A combination

Abstract

A mounting clip 4 has a planar window bead engagement portion 10 and a planar support platform 12. The planar parts are orthogonal to one another and connected by an arcuate central portion 8a. A co

Description

The present invention relates to a combination of mounting clip for use with a window covering frame, such as a window shutter frame, and a cover element which covers a portion of the mounting clip. Relatively simple mounting clips for window blind frames and window shutter frames have been developed recently. Such mounting clips include a support platform which supports a portion of the window covering frame and secures that portion of the window covering frame to an adjacent window frame. However, in use, the support platform of the mounting clip may be visible. As the support platform of the mounting clip is not necessarily aesthetically pleasing, it is desired to cover the portion of the mounting clip that may be visible in use. However, it will be appreciated that relatively small cover elements may pose a choking hazard for small children in the event that they become detached from the mounting clip. Accordingly, it is desired to provide a cover element which is prevented from becoming detached from mounting clip in normal use. WO2006 / 109009 discloses mounting clips for window blind frames. However, such mounting clips are not visible in use and, as such, do not require cover elements. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a combination of a mounting clip for use with a window covering frame and a cover element; wherein the mounting clip includes a resiliently deformable body, wherein the body defines an arcuate central portion, at a first end of the arcuate central portion is defined a planar window bead engagement portion, and at a second end of the arcuate central portion is defined a planar support platform, wherein the plane of the engagement portion is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the support platform, and wherein the planar support platform includes a locating lug which extends out of the plane of the support platform; wherein the cover element defines a contact surface and a locating lug receiving element that extends outwardly from the contact surface; the cover element overlies at least a portion of a first surface of the support platform; the contact surface of the cover element engages the first surface; the locating lug receiving element receives therein the locating lug; and wherein the cover element is coupled to the mounting clip via the interengagement of the locating lug and the locating lug receiving element. In use, the locating lug of the mounting clip may be secured within a corresponding locating aperture of a window covering frame. As the locating lug is received within the locating lug receiving element, both the locating lug of the mounting clip and the locating lug receiving element of the cover element may be received within the locating aperture of window covering frame in use. Such an arrangement prevents the cover element being detached from the mounting clip unless the window cover frame is first disengaged from the mounting clip. It will be appreciated that the cover element of the present invention is different from the window covering frame. In use, portions of the mounting clip may be visible. The purpose of the cover element is to cover any portion of the mounting clip that may be visible in use. In an embodiment of the invention, the locating lug receiving element includes a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls that extend from the contact surface, and a base which connects the side walls; wherein the opposed side walls and the base together define a channel which receives therein the locating lug. Thus, the locating lug may be slid into the channel in order to couple the cover element to the mounting clip. For example, the channel may be open at one or at both ends thereof. In such embodiments, the channel may be generally U-shaped. The internal dimensions of the channel suitably correspond to the external dimensions of the locating lug such that the locating lug forms a snug fit within the channel in use. Suitably, the cover element overlies entirely the first surface of the support platform. Thus, at least the first surface of the support platform may be disposed within a recess defined by the contact surface of the cover element. The recess suitably has a depth that is substantially equal to the thickness of the support platform. In such embodiments, the entire support platform may be located within the recess. The cover element may define an outwardly facing surface and an inwardly facing surface, wherein the inwardly facing surface faces the support platform and is the contact surface. The arcuate body suitably defines an interior cavity; the planar window bead engagement portion may extend inwards towards the interior cavity (e.g., along or parallel to a radial line which extends inwards from the first end of the arcuate central portion towards the axis of the arc); and the planar support platform may extend outwards away from the interior cavity (e.g., along or parallel to a radial line extending outwards from the second end of the arcuate central portion). In order to achieve an orthogonal arrangement between the support platform plane and the engagement portion plane, the arcuate central portion suitably defines an arc of substantially 90°. In other words, radii which extend to the first and second ends of the arcuate central portion define between them an angle of substantially 90°. In an embodiment of the invention, the locating lug / boss is resiliently deformable, for example to form a snap fit coupling between the locating lug / boss and the respective locating aperture of the window covering frame. Thus, the locating lug / boss may be carried on or include a resiliently deformable leg. The locating lug / boss may further include a sloping or ramped leading portion. Such a ramped leading edge may urge the locating lug / boss to deflect as it is displaced towards the respective locating aperture. When the locating lug / boss is aligned with the respective locating aperture, it may snap back to its rest configuration. The locating lug / boss may further include a stop surface which prevents or resists deflection when urged away from the