GB2277675A - Curtain track batten assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A batten 10 for carrying curtain track support brackets is releasably securable eg. by snap fittings to a first bracket 17 substantially mid-way between its ends, and to second brackets adjacent its respective opposite ends, each second bracket having associated with it for fitting in an adjacent end of the batten an end cap (27, 43 Figs. 10 - 12) which during fitting of a second bracket to a wall can be used to indicate the correct position of a fixing hole for securing the second bracket relative to the first bracket so that, in use, the batten attached to the brackets is level. Each second bracket has a slot formed of overlapping screw holes which allows a fixing screw to be passed through one of the screw holes aligned with the drilled fixing hole (Figs. 33 and 35) to secure the second bracket correctly relative to the first bracket, even if the drilled hole is displaced from the correct position of the fixing hole. <IMAGE>

Description

CURTAIN TRACK BATTEN ASSEMBLY This invention relates to a batten assembly for releasably securing a curtain track carrying batten of the assembly at a wall or equivalent surface, in use, as well as a method of effecting said releasable securement.

In U.K. Patent specification no. 2, 238, 951 B, there is disclosed a batten having a pre-formed longitudinal track in its front face for the adjustable sliding engagement of curtain track support brackets.

The batten itself also has a longitudinal nail/screw groove in its front face for use in securing the batten to a wall or other surface.

Although this batten has advantages over the conventional wooden batten to which spaced, individual curtain track support brackets are screwed, it is disadvantageous in that it is not intended for removal from the wall or other surface, for example, during redecorating.

An object of the invention is to provide a batten assembly, and method of releasable securement of a batten thereof to a wall or other surface, in a convenient manner.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a batten assembly comprises first and second brackets for securement to a wall or other surface, and a batten having pre-formed indication/location means for securing curtain track supporting brackets thereto, the batten being releasably engageable with said first and second brackets, in use.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method of releasably securing a batten of said batten assembly of said first aspect of the invention to a wall or other surface comprises securing said first and second brackets to said wall or other surface in a spaced apart relationship and releasably securing to said first and second brackets said batten having said pre-formed indication/location means.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a broken front view of a length of a batten of a batten assembly of an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a transverse section through the batten of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an enlarged scrap view of a lower wall of the batten shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged scrap view like Figure 3, but showing an upper wall of the batten; Figure 5 is a central, transverse section through a first bracket of the batten assembly of an aspect of the invention; Figure 6 is a front view of the first bracket; Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional scrap view of a lower wall of the first bracket shown in Figure 5; Figures 8 and 9 are underneath and top views respectively of the first bracket; Figure 10 is a front view of a right hand end cap of the batten assembly;; Figure 11 is a front view of a left hand end cap of the batten assembly; Figure 12 is a rear view of the left hand end cap; Figure 13 is a view from one end of the left hand end cap; Figure 14 is an enlarged scrap view of the area ringed 'A' in Figure 11; Figure 15 is an enlarged scrap view of the area ringed 'B' in Figure 11; Figure 16 is a front view of part of a second bracket of the batten assembly; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view on line C-C of Figure 16; Figure 18 is a rear view of the second bracket; Figure 19 is a view of one end of the second bracket; Figure 20 is a top view of the second bracket; Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view on line D-D of Figure 16; Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view on line E-E of Figure 23; Figure 23 is a front view of a locking part of the second bracket; Figure 24 is an underneath view of the locking part;; Figures 25A and 25B show measurements necessary for fitting the first bracket, using respective different lengths of batten; Figures 26A and 26B show further measurements necessary for fitting the first bracket, with different lengths of curtains; Figure 27 shows the means of fitting of the first bracket to a surface; Figure 28 shows the fitting to said first bracket of said batten; Figure 29 shows the levelling of the batten using a spirit level, and the marking necessary for correctly positioning and fixing the second bracket using an end cap; Figure 30 shows removal of the end cap prior to tilting of the batten to allow drilling of a fixing hole; Figure 31 shows the re-positioned end cap to provide a mark indicating the correct position for said drilling; Figure 32 shows the end cap and a comparison between said mark and the actual drilled hole;; Figure 33 shows how an adjustment hole of the second bracket is used to compensate for said difference in position between the mark and the drilled hole, when the second bracket is secured to the surface; Figure 34 shows how a pointer of the end cap can be broken off; and Figure 35 shows the second bracket with its twist lock part in position for securing the batten thereto.

