IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO MOUNTING A BLIND
This invention relates to a mount for securing a blind to a window frame, a mount assembly including such a mount, and a method of securing a blind to a window frame.
It is known to use a blind to selectively cover a window so as to prevent light from entering a room in which the window is present. It is also known to use a blind to selectively cover a window so as to provide privacy to a room in which the window is present.
A blind includes a blind substrate and an actuator. The actuator, for example a blind cord, is operated to move the blind substrate so as to selectively cover or expose a window which lies behind the blind substrate. The blind substrate may be vertical or horizontal slats, or may instead be a single piece of fabric.
As shown in Figure 1, a window frame 2 defines an opening to form a window 4. The window frame 2 may include a head 6a, jambs 6b, a sill 6c and a sash 6d. The window frame 2 also supports a pane of glass 8 which covers the window 4. The window frame 2 may be part of a wall (not shown) of a building or instead may be part of a door (not shown).
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a mount for securing a blind to a window frame, the mount comprising: a support structure for supporting a blind; a first mount member operatively coupled to the support structure; a second mount member, wherein the first and second mount members are releasably secured to one another; and a fastener operatively coupled to the second mount member, the fastener being configured to enable attachment of the second mount member to a surface of a window frame.
The first and second mount members being releasably secured to one another allows ready attachment and detachment of the support structure, that is coupled to the first mount member, to and from a window frame. Since the support structure supports a blind in use, the first and second mount members being releasably secured to one another also allows ready attachment and detachment of the blind to and from a window frame. In this way installation of a blind to a window frame is quick and easy. Moreover, the support structure can be detached from a window frame after installation to allow for maintenance and repair, or to allow cleaning of the window and window frame.
In contrast, if the first and second mount members are permanently secured to one another1 the support structure that is coupled to the first mount member is therefore also permanently secured to the second mount member. The support structure cannot then be easily separated from the second mount member to permit maintenance or repair of the support structure or blind which is supported by the support structure.
It will be understood that a fastener on its own is capable of securing two or more parts of an assembly to one another.
Providing a fastener permits ready attachment of the second mount member to a window frame without the need for additional components to enable such attachment.
In contrast, omission of the fastener requires the second mount member to be attached to a window frame via other means of attachment that rely on, for example, existing parts of the window frame. Such a means of attachment may be an insert member which is inserted between a pane of glass and a beading or gasket that extends around the perimeter of the pane of glass. In this instance, the insert member requires a tight fit between the pane of glass and the beading or gasket to hold the insert member in place.
However, the tight fit may not always be available due to degradation of the beading or gasket over time. Moreover, the insert member may damage the pane of glass, or may rupture the beading and/or gasket.
The mount may comprise: a support structure for supporting a blind; a plurality of first mount members operatively coupled to the support structure; a plurality of second mount members, wherein each second mount member is releasably secured to a respective one of the plurality of first mount members: and a plurality of fasteners, each fastener being operatively coupled to a respective one of the plurality of second mount members, each fastener being configured to enable attachment of the corresponding second mount member to a surface of a window frame.
Such an arrangement provides additional security of a blind to the window frame.
Preferably the fastener is or includes an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being arranged to enable attachment of the second mount member to a surface of a window frame.
The adhesive layer provides attachment of the second mount member to a surface of a window frame without the need for additional components. The adhesive layer also reduces the damage to a surface of a window frame which might otherwise occur if the fastener was instead in the form of, for example, one or more screws.
Moreover the adhesive layer provides even and secure attachment of the second mount member to a surface of a window frame whilst being removable when necessary, for example, by using an extraction solvent.
The adhesive layer may be formed on an attachment surface of the second mount member.
Forming the adhesive layer on an attachment surface of the second mount member provides a degree of control over the area of the second mount member on which the adhesive layer is formed. The size and/or shape of the attachment surface can therefore be chosen to suit a particular arrangement of the window frame.
Optionally the first mount member and the support structure are integrally coupled with one another.
Such an arrangement reduces the number of pads of the mount, which can reduce the manufacturing costs and also reduce the time taken to install the mount to a window frame.
Preferably the first mount member is separate from the support structure.
