The following invention relates to window coverings configured to have different orientations at which different portions of the window are covered, and which include cords dangling downward therefrom at least some of the time. More particularly, this invention relates to clips and other structures for holding cords extending down from a window covering where desired.
Window coverings come in many different configurations. Many window coverings are adjustable in various different ways, such as including adjustable height for a lower portion of the shade, such as a bottom rail. Such adjustable shades can be lifted or lowered to cause the shade to alternatively block a greater or lesser portion of the window. Lift cords are provided that can be manipulated to control the position of the bottom of the shade. Other cords are often utilized to adjust an angle at which slats or other structures within the window are oriented. Such cords may extend down from different portions of the shade, depending on the configuration of the shade.
One shade in particular which is adjustable is shown in
Such a configuration for this particular shade, and perhaps other shades, is not always the most desirable orientation. This orientation causes the cords to block somewhat the view out through the window when the shade is partially or fully raised. In general, it would be more desirable if these cords extended down from one edge of the shade so that the window would not be blocked by the cords in any fashion. Also, having the cords angled over to some form of cord holder off to the side of the shade would decrease a length that the cord would dangle down from the bottom rail. Cords can present danger to children, pets and others, and so are best kept sufficiently high so that children cannot handle them. Also, keeping them sufficiently elevated can reduce the possibility of children being able to play with the shades and potentially damage them.
Accordingly, a need exists for some form of cord management system which can hold cords which would otherwise extend from a portion of the shade which is not desired over to a different portion of the shade where location of the exposed cords is more desirable, and with potentially less of the cords extending downwardly therefrom.
With this invention, a clip is provided which acts as a cord holder or retainer for a lift cord or other cord (or cords) of a window covering, so that the cord can extend from a different portion of the shade than would otherwise be the case. In particular, the clip in its preferred form is configured to attach to a portion of a bottom rail of a window covering directly above a position where the cords are desired to extend downwardly, and typically near one of the lateral edges of the bottom rail. The clip generally includes two portions including a fastener which is adapted to couple the clip to the bottom rail of the shade and a guide path which is adapted to support a portion of the lift cord extending through the guide path provided by the clip. The fastener for the clip can be provided in various different forms, depending on the particular embodiment of the invention. Such means to couple the clip to a lower portion of the window covering can include clamping surfaces which clamp onto the bottom rail or other portion of the window covering to hold the clip to the bottom rail. Alternatively, the coupling means can be in the form of a surface provided with an adhesive for bonding to the bottom rail or other portion of the window covering, or can include a nose or other structure which acts as an insert sized to slide into and fit snugly within an interior of the bottom rail. Other fasteners could also be provided for coupling the clip to the bottom rail or other portion of the window covering.
The guide path can also be configured in various different ways according to different embodiments of this invention. For instance, the guide path can be formed as a substantially complete hole surrounding a centerline along which the cord is generally routed. Such a substantially complete hole could be in the form of a complete eyelet or a substantially complete hole in the form of spiralet. This guide path can also be configured as a hanger, slot, trough or collar, along which the cord can be routed so that the cord dangles down from the clip after being routed laterally over from a center of the bottom rail where the cords exit the bottom rail, or over from any other location on the shade where the cords are originally provided according to the particular configuration of the window covering with which the clip is utilized.
Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a clip attachable to a portion of a window covering for adjusting a location at which a lift cord extends down from the window covering.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cord holder which can hold at least a portion of a lift cord of a window shade at a desired position relative to other portions of the window covering.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer for a lift cord which can be attached to a portion of the window covering and have the lift cord routed adjacent thereto for controlling a position of the cord.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a window covering lift cord clip which can attach to a bottom rail of a window shade with lift cords included therewith that originally dangle from an undesired location from the bottom rail, and route the cords through the clip so that they now extend down from a desired location on the bottom rail.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a cord holder which shortens a distance with which a cord dangles down from a bottom rail of a window covering.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a window covering which utilizes lift cords but which maintains a position of the lift cords at a variable location on the shade.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a window covering which utilizes cords for lifting the window covering, but which maintains some degree of child safety by keeping at least a portion of the cords elevated to extend down from a bottom portion of the window covering a relatively short distance.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a retainer for a lift cord of a window covering which allows a cord of a window covering to be routed away from a center portion of the window where the window covering is mounted, to improve a view through the window.
