Fixing assembly and corner bracket for a window blind

Abstract

The first invention is a fixing assembly for a window blind. The fixing assembly includes a frame (1, Fig 1) configured to hold a window blind and fit within a window aperture. The frame is provided w

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to window blinds, particularly blinds which are intended to be fitted into sloping or horizontal roof window openings. BACKGROUND Roof windows are often fitted in attic bedrooms or other habitable rooms. It is sometimes desirable to fit a screening device in the form of a blackout curtain, roller blind, pleated blind, honeycomb blind, Venetian blind or fly screen to limit the amount of light entering the room or keep insects out. It is known to mount the blind in the window aperture using frame elements which are drilled and screwed to the window frame, but this has a number of drawbacks. For example, is not easy for unskilled people to fit the frame elements themselves, which could result in impairment of the normal operation of the blind or impede opening and closing of the window. Furthermore, the screws cause unavoidable disfigurement of the window frame which remains visible if the blind is later removed. The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of fixing assembly which enables a blind to be fitted in a window opening easily and reliably without causing significant damage to the window frame. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION When viewed from one aspect the present invention proposes a fixing assembly for a window blind. The fixing assembly includes a frame configured to hold a window blind and fit within a window aperture. The frame is provided with pushing elements which can be extended to engage the window aperture and thereby retain the frame therein. In a preferred embodiment each pushing element is mounted within a corner bracket which connects two adjacent frame sections. The invention also provides a corner bracket which includes an extendable pushing element, a rotatable member with a screw threaded portion disposed transverse to the direction in which the pushing element extends, and a puller in the form of a nut which co-operates with the rotatable member to extend the pushing element. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a general view of a fixing assembly which enables a blackout blind to be fixed in a window opening; Figure 2 is a side view of one frame section of the fixing assembly; Figure 3 is an end view of the frame section; Figure 4 is a top view of the frame section; Figure 5 is a side view of a corner bracket of the fixing assembly; Figure 6 is an end view of the corner bracket from the left in Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a top view of the corner bracket; Figure 8 is a top view of a pushing element of the corner bracket; Figure 9 is a side view of the pushing element; Figure 10 is an end view of the pushing element looking from the left in Fig. 9; Figure 11 is an end elevational view showing a second wall of the corner bracket; Figure 12 is a side view of a puller of the corner bracket; Figure 13 is a bottom view of the puller; Figure 14 is a general view of a second embodiment of the corner bracket; Figure 15 is another general view of the corner bracket of Fig. 14 as viewed from a different angle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a screen B is shown fitted in a window aperture W using a fixing assembly 1. In this example the screen B is a roller blind which functions as a blackout curtain, but the fixing assembly could be used with other screening devices which control the amount of light entering a room such as a pleated blind, honeycomb blind or a Venetian blind. The fixing assembly could also be used to mount an insect screen in a window opening. The screen B is shown partially closed but it can be adjusted between fully open and fully closed positions in known manner. In the present embodiment the window aperture W is formed by the frame of a window of the kind which can be opened and closed and which is usually mounted in a sloping roof, but the fixing assembly could also be used to mount the screening device in the frame of a fixed window, or to attach the device to the structural surround of a window aperture. Furthermore, the fixing assembly could be used to fix the blind in a vertical or horizontal window if desired. The fixing assembly 1 includes a rectangular frame which is itself formed of four extruded metal frame sections 2, one of which is shown in Fig.s 2 to 4. Each frame section is generally channel shaped with bevelled ends 3 and 4 to enable the four sections to be connected by mitre joints using corner brackets as described below. The frame section includes a top wall 5 and two side walls 6 and 7. As shown in Fig. 2, side wall 6 contains two access holes 8 located adjacent to the bevelled ends. It can also be seen in Fig. 4 that the top wall 5 contains two lug apertures 9, again located adjacent to the bevelled ends, which are positioned between pairs of longitudinally extending L-shaped spacer ribs 10 and 11. Internally, the side walls 6 and 7 each carry a pair of internal spacer ribs 12 and 13, Fig. 3, with a wider inwardly projecting flange 14 positioned adjacent to the mouth 15 of the channel. The four frame sections 2 are joined together using corner brackets 20. The corner bracket which is shown in Fig.s 5 to 7 is intended to be used at the top-right corner of