SWIVEL BRACKET WITH ENGAGEMENT FEATURE

Abstract

 A swivel bracket (2) for mounting a headrail (4) having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads (14,12). The swivel bracket (2) includes a holder (20) including a mounting portion (22) configured to be mounted to an architectural structure and a support portion (24) configured to support the headrail (4), the support portion (24) having a support leg (28) configured to span the headrail (4) from the inner bead (12) to the outer bead (14), the support leg (28) having, at a distal end, a hook portion (34) configured to receive and support an underside of the outer bead (14). The swivel member (30) is mounted to a pivot (32) on the holder (20) and is rotatable between an open position and a closed position. The outer leg (40) of the swivel member (30) includes, spaced inwardly of the flange towards the pivot, a protrusion (44) extending at least partly parallel with the flange and configured, in the closed position, to engage with an inner surface of the outer bead (14), the inner surface facing the inner bead (12), thereby resisting rotation of the swivel member (30) to the open position.

Description

[0001] The present application relates to a swivel bracket for mounting a headrail and an architectural covering assembly including at least one such swivel bracket.

[0002] Various types of swivel bracket are known, for example from CN 2510611 Y, JP 4119100 U1 and EP 0033856 A1.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a swivel bracket which more securely holds a headrail.

[0004] According to the present invention, there is provided a swivel bracket for mounting a headrail having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads. The swivel bracket includes a holder including a mounting portion configured to be mounted to an architectural structure and a support portion extending in a first direction and configured to support the headrail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the support portion having a support leg configured to span the headrail from the inner bead to the outer bead, the support leg having, at a distal end, a hook portion configured to receive and support an underside of the outer bead. The swivel member is mounted to a pivot on the holder and is rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the pivot having an axis of rotation in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, the swivel member having an inner leg extending from the pivot and an outer leg extending from the pivot, the inner leg having, at a rear distal end, a tab configured to support an underside of the inner bead, and the outer leg having, at a front distal end, a flange configured to engage with an outer surface of the outer bead. In the open position, the flange is spaced from the hook portion and the tab is located towards the hook portion, thereby allowing the outer bead to be received and supported by the hook portion and the inner bead to be located adjacent the support leg, and, in the closed position, the flange holds the outer bead in the hook portion and the tab supports the underside of the inner bead. The outer leg includes, spaced inwardly of the flange towards the pivot, a protrusion extending at least partly parallel with the flange and configured, in the closed position, to engage with an inner surface of the outer bead, the inner surface facing the inner bead, thereby resisting rotation of the swivel member to the open position.

[0005] In this way, if the headrail is unintentionally moved longitudinally in the second direction, for example as a result of operating parts within the headrail and/or a user pulling on a cord or such like, the protrusion acts to prevent the swivel member from rotating to the open position. In particular, in order for the swivel member to rotate to the open position, the protrusion would have to be translated, by rotation of the outer leg, over and past the outer bead of the headrail. The arrangement restricts rotation of the outer leg and the swivel member relative to the outer bead of the headrail and, hence, ensures that the swivel bracket more securely supports the headrail. Especially, the arrangement inhibits unintentional rotation of the tab away from under the inner bead of the headrail and also the flange away from the outer bead.

[0006] The protrusion may be configured as at least one tooth for biting into the inner surface of the outer bead. This configuration resists relative movement between the protrusion and the outer bead so that the protrusion holds the headrail in place longitudinally against the rotation of the swivel member. More than one protrusion may be provided and each protrusion may include one or more teeth.

[0007] The outer leg may comprise a plate material extending between the pivot and the hook portion and have a thickness. With this arrangement, the protrusion may comprise a part of the plate material deflected in the third direction away from the underside of the support portion. Multiple protrusions may be formed similarly as deflected parts of the plate material.

[0008] The protrusion may be formed on a side of the outer leg facing the hook portion. Alternatively, the protrusion may be formed on the other side or respective protrusions formed on both sides.

[0009] The swivel member may be mounted to the underside of the support leg. This enables the swivel member to conveniently extend directly to the underside of the inner bead of the headrail.