Figures 1 to 4 show a batten 10 of the batten assembly of the invention in the form of an elongated plastics material extrusion of generally channel form.

The batten has, in use, a main upright part 11 with the sides of the channel constituting a top wall 12 and a lower wall 13 respectively, each of which are normal to part 11.

The top wall has an inwardly turned lip 14 with a convex end whilst the lower wall extends further from the part 11 than the top wall. Projecting inwards from the lower wall is a longitudinally extending rib 15 of the same shape as the lip 14 and aligned in the same vertical plane therewith. In the outwardly facing front surface of the part 11 are indication/location means in the form of two spaced, parallel tracks. The tracks are,for example, screw grooves 16 extending longitudinally of the batten and parallel to its upper and lower edges. The number of grooves provided can of course be varied. The or each track could alternatively be an open-ended longitudinal slot/channel, as in prior art specification No. 2238951, extending, like the grooves 16, for the full length of the batten.

Figures 5 to 9 show a first or centre bracket 17 of the assembly, which is preferably of nylon. The bracket is symmetrical about a vertical centre line 18 which passes through the centre of a stepped screw hole 19 extending through a vertical rear wall 20 of the bracket. The bracket has an upwardly extending flange 21a at the outer end of an upper wall 21 of the bracket, the flange being sized to be received in the space between the part 11 and lip 14 of the batten. The rear of the flange at its junction with wall 21 is concavely curved at 22 simultaneously to engage the complementarily curved inward facing part of the lip 14.

The bracket has a lower wall 23, the underside of which is concavely recessed at 24 (Figure 7) and provided with a downwardly directed rib 25 adjacent thereto. The rib 15 is received in the recess 24 when the batten is fitted to the bracket, this rib snap-fitting past the extremity 26 of wall 23 which forms a flexible projection. When received in recess 24 the rib 15 engages the rib 25, which itself bears down onto or is in juxtaposition with wall 13 of the batten. The extremity of the wall 13 terminates flush with or just short of the rear of the bracket, which, in use, is against a wall or equivalent surface to which the batten assembly is fitted.

It will be appreciated from Figure 6 that the top surface of the wall 21 and lower surface of wall 23 each slope inwardly from the apex of the surface formed at the centre line 18. This allows the batten 10 to be tilted when fitted on the bracket 17, as will hereinafter be described in relation to Figure 30. The tilt permitted is typically 5 , but even with this slope of the wall surfaces the batten remains securely fitted to the bracket after being snap fittingly engaged thereon, as shown in Figure 28.

Figure 10 shows a right hand end cap 27 of the batten assembly. The end cap, which is of plastics material, has a front wall 28, upper and lower walls 29, 30 respectively extending normally, rearwardly therefrom and a right hand end wall 31 normal to walls 28 to 30.

From the inner surface of end wall 31 a pair of spaced, parallel arms 32, 33 extend, the arms lying in the same plane and being normal to said inner surface of end wall 31. The arms extend beyond the free edge of wall 28 and are spaced apart both from each other and from the inner surface of wall 28 by distances which allow the end cap to be fitted on to the right hand end of a length of batten, with the respective outer ends of the arms being closely received between the lip 14 and part 11 and rib 15 and part 11 respectively, so as firmly to engage the end cap and batten together. Screw grooves 34 in the outwardly directed front face of the end cap wall 28 are aligned with screw grooves 16 in the batten for a pleasant aesthetic appearance, these grooves continuing in the outer face of wall 31.

In the initial form supplied as part of assembly, the end cap is formed with an integral, yet separable pointer 35 as a continuation of the arms 32, 33. The pointer of Figure 10 is formed of two converging legs 36, 37 at an angle of 40 to the end cap centre line 38, the legs being joined to the arms by respective thin frangible hinges 39, 40. The end of the pointer is formed by a joining of the equal length legs at an end part 41 which is serrated to provided five outwardly directed points 42 equi-spaced apart at opposite sides of the centre line 38 which passes through the middle point.

