Patent Publication Number: US-11649671-B2

Title: Window shade mounting system for curtain walls

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/376,814 filed Apr. 5, 2019 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/543,534 filed Aug. 17, 2019 which are continuations of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/035,079 filed Jul. 13, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,415,307), continuations of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/994,687 filed May 31, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,294,717), continuations of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/997,211 filed Jan. 15 2016 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,988,839), continuations-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/401,453 filed Nov. 14, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,237,821), a National Stage Entry of PCT application PCT/US2013/041175 and claim priority from U.S. Provisional Application 61/647,445 filed May 15, 2012, all of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     This system is directed to an aesthetically pleasing window shade mounting system for roller shades for use with a curtain wall structure. 
     2) Description of the Related Art 
     In buildings that have mounted exterior surfaces, such as glass, a curtain wall structure is used as shown in  FIG.  1    and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,459. The building support structure  10  can be a concrete slab or other material. Vertical curtain wall mullion  14  and horizontal curtain wall mullion  16  can be fixed to the building support structure. Panels such as glass  18  are supported by the mullions so that the panels are on the exterior of the building. The challenge is when attaching window shades to this structure, the window shade cannot be easily attached, even if at all, to the mullions. 
     Due to the structure of this building style, internal mounting aesthetics pleasing windows shades, and especially powered windows shades such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 10,294,717, can be challenging to install and use. This is due in part to the fact that the curtain wall system can move independently from the building structure. Further, wiring for powered window shades can be challenging due to the nature, structure, and constriction of the curtain wall assembly. 
     Further, current brackets and mounts for roller window shades and shade systems are typically bulky, visible, and may detract from the aesthetics of the shade system. Hence, there remains a need for improved assembly for mounting shades and shade systems, including motorized shades. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present system to provide for a mounting bracket for curtain walls that also allow for wiring to be installed and even concealed for aesthetics purposes. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above objectives are accomplished by providing a window shade mounting system for use with a curtain wall structure comprising: a mounting plate secured to a building material wherein the building material carries a curtain wall assembly and the mounting plate is disposed in a cavity defined by a curtain wall assembly, the building material, a fire block or any combination thereof; a support plate removable carried by the mounting plate; a bracket attached to the mounting plate having a first end configured to bear against the mounting plate; a member included in the bracket wherein the member is configured to engage a roller window shade assembly and the member configured to limit rotation of at least a portion of the roller window shade assembly; a passage defined in the bracket for receiving a wire that travels from the cavity, through the passage and connects to a roller shade assembly motor included in the roller window shade assembly; and, a decorative plate attached to the support plate. 
     The cavity can be defined by the curtain wall assembly, the fire block, the mounting plate, the support plate, or any combination thereof. The support plate can be removable attached to the mounting plate. The wire can include a first connector positioned at an end of the wire, and wherein a motor included in the roller window shade assembly includes a second connector configured to selectively engage the first connector, thereby selectively electrically coupling the motor and the wire. The bracket can be configured such that when the bracket is coupled to the support plate, the combination of the bracket and the roller window shade assembly completely obscures a view of at least a portion of the bracket to an observer. The mounting plate can include a first position wherein the bracket is visible to an observer and a second position where the bracket is obscured from an observer. The roller window shade assembly can be supported within the cavity in the second position. 
     A second end can be included in the bracket and opposite the first end wherein the second end is visible to an observer. The second end can be rounded. 
     The system can include a hanger assembly including a mounting plate and a support plate secured to a building material wherein the building material carries a curtain wall assembly wherein the hanger assembly is disposed between the curtain wall assembly and the building material; a bracket attached to the hanger assembly having a first end configured to bear against the mounting plate; a roller window shade assembly attached to the bracket; and, wherein the combination of the bracket and the roller window shade assembly completely obscures at least a portion of the support plate to an observer. 
     The window shade mounting system of claim  16  wherein the roller window shade assembly is a first roller shade assembly carried by the bracket and a second roller shade assembly carried by an opposite side of the bracket. 
     A system can include a hanger assembly including a mounting plate and a support plate secured to a building material wherein the building material carries a curtain wall assembly wherein the hanger assembly is disposed between the curtain wall assembly and the budding material; a bracket attached to the hanger assembly having a first end configured to bear against the mounting plate; and, a roller shade assembly attached to the bracket. The window shade mounting system of claim  19  wherein the mounting plate includes a first position wherein the bracket is visible to an observer and a second position where the bracket is obscured from an observer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    is an example of a curtain wall structure that is in the prior art; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view of aspects of the system; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of aspects of the system; and, 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of aspects of the system; 
         FIG.  5 A through  5 C  are cross sections of aspects of the system; 
         FIG.  6    is a perspective view of aspects of the system; and, 
         FIG.  7    is a perspective view of aspects of the system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail.  FIG.  1    shows a curtain wall assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , the building structure  10  is shown supporting the flooring material  20  of the floor above the building material. A first cavity  22  can be defined by the building structure, upper flooring material, fire block, curtain wall structure  48  or any combination thereof. The curtain wall structure can include a mullion  16  which can be vertical or horizontal. The first cavity can have fire resistant material or a fire block  24  disposed in the first cavity or otherwise carried by the building structure. A hanger assembly  26  can be carried by the building material, affixed to the building material, or integrated into the building material. The hanger assembly can be disposed in the first cavity so that when a roller shade assembly is carried by the hanger assembly, the roller shade assembly is disposed under the building structure and visible from beneath the hanger assembly. 
