Mounting system for an architectural covering and an end bearing for the mounting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9957752-B2
Application number	US-201414759702-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 2, 2014
Priority date	Jan 9, 2013
Publication date	May 1, 2018
Grant date	May 1, 2018

Abstract

The invention relates to a mounting system for an architectural covering comprising a roller and a bearing for rotatably mounting the roller to a holding member. The bearing comprises a length variation member which is biased to be in a first state yielding a bearing length which allows the roller to be held by the holding member, and which can be manipulated into a second state, in which the bearing length is reduced such that the roller is removable from the holding member. The length variation member comprises at least one sloped portion that extends along at least part of its outer circumference and in the first state extends largely or completely outside the roller. The sloped portion is dimensioned such that the length variation member can be urged to the second state by applying a force on the sloped portion in a single direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mounting system for an architectural covering, the mounting system comprising:
a roller for winding and unwinding a flexible member of the architectural covering, and
an end bearing connected to an axial end portion of the roller for rotatably mounting the roller to a holding member,
wherein:
the end bearing comprises a length variation member that is biased to be in a first state defining a bearing length allowing the roller to be held by the holding member,
the length variation member is movable into a second state in which the bearing length is reduced such that the roller is removable from the holding member,
the length variation member includes a slide member movable relative to the roller as the length variation member is moved between the first and second states and a separate end portion coupled to the slide member, the end portion being rotatable relative to the slide member, and
the length variation member comprises at least one sloped portion defined at least partially by the end portion.

2. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the slide member extends between an inner end positioned within the roller and an outer end that extends outwardly from the roller when the length variation member is in the first state; and
the at least one sloped portion extends to the outer end of the slide member.

3. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one sloped portion has a linear slope or a curved slope.

4. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the end portion comprises at least one support portion with a bearing surface arranged to bear against a counter surface of the holding member.

5. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the bearing surface extends substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the length variation member.

6. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the bearing surface at least partially defines a cylindrical shape having its centre axis extending parallel to and coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the length variation member.

7. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the end portion comprises at least three support portions located equidistantly with respect to each other along a circumference of the length variation member, near an outer end of the slide member.

8. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the bearing surface extends from the at least one sloped portion.

9. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein a length of the at least one sloped portion, as measured in an axial direction of a longitudinal axis of the length variation member, is equal to or longer than the length of the bearing surface measured in the same axial direction.

10. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the end portion comprises at least one diverting portion for diverting a tool that approaches a support portion of the end portion to the at least one sloped portion.

11. A mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one diverting portion is located between the support portion and the roller.

12. A mounting system according to claim 10 , wherein the at least one diverting portion comprises a radially outer edge that extends substantially in the axial direction and comprises surfaces at either side of the edge extending from the edge in the direction of the at least one sloped portion.

13. A mounting system according to claim 12 , wherein the outer edge is a rounded edge.

14. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the end portion is arranged on the slide member to be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the length variation member.

15. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein in a mounted condition an annular gap is defined between the roller and the holding member, the annular gap including a width, as measured in an axial direction between the roller and the holding member, that is equal to or larger than 0.5 mm and is equal to or smaller than 3 mm.

16. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein in a mounted condition an annular gap between the roller and the holding member is aligned, as viewed in a radial direction of at least the roller, with the at least one sloped portion such that the at least one sloped portion is accessible through the annular gap.

17. A mounting system according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one sloped portion is arranged such that the mounted roller is demountable by inserting a tool into the annular gap between the roller and the holding member so as to abut the at least one sloped portion and by subsequently applying a force to the at least one sloped portion in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of at least one of the roller, the end bearing, and the length variation member.

18. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the axial end portion of the roller is free from indents, openings or similar apertures that once the roller is in a mounted condition could allow light to pass through from one side of the architectural covering to the other side.

19. A mounting system according to claim 1 , wherein the end portion of the length variation member is rotatable between a first rotational position, in which the length variation member is locked against movement between the first state and the second state, and a second rotational position, in which the length variation member is free to move between the first and second states.

20. A mounting system according to claim 4 , wherein the bearing surface bears against the counter surface of the holding member to permit relative rotation between the at least one support portion and the holding member.

21. A mounting system for an architectural covering, the mounting system comprising:
a roller for winding and unwinding a flexible member of the architectural covering, and
an end bearing connected to an axial end portion of the roller for rotatably mounting the roller to a holding member,
wherein:
the end bearing comprises a length variation member that is biased to be in a first state defining a bearing length allowing the roller to be held by the holding member,
the length variation member is movable into a second state in which the bearing length is reduced such that the roller is removable from the holding member,
the length variation member includes a slide member movable relative to the roller as the length variation member is moved between the first and second states and at least one sloped portion rotatable relative to the slide member;
the at least one sloped portion extends at least partially outside the roller when the length variation member is in the first state, and
the at least one sloped portion is arranged such that the length variation member is urged to the second state by applying a force on the at least one sloped portion in a single direction.

22. The mounting system of claim 21 , wherein:
the at least one sloped portion is defined by an end portion of the length variation member;
the end portion being rotatably coupled to the slide member.

23. The mounting system of claim 22 , further comprising a bearing positioned between the end portion and the slide member.

24. The mounting system of claim 21 , wherein the at least one sloped portion of the length variation member is rotatable between a first rotational position, in which the length variation member is locked against movement between the first state and the second state,

Assignees

• Hunter Douglas Ind Bv

Inventors

• Bohlen Jorg
• Koop Lars

Classifications

• 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

• E06B9/50 Primary

  Bearings specially adapted therefor · CPC title