Patent Application
20120175068
The present invention generally relates to child safety lift cord systems for use with retractable window coverings and, in particular, to Roman shade window coverings of the type having lift cords that are run through guides attached to the shade material at vertically spaced intervals along the shade.
Homeowners and businesses alike have increasingly used retractable window coverings for a variety of aesthetic and functional purposes. Retractable window coverings include a control mechanism which allows a user to raise or lower the window covering based on the user's preference. In the Roman shade type window coverings, lift cords running along the shade extend and retract in order to move the window covering between its lowered and raised positions. The lift cords vertically extend from the top of the window covering and connect to a bottom portion of the covering, such as a bottom rail or other retaining structure. These lift cords should not be confused with the free hanging pull cords, sometimes also referred to as “lift cords,” that are manipulated by a user to control the raising and lowering of the shade. Such pull cords pose a separate safety hazard for children which is not addressed by the present disclosure.
Though necessary for proper operation of a retractable window covering, lift cords pose a considerable and serious risk to infants and children. Even though these lift cords are often positioned along the rear unexposed side of the shade, they can still be inadvertently pulled by a child thereby causing an unsafe loop. Unfortunately, these loops may become large enough to be wrapped around a child or infant's head or other body part. Due to the weight of the bottom rail and the shade material, gravity forces these loops to be pulled tight thereby creating a constricting force around the child's neck or other body part. In such an unfortunate event, the loop can potentially cause significant injury or even death.
Prior systems attempting to address problems associated with window covering lift cords have been inadequate. Some prior art systems utilize unsatisfactory crimping, gluing and snap-type connection techniques that use open C-clips to attach the lift cord to the shade. Other designs leave the lift cord exposed, thereby maintaining the risk that a child or infant may directly pull the lift cord and form an unsafe loop.
Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.
The present invention provides an improved lift cord system for window coverings. The claims, and only the claims, define the invention.
A lift cord safety system is provided for use with a Roman shade type window covering having a head rail, a bottom rail and a shade movable between a raised and a lowered position. A plurality of lift cords vertically extend down from the head rail toward the bottom rail. A flexible sleeve is associated with and substantially surrounds each lift cord at least up to a height within about one foot from the head rail. A set of vertically spaced guides are also associated with each lift cord and are attached to the shade. The sleeve and the lift cord are disposed within each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides. A zip tie securely and physically affixes the sleeve to each guide of the associated set of vertically spaced guides.
It is an object of certain embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide an improved lift cord system for window coverings.
Further forms, objects, features, aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from a detailed description and drawings provided herewith.
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications in the described embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in great detail, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that some features that are not relevant to the present invention may not be shown for the sake of clarity.
Except as specifically defined herein, the words/terms used in the claims is to only have its plain and ordinary meaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusive of all consistent dictionary definitions from the most recently published Webster's dictionaries and Random House dictionaries.
As used in the claims and the specification, the following words/terms have the following definitions:
The term “pull cord” refers to a free hanging length of string, rope, cord or chain manipulated by a user to control the raising and lowering of a window covering. The pull cord may have a looped or unlooped design. Because pull cords pose a hazardous risks to children or infants, a variety of safety features are associated with pull cords, such as wall mounts. However, such safety features are not relevant to the present invention and are not described herein.
The term “lift cord” refers to the length of string, rope, cord or chain which extends vertically down from the head rail in the direction of the bottom rail. The lift cord is connected on its upper end to a control system (e.g., spool or shaft operated) typically concealed by the head rail. While in use, it is the control system which directly retracts or extends the lift cord in order to raise or lower the window covering.
The term “zip tie” refers to a closed loop type fastening device which may be either releaseable or non-releasable, reusable or non-reusable, and is inclusive of devices also known in the art as tie-wraps or cable ties.
In order to provide the proper context for the embodiments of the present disclosure, known window coverings and prior art lift cord safety systems will be initially presented and discussed. One common type of window covering is the Roman shade and an example of one is depicted in
As viewed best in
As taught by the Anthony reference, the lift cord 62 is woven in and out of the horizontal rungs 74. Ideally, the protector 70 would be gripped by a child or infant instead of the lift cord 62, in which case the attachment of the protector 70 at each pleat 58 would limit the size of any loop created. Unfortunately, the protector 70 leaves the lift cord 62 partially exposed. A young child with small fingers can grab and pull the lift cord 62 directly, thereby creating the same large loop the protector 70 sought to be avoided. As a result, the purpose of protector 70 is undermined and the addition of the protector is rendered useless.