the frame 1 when viewed as in Fig. 1 but all of the corner brackets include the same components which function in the same way. Each corner bracket has first and second mutually perpendicular walls 21 and 22, and a pair of spaced parallel fin plates 23 and 24 depend from opposite edges of the first wall 21. Both walls carry locking lugs 25 and 26 with inclined outer faces. The corner brackets each connect the pair of frame sections by sliding one of the walls 21, 22 into the bevelled end of a respective frame section. The fin plates 23 and 24 locate between the internal spacer ribs 12 and 13 and above the projecting flanges 14. When the bevelled ends of the two sections abut each other the locking lugs 25 and 26 engage in the lug apertures 9, assisted by their inclined outer faces, thereby locking the frame sections to the corner bracket and forming a firm mitre joint. Mitre joints using aluminium extrusions are known to admit light, but the configuration of the present corner bracket, with connected walls 21 and 22 and opposing fin plates 23 and 24, ensures that any potential gaps are obstructed without requiring the application of sealing compounds. Each corner bracket includes a pushing element in the form of a pin 30, a rotatable member 32 and a puller 33. Referring to Fig.s 8 to 10, the pin 30 is of non circular cross-section -octagonal in this embodiment - with an inclined inner end 34 and an outer end 35 which may be smooth and flat, as shown, or adapted to engage a surface, e.g. by providing a resilient layer, a textured finish or a small sharp projection. An inner portion of the pin 30 is also provided with a lateral recess 36 in its longest side, which intercepts the inclined end 34. The pin 30 is slidably guided by an internal guide 37, Fig. 6, such that the outer end 35 projects through an aperture 38 formed in the second wall 22 of the corner bracket - see Fig. 11. The rotatable member 32 is rotatably mounted, extending between the fin plates 23 and 24 such that its axis of rotation is transverse to the direction in which the pushing element 30 extends. The rotatable member 32 has a screw threaded shank 39 (Fig.s 6 and 7) with a head 40 (Fig. 5) by which the shank can be rotated using a hex key or other suitable driving tool inserted through one of the access holes 8 of frame section 2 (Fig. 2). The shank 39 projects through the recess 36 of the pin 30 to engage the puller 33 (Fig 6). Referring to Fig.s 12 and 13, the puller 33 has a co-operating screw threaded aperture 41 to act as a nut threaded into the shank 39. The puller is non-rotatably guided by a T-shaped projection 42 which moves along a slot 43 in the first wall 21 (Fig. 7). One corner of the puller 33 is formed with a curve 44 to smoothly co-operate with the inclined end face 34 of the pin 30. The pin 30 can thus be extended from the frame by turning the rotatable member 32 to draw the puller 33 against the inclined end 34. Opposing pins 30 can thereby be extended to engage opposite surfaces of the window aperture and firmly secure the frame therein. The use of the puller 33 ensures that the pressure exerted by the pins 30 on the window aperture is maintained after rotational torque applied to the rotatable member 32 is removed. Fig.s 14 and 15 show a further corner bracket which, in this case, could be used at the top-left corner of the frame 1. This corner bracket embodies features which ensure that the bracket cannot be assembled or used incorrectly and can be injection moulded at low cost. The bracket retains the same features discussed above, namely the first and second walls 21 and 22 with locking lugs 25 and 26 having inclined outer faces, and the parallel fin plates 23 and 24. The bracket again has a pushing element in the form of a pin 30, a rotatable member 32 with a screw-threaded shank, and a puller 33. The fixed internal guide 37 for slidably guiding the pin 30 is reduced in size with a corresponding recess 37a shown in the wall 21 to reduce moulding costs. With regard to the puller 33, the T-shaped projection 42 is non-rotatably guided along a correspondingly shaped slot 43 in the first wall 21. It can also be clearly seen that the end of the slot 43 which is adjacent to the side recess 36 of pin 30 is formed with an entry aperture 46 through which the T-shaped projection 42 can be freely inserted. The puller 33 also carries a stop 50 which projects towards the side recess 36 and which can be attached to the puller during assembly of the bracket. After the projection 42 is inserted through the entry aperture 46 the puller is slid to the opposite end of the slot 43 and the stop is attached. The stop has several functions. By making contact with the fin plate 23 the stop 50 limits the distance by which the puller can be moved along the screw shank of the rotatable member 32, which in turn limits the extension of the pin 30 and prevents overtightening and possible damage to the corner bracket and window opening. In the same way, the stop prevents the puller 33 from reaching the end of the slot 43 where the entry aperture is located. Although it is preferred to provide opposing pins 30 in pairs to centre the frame 1 within the window aperture it is possible that the frame could still be secured if the pins are located on one side of the frame only. Furthermore, the pins 30 could be located in the top and bottom sections of the frame 1 in addition to, or instead of, the side sections. Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.

