Patent Publication Number: US-2015059993-A1

Title: Window treatment mounting system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Window treatment housings are typically mounted directly to a blocking that is adjacent a window frame. It is often desirable for the window treatment to be level for both aesthetic and functional reasons. However, blocking material may be difficult to install and may increase the materials and labor required in installing window treatments. Furthermore, because window treatment housings are directly mounted to the blocking, this may create difficulties in leveling because the installer is required to balance the entire housing while installing fasteners to couple the housing to the blocking. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to remove blocking material from the system and also allow the installer to level the window treatment housing without having to balance the entire housing assembly during the installation process. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides methods and systems for mounting window treatment systems to the surfaces surrounding a window pane, such as the mullions of a window. 
     In accordance with an embodiment, the disclosure includes a method of mounting a window treatment system. The method can includes affixing at least two mounting clips to respective vertical surfaces of a plurality of vertical surfaces. Each vertical surface can separate and support a respective pair of adjacent windows. The method can also include supporting a window treatment housing on the mounting clips. The window treatment housing can define an internal cavity sized and configured to retain a shade assembly having a covering material and a motor configured to move the covering material between a raised position and a lowered position. The method can also include affixing the window treatment housing to at least one vertical surface of the plurality of vertical surfaces with a fixation element. 
     In another embodiment, the disclosure provides another method of mounting a window treatment system. The method can include affixing at least two mounting clips to respective vertical surfaces of a plurality of vertical surfaces. Each vertical surface can separate a respective pair of adjacent windows from each other. As well, each mounting clip can include a support portion and a clip portion that extends out from the support portion. The method can also include supporting a window treatment housing from the clip portions of the mounting clips such that a back wall of the window treatment housing and the support portions are coplanar. The window treatment housing can define an internal cavity sized that can be configured to retain a shade assembly having a covering material and a motor configured to move the covering material between a raised position and a lowered position. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a window treatment system can be configured to be mounted to a plurality of vertical surfaces that separate adjacent windows from each other. Each vertical surface can be elongate along a first direction. The window treatment system can include at least two mounting clips that can be configured to be mounted to at least two respective vertical surfaces of the plurality of vertical surfaces. Each mounting clip can include a support portion and a clip portion that extends out from the support portion. As well, each support portion can define a back surface. 
     The window treatment system can also include a window treatment housing that can be elongate along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The window treatment housing can include a back wall that defines a back surface and at least partially defines an internal cavity. The window treatment housing can further define at least one housing clip that is recessed relative to the back surface of the back wall along a third direction that is perpendicular to the first and second directions. The at least one housing clip can be configured to mate with the clip portions of the mounting clips to thereby mount the window treatment housing to the vertical surfaces such that the back surfaces of the support portions are coplanar with the back surface of the back wall. 
     The window treatment system can also include a shade assembly configured to be mounted to the window treatment housing within the internal cavity. The shade assembly can have a covering material and a motor configured to move the covering material between a raised position and a lowered position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of an example embodiment of the application, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which there is shown in the drawings example embodiments for the purposes of illustration. It should be understood, however, that the application is not limited to the precise arrangements and systems shown. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a simplified front view of a window treatment system having a plurality of roller shades in accordance with an embodiment, the window shade system is mounted adjacent a window having two window panes, the window shade system is mounted to the sides of the window and to a mullion between the two window panes; 
         FIG. 2A  is a top perspective view of a portion of the window treatment system of  FIG. 1  showing how the window treatment system is mounted to the mullion, which includes a pair of openings for receiving the two window panes, the window treatment system includes a mounting clip, a window shade housing mounted to the mullion via the mounting clip and a roller shade assembly that is mounted to the window shade housing within an internal cavity of the window shade housing; 
         FIG. 2B  is a top plan view of the portion of the window treatment system attached to the mullion as shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the portion of the window treatment system shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a side elevation view of the portion of the window treatment system as shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 4B  is a detailed side view of the portion of the window treatment system as shown in  FIG. 4A  further illustrating the mating connections between the mounting clip and the window shade housing and between the motorized shade assembly and the window shade housing, the mounting clip including a support portion and a clip portion, the window shade housing including a housing clip that defines a recess that mates with the clip portion of the mounting clip, the window shade housing further including an internal mounting member that supports the roller shade assembly; 
         FIG. 4C  is a side elevation view of the mounting clip shown in  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 4D  is a side elevation view of a back wall portion of the window treatment housing shown in  FIG. 4B ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a front elevation view of the window treatment system as shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 5B  is a detailed view of the mounting clip, further illustrating that the mounting clip includes a slot and a scribe line; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow-chart illustrating a method of mounting a window treatment system in accordance with an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS 
     Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right”, “left”, “lower”, “upper”, “top”, or “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “proximally” and “distally” refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the individual operating the system. The terminology includes the above-listed words, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A- 2 B, and  3 , a window treatment system  10  is configured to be mounted in front of a window having a plurality of window panes  13  (e.g., two window panes as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The window panes  13  can be separated by one or more mullions  11  (e.g., one mullion as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The window treatment system  10  may include, for example, one or more roller shade assemblies  16  (e.g., motorized roller shades). Each roller shade assembly  16  may comprise a covering material  21  that hangs in front of the respective window pane  13  and is wound around a roller tube  20 , such that the covering material  21  extends from the roller tube  20  to a hembar  22  at a lower end. For example, each roller shade assembly  16  may include a motor drive unit or motor (not shown) located inside the roller tube  20  for rotating the roller tube  20  to raise and lower the covering material  21  between a raised position and a lowered position along the first direction L. The window treatment system  10  can include a window shade housing  14  (e.g. a window treatment housing, pocket, or fascia) in which the roller tubes  20  of the roller shade assemblies  16  are located. Each roller tube  20  is rotatably supported by two mounting brackets  34 , which are configured to be supported by the window shade housing  14 . 
