Retention systems for window treatment installations

A roller shade retention system comprising:

• a first retention bracket that, when mounted to a structure at a first location, is configured to at least partially surround a first portion of a roller shade assembly having a roller tube and a covering material such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the first retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the covering material and does not make contact with the covering material;
• and
• a second retention bracket that, when mounted to the structure at a second location that is spaced from the first location, is configured to at least partially surround a second portion of the roller shade assembly such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the second retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the covering material and does not make contact with the covering material,
• wherein the first and second retention brackets are further configured to absorb corresponding portions of an impact force associated with detachment of the roller shade assembly from a mounted position, and to limit displacement of the detached roller shade assembly from the mounted position;
• and wherein the first and second retention brackets define respective first and second openings that are sized to allow raising and lowering of the covering material of the roller shade assembly therethrough, wherein a width of at least one of the first and second openings is narrower than a diameter of the roller tube.

An impact-absorbing retention bracket comprising:

• a front wall that defines opposed upper and lower ends, at least a portion of the front wall extending along a transverse direction;
• an upper wall that extends from the upper end of the front wall and that is configured to attach to a structure;
• and
• a lower wall that extends from the lower end of the front wall,
• wherein when the retention bracket is attached to the structure, the front wall and the lower wall are configured to at least partially enclose a portion of a roller shade assembly that is attached to the structure in a mounted position, the roller shade assembly comprising a roller tube and a shade material;
• wherein the transverse direction extends perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the roller shade assembly;
• the retention bracket configured such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the shade material, the retention bracket defining an opening through which the shade material of the roller shade assembly may be raised and lowered without the shade material making contact with the retention bracket, wherein a width of the opening is narrower than a diameter of the roller tube, and wherein the retention bracket is further configured to absorb a portion of an impact force associated with detachment of the roller shade assembly from a mounted position, and to limit displacement of the detached roller shade assembly from the mounted position.

An impact-absorbing retention bracket comprising:

• a first bracket member that includes:
• a plate that is configured to attach to a structure;
• and
• an upper arm that extends outward from the plate and that is configured to surround a first circumferential portion of a roller shade assembly that is attached to the structure in a mounted position, the roller shade assembly comprising a roller tube and a shade material;
• and
• a second bracket member that is removably attachable to the first bracket member, and that defines a lower arm that is configured to surround a second circumferential portion of the roller shade assembly,
• wherein the first and second bracket members define an opening through which the shade material of the roller shade assembly raises and lowers without the shade material making contact with the retention bracket, the opening having a width that is narrower than a diameter of the roller tube,
• wherein the first and second bracket members are configured such that, during normal operation of the roller shade assembly, the retention bracket does not carry weight of the roller tube or the shade material, and wherein the retention bracket is configured to absorb a portion of an impact force associated with detachment of the roller shade assembly from a mounted position, and to limit displacement of the detached roller shade assembly from the mounted position.