Claims

1. A fixing assembly for a window blind, said fixing assembly including a frame (1) configured to hold a window blind (B) and fit within a window aperture (W), wherein said frame is provided with a plurality of pushing elements (30) which can be extended to engage the window aperture and thereby retain the frame therein.

2. The fixing assembly of claim 1 wherein each pushing element is extendable from the frame by turning an associated rotatable member (32) which is located within the frame.

3. The fixing assembly of claim 2 wherein the rotational axis of the rotatable member is disposed transverse to the direction in which the associated pushing element extends.

4. The fixing assembly of claim 2 or 3 wherein the rotatable member has a screw threaded portion (39).

5. The fixing assembly of claim 4 wherein the screw threaded portion engages a puller (33) with a co-operating screw thread (41).

6. The fixing assembly of claim 5 wherein the pushingelement has an inclined face (34) which co-operates with the puller such that movement of the puller by turning the rotatablemember causes the pushing element to extend from the frame.

7. The fixing assembly of any preceding claim wherein the pushing elements are arranged in pairs with the pushing elements of each pair located on opposite sections of the frame.

8. The fixing assembly of any preceding claim wherein the frame is formed of extruded frame sections.

9. The fixing assembly of claim 8 wherein each pushing element is mounted within a corner bracket (20) which connects two adjacent frame sections.

10. The fixing assembly of claim 9 wherein the corner bracket comprises a pair of walls (21, 22) which slidably engage within respective frame sections.

11. The fixing assembly of claim 10 wherein each wall has a projecting lug (25, 26) which locates within a corresponding aperture (9) in the respective frame section to lock the frame sections to the corner bracket.

12. The fixing assembly of claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the corner brackets include a pair of spaced fin plates (23, 24).

13. The fixing assembly of claim 12 as appended to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the rotatable member extends between the fin plates.

13. The fixing assembly of claim 10 as appended to claims 5 or 6 wherein the puller includes a projection (42) which locates in a slot (43) within a first of the two walls to guide the puller along the rotatable member.

14. The fixing assembly of any preceding claim wherein a window blind is mounted within the frame.

15. A corner bracket (20) for fixing a window blind (B) within a window aperture (W):- an extendable pushing element (30);- a rotatable member (32) with a rotational axis disposed transverse to the direction in which the pushing element extends;- a puller (33) which co-operates with the rotatable member to extend the pushing element upon rotation of the rotatable member.

16. The corner bracket of claim 15 wherein the rotatable member has a screw threaded portion (39).

17. The corner bracket of claim 16 wherein the screw threaded portion engages the puller with a co-operating screw thread (41).element has an inclined face (34) which co-operates with the puller such that movement of the puller by turning the rotatable member causes the pushing element to extend.

19. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 18 wherein the puller carries a stop element (50) to limit extension of the pushing element.

20. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 19 wherein the corner bracket comprises a pair of walls (21, 22) to slidably engage within respective frame sections.

21. The corner bracket of claim 20 wherein each wall has a projecting lug (25, 26) to locate within a corresponding aperture (9) in the respective frame section to lock the frame sections to the corner bracket.

