US3455365A - Pull cord lock - Google Patents

Description

July 15, 1969 o. T. sTALL.

PULL CORD LOCK Filed oct. ze, 19e? United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 160-344 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pull cord lock including, an elongate body with inner and outer ends, a substantially at, horizontal top and substantially vertical, laterally spaced, parallel sides, an elongate block with inner and outer ends, la substantially upwardly disposed top, laterally spaced, laterally outwardly disposed sides and a substantially downwardly disposed bottom and arranged within the body below the top and sides of the body, pivot means pivotally connecting the inner end of the block to theinner end of the body `with the top of the block normally spaced below the top of the body, a transversely extending longitudinally outwardly and downwardly disposed cord engaging upper cleat on the top Wall of the Ibody spaced longitudinally outward from the pivot means, a transversely extending longitudinally inwardly and upwardly disposed lower cleat on the top of the block spaced below the upper cleat cord guide means in the block longitudinally Ioutward of the lower cleat guiding two end portions of a pull cord upwardly from between the block and, thence, longitudinally inwardly -between the tops of the block and the body and between the cleats and spring means between the pivot means and the cleats normally yieldingly urging the outer end of the block and the lower cleat upwardly and inwardly yabout the axis of the pivot means whereby the cleats establish yielding pressure engagement of the portions of the cord engaged therebetween.

This invention relates to a piece of drapery hardware, and is more particularly concerned with a novel pull cord lolck.

It is common practice in the drapery art to provide an elongate horizontally disposed traverse rod, mounting means to support the rod at points spaced along its longitudinal extent and in iixed `spaced relationship from a wall, and above a Window opening therein, -a plurality of glides slidaibly engaged in the rod and to which the upper edges yof drapery panels are xed to be supported by the rod and glides and to depend therefrom and to occur across the window opening. It is further common practice to provide an elongate pull cord engaged about a sheave at one end of the traverse rod and extending longitudinally through the rod and over and downwardly from a roller at the other end of the rod. The two parallel lengths of cord within the rod are fixed to sliding glidelike master carriers related to the inner adjacent ends of the upper edges of the panels in such a manner that by pulling one or the other of the depending end portions of the cord, the drapery panels and their glides can be shifted longitudinally of the rod, into and out of engagement across the window opening. Whenthe panels are positioned to overlie or cover the window opening, they are extended. When positioned to leave the window open or unobstructed, the panels are pleated and gathered at the ends of the rod.

There are several widely used special structures or apparatuses which tend to load, 4by spring or Weight, the draperies and the pull cords so that the draperies to iwhich these cords are related are normally yieldingly urged towards their opened (gathered) or closed y(extended) positions.

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One such structure consists of an elongate sinuate drapery pleater spring formed of spring steel. The pleater spring is engaged in an upper hem in a drapery panel and yieldingly urges the drapery in a gathered or' pleated condition. Such pleater is provided with suitable means to facilitate engagement and fixing of the glides thereto.

In such a construction and in other constructions which tend to yieldingly or otherwise urge the draperies to one of their two positions (opened or closed), means must be provided to releasably lock and hold the pull cords so that the draperies can be selectively shifted to a desired position, either opened, closed or some intermediate position, by pulling the end portions of the cords and so that when the cords are released, they will be locked or held in such a manner that the forces normally tending to urge the draperies and the cords longitudinally of the traverse rods, will be checked or effectively overcome.

Several such pull cord lock means have been provided by the prior art. The most familiar of such means is the conventional cam or bull-dog cleat type pull cord lock that is provided on Venetian blind constructions, which serves to lock and hold the cords in any desired position and prevent the blind construction from dropping from an up or partially up position to its down position due to its own weight.

A characteristic of pull cord locks provided by the prior art is that the portions of the cord-s that are engaged to operate the drapery or blind constructions must be drawn taut and pulled laterally in a predetermined manner and direction to release the lock means, and must be pulled laterally in another or opposite direction to lock the said locking means. This requirement is extremely unsatisfactory as it frequently happens that surrounding structures establish obstacles which prevent or make it extremely difcult to pull the cords laterally to eect operation of the locking means.

One pull cord lock construction which overcomes the shortcomings found in most pull cord locks provided by the prior .art is described in my United States Patent No. 3,253,645, issued May 31, 1966. While the structure disclosed in this patent proved to be extremely elfective and was a commercial success, it was difficult and costly to manufacture and was replete with minor shortcomings.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel pull cord locking means which is .such that the cord can be pulled from any angle to effect shifting of the cord related to it.