respective locating aperture. Such an arrangement provides a “one way” snap-fit coupling. It will be appreciated that the resiliently deformable body of the mounting clip may need to be deflected away from its rest configuration in order to form a detachable coupling with the window covering frame. Accordingly, the mounting clip body may be formed from a metal, for example, steel, such as spring steel. In a further embodiment of the invention, the cover element is formed from a polymeric material. The combination of the mounting clip and cover element is intended for use with a window covering frame. Accordingly, in a further embodiment of the invention, the combination further includes a window covering frame, wherein the frame defines a locating aperture and the window covering frame is detachably coupled to the mounting clip and cover element via engagement of the locating lug and locating lug receiving element within the locating aperture of the window covering frame. The window covering frame may be a window blind frame or a window shutter frame. The window covering frame may include a plurality of locating apertures and each aperture may be associated with a corresponding combination of the mounting clip and the cover element. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a window comprising a window frame; a glazing panel carried within the window frame; a window bead which secures the glazing panel to the window fra me; and a combination as defined hereinabove, wherein the window bead engagement portion of the mounting clip is located between the window bead and the glazing panel; and wherein a window covering frame is coupled to the mounting clip via a coupling defined between a locating aperture defined by the window covering frame and the respective locating lug of the mounting clip; wherein the mounting clip locating lug and the locating lug receiving element of the cover element are both received within the locating aperture of the window covering frame. The skilled person will appreciate that the features described and defined in connection with the aspects of the invention and the embodiments thereof may be combined in any combination, regardless of whether the specific combination is expressly mentioned herein. Thus, all such combinations are considered to be made available to the skilled person. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a combination of a mounting clip and a cover element according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention; Figures 2a and 2b show the mounting clip of Figure 1 with the cover element coupled thereto; Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through the mounting clip and cover element shown in Figures 2a and 2b; and Figures 4a and 4b show the cover element in more detail. 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. An exploded view of a combination 2 of a mounting clip 4 and a cover element 6 is shown in Figure 1. The mounting clip 4 includes an arcuate body portion 8a. At one end of the arcuate body portion 8a is a first extension portion 8b. At the opposite end of the arcuate body portion 8a is a second extension portion 8c. A planarwindow bead engagement portion 10 extends from the first extension portion 8b in the general direction of the second extension portion 8c (i.e., in the direction of the cavity defined by the arcuate portion 8a and extension portions 8b, 8c). A planarwindow covering frame support platform 12 extends from the second extension portion 8c in a direction which is away from the cavity defined by the arcuate portion 8a and extension portions 8b, 8c. In this arrangement, the plane of the window bead engagement portion 10 is orthogonal to the plane of the window covering frame support platform 12. The arcuate portion 8a and extension portions 8b, 8c permit the window covering frame support platform 12 to extend around a window frame of a window and to extend perpendicular to a glazing panel disposed within the window frame. The window covering frame support platform 12 defines therein an aperture 16. A locating lug 14 extends from a locating lug leg 14a, which in turn extends from a part of the window covering frame support platform 12 into the aperture 16. The locating lug 14 also extends out of the plane of the window covering frame support platform 12. The locating lug 14 and the locating lug leg 14a are resiliently deformable relative to the support platform 12. The locating lug 14 includes a sloped or ramped leading edge portion and a rear stop surface which is substantially perpendicular to the locating lug leg 14a and the support platform 12. The body of the mounting clip 4 is formed from spring steel, so that it is resiliently deformable. The cover element 6 comprises a cover body 20 and a locating lug receiving element 22. Figures 2a, 2b and 3 show the cover element 6 coupled to the mounting clip 4. As shown in Figures 2a and 3, the locating lug receiving element 22 overlies and surrounds the locating lug 14 when the cover element 6 is coupled to the mounting clip 4. A more detailed view of the cover element 6 is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. An underside surface of the cover body 20 defines a recess 24, which is sized and shaped to receive therein the support platform 12. The locating lug receiving element 22 is formed by a pair of opposed side walls 22a, 22b and the opposed side walls 22a, 22b are joined at their distal ends by a base wall 22c. Together, the opposed side walls 22a, 22b, the base wall 22c and the underside of the cover body 20 define a generally rectangular channel which is sized and shaped to receive therein the locating lug 14. In use, the window bead engagement portion 10 is disposed between a glazing panel and a glazing bead of a window. The cover element 6 is then coupled to the mounting clip 4. Both of the locating lug 14 of the mounting clip 4 and the locating lug receiving portion 22 of the cover element 6 are then engaged within a locating aperture of a window covering frame (not shown). The engagement of the locating lug receiving portion 22 of the cover element 6 within the locating aperture prevents the removal of the cover element 6 from the mounting clip 4. Accordingly, the cover element 6 may only be separated from the mounting clip 4 when the window covering frame is disengaged from the mounting clip 4.

