Device for Supporting Blinds

Abstract

A device for supporting blinds has at least two components each having a holding part extending in a longitudinal direction and having a front surface forming a longitudinal receiving channel for receiving a part of a blind, an attaching part connected of one piece with the holding part, extending from the holding part in a transverse direction, and having a rear surface, and an adhesive layer provided on the rear surface of the attaching part and attaching the attaching part and thereby also the holding part to a supporting surface, and in the device the holding part, the attaching part, and the adhesive layer can be transparent.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to devices for supporting blinds for various uses.

[0002] Devices of the above mentioned general type are known in the art. The known devices are usually formed as brackets which are attached to walls, doors, etc. by fastening elements, such as screws, so that a blind can be held with its opposite ends supported on two brackets, which are spaced from one another in a horizontal direction and can in turn support the blind. It is believed that the existing devices for supporting blinds can be further improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for supporting blinds, which is a further improvement of the existing blinds supporting devices.

[0004] In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a device for supporting blinds, including at least two components each having a holding part extending in a longitudinal direction and having a front surface forming a longitudinal receiving channel for receiving a part of a blind: an attaching part connected of one piece with said holding part, extending from said holding part in a transverse direction, and having a rear surface; and an adhesive layer provided on said rear surface of said attaching part and attaching said attaching part and thereby also said holding part to a supporting surface, wherein said holding part, said attaching part, and said adhesive layer are transparent.

[0005] In accordance with another feature of the present invention, said front surface of said holding part which forms said receiving channel is substantially arcuate, while said rear surface of said attaching part is substantially flat.

[0006] In accordance with still a further feature of the present invention, said holding part is substantially arcuate, while said attaching part is substantially flat.

[0007] A further feature of the present invention resides in that the supporting device has means for increasing a transverse width of an inlet to said receiving channel for introducing a part of a blind into said channel, and thereafter reducing the transverse width of the inlet of said channel after the introduction of the part of the blind therein.

[0008] Still a further feature of the present invention resides in that said means include a projection formed of one piece with a portion of said holding part and pressable by a user to deflect said portion and to increase the width of the inlet of said channel, and thereafter releasable by a user to allow springing of said portion back to reduce the width of the inlet of said channel.

[0009] A further feature of the present invention resides in that said projection extends substantially parallel to said attaching part and at a distance from the latter as considered in a direction substantially perpendicular to said attaching part.

[0010] The new features of the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself however both as to its construction and its manner of operation, will be best understood from the description of the preferred embodiments, which is accompanied by the following drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of a component of a device for supporting blinds in accordance with the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a side view of the component of the device for supporting blinds in accordance with the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a back view of the component of the device for supporting blinds in accordance with the present invention;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a back view of two components of the inventive device, which are spaced from one another and support a blind; and

[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective back view of the two components of the inventive device, which support a part of a blind.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] A device for supporting blinds in accordance with the present invention has at least two components, each identified with reference numeral 1. Each component has a holding part 2 for holding a part of a blind, and an attaching part 3 for attaching the component 1 of the device to a supporting surface.

[0017] The holding part 1 has a certain extension in a longitudinal direction A and is substantially arcuate or curvilinear as considered in a transverse direction B. The holding part 1 has an inner surface 4 which is concave and forms a receiving channel 5. In the shown embodiment the inner surface 4 has an upper arcuate section 6, a lower arcuate section 7. and a transitional rectangular section 8.

[0018] The holding part 2 further has an outer surface 9 which is convex and has an upper arcuate section 10, a lower arcuate section 11, and a substantially flat transitional section 12. The inner surface 4 and the outer surface 9 of the holding part 2 preferably have substantially similar shapes to provide a uniform thickness of the holding part 2.

[0019] The attaching part 3 extends transversely to the longitudinal direction and is substantially flat. It has an inner surface 13 and also an outer surface 14 which is substantially flat and configured to be attached to a supporting surface. It is important that the transitional section 12 of the outer surface 9 of the holding part 2 lies in the same plane as the outer surface 14 of the attaching part 3 so as to form a single, continuous, substantially flat surface.