An object and feature of my invention is to provide a structure of the character referred to wherein the locking means involves a body with a gripping edge and engageable in the end of a traverse rod, a springloaded block through and/or about which a related pull cord is engaged and guided and having a gripper edge or cleat opposing and olfset from the gripping edge of the body and over which the cord extends whereby the cord is normally yieldingly engaged and held between the opposing offset edges.

Another object and feature of the present invention is to provide a structure of the character referred to involving two molded plastic ports, a metal spring, a bolt and a nut.

It is another object of the invention to provide a structure of the character referred to which is extremely easy and economical to manufacture, and a structure which is both highly effective and dependable in operation.

The foregoing and other objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drapery installation with a pull cord lock as provided by the present invention related thereto;

FIG. 2 isanenlarged View of my new pull cord lockV taken substantially as indicated by line 2 2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken as indicated by line 3 3 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken as indicated by line 4 4 on FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken as indicated by line 5 5 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a View taken as indicated by line 6 6 On FIG. 5; and,

vFIG.-7 is an isometric view of another form of the invention.

The present invention has to do with a drapery pull cord lock A, adapted to engage and releasably hold a drapery pull cord C in fixed position.

The lpull cord lock A that I provide is particularly adapted for use in traverse rod drapery installations, especially where the cords are subject to forces which normally tend to shift the cords, independently of outside or manually applied forces.

In FIG. l of the drawings, I have illustrated a portion of a typical traverse rod type drapery installation or construction, which installation includes, basically, a drapery supporting traverse rod R and mounting means M securing the rod to a wall structure W in xed, parallel spaced relationship thereto. The rod R is an elongate, horizontallyy disposed steel member, substantially C-shaped in cross-section having open ends and a longitudinal, downwardly opening slot.

The drapery installation illustrated further includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced glides (not shown) slidably engaged in the slot in the T rod to depend therefrom, a pair of drapery panels D having hems H at or along their upper edges, and elongate, sinuate drapery pleaters P of spring steel engaged in the hems H and normally yieldingly urging the drapery panels into gathered pleated condition. The hems of the drapery panels and the pleaters related thereto are suitably engaged by the glides whereby the drapery panels are suspended from the drapery rods R for substantially free, longitudinal shifting relative thereto.

The outer ends of the drapery panels and pleaters, at the ends of the rod, are engaged about and anchored at the ends of the rod by suitable return means (not shown] while the inner ends of the drapery panels and pleaters are xed to master carriers E which are in the nature of modified glides, slidably carried by the rod and provided with cord-engaging means (not shown) fixed to the inner ends of the draperies and pleaters to their related portions of the cord.

Since the noted return means at the ends of the rod and the noted master carriers can vary widely in construction without affecting the novelty of this invention, I have elected to illustrate them in a diagrammatic fashion and will not burden this disclosure with further description thereof.

The installation illustrated further includes a sheave S arranged within the rod R at one end thereof, the pull cord lock A, as provided by the present invention at the other end of the rod R and the pull cord C extending upwardly into the lock A, then longitudinally through the rod R and about the sheave S, thence back to and through the pull cord lock A to depend therefrom. The master carriers E are fixed to the cord, each being fixed to one longitudinally extending portion of the cord within the rod, and so that when the cord is pulled so as to shift the said longitudinal portions thereof, within the rod, the master carriers E and the ends of the drapery panels are shifted longitudinally outwardly to an open position, or longitudinally inwardly t0 a closed position, as circumstances require.

It will be apparent that with the combination and relationship of parts set forth above, the resilient pleater engaged in the drapery panels normally yieldingly urge the panels from their closed position, as shown in FIG. l,

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to their open position, and that the pull cord lock A serves to prevent the free shifting of the drapery panels, by releasably holding or gripping the cord C.

The pull lock A that I provide includes an elongate molded plastic body B, an elongate molded plastic block F, pivotally related to and extending longitudinally of the body, spring means G between the body and the block and including a nut and bolt assembly comprising a bolt 10, nut 1I and a helical compression spring I2.

The body and block cooperate to deline pivot means H between the body and the block, and gripping means I to engage a related pull cord C.

The block F is formed with or delines cord guide means J.

The body B is an elongate unitary, box-like structure having inner and outer ends 20 and 21, longitudinal, laterally spaced, parallel, vertical side walls 22, a flat, horizontal, longitudinal top wall 23 and an outer end wall 24 closing the outer end 21.

