Patent Publication Number: US-2006000560-A1

Title: Apparatus and method for removably attaching window treatments

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/585,234 filed Jul. 2, 2004; the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Technical Field  
      The invention relates to window treatments or window hangings. More particularly, the invention relates to a mounting system by which window treatments are mounted to a wall, a window frame or a similar structure. Specifically, the invention relates to such a mounting system having removable bracket mounts by which one type of window treatment may be easily removed and replaced by another type of window treatment.  
      2. Background Information  
      As is well known, there are a variety of window treatments or window hangings which are typically used to cover all or some portion of a window opening. Such treatments are commonly used to block out light and heat, for decorative reasons, or both. Window treatments include a great variety of curtains, blinds and shades. Along with this great variety come a host of mounting systems which typically include a pair of supports each of which is typically mounted to a wall with one or more fasteners, commonly screws.  
      A problem arises when the window treatment is to replaced by another window treatment which uses a different support in its mounting system. When this occurs, then either the old support remains mounted on the wall along with the new one typically nearby or the old support is removed before the new support is installed. In the former case, the old support may be visible and be contrary to aesthetic appeal. In the latter case, the additional effort of removing the old support is required and the filling of holes and repainting may also be involved. The aesthetic concern arises again if the holes are visible and not filled and/or not painted over. In addition, if the new support must be mounted in virtually the same location as the old support, the holes from the old support may need to be appropriately filled in order to provide a suitable foundation for mounting the new support, a task that is often not easily achieved.  
      The present invention solves the above problems with a mounting system by which the varied supports for any number of window treatments may be removably mounted to a wall or other structure to allow easy removal and replacement of differing types of window treatments.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a mounting system for supporting a window treatment, the system comprising a first mounting member adapted to be mounted on a generally vertical surface; and a second mounting member removably mounted on the first mounting member and adapted to connect to a window treatment support.  
      The present invention further provides a method comprising the steps of mounting first and second window treatment supports removably and respectively on first and second wall members which are mounted on a generally vertical surface and spaced from one another; and installing a first window treatment on the first and second supports. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of the mounting system of the present invention in use with window blinds.  
       FIG. 2  is a fragmentary perspective view of the wall plate of the mounting system of  FIG. 1  in the process of being mounted on a wall.  
       FIG. 3  is similar to  FIG. 2  and shows the wall plate mounted on the wall and a first embodiment of a mounting bracket with first and second bracket mounts connected thereto prior to mounting the mounting bracket on the wall plate via one of the bracket mounts.  
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the mounting bracket showing the second bracket mount connected thereto.  
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the mounting bracket from the opposite side as shown in  FIG. 4  showing the first and second bracket mounts connected thereto.  
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the mounting bracket showing the first bracket mount connected thereto.  
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational view of the mounting bracket showing the first and second bracket mounts connected thereto.  
       FIG. 8  is similar to  FIG. 3  and shows the mounting bracket mounted on the wall plate via the first bracket mount.  
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken on line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 .  
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken on line  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 .  
       FIG. 11  is a second embodiment of a mounting bracket connected to a bracket mount.  
       FIG. 12  is a third embodiment of a mounting bracket connected to a bracket mount.  
       FIG. 13  is a fourth embodiment of a mounting bracket connected to a bracket mount.  
       FIG. 14  is a fifth embodiment of a mounting bracket connected to a bracket mount.  
       FIG. 15  is a sixth embodiment of a mounting bracket connected to a bracket mount. 
    
    
      Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The mounting system of the present invention is indicated generally at  10  and shown in  FIGS. 1 and 8 - 10 . Mounting system  10  includes a first mounting member or wall plate  12  ( FIGS. 2-3 ) and a second mounting member or bracket mount  14 A ( FIGS. 3-7  and  11 - 15 ) removably mounted to wall plate  12 . System  10  further includes fasteners in the form of screws  16  ( FIG. 2 ). Mounting system  10  is configured to mount a window treatment in the form of blinds  18  via a hanging member  21  ( FIG. 1 ) on a wall  20  ( FIG. 2 ) or other generally vertical surface, which is often the inside of a window frame or wall adjacent a window frame. Bracket mount  14 A is adapted to attach to one of a pair of supports  19  from which blinds  18  are suspended.  
      More particularly and in accordance with a main feature of the invention, system  10  is configured to allow one type of window treatment to be easily removed and replaced by another type of window treatment. System  10  may include an additional bracket mount  14 B ( FIG. 3 ) which has the same configuration as bracket mount  14 A except for being longer than bracket mount  14 A, in keeping with the different dimensions of the respective sides on which the bracket mounts are attached to support  19 . Bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B may also be the same length and so are treated as having the same configuration for present purposes. Bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B are adapted to attach to the same support  19  whereby, via alternate use of bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B, support  19  may be disposed in alternate orientations for suspending alternate window treatments having different hanging members or rods respectively suited to work with support  19  in the alternate orientations.  
