Method of installing a motorized gearbox assembly in a window covering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759010-B2
Application number	US-201615336040-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2016
Priority date	Apr 8, 2014
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

A method in accordance with the invention includes a headrail bracket configured to be inserted into a headrail at an angle from a top thereof. The headrail bracket includes clips snap into a top edge of the headrail, and an attachment mechanism to attach to a gearbox assembly configured to rotate a tilt rod of a window blind tilting mechanism. In certain embodiments, the headrail bracket is a single component with a substantially low profile. This headrail bracket may span a top of the headrail. In other embodiments, the headrail bracket includes a first component to secure a first end of the gearbox assembly to the headrail and a second component to secure a second end of the gearbox assembly to the headrail. In certain embodiments, the first component slides over the first end of the gearbox assembly and the second component slides over the second end of the gearbox assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
inserting, into a headrail, a gearbox assembly to rotate a tilt rod of a blinds tilting mechanism, the gearbox assembly comprising at least one mounting fixture;
inserting, from the top of the headrail at an angle, a headrail bracket comprising a pair of laterally opposed flanges that snap into corresponding lips or grooves on top edges of the headrail, and an attachment mechanism to attach the gearbox assembly to the headrail bracket; and
repositioning the headrail bracket to align the headrail bracket within the headrail and cause the attachment mechanism of the headrail bracket to engage the mounting fixture of the gearbox assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising installing the headrail bracket such that the headrail bracket spans the top of the headrail.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising installing the headrail bracket such that the headrail engages the top edges of the headrail on each side of the headrail.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the headrail bracket is a single component with a substantially low profile.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the headrail bracket comprises a first component to secure a first end of the gearbox assembly to the headrail and a second component to secure a second end of the gearbox assembly to the headrail.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising sliding the first component over the first end of the gearbox assembly and sliding the second component over the second end of the gearbox assembly.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising substantially preventing, by the headrail bracket, rotation of the gearbox assembly relative to the headrail.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, by the headrail bracket, a substantially consistent position of the gearbox assembly relative to a top of the headrail.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Carlson Austin Benjamin
• Brimhall Emily

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Carlson Austin Benjamin
• Brimhall Emily

Classifications

• F16H2057/02039

  Gearboxes for particular applications · CPC title

• E06B2009/3222

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

• E06B9/38

  Other details · CPC title

• F24S50/80

  for controlling collection or absorption of solar radiation · CPC title

• Y10T74/2186

  Gear casings · CPC title