Patent Abstract:
A system for supporting a window covering is provided. The system includes: a bracket assembly having a stationary portion and a pivoting portion; a valance pivotally connected to the bracket assembly; a first lock configured to lock the valance to the pivoting portion of the bracket assembly; and a second lock that, when engaged, locks the valance to the stationary portion of the bracket assembly. A method of concealing a window covering may also be provided. The method may include: providing a bracket assembly configured to support the window covering; providing a valence attached to the bracket assembly; pivoting the valance on the bracket assembly to selectively expose and conceal the window covering; locking the valance to a pivoting portion of the bracket assembly; and locking the valence to a stationary portion of the bracket assembly.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a system and apparatus for covering a window. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and apparatus for providing a valance that can pivot to selectively provide access to the bracket assembly supporting the window cover and hide the bracket assembly supporting the window cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Window coverings serve multiple functions. For example coverings are used to limit light from coming in through the window. The window coverings are also used to provide privacy. In addition to these functions, window coverings also provide a decorative touch to a room. 
         [0003]    Common window coverings include blinds and roller shades. Both blinds and roller shades use a bracket assembly located at the top or above the window to support the blinds or roller shade. The bracket assembly is usually roughly finished and unsightly. In order to cover the bracket assembly and the retracted blinds or roller shade a valance is often used. The valance provides an aesthetic feature to cover the utilitarian features of the window covering. 
         [0004]    One problem that may be associated with some types of valances is that they may hinder access to the bracket assembly and or window covering. From time to time it may be desirable to be able to easily access the support brackets and/or the window covering. For example, during installation, removal and/or to maintain or adjust these features. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a method and apparatus that allows the use of a valance to cover the more unsightly portions of a window covering system yet provides relatively easy access to portions of the window system that is covered by the valance. 
         [0006]    Further, in the case of roller shades, springs are often employed to assist in rotating the roller shades. As such, sometimes the roller shades may over rotate and spin when the roller shade is already fully retracted. This can cause excessive wear and/or potentially damage the window covering system. 
         [0007]    Accordingly it may be desirable to provide a mechanism to prevent the roller shade from spinning when it is in a fully refracted position, but allow the roller shade to rotate when it is not in a fully retracted position. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect a method and apparatus is provided that allows the use of a valance to cover some of the unsightly portions of a window covering system yet provides relatively easy access to portions of the window system that is covered by the valance. 
         [0009]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in one aspect a method and apparatus is provided that prevents a roller shade from spinning when it is in a fully retracted position, but allows the roller shade to rotate when it is not in a fully retracted position. 
         [0010]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a system for supporting a window covering is provided. The system includes: a bracket assembly having a stationary portion and a pivoting portion; a valance pivotally connected to the bracket assembly; a first lock configured to lock the valance to the pivoting portion of the bracket assembly; and a second lock that, when engaged, locks the valance to the stationary portion of the bracket assembly. 
         [0011]    In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of concealing a window covering may also be provided. The method may include: providing a bracket assembly configured to support the window covering; providing a valance attached to the bracket assembly; pivoting the valance on the bracket assembly to selectively expose and conceal the window covering; locking the valance to a pivoting portion of the bracket assembly; and locking the valance to a stationary portion of the bracket assembly. 
         [0012]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a system for supporting a window covering may be provided. The system may include a means for supporting the window covering having a stationary portion and a pivoting portion; a concealing means pivotally connected to the means for supporting the window covering; a first means for locking configured to lock the concealing means to the pivoting portion of the means for supporting the window covering; and a second locking means that, when engaged, locks the concealing means to the stationary portion of the means for supporting the window covering. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0014]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0015]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a roller shade or blind in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the roller shade or blind of  FIG. 1  with the valance pivoted upward to allow servicing of the roller shade or blind. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a reverse exploded perspective view showing the components of the left bracket assembly and part of the valance of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a reverse perspective view of the left side of the assembly with both the first snapping slide lock and the second slide lock in the unlocked position and the roller shade or blind removed. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a reverse perspective view of the left side of the assembly with both the first snapping slide lock and the second slide lock in the unlocked position, the valance rotated and the roll shade or blind removed. 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a reverse perspective view of the left side of the assembly with both the first snapping slide lock and the second slide lock in the locked position and the roll shade or blind removed. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a reverse perspective view of the left side of the assembly with both the first slide lock and the second slide lock in the unlocked position, the valance being installed, and the roll shade or blind removed. 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a side view of  FIG. 1  with the left side end bracket assembly removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a left and right bracket assembly for supporting a window covering. The left and right bracket assembly is concealed, at least in part, by a valance. The valance is configured to pivot to alternately expose and conceal the bracket assemblies and window covering. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows the shade/blind assembly  10 . The shade/blind assembly  10  includes a left bracket assembly  12  and a right bracket assembly  14 . The left  12  and right  14  bracket assemblies support the window covering  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the window covering  16  is a roller shade  16 . In other embodiments, the window covering  16  could be a blind or any other suitable window covering. The bracket assemblies  12  and  14  have mounting holes  15  to allow the bracket assemblies  12  and  14  to be mounted to a wall or window sill with fasteners as is well known. 
