A Mounting Bracket

Abstract

A Mounting Bracket A mounting bracket for a window blind including a resiliently deformable friction element, and a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge lever member hingedly coupled to a hinge plate, wherein the hinge lever member has a first configuration in which it lies adjacent to the hinge plate, and a second configuration in which it is angled away from the hinge plate; the resiliently deformable friction element is slidably coupled to the hinge plate and extends from one end thereof; and the hinge lever member exerts a cam action on the resiliently deformable friction element, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element is urged away from the hinge plate as the hinge lever member rotates from its first configuration to its second configuration.

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for a window blind including a resiliently deformable friction element, and a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge lever member hingedly coupled to a hinge plate, wherein the hinge lever member has a first configuration in which it lies adjacent to the hinge plate, and a second configuration in which it is angled away from the hinge plate; the resiliently deformable friction element is slidably coupled to the hinge plate and extends from one end thereof; and the hinge lever member exerts a cam action on the resiliently deformable friction element, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element is urged away from the hinge plate as the hinge lever member rotates from its first configuration to its second configuration.

2. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further includes a hinge pin about which the hinge lever member rotates.

3. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the hinge lever member subtends an angle of from 80° to 100° with respect to the hinge plate when in its second configuration.

4. The mounting bracket according to claim 3, wherein the hinge lever member subtends an angle of 90° with respect to the hinge plate when in its second configuration.

5. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the hinge lever member includes a proximal end located adjacent to the hinge and the hinge lever member defines a cam portion at the proximal end, wherein the cam portion of the hinge lever member contacts the resiliently deformable friction element.

6. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element includes a substantially planar contact surface which defines a length dimension and a width dimension, and the resiliently deformable friction element is compressible in a thickness direction.

7. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element includes a layer of a polymeric material.

8. A mounting bracket according to claim 7, wherein the layer is discontinuous and comprises an array of separate polymeric blocks.

9. A mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element includes at least one arm which is slidably coupled to the hinge plate.

10. The mounting bracket according to claim 9, wherein the hinge plate defines at least one channel and the or each arm of the resiliently deformable friction element is slidably carried within a respective channel.

11. The mounting bracket according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bracket further includes a mounting plate and the hinge plate is coupled to the mounting plate.

12. The mounting bracket according to claim 11, wherein the mounting plate includes an adjustment block and a distal end of the hinge plate engages a contact surface of the adjustment block.

13. The mounting bracket according to claim 12, wherein the adjustment block is carried by the mounting plate in one of a plurality of different configurations, wherein each configuration defines a spacing between the contact surface of the adjustment block and a proximal end of the mounting plate and each defined spacing is different.

14. The mounting bracket according to claim 13, wherein the adjustment block defines three or more contact sides and is carried by a corresponding aperture defined by the mounting plate, wherein each configuration corresponds to a rotational orientation of the block within the aperture.

15. The mounting bracket according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment block is square, the aperture within the mounting plate is square, the adjustment block defines four contact sides and the adjustment block is located within the aperture in the desired orientation via a friction fit or a snap fit.

16. A window blind mounting system including a pair of opposed mounting brackets and an elongate spacing member located between the mounting brackets, wherein each mounting bracket includes a resiliently deformable friction element, and a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge lever member hingedly coupled to a hinge plate, wherein the hinge lever member has a first configuration in which it lies adjacent to the hinge plate, and a second configuration in which it is angled away from the hinge plate; the resiliently deformable friction element is slidably coupled to the hinge plate and extends from one end thereof; and the hinge lever member exerts a cam action on the resiliently deformable friction element, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element is urged away from the hinge plate as the hinge lever member rotates from its first configuration to its second configuration.

17. The window blind mounting system according to claim 16, wherein each mounting bracket is coupled to a respective end of the elongate spacing member via a mounting plate.

