Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to venetian blinds and
more specifically to holders or clips for supporting a valance
in front of or around the head of a venetian blind.
This application is a divisional application of
copending application No. 317, 797 filed December 12, 1978.
A valance for a venetian blind head is desirable in
order to eliminate an objectional but unavoidable light gap at
the top of the blind. Most blinds have a clearance at the top
so that if the installation brackets are fastened overhead, the
brackets will provide space above the head for thickness of
the bracket and screw heads. If the window jamb is not deeply
recessed or if there is a small frame or sash, (such as for
instance in metal casement windows) a visible light gap exists.
Such gap can be covered with the valance according to the
present invention.
It is very difficult to finish the heads of venetian
blinds with various colors, designs, and trims since this would
involve a costly process and it might be difficult to match the
color and design of the head channel and the slats of the vene-
tian blind since they are coated and formed by different process-
es.
Still further, a window covering would look more
attractive aesthetically by having the horizontal slats begin
from the very top of the window opening to the bottom rather
than starting below the venetian blind head.
In tilting a venetian blind to closed position, the
slats have a percentage of overlap which provides better light
exclusion and control. However, the top slat cannot overlap
the bottom of the head. Therefore, an objectionable light gap
may be produced if the blind is not closed fully or in some
cases due to mechanical or assembly discrepancies, the gap will
even appear when the blind is completely closed.
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Finally, a valance gives the interior decorator the
option of using a different color scheme for the valance than
for the slats, that is to either use cohtrasting or matching
colors or designs in a room.
Basically, the valance consists of two slats, one
arranged above the other. The lower slat slightly overlaps
the bottom edge of the upper slat in order to disguise any
irregularities, ripples, dents or non-parallelness in the slats,
especially since the valance is above eye level. Although the
thickness of the clip will create a light gap, such gap will
not be visible because of the overlap and sight angle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
variety of holders for supporting a valance at various locations
at a venetian blind head channel.
For copending application No. 317,797 there is dis-
closed and claimed an article of manufacture for use in connec-
tion with a venetian blind, comprising: a body of substantially
flat sheet metal having means for supporting at least one
valance in a substantially horizontal position, said supporting
means comprising three spaced prongs protruding from said body
and substantially in vertical alignment with each other, said
body also having means for connecting said body to a support,
said connecting means comprising a plurality of tabs adapted to
engage complementary openings in said support, said tabs extend-
ing from the plane of said flat sheet metal body in a direction
opposite to said prongs and substantially at right angles to
the plane of said flat sheet metal body, each of said tabs being
provided with a substantially centrally extending slot, where-
by each tab may yeild and be compressed towards the centre of
the respective tab when entering a complementary opening.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention
there is provided an article of manufacture for use in connection
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with a venetian blind, comprising: a body of substantially
flat sheet metal having means for supporting at least one val-
ance in a substantially horizontal position,-said supporting
means comprising three spaced prongs protruding from said body
on one side thereof and substantially in vertical alignment with
each other, said body also having means for connecting said
body to a support, said body comprising a first body portion,
said supporting means being connected to said first body portion,
said connecting means comprising a second body portion connected
to said first body portion but spaced therefrom in a direction
substantially perpendicular to said first body portion and on
the side of said body opposite said one side, said second body
portion having means for clamping said body to a venetian blind
head, and means for positively holding said first body portion
in a substantially vertical plane when connected to said vene-
tian blind head, said holding means comprising a portion of
said second body portion extending perpendicularly to the plane
of said first body portion.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present
~0 invention there is provided an article of manufacture for use
in connection with a venetian blind, comprising: a body of
substantially flat sheet metal having means for supporting at
least one valance in a substantially horizontal position, said
supporting means comprising three spaced prongs protruding from
said body on one side thereof and substantially in vertical
alignment with each other, said body also having means for
connecting said body to a support, said body comprising a first
body portion having a top, said supporting means being connected
to saidtfirst body portion, said body comprising a second body
portion spaced from said first body portion and e~tending sub~
stantially parallel to said first body portion in a direction
substantially perpendicular to said first body portion, said
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second body portion having a top and a bottom and integrally
formed thereon at its top means for clamping said body to a
venetian blind head, and means for positively holding said
first body portion in a substantially vertical plane when con-
nected to said venetian blind head, said holding means forming
a third body portion connecting the bottom of said second body
portion to the top of said first body portion.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top view of a venetian blind head with
the valance according to the present invention attached;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the venetian blind
head and valance of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a cross section through a venetian blind
head with two valances and one embodiment of a holder or clip
for attaching the valance to the blind head;
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the holder or clip in front
and rear elevation, respectively;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment
of a holder or clip for the valance;
Figure 8 illustrates a third embodiment of a holder
for attaching a portion of the valance to the side of the head
of a venetian blind;
Figure 9 is a side view of the holder of Figure 8;
Figures 10, 11 and 12 are front, side and top views,
respectively, of a further embodiment of a holder or clip for
attaching a valance to the side of a venetian blind head;
Figures 13 and 14 are top views of two embodiments
of a venetian blind in which the slats are not directly attached
to the sides of the venetian blind head, but instead are some-
what spaced therefrom and attached to a wall or window frame;
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Figure 15 shows a bracket for connection to a wall and
to which a holder of Figures 11 and 12 can be attached.