     The window shade housing  14  is configured to be supported by one or more mounting clips  12 , which may be affixed to the mullion  11 , as well as a window frame  15 , the building structure at sides of the window panes  13 , or a vertical surface. The mounting clips  12  and the window shade housing  14  are configured such that when the window shade housing  14  is supported by the mounting clips  12 , both the mounting clips  12  and the window shade housing  14  lie flush against the mullion  11 , building structure, window frame surrounding the window, or any adjacent vertical surface. Further, the mounting clips  12  are configured to be mounted to the mullion  11 , building structure, window frame, or vertical surface and leveled with respect to each other prior to the window shade housing  14  being mounted to the mounting clips  12 . Thus, the window shade housing  14  can be more easily mounted adjacent a window or windows that are supported by mullions  11  as compared to known systems. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , each mullion  11  can define a portion of a window frame, whereby each respective mullion  11  is elongate along a first direction L. Each mullion  11  can define at least one opening  19  that can receive the respective window pane  13  such that each mullion  11  separates the adjacent window panes from each other along a second direction A that is perpendicular to the first direction L. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the window treatment system  10  can be mounted to any structure as desired, for example, to the mullion  11  or other portions of the building structure, window frame, or any vertical surface as desired. For example, while the illustrated embodiments show the window treatment system  10  mounted to mullions  11 , it should be appreciated that the window treatment system  10  can be mounted to any respective vertical surface of a plurality of vertical surfaces, whereby each vertical surface separates and supports a respective pair of adjacent windows. It should also be appreciated that a window frame can include an upper support member, a lower support member that are both elongate along the second direction A and spaced from each other along the first direction L, and a pair of mullions  11  that extend between the upper and lower support members so as to surround a perimeter of a window. The window treatment system  10  can be affixed to the upper support member as desired. It should also be appreciated that the upper and lower support members can be referred to as horizontal surfaces. 
     While the window shade housing  14  can span a plurality of mullions  11  and window panes  13 , it should be appreciated, that at least two mullions  11  of the plurality of mullions  11  can have respective mounting clips  12  affixed to them. Therefore, mounting clips  12  can be affixed to at least two mullions  11  and up to all of the mullions  11  of the plurality of mullions  11  in which the window shade housing  14  spans. For example, the window shade housing  14  may be elongate across three mullions  11 , while two mounting clips  12  may be affixed to a respective two mullions  11  of the three mullions  11 . It should be appreciated, however, that the window shade housing  14  can span across any number of mullions  11  and any number of mounting clips  12  may be attached to any respective number of mullions  11 . In this manner, the mounting clips  12  can be configured to be any suitable size or shape to affix any size window shade housing  14  and roller shade assembly  16  to any respective number of mullions  11 . 
     Now in reference to  FIGS. 4A-4C , each mounting clip  12  includes a support portion  26  that is elongate along the first direction L and a clip portion  27  that extends out from the support portion  26  along a third direction T that is perpendicular to both the first and second directions L and A. As shown in  FIG. 4A , the support portion  26  is configured to receive a fixation element  24  to thereby fixedly attach the mounting clip  12  to the mullion  11  (or building structure, window frame, or vertical surface). It should be appreciated that the fixation element  24  can be any type of screw, bolt, nail, or any type of fastening device that can affix the mounting clip  12  to the mullion  11 . It should also be appreciated that the fixation element  24  can be any type of hook-and-loop fastening system, adhesive, mortar, or any type of material that is configured to bond a mounting clip  12  to a window frame. Yet it should further be appreciated that the mounting clip  12  can be made of a plastic, metal, or any other suitable material as desired. 