[0010] Although the outer leg may have any form/shape which appropriately positions the flange relative to the tab, in one arrangement, the outer leg includes a first section extending perpendicular to the inner leg and a second section extending parallel with the inner leg. The two sections conveniently position the flange and allow movement between the open and closed positions.

[0011] The inner leg and the outer leg may be integral parts of the swivel member. In this way the swivel member may be conveniently manufactured.

[0012] With a space so defined, the support leg may extend from the mounting portion in the first direction to the hook portion at the distal end. Similarly, the pivot supports the swivel member for rotation about an axis in the third direction between the open position and the closed position.

[0013] In the open position, the inner leg may extend from the pivot at least in the second direction and the tab may be spaced away from the mounting portion so as to allow the inner bead of the headrail to be moved freely towards and away from the mounting portion and the underside of the support leg.

[0014] In the closed position, the inner leg extends from the pivot in the first direction, thereby positioning the tab adjacent the mounting portion at the underside of the support leg. In this position, the tab may support the inner bead of the headrail.

[0015] In the closed position, also, the outer leg may extend in the first direction adjacent and parallel with the support leg and, in the second direction, the flange may be adjacent the hook portion.

[0016] In the open position, with the outer leg pivoted about the pivot away from the mounting portion, the outer leg may extend at least partly in the second direction and the flange may be located outwardly of the hook portion away from the mounting portion in the first direction.

[0017] The pivot may be located on the support leg closer to the hook portion than to the mounting portion.

[0018] The mounting portion may be configured to be mounted vertically against an architectural surface with the support portion extending horizontally above the headrail. The mounting portion could be positioned above the support portion or may extend substantially perpendicular from an underside of the support leg at a proximal end of the support leg.

[0019] In the closed position, the inner leg may extend from the pivot against the underside of the support leg and the tab may be adjacent the mounting portion for supporting the inner bead of the headrail adjacent the mounting portion.

[0020] The swivel member may include an upward depression extending towards the support portion, the upward depression leaving a recess in a lower face of the swivel member facing in the third direction away from the support portion. A member forming the pivot may be located within the recess. In this way, the space taken by the pivot within the interior of the headrail is reduced. This allows the space within the headrail to be maximised and fully utilised.

[0021] The support leg may include, along both respective edges in the first direction, walls facing in the third direction towards the swivel member. The outer diameter of the upward depression may match the distance in the second direction between said walls. In this way, rotational movement of the swivel member is guided/supported such that the swivel member and the positions of the tab and flange are more stable.

[0022] Hence, there may also be provided a swivel bracket for mounting a headrail having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads. The swivel bracket includes a holder and a support member. The holder includes a mounting portion configured to be mounted to an architectural structure and a support portion configured to support the headrail, the support portion having a support leg configured to span the headrail from the inner bead to the outer bead, the support leg having, at a distal end, a hook portion configured to receive and support an underside of the outer bead. The swivel member is mounted to a pivot on the holder and rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the swivel member having an inner leg extending from the pivot and an outer leg extending from the pivot, the inner leg having, at a rear distal end, a tab configured to support an underside of the inner bead, and the outer leg having, at a front distal end, a flange configured to engage with an outer surface of the outer bead. In the open position, the flange is spaced from the hook portion and the tab is located towards the hook portion, thereby allowing the outer bead to be received and supported by the hook portion and the inner bead to be located adjacent the support leg, and, in the closed position, the flange holds the outer bead in the hook portion and the tab supports the underside of the inner bead. The swivel member includes an upward depression extending towards the support portion, the upward depression leaving a recess in a lower face of the swivel member facing in the third direction away from the support portion, and wherein a member forming the pivot is located within the recess. The support leg may include along both respective edges in the first direction, walls facing in the third direction towards the swivel member and the outer diameter of the upward depression may match the distance in the second direction between said walls..

[0023] There may also be provided an architectural covering assembly including at least one swivel bracket as above together with a headrail having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads.