Claims

1. A combination of a mounting clip for use with a window covering frame and a cover element; wherein the mounting clip includes a resiliently deformable body, wherein the body defines an arcuate central portion, at a first end of the arcuate central portion is defined a planar window bead engagement portion, and at a second end of the arcuate central portion is defined a planar support platform, wherein the plane of the engagement portion is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the support platform, and wherein the planar support platform includes a locating lug which extends out of the plane of the support platform; wherein the cover element defines a contact surface and a locating lug receiving element that extends outwardly from the contact surface; the cover element overlies at least a portion of a first surface of the support platform; the contact surface of the cover element engages the first surface of the support platform; the locating lug receiving element receives therein the locating lug; and wherein the cover element is coupled to the mounting clip via the interengagement of the locating lug and the locating lug receiving element.

2. A combination according to Claim 1, wherein the locating lug receiving element includes a pair of opposed spaced apart side walls that extend from the contact surface and a base which connects the side walls; and wherein the opposed side walls and the base together define a channel which receives therein the locating lug.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the contact surface of the cover element defines a recess within which is located at least a portion of the first surface of the support platform.

4. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the arcuate body defines an interior cavity; the planar engagement portion extends inwards towards the interior cavity; and the planar support platform extends outwards away from the interior cavity.

5. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the arcuate central portion defines an arc of 90°.

6. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the resiliently deformable body is formed from steel.

7. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the cover element is formed from a polymeric material.

8. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the locating lug is resiliently deformable or is carried on a resiliently deformable leg.

9. A combination according to any of Claims 1 to 8 further including a window covering frame, wherein the frame defines a locating aperture and the window covering frame is detachably coupled to the mounting clip and cover element via engagement of the locating lug and locating lug receiving element within the locating aperture.

10. A combination according to Claim 9, wherein the window covering frame is a shutter frame.

11. A combination according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the window covering frame defines a plurality of locating apertures and each locating aperture has associated with it a respective combination of the mounting clip and cover element.

12. A window comprising a window frame; a glazing panel carried within the window frame; a window bead which secures the glazing panel to the window frame; and a combination as defined in any of Claims 9 to 11, wherein the window bead engagement portion of the mounting clip is located between the window bead and the glazing panel; and wherein the window covering frame is coupled to the mounting clip via a coupling defined between the or each locating aperture and the respective locating lug of the mounting clip; wherein the mounting clip locating lug and the locating lug receiving element of the cover element are both received within the locating aperture of the window covering frame.

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