The body B is rectangular in cross-section and is of suol,y vertical and lateral extent that it will slidably enter and establish snug frictional engagement in a related travers: rod R, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 of th..l drawings.

The outer end wall 24 of the body projects vertically and laterally outwardly from the top and side walls of the body to detine a stop shoulder 25 to engage the related end of the rod R and to thereby stop and limit longitudinal inward shifting of the body in the rod and assure proper orientation of the rod and block.

It is to be noted that the body B is, in cross-section, U-shaped and opens downwardly, that the rod R is likewise U-shaped and opens downwardly and that the open bottom sides of the body and the open bottom side or slot T of the rod R are in register so that free access to the interior of the body is available through the slot T when the rod and body are assembled.

In addition to the foregoing, the body B is provided with a transversely extending, downwardly and longitudinally outwardly disposed cord engaging gripping corner or upper cleat 26, spaced between the ends of the body and adjacent the top wall 23 thereof. In the case illustrated the cleat 26 is established and/or defined by the rear transversely extending edge 27 of an opening 28 established in the top wall 23 of the body between the ends thereof.

In practice, the corner-like upper cleat 26 can be established in any one of a number of different ways, for example, it could be established by a transversely extending, rectangular rib or the like formed on the bottom side of the top wall, if desired or if circumstances require.

The side walls 22 of the body are provided with axially aligned, laterally and downwardly opening notches 29 at their lower edges 30 and adjacent or in close proximity to the inner end of the body. The notches 29 are bearing seats for the pivot means H, as will hereinafter be described.

Finally, the body B is provided with a central vertical bolt receiving opening 31 adjacent or in close proximity to the inner side of the cleat 26 and spaced longiiudinally outward from the pivot means H. In the case illustrated the opening 31 is a countersink and cooperatively receives the head 32 ofthe bolt 10.

The body can, in addition to the foregoing, be provided with additional or collateral features, such as Areinforcing walls and webs, pockets or recesses as at 33 and supporting posts, such as illustrated at 34, for supporting and accommodating related drapery hardware, such as return means bars and the like.

Since such other drapery hardware and means do not affect the novelty of this invention and are of a collateral nature, I will not burden this disclosure with further detailed description thereof.

The block F, like the body B, is an elongate, unitary part and has inner and outer ends and 41, a vertically disposed top 42, a bottom 43, and laterally outwardly disposed side 44.

The block F is slightly less in lateral extent than the interior lateral extent of the body and is arranged between the side walls 22 of the body for free vertical pivotal movement therein.

The inner end of the block is provided with a pair of laterally outwardly projecting pivot bosses or pins 45 in axial alignment with and cooperatively engaged and pivotally seated in the notches 29.

It `will be apparent that the pivot pins 45 and notches 29 cooperate to define the pivot means H and that the inner end of .the block is suitably pivotally mounted in the inner end of the body.

The block F is provided with a central, vertically extending opening 46 in substantial vertical alignment with the opening 31 in the body and through which the bolt 10 of the spring means G freely projects, as it depends from the top wall of the body.

The block F is further provided with a lower transversely extending cleat 47, which cleat is spaced below and slightly forward of the upper cleat 26 on the body.

The cleat 47, like the cleat 26, can =be established in any one of a number of different manners. In the case illustrated, the cleat 47 is defined by the upwardly and laterally inwardly disposed outer edge of a transversely extending channel 48 in the top 42 of the block.

The block F further includes the cord guide means I, which means involves a pair of vertical guide openings 49 and 50 through which the opposite end portions of the cord C are engaged.

In the preferred carrying out of the invention, the openings 49 and 50 are arranged in longitudinal spaced relationship on the central longitudinal axis of the construction so that the cords depend from the construction on the central vertical, longitudinal plane thereof and freely through the central gap or slot T in the rod R. Accordingly, and as illustrated, the opening 49 is spaced longitudinally inwardly of the opening 50.

The cord guide means further includes an upwardly, longitudinally, inwardly and laterally extending, curved cord directing groove joining each opening 49 and 50 and fairing into the top 42 of the block longitudinally outward of the cleat 47 thereon and so that one end portion of the cord occurs at one side and the other end portion of the cord occurs at the other side of the central axis of the construction as the cord portion extends longitudinally inwardly of the construction and so that one portion of the cord is guided below and clear of the other portion o-f the cord, free from interference therewith, as the cords extend longitudinally outwardly and laterally inwardly towards and thence downwardly through the openings 49 and 50.