     As shown in FIGS.  4 C and  5 A- 5 B, the support portion  26  of the mounting clip  12  can include a planar body defining a front surface  26 A, a back surface  26 B, and a slot  44  that extends through the body from the front surface  26 A to the back surface  26 B. The slot  44  can be elongate along the first direction L and can be configured to receive the respective fixation element  24  to thereby affix the mounting clip  12  to the mullion  11 . The elongate slot  44  allows the mounting clip  12  to be temporarily loosely coupled to the respective mullion  11  such that the mounting clip  12  can be moved or otherwise adjusted with respect to the fixation element  24  along the first direction L prior to being fully tightened against the mullion  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 4C ,  5 A, and  5 B, the mounting clip  12  can include a scribe line  46  that extends into the front surface  26 A and along the front surface  26 A along the second direction A. The scribe line  46  can be used to level the mounting clips  12  with respect to each other and/or another reference object such as the ceiling. For example, the mounting clips  12  may be mounted such that the scribe line  46  is located 6 inches (152.4 mm) above a surface of the finished ceiling height. It should be appreciated, however, that the mounting clips  12  may be mounted such that the scribe line  46  is located at any distance above or below the surface of the finished ceiling height as desired or some distance relative to any desired reference object. It should further be appreciated that the scribe line  46  may be positioned at any location on the mounting clip  12 . For example, while the illustrated mounting clip  12  includes a scribe line  46  that extends across the entire front surface  26 A of the support portion  26 , in some embodiments the scribe line  46  can extend along a portion of the front surface  26 A as desired. 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the back surface  26 B can be substantially planar such that when the mounting clip  12  is affixed to the mullion  11 , the back surface  26 B lies flush against the mullion  11 . It should be appreciated that flush in this context means that at least a portion of the back surface  26 B of the support portion  26  abuts a front surface of the respective mullion  11 . It should be appreciated that a majority of the back surface  26 B such as the entire back surface  26 B of the support portion  26  can abut the front surface of the mullion  11  or a minor portion of the back surface  26 B can abut the front surface of the mullion, as desired. For example, a portion of the back surface  26 B of the support portion  26  of the mounting clip  12  may overhang an edge of the mullion  11  and thus not abut or contact a surface of the mullion  11 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 4B and 4C , the clip portion  27  can include a mounting clip protrusion  28  that at least partially defines a mounting clip recess  29 . For example, the mounting clip recess  29  is defined between the mounting clip protrusion  28  and the front surface  26 A of the support portion  26 . The clip portion  27  can be configured to mate with a housing clip portion of the window shade housing  14  such that the mounting clips  12  support the window shade housing  14 . It should be appreciated, however that the clip portion  27  can have any configuration as desired so long as the clip portion  27  can support the window shade housing  14 . 
     Now in reference to  FIGS. 3 ,  4 A, and  4 B, the window shade housing  14  can be configured to be supported by the mounting clips  12  and can be further configured to house the roller shade assembly  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4B , the window shade housing  14  is elongate along the second direction A and includes a back wall  48  that defines a front surface  48 A and a back surface  48 B. The window shade housing  14  can further include a front wall  49 , a top wall  50  that extends between the front wall  49  and back wall  48 , and a bottom wall  51  that extends from the front wall  49  and toward the back wall  48 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the window shade housing  14  and in particular, the back wall  48 , front wall  49 , top wall  50 , and bottom wall  51  at least partially defines an internal cavity  17  within which the roller shade assembly  16  can be housed. The window shade housing  14  can be made of any material as desired. For example, the window shade housing  14  can be made of a plastic material, a metal material, or some combination of materials. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , the window shade housing  14  can include a flange  23  that extends out from the window shade housing  14  along the third direction T, such that a drop ceiling tile (not shown) can rest on the flange  23 . As well, the flange  23  can be elongate along the second direction A and can be continuous along the entire length of the window shade housing  14 . It should be appreciated, however, that the flange  23  can be elongate for any length equal to or less than the length of the window shade housing  14  along the second direction A. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 3 , the window shade housing  14  can also include venting apertures  18  that extend through the front wall  49  so as to allow heat, or solar gain, to flow above the ceiling line, or finished ceiling height. For example, the venting apertures  18  can include a minimum of four 1 inch (25.4 mm) diameter holes per foot allowing the solar gain to flow above the ceiling line. However, it should be appreciated that the venting apertures  18  can include any shape of any size that will allow the solar gain to flow above the ceiling line. It should also be appreciated that any number of venting apertures  18  can be defined and that the venting apertures  18  can extend through any wall of the window shade housing  14  as desired. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4B and 4D , the window shade housing  14  can further include at least one housing clip  30  that can be configured to mate with the mounting clips  12  to thereby mount the window shade housing  14  to the mullions  11 , building structure, window frame, or vertical surface. The housing clip  30  can be elongate along the second direction A and can be recessed relative to the back surface  48 B of the back wall  48  along the third direction T. The housing clip  30  can be continuous along a portion of the length of the window shade housing  14  such as along the entire length of the window shade housing  14  as illustrated. It should be appreciated, however, that the housing clip  30  can be interrupted along its length such that the window shade housing  14  has two or more housing clips  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4D , the housing clip  30  can include an upper portion  33  and a housing clip protrusion  32  that extends down from the upper portion  33  substantially along the first direction L. The housing clip protrusion  32  and the upper portion  33  can define a housing clip recess  31  that is configured to receive the mounting clip protrusion  28 . Therefore when the housing clip  30  is mated with the clip portions  27  of the mounting clips  12 , the mounting clip protrusions  28  are received by the housing clip recess  31 , and the housing clip protrusion is received by the mounting clip recesses  29 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4B , the back surfaces  26 B of the support portions  26  of the mounting clips  12  can be coplanar with the back surface  48 B of the back wall  48  of the window shade housing  14  when the window shade housing  14  is supported by the mounting clips  12 . Therefore, when the at least one housing clip  30  is mated with the clip portions  27  of the mounting clips  12 , the back surface  48 B of the back wall  48  lies flush against the front surfaces of the mullions  11  along with the back surfaces  26 B of the support portions  26 . It should be appreciated that flush in this context means that at least a portion of the back surface  48 B of the back wall  48  abuts at least a portion of the surfaces of at least some of the mullions  11 . It should further be appreciated, that the housing clip  30  can have any configuration as desired so long as the window shade housing  14  can lie flush against the mullions when supported by the mounting clips  12 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4B , the window shade housing  14  can also include at least one internal mounting member  35  that extends from the front surface  48 A of the back wall  48  and into the internal cavity  17  along the third direction T. The internal mounting member  35  can be elongate along the second direction A and can be continuous along the entire length of the window shade housing  14 . It should be appreciated, however, that the internal mounting member  35  can be elongate for any length equal to or less than the length of the window shade housing  14  along the second direction A. It should further be appreciated that the at least one internal mounting member can be two or more internal mounting members  35  that are spaced along the window shade housing  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the internal mounting member  35  can be configured to support the roller shade assembly  16  within the internal cavity  17 . 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 4B and 4D  the internal mounting member  35  can include an internal mounting clip  36  that protrudes from the front surface  48 A of the back wall  48  and an internal mounting tab  40  that protrudes from the front surface  48 A of the back wall  48  such that the internal mounting tab  40  is spaced from the internal mounting clip  36  along the first direction L. The internal mounting clip  36  and the internal mounting tab  40  can be configured to support the roller shade assembly  16 . As shown in  FIG. 4D , the internal mounting clip  36  is configured as an angled protrusion that extends upward from the front surface  48 A. Also shown in  FIG. 4D , the internal mounting tab  40  includes a first protrusion  40 A that extends out from the front surface  48 A and a second protrusion  40 B that extends down from an end of the first protrusion  40 A so as to define a recess  40 C. It should be appreciated, however, that the internal mounting member  35  can have any configuration as desired so long as the internal mounting member  35  can support the roller shade assembly  16 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4A  the mounting brackets  34  can be supported by the internal mounting member  35  such that the roller tube  20  is disposed within the internal cavity  17 . As previously mentioned, each roller shade assembly  16  of the window treatment system  10  can include the covering material  21 , the roller tube  20  that windingly receives the covering material  21 , and a motor operatively attached to the roller tube  20  so as to cause the roller tube  20  to rotate thereby moving the covering material  21  between the raised position and the lowered position along the first direction L. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor is disposed within the roller tube  20 . It should be appreciated, however, that the window treatment system  10  can be devoid of a motor. It should also be appreciated that the window treatment system  10  can be configured to any type of shade system as desired. For example, the covering material  21  can be configured as a roller shade, a roman shade, venetian blinds, tensioned shades, and cable guided shades. It should further be appreciated that the window treatment system  10  can be a drapery system whereby the covering material  21  moves between an open position and a closed position along the second direction A. In similar fashion, the drapery system can include or be devoid of a motor. 