Having a first mount member that is separate from the support structure means that the support structure and the first mount member can be repaired and replaced individually in the event of damage to either of the support structure and the first mount member.
as The first and second mount members when releasably secured to one another may be arranged to hold at least part of the support structure between the first and second mount members.
Such an arrangement permits the support structure to be operatively coupled to the first mount member, and hence secured to a window frame, without the need for an additional securing means. Therefore the number of components that are required to secure a blind to a window frame is reduced.
in contrast, if the support structure is not held between the first and second mount members, it would instead be necessary to secure the support structure to the first mount member by screws or an adhesive.
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In addition, the first and second mount members being releasably secured to one another so as to hold the support structure between the first and second mount members means that the support structure is releasable from the first and second mount members.
This provides easy attachment and detachment of the support structure from the first and second mount members, and therefore the window frame, to al low for ready maintenance or repair.
Optionally the support structure includes a plurality of frame members, adjacent frame members being securable to one another, wherein the first and second mount members when releasably secured to one another are arranged to hold at least two adjacent frame members between the first and second mount members.
Forming the support structure to include a plurality of frame members permits ready modification of the size and/or shape of the support structure. As such, the support structure can be constructed to fit different window frame configurations.
Moreover, the first and second mount members when releasably secured to one another being arranged to hold at least two adjacent frame members between the first and second mount members permits the adjacent frame members to be operatively coupled to the first mount member, and hence secured to the window frame, without the need for an additional securing means, such as screws or an adhesive. The frame members are also therefore releasable from the first and second mount members which allows ready assembly and disassembly of the frame members separately from the first and second mount members.
Optionally the adjacent frame members may be securable to one another to form a corner portion of the support structure, and the first and second mount members when releasably secured to one another are arranged to hold only the corner portion of the support structure.
The provision of adjacent frame members forming a corner portion of the support structure means that the support structure can be designed to correspond to a corner of a window frame. For example, the support structure may have four corners that correspond to four corners of a window frame.
Meanwhile the provision of the first and second mount members when releasably secured to one another being arranged to hold only the corner portion of the support structure limits the proportion of the support structure that is required to be held by the first and second mount members. This reduces the amount of material required to form the first and second mount members without adversely affecting the ability of the first and second mount members to hold the support structure. In addition this also limits the area is of the surface of the window frame over which the fastener is required to be attached, since the size of the fastener would be limited by the size of the attachment surface formed on the second mount member. This is desirable since any marks or damage caused by the fastener to a surface of a window frame can be minimised.
This is particularly useful when the fastener is an adhesive layer since the adhesive layer when removed from a surface of a window frame, for example by use of an extraction solvent, may leave residue marks on the surface. By limiting the adhesive layer to an area corresponding to a corner portion of the support structure, any residue marks left on the surface of the window frame by the adhesive layer are not only reduced but also concentrated in one small area of the window frame.
In contrast, if the first and second mount members are not configured such that they when releasably secured to one another are arranged to hold only the corner portion of the support structure, it may be necessary to use more adhesive to enable attachment of the second mount member to the surface of the window frame, and so it becomes more difficult to remove the second mount member from a surface of a window frame. For example, if the adhesive layer extends around the whole perimeter of the support structure, it would be difficult to remove the second mount member from a surface of a window frame. Moreover, the possibility of leaving residue marks on the surface of the window frame would be increased due to the larger area of the surface of the window frame that would be in contact with the adhesive layer.
Optionally the support structure includes a frame attachment member, the frame attachment member being configured to secure adjacent frame members to one another to form the corner portion of the support structure.
Having a frame attachment member provides a means of securing adjacent frame members to one another without the need for the frame members themselves being specifically configured to enable such attachment. In this way, manufacturing of the frame members can be simplified.
Ia Preferably the first and second mount members include respective first and second attachment formations that are mutually engagable to permit the first and second mount members to be releasably secured to one another.
The first and second attachment formations provide a means for securing the first and second mount members to one another.
Optionally one of the first and second attachment formations includes an aperture capable of receiving the other of the first and second attachment formations.
The use of the first and second attachment formations including an aperture that can receive the other of the first and second attachment formations provides a means of releasably securing the first and second attachment formations to one another.
