Arrangement for a component housing for use in a rail of a window covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9677330-B2
Application number	US-201514663600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Jul 17, 2013
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

The base and cover of a component housing are releasably assembled to each other with yokes on one of said base and cover, with at least one of said yokes flexing to slide over and snap around a respective boss on the other of said yoke and cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement for a component for use on a rail of a window covering,
comprising:
a component housing, comprising a cover and a base, one of said cover or said base including a first end wall and a second end wall opposite said first end wall;
an elongated rod defining an axis of rotation, said elongated rod configured to extend through said component housing along said axis of rotation;
a first boss projecting outwardly from said first end wall;
a second boss projecting outwardly from said second end wall;
first and second opposed cantilevered yokes projecting from the other of said cover or said base, said first cantilevered yoke defining a first opening and being configured to engage said first boss when said cover is installed relative to said base, said second cantilevered yoke defining a second opening and being configured to engage said second boss when said cover is installed relative to said base;
wherein:
at least one of said first boss or said first cantilevered yoke defines a ramped surface;
when said cover and said base are brought together, said first cantilevered yoke flexes outwardly away from an interior of said component housing in a direction parallel to said axis of rotation due to said ramped surface such that said first cantilevered yoke rides along an exterior of said first boss and then snaps back towards said interior of said component housing to receive said first boss in said first opening of said first cantilevered yoke; and
when said cover and said base are brought together, said second cantilevered yoke receives said second boss.

2. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 1 , wherein an elongated channel on one of said housing or a rail of a window covering receives a corresponding elongated lip on the other of said housing or the rail to slidably mount said housing on the rail so that said housing can slide axially along said elongated rod relative to the rail.

3. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first cantilevered yoke or said second cantilevered yoke is U-shaped and wraps completely around the respective boss when said cover is installed relative to said base.

4. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of said first cantilevered yoke or said second cantilevered yoke includes first and second legs; and
said first and second legs are only configured to partially wrap around the respective boss when said cover is installed relative to said base.

5. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 1 , wherein said elongated rod extends through said first and second openings defined in said first and second cantilevered yokes along said axis of rotation.

6. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 5 , and further comprising a rotating element mounted on said elongated rod for rotation with said elongated rod, said rotating element being housed within said component housing.

7. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 6 , wherein:
said first end wall defines a first U-shaped opening;
said second end wall defines a second U-shaped opening; and
said first and second U-shaped openings supporting said rotating element within said component housing.

8. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 6 , wherein said rotating element is a splined sleeve.

9. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 6 , wherein at least one of said base or said cover defines bearing surfaces which support said rotating element.

10. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 9 , wherein said elongated rod extends through both of said first and second openings in said first and second cantilevered yokes.

11. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first cantilevered yoke or said second cantilevered yoke is U-shaped and wraps completely around the respective boss when said cover is installed relative to said base.

12. The arrangement for a component as recited in claim 10 , wherein:
at least one of said first cantilevered yoke or said second cantilevered yoke includes first and second legs; and
said first and second legs are only configured to partially wrap around the respective boss when said cover is installed relative to said base.

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas

Inventors

• Anderson Richard N
• Thompson Eugene W
• Fisher Ii Robert E

Classifications

• E06B9/262

  with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds {, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens} · CPC title

• E06B9/322 Primary

  Details of operating devices, e.g. pulleys, brakes, spring drums, drives ({operating devices E06B9/68} ; devices of general interest specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material B65H75/34) · CPC title

• E06B9/325

  Immobilising devices preventing raising · CPC title

• E06B2009/3222

  Cordless, i.e. user interface without cords · CPC title

• E06B2009/2625

  Pleated screens, e.g. concertina- or accordion-like · CPC title