     Additionally, each roller shade assembly  16  can include first and second shade brackets  34  that are spaced from each other along the second direction A. The first and second shade brackets  34  can be attached to opposed ends of the roller tube  20  such that the roller tube  20  is rotatable relative to the first and second brackets. As shown in  FIG. 4B , each bracket  34  includes a first mating member  60 A and a second mating member  60 B that is spaced from the first mating member  60 A along the first direction L. The first mating members  60 A of the first and second brackets  34  are configured to mate with the internal mounting clip  36  such that when mated the roller shade assembly  16  is supported by the window shade housing  14 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , when the roller shade assembly  16  is supported by the internal mounting clip  36  the second mating members  60 B overlie the recess  40 C defined by the internal mounting tab  40 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 4B , the roller shade assembly  16  can further include a respective fastener  42  that locks the first and second shade brackets to the window shade housing  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the fasteners  42  are threaded through the second mating members  60 B and into the internal mounting tab  40  such as into the recess  40 C defined by the internal mounting tab  40 . It should be appreciated that the fasteners  42  can abut or be disjoined from the internal mounting member  35 . It should also be appreciated that the fasteners  42  can abut the internal mounting tab  40  through any type of contact, such as by a distal end of the fastener  42  piercing partially or entirely through the surface of the internal mounting tab  40 . It should further be appreciated that the first and second shade brackets can be mounted to the internal mounting member  35  using any structure as desired. 
     Now in reference to  FIG. 6 , the window treatment system  10  can be mounted or otherwise affixed to surfaces, e.g., a plurality of mullions  11 , a building structure, a window frame, or a vertical surface. At step  600 , at least two mounting clips  12  can be affixed to the surfaces. The mounting clips  12  can be loosely coupled to the respective surfaces by inserting a respective fixation element  24  through the slots  44  and into the surfaces. Each mounting clip  12  can then be moved relative to the fixation element  24  along the first direction L so that the mounting clips  12  can be aligned along the second direction A or otherwise leveled. Moving each mounting clip  12  along the first direction L such that the mounting clips  12  may be aligned along the second direction A may be referred to as “leveling.” It should be appreciated that the method may include leveling each respective mounting clip  12  with a laser level or any other device configured to detect level of an object with respect to another object, such as the level of two mounting clips  12  with respect to a ground surface. It should also be appreciated that the mounting clips  12  may be leveled with respect to each other or any other reference object. For example, the mounting clips  12  can be leveled using the scribe lines  46 . 
     Once the mounting clips  12  are in their correct position, the fixation elements  24  can be tightened to thereby affix the mounting clips  12  to the respective surfaces such that the support portions  26  lie flush against the surfaces. It should be appreciated, that the fixation elements  24  can be tightened after the respective mounting clip  12  has been leveled. However, it should be appreciated that in some situations the fixation element  24  can be tightened without leveling the mounting clip  12 . 
     At step  602 , the window shade housing  14  can be supported on the mounting clips  12 . In particular the window shade housing  14  can be supported by mating the at least one housing clip  30  of the window shade housing  14  with the clip portions  27  of the mounting clips  12  such that the back wall  48  and support portions  26  are coplanar. For example, when the at least one housing clip  30  is mated with the clip portions  27 , the back wall  48  of the window shade housing  14  lies flush against the plurality of mullions  11 . At step  604 , the window shade housing  14  can be affixed to at least one mullion  11  of the plurality of mullions  11  with a fixation element  24 . At step  606 , the roller shade assembly  16  can be supported on the internal mounting member  35  of the window shade housing  14 . In particular, the first and second shade brackets  34  can be mounted to the internal mounting member  35 , such that the second shade bracket is spaced form the first shade bracket along the second direction A. For example, the first and second brackets  34  can be supported by the internal mounting bracket such that the first mating members  60 A mate with the internal mounting clips  36  and the second mating members  60 B overlie the recess  40 C defined by the internal mounting tab  40 . 
     Finally, the first and second shade brackets can be locked to the window shade housing  14  with respective fixation elements. For example, the first and second brackets can be locked to the window shade housing  14  by threading a fastener  42  through the second mating members  60 B and into the recess  40 C defined by the internal mounting tab  40 . 
     While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications, combinations and/or substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, and components, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the invention. In addition, features or steps described herein may be used singularly or in combination with other features or steps. For example, features or steps described in connection with one component may be used and/or interchanged with features or steps described in another component or method. The presently disclosed embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alterations of the invention can be made without departing from the broad scope of the appended claims. Some of these have been discussed above and others will be apparent to those skilled in the art.