Mounting Bracket

Abstract

A mounting bracket for a window shade roller or a curtain rod including a body member having first and second surfaces with pressure-sensitive adhesive on the first surface and a protuberance extending from the second surface with an aperture therein for receiving either a keylike member or pin extending from the end of a window shade roller. A cutaway may be formed between the protuberance and the body member for receiving a T-shaped head of a curtain rod bracket.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 603,240 filed Dec. 20, 1966 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,243.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved mounting bracket construction for a curtain rod or window shade roller, and more particularly, to a molded plastic bracket, attachable to a surface with pressure-sensitive adhesive.

In the past, the mounting of curtain rod or window shade brackets was a relatively inconvenient task inasmuch as nails were generally used for attachment and it was relatively awkward to attach the brackets to their supporting surface. In addition, the nails marred the supporting surface and if the brackets were to be shifted after having been installed, unsightly holes would remain visible. Furthermore, certain of the more substantial brackets of the prior art were of relatively complex construction which added to their cost. It is with overcoming the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art that the present invention is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting bracket for window shade rollers or curtain rods which may be secured to practically any surface with pressure-sensitive adhesive, thereby obviating the marring and difficulty of mounting heretofore experienced with brackets which required the use of nails, screws or other types of penetrating fasteners. A related object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting bracket which is constructed so that very little stress is placed on the bond provided by the pressure-sensitive adhesive in use thereby insuring the permanence of the attachment between the bracket and its supporting surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved universal mounting bracket which can be used equally well with window shade rollers having pins extending from the opposite ends thereof or with curtain rods. A related object is to provide an improved window shade mounting bracket in which the identical mounting bracket can be used for supporting the differently shaped opposite ends of a window shade roller.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting bracket which can be fabricated simply and easily by a molding process and therefore can be made relatively sturdy at a relatively low cost. Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention will readily be perceived hereafter.

The present invention relates to an improved molded plastic mounting bracket which can be used both for curtain rods or window shade rollers and includes a base member having a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side thereof for securing the base member to a window frame. Extending from the side of the mounting bracket which is opposite to the pressure-sensitive adhesive side is a protuberance having aperture means therein for receiving either of the pins of the window shade roller, whether it be flat or round. On this protuberance is also a suitable configuration for receiving the end of a curtain rod of suitable shape. The bracket is fabricated in a single molding operation which permits it to be manufactured at relatively low cost. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are mounted on the inside of a window frame facing each other and therefore do not project into the room. The present invention will be more fully understood when the following portions of the specification are read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a bracket arrangement which may be used for supporting a window shade roller;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and showing the portion of the bracket base which is mounted on a wall;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view taken from the right of FIG. 5 and showing a modified type of bracket arm for supporting a window shade roller;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view of the arm of FIG. 5 taken from the left of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a bracket which may be placed on the inside of a window frame for supporting one end of a window shade roller;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the bracket shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a bracket used in conjunction with the bracket of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the bracket shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a bracket which may be placed on the inside of a window frame for supporting either end of a window shade roller or a curtain rod;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the bracket shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a modified embodiment of the bracket shown in FIG.. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a still further modified embodiment of the bracket of FIGS. 13 and 14;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of a bracket for receiving the end of a curtain rod;

FIG. 18 is a view taken substantially along line 17-17 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary view of a curtain rod having a tee head for mounting on brackets such as shown in FIGS. 13 through 16; and

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 17 but showing a device which is a modification thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIGS. 1 and 2 one form of the improved window shade roller mounting bracket of the present invention is disclosed. This improvement constitutes brackets or bearings 40 and 41 which fit into spaced arms 12 which are received in spaced base members 11 mounted on spaced wall surfaces 24 which may be a window frame. Each of arms 12 is fabricated from a suitable plastic such as molded nylon and includes an elongated body portion 20 having a slot 38 in the end thereof which leads to circular cutout 39' which leads to slot 34. Slot 34 permits the opposite halves 15 of body 20 to flex toward and away from each other. Body portion 20 terminates at flanges 19 which are connected to key 21 by neck portion 22. Keys 21 are received in any of slots 26, 27 or 28 in base member 11 which are formed by the spaced tee members 30 and L-members 31 and 32. Key 21 is in position on base 11 when it abuts lower ledge 33, as shown in FIG. 3. Each of base members 11 has a pressure-sensitive adhesive 25 thereon to cause it to adhere to its supporting surface 24.