[0024] The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically two swivel brackets embodying the present invention in combination with a headrail;

Figs. 2(a), (b) and (c) illustrate the swivel bracket respectively in perspective, side and plan;

Figs. 3(a), (b) and (c) illustrate a headrail partially mounted to the swivel bracket respectively in perspective, side and plan;

Figs. 4(a), (b) and (c) illustrate a headrail mounted to the swivel bracket, but in the open position, respectively in perspective, side and plan;

Figs. 5(a), (b) and (c) illustrate a headrail mounted to the swivel bracket respectively in perspective, side and plan;

Fig. 6 illustrates in more detail the protrusion of the swivel bracket;

Fig. 7 illustrates the protrusion of the swivel bracket; and

Fig. 8 illustrates details of the pivot of the swivel bracket.

[0025] It is often required, with architectural structures, to mount various rails, such as headrails, to parts of those structures. The headrails may be mounted, for example, to vertical walls and/or horizontal ceilings. It may be desirable to mount a headrail above an architectural opening so that a blind may be suspended from that headrail over the architectural opening.

[0026] Headrails are typically elongate with a channel cross-section and have inwardly facing parallel beads along the edges of their side walls. Brackets are known for suspending such headrails from their beads.

[0027] Fig. 1 illustrates schematically two swivel brackets 2 embodying the present invention in conjunction with a typical headrail 4. The two swivel brackets 2 may be pre-mounted to an architectural structure, such as a wall surrounding an architectural opening and then the headrail 4 may be offered up to and suspended by the two swivel brackets 2. In this respect, it will be appreciated that, depending upon the application and the length of the headrail 4, different numbers of swivel brackets 2 may be provided.

[0028] The headrail 4 has a channel-shaped cross section with a base 6, an inner wall 8 and an outer wall 10. The base 6, inner wall 8 and outer wall 10 extend longitudinally of the headrail 4. At an edge of the inner wall 8 distal from the base 6, the inner wall 8 includes an inwardly facing inner bead 12. Similarly, the outer wall 10 has at an edge distal from the base 6 an inwardly facing outer bead 14. The inwardly facing inner bead 12 and inwardly facing outer bead 14 are parallel with one another and face one another. They may be used to suspend the headrail 4. The inner bead 12 has on its inner side an inner surface facing the outer wall 10 and facing an inner surface of the outer bead 14, the inner surface of the outer bead 14 being on the inner side of the outer bead 14 and facing the inner wall 8 and facing an inner surface of the inner bead 12. The outer bead 14 also has an outer surface facing away from the inner wall 8 outwardly of the headrail 4 has and an upper surface, between the inner surface and the outer surface, facing away from the base 6. Each of the inner bead 12 and the outer bead 14 has a respective underside facing the base 6 and by which the headrail may be suspended/supported.

[0029] Figs. 2(a), (b) and (c) illustrate one of the swivel brackets 2.

[0030] As illustrated, the swivel bracket 2 includes a holder 20 with a mounting portion 22 configured to be mounted to an architectural structure and a support portion 24 configured to support the headrail 4.

[0031] In the illustrated arrangement, the mounting portion 22 extends substantially perpendicular to the support portion 24 and is configured to be mounted to a substantially vertical structure such as a wall. Features, such as through holes 26, are provided so as to enable the mounting portion 22 to be secured to the architectural structure.

[0032] The swivel bracket 2 also includes a swivel member 30.

[0033] The holder 20 includes on the support portion 24 a pivot 32. The swivel member 30 is mounted to the support portion 24 and the holder 20 by means of the pivot 32 and is mounted so as to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position as illustrated in fig. 2.

[0034] In the illustrated arrangement, the support portion 24 includes or constitutes a support leg 28 which extends in a first direction from the mounting portion 22 to a hook portion 34. The support leg 28 has a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The pivot 32 is provided on the support leg 28 and has an axis of rotation along a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. In the illustrated arrangement, the mounting portion 22 extends away from the support portion 24 and support leg 28 in the third direction and has a width in the second direction.