Optionally the first attachment formation may be or may include a first mounting post, wherein the second attachment formation may be or may include a second mounting post, one of the first and second mounting posts being shaped to receive the other of the first and second mounting posts.
One of the first and second mounting posts may include an aperture configured to receive the other of the first and second mounting posts.
The first and second mounting posts, one of which includes an aperture, provide a secure and stable means of releasably securing the first and second mount members to one another. The first and second mounting posts may form a friction fit or a push fit when in contact with one another.
Preferably the support structure includes an aperture configured to receive at least one of the first and second attachment formations.
Such an arrangement permits ready attachment of the support structure to a window frame via the first and second mount members. Moreover the support structure configured in this manner is releasable from the first and second mount members, which provides easy detachment of the support structure for maintenance or repair of the support structure.
The first mount member may include a cover face. Providing a cover face improves the visual appearance of the mount since the cover face can hide a part of the support structure, the second mount member and/or the fastener.
Optionally the mount further comprises: a support mount member; and a support fastener operatively coupled with the support mount member, the support fastener being configured to enable attachment of the support mount member to a surface of a window frame, wherein the support mount member is releasably secured to the support structure.
The support mount member provides additional support to the attachment of the support structure to a surface of a window frame. This is particularly useful if the window frame in which the mount is being installed has a long width or height such that additional support is required along the length and/or height of the support structure.
In addition to the foregoing, the support mount member being releasably secured to the support structure allows for ready attachment to and detachment from the support structure. In this way, the support structure can be modified to selectively include a support mount member if required.
Preferably the support fastener is or includes an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being arranged to enable attachment of the support fastener to a surface of a window frame.
The adhesive layer provides a means of attaching the support fastener to a surface of a window frame without the need for any additional components. Moreover the adhesive
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layer can be removed from the surface of the window frame by using, for example, an extraction solvent.
The adhesive layer also reduces the damage to a surface of a window frame which might otherwise occur if the fastener was instead in the form of one or more screws.
Optionally the adhesive layer of the support fastener is formed on an attachment surface of the support mount member.
Having an attachment surface on which the adhesive layer is formed provides a degree of control over the area of the adhesive layer that is formed on the support mount member.
According to second aspect of the invention there is provided a mount assembly comprising: a blind; and a mount as herein described above, wherein the support structure supports the blind Such an arrangement provides attachment of the blind to a window frame.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of securing a blind to a window frame, the method comprising the steps of: providing a support structure and a blind, and configuring the support structure to support the blind; providing a first mount member operatively coupled to the support structure; providing a second mount member that is releasably securable to the first mount member, and securing the first and second mount members to one another; providing a fastener operatively coupled to the second mount member; and attaching the second mount member to a surface of a window frame via the fastener.
There now follows a brief description of preferred embodiments of the invention: by way of non-limiting examples, with reference being made to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a window frame; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a mount according to a first embodiment of the invention: Figure 3 shows an exploded view of portion of the mount shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a support mount member; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a mount assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, whereby the mount assembly is secured to a window frame.
A mount according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2 and is designated generally by reference numeral 10.
The mount 10 comprises a support structure 12 and a first mount member 14 that is operatively coupled to the support structure 12.
The mount 10 further comprises a second mount member 16 that is releasably secured to the first mount member 14. The second mount member 16 has a fastener 18 is operatively coupled therewith. The fastener 18 is configured to enable attachment of the second mount member 16 to a surface of a window frame 2.
In the embodiment shown, the fastener 18 is an adhesive layer 20 which is formed on an attachment surface 22 of the second mount member 16. The adhesive layer 20 also includes a protective layer (not shown) which lies over the adhesive layer 20 so as to selectively cover and expose the adhesive layer 20.
In other embodiments (not shown) the fastener 18 may be a screw, or may instead be a combination of an adhesive layer and a screw.
The first mount member 14 is separately formed from the support structure 12. However in other embodiments (not shown) the first mount member 14 and the support structure 12 may be integrally coupled with one another.
The first and second mount members 14 16 when releasably secured to one another are arranged to hold at least part of the support structure 12 between the first and second mount members 14, 16.
