Support Bracket For Rod Assembly

Abstract

There is provided a bracket and rod assembly system having improved strength and configured to allow complete access of a drapery supported by the rod assembly to an entire length of the rod assembly without interference from the bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting bracket comprising:
 a mounting portion having a vertically-extending longitudinal axis and a back surface that defines a first plane;   an arm portion having a proximal segment and a distal segment, the proximal segment being attached to the mounting portion such that the arm portion initially extends outwardly from the mounting portion in a second plane; and   a first rod-attachment portion disposed at the distal segment of the arm portion and extending in a third plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane, the first rod-attachment portion having an opening formed therein.   
     
     
         2 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the arm portion comprises a second rod-attachment portion disposed between the distal segment and the proximal segment of the arm portion, the second rod-attachment portion having an opening formed therein. 
     
     
         3 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting portion, arm portion, and first rod-attachment portion comprise a single piece of material. 
     
     
         4 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the arm portion comprises a curved portion. 
     
     
         5 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the arm portion is shaped such that the distal segment of the arm portion is substantially parallel to the back surface of the mounting portion and the proximate segment of the arm portion is substantially parallel to the first rod-attachment portion. 
     
     
         6 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the proximal segment of the arm portion forms an obtuse angle with the mounting portion, and
 the distal segment of the arm portion forms an obtuse angle with the first rod-attachment portion.   
     
     
         7 . The bracket of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the first rod-attachment portion is an aperture for accepting a fastener that attaches a finial to a rod. 
     
     
         8 . The bracket of  claim 2 , wherein the opening in the second rod-attachment portion is an aperture for accepting a fastener that attaches a finial to a rod. 
     
     
         9 . The bracket of  claim 1 , further comprising a vertically-extending interface disposed between the mounting portion and the proximal segment of the arm portion and a vertically-extending interface disposed between the distal segment of the arm portion and the first rod-attachment portion, the vertically-extending interfaces being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting portion. 
     
     
         10 . A system for mounting a rod to a surface, the system comprising:
 a rod having an end portion;   a finial; and   a bracket that comprises a mounting portion having a vertically-extending longitudinal axis and a back surface that defines a first plane;   an arm portion having a proximal segment and a distal segment, the proximal segment being attached to the mounting portion such that the arm portion initially extends outwardly from the mounting portion in a second plane; and   a first rod-attachment portion disposed at a first terminal end of the distal segment of the arm portion and extending in a third plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane, the first rod-attachment portion having a second terminal end in which an opening is formed.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the mounting portion, arm portion, and first rod-attachment portion comprise a single piece of material. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the arm portion of the bracket comprises a curved portion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the arm portion of the bracket is shaped such that the distal segment of the arm portion is substantially parallel to the back surface of the mounting portion and the proximate segment of the arm portion is substantially parallel to the first rod-attachment portion. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the proximal segment of the arm portion forms an obtuse angle with the mounting portion, and
 the distal segment of the arm portion forms an obtuse angle with the first rod-attachment portion.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the opening in the first rod-attachment portion is an aperture for accepting a fastener that attaches the finial to the rod. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the end portion of the rod includes a recess for accepting the first rod-attachment portion of the bracket such that at least a portion of the terminal end of the first rod-attachment portion is concealed when the finial, first rod-attachment portion, and end portion of the rod are in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the recess in the end portion of the rod has a shape capable of receiving a portion of the first rod-attachment portion. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein an outer profile of the terminal end of the first rod-attachment portion is smaller than a diameter of the end portion of the rod. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the rod has a notch and the first rod-attachment portion extends through the notch. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the finial includes a recess for accepting the first rod-attachment portion of the bracket such that the finial is able to conceal at least a portion of the terminal end of the first rod-attachment portion when the finial, first rod-attachment portion, and end portion of the rod are in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the recess in the finial has a shape capable of receiving a portion of the first rod-attachment portion. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the recess in the finial has an opening and the first rod-attachment portion extends through the opening. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein an outer profile of the terminal end of the first rod-attachment portion is smaller than a diameter of the end portion of the rod. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first rod-attachment portion provides an interface between the finial and the end portion of the rod such that the finial does not contact the end portion of the rod when the finial, first rod-attachment portion, and end portion of the rod are in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein an outer profile of the terminal end of the first rod-attachment portion is equal to or larger than a diameter of the end portion of the rod. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the arm portion comprises a second rod-attachment portion disposed along the arm portion, the second rod-attachment portion having an opening formed therein. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising a second rod having a diameter that is smaller than an outer profile of the second rod-attachment portion. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the opening in the second rod-attachment portion is an aperture. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the rod is capable of suspending a swatch material and the bracket does not restrict movement of the swatch material along the rod when the rod, bracket, and finial are in an assembled configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the bracket further comprises a vertically-extending interface disposed between the mounting portion and the proximal segment of the arm portion and a vertically-extending interface disposed between the distal segment of the arm portion and the first rod-attachment portion, the vertically-extending interfaces being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mounting portion.