Referring now to the drawings indetail, and Figures
1 to 3 in particular, a venetian blind head generally designated
with the reference numeral 10 comprises a head channel 12 with
end brackets 14. The head channel contains the usual components
for operating a venetian blind, such as a tilter 16 to be oper-
ated by a wand 18 (see Figure 4) or a cord and supports 20 for
the ladders 22. All of these elements described so far are
conventional and do not form part of the present invention.
A valance 24 consisting for instance of two slats is
attached to the head channel by clips or holders 26 (three
being shown in Figure 1). Thus, for instance, Figure 2 indicates
that each valance 24 comprises a central section 28 overlapping
two end sections 30, 32, respectively. The end sections 30, 32
are held to the brackets 14 by clips or holders 60 described
in detail further below.
A clip or holder 26 for connecting the front valance
24 to the head channel 12 is shown in Figures 4 to 6. It com-
prises a sheet metal body 34 of substantially rectangularshape with a substantially triangular end portion 36. However,
end section 36 could like wise be rectangular.
Clip 26 is also provided with three hook-like elements
38, lateral wings 40 and a rear extension 42 including a down-
wardly sloping protion 44, a substantially horizontal portion
46, a substantially vertical portion 48, and an indented portion
50. These portions are clearly shown in Figure 4, which Figure
also illustrates how the clip 26 is attached to a head channel
12 with a downwardly and inwardly folded portion 13. The lateral
wings 40 rest against the substantially vertical wall 15 of head
channel 12 while section 46 rests on portions 13 and portions
48 and 50 are firmly pressed against portion 13 so that clip 26
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assumes a stable position with respect to the head channel 12.
Two or more of clips 26 can be arranged along the length of
the head channel and valances 28 or 30 may be inserted between
the hook-like elements 38, as likewise shown in Figure 4.
While clip 26 is shown in Figures 4 to 6 as being made
from one integral piece of sheet metal, it is to be understood
that the clip could also be made from two or more sheet metal
pieces if such were desired for manufacturing or other reasons.
Thus, for instance, portions 34, 36 and 38 could form one piece,
and portions 40 to 50 another piece, which would be connected
to the piece forming portions 34, 38, for instance by welding,
by connecting elements, such as screws, and in any other conven-
ient manner.
A further embodiment of a clip is illustrated in
Figure 7. Clip 52 shown therein has a main body portion 34
which could essentially be the same as portions 34 of clip 26
with hook-like elemen-s 38. Clip 52 also comprises a downwardly
bent portion 54 and an upwardly bent portion 56 substantially
parallel to portion 34, and a curved portion 58 which would be
substantially the equivalent of portions 46, 48 and 50 of clip
26 (See Figure 4) in that it fits over portion 13 of channel 12
and could be forced thereover to snap clip 52 in place onto
head channel 12 with portion 56 firmly placed against side wall
15.
According to the present invention, a difEerent type
of clip or holder is provided for attaching valances to an end
bracket, such as bracket 14 shown in Figure 1. A first embodi-
ment of such a clip is shown at 60 in Figures 8 and 9. It com-
prises a sheet metal body similar to that illustrated in Figurc
6 and designated with reference numerals 34 and 36. It also
comprises three hook-like elements 38 and prongs 62 which arc
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adapted to pass through bores 64 customarily provided in such
end brackets. In this manner, the prongs 62 can be passed
through the bores 64 and the entire clip 60 is slipped downward-
ly so that the clip comes to a firm rest position by the prongs
62 engaging the inside of bracket 14. A slat 30 is shown in
dot dash lines as being attached to clip 60, in Figure 8.
A very advantageous embodiment of a clip for attaching
a valance to the end bracket of a venetian blind head is illus-
trated in Figures 10 to 12. This clip designated with the
reference numeral 66 again comprises a sheet metal body 34 with
an end section 36 and three hook-like elements 38. It also
comprises four tabs 68 struck from the body 34 and extending
rearwardly therefrom. Each tab 68 is provided with a slot 70,
enabling it to be compressed as it is pushed into an opening
such as bore 64 shown in Figure 8. Since the tabs are resilient
they hold securely in brackets and because they are tapered
and undercut at 72 they can be used with brackets of different
thicknesses. The tabs have sufficient holding power to resist
the tension of a valance which has been curved around the
brackets. Even after having been removed several times, the
tabs continue to hold well. However, if they should lose their
grip.they can very easily be made effective again by spreading
the prongs with a screwdriver or knife blade.
The design of Figure 13 differs from that of Figure
1 in that the valance 74 is curved rather than bent at right
angles, as is the valance 30 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3.
Moreover, the vent valance 74 is connected to a window jamb
76 by means of a clip such as clip 66 previously described,
which is screwed directly to the jamb 76 by passing screws
through holes 67 of clip 66, the hooks or prongs having been
flattened by hammerblows or eliminated.
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The arrangement according to Figure 14 is similar to
that of Figure 13. However, the curved valance 74 is connected
to a bracket 78 attached to a wall. A bracket, such as bracket
66, is interposed between the valance 74 and bracket 78, by
passing the tabs 68 through holes 80 of bracket 78.
