Window shade roller assembly

Claim 2

A cylindrical window shade roller assembly adapted for mounting either by frictional engagement within the periphery of a window frame; or alternatively by being hang-mounted at receiving brackets on the window frame; said assembly comprising in combination: a cylindrical window shade roller having a first and second axial recesses, respectively at the first and second ends thereof; a projecting first shaft being mounted in said first recess to enable rotation of said shade roller thereabout during raising and lowering of the associated shade when said assembly is mounted at said window frame, and spring means wound during said rotation for biasing said roller to enable return thereof to its initial position; a two-way mounting assembly being received at said second axial recess, said mounting assembly comprising: (1) a hollow cylindrical housing adapted for being received in said second axial recess and terminating in a cap portion having a diameter larger than that of said housing, whereby said cap may close said second end of said shade roller; (2) a second shaft extending centrally through said cap and into said housing, the externally facing distal end of said shaft terminating in a mounting pintle; (3) spring means extending within said housing and bearing against a rearward closing thereof; (4) a hollow cylindrical link within said housing between said shaft and spring means, said link being closed at the end thereof toward said spring and open at the other end thereof, said link receiving at its open end the rearward portion of said second shaft; said shaft being selectively moveable between a first longitudinal position where it is retracted within said link, and a second longitudinal position whereat said shaft is telescoped with respect to and detented at said link; said shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing at each of said first and second positions; whereby when said second shaft is in said first, withdrawn position, substantially only said pintle projects through said cap to enable said hang-mounting of said window shade assembly; and whereby when said shaft is in said second, extended position, said window shade assembly may be frictionally secured within said window frame border by positioning the end of said first shaft in mechanical engagement with one side of said window frame periphery, moving said second shaft inwardly to compress said spring, emplacing said shade roller assembly within said frame, and permitting the restorative force of said spring to expand said second shaft against said window frame to effect frictional engagement therewith.

Claim 3

An assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a pair of friction members adapted for respective mounting at the distal ends of said first and second shafts; said members having outwardly facing high friction surfaces for engaging said window frame border when said second shaft is in said second extended position.

Claim 4

An assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a bearing block between said cylindrical link and said spring means, for enabling rotation of said second shaft when said shaft is in said telescoped position.

Claim 5

An assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the rearward portion of said second shaft carries a pair of oppositely directed pins extending from the lateral surface thereof; said pins being receivable into detents cut into the wall of said cylindrical link at the edge of the open end thereof, when said second shaft is in said telescoped position.

Claim 6

An assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein said wall of said cylindrical link includes a pair of release slots extending longitudinally from the open end thereof, for receiving said pins and enabling rearward movement of said second shaft; and wherein said wall is undercut rearward of said slots, to enable rotation of said second shaft at said retracted first position.

Claim 7

An assembly in accordance with claim 2, wherein said cylindrical housing is internally threaded; and including a threaded plug for closing the rearward end of said housing by being threadingly received therein; the longitudinal adjusted position of said plug thereby enabling adjustment of the compression of said spring, to adjust the forces urging said friction members against said window frame border upon said assembly being so mounted, and to assure clearance between the friction member engaged by said second shift and said cylindrical housing.

Claim 8

An assembly in accordance with claim 2, further including friction reducing bearing means between said first shaft and said shade roller, to facilitate relative rotation therebetween.

Claim 9

An assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means is a roller bearing.

Claim 10

In a cylindrical window shade roller assembly including a cylindrical window shade roller having an axial recess at the first and second ends thereof; a projecting first shaft being mounted in said first recess to enable rotation of said shade roller thereabout during raising and lowering of the associated shade, when said assembly is mounted at said window frame, and spring means wound during said rotation for biasing said roller to enable return thereof to its unwound position; the improvement enabling said assembly to be mounted either by frictional engagement within the periphery of a window frame; or alternatively by being hang-mounted at receiving brackets on the window frame, comprising: a two-way mounting assembly being receiving at the axial recess at said second end of said roller said mounting assembly comprising: (1) a hollow cylindrical housing adapted for being received in said second axial recess and terminating in a cap portion having a diameter larger than that of said housing, whereby said cap may close said second end of said shade roller; (2) a second shaft extending centrally through said cap and into said housing, the externaly facing distal end of said shaft terminating in a mounting pintle; (3) spring means extending within said housing and bearing against a rearward closing thereof; (4) a hollow cylindrical link within said housing between said shaft and spring-means, said link being closed at the end thereof toward said spring and open at the other end thereof, said link receiving at its open end the rearward portion of said second shaft; said shaft being selectively moveable between a first longitudinal position where it is withdrawn within said link, and a second longitudinal position whereat said shaft is telescoped with respect to and dented at said link; said shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing at each of said first and second positions; whereby when said second shaft is in said first, withdrawn position, substantially only said pintle projects through said cap to enable said hang-mounting of said window shade assembly; and whereby when said shaft is in said second, extended position, said window shade assembly may be frictionally secured within said window frame border by positioning the end of said first shaft in mechanical engagement with one side of said window frame periphery, moving said second shaft inwardly to compress said spring, emplacing said shade roller assembly within said frame, and permitting the restorative force of said spring to expand said second shaft against said window frame to effect frictional engagement therewith.

Claim 11

In a cylindrical window shade roller assembly including a cylindrical window shade roller having an axial recess at the first and second ends thereof; a projecting first shaft being mounted in said first recess to enable rotation of said shade roller thereabout during raising and lowering of the associated shade, when said assembly is mounted at said window frame, and spring means wound during said rotation for biasing said roller to enable return thereof to its unwound position; the improvement enabling said assembly to be mounted either by frictional engagement within the periphery of a window frame; or alternatively by being hang-mounted at receiving brackets on the window frame, comprising: a two-way mounting assembly being receiving at the axial recess at said second end of said roller said mounting assembly comprising: (1) a hollow cylindrical housing adapted for being received in said second axial recess and terminating in a cap portion having a diameter larger than that of said housing, whereby said cap may close said second end of said shade roller; (2) a second shaft extending centrally through said cap and into said housing, the externaly facing distal end of said shaft terminating in a mounting pintle; (3) spring means extending within said housing and bearing against a rearward closing thereof; (4) a hollow cylindrical link within said housing between said shaft and spring-means, said link being closed at the end thereof toward said spring and open at the other end thereof, said link receiving at its open end the rearward portion of said second shaft; said shaft being selectively moveable between a first longitudinal position where it is withdrawn within said link, and a second longitudinal position whereat said shaft is telescoped with respect to and dented at said link; said shaft being rotatable with respect to said housing at each of said first and second positions; whereby when said second shaft is in said first, withdrawn position, substantially only said pintle projects through said cap to enable said hang-mounting of said window shade assembly; and whereby when said shaft is in said second, extended position, said window shade assembly may be frictionally secured within said window frame border by positioning the end of said first shaft in mechanical engagement with one side of said window frame periphery, moving said second shaft inwardly to compress said spring, emplacing said shade roller assembly within said frame, and permitting the restorative force of said spring to expand said second shaft against said window frame to effect frictional engagement therewith.

Claim 12

An assembly in accordance with claim 1, further including a pair of friction members adapted for respective mounting at the distal end of said first and second shafts; said members having outwardly facing high friction surfaces for engaging said window frame border when said second shaft is in said second extended position.