The left hand end cap 43 shown in detail in Figures 11 to 15, is substantially a mirror image of the right hand end cap and the same reference numerals will be used for corresponding parts thereof. The legs 44, 45 of the pointer of the left hand end cap are however at 7.5" to the centre line, in this embodiment, and with the end part 41 being only slightly shorter than the end part of the end cap 27, the equal length legs 44, 45 are correspondingly shorter than legs 36, 37. As can be appreciated from Figure 15, the legs of both end caps are thinner than the arms from which they extend. By repeated twisting of a leg at its junction with its associated arm, the thin hinge can be broken to separate the pointer, as will be described hereinafter.

Figures 16 to 24 show the two components of a second or end bracket of the batten assembly, namely a main bracket part 46 and a twist lock 47.

The main bracket part 46, shown in Figures 16 to 21, is an elongated plastics member, having a main rectangular part 48, when viewed in plan as in Figures 16 or 18, and, at one end, a twist lock mounting part 49.

The part 48 is for fixing the bracket to a wall or equivalent surface and for receiving and engaging an upper part of the batten.

The part 48 has a generally flat centre portion 50 at the upper edge of which a flange 51 extends normally outwardly, the flange having an upturned end 52 which is positioned and dimensioned to be received in the space in the batten between the lip 14 and part 11, thereby fitting the top of the batten to the bracket. At its lower edge, the portion 50 has a very short outward flange which is turned downward to provide a further flange 53 having a front surface 54 positioned to be engaged by the outer surface of rib 15 or to be in juxtaposition therewith when the batten is secured to said bracket by actuation of the twist lock, as will be described.

The portion 48 has a lateral recess 55 therein and through the surface of the recess extend five circular fixing screw holes 56, the holes overlapping to form a continuous adjustment slot with five part-circular arcs at each side thereof, the central hole of holes 56 being on the longitudinal centre line 57 of the bracket. The holes break through the rear of the portion 48 which is flat, as shown in Figure 17. The slot is spaced from the free end of part 48 by a distance less than the spacing of the points 42 from the free edge of wall 28, so that as will be described in use, the twist lock is received in the batten sufficiently far from the adjacent end thereof to allow fitting of the appropriate end cap.

The part 49 lies substantially in the plane of part 48 and has a first diameter circular hole 58 in its surface which is outwardly facing in use, namely the surface effectively formed by a continuation of the surface of part 48 containing the recess 55. This hole is stepped to form a larger diameter hole 59 extending to the rear surface of part 49, as shown in Figure 21. To facilitate fitting of the twist lock 47 to the part 49, in use, diametrically opposite arcuate parts 60 of the hole 58 on centre line 57 are slightly cut away, as shown in Figure 16.

The twist lock 47 is of plastics material and is in the general form of part of a hollow cylinder with its outer end open, the cylinder having a part circular base 61 with parallel straight peripheral sides, and angularly spaced, diametrically opposed, part cylindrical sides 62, 63 respectively, upstanding from the base, as shown best in Figures 22 and 23. The sides 62, 63 have respective outwardly directed normal flanges 64, 65 extending from their respective free ends, each flange being centred on vertical twist lock centre line 47a, being arcuate in plan (Figure 23) and having its end radiussed (Figure 22). The flanges 64, 65 are individually dimensioned, and relatively spaced apart to be received, in use, in the spaces between lip 14 and side 11 and rib 15 and side 11 respectively, so as tightly to secure the batten to the second bracket by means of the twist lock.

