Supports – Brackets – Rod type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-16
2001-03-06
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Brackets
Rod type
C248S268000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196508
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a bracket and a bracket system for motorized and crank operated shades. It allows for simple and quick adjustment and leveling of the shades. It can accommodate a single or dual shade.
2. Description of Related Art
Many shade bracket systems and curtain rod brackets are known in the art. Many include means to level the shade or curtain. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,651,489 (patentee Kirsch Company, issued Sep. 8, 1953) and 3,430,908 (patentee Walter Kowalczyk, issued Mar. 4, 1969) each disclose a u-shaped support for supporting a curtain rod slidably affixed to a wall bracket. The height and level of the u-shaped support can be adjusted by sliding it along the wall bracket.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,469 (patentee George Edward Shields, issued May 1, 1973) is directed to an adjustable drapery support with two vertical means for adjustment. It also includes a screw threaded adjustment means. U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,217 (patentee John B Holtzclaw, issued Feb. 8, 1944) is also directed to a drapery holder and discloses an arrangement for supporting dual drapery rods. The rods are vertically adjustable.
The bracket systems and rod holders of the prior art are often complicated and cumbersome devices that are costly to manufacture, difficult to install and difficult to adjust. The bracket system of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages. It is simple and cost effective to manufacture, easy to install and operate.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The preferred form of the invention provides a bracket system for motorized or hand crank operated window shades and blinds. The bracket system includes three different types of brackets. These are adjustable motor brackets, adjustable couple brackets and adjustable end brackets. Each of these brackets may be mounted to a wall, a window support structure or a ceiling depending upon construction site conditions. The shades and blinds are mounted on a typical shade tube or shade roller. If motorized, a tubular motor is mounted within the shade tube.
The bracket system of the present invention comprises one end bracket, one motor bracket and optionally one couple bracket. Each end bracket and each couple bracket have a centrally located cut out portion in which is slidably located a vertically adjustable unshaped support glide. The motor bracket has a centrally located cut out portion. A leveling means extends from the bottom of each end bracket and each couple bracket through the centrally located cut out portion such that the unshaped support glide can be leveled using the leveling means. A leveling means also extends from the bottom of the motor bracket into the centrally located cut out portion. The leveling means is typically a leveling screw.
The three brackets described just above may be used in pairs of a motor bracket and an end bracket at minimum, or the motor bracket and end bracket may be used in combination with one or more couple brackets so that the tubular motor may drive more than one shade. At minimum one motor bracket is secured to the wall, window support structure or ceiling and one end bracket is also secured to the wall, window support structure or ceiling. The shade roller or shade tube is installed between them. A tubular motor is located inside the shade tube with the motor pin (stud) resting on the leveling screw of the motor bracket. An idle end pin of the tubular motor and shade roller system is set into place on the u-shaped support glide of the end bracket. After the shade roller tube is installed the tube is leveled using the leveling screws. That is, the leveling screws are turned up or down to ensure that proper leveling of the shade tube is achieved. Optionally, one or more couple brackets may be installed between the motor bracket and the end bracket so that the motor may drive more than one shade.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1634364 (1927-07-01), Jakubiec
patent: 2341217 (1944-02-01), Holtzclaw
patent: 2572036 (1951-10-01), Junkunc
patent: 2614784 (1952-10-01), Nelson
patent: 2651489 (1953-09-01), Bell
patent: 3430908 (1969-03-01), Kowalczyk
patent: 3730469 (1973-05-01), Shields
patent: 4120474 (1978-10-01), Hurley
patent: 4153234 (1979-05-01), Sherwood et al.
patent: 4179091 (1979-12-01), Bidney
patent: 4657059 (1987-04-01), Clauss
patent: 4930563 (1990-06-01), Finch et al.
patent: 5474117 (1995-12-01), Henkenjohann
patent: 5857653 (1999-01-01), Dujlovich
DeLuca Jerome A.
Ramirez Ramon O.
LandOfFree
Bracket system for motorized and crank operated shades does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Bracket system for motorized and crank operated shades, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bracket system for motorized and crank operated shades will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2546955