The support structure 12 includes four frame members 24. Each frame member 24 includes two joining portions 26 extending towards opposite ends of the respective frame member 24. Adjacent pairs 28 of joining portions 26 belonging to two separate frame members 24 are securable to one another to form four respective corner portions 30 of the support structure 12.
The first and second mount members 14, 16 when releasably secured to one another are arranged to hold only the corner portions 30 of the support structure 12.
Meanwhile the adjacent pairs 28 of joining portions 26 are secured to one another via a respective frame attachment member 32. Each frame attachment member 32 is received by a corresponding channel 34 that is formed in each frame member 24. Each frame io attachment member 32 is secured to the respective joining portions 26 by screws 36.
The attachment members 32 may instead be secured to respective joining portions 26 by another means such as an adhesive or by a snap fit.
Each frame attachment member 32 is a corner bracket 38 which forms a respective one the four corner portions 30 of the support structure 12. In other embodiments (not shown) the frame attachment members 32 may instead be two linear attachment members secured to one another to form a corner bracket.
In further embodiments (not shown) the support structure 12 may include fewer or more frame members 24. Moreover, the or each frame member 24 may form less than four or more than four corner portions 30.
In still further embodiments (not shown) one or more frame members 24 may be integrally formed with a respective frame attachment member 32.
The second mount member 16 is in the form of a corner mount member that corresponds a respective corner portion 30 of the support structure 12. The attachment surface 22, and corresponding adhesive layer 20, of the second mount member 16 is therefore limited to the area of the corner portion 30.
In other embodiments (not shown) the adhesive layer 20 may extend beyond a respective corner portion 30 of the support structure 12. In further embodiments (not shown) the second mount member 16 may have a larger area than a respective corner portion 30 but may include an attachment surface 22, and corresponding adhesive layer 20, that is limited to the area of the corner portion 30.
As shown in Figure 3, each of the first and second mount members 14, 16 includes first and second attachment formations 40, 42 that are mutually engagable to permit the first and second mount members 14, 16 to be releasably secured to one another.
The first attachment formation 40 includes an aperture 44 that receives the second attachment formation 42. Moreover the support structure 12 includes an aperture (not shown) that receives the first attachment formation 40.
More particularly, the first attachment formation 40 is in the form of a first mounting post 46, and the second attachment formation is in the form of a second mounting post 48.
The first mounting post 46 includes the aperture 44 that receives the second mounting post 48.
The first mounting post 46 retains the second mounting post 48 by a friction or push fit so i as to releasably secure the first and second mounting posts 46, 48 to one another.
The aperture of the support structure 12 is positioned in each corner portion 30 of the support structure 12. More specifically, the aperture of the support structure 12 is formed in each corner bracket 38.
The aperture of the support structure 12 also retains the first mounting post 46 by a push fit or friction fit.
The first and second attachment formations 40, 42 may be releasably secured to one another via other means, such as a snap fit connection. In other embodiments (not shown) the second mounting post 48 may include an aperture that receives the first mounting post 46.
In further embodiments (not shown) the aperture of the support structure 12 may receive, but not retain, the first mounting post 46.
The first mount member 14 includes a cover face 50. The cover face 50 is sized to be large enough to cover the exposed corner bracket 38 of the support structure 12. The cover face 50 may be formed to match the external appearance of the frame members 24.
Returning to Figure 2, the mount 10 further comprises a support mount member 52 and a support fastener 54 that is operatively coupled to the support mount member 52. The support mount member 52 is releasably secured to the support structure 12.
The support fastener 54 is an adhesive layer 56 that is formed on an attachment surface 58 of the support mount member 52. The adhesive layer 56 of the support mount member 52 also includes a protective layer (not shown) that lies over the adhesive layer 56. The protective layer can be removed so as to expose the adhesive layer 56 of the support mount member 52.
As shown in more detail in Figure 4, the support mount member 52 is releasably secured to the support structure 12 by a protruding portion 60 of the support mount member 52 being snap-fit to the channel 34 of a corresponding frame member 24. The support mount member 52 may instead be secured to the support structure 12 by another means such as screws or an adhesive.