In the case illustrated and as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, inner opening 49 is joined with a first, longitudinally inwardly and upwardly curved guide groove 51 which is inclined longitudinally inwardly and laterally to the left side of the central axis of the construction (looking longitudinally inwardly from the outer end of the construction) and the outer opening 50 is provided with a similar guide groove `52, except that the groove 52 is laterally inwardly inclined to the right side of the central axis of the construction.

The groove 51 is longer and deeper than the groove 52 so that the portion of the cord engaged thereon occurs well below the portion of the cord in the groove 52 where the portions of the cord converge with the central vertical plane of the construction.

With the means I it will be apparent that the portions of the cord are directed and maintained in laterally spaced, parallel relationship with each other in the rod R and in longitudinal spaced, parallel relationship on the central vertical plane of the construction as they depend from the construction.

The means J maintains the cord portions free and clear of each other and preferably free and clear of the bolt 10, though this latter feature is not necessary since the bolt can, if desired, be employed as a spacer -for the cord portions and to supplement the function of the grooves 49 and 50.

In practice and as illustrated, the lower side portions of the block can be relieved so that the lower portion of the block is in the nature of a central, longitudinally extending, depending rib, less in lateral extent than the slot T in the rod R and so the rib-like portion of the block can extend freely through the slot T and depend from the rod, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The nut 11 of the means G is engaged on the lower end of the bolt 10 in spaced relationship below the bottorn 43 of the block and the spring 12 is engaged about the bolt between the nut 11 and the bottom of the block to normally yieldingly -urge the block upwardly, with the pivot pins of the means H firmly pivotally seated in the notches 29 of the means H and so that the outer portion of the block is pivoted upwardly and longitudinally inwarly about the axis of the means H.

Upward and inward pivoting of the block in the above manner urges the lower cleat 47 upwardly and rearward-v ly toward the upper cleat 26 and so that the end portions of the cord C, as they extend longitudinally between the cleats, are engaged thereby, the lower cleat being outward of the upper cleat urging the cord portions upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and the upper cleat urging the cord portions downwardly and inwardly about the lower cleat and so that the cord portions are effectively held and locked against longitudinal inward and outward movement between the cleats.

When one or the other depending end portions of the cord C is manually engaged and pulled downwardly, the outer end portion of the block is yieldingly urged and pivoted downwardly about the axis of the means H, shifting the lower outer cleat 47 down and away from the upper cleat 26, thereby yieldingly releasing the cord holding and/or locking action normally afforded by the construction and allowing for free longitudinal shifting of the cord portions in and through the construction.

Upon release of the cord, the lock automatically and mechanically locks the cords, as above set forth.

In practice, the nut 11 is threadedly engaged on the bolt 10 and is such that it can be advanced on the bolt so as to vary the pressure at which the pull cord is gripped and held.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, spring means G is provided to pivotally connect the block F with the body B', thereby eliminating the bolt, spring and nut assembly and the pivot means provided in the rst form of the invention.

The spring means G involves a simple, substantially U-shaped leaf spring with a rounded base portion 101 and substantially longitudinally outwardly projecting upper and lower legs 102 and 103. The lower leg iS engaged in a slot 104 provided in the inner end of the block F and the upper is suitably lixed to the body. In the case illustrated the upper leg is provided with upwardly turned, laterally spaced, apertured mounting tabs 105 which are fixed to the side walls of the body by suitable rivet fasteners 106.

It will be apparent that the means G serves the dual purpose of pivotally mounting the block to the body and yieldingly urging the block upwardly in the body.