18. A window blind including a pair of opposed mounting brackets, a blind substrate and a blind substrate carrier, wherein the blind substrate carrier is located between the opposed mounting brackets; and wherein each mounting bracket includes a resiliently deformable friction element, and a hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge lever member hingedly coupled to a hinge plate, wherein the hinge lever member has a first configuration in which it lies adjacent to the hinge plate, and a second configuration in which it is angled away from the hinge plate; the resiliently deformable friction element is slidably coupled to the hinge plate and extends from one end thereof; and the hinge lever member exerts a cam action on the resiliently deformable friction element, wherein the resiliently deformable friction element is urged away from the hinge plate as the hinge lever member rotates from its first configuration to its second configuration.

19. The window blind according to claim 18, wherein the blind substrate comprises a sheet of fabric and the blind substrate carrier is a roller tube.

20. The window blind according to claim 19, wherein the blind further includes an elongate spacing member located between the opposed mounting brackets and each mounting bracket is coupled to a respective end of the elongate spacing member.

21. The window blind according to claim 18, wherein the blind substrate comprises a plurality of separate blind elements and the blind substrate carrier is a headrail to which the blind elements are coupled.

22. The window blind according to claim 21, wherein each mounting bracket is coupled to a respective end of the headrail.

23. The window blind according to claim 22, wherein the blind substrate is a Venetian blind formed from a plurality of horizontal louvres, or a vertical blind formed from a plurality of vertical louvres.

Description

[0035] An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded perspective view of a mounting bracket according to the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly which forms part of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of a mounting plate which forms part of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1;

[0039] FIGS. 4a and 4b show perspective views of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1 in its assembled configuration;

[0040] FIG. 5a shows a side elevational view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1 in its first configuration; and

[0041] FIG. 5b shows a side elevational view of the mounting bracket shown in FIG. 1 in its second configuration.

[0042] For the avoidance of doubt, the skilled person will appreciate that in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “width”, etc. refer to the orientation of the components as found in the example when installed for normal use as shown in the Figures.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a partially exploded view of a mounting bracket 2 which comprises a hinge assembly 4 and a mounting plate 6.

[0044] The hinge assembly is shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and comprises a resiliently deformable friction element 8, a hinge lever member 10, a hinge plate 12 and a hinge pin 14.

[0045] The hinge lever member 10 includes a first set of hinge pin receiving elements 16 and the hinge plate 12 includes a second set of hinge pin receiving elements 18. Together, the first and second sets of hinge pin receiving elements 16, 18 define a hinge pin channel which receives therein the hinge pin 14. With the hinge pin 14 located within the channel defined by the first and second hinge pin receiving elements 16, 18, the hinge lever member 10 is hingedly coupled to the hinge plate 12.

[0046] The hinge plate 12 further includes a pair of wall elements 20a, 20b which each define a respective channel.

[0047] The resiliently deformable friction element 8 includes a planar base plate 22 from which extend transversely an array of polymeric blocks 24 which are resiliently deformable. The planar base plate 22 also includes a pair of projecting arms 26 (only one of which is seen in FIG. 2), which project in the opposite direction to the polymeric blocks 24. Each of the projecting arms 26 is received within a respective channel defined by the hinge plate wall elements 20a, 20b, such that the friction element 8 is slidably coupled relative to the hinge plate 12.

[0048] The first set of hinge pin receiving elements 16 further define a cam surface 28 which is spaced from the hinge pin 14. The cam surface 28 contacts a rear surface (i.e. the surface opposite to the surface from which the polymeric block 24 project) of the planar base plate 22.

[0049] FIG. 3 shows the mounting plate 6 in more detail. The mounting plate 6 includes a main body element 30 which includes an array of locating lugs 32 and defines a square aperture 34. The main body element 30 defines a leading edge 36 and a trailing edge 38.

[0050] The mounting plate 6 further includes an adjustment block 40. The adjustment block 40 comprises a base plate 42 from which extends a square intermediate portion 44 which is inwardly spaced from the periphery of the base plate 42. From the intermediate portion 44 extends a contact portion 46.

