of the rod brace  105  may be inserted only through the top opening  210  of the slot or cavity or chamber  205  of the attachment clip  110 . In this embodiment, the attachment plate  130  is inserted to a stop point, including but not limited to the bottom edge of the attachment clip  110 , within the cavity or slot or chamber  205 . The size of the slot or cavity or chamber  205 , in one embodiment, is marginally larger than the size of the attachment plate  130  of the rod brace  105 . The size of the slot or cavity or chamber  205  may be formed in a variety of sizes, including the width, depth, and height, and may include a full enclosure or a partial enclosure without detracting from the spirit of the invention. In another embodiment, the attachment plate  130  may be snapped into a partial enclosed slot or cavity or chamber  205 . In this embodiment, physical force is required to spread the un-enclosed portion of the slot or cavity or chamber  205 , allowing the attachment plate  130  to be inserted. Once inserted, the slot or cavity or chamber  205  returns to its previous state, restricting or holding the attachment plate  130  in the slot or cavity or chamber  205 . 
         [0021]    The attachment clip  110  further includes a fastener  215  that attaches to a window blind  115  or to any mounted brace being used to hang an article, such as a metal plate. In one embodiment, the fastener  215  is formed from a spring clip, however, a wide variety of clips may be implemented without detracting from the spirit of the invention, including but not limited to magnetic clips. The attachment clip  110  fastener  215 , according to one embodiment, is formed from a piece of metal that has been folded such that the two ends of the piece of metal are in close proximity to each other, forming a spring clip. In one embodiment, the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  resembles a “U” with the two ends pinched together. The attachment clip  110  may be removably attached to the window blind  115  with or without the rod brace  105  attached to the attachment clip  110 . The attachment clip  110  may be removably attached to the window blind  115  by sliding the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  along a longitudinal edge of the window blind  115  or by forcing the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  over the longitudinal edge and onto the window blind  115 . The attachment clip  110  fastener  215  may be forced onto the window blind  115  by aligning the two ends of the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  with the top edge of the window blind  115  and applying sufficient force to temporarily move apart the two ends of the attachment clip  110  fastener  215 , allowing the attachment clip  110  to slide down onto the window blind  115 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  ends are not in close proximity to each other. In this embodiment, the folded portion of the fastener approaches the unfolded portion at a point away from the ends of the fastener and the folded end may bend away from the main body of the fastener. The folded end may extend only a portion of the way along the length of the fastener or may extend to the other end of the fastener. Such embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 6B and 7A-7D . The folded end may extend from only a small portion to nearly the entire portion of the length of the other end. In another embodiment, the folded end may be formed to turn approximately 90 degrees as the folded end nears the other end. Such an embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 1-10 . This embodiment allows a simpler alignment of the attachment clip  110  to the window blind  115  before forcing the attachment clip  110  down onto the window blind  115 . 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  and slot or cavity or chamber  205  are formed from a single piece of material. In another embodiment, the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  and slot or cavity or chamber  205  are formed from separate pieces of material and are fixedly attached or permanently attached to each other. In another embodiment, the fastener  215  is formed from a continuous piece of material. In yet another embodiment, the fastener  215  is formed from separate pieces of material. In other embodiments, the folded end of the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  is between 0.69-1.557 inches long, the curved portion of the attachment clip  110  fastener  215  is 0.363 inches wide, and the slot or cavity or chamber  205  is 0.172 inches deep and 0.735 inches wide. In another embodiment, the folded end may extend beyond the other end as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    In another embodiment, the attachment clip  110  is formed from a plastic material. In such an embodiment, the folded attachment clip  110  fastener  215  is formed in the folded formation and does not require the bending of a substantially straight piece. 
         [0025]    Although the invention is described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention. Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. 
         [0026]    From time-to-time, the invention is described herein in terms of these example embodiments. Description in terms of these embodiments is provided to allow the various features and embodiments of the invention to be portrayed in the context of an exemplary application. After reading this description, it will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art how the invention can be implemented in different and alternative environments. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. 
         [0027]    The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed below without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0028]    In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments as may be desired. It is therefore, contemplated that the claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention. 
         [0029]    Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or “an” should be read as meaning “at least one”, “one or more” or the like; and adjectives such as “conventional”, “traditional”, “normal”, “standard”, “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, where this document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future. 
         [0030]    A group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. 
         [0031]    The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more”, “at least”, “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of the term “module” does not imply that the components or functionality described or claimed as part of the module are all configured in a common package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of a module, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in a single package or separately maintained and can further be distributed across multiple locations. 
         [0032]    Unless stated otherwise, terms such as “first” and “second” are used to arbitrarily distinguish between the elements such terms describe. Thus, these terms are not necessarily intended to indicate temporal or other prioritization of such elements.