         [0026]    The bracket assemblies  12  and  14  also support a valance  18  and end covers  20 . The valance  18  and the end covers  20  hide the bracket assemblies  12  and  14  when the shade/blind assembly  10  is installed at a window. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows the shade/blind assembly  10  with the valance  10  in a pivoted position. The valance  10  pivots in the direction as shown by arrow A in  FIG. 2  to allow a user access to the window covering  16  and the bracket assemblies  12  and  14 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an exploded reverse view of the left bracket assembly  12  and part of the valance  18 . While only the left bracket assembly  12  is shown and described in detail, it is understood that the right bracket assembly is very similar and need not be shown and described in detail. In some embodiments, the left and right bracket assemblies  12  and  14  are mirror images of each other. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  shows the bracket  22 . The bracket  22  attaches to a wall or window via fasteners (not shown) mounted in the mounting holes  15 . The bracket  22  has a slit  24  for mounting the axle of a roller shade  16  (see  FIG. 1 ) and a ramped surface  26  to guide the axle into the slit  24  as is well known. It will be understood that features of the bracket  22  or the bracket assemblies  12  and  14  may be modified in accordance with the invention in order to provide suitable mounting features for the window covering  16  being used. While the FIGS. illustrate a roller shade, other types of window coverings  16  may also be used. 
         [0030]    The bracket  22  as has a hard stop  28  and a slot  30 . The hard stop  28  is configured to contact a thicker portion or bar  74  (see  FIG. 8 ) of a roller shade  16  to prevent the roller shade from over rotating and spinning in a fully retracted position. The bracket  22  has a hole  32  configured to accept the rivet  34  and spring washer  36 . The rivet  34  connects the end plate  20  and the pivot arm  38  by extending through holes  37 ,  40  and  32 . The spring washer  36  generates friction with the rivet  34 , thereby resulting in the pivot arm  38  staying in what ever position with respect the end plate  20  and bracket  22  the pivot  38  arm is placed. 
         [0031]    The pivot arm  38  has a projection  44  and a slot  46  in the projection. The pivot arm  38  also has a slot  42 . When the pivot arm  38  is rotated to a down position, the slot  42  on the pivot arm  38  will align with the slot  30  on the bracket  22 . 
         [0032]    The end plate  20  has alignment projections  48 ,  50 , and  52 . The alignment projections  48 ,  50 , and  52  assist in aligning the end plate  20 , the pivot arm  30 , the bracket  22 , and the valance  18 . In some embodiments, the alignment projections  48 ,  50 , and  52  may also provide support for one or more of these features. In some embodiments, the alignment projections  48 ,  50 , and  52  may provide a stop to halt the rotation of the valance  18  in toward the window covering  16 . In some embodiments, the alignment projection  50  fits into trench  54  on the back of the projection  44 . 
         [0033]    The valance  18  includes a first slide lock  56  having a locking protrusion  58 . The first slide lock  56  slides between rails  60  and  62 . The valance  18  also has a second slide lock  64 . The second slide lock  64  is C-shaped and has a projection  66 . The projection  66  fits into slots  30  and  42  to lock the valance  18  and pivot arm  38  to the bracket  22  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Returning to  FIG. 3 , the second slide lock  64  slides between rails  68  and  70  that are attached to the valance  18 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows the bracket  22 , pivot arm  38  and end plate assembled to a bracket assembly  12 . The bracket assembly  12  is not yet in contact with the valance  18 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 5  shows the bracket assembly  12  attached to the valance  18 . The valance  18  is pivoted with respect to the bracket assembly  12 . The first and second locks  56  and  64  are shown in disengaged positions. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows the bracket assembly  12  attached to the valance  18 . The valance  18  is in a position where the valance  18  is not pivoted away from the bracket assembly  12 . The first and second locks  56  and  64  are shown in disengaged positions. 
         [0037]      FIG. 7  shows the bracket assembly  12  attached to the valance  18 . The valance  18  is in a position where the valance  18  is not pivoted away from the bracket assembly  12 . The first and second locks  56  and  64  are shown in locked positions. The projection  58  on the first slide lock  56  has “snapped” into the slot  46  on the pivot arm  38 . If only the first lock  56  was locked, the valance  18  would be attached to the bracket assembly  12  and the valance  18  could still pivot along with the pivot arm  38  away from the bracket  22 . Locking the second slide lock  64  as shown causes the projection  66  to fit into aligned slots  30  and  42  (best shown in  FIG. 3 ) which prevent the valance  18  from pivoting away from the bracket  22 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 7 , locking the first slide lock  56  locks the valance  18  to the bracket assembly  12  and locking the second lock  64  locks the valance  18  in place. 
         [0038]    In some embodiments, both locks  56  and  64  are normally engaged, and the valance  18  is normally in a down position covering the roller shade or blinds  16 . When a user desires to pivot the valance  18 , the second lock  64  is slid to an unlocked position. A second lock  64  is associated with both the right and left side, thus, both second locks  64  are unlocked. The valance  18  then free to pivot. The valance  18  may be returned to the down position and the second locks  64  may be engaged to lock the valance  18  in place. 
         [0039]    If it is desired to remove the valance, both locks  56  and  64  on each the right and left sides will be disengaged. Likewise to reinstall the valance  18 , both locks  56  and  64  on each side will be engaged. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows a side view of the shade/bind assembly  10  shown in the other FIGS. Several of the features shown in the other FIGS. are shown in  FIG. 8 , and the descriptions of these features, except for what follows, will not be repeated there. The left bracket end assembly  12  is removed to better show the features of the shade/blind assembly  10 . The roller shade  16  is shown in a retracted position. The roller shade  16  has thicker portion or bar  74  at the end of the shade  16  that may be used as a handle. The thicker portion or bar  74  may extend the width of the shade  16  or some other length. The side of the second lock  64  serves as a stop  76  by trapping the thicker portion or bar  74  to prevent the roller shade  16  from over rotating. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 8  the roller shade  16  may be pulled down from the right of the shade  16 . In other embodiments, the roller shade  16  may be reversed, in which case the wide portion or bar  74  would be located to the left of the roller shade  16 . In such embodiments the stop  28  may be used to trap the thicker portion or bar  74  and prevent the roller shade  16  from over rotating. 
         [0042]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4