U.S. patent application number 10/338065 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-08 for roller shade mounting bracket with integrated landing board.
Invention is credited to Gottschall, Jason Scott, Guntz, Frank, Nichols, Joseph M. JR., Walker, Mark A..
Application Number | 20040129849 10/338065 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32681368 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040129849 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Walker, Mark A. ; et
al. |
July 8, 2004 |
Roller shade mounting bracket with integrated landing board
Abstract
A roller shade mounting bracket assembly includes a first
bracket securable to a fixed support member. A landing board having
a printed circuit board is secured to the first bracket. The
landing board preferably includes a connector mounted to the
circuit board for attachment of a wiring harness of a roller shade
motor unit. Projecting standoffs may be included to space the
landing board from a base plate of the first bracket. A second
bracket includes a first portion adapted for attachment to the
first bracket, the first portion preferably including an access
opening accommodating the landing board. The second bracket further
includes a second portion having openings for attachment of a shade
roller. The second bracket may include hooked members engaging
support members secured to the first bracket.
Inventors: |
Walker, Mark A.; (Whitehall,
PA) ; Gottschall, Jason Scott; (Harleysville, PA)
; Nichols, Joseph M. JR.; (Boyertown, PA) ; Guntz,
Frank; (Telford, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREGORY J. LAVORGNA
DRINKER BIDDLE & REATH LLP
One Logan Square
18th & Cherry Streets
Philadelphia
PA
19103-6996
US
|
Family ID: |
32681368 |
Appl. No.: |
10/338065 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/266 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/72 20130101; E06B
9/174 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/266 |
International
Class: |
A47H 001/10 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A bracket assembly for mounting a motorized roller shade, the
assembly comprising: a first bracket adapted for attachment to a
fixed support member; a landing board adapted for electrical
connection with a motor drive unit of a roller shade, the landing
board secured to the first bracket; and a second bracket having
first and second portions, the first portion adapted for attachment
to the first bracket and having an access opening accommodating the
landing board, the second portion adapted for attachment to the
motorized roller shade.
2. The bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first
bracket includes a base plate and at least one standoff projection
adapted to receive a fastener for securing the landing board to the
first bracket in spaced relation to the base plate.
3. The bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the landing
board includes a printed circuit board and a connector header
mounted to the printed circuit board, the connector header adapted
for engagement with a wiring harness to electrically connect the
landing board to the motor drive unit.
4. The bracket assembly according to claim 3, wherein the landing
board further includes a terminal block mounted to the printed
circuit board.
5. The bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one
hook is secured to one of the first bracket and the first portion
of the second bracket, and wherein the at least one hook is adapted
for engagement with a support member secured to the other of the
first bracket and the first portion of the second bracket.
6. The bracket assembly according to claim 5, wherein upper and
lower hooks are secured to the first portion of the second bracket
for engagement with upper and lower support members secured to the
first bracket.
7. The bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the
first bracket and the first portion of the second bracket includes
a tab adapted for engagement with the other of the first bracket
and the first portion of the second bracket.
8. The bracket assembly according to claim 7, wherein the first
bracket includes an upwardly projecting tab adapted to contact a
downward projecting tab secured to the first portion of the second
bracket.
9. The bracket assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second
portion of the second bracket includes at least one opening for
attachment of the shade roller to the bracket assembly.
10. The bracket assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a
bracket cover adapted for engagement with the second portion of the
second bracket.
11. The bracket assembly according to claim 10, wherein the bracket
cover includes a plate portion and a peripheral lip portion.
12. A roller shade mounting bracket assembly comprising: a first
bracket having a base plate including at least one opening for
securing the first bracket to a fixed support member; a printed
circuit board secured to the first bracket and providing electrical
connection to a motor drive unit of a roller shade; and a second
bracket having first and second plate portions, one of the first
plate portion of the second bracket and the first bracket including
at least one hooked member adapted for engagement with a support
member secured to the other one of the first plate portion of the
second bracket and the first bracket, the second plate portion of
the second bracket including at least one opening for attachment of
the roller shade to the bracket assembly.
13. The roller shade mounting bracket assembly according to claim
12, wherein upper and lower hooked members are secured to the first
plate portion of the second bracket for engagement with upper and
lower support members secured to the first bracket.
14. The roller shade mounting bracket assembly according to claim
12, wherein at least one projecting standoff is provided on one of
the first bracket base plate and the printed circuit board to space
the printed circuit board from the first bracket base plate when
the printed circuit board is secured to the first bracket.
15. The roller shade mounting bracket assembly according to claim
14, wherein a pair of projecting standoffs is secured to the first
bracket base plate.
16. The roller shade mounting bracket assembly according to claim
12, wherein the first portion of the second bracket includes an
access opening for accommodating the printed circuit board secured
to the first bracket.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to roller shades,
and more particularly to a bracket assembly having an integrated
landing board for mounting a motorized roller shade.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Motorized roller shades having motor drive units received
within the interior of a roller tube through the end of the tube
are well known. The roller shades are secured to a fixed support
member, such as the wall of a structure, for example, by mounting
brackets. The mounting brackets support the roller shade for driven
rotation of the roller tube by the internal motor drive unit.
[0003] The positioning of the motor drive unit within the interior
of the roller tube requires that the support system for the roller
shade provide for passage of wiring necessary for electrically
connecting the motor drive unit with a power source.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a bracket assembly for mounting a motorized roller shade. The
bracket assembly includes a first bracket adapted for attachment to
a fixed support member. The bracket assembly further includes a
landing board adapted for electrical connection with a motor drive
unit of a roller shade. The landing board is secured to the first
bracket.
[0005] The bracket assembly further includes a second bracket
having first and second portions. The first portion of the second
bracket is adapted for attachment to the first bracket and includes
an access opening for accommodating the landing board. The second
portion of the bracket assembly is adapted for attachment to the
motorized roller shade.