      Wall plate  12  ( FIGS. 2, 9  and  10 ) includes a substantially flat base plate  22  having a pair of opposed substantially flat surfaces  24  and  26  ( FIGS. 9-10 ) and defining a pair of spaced holes  28  each extending from surface  24  to surface  26 . Base plate  22  is configured to mount to wall  20  with screws  16  via respective holes  28 . Wall plate  12  also includes an elongated neck  30  extending outwardly from surface  24  of base plate  22 . Base plate  22  and neck  30  are formed as an integral one-piece member. Neck  30  has an attaching side  32  ( FIG. 10 ) facing away from base plate  22 . Neck  30  has a pair of opposed sides  33  extending outwardly from surface  24  of base plate  22  to attaching side  32  of neck  30 , sides  33  being perpendicular to each of surface  24  and attaching side  32 . Neck  30  defines a pair of spaced threaded holes  34  ( FIG. 9 ) each extending from attaching side  32  and into and through base plate  22  to surface  26  thereof.  
      Wall plate  12  further includes a flat connector plate  36  having a pair of opposed substantially flat surfaces  38  and  40 . Surface  38  faces away from base plate  22  and surface  40  faces base plate  22 . Surfaces  38  and  40  of neck  30  are substantially parallel to surfaces  24  and  26  of base plate  22 . Connector plate  36  further includes a pair of opposed edges  41  extending substantially perpendicularly to and between surfaces  38  and  40 . Connector plate  36  defines a pair of spaced through holes  42  ( FIG. 9 ) each extending from surface  38  to surface  40  thereof. Holes  42  receive a respective pair of screws  44  which threadedly engage holes  34  of neck  30  and base plate  22  to fasten connector plate  36  to neck  30  with surface  40  of connector plate  36  flush against attaching side  32  of neck  30 . Connector plate  36  further defines a central through hole  46  ( FIGS. 9-10 ) having a narrowed portion  48  bound by an inwardly extending annular flange  50  of connector plate  36 . Hole  46  receives a ball  52  to form a detent. Flange  50  creates an interference with ball  52  to prevent ball  52  from exiting hole  46  toward surface  38  of connector plate  36 . Side  32  of neck  30  holds ball  52  in place opposite flange  50  and positions ball  52  so that a portion  54  thereof extends outwardly beyond surface  38  of connector plate  36 . When connected to neck  30 , connector plate  36  forms a pair of extensions or wings  56  ( FIG. 10 ) which extend laterally beyond respective sides  33  of neck  30  in a direction substantially perpendicular to sides  33 . Stated another way, connector plate is wider between edges  41  than is neck  30  between sides  33 , and each edge  41  is disposed laterally outwardly from a respective side  33  of neck  30 .  
      Bracket mount  14 A ( FIGS. 3-7  and  11 - 15 ) is now described. As previously noted, bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B are treated as having the same configuration although they are depicted as having different lengths. Each of bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B is attached to support  19  via any suitable fastening means, which is typically glue or an adhesive, although Velcro or other options known in the art may be used. By way of further example, where bracket mount  14 A and support  19  are both made of metal, they may be joined, for instance, by welding, and where they are both made of plastic, they may be joined, for instance, by sonic welding.  
      Bracket mount  14 A ( FIGS. 5 and 11 ) includes a substantially flat support-connecting plate  58  having a substantially flat outer surface  60  ( FIG. 11 ) and a substantially flat inner surface  62  ( FIG. 5 ) in opposed relation to surface  60 . Plate  58  has an upper end  64 , a lower end  66  and a pair of opposed sides  68  each extending from upper end  64  to lower end  66 . Bracket mount  14 A also includes a pair of opposed lateral hooks  70  each extending from a respective side  68  of plate  58  and generally bending around toward inner surface  62  of plate  58  to form an interior space  72  ( FIGS. 10-11 ) between hook  70  and inner surface  62  of plate  58 . More particularly, each hook  70  includes a lateral wall  74  which extends substantially perpendicularly from a respective side  68  of plate  58  away from outer surface  60  of plate  58 . Each hook  70  further includes a leg  76  extending from lateral wall  74  substantially perpendicularly thereto and substantially parallel to plate  58  whereby each leg  76  extends toward one another. Bracket mount  14 A also includes an upper cap or stop  78  extending substantially perpendicularly from plate  58  adjacent upper end  64  away from outer surface  60  of plate  58 . Bracket mount  14 A defines an entrance opening  80  ( FIGS. 5, 9  and  10 ) adjacent lower end  66  of plate  58  for slidably receiving connector plate  36  of wall plate  12 . Plate  58  further defines a depression  82  ( FIGS. 5, 9  and  10 ) extending inwardly from inner surface  62  thereof.  