[0051] The intermediate portion 44 is sized to form a friction fit within the aperture 34 when the base plate 42 is arranged adjacent to the rear surface of the main body element 30. The skilled person will appreciate that as the aperture 34 is square and the intermediate portion 44 is square, the intermediate portion 44 may be located in the aperture in one of four possible orientations. Each of the four side walls of the contact portion 46 is spaced from a corresponding wall of the intermediate portion 44 by a different distance. This means that in a first orientation of the intermediate portion 44 in the aperture 34, a first gap is defined between the leading edge 36 of the main body element 30 and the wall of the contact portion 46 which faces the leading edge 36; in a second orientation of the intermediate portion 44 in the aperture 34, a second gap is defined between the leading edge 36 of the main body element 30 and the wall of the contact portion 46 which faces the leading edge 36; in a third orientation of the intermediate portion 44 in the aperture 34, a third gap is defined between the leading edge 36 of the main body element 30 and the wall of the contact portion 46 which faces the leading edge 36; and in a fourth orientation of the intermediate portion 44 in the aperture 34, a fourth gap is defined between the leading edge 36 of the main body element 30 and the wall of the contact portion 46 which faces the leading edge 36. Each of the first, second, third and fourth gaps are different.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4a, the hinge plate 12 is located adjacent to a front face of the main body element 30 and slidably retained by the locating lugs 32, such that the hinge plate 12 can slide relative to the main body element 30. A distal end 48 of the hinge plate 12 contacts one wall of the contact portion 46 of the adjustment block 40. The skilled person will appreciate that the distance by which proximal end of the hinge plate extends from the leading edge 36 of the main body element 30 may be adjusted by varying the orientation of the adjustment block 40 within the aperture 34. This allows for tolerances to be taken up without losing any of the available frictional force that may be exerted by the friction element 8 on a substrate.

[0053] FIG. 4b shows the opposite side of the mounting bracket 2 in its assembled configuration.

[0054] FIG. 5a shows the mounting bracket 2 with the hinge assembly 4 in its first (closed) configuration in which the hinge lever member 10 is rotated until it lies substantially adjacent to the hinge plate 12. In this configuration, the cam surface 28 permits the base plate 22 of the friction element 8 to contact the proximal end of the hinge plate 12.

[0055] In contrast, FIG. 5b shows the mounting bracket 2 with the hinge assembly 4 in its second (open) configuration in which the hinge lever member 10 is rotated such that it subtends an angle of substantially 90° with the hinge plate 12. In this configuration, the cam surface 28 urges the friction element 8 away from the hinge plate 12 such that a gap 50 is defined between the base plate 22 of the friction element 8 and the proximal end of the hinge plate 12.

[0056] In use, one mounting plate 6 with the adjustment block 40 in a first orientation is coupled to each end of a blind headrail (not shown). A hinge assembly 4 in its first (closed) configuration is then slidably coupled to the main body element 30 of each of the two mounting plates 6.

[0057] The headrail/mounting bracket assembly is then located between a pair of substrates which define between them a window or other architectural opening and the hinge assemblies are then moved to the their second (open) configurations. This forces the friction elements 8 outwards such that the resiliently deformable blocks 24 contact the substrates and are deformed. The deformation of the blocks 24 generates a frictional force between the friction element 8 and the respective substrate.

[0058] The amount of deformation/frictional force exerted may be adjusted, if desired, by rotating the adjustment blocks 40 to different orientations within the apertures 34. This allows for the correction of any tolerances in the length of the headrail or measurement of the spacing between the opposed substrates.

[0059] When the desired frictional forces are obtained between the friction elements 8 and their respective substrates, a blind roller tube may be coupled to respective coupling lugs 52 defined by the hinge lever members 10. The roller tube maintains the hinge lever arms 10 in their second (open) configurations and thereby maintains the frictional force between the mounting brackets 2 and their respective substrates such that no further fixings are needed to secure the window blind in the desired location.