     The hanger assembly can include a mounting plate  28  that can be carried by the building materials and, in one embodiment, can be affixed to the building material such as with fasteners  30 . The hanger can be affixed to the building material during installation of the curtain wall or, in some cases, after installation of the curtain wall. The mounting plate can include a ledge  32  for supporting a support plate  34 . A window shade  36  can be carried by the support plate. The support plate can include a groove  35  configured to engage with the ledge to support the support plate. A roller shade bracket  38  can be carried by the support plate and used to carry the roller shade assembly. Wiring  40  for a motorized window shade mounting assembly can be disposed in the first cavity and can be supported by the support plate, thereby being concealed by and supported by the support plate. In this configuration, the window shade can be disposed under the building material. The support plate can include an external wall  64  and internal wall  66 . The wiring can be supported by the internal wall  64  while a decorative plate can be supported by the external wall  62 . The decorative plate  42  or other structure can have a lower edge flush with the building material or other covering affixed to the building material. 
     A wire can include a first connector  68  positioned at an end of the wire, and wherein a motor included in the roller shade assembly can include a second connector  70  configured to selectively engage the first connector, thereby selectively electrically coupling the motor and the wire. These connectors allow the roller shade assembly to be removed from the mounting plate without having to remove the wiring that is disposed in the cavity. 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the window shade  36  can be disposed in cavity  22  so that the window shade, when rolled in a retracted position, can be concealed by the support plate  34 . The support plate can be custom sized for the specific curtain wall installment or can be manufactured in predetermined sizes for specific curtain walls. Wiring  40  can be disposed in the first cavity and can also be positioned or carried by the windows shade bracket. The support plate can carry a decorative plate  42 . The use of a decorative plate can provide for an aesthetic look where the support plate and the decorative plate and building material have the same of similar look or accent each other. The motor for extending and retracting the windows shade can be disposed in the first cavity as well. In this embodiment, the internal wall is shown as  62   a  and the external wall is shown as  62   b.    
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the building material  10  can carry a ceiling material  44  such as paint, decorative panel or material, sound damping panel, or the like. The window shade mounting bracket  34  can support multiple window shades. Wiring  40  can be disposed in the first cavity  22  and can power one or more window shade motors. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the building material  10  can carry the mounting plate  28  of the hanger assembly  26 . When connected, the supported plate  34  can be carried by the mounting plate and the roller shade assembly can be carried by the support plate. The mounting plate of the support plate can include a stop  46  allowing the support plate to rest on the mounting plate. When removed, the support plate can be lifted and rotated away from the mounting plate or can slide length wise e.g. horizontally along the support plate to be installed or positioned. A locking pin  48  can be received through the support plate and the mounting plate to prevent the mounting plate and the support plate from sliding or otherwise moving relative to each other when in an installed position. The embodiment shown in  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B  is a first support bracket position where the support bracket is configured to support a roller shade assembly so that at least a portion of the roller shade assembly is disposed beneath the building structure. The embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 C  is a second support bracket position where the support bracket is configured to support a roller shade assemble so that at least a portion of the roller shade assembly is disposed above the building structure to obscure at least a portion of the roller shade assembly. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 A and  5 B , the building material  10  can carry the mounting plate  28  of the hanger assembly  26 . When connected, the supported plate  34  can be carried by the mounting plate and the roller shade assembly can be carried by the support plate. The mounting plate of the support plate can include a stop  46  allowing the support plate to rest on the mounting plate. When removed, the support plate can be lifted and rotated away from the mounting plate or can slide length wise e.g., horizontally along the support plate to be installed or positioned. A locking pin can be received through the support plate and the mounting plate to prevent the mounting plate and the support plate from sliding or otherwise moving relative to each other when in an installed position. The embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 A and  5 B  is a first support bracket position where the support bracket is configured to support a roller shade assembly so that at least a portion of the roller shade assembly is disposed beneath the building structure. The embodiment shown in  FIG.  5 C  is a second support bracket position where the support bracket is configured to support a roller shade assemble so that at least a portion of the roller shade assembly is disposed above the building structure to obscure at least a portion of the roller shade assembly. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , a mounting bracket  50  can be affixed to the support panel  34  and can carry a roller shade assembly  60 . The support panel can be disposed so that a portion is lower than the building structure or ceiling material so that at least a portion of the support plate is visible. The support panel can also be disposed so that a portion is above the building structure or ceiling material so that the roller shade bracket affixed to the support panel is not visible. In this embodiment, the roller shade can be extended or retracted through a shade opening  62  ( FIG.  3   ). The hanger assembly allows for the roller shade assembly to be visible as in  FIG.  2    or obscured as in  FIG.  3    and by inverting the support plate, transition between these two embodiments, even after curtain wall has been installed. 
     The mounting bracket can support an end of a roller shade assembly in one embodiment and can support an end of two roller shade assemblies in one embodiment. The bracket can support a first roller shade assembly on one side and a second roller shade assembly on a second side. 
     It is understood that the above descriptions and illustrations are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims. Other embodiments as well as many applications besides the examples provided will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. The disclosures of all articles and references, including patent applications and publications, are incorporated by reference for all purposes. The omission in the following claims of any aspect or subject matter that is disclosed herein is not a disclaimer of such subject matter, nor should it be regarded that the inventor did not consider such subject matter to be part of the disclosed inventive subject matter.