[0035] As noted above, a hook portion 34 is provided at a distal end of the support leg 28. As illustrated, the hook portion 34 deflects downwardly away from the plane of the support let 28 and then upwardly in the third direction towards the plane of the support leg 28. In this way, it has a configuration suitable for supporting the underside of the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4.

[0036] In the illustrated arrangement, the swivel bracket 30 is mounted to an underside of the support leg 28, namely the same side to which the hook portion 34 deflects in the third direction. As illustrated, this is the same side to which the mounting portion 22 extends. However, arrangements are possible in which a mounting portion instead or additionally extends in the opposite third direction, namely upwardly as illustrated.

[0037] As illustrated, the swivel member 30 includes an inner leg 36 which extends away from the pivot 32 to a tab 38. The tab 38, like the hook portion 34, is deflected downwardly in the third direction away from the underside of the support leg 28. It then continues in a direction away from the pivot 32 so as to provide a configuration suitable for supporting an underside of the inner bead 12 of the headrail 4.

[0038] As noted above, fig. 2 illustrates the swivel bracket in a closed position. As illustrated in fig. 2(b), the hook portion 34 is able to support the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 and the tab 38 of the swivel member 30 is able to support the inner bead 12 of the headrail 4. In particular, the underside of the inner bead 12 rests on the tab 38 and the underside of the outer bead 14 rests on the hook portion 34.

[0039] The swivel member 30 also includes an outer leg 40 extending from the pivot 32. At an outer end of the outer leg 40 distal from the pivot 32, the outer leg 40 includes a flange 42 configured, in the illustrated closed position, to hold the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 in the hook portion 34. In the illustrated arrangement, the outer leg 40 includes a first section 40a extending perpendicular to the inner leg 36 and a second section 40b extending parallel with the inner leg 36. However, the shape and path of the outer leg 40 may be varied whilst maintaining the positional relationship between the pivot 32 and the position and movement of the flange 42.

[0040] The swivel member 30 may be rotated about the pivot 32 from the closed position illustrated in fig. 2 to an open position, for example as illustrated in fig. 3. As illustrated, viewed from above, the swivel member 30 is rotated clockwise relative to the holder 20 so as to move from the closed position to the open position illustrated in fig. 3.

[0041] In the open position illustrated in fig. 3, the inner leg 36 of the swivel member 30 is rotated such that it extends from the pivot 32 in both the first direction and the second direction; it is angled relative to the support leg 28 and, in the illustrated arrangement, the tab 38 protrudes outwardly to one side of the support leg 28 in the second direction. As illustrated particularly in fig. 3(b), with the inner leg 36 rotated in the open position, the tab 38 is moved in the first direction towards the hook portion 34 and away from the mounting portion 22. In this way, with the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 supported by the hook portion 34, the inner bead 12 can be moved freely into and out of its mounted position on the underside of the support leg 28 next to, in the illustrated arrangement, the mounting portion 22.

[0042] In the open position illustrated in fig. 3, it is also apparent that the outer leg 40 is rotated such that the flange 42 is moved and takes a position away from the pivot 32 and the hook portion 34 in the first direction. With the flange 42 spaced, in the first direction, away from the hook portion 34, it is possible, as illustrated particularly in fig. 3(b), to freely mount and unmount the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 onto and from the hook portion 34. This is advantageous to the installer, because the installer can hook the outer bead 14 onto the hook portion 34 whereby the headrail 4 is temporarily held in place and supported. This facilitates installation by a single installer and at least reduces the need for multiple installers to hold the headrail simultaneously at multiple locations/places.

[0043] In order to mount the headrail 4 to the swivel bracket 2, the swivel member 30 is rotated to the open position as illustrated in fig. 3. Then, as also illustrated in fig. 3, the headrail is offered up to the swivel bracket 2 and the outer bead 14 located in the hook portion 34 so as to be supported by the hook portion 34. From this state, the headrail 4 may be rotated (clockwise as illustrated) until, as illustrated in fig. 4, the inner bead 12 of the headrail 4 is in its to-be supported position with the inner bead 12 adjacent the underside of the support leg 28. This is illustrated in fig. 4, with the swivel member still in the open position.