A mount assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure Sand is designated generally by reference numeral 100.
The mount assembly 100 includes a plurality of mounts 10, each mount 10 having the features of the mount 10 of the first embodiment of the invention as herein described above. As such identical reference numerals are used to identify like features of the mounts 10.
The mount assembly 100 further includes a blind 102 that is supported by the support structure 12. The blind 102 may be secured to the support structure 12 by screws (not shown). The blind 102 is a roller blind but may instead be, for example, a Roman blind, Venetian blind, slat blind or vertical blind.
The mount assembly 100 shown in Figure 5 is secured to a window frame 2 similar to that shown in Figure 1, and identical reference numerals are used to identify like features of the window frame 2.
More specifically, the mount assembly 100 is secured to the sash 6d of the window frame 2. Alternatively the mount assembly 100 may instead be secured to the head 6a or one or more jambs 6b of the window frame 2.
The mount assembly 100 shown in Figure 5 is capable of carrying approximately 50Kg.
It is envisaged that in other embodiments, the mount assembly may be capable of carrying less or more than 50Kg.
In use, the blind 102 is secured to the window frame 2 by firstly, arranging the four frame members 24 to form the support structure 12 which has four corner portions 30. Adjacent frame members 24 are secured to one another by attaching the corner brackets 38 to respective adjacent pairs 28 of joining portions 26 belonging to two separate frame members 24. The corner brackets 38 are attached to each adjacent pair 28 of joining portions 26 by one or more screws 36.
Each first mount member 14 is then operatively coupled to the support structure 12 by inserting each first mounting post 46 through the aperture of a respective corner bracket 38. The aperture of the corner bracket 38 provides a friction fit of the first mounting post 46.
The blind 102 is secured to two of the frame members 24 that lay opposite one another.
The blind 102 may be secured to the corresponding frame members 24 by screws.
Next, the second mount member 16 is secured to the first mount member 14 by inserting the second mounting post 48 into the first mounting post 46 and securing the first and second mounting posts 46, 48 to one another by a push or friction fit.
The protective layers are then removed from each adhesive layer 20 of respective second mount members 16 so as to expose each adhesive layer 20.
The mount assembly 100 is then secured to a surface of the window frame 2 by pressing the exposed adhesive layers 20 onto the surface of the window frame 2 at respective corners of the window frame 2.
Optionally, one or more support mount members 52 are secured to one or more frame members 24. The or each support mount member 52 is secured to the or each frame member 24 by pushing the protruding portion 60 into the channel 34 of the respective frame member 24. The protective layer of the or each support mount member 52 is removed to expose the adhesive layer 56 of the support fastener 54. The or each adhesive layer 56 is also pressed onto a surface of the window frame 2 when the mount assembly 100 is being secured to the window frame 2.
In the event that a repair must be carried out on one or more components of the mount assembly 100, the blind 102 can be removed from the window frame 2.
Such removal is carried out by detaching each first mount member 14 from respective second mount members 16 by applying enough force to each first mount member 14 to release the second mounting posts 48 from the friction fit provided by the aperture 44 of the respective first mounting posts 46.
Once detached, each first mount member 14 can be pulled away from the second mount member 16 with the support structure 12 still attached to the first mount members 14.
The blind 102 can then be removed from the support structure 12 in the normal way, e.g. by unfastening the screws, and the blind 102 can subsequently be repaired or replaced.
IS Removal of the blind also allows for cleaning of the window and/or window frame to be carried out.
Each first mount member 14 may also be removed from adjacent frame members 24 by applying enough force to overcome the friction fit provided by the aperture of the corner bracket 38 to the first mounting post 46.
Once detached, the frame members 24, corner brackets 38 and/or first mount member 14 can also be repaired or replaced.
The second mount members 16 will remain secured to respective corners of the window frame 2. Since the second mount members 16 are corner mount members, the area of the window frame 2 which they obstruct is limited to the corners of the window frame 2.
If, however, there is a need for the second mount members 16 to be removed from the window frame 2 this can be done by applying an extraction solvent, such as a white spirit, to the attachment surface 22 of the second mount members 16 and subsequently peeling the adhesive layer 20 away from the window frame 2.