Other further objects of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the included drawing figures, the claims and detailed description of the invention.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral 10 is directed to a clip which defines an initial embodiment of a holder for a lift cord C or other cord (or cords) of a window covering, such as a shade S (
In essence, and with particular reference to
More specifically, and with particular reference to
With the utilization of this invention, the length of cords C extending down from the cord brake is decreased (
With particular reference to
The pair of fingers 20 provide one form of fastener or other means to couple the clip 10 to the lower portion of the window covering, such as the bottom rail B. In one form of this embodiment, the coupling means includes a pair of clamping surfaces, the clamping surfaces biased toward each other and adapted to grasp a portion of the window covering therebetween. The pair of clamping surfaces in this form of this embodiment includes a pair of fingers, each finger including a tooth at a tip thereof, the fingers extending up from a base plate, the fingers being spaced from each other by a distance similar to a depth of a bottom rail forming the lower portion of the window covering, the teeth on the fingers spaced from the base plate by a distance similar to a height of the bottom rail, such that the fingers and the base plate together grasp the bottom rail to hold the clip to the bottom rail.
Some form of guide path for the clip 10 is coupled to the clip 10 according to this initial embodiment. Most preferably, this guide path is in the form of an eyelet 50 located within the junction 40 extending down from a lower surface of the bottom plate 30. In particular, the junction 40 preferably includes a front curve 42 curving down and transitioning into a rear curve 44 extending back up to the base plate 30. These curves 42, 44 provide the junction 40 with sufficient depth so that the eyelet 50 can be formed through the junction 40.
The eyelet 50 preferably entirely surrounds a centerline aligned with central axis X (
With particular reference to
With this first alternative clip 100, the guide path is preferably formed as a spiralet 150. The term spiralet is a coined term for a structure which is a combination of both an eyelet and a spiral. The spiralet 150 includes an inside curve 160 and an outside curve 170 which extend from mutual starts 162, 172 to a common tip 180. The inside curve start 162 is preferably at a front side of the spiralet 150 and the outside curve 170 is preferably configured to have the start 172 at a rear side of the spiralet 150. However, these two curves 160, 170 curve in a common direction and generally approach each other until they merge at the tip 180. A slit 190 is provided which provides access to an open central region of the spiralet 150 (such as along arrow H of
The particular spiralet 150 shown in this embodiment is shown with the inside curve 160 and outside curve 170 thickened between an outside surface 152 and inside surface 154 so that a thickness is provided to the spiralet 150 and so that the central axis X along which the cords C are initially routed has a greater length within the spiralet 150. Alternatively, the spiralet 150 could be oriented entirely within a vertical plane, or could have a thickness which is maintained constant throughout the spiralet 150. While the spiralet 150 is shown with webbing between the inside curve 160 and outside curve 170, this webbing could be dispensed with so that space between the inside curve 160 and outside curve 170 could be hollow. Alternatively, this space between the inside curve 160 and outside curve 170 could be entirely filled with a thickness similar to that of the inside curve 160 and outside curve 170, rather than having a web of lesser thickness. The spiralet 150 beneficially allows the cords C to be readily passed into an interior region of the spiralet 150 (along arrow H of
With particular reference to
The guide path according to this second alternative clip is in the form of a slot 250. This slot 250 provides one form of trough through which the lift cords C can be routed and which would be oriented to surround the central axis X. This slot 250 particularly includes an outer fence 252 and inner fence 254 which are preferably substantially planar, parallel to each other and oriented vertically and perpendicular to the platter 210. These fences 254, 252 are preferably molded together with the platter 210 from a rigid mass of material.
A floor 256 defines a portion of a platter 210 between the outer surface 252 and inner surface 254 upon which the cords C would typically rest. The outer fence 252, inner fence 254 and floor 256 thus provide three sides of the guide path along which the cords C are routed when passing through the slot 250 of this second alternative embodiment 200. The slot 250 extends from an entrance 258 at which the cords C enter the slot 250 and an exit 259 at an end of the slot 250 where the cords C exit before turning and extending along the dangle axis Z vertically away from the exit 259.
With particular reference to
The particular configuration of the bottom rail B can vary, as particularly shown in
When the clamp 320 is to fasten the third alternative clip 300 to the bottom rail B, the third alternative clip 300 is initially moved laterally from a forward side of the bottom rail B into contact with the bottom rail B (along arrow L of
With the third alternative clip 300, the guide path is preferably in the form of a hanger 350 formed with the clamp 320 and extending from a lower surface of the clamp 320. In particular, the hanger 350 extends from a lower surface of the bottom plate 340 of the clamp 320. This hanger