      The operation of mounting system  10  is now briefly described ( FIGS. 2, 3  and  8 - 10 ). A pair of wall plates  12  is mounted on wall  20  via screws  16  via respective holes  28  ( FIGS. 2-3 ). In accordance with a feature of the present invention, bracket mount  14 A, with support  19  attached thereto, removably slides onto wall plate  12  in the direction of Arrow A in  FIG. 3  whereby connector plate  36  is slidably received via entrance opening  80  of bracket mount  14 A to mount bracket mount  14 A and support  19  on wall plate  12  ( FIG. 3 ). The sliding of bracket mount  14 A and support  19  with respect to wall plate  12  is terminated by an interference between connector plate  36  and stop  78  of bracket mount  14 A ( FIG. 9 ). Depression  82  in plate  58  of bracket mount  14 A receives portion  54  of ball  52  of wall plate  12 , as depression  82  and ball  52  are aligned when connector plate  36  and stop  78  meet. Ball  52  thus provides a detent engaging plate  58  within depression  82  to hinder accidental removal of bracket mount  14 A from wall plate  12  while allowing its intentional removal with reasonable ease. Blinds  18  are then installed on supports  19 , as is commonly understood. Some supports, such as support  19 , may be useful in alternate orientations, as discussed above. Thus, to allow mounting in this alternate orientation, bracket mount  14 B may be attached to support  19  and installed on wall plate  12  in the same manner as bracket mount  14 A. Clearly, support  19  may have attached thereto either one of bracket mounts  14 A and  14 B or both of them, the latter scenario allowing either orientation of support  19  and easy interchange between the two orientations.  
       FIGS. 11-15  show some other examples of supports like support  19  which may be used with bracket  14 A.  FIGS. 11 and 12  show respectively supports  84  and  86 , which are examples of supports commonly used for shades which are attached outside a window frame.  FIGS. 13 and 14  show respectively supports  88  and  90 , which are examples of supports commonly used to mount curtain rods for hanging curtains.  FIG. 15  shows a bottom-support bracket  92  which is often used to support hanging rods for mini-blinds or curtains. A great many other kinds of supports are known in the art which may be easily attached to bracket  14 A. As previously noted, some of these supports may fit outside a window frame or within a window frame. It is further noted that mounting system  10  and the variations discussed herein may also be used in any location suitable for hanging such supports and window treatments or other similar structure. Thus, the invention is not limited to use adjacent windows alone or only with window treatments.  
      A variety of changes, some of which are noted below, may be made to mounting system  10  which are within the scope of the invention. Base plate  22 , neck  30 , connector plate  36  and ball  52  are typically made of metal. However, a suitable plastic or other suitable material may also be used. Base plate  22 , neck  30  and connector plate  36  of wall plate  12  may be a one-piece integral member, which may, for instance, be extruded. This would eliminate the need for screws  44 . Alternately, plate  22 , neck  30  and plate  36  may be, for example, three separate pieces which are joined together to form a wall plate analogous to wall plate  12 . In addition, a variety of shape changes apparent to one skilled in the art may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.  
      Flange  50  is annular, but may be of any configuration to retain ball  52  for its purpose as a detent. This type of detent may also be replaced with any other suitable detent known in the art. Further, the detent may be eliminated altogether although it is preferable to have some mechanism to prevent the accidental removal of bracket mount  14 A from wall plate  12 .  
      Bracket mount  14 A may be removably mounted to wall plate  12  by various means. Instead of a slidable engagement between bracket mount  14 A and wall plate  12 , a rotational engagement between analogous parts, for instance, may be employed. Other possibilities, for instance, include the use of a removable snap-fit engagement, a hinged connector and so forth. Upper stop  78  may be replaced by a stop in a different location if desired, or eliminated, for instance, by providing a connector plate analogous to plate  36  which has outwardly and downwardly tapered edges analogous to edges  41  and providing a bracket mount like mount  14 A having matingly tapered hooks analogous to hooks  70 . This configuration would allow such hooks to slidingly receive such a connector plate so that the hooks and connector plate would engage along the connector plate tapered edges so that the tapered hooks would act as a stop to prevent further downward movement of the bracket mount. Other changes within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
      In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
      Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.