Architectural-structure covering having a movable valance
AssigneeHunter Douglas Inc.
InventorMichael S. Goldberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mount and associated method for facilitating movement (e.g., pivotable) of a valance relative to a headrail of an architectural-structure covering is disclosed. The device or mount interconnects the valance and the headrail so that the valance can readily move (e.g., pivot) with respect to the headrail. In use, during retraction of the covering, bunching of the covering may cause the covering to contact the valance resulting in the valance moving away from the headrail thus minimizing or eliminating any adverse effects.
Claims21
An architectural-structure covering comprising:
- a headrail;
- a covering movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
- a valance operably associated with said headrail;
- and
- one or more mounts for movably coupling said valance to said headrail so that when said covering is in said retracted position contact between said covering and said valance causes said valance to pivot away from said headrail;
- wherein each of said one or more mounts includes:
- a first portion for operatively coupling to said headrail;
- a second portion for operatively coupling to said valance;
- and
- an intermediate portion positioned between said first and second portions, said intermediate portion having increased flexibility relative to the first and second portions for enabling said first and second portions to move relative to each other.
A mount for movably coupling a valance to a headrail of an architectural-structure covering, the mount comprising:
- a first portion for operatively coupling to said headrail;
- a second portion for operatively coupling to said valance;
- and
- an intermediate portion positioned between said first and second portions, said intermediate portion having increased flexibility relative to the first and second portions for enabling said first and second portions to move relative to each other.
A method for enabling a valance to move relative to a headrail of an architectural-structure covering, the method comprising:
- coupling said valance to said headrail via one or more mounts, each of said one or more mounts including an intermediate portion having increased flexibility relative to first and second portions of said one or more mounts for enabling said first and second portions to move relative to each other so that said valance is movable relative to said headrail;
- moving a covering portion of the architectural-structure covering from an extended position to a retractable position;
- contacting, via said covering portion, said valance;
- and
- moving at least a portion of said valance away from said headrail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.