[0044] From the state illustrated in fig. 4, the swivel member is rotated to its closed position, namely that described previously with reference to fig. 2, by rotating the swivel member 30 about the pivot 32 anti-clockwise as illustrated to the state illustrated in fig. 5.

[0045] With the headrail 4 in a supported position and the swivel member 30 in its closed position, the headrail 4 is supported by the support portion 24 of the holder 20 of the swivel bracket 2. In particular, as illustrated, the tab 38 of the inner leg 36 of the swivel member 30 is located on the underside/beneath the inner bead 12 of the headrail 4. The tab 38 secures the inner bead 12 between the tab 38 and the inner leg 36 and the support leg 28.

[0046] The outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 is supported by the hook portion 34 and, with the swivel member 30 in the closed position, the tab 42 at the distal end of the outer leg 40 prevents the outer bead 14 moving in the first direction away from the swivel bracket 2 and, thus, holds the outer bead 14 in the hook portion 34. As illustrated the outer leg 40 extends in the first direction closely over the top in the third direction of the outer bead 14 and the tab 42 extends downwardly in the third direction adjacent the outer side of the outer bead 14 and headrail 4. In this way, the outer bead 14 is held within the hook portion 34.

[0047] Headrails, such as headrail 4 as illustrated, can be used to support components, such as cords which move longitudinally along their length. When these are activated, for example by a user pulling on a cord extending from one end of the headrail, there can be created a force tending to move or shift the headrail 4 longitudinally in the second direction with respect to the one or more swivel brackets 2. If the headrail 4 does move relative to a swivel bracket 2, then it may act to rotate the swivel member 30 of the swivel bracket 2. For example, in the state illustrated in fig. 5, if the headrail 4 moves slightly to the left, it may act to rotate the swivel member clockwise away from the closed position towards the open position. If this occurs, the tab 38 may become shifted from underneath the inner bead 12 of the headrail 4 and the flange 42 may move away from the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 allowing the inner bead 12 to drop away from the swivel bracket 2 and the outer bead 14 to leave the hook portion 34 of the swivel bracket 2.

[0048] So as to address this issue, as illustrated in fig. 6, the outer leg 40 is provided additionally with a protrusion 44. The protrusion 44 is located inwardly of the flange 42 towards the pivot 32 and extends at least partly parallel with the flange 42 in the third direction. In the closed position illustrated in fig. 6, the protrusion 44 is spaced inwardly of the flange 42 in the first direction by an amount such that it at least lies adjacent an inner part of the outer bead 14 whilst, in the closed position, the flange 42 lies adjacent the outer part of the outer bead 14. In other words, in the closed position of the swivel member 30, the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 is positioned between the flange 42 extending in the third direction and the protrusion 44 extending in the third direction.

[0049] With this arrangement, even if the headrail 4 is moved longitudinally in the second direction relative to the swivel bracket 2, and that movement acts to rotate the swivel member 30, the protrusion 44 abutting the inside of the outer bead 14 will prevent rotation of the outer leg 40 towards the open position and, hence, prevent rotation of the swivel member 30 and the inner leg 36 to the open position.

[0050] It will be appreciated, of course, that during mounting of the headrail 4 to the swivel bracket 2, it will be necessary for the outer leg 40 to be rotated from the open position to the closed position and, thus, for the protrusion 44 to pass from the outside to the inner surface of the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4. This may be achieved by deflection of the protrusion 44 itself, the outer leg 40 and/or elastic tolerances in the overall structure, including the pivot.

[0051] Swivel bracket 2 and the protrusion 44 are configured such that a user is able manually to rotate the swivel member 30 from the open position to the closed position forcing the protrusion 44 over the outer bead 14 from the outside to the inside, whilst the swivel bracket and the protrusion 44 offer enough resistance to prevent the protrusion 44 being translated over the outer bead 14 from the inside to the outside by virtue only of the longitudinal forces on the headrail 4 during use.