[0020] Each component 1 of the inventive device further has an adhesive layer identified with reference numeral 15 and adhesively attached to the outer surface 14 of the attaching part 3. Initially its outer face is covered with a non-sticky cover layer 16, for example of paper.

[0021] Means is further provided for increasing a width of an inlet into the channel 5 and reducing the width. This means is formed as a projection 17 which is preferably of one piece with the holding part 2 and in particular with its lower portion which is deflectable downwardly and upwardly. This can be achieved by making this portion of a flexible material, by flexibly connecting this portion to a remaining portion of the holding part 2, etc.

[0022] The holding part 2, the attaching part 3, and the projection 17 are of one piece with each other, or in other words they are made as a one piece element of a same material for example of plastic material. All these elements, including the adhesive layer, as well as other elements of each component 1 of the device can be transparent. Therefore, when the components are attached to any supporting surface, they do not obstruct the view of this surface.

[0023] In order to use the device, the non-sticky layer 16 in each component 1 is removed and the component is pressed with its adhesive layer 15 against the supporting surface and thereby is attached to the letter. With two components attached to the supporting surface and spaced from one another, a user presses the projection 17 of the holding part 2 of each component rearwardly towards the attaching part 3, the width of the inlet of the channel 5 of the holding part 2 increases, a part of the blind is introduced into the channel 5 of each component, the pressure by the user on the projection 17 is removed so that the width of the inlet to the channel 5 is reduced, and the blind is reliably held in the channels 5 of the holding parts 2 which are attached by the attaching parts 3 of the components 12 to the supporting surface.

[0024] As can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, the components 1 of the inventive device for supporting blinds directly support an upper supporting rod 18 of the blinds.

[0025] The present invention is not limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes are possible without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

[0026] What is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for supporting blinds, comprising at least two components each having a holding part extending in a longitudinal direction and having a front surface forming a longitudinal receiving channel for receiving a part of a blind: an attaching part connected of one piece with said holding part, extending from said holding part in a transverse direction, and having a rear surface; and an adhesive layer provided on said rear surface of said attaching part and attaching said attaching part and thereby also said holding part to a supporting surface, wherein said holding part, said attaching part, and said adhesive layer are transparent.

2. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 1, wherein said front surface of said holding part which forms said receiving channel is substantially arcuate, while said rear surface of said attaching part is substantially flat.

3. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 1, wherein said holding part is substantially arcuate, while said attaching part is substantially flat.

4. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 1, further comprising means for increasing a transverse width of an inlet to said receiving channel for introducing a part of a blind into said channel, and thereafter reducing the transverse width of the inlet of said channel after the introduction of the part of the blind therein.

5. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 4, wherein said means include a projection formed of one piece with a portion of said holding part and pressable by a user to defect said portion and to increase the width of the inlet of said channel and thereafter releasable by a user to allow springing of said portion back to reduce the width of the inlet of said channel.

6. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 5, wherein said projection extends substantially parallel to said attaching part and at a distance from the latter as considered in a direction substantially perpendicular to said attaching part.

7. A device for supporting blinds, comprising at least two components each having a holding part extending in a longitudinal direction and having a front surface forming a longitudinal receiving channel for receiving a part of a blind; an attaching part connected of one piece with said holding part, extending from said holding part in a transverse direction, and having a rear surface; and an adhesive layer provided on said rear surface of said attaching part and attaching said attaching part and thereby also said holding part to a supporting surface.

8. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 7, further comprising means for increasing a transverse width of an inlet to said receiving channel for introducing a part of a blind into said channel, and thereafter reducing the transverse width of the inlet of said channel after the introduction of the part of the blind therein.

9. A device for supporting blinds as defined in claim 8, wherein said means include a projection formed of one piece with a portion of said holding part and pressable by a user to deflect said portion and to increase the width of the inlet of said channel, and thereafter releasable by a user to allow springing of said portion back to reduce the width of the inlet of said channel.

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