Locking end cap for a roller shade

Abstract

An endcap for a vehicle shade roller assembly is provided. The end cap includes a cap body having an end face, the cap body being axially reciprocable among a plurality of positions relative to a shade spindle. A knob is fixed to the endcap and protrudes from the end face, and has at least one flange extending substantially parallel to the cap body end face. The knob is extendible into a vehicle trim panel, thereby positioning the at least one flange adjacent a substantially complementary structure in the trim panel such that an axial rotation of the end cap engages the flange with the substantially complementary structure to secure the endcap and its associated roller shade assembly.

1 . A locking assembly for a vehicle roller comprising: 
 a cap body having a lateral surface and an end surface lying in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to said lateral surface, said lateral surface having a slot therein;    a locking member protruding from said end surface, said locking member having a shaft and at least one flange disposed proximate an end of said shaft opposite said end surface, said flange extending from said shaft in a direction substantially parallel to said end surface;    a bracket adapted to receive said locking member including an aperture for receiving said at least one flange and securely holding said roller in place when said cap body is rotated relative to said bracket.    
   
   
       2 . The end cap of  claim 1  wherein said locking member has two flanges.  
   
   
       3 . The end cap of  claim 2  wherein said two flanges are oriented approximately 90° relative to each other.  
   
   
       4 . The end cap of  claim 2  wherein said two flanges are oriented approximately 180° relative to one another.  
   
   
       5 . The end cap of  claim 4  wherein said aperture is adapted to receive said locking member in a plurality of radial orientations.  
   
   
       6 . A vehicle roller assembly comprising: 
 a windable roller member with a flexible panel attached thereto;    at least one end cap attached to said roller member, said end cap including a cap body with a locking knob member extending in an axial direction from an end face and having at least one flange extending from an end of said locking knob member, said at least one flange extending in a direction substantially parallel to said end face, said end cap being axially reciprocable relative to said roller member; and    a bracket having an aperture for receiving said at least one flange and securing said flange when said cap body is rotated relative to said bracket.    
   
   
       7 . The vehicle roller shade assembly of  claim 6  wherein said assembly comprises two end caps, each of said end caps being biased toward an extended position automatically centering said roller member relative to brackets adapted to be secured in an interior of a vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . The vehicle roller assembly of  claim 7  wherein said brackets are adapted to secure to interior trim panels for a vehicle.  
   
   
       9 . The vehicle roller assembly of  claim 6  wherein said assembly includes a single flange.  
   
   
       10 . The vehicle roller assembly of  claim 6  wherein at least a portion of said bracket is rotatable to engage said flange.  
   
   
       11 . A mounting assembly for a vehicle roller shade comprising: 
 a mounting bracket comprising a cavity having a non-continuous interior bearing surface;    an end cap having a slot therein, said end cap adapted to support an end of a windable roller shaft, said end cap having a substantially planar end face and an engagement portion extending from said end face in an axial direction, wherein said engagement portion is insertable past said non-continuous bearing surface;    said engagement portion comprising a spacer and at least one flange extending from an end of said spacer and having an axially inward bearing surface spaced axially outward of said end face and substantially parallel thereto, said bearing surface of said flange engaging said mounting bracket bearing surface.