In practice, the means G can be varied widely in form and construction without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A pull cord lock including an elongate body with inner and outer ends, a substantially at, horizontal top and substantially vertical, laterally spaced, parallel sides, an elongate block with inner and outer ends, a substantially upwardly disposed top, laterally spaced, laterally outwardly disposed sides and a substantially downwardly disposed bottom, and arranged within the body below the top and between the sides of the body, pivot means pivotally connecting the inner end of the block to the inner end of the body with the top of the block normally spaced below the top of the body, a transversely extending, longitudinally outwardly and downwardly disposed cord engaging upper cleat on the top `wall of the body spaced longitudinally outward from the pivot means, a transversely extending longitudinally inwardly and upwardly disposed lower cleat on the top of the block spaced below and longitudinally offset from the upper cleat, cord guide means in the block longitudinally outward of the lower cleat guiding two end portions of a pull cord upwardly from below the block and thence longitudinally inwardly between the tops of the block and the body and between the cleats and spring means normally yieldingly urging the outer end of the block and the lower cleat upwardly and inwardly about the axis of the pivot means whereby the cleats establish yielding pressure engagement on the portions of the cord engaged therebetween at longitudinally spaced points on the portions of the cord and said portions of the cord are kinked between the cleats.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 `wherein said lower cleat is spaced longitudinally outward of the upper cleat whereby said lower cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and said upper cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord downwardly and longitudinally inward about the lower cleat when the cleats are urged into pressure engagement with the cord portions and whereby the central axis of the portions of the cord extending longitudinally outward from the cleats are offset from the axis of the portions of the cords extending longitudinally inward from the cleats.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes longitudinally spaced inner and outer vertical ycord receiving openings in the block and the central axis thereof, an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward one side of the block from the inner opening and an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward the other side of the block from the outer opening whereby the cords are guided into laterally spaced, parallel relationship between the cleats.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower cleat is spaced longitudinally outward of the upper cleat whereby said lower cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and Said upper cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord downwardly and longitudinally inward about the lower cleat when the cleats are urged into pressure engagement with the cord portions, said guide means including longitudinally spaced, inner and outer vertical cord receiving openings in the block and the central axis thereof, an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward the other side of the block from the outer opening whereby the cords are guided into laterally spaced, parallel relationship between the cleats.

5. A structure as set forth in claim l wherein said spring means includes an elongate vertical bolt carried by the body between the pivot means and the cleats and depending therefrom, an opening in the block freely receiving the bolt, stop means at the lower end of the bolt and spaced below the block and a compression spring about the bolt, between the stop means and the block and normally yieldingly urging the block upwardly relative to the body and about the pivot means.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower cleat is spaced longitudinally outward of the upper cleat whereby said lower cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and said upper cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord downwardly and longitudinally inward about the lower cleat when the cleats are urged into pressure engagement with the cord portions, said spring means including an elongate vertical bolt carried by the body between the pivot means and the cleats and depending therefrom, an opening in the block freely receiving the bolt, stop means at the lower end of the bolt and spaced below the block and a compression spring about the bolt, between the stop means and the block and normally yieldingly urging the block upwardly relative to the body and about the pivot means.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide means includes longitudinally spaced innerl and outer vertical cord receiving openings in the block and the central axis thereof, an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward one side of the block from the inner opening and an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward the other side of the block from the outer opening whereby the cords are guided into laterally spaced, parallel relationship between the cleats, said spring means including an elongate vertical bolt carried by the body between the pivot means and the cleats and depending therefrom, an opening in the block freely receiving the bolt, stop means at the lower end of the bolt and spaced below the block and a compression spring about the bolt, between the stop means and the block and normally yieldingly urging the block upwardly relative to the body and about the pivot means.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower cleat is spaced longitudinally outward of the upper cleat whereby said lower cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and said upper cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord downwardly and longitudinally inward about the lower cleat when the cleats are urged into pressure engagement with the cord portions, said guide means including longitudinally spaced, inner and outer vertical cord receiving openings in the block and the central axis thereof, an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide grooves extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward the other side of the block from the outer opening whereby the cords are guided into laterally spaced, parallel relationship between the cleats.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes laterally outwardly projecting pivot pins at the inner end of the block and laterally and downwardly opening bearing notches in the sides of the body adjacent the inner end thereof and pivotally receiving the pins.

10. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lower cleat is spaced longitudinally outward of the upper cleat whereby said lower cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord upwardly and longitudinally outward about the upper cleat and said upper cleat urges the adjacent portions of the cord downwardly and longitudinally inward about the lower cleat when the cleats are urged into pressure engagement with the cord portions, said guide means including longitudinally spaced, inner and outer vertical cord receiving openings in the block and the central axis thereof, an upwardly and longitudinally inwardly curved cord guide groove extending longitudinally inwardly and laterally toward the other side of the bloclt from the outer opening whereby the cords are guided :into laterally spaced, parallel relationship between the cleats, said pivot means including laterally outwardly projecting pivot pins at the inner end of the block and laterally and downwardly opening bearing notches in the sides of the body adjacent the inner end thereof and pivotally receiving the pin.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the said pivot means and the spring means include a common spring part with portions xed to and portions extending between adjacent inner end portions of the body and block.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,954,941 4/1934 Monnier 160-343 2,115,796 5/ 1938 Bradeld 160-168 X 2,564,995 8/ 1951 Rakeman 160-346 10 2,718,922 9/ 1955 Fetter 16-87.4 X 3,284,053 11/1966 Weber 160--345 X 3,294,153 12/1966 Fountain 160-168 DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 160-178

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