DRAPERY ROD BRACKET
The bracket comprises a support arm that can be mounted to either a vertical surface such as a wall or a horizontal surface such as a ceiling. A rod supporting member such as a ring or hook is removably attached to the arm and is adapted to receive and support a drapery rod. The rod supporting member can be removed from the support arm and attached directly to a surface to provide an inside mount for the rod. A separate mounting clip may be used to mount the rod supporting member to the surface. the mounting clip may be provided with a rod engaging element for centering the rod and a surface engaging element for fixing the position of the rod supporting member on the surface.
The invention relates generally to window coverings such as draperies and more particularly to an improved bracket for a drapery rod.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn a typical drapery rod installation the drapery rod consists of an elongated substantially cylindrical pole that is supported at or near its ends by brackets. Depending upon the type of drapery, the desired aesthetic look, the structure to which the rod is to be mounted, and other factors, different types of brackets are used to mount the rod in different installations. For example, the brackets may be mounted to a vertical surface such as a wall (wall mount), to a horizontal surface such as a ceiling (ceiling mount) or to the inside of a surface such as a window casement (inside mount) where each mounting arrangement requires a different type of bracket having a structure particularly suited for the type of installation.
The necessity of providing different mounting brackets can make the sale and installation of drapery rods unduly complicated and expensive. Manufacturers and retailers are required to stock different types of brackets and customers are required to purchase the type of bracket particularly suited for the type of installation. For do-it-yourself installations, the customer often is uncertain of the type of bracket that is required for the particular installation at the time of purchase leading to frustration and wasted time and effort. Moreover, drapery rods and brackets may be sold as kits where the rod and brackets are sold together complicating both the purchase decision of the customer and inventory and supply issues for the manufacturer and retailer.
Thus an improved drapery rod bracket is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe bracket of the invention comprises an adjustable support arm that can be mounted to either a vertical surface such as a wall or a horizontal surface such as a ceiling. A rod supporting member such as a ring or hook is removably attached to the arm and is adapted to receive and support the drapery rod. The rod supporting member can be removed from the support arm and attached directly to a surface to provide an inside mount for the rod. A separate mounting clip may be used to mount the rod supporting member to the surface. The mounting clip may be provided with a rod engaging element for centering the rod and a surface engaging element for fixing the position of the rod supporting member on the surface. A rod may be supported by the bracket in the wall mount, ceiling mount and/or inside mount positions.
The bracket of the invention is shown generally at 1 in
Arm portions 2a and 2b are formed with mating tracks 5 that allow the arms to reciprocate relative to one another in a telescoping manner to adjust the length of arm 2. Arm portion 2a is formed with a through hole 7 for receiving a fastener 4 such as a threaded screw. Arm portion 2b is formed with a plurality threaded holes 6 that can be selectively engaged by fastener 4 such that arm portion 2a can be fixed in position relative to arm portion 2b. The use of discrete threaded holes 6 rather than continuously adjustable members enables the bracket 1 to be used as a ceiling mount bracket as shown in
A hole 14 is formed in face 16 arranged at the end of arm portion 2a. In the illustrated embodiment surface 16 is bounded by a wall 18 to create a recessed area 20 that receives a mating protrusion 24 formed on rod supporting member 22. Rod supporting member 22 defines an interior space 23 in which the rod is located. In
To mount the bracket as either a ceiling mount (
To use the bracket of the invention as an inside mount, the rod supporting member 22 is removed from arm 2 by unfastening fastener 26. Referring to
Referring to
An alternate embodiment of the mounting clip 30 and rod supporting member 22 is shown in
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
While embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the invention has other applications in other environments. Many embodiments are possible. The following claims are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention to the specific embodiments described above.
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. (canceled)
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. (canceled)
6. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member is a ring.
7. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member is a hook.
8. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member includes a notch at the periphery thereof for receiving said clip such that said rod supporting member is flush with said second surface.
9. (canceled)
10. (canceled)
11. (canceled)
12. (canceled)
13. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said clip includes a protrusion for engaging said second surface.
14. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said arm is telescoping.
15. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first portion and said second portion occupy one of a plurality of discrete positions relative to one another.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first portion is fixed in one of said discrete positions relative to said second portion.
17. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member has an interior portion said clip extending into said interior portion.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said clip includes a post in said interior portion.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said post engages the drapery rod.
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
22. An apparatus for mounting drapery comprising:
- a drapery rod;
- a rod supporting member for supporting the drapery rod in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- an arm for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a first surface having a first orientation relative to said rod, said arm including first means for releasably connecting said arm to said rod supporting member and a first flange for abutting the first surface, said arm including a first portion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that when said first portion is fixed in a first position relative to said second portion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixed in a second position relative to said second portion said arm has a second length different than said first length; and
- a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a second orientation relative to said rod, said clip including second means for releasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member and a second flange for abutting the second surface; whereby either said arm or said clip is connected to said drapery rod supporting member for mounting the drapery rod to the first surface or the second surface.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first flange includes apertures for receiving a fastener.
24. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said protrusion includes a sharp edge.
25. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first means for releasably connecting includes a fastener.
26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said second means for releasably connecting includes a fastener.
27. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said rod supporting member is in a first orientation relative to said drapery rod when said rod supporting member is connected to said arm and said rod supporting member is in a second orientation relative to said drapery rod when said rod supporting member is connected to said clip.
28. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first portion is threadably connected to said second portion.
29. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said first surface is at substantially a right angle relative to said second surface.
30. An method for mounting a drapery rod comprising:
- providing a drapery rod;
- providing a rod supporting member for supporting the drapery rod in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- providing an arm for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a first surface having a first orientation relative to said rod, releasably connecting said arm to said rod, said arm including a first portion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that when said first portion is fixed in a first position relative to said second portion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixed in a second position relative to said second portion said arm has a second length different than said first length;
- providing a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a second orientation relative to said rod, releasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member;
- selecting either said arm or said clip for mounting the drapery rod to the first surface or the second surface;
- connecting the selected arm or clip to the rod supporting member;
- attaching the selected arm or clip to the first or second surface; and
- supporting said drapery rod on said rod supporting member.
31. An apparatus for mounting drapery comprising:
- a drapery rod;
- a rod supporting member for supporting the drapery rod in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- an arm for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a first surface having a first orientation relative to said rod, said arm including first connector for releasably connecting said arm to said rod supporting member, said arm including a first portion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that when said first portion is fixed in a first position relative to said second portion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixed in a second position relative to said second portion said arm has a second length different than said first length; and
- a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a second orientation relative to said rod, said clip including second connector for releasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member;
- whereby either said arm or said clip is connected to said drapery rod supporting member for mounting the drapery rod to the first or second surface.
32. An apparatus for mounting a drapery rod to a first surface or a second surface comprising:
- a rod supporting member adapted to support a drapery rod in a substantially horizontal orientation;
- an arm for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a first surface having a first orientation, said arm including first connector for releasably connecting said arm to said rod supporting member, said arm including a first portion and a second portion adjustably fixed relative to said first portion such that when said first portion is fixed in a first position relative to said second portion said arm has a first length and when said first portion is fixed in a second position relative to said second portion said arm has a second length different than said first length; and
- a clip for mounting said drapery rod supporting member to a second surface having a second orientation, said clip including second connector for releasably connecting said clip to said rod supporting member and a flange for abutting the second surface;
- whereby either said arm or said clip is connected to said drapery rod supporting member for mounting to the first surface or second surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 17, 2006
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
Inventor: Brandon Seth Cross (Charlotte, NC)
Application Number: 11/550,083