Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    None 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to the field of window treatments window coverings. More specifically, the invention is a link system for coupling a plurality window coverings together end-to-end and to couple them together so that they can be controlled (e.g., raised and lowered) simultaneously. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In some installations (especially in industrial or commercial environment) it is necessary to provide covering for a very wide window and/or door opening. Since the length of a typical window covering, such as a window shade is somewhat limited, several such coverings must be provided for the opening. Additionally, in some situations there are multiple windows divided by window panes and the application/situation does not permit multiple clutches to be installed. In some instances, individual window coverings may be provided that are disposed side-by-side. However, in many instances it is desirable to have the window coverings connected by couplings that transmit motion axially to raise and lower or the coverings simultaneously. 
         [0006]    A major problem with coupled window covering such as shades is telescoping. Telescoping occurs when the window covering fabric rolls up in an uneven manner. Instead of lining up in the same horizontal position, the edges of the window covering shift either to the left or to the right, in other words as the shade covering is rolled up the vertical edge of the material can shift to the left or right. This shift may be insignificant at first, but over time the shift increases and eventually the covering shifts far enough to one side that it interferers with the control mechanisms, and or with an adjacent treatment. Telescoping generally occurs when the window coverings are not horizontal or level from one end to the other. 
         [0007]    While some ceilings are constructed with a nominally uniform height, many times, there are minute differences in height from one side of a room to another. This is especially true with windows or ceilings in older buildings. Over time the earth shifts, buildings settle and materials warp. These factors cause a lack of uniformity in the height of the ceiling. When standard window covering mounts are attached to the non-uniform ceiling, the problem of telescoping, as described above occurs when standard mounting hardware is used. Telescoping may also occur if two adjacent window covering segments are not properly aligned with each other. 
         [0008]    Some typical coupling systems for window treatments are found in the following patents. WO 2006/042377; U.S. Pat. No. 7,051,782, EP 0863290; DE 19546203; DE 4227425; AU 200189239. However none of the these references solve the problems addressed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    As described above, telescoping occurs when the covering is rolled up and either of the edges of the covering extends beyond the lateral limits of the shade. Telescoping is most commonly caused when the window covering is installed and is not completely horizontal, or when two adjacent covering segments are not completely aligned with each other. This improper installation is often caused when the window covering is installed upon a ceiling, which is not even or completely horizontal. The present invention aims to solve this problem by providing a link between adjacent coverings with means for adjusting the height of the lateral ends of the coverings. 
         [0010]    Generally speaking, the link includes a bracket that mounts to the ceiling (or other stationary surface) and extends downward or extends from the mounting surface. A bearing is then inserted into the bracket. The bearing is held in place by a height adjusting member. In this manner, the bearing is vertically adjustable within the bracket and its position is determined by the height adjusting member. 
         [0011]    The height adjusting member preferably includes a clip and a screw that passes through the clip and contacts the bearing. The clip and the bearing are captured by the bracket. Moreover, clip and screw are sized and shaped so that when the screw is engaged by the clip, the clip cannot be removed from the bracket without breaking it. In order to remove the clip from the bracket, the screw must be removed. 
         [0012]    Once the bracket is in place and the bearing height is set, the covering segments are aligned properly thereby eliminating telescoping. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0013]    To further satisfy the recited objectives, a detailed description of typical embodiments of the invention is provided with reference to appended drawings that are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of two window shades connected by a link constructed in accordance with this invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the link and associated elements of the shades; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the link and the elements of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the level clip used in the link of  FIGS. 1-3   
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of assembled link holding a shaft and a bushing. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not as restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims and their combination in whole or in part rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 
         [0020]    The present invention provides a means for preventing the problem of telescoping in several shades mounted coaxially. More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the present invention pertains to a system  10  including two shades  12 ,  14  coupled by a link  20 . For the sake of clarity, only the cylindrical barrels of the shades  12 ,  14  are shown, it being understood that in a typical system, the shades also include respective sheets that are attached and wound on the barrels. The two shades are aligned coaxially by the link  20  and coupled so when rotation is applied to one of the shades by control means not shown, the coupling transmits this rotation to the other shade. If the common axis of the two shades is not fairly horizontal, as the shades  12 ,  14  are raised and lowered; their sheets can telescope or migrate unto the barrel of an adjacent shade. Although in the following description a system with two shades is discussed, the invention can be extended to systems with more then two shades by employing an identical link between each shade. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows the major parts of the link  20 . As can be seen in this Figure, the link  20  includes a bracket  22 , a bearing  24  and a clip  26  supported by a screw  28 . The bracket  22  is generally L-shaped and it attaches to the ceiling via the holes  30 . The bracket  22  further includes two prongs  32 ,  34  extending downwardly to form an elongated opening  36 . A top portion  38  of the opening  36  is semicircular to receive bearing  24 . Near their bottom end, the prongs are formed with two horizontal rectangular cut-outs  40 ,  42 . 