Window shade roller 39 is mounted on arms 12 which are received on spaced base members 11 as described above. In this respect bearings 40 and 41 are provided. They are identical in all respects except that bearing 40 contains a rectangular hole 41' therein whereas bearing 41 contains a circular bore 42 for receiving the round pin extending from one end of roller 39. Hole 41' receives the rectangular pin 43 extending from the opposite end of roller 39. Each of the bearings 40 and 41 contain a collar 43', which fits on the inside of arms 12, and an outer housing portion 44. Collar 43' and housing portion 44 of each bearing is connected by a neck portion 45 (FIG. 2) which is of slightly larger diameter than the circular cutout 39' in arm 12. Neck portion 45 is also of slightly greater diameter than slot 38 leading to circular cutout 39'. In order to install window shade roller 39 on base members 11, it is merely necessary to first mount bearings 40 and 41 on arms 12 and locate the pins at the ends of the roller in the bearings. Thereafter, arms 12 are slid into corresponding slots, such as 27-27' in FIG. 10. It is to be noted that bearing 40 includes a key 46 extending laterally from neck 45 with said key being received slot 38 to prevent bearing 40 from rotating, this being required for suitable operation of window shade roller 39, as is well understood. Preferably, bearings 40 and 41 may be made identical by including a slot-bore structure, such as shown in FIG. 11, containing a bore, such as 57, centrally located within slot 56. This will permit one bearing to mount a round pin and the other bearing to mount a rectangular pin, such as 43 (FIG. 2).

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 a modified type of arm, or supporting member, 47 is shown for mounting a window shade roller, such as 39. This arm includes a key 48 mounted on one end of a body portion 49. This key is received within any one of keyways 26, 27 or 28 of base member 11. The end of arm 47 remote from key 48 is formed into a substantially hemispherical member 50 having two substantially cylindrical bores 51 connected by a slot 52. Either one of bores 51 can receive the round pin extending from one end of a window shade roller 39, whereas the flat pin, such as 43, will be received in slot 52 and either one of bores 51. By virtue of the fact that a portion of flat pin 43 is received in slot 52, it cannot rotate. Bore slot 51-52 can be changed in configuration to be like those shown in FIGS. 11--16 wherein the circular bore is centrally located within the slot. In order to install a window shade roller 39 on base member 11 by the use of arms 47, it is merely necessary to place the pins on the opposite ends of roller 39 into the arms and thereafter slide keys 48 of the arms into suitable keyways in base member 11, which have been previously mounted on the wall.

It can readily be seen that a pair of spaced base members 11, such as shown in FIG. 1, can receive the arms for supporting the window shade roller in spaced slots 26-26' and a curtain rod may be mounted on base members 11 on arms which fit into spaced slots 28-28'. Thus, a pair of base member 11, each carrying two arms can carry a window shade and curtain.

In FIGS. 7--10 an alternate form of window shade roller bracket is shown. This alternate form consists of a first bracket body 62 having a pressure-sensitive adhesive 63, which is the same as adhesive 25, mounted on one surface thereof and the other surface being formed with a protuberance 64 extending therefrom with a bore 65 therein for receiving the round pin extending from one end of a window shade roller. Bracket 62 is caused to adhere to the inside surface of a window frame, that is, the surface extending substantially perpendicularly to the window itself. A companion bracket 66 includes, on one surface thereof, pressure-sensitive adhesive 67, which is the same as adhesive 25, and the other surface includes a protuberance 68 having a curved slot 69 therein for receiving the flat pin at the end of the window shade roller opposite to the round pin. Bracket 66 is caused to adhere to the side of the window frame opposite to the side on which bracket 62 is mounted.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 another form of bracket 50' is shown for mounting either a curtain rod or a window shade roller. Bracket 50' includes a base portion 51' having pressure-sensitive adhesive 52' thereon for attachment to a supporting surface. A protuberance 53 extends from the front face thereof. This protuberance is of U-shaped configuration (FIG. 11) and includes two legs 54, the upper ends of which are arcuate at 55 to receive the end of a round curtain rod which rests thereon. Between legs 54 is an elongated slot 56 having a central circular portion 57. A pair of brackets 50' are mounted in aligned facing relationship to each other on opposed sides of a window frame, and one of these bodies receives the round end of the window shade roller in aperture 57 and the key of the window shade roller is received within slot 56. When brackets 50' are used to support a curtain rod, its ends rest on surfaces 55 of the opposed brackets.