[0052] As illustrated in fig. 7, it is not necessary for the protrusion 44 to be positioned entirely on the inner side of the outer bead 14. It will be enough for the protrusion 44 to be at least partially on the inner side of the outer bead 14, for example slightly over-centre as illustrated.

[0053] In the illustrated arrangement, the protrusion 44 extends at an angle both in the third direction and the first direction. In this way, when the swivel member 30 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the upper surface of the outer bead 14 of the headrail 4 will tend to deflect the protrusion 44 in the third direction away from the outer bead 14. In contrast, any force to rotate the swivel member 30 from the closed position to the open position will cause the outer bead 14 to deflect the protrusion 44 in the first direction towards the pivot 32 and downwardly in the third direction towards the outer bead 14. In other words, the protrusion 44 is caused to press harder, or bite into, the inner surface of the outer bead 14 and resist rotation of the swivel member 30 towards the open position.

[0054] The protrusion 44 may be provided with one or more teeth configured to bite into the inner surface of the outer bead 14. Such teeth may be considered to have one or more edges which are relatively sharp and configured to bite/cut into the surface of the headrail material. The edges may have an angle of substantially 90 degrees or may be sharper, with angles less than 90 degrees.

[0055] In the illustrated arrangement, the outer leg 40 is formed from a plate material. Actually, in the illustrated arrangement, the outer leg 40 and the inner leg 36 are integral parts of the swivel member 30, formed of a plate material. The plate material has a width and a thickness. It might typically be formed of a metal component.

[0056] In the illustrated arrangement, the flange 42 is formed from a bent portion of the outer leg 40. The protrusion 44 may similarly be formed from a bent portion of the outer leg 40, in particular bent at a position closer to the pivot 32. In the illustrated arrangement, the bent portion forming the protrusion 44 is at one side in the second direction of the outer leg 40 and flange 42.

[0057] In the illustrated arrangement, the bent portion forming the protrusion 44 is on a side of the outer leg 40 furthest from the support leg 28 and hook portion 34. However, the bent portion forming the protrusion 44 could be provided on the other side adjacent the leg support 28 and hook portion 34 or, protrusions could be formed on both sides. It is also possible for a protrusion, such as a tooth, to be formed for example as a cut out from a central portion of the leg 40. This may be in addition or as an alternative to the protusions discussed above.

[0058] Fig. 8 illustrates another feature of the swivel bracket 2, this feature being advantageous independently of the protrusion 44 described above.

[0059] It is desirable that the swivel bracket takes up minimal space within the headrail 4 so that the headrail 4 is able to house other components as required.

[0060] In the illustrated arrangement, the pivot 32 is provided by a cylindrical member, such as a rivet, extending between the support leg 28 and the swivel member 30.

[0061] In the illustrated arrangement, the support portion 24 and support leg 28 include, for rigidity, side walls 50 and 52 which extend from the underside of the side leg 28 in the third direction and along each end respectively in the first direction. In this way, the support portion 24 and support leg 28 takes the form of a downwardly facing channel.

[0062] As illustrated in earlier figures, such as fig. 5, the top of the support leg 28 includes a depressed section 54 which, on the underside of the support leg 28, extends downwardly in the third direction. Similarly, as illustrated in fig. 8, the swivel member 30 includes an upward depression 56 extending towards the underside of the support leg 28. As illustrated, this upward depression 56 provides, in the lower surface of the swivel member 30, a recess in the third direction for any member forming the pivot 32, such as a rivet. In this way, the member forming the pivot 32, such as a rivet, does not extend downwardly into the space within the channel of the headrail 4 and the available space within the headrail 4 is maximised.

[0063] In addition, the outer/upper surfaces of the upward depression 56 facing the underside of the support leg 28 are configured with a diameter matching the distance in the second direction between the walls 50 and 52 of the support leg 28. Furthermore, the downward extent of the walls 50 and 52 in the third direction, in the illustrated arrangement, match the combined upward extent of the upward depression 56 and the downward extent of the depression 54 such that an upper surface of the swivel member 30 facing the underside of the support leg 28 while the outer surface of the upward depression 56 fit between and are held for rotation by the walls 50 and 52. These combined features help keep the swivel member 30 stable in its rotatable mounting about the pivot 32.