         [0022]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the bearing  24 . The bearing is generally D-shaped with a round hole  44  and a circumferential groove  46 . The groove  46  is along the top surface and along the two side surfaces of the bearing  24 . The width of the groove  46  is equal to or slightly smaller then the thickness of the prongs  32 ,  34  and the overall width of the bearing  24  is larger then the width of the opening  24  to allow the bearing  24  to slide vertically into the opening  24  until the bearing  24  nestles against the portion  38 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the clip  26 . The clip  26  is formed in the shape of an up-side-down “U” with two arms  52 ,  54  joined by a horizontal bar  56  and terminating with outwardly extending protrusions  58 ,  60 . Each arm  52 ,  54  is formed with two lips  62 ,  64  that are thinner then the rest of the clip  26 . The lip  62  is formed so that its external surface  66  is flush with the back surface  66  of clip  26  while the lip  64  is formed so that its front surface  70  is flush with the front surface  72  of clip  26 . Adjacent to one or both lips  62 ,  64  there is provided a ramp  74  with a horizontal shoulder  76 . The arms  52 ,  54  are also formed with two ribs  78 ,  80  extending inwardly as shown. Bar  56  is formed with a threaded hole  82  extending vertically and sized to accept screw  28 . The bar  56  also has two external lips  86 ,  88 . Lips  62 ,  64 ,  86 ,  88  cooperate to form vertical channels along the sides the clip  26  sized and shape to receive the two prongs  32 ,  34 . The lips  86 ,  88  are sized to match the size and spacing of cuts  40 ,  42 . 
         [0024]    The screw  28  has a head  84  that has a width approximately equal to the horizontal distance H between the ribs  78 ,  80 . 
         [0025]    The clip  26  is sized and shape so that when is inserted into the bracket  22  or mated with it either from the bottom or by partially superimposing the clip  26  over the bracket  22  so that the lips  86 ,  88  pass through the cuts  40 ,  42  and then pushing the clip upward, causing the prongs  32 ,  34  to pass into the channels mentioned above. The two arms  52 ,  54  are flexible so that as the ramp(s)  74  pass between the ends of the prongs  32 ,  34  the arms flex slightly toward each other allowing the clip to progress further until the ramp(s)  74  reach the cuts  40 ,  42 . At this point, the arms  52 ,  54  back and the clip is trapped within the bracket  22  with the shoulder  76  resting on the bottom or horizontal surface of the cuts  40 ,  42 . The clip  26  can be removed by flexing the arms  52 ,  54  together thereby allowing the clip to be retrieved from between the prongs  32 ,  34 . 
         [0026]    The bracket is used as follows. The bearing  24  is first inserted between the two prongs  32 ,  34  with the prongs  30 ,  32  being disposed in the groove  46 . Next, the clip  22  is inserted therein so that the bearing  24  is held in the bracket  22 . 
         [0027]    The shades  12 ,  14  are supported by several brackets. The brackets may have different shapes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , bracket  22  is used to support the shades on a ceiling or other suitable surface. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the assembly  10  further includes a first bushing  90 , a second bushing  92  and a shaft  94 . The bushings are hollow and have a shape that is complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the shaft  94 . Preferably, the shaft  94  has a cross-sectional shape that is other then circular so that rotation of one of the bushings, e.g. bushing  90  is easily transmitted by the shaft  94  to the other bushing  92 . In the  FIG. 5  the shaft is triangular. Of course, many other shapes or means well know in the art may be used to insure that rotation is readily transmitted between the bushings, and that the housings are coupled and driven simultaneously. The bushings are inserted are housed in the mandrels of shades  12 ,  14  using frictional engagement or any other well known means. 
         [0028]    Shaft  94  has, at least in one end, a flexible tong  96  or other means sized and shaped so that once the shaft  94  is inserted into the bushing  90  the two elements are interlocked, permanently, or temporarily. The shaft  94  may also include a flange  98  that acts as a stop. 
         [0029]    The shades  12 ,  14  are installed in the conventional manner, with the shaft  94  being inserted into the bushings and also being supported by the link  20 . More particularly, the ends of the shaft are disposed in the bushings  90 ,  92  while its mid section passes through hole  44  of bearing  24  and is supported by the link  20 . At this stage, the shaft  94 , the bearing  22  and the clip  24  are movable vertically between the prongs  32 ,  34 . 
         [0030]    Next, the screw  28  is inserted between the arms  32 ,  34  and is rotated clockwise so that its tip is engaged by hole  82 . The screw  28  is then rotated by a screw driver or other known means causing it to advance vertically upward through the clip  26  thereby coming into contact with the bottom wall  45  of bearing  24 . Advancing the screw  28  further causes the bearing  24  to rise. In this manner the position of the bearing  24  can be adjusted until the shades  12 ,  14  are properly aligned with each other and are disposed in a substantial horizontal position. 
         [0031]    Because the width of the screw head  84  matches the distance between arms  40 ,  42 , the head  84  prevents the arms  40 ,  42  from flexing thereby effectively entrapping the clip  24  within the prongs  30 ,  32 . The assembled link  20  with shaft  94  and bushing  90  are shown in  FIG. 5   
         [0032]    Obviously numerous modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined in the appended claims. Moreover, it should be understood that while in the preferred embodiment, the invention was described in conjunction with a window covering; it is equally applicable with other different types of apparatus for covering wall, openings, and so on.

Technology Category: 0