In FIGS. 13 and 14 a modified form of the bracket of FIGS. 11 and 12 is shown. This bracket 58 includes a bracket body 59 having pressure-sensitive adhesive 60 on the rear side thereof for attachment to a supporting surface. An U-shaped protuberance 61 extends from the face of body 58 and in the front elevation shown in FIG. 13 is identical in all respects to that shown in FIG. 11 by having a pair of spaced legs 62 terminating at upper curved ends 63 for receiving the end of a cylindrical curtain rod or the like. A slot 64 having a central enlarged portion 65 performs the same function as slot 56 and enlarged portion 57 of FIG. 11. However, it is to be noted from FIG. 14 that there is a cutaway at 66 between the front portion of legs 62 and the body member 59 so that the tee head 67 of a curtain rod 68 may be received, the tee head 67 being attached to the main body 69 of the curtain rod by a neck 70 (FIG. 19).

In FIGS. 15 and 16 an embodiment is shown which is identical in all respects to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 except that slot 71 which is analogous to slot 64 and central enlarged portion 72 which is analogous to central enlarged portion 65 of FIG. 13 are extended through the body member 73 as extensions 71' and 72', respectively, as shown in FIG. 16. This permits a greater clearance so that these brackets can accept roller shade brackets having extra long pins and keys extending from their opposite ends.

In FIGS. 17 and 18 a bracket 73 is shown for mounting on the ends of a cylindrical curtain rod to permit it to be received in any of the brackets of FIGS. 11--16. This bracket is made of resilient molded nylon or the like and includes a cuplike portion 74 which receives the end of the curtain rod. A key 75 protrudes from the rear of cuplike portion 74 and is received in any of the slots such as 56, 64 or 71 of the above brackets. If desired, key 75, shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, may be made in the configuration of a tee head, such as shown in FIG. 19, so that these tee heads can be received in brackets, such as shown in FIGS. 13--16.

In FIG. 20 a bracket 80 is shown which is a modification of bracket 73 of FIGS. 17 and 18 and differs therefrom only in the fact that cuplike portions 74' has corrugations 81 which extend longitudinally in the direction of the axis of cuplike portion 74' . This permits this cup to expand to receive a wide range of rod sizes. Except for the foregoing change bracket 80 is identical to bracket 73 of FIGS. 17 and 18, and includes a key 82 which is similar to key 75.

All of the brackets discussed above are made of molded nylon, or they can be fabricated from any other suitable plastic. The pressure-sensitive adhesive discussed above relative to all of the embodiments which has been used successfully is manufactured by the 3M Company and is identified by their code Y-9130 D.

Claims

I claim:

1. A molded bracket construction comprising a body member having a front surface and rear surface which is substantially planar in its entirety, a protuberance extending outwardly from said front surface, and aperture means formed in said protuberance for receiving a pinlike member, pressure-sensitive adhesive on said rear surface, said aperture means comprising a substantially circular hole centrally located between diametrically opposed slotlike extensions in communication therewith, said protuberance being in the form of a U having upwardly extending legs which bracket said aperture means and slotlike extensions, and said legs having tops which are curved to support a round member in mating relationship.

2. A molded bracket construction as set forth in claim 1 including a cutaway between the upper portion of said protuberance and said body member.

3. A molded bracket construction as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperture means extend through said body member.

4. A molded bracket construction comprising a body member having a front surface and a rear surface which is substantially planar in its entirety, a protuberance extending outwardly from said front surface, aperture means formed in said protuberance for receiving a pinlike member, and said protuberance having a concavely curved upper portion for supporting a round member in mating relationship.

5. A molded bracket construction as set forth in claim 4 including a cutaway between the upper portion of said protuberance and said body member, and slot means in said protuberance extending downwardly from said curved upper portion.

6. A molded bracket construction as set forth in claim 5 wherein said aperture means extend through said body member.