Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E06—DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; LADDERS
  • E06B—FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES
  • E06B9/00—Screening or protective devices for wall or similar openings, with or without operating or securing mechanisms; Closures of similar construction
  • E06B9/24—Screens or other constructions affording protection against light, especially against sunshine; Similar screens for privacy or appearance; Slat blinds
  • E06B9/26—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds
  • E06B9/28—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable
  • E06B9/30—Lamellar or like blinds, e.g. venetian blinds with horizontal lamellae, e.g. non-liftable liftable
  • E06B9/32—Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor
  • E06B9/324—Cord-locks

Definitions

• the present invention relates to window shade or window blind systems; more particularly the present invention relates to a locking method for the cords used in window shade or window blind systems.
• Window shade or window blind systems typically have cords which run along the headrail and then hang freely along the sides of the window shade or window blind. These cords are used to control the shade or blind raising and lowering mechanism. In most commonly used raising and lowering systems, the user pulls the cords to one side to free the cords for travel. Once the cords have been moved, the user then re-positions the cords so that a hinged plate member can pinch the cords against a flat surface.
• the hinged plate method of impeding cord travel to lock a shade or blind in position has several inherent problems. Typical of such problems is the situation which occurs in a multi-cord system wherein one or more cords may become positioned so that it lies on top of other cords. In this situation, the cords can not be reliably locked. When this condition occurs the weight of the shade or ' blind may cause one side of the bottom rail of the shade or blind system to fall down while the other side remains in position. The user must then unlock the cords again to remedy the problem before adjusting the position of the bottom rail
• a fail-safe cord locking system for use with a window shade or the like and which reduces wear on the cord is provided by the present invention.
• the cord locking system is contained in a end cap which fits into the end of a headrail of a window shade system or the like. Within the end cap is a tubular space which surrounds the control cords for the window shade or blind.
• a ball member Positioned within the tubular space is a ball member.
• the tubular space includes a stop at its base so that the ball member will not fall out.
• a socket At the top of the tubular space is a socket whose configuration is slightly smaller than the size of the ball member. As the cords pass through the tubular space, they carry the ball member upwardly through the tubular space into the socket.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view in partial section of a schematic of the cord locking system of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a top plan view of the schematic system shown in Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is front elevational view of the schematic system shown in Figure 1 with the front portion removed;
• Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of the cord locking system of the present invention.
• Figure 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of the main part of the system shown in Figure 4;
• Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the system shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of the cord locking system of the present invention
• Figure 9 is a view taken at line 9-9 of Figure 8;
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of the assembled system shown in Figure 8.
• Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the system shown in Figure 11.
• socket 22 may be a conical shape or may include a series of stepped ridges 26 as shown in Figure 3.
• cords 18 are pulled to one side as shown in Figure 3. This causes ball 20 to drop down in tubular space 16 by the force of gravity. Ball 20 is prevented from falling out of tubular space 16 by ball retainer 24.
• cords When it is desired to reposition the shade or blind, cords
• cords 18 are brought to a substantially vertical position. As cords 18 travel upwardly into end cap 12 they pick up ball 20 and carry it into socket member 22.
• cords 18 tend to space themselves in a substantially even array around ball 20. This alignment prevents the bunching of cords 18 and allows for the positive locking of ball 20 in. socket 20. The reason for this substantially even array of control cords 18 is not fully understood.
• roller 236 which turns on axle 238, makes initial contact with the cords and roller 232, which turns on roller 234, makes secondary contact with the cords before they enter tubular space 216.
• ball 220 locks the cords once it interacts with socket 222.
• the entire assembly is formed into an end piece 212 which is shaped to fit within a headrail.
• cord locking system 10 of the present invention an easy-to-manufacture, inexpensive system which is substantially fail-safe and which minimizes cord wear.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Blinds (AREA)
• Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=22542176

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1989
  • 1989-01-12 EP EP19890902421 patent/EP0356485A4/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1989-01-12 WO PCT/US1989/000121 patent/WO1989007187A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1989-02-03 ES ES8900389A patent/ES2012981A6/es not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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