[0006] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a roller shade mounting bracket assembly including a first
bracket having a base plate including at least one opening for
securing the first bracket to a fixed support member. The roller
shade mounting assembly further includes a printed circuit board
secured to the first bracket, the printed circuit board being
adapted for electrical connection to a motor drive unit of a roller
shade.
[0007] The roller shade mounting bracket assembly also includes a
second bracket having first and second plate portions. One of the
first plate portion of the second bracket and the first bracket
includes at least one hooked member adapted for engagement with a
support member secured to the other of the first plate portion of
the second bracket and the first bracket. The second plate portion
of the second bracket includes at least one opening for attachment
of the roller shade to the bracket assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roller shade mounting
bracket assembly according to the present invention connected to
the drive end of a motorized roller shade;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bracket assembly and
roller shade of FIG. 1 with the roller tube of the roller shade
removed to show the motor drive unit;
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the bracket
assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first bracket of the
bracket assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the first bracket of
FIG. 4;
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the integrated landing board
and electrical connectors of the bracket assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2
secured to the first bracket;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the landing board and
first bracket of FIG. 6; and
[0015] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the second bracket of
the bracket assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to the drawings, where like numerals identify like
elements, there is shown a roller shade bracket assembly 10
according to the present invention. The bracket assembly 10 is
shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 secured to the end of a motorized roller
shade 12 to provide for mounting of the shade roller to the wall of
a structure, for example. In FIG. 2, the roller tube 14 of the
roller shade 12 has been removed to show the motor drive unit 16.
The bracket assembly 10 of the present invention includes an
integrated landing board 18 to provide electrical connection for
the motorized roller shade 12. The landing board 18 includes a
printed circuit board 20 on which a terminal block 22 and a
connector header 24 are mounted in a known manner for electrical
connection with the printed circuit board 20, and with each other.
The terminal block 22 provides for connection of system wiring to
the landing board 18. The connector header 24 provides for
connection of a wiring harness 26 for the motor drive unit 16 of
the roller shade 12.
[0017] Referring to the exploded perspective view illustrated in
FIG. 3, the construction of the bracket assembly 10 of FIGS. 1 and
2 is shown in greater detail. The assembly 10 includes a first
bracket 28, also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, having openings 32 in a
base plate 30 for receiving mounting screws (not shown) to secure
the first bracket 28 to the wall or ceiling of a structure (not
shown). The first bracket 28 further includes a pair of standoffs
34 projecting from the base plate 30. As best seen in FIG. 7, the
standoffs 34 provide for mounting of the landing board 18 to the
first bracket 28 by screws 35 without contact between the landing
board 18 and the base plate 30.
[0018] Referring again to FIG. 3, the bracket assembly 10 further
includes a second bracket 36. The second bracket 36 includes first
and second plate portions 38, 40. As shown, the first and second
portions 38, 40 are preferably perpendicular to each other. This
arrangement minimizes spacing between the roller shade and the
fixed support member, such as a window jamb for example. The
present invention, however, is not limited to the perpendicular
arrangement shown. It is conceivable that the second bracket could
include first and second portions oriented parallel to each other
in a stacked arrangement.
[0019] The second bracket 36 includes upper and lower hooks 42, 44
projecting from the first plate portion 38. The upper and lower
hooks 42, 44 are adapted for respective engagement with upper and
lower support members 46, 48 projecting from the base plate 30 of
the first bracket 28 for support of the second bracket 36, as shown
in FIG. 2. An access opening 50 is provided in the first plate
portion 38 of the second bracket 36 between the upper and lower
hooks 42, 44. The access opening 50 accommodates the landing board
18 secured to the first bracket 28 when the second bracket 36 is
connected to the first bracket 28 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0020] Referring to the side view of the second bracket 36 in FIG.
8, the first plate portion 38 of the second bracket includes a
downwardly extending tab 52 located below the lower hook 44. The
downwardly extending tab 52 of the second bracket 36 is adapted to
contact a tab 54 extending upwardly from the base plate 30 of the
first bracket 28. Each of the tabs 52, 54 includes a hole. When
properly assembled, the two holes are aligned for receipt of a
threaded screw to lock the tabs together.
[0021] The roller shade 12 is connected to the second plate portion
40 of the second bracket 36 for support of the roller shade. As
best seen in FIG. 8, the second plate portion 40 of the second
bracket 36 includes slotted openings 56 and a central opening 58
for attachment of the roller shade 12 to the bracket assembly 10.
Referring again to FIG. 3, the bracket assembly 10 includes a
bracket cover 60 having a plate portion 62 and a peripheral lip
portion 64 adapted for attachment to the second plate portion 40 of
the second bracket 36.
[0022] The construction of the bracket assembly 10 according to the
present invention facilitates electrical connection of the
motorized roller shade 12 that is connected to the bracket assembly
10 for support thereby. The terminal block 22 of landing board 18
is adapted for connection of field wiring from a building main
and/or control lines, for example, to connect the roller shade to a
power source and/or a shade motor controller. Referring again to
FIG. 3, the wire harness 26 for the motor drive unit 16 is
connected to a printed circuit board 66 securable within the motor
drive unit 16 in a well-known manner. As shown in FIG. 2, the
construction of the roller shade 12 provides for passage of the
wire harness 26 from the interior of motor drive unit 16 to the
bracket assembly 10. The above-described incorporation of the
landing board 18 as a fixed component of the bracket assembly 10
facilitates the connection of the wire harness 26 of drive motor
unit 16 to the connector header 24 that is secured to the landing
board 18.
[0023] The foregoing describes the invention in terms of
embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling
description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial
modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may
nonetheless represent equivalents thereto.
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