Integrally formed on the rear surface of the base 61 are respective angularly spaced, diametrically opposed flexible fingers 66, 67 which are arcuate in plan (Figure 23), centred on the centre line 47a and extend normally from the base 61. Each finger is arcuately slightly shorter than a part 60. The fingers each have a rectangular main part with outer surfaces 68, 69 respectively from which main parts chamfered projections 70, 71 extend sidewardly outwardly, at the respective ends thereof. The surfaces 68, 69 are diametrically spaced apart by a distance only very slightly less than the diameter of hole 58, so that, in use, the fingers can be flexed slightly inwards and passed through the hole 58 at the parts 60 respectively until the fingers snap back, with the undersurfaces of the projections 70, 71 engaging the rear annular surface of the stepped part of the opening through part 49. In this state the twist lock can be moved angularly to orientate the flanges 64, 65 horizontal or vertical in use, as will be described, by means of a manual operating lever 72 projecting from the base to beyond flange 64, in the plane of the base, the lever having a forwardly cranked end spaced above the flange 64 by an amount greater than the thickness of top wall 12 of the batten, to allow operation of the lever 72 when the batten is engaged on the second bracket by means of flanges 64, 65. The movement described is illustrated in Figure 35 by arrow A (with the batten shown disengaged from the second bracket).

The fixing of the curtain track at a wall surface 73 (Figures 25A, 25B and Figures 26A, 26B) will now be described (with particular reference to Figures 25 to 35), using a batten assembly of the invention.

It will be appreciated that the length of batten (and thus curtain track), required at any particular window 74 will vary, and accordingly whereas Figure 25A shows a window where a 1.5 or 2 metre batten is required, in Figure 25B a 2.7 metre batten is being usd. In Figure 25A the first operation is to measure half of the window recess, whilst in Figure 25B, the recess is split into three and a third is measured from each side. Next, it is necessary to measure up from where it is wished for the curtains to finish the curtain drop. Examples of this vertical measurement are shown in Figures 26A and 26B.

Where these measurements meet is where the centre bracket 17 is mounted. This involves drilling and plugging the wall with a suitable fixing plug, and then securing the bracket by use of a screw 75 as shown in Figure 27.

The second brackets can be fitted most accurately using a spirit level, but this is not essential.

However, Figure 29 shows the use of a spirit level 76 and this will be described firstly.

After fixing bracket 19 to the wall, the batten is cut to the same length as the curtain track to be fitted.

It is then placed centrally relative to the centre bracket and the flange 21a is engaged with the bracket as previously described. The bottom of the batten is then swung towards the bracket as per arrow 'B' in Figure 28 until a click is heard, this being the rib 15 snapfitting behind flexible extremity 26 of wall 23 of the bracket. The spirit level 76 is now placed onto the end of the batten as shown in Figure 29 and adjustment as necessary is made to ensure that the batten is level relative to the horizontal, this tilting adjustment being indicated by arrow 'C'.

When any adjustment is complete the three points 77, 78 and 79, shown in Figure 29 at the rear edge of the end cap 27 which has been fitted at the right hand end of the batten, are marked at the wall. The end cap is then removed from the batten, as shown in Figure 30, in the direction of arrow 'D', and the batten tilted. The end cap 27 is then placed against the wall surface as shown in Figure 31 in correspondence with the marked points on the wall as previously in Figure 29 and a mark 80 is made on the wall at the centre one of the points 42. The wall i then drilled at this centre point corresponding to mark 80, after removal of the end cap.

After drilling, the end cap is again placed against the wall, being positioned by points 77, 78 and 79, and this shows if the drilled (and subsequently plugged) hole 81 has been correctly positioned or if it moved in the drilling operation.

If the hole 81 is correctly aligned with the mark 80 (i.e. with the central one of the points 42) then the screw 82 for securing the second bracket to the wall (Figure 33) can be passed through the central one of the five holes 56. However, if the hole 81 is displaced from the mark 80, for example below it, as in Figures 32 and 33, the screw 82 is passed through a different one of the five holes 56, namely the lowermost hole 56 for the situation shown in Figures 32, 33.

The adjustment means provided by the five holes is designed to allow up to 15 mm of movement of the hole produced by drilling from its correct position indicated by mark 80. If this is insufficient, the batten can be slid along the wall approximately 25 mm and the fitting procedure repeated.

Once the correct hole 56 has been determined, the screw 82 is screwed up therethrough to secure the second bracket to the wall, the batten is engaged on this bracket and the twist lock rotated by lever 72 (arrow E) to fix the batten tightly in place on the bracket (Figure 35). The entire second bracket fixing process is then repeated at the other end of the batten, using an identical second bracket. Figure 34 shows how by twisting the arms about the hinges 39 the pointers 35 can be broken off the right and left hand end caps respectively, these end caps then being fitted to the opposite ends of the fixed batten following the Figure 35 engagement thereof. The pointers of the right hand and left hand end caps are of different lengths because the twist lock brackets are not handed. This means that more clearance is required at one end.