Claims

1. A swivel bracket for mounting a headrail having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads, the swivel bracket including:

a holder including a mounting portion configured to be mounted to an architectural structure and a support portion extending in a first direction and configured to support the headrail extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the support portion having a support leg configured to span the headrail from the inner bead to the outer bead, the support leg having, at a distal end, a hook portion configured to receive and support an underside of the outer bead; and

a swivel member mounted to a pivot on the holder and rotatable between an open position and a closed position, the pivot having an axis of rotation in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions, the swivel member having an inner leg extending from the pivot and an outer leg extending from the pivot, the inner leg having, at a rear distal end, a tab configured to support an underside of the inner bead, and the outer leg having, at a front distal end, a flange configured to engage with an outer surface of the outer bead; wherein:

in the open position, the flange is spaced from the hook portion and the tab is located towards the hook portion, thereby allowing the outer bead to be received and supported by the hook portion and the inner bead to be located adjacent the support leg, and, in the closed position, the flange holds the outer bead in the hook portion and the tab supports the underside of the inner bead; and

the outer leg includes, spaced inwardly of the flange towards the pivot, a protrusion extending at least partly parallel with the flange and configured, in the closed position, to engage with an inner surface of the outer bead, the inner surface facing the inner bead, thereby resisting rotation of the swivel member to the open position.

2. A swivel bracket according to claim 1 wherein the protrusion is configured as at least one tooth for biting into the inner surface of the outer bead.

3. A swivel bracket according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the outer leg comprises a plate material extending between the pivot and the hook portion and has a thickness, and the protrusion comprises a part of the plate material deflected in the third direction away from the underside of the support portion.

4. A swivel bracket according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the protrusion is formed on a side of the outer leg facing the hook portion.

5. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the swivel member is mounted to the underside of the support leg.

6. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the outer leg includes a first section extending perpendicular to the inner leg and a second section extending parallel with the inner leg.

7. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the inner leg and the outer leg are integral parts of the swivel member.

8. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the support leg extends from the mounting portion in the first direction to the hook portion at the distal end.

9. A swivel bracket according to claim 8 wherein the pivot supports the swivel member for rotation about an axis in the third direction between the open position and the closed position,
wherein, optionally, in the open position, the inner leg extends from the pivot at least in the second direction and the tab is spaced away from the mounting portion so as to allow the inner bead of the headrail to be moved freely towards and away from the mounting portion and the underside of the support leg.

10. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein, in the closed position, the outer leg extends in the first direction adjacent and parallel with the support leg and, in the second direction, the flange is adjacent the hook portion,
wherein, optionally, in the open position, with the outer leg pivoted about the pivot away from the mounting portion, the outer leg extends at least partly in the second direction and the flange is located outwardly of the hook portion away from the mounting portion in the first direction.

11. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the pivot is located on the support leg closer to the hook portion than to the mounting portion.

12. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the mounting portion extends substantially perpendicular from an underside of the support leg at a proximal end of the support leg and is configured to be mounted vertically against an architectural surface with the support portion extending horizontally above the headrail.

13. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein, in the closed position, the inner leg extends from the pivot against the underside of the support leg and the tab is adjacent the mounting portion for supporting the inner bead of the headrail adjacent the mounting portion.

14. A swivel bracket according to any preceding claim wherein the swivel member includes an upward depression extending towards the support portion, the upward depression leaving a recess in a lower face of the swivel member facing in the third direction away from the support portion, and wherein a member forming the pivot is located within the recess,
wherein, optionally, the support leg includes along both respective edges in the first direction, walls facing in the third direction towards the swivel member and wherein the outer diameter of the upward depression matches the distance in the second direction between said walls.

15. An architectural covering assembly including at least one swivel bracket according to any preceding claim and a headrail having inwardly facing parallel outer and inner beads.

Drawing