Window treatment hembar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12104437-B2
Application number	US-202117557980-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2021
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A hembar may define a front portion and a rear portion configured to slidably engage each other. The front portion and the rear portion, when slidably engaged, may define a slot configured to receive a piece of fabric. The front portion and the rear portion may be configured to clamp the piece of fabric within the slot. The front portion and the rear portion may be configured such that a width of the slot is adjustable. The front portion may define a first attachment surface and the rear portion may define a second attachment surface. The first attachment surface may define a rib. The second attachment surface may define a groove configured to receive the rib when the front portion is slidably engaged with the rear portion such that the piece of fabric is clamped within the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hembar comprising:
a first portion that is elongate in a longitudinal direction, the first portion defining a first inside surface;
a second portion that is elongate in the longitudinal direction, the second portion configured to slidably engage the first portion, the second portion defining a second inside surface, wherein the first portion and the second portion define a slot configured to receive a piece of fabric and an internal cavity that extends in the longitudinal direction; and
a compressible member configured to transition from a relaxed position to a stretched position by stretching the compressible member in the longitudinal direction, the compressible member configured to be enclosed within the internal cavity such that the compressible member is surrounded by the first inside surface of the portion, the second inside surface of the second portion, and two other surfaces that define the internal cavity, the compressible member having a first diameter in the relaxed position and a second diameter in the stretched position, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the compressible member is configured to, when released from the stretched position within the internal cavity, exert a force on the first inside surface of the first portion and the second inside surface of the second portion such that the piece of fabric is clamped within the slot.

2. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured such that a width of the slot is adjustable.

3. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein a width of the slot is continuously variable from a first width to a second width.

4. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the piece of fabric is attached to the first portion or the second portion within the slot using double-sided tape.

5. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the first portion defines a first attachment surface and the second portion defines a second attachment surface, and wherein the first attachment surface is configured to press against the second attachment surface when the first portion is slidably engaged with the second portion.

6. The hembar of claim 5 , wherein the internal cavity of the hembar is defined by the first portion and the second portion, and wherein the compressible member exerts the force on the first portion and the second portion such that the piece of fabric is clamped between the first attachment surface and the second attachment surface.

7. The hembar of claim 6 , wherein the compressible member is a hollow rubber spline.

8. The hembar of claim 5 , wherein the first attachment surface defines a rib and the second attachment surface defines a groove configured to receive the rib when the first portion is slidably engaged with the second portion, and wherein the rib and groove are configured to clamp the piece of fabric within the slot.

9. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the internal cavity is accessible at opposed ends of the hembar.

10. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the first portion defines a first flange and a first channel, and wherein the second portion defines a second flange and a second channel, and wherein the first flange is received within the second channel and the second flange is received within the first channel such that alignment is maintained between the first portion and the second portion.

11. The hembar of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to be locked together.

12. A hembar comprising:
a front wall defining a substantially vertical front surface;
a rear wall defining a substantially vertical rear surface, the front wall and the rear wall spaced from each other by a horizontal distance;
a bottom wall defining a substantially horizontal bottom surface;
a first interior wall that is parallel to the front wall, the first interior wall defining a substantially vertical first inside surface;
a second interior wall that is parallel to the rear wall, the second interior wall defining a substantially vertical second inside surface that is parallel to the rear wall;
a slot located between the front wall and the rear wall, the slot configured to receive a flexible material;
an internal cavity between the front wall and rear wall that extends in a longitudinal direction; and
a rubber spline configured to transition from a relaxed position to a stretched position when stretched in the longitudinal direction, the rubber spline enclosed within the internal cavity such that the rubber spline is surrounded by the substantially vertical first inside surface, the substantially vertical second inside surface, and two other surfaces that define the internal cavity, the rubber spline having a first diameter in a relaxed position and a second diameter in a stretched position, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, and wherein the rubber spline is configured to, when released from the stretched position within the internal cavity, exert a force on the substantially vertical first inside surface and the substantially vertical second inside surface such that the flexible material is clamped within the slot, and
wherein the hembar comprises two or more pieces that slidably attach to one another.

13. The hembar of claim 12 , wherein a first piece of the two or more pieces comprises the front wall and the first interior wall, and wherein a second piece of the two or more pieces comprises the rear wall and the second interior wall.

14. The hembar of claim 13 , wherein the internal cavity is defined by the first piece and the second piece.

15. The hembar of claim 14 , wherein the hembar defines a center of gravity that is aligned with the slot.

16. The hembar of claim 12 , wherein the slot extends along a length of the hembar in the longitudinal direction.

17. The hembar of claim 12 , wherein the slot is located at a midpoint between the front wall and the rear wall.

18. The hembar of claim 17 , wherein a weight of the hembar is divided substantially equally on either side of the slot.

19. The hembar of claim 12 , wherein a depth of the hembar is at least two times a height of the hembar.

20. The hembar of claim 12 , wherein the internal cavity is accessible at opposed ends of the hembar.

21. The hembar of claim 20 , further comprising end caps configured to cover the opposed ends of the hembar.

Assignees

• Lutron Tech Co Llc

Inventors

• Blair Edward J
• Kirby David A
• Pejic Vladislav

Classifications

• E06B9/17046

  Bottom bars · CPC title

• A47H23/01

  Bottom bars for stretching hanging curtains; Magnets, slide fasteners, or the like to improve closing of curtains · CPC title

• E06B9/388

  Details of bottom or upper slats or their attachment · CPC title

• E06B9/42 Primary

  Parts or details of roller blinds, e.g. suspension devices, blind boxes (brackets or adjustable mountings for roller blinds and drawable curtains A47H1/13) · CPC title