Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DECOR END CAP FOR HEADRAILS
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TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a decor end cap for use
on the end of a venetian blind headrail to approve
appearance of the headrail and where the headrail is used
to support venetian blinds comprising all types of slatted
blinds including horizontally, vertically or otherwise
arranged slats.
BACKGROUND ART
Venetian blind headrails usually comprise U-shaped
channel members through which slat operating mechanisms
extend. In the case of horizontal venetian blinds, that
is blinds having horizontally extending slats, the head-
rail usually has therein slat tilting mechanisms and the
opening of the headrail facing upwardly. In the case of
vertically extending venetian blinds, that is where the
slats ex-tend in a vertical direction, the headrail is
usually in ~he shape of an inverted U with the opening
of the headrail facing downwardly. In both forms of
headrails, where the headrails are supported by brackets
: intermediate the ends, cap structure is usually mounted
on the end of the headrails to give a finished appearance
and at the same time to add rigidity to the headrail
structure. As headrails come in a variety of colors to
match the color o~ the slats, it has been necessary to
maintain a large inventory of caps of different colors
to assure that,the caps of a matching color will be
available for use with a headrail of a particular color.
This requirement for a large inventory necessarily in-
' creases cost of installation of such headrails.
,~ It is an object of my invention to provide for
a headrail end cap construction which will reduce the
requirement for maintaining a large inventory of different
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colored end caps or of caps having the same decorative
appearance as the headrails.
DISCLO~URE OF IN~ENTION
Broadly, my invention contemplates a decor end
cap for a venetian blind headrail which comprises an
insert having an inner end which is adapted to be inserted
into the open longitudinal end of a U~shaped headrail.
The outer end of the cap is adapted to be substantially
flush with the open end of the headrail when the cap is
inserted into the h~adrail. The outer end of the insert
includes mounting means by which a decor piece may be
conveniently mounted. Preferably, the decor piece has a
decorative appearance identical to that of the headrail
so that in that respect the outer end will match with the
headrail. Conveniently the decor piece may be made of a
scrap piece of slat material which is of the same color
as the headrail.
The outer end of the insert includes two spaced
raised narrow shoulders forming a tract where the spacin~
between the shoulders is slightly less than the decor
piece which is to be inserted between the shoulders.
Since the decor piece is slightly wider than the spacing
between the shoulders, it will be bowed sligh~ly such
that its edges will resiliently engage the edges of the
shoulders to securely lock the decor piece into place.
Preferably the outer end of the insert has an end panel
thereon on which the shoulders are mounted and where the
end panel has an outer periphery substantially ~qual to
the outer periphery of the U-shaped headrail with the
result that the edges of the panel form a stop to limit
insertion of the insert into a headrail.
In a further embodiment, the shoulders may be
slightly undercut to positively secure the decor piece.
In this event, it is not necessary that the decor piece
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be of a greater width than the spacing between the
shoulders.
Preferably the insert is made from a resilient
clear plastic material which includes headrail leg en-
5 gaging shoulder portions thereon adapted to resiliently
engage the interior of the U-shaped headrail along two of
its legs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a decor end
cap constructed according to the invention prior to the
mounting of a decor piece thereon;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating
a decor piece mounted on the cap;
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a
: manner in which a cap constructed according to the
invention may be applied to the end of a U-shaped head-
rail;
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating
the cap applied to the end of the headrail of Figure 3;
: Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure: 4 taken along lines 5-5; and
. 25 Figure 6 is a sectional view of a further embodi-
,~ ment of a cap constructed according to the invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
~ 30 Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a
!' decor end cap 1 which comprises in insert 2 having an
:. inner end 3 and an outer end 4 as shown in Figure 3. The
~" outer end 4 has a panel portion 5 thereon. Spaced raised
narrow shoulders 6 and 7 are included along the edges of
the panel 5 and are joined at one end by a narrow
shoulder 8.
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The end cap 1 is adapted to receive a decor piece
lG preferably made from a scrap piece of a slat and
usually comprising a sheet metal material. The width of
the decor pi~ce 10 is slightly greater than the distance
between the shoulders 6 and 7. In order to mount the
piece 10 onto the piece 1, it is necessary to slightly
bow the piece 10 as shown in Figure 1 in order that it
may be inserted between the edges of the shoulders 6 and
7 to the position as shown in Figure 2 where the edges of
the decor piece are resiliently urged into contact with
the edges of the shoulders due to the bowing or curving
of the decor piece to securely lock the piece in position.
The end cap preferably has headrail engaging
shoulder portions 11 and 12 including lips 13 and 14
adapted to engage the interior of inturned edges 15 and
16 on the end of the legs 17 and 18 of the U-shaped
headrail 10 as shown in Figure 5.
The end cap as shown in Figure 3 is applied to
the end o~ the headrail 19 by inserting the cap into the
longitudina~ open end of ~he headrail to the position as
shown in Figure 4 where the panel 5 will engage the end
of the headrail to prevent further insertion of the end
cap into the headrail. Preferably the distance or spacing
between the lips 13 and 14 is slightly less than the
distance or spacing between inturned edges 15 and 16 of
the headrail. The headrail is conventionally made of
a sheet metal material so that the legs 17 and 18 may be
easily squeezed towards one another in the direction of
the arrows 25.
In order to insert the cap into the headrail, the
end of the headrail is squeezed to move the legs and
edges 15 and 16 towards each other to allow the lips 13
and 14 to slide in the spaces formed by the inturned
edges. Upon release of the squeezing force, the legs 17
and 18 will tend to spring apart such that their inturned
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edges will resiliently engage the lips 13 and 14.
The panel 5 preferably has overall dimensions
such that it is substantially flush with the end of a
headraii to improve appearance. In addition the insert
and panel are preferably made from a clear plastic
material which may be easily press-molded and where the
clear plastic provides a neutral color which blends easily
with different headrail colors.
Referri~g to ~i~ure 6 a slightly diEferent
embodiment of an end cap l' is shown having shoulders
only one 7' of which is shown, where the edge of the
shoulders engaging the decor piece lO' are slightly under-
cut as at 30'. The overhang portions of the undercut
shoulders provide a means for securing a decor piece to
the end cap. As a consequence, the decor piece lO' as
shown need not be of a greater width than the spacing
between the shoulders such that it may lie flat on the
panel portion 5'.
While the drawings illustrate the decor end cap
as being applied to a headrail for a horizontal venetian
blind assembly, it is apparent that a similar cap could
be utili~ed with a headrail of a vertical venetian blind
assembly where the headrail usually comprises an inverted
U-shaped channel. It is obvious that the cross-sectional
configuration of the insert portion of the end cap could
take various forms other than that shown in the drawings,
the on~y requirement being that the insert provide a
support for mountin~ means or shoulders utilized to
mount the decor piece.
~t is further apparent that the decor end cap
constructed according to the invention may readily reduce
the inventory required of end caps since the end cap
provides a convenient means of mounting decor pieces made
from readily available scrap material to provide a color
match, to provide a color contrast or to otherwise
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provide a decorative effect to the end of a headrail, all
without departing from the scope of the invention.
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