22. The corner bracket of claim 20 as appended to any of claims 16 or 19 wherein the puller has a projection (42) which moves along a slot (43) in a first of the pair of walls.

23. The corner bracket of claim 20 wherein the extendable pushing element projects through a hole (38) in a second of the walls.

24. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 23 wherein the corner bracket includes a pair of spaced fin plates (23, 24).

25. The corner bracket of claim 24 wherein the rotatable member extends between the fin plates.Amendments to the claims has been filed as follows:CLAIMS1. A fixing assembly for a window blind, said fixing assembly including a frame (1) configured to hold a window blind (B) and fit within a window aperture (W), wherein said frame is provided with a plurality of pushing elements (30) which can be extended to engage the window aperture and thereby retain the frame therein.

2. The fixing assembly of claim 1 wherein each pushing element is extendable from the frame by turning an associated rotatable member (32) which is located within the frame.

3. The fixing assembly of claim 2 wherein the rotational axis of the rotatable member is disposed transverse to the direction in which the associated pushing element extends.

4. The fixing assembly of claim 2 or 3 wherein the rotatable member has a screw threaded portion (39).

5. The fixing assembly of claim 4 wherein the screw threaded portion engages a puller (33) with a co-operating screw thread (41).

6. The fixing assembly of claim 5 wherein the pushingelement has an inclined face (34) which co-operates with the puller such that movement of the puller by turning the rotatablemember causes the pushing element to extend from the frame.

7. The fixing assembly of any preceding claim wherein the pushing elements are arranged in pairs with the pushing elements of each pair located on opposite sections of the frame.

8. The fixing assembly of any preceding claim wherein the frame is formed of extruded frame sections.

9. The fixing assembly of claim 8 wherein each pushing element is mounted within a corner bracket (20) which connects two adjacent frame sections.

10. The fixing assembly of claim 9 wherein the corner bracket comprises a pair of walls (21, 22) which slidably engage within respective frame sections.

11. The fixing assembly of claim 10 wherein each wall has a projecting lug (25, 26) which locates within a corresponding aperture (9) in the respective frame section to lock the frame sections to the corner bracket.

12. The fixing assembly of claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein the corner brackets include a pair of spaced fin plates (23, 24).

13. The fixing assembly of claim 12 as appended to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the rotatable member extends between the fin plates.14 01 2514. The fixing assembly of claim 10 as appended to claims 5 or 6 wherein the puller includes a projection (42) which locates in a slot (43) within a first of the two walls to guide the puller along the rotatable member.

15. A corner bracket (20) for fixing a window blind (B) within a window aperture (W):- an extendable pushing element (30);- a rotatable member (32) with a rotational axis disposed transverse to the direction in which the pushing element extends;- a puller (33) which co-operates with the rotatable member to extend the pushing element upon rotation of the rotatable member.

16. The corner bracket of claim 15 wherein the rotatable member has a screw threaded portion (39).

17. The corner bracket of claim 16 wherein the screw threaded portion engages the puller with a co-operating screw thread (41).element has an inclined face (34) which co-operates with the puller such that movement of the puller by turning the rotatable member causes the pushing element to extend.

19. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 18 wherein the puller carries a stop element (50) to limit extension of the pushing element.

20. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 19 wherein the corner bracket comprises a pair of walls (21, 22) to slidably engage within respective frame sections.

21. The corner bracket of claim 20 wherein each wall has a projecting lug (25, 26) to locate within a corresponding aperture (9) in the respective frame section to lock the frame sections to the corner bracket.

22. The corner bracket of claim 20 as appended to any of claims 16 or 19 wherein the puller has a projection (42) which moves along a slot (43) in a first of the pair of walls.

23. The corner bracket of claim 20 wherein the extendable pushing element projects through a hole (38) in a second of the walls.

24. The corner bracket of any of claims 15 to 23 wherein the corner bracket includes a pair of spaced fin plates (23, 24).

25. The corner bracket of claim 24 wherein the rotatablemember extends between the fin plates.

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