A further lift cord safety system proposed by the Anthony reference is depicted in
Each C-clip 84 has a circular passage 86 having a diameter slightly larger than the cross-section of guide ring 60, as well as an open neck entry 88 having a dimension slightly smaller than the cross-section of a guide ring 60. The open neck entry 88 allows the C-clip 84 to be forced over a guide ring 60 and resiliently held in place. Unfortunately, children attempting to handle and play with the low hanging C-clips 84 may inadvertently release the C-clip 84 from the guide ring 60. Though adjacent C-clips 84 may still be in place, a large loop can still be produced, posing a serious threat to the child or infant.
The method of manufacturing this embodiment is also problematic. While reducing the risk of injury, lift cord safety systems should also be economical to manufacture. As taught by the Anthony reference, the preferred way of securing the C-clips 84 to protector 80 is by injection molding a resilient plastic around protector 80 while maintaining a hollow core such that the lift cord 62 can still pass in an unobstructed fashion through C-clip 84. As is readily apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, manufacturing the C-clips 84 is such a manner would not only be difficult, but also quite expensive. The alternative method presented in the Anthony reference, i.e., gluing and crimping, present their own problems.
Referring now to
As viewed best in
Pursuant to the embodiments of the present application, each set of vertically spaced guides 110 corresponds to a lift cord 112 and its associated protective sleeve 114. Each lift cord 112 is connected on its upper end to the control system, which is concealed by head rail 102. In the illustrated embodiment, the lift cord 112 is connected to bottom rail 104 on its lower end. In another non-illustrated embodiment, the lift cord 112 is attached to the guide 110 nearest to bottom rail 104.
The protective sleeve 114 is composed of spirally wound fibers, such as, but not limited to, nylon. Protective sleeves manufactured by Julius Koch USA have been found to be acceptable. The fibers of the protective sleeve 114 are woven such that the lift cord 112 is not accessible through the sleeve 114. In order to allow the lift cord 112 to freely move within the protective sleeve 114, the protective sleeve 114 has a diameter larger than that of the lift cord 112.
The vertical arrangement of each set of guides 110 creates a vertical passageway for the associated lift cord 112 and protective sleeve 114 to be threaded through and disposed within the guides 110. The protective sleeve 114 is securely attached to each guide 110 of each vertical set. In the illustrated embodiment, the protective sleeve 114 is, secured to the guide 110 by a zip tie 116. Though only zip tie fasteners are depicted, it is contemplated that the protective sleeve 114 may be glued, sewn, or otherwise securely attached to each guide 110 through a variety of securement means. In the preferred embodiment, zip tie 116 is of the non-releasable type having no freely accessible releasing mechanism. In other contemplated embodiments, releasable or reusable zip ties may be used.
As clearly depicted in
In the depicted embodiment, the protective sleeve 114 may not surround the portion of the lift cord 112 adjacent to the head rail 102. In one embodiment, the protective sleeve 114 is provided around the lift cord 112 beginning at a position twelve inches below head rail 102. In another embodiment, the protective sleeve 114 may surround the entire length of the lift cord 112.
The lift cord safety systems disclosed in the present disclosure are cost-effective to a window covering manufacturer. Unlike prior designs, the safety systems according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure do not require complex and expensive components. Pursuant to the illustrated embodiment, the zip ties 116 may be easily threaded through the protective sleeve 114 either by hand or through an automated machine process. Because zip ties 116 are relatively inexpensive to purchase, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides an economic lift cord safety system.
While the invention has, been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. It is also contemplated that structures and features embodied in the present examples can be altered, rearranged, substituted, deleted, duplicated, combined, or added to each other. The articles “the”, “a” and “an” are not necessarily limited to mean only one, but rather are inclusive and open ended so as to include, optionally, multiple such elements.