The batten can then have a curtain track mounted to it, or indeed the track can be mounted to it before it is fixed to the brackets. In either case the curtain track brackets are screw-fixed as stated in the track fitting instructions, the screws of the brackets being fitted at a screw groove 34. The longest screw will, for example, be 19 mm. No pre-drilling or marking is required, merely screwing straight onto the batten along a single selected screw groove, where more than one groove is provided. With a slot/channel instead of a groove, the brackets are slid therealong and then secured in position in a known manner by tightening.

With a 2.7 metre batten used as in Figure 25B, two first brackets 17 are used at one third and two thirds of the length of the window. When levelling the ends of the batten, it is snapped onto the first bracket nearest the location for the second bracket only. The process is then repeated at the other end, removing the batten from the first bracket originally used.

When either the track has been secured to the fixed batten or the batten with track fitted to it has been fixed to the brackets, the curtains can be hung.

When redecorating, the batten, with curtain track, can be removed as a whole merely by unlocking the two twist locks and un-snapping the batten from the centre bracket.

If a spirit level 76 is not available, the levelling of the batten is accomplished as follows.

Firstly the batten is fitted to the centre bracket and a measurement is taken from the underside of the batten, directly under the centre bracket, to a lower reference surface, such as the floor. The equivalent distance is then measured at one end of the batten and the batten tilted, if adjustment is necessary, so that the two distances are the same. The three points 77 to 79 are then measured as described above and the remaining procedures followed.

Although only the use of two second brackets is described, the batten can be secured by the use of one first and one second bracket only.

Accordingly the disadvantages of the prior art are overcome and misalignment due to drilling errors can be compensated for with the present invention.

Claims (31)

1. A batten assembly comprising first and second brackets for securement to a wall or other surface, and a batten having pre-formed indication/location means for securing curtain track supporting brackets thereto, the batten being releasably engageable with said first and second brackets, in use.

2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, including means for accurately securing the second bracket relative to the first bracket so that when engaged with said first and second brackets, in use, the batten is level.

3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the means for accurately securing the second bracket include means for indicating the correct position of a fixing hole in said wall or other surface.

4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the second bracket has adjustment means to allow it to be fixed in position correctly relative to the first bracket by the use of a fixing element received in said fixing hole provided in said wall or other surface even if there is some deviation between the correct position of said fixing hole and its actual position, in use.

5. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the means for indicating the correct position of the fixing hole can also provide an indication of any deviation, up to a predetermined amount, between the correct position of said fixing hole and its actual position, the amount of such deviation indicated being directly related to the degree of corresponding adjustment required to said fixing element from its fixing position through the second bracket when the fixing hole is correctly positioned in the wall or other surface.

6. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein the means for accurately securing the second bracket is an end cap of the batten.

7. An assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the means for indicating the correct position of a fixing hole is provided on a break-off portion of the end cap.

8. An assembly as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the break-off portion of the end cap is in the form of a pointer which is joined to the remainder of the end cap by frangible hinge means.

9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the pointer is formed of two legs which converge to join at an end part remote from a main part of the end cap, the end part having a serration forming an outwardly directed point on a central line of the end cap, which line is horizontal in use, said central point providing the means for indicating the correct position of the fixing hole.

10. An assembly as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said end part has further serrations forming further outwardly directed points equi-spaced apart at opposite sides of said central point along a line normal to said central line of the end cap, said further points, in use, providing an indication of the amount of any deviation, up to a predetermined amount, between the correct and actual positions respectively of the fixing hole, in use.

11. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein two end caps are provided for fitting at respective opposite ends of the batten, each end cap being of a length correctly to position the fixing hole at a sufficient distance from the adjacent end of the batten to allow clearance between the second bracket fixed, in use, at said fixing hole and the end cap when fitted, in use, to said end of the batten with said break-off portion removed.

12. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second bracket includes manually operable releasable locking means for securing the batten to the second bracket.

13. An assembly as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said locking means is angularly movably mounted at an opening in the bracket.

14. An assembly as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the locking means has opposed, spaced flanges which in one angular position of the locking means relative to the second bracket engage, in use, in respective correspondingly spaced recesses of the batten to lock it to the second bracket, the flanges being clear of said recesses in a further relative angular position of the locking means thereby to allow release of the batten from said second bracket.

15. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 12 to 14, wherein part of said second bracket spaced from said locking means has a fixed flange with which the batten can engage, in use, so as correctly to position the batten for securement to the second bracket by said locking means.

16. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 11, wherein the second bracket has a fixing hole therethrough for the passage of a fixing element, in use, into sad fixing hole in said wall or other surface, the fixing hole in the second bracket being centred on a longitudinal centre line thereof.

17. An assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the adjustment means comprises a series of fixing holes through the second bracket, the holes having their respective centres on a common line normal to a longitudinal centre line of the second bracket, and with a central hole of the series having its centre on said longitudinal centre line and corresponding to the position of correct fixing for said fixing element passing, in use, into said fixing hole in said wall or other surface.

18. An assembly as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the centres of respective adjacent holes are equi-spaced by a distance such that the adjacent holes overlap to form a continuous adjustment slot.

19. An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batten is of channel cross-section along its length, with opposite side walls thereof being formed with an inwardly directed lip and rib respectively, the lip and the rib facing one another and being in a common plane parallel to a base of the channel.

20. An assembly as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the first bracket has an outwardly directed flange to fit between the lip and the channel base, and a recess into which the rib of the batten can be received as a snap-fit, to engage the batten with the first bracket, in use.

21. A method of releasably securing a batten at a wall or other surface comprising providing a batten assembly comprising first and second brackets, and a batten having pre-formed indication/location means for securing curtain track supporting brackets thereto, and carrying out the steps of securing the first and second brackets to said wall or other surface in a spaced apart relationship and releasably engaging with said first and second brackets said batten having said pre-formed indication/location means.

22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, comprising providing positioning means for accurately securing the second bracket relative to the first bracket so that when engaged with said brackets, in use, the batten is level, and carrying out the steps of engaging said positioning means at one end of the batten, which batten is engaged with said first bracket at a position spaced from said one end, levelling said batten, marking the position of the positioning means at the end of the levelled bracket, removing the positioning means from the batten, and replacing the positioning means at said marked position with the batten moved clear therefrom, to provide an indication of the correct position for a fixing hole to be provided in said wall or other surface.

23. A method as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the second bracket has adjustment means for securing it, in use, at said fixing hole in said wall or other surface, and comprising the steps of using said indication of the correct fixing hole position to provide a fixing hole in said wall or other surface, comparing the actual position of said fixing hole with its indicated correct position, positioning the second bracket relative to said fixing hole in the wall or other surface by aligning a reference hole of said adjustment means of the second bracket with said correct position of the fixing hole, and passing a fixing element through the one of the reference hole or another hole of the adjustment means which, after said positioning of the second bracket, is aligned with said fixing hole actually provided in said wall or other surface, thereby securing the second bracket accurately relative to the first bracket.

24. A method as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the positioning means is replaced at said marked position after the fixing hole has been provided.

25. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 22 to 24, wherein the batten is tilted clear of said marked position of the positioning means whilst it remains engaged with the first bracket.

26. A method as claimed in Claim 24, wherein a pointer portion of the positioning means is broken off an end cap portion thereof after the second bracket is positioned for accurate securement relative to the first bracket, the end cap portion thereafter being engaged at said one end of the batten.

27. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batten is releasably snap-fitted to the first bracket.

28. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the batten is removably located on part of the second bracket and releasably locked to the second bracket by operation of manual locking means of a further part of the second bracket.

29. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising securing two second brackets to said wall or other surface and engaging said batten with said second brackets adjacent respective opposite ends of said batten.

30. A batten assembly substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as shown in Figures 1 to 24 and Figures 27 to 35 of the accompanying drawings.

31. A method of releasably securing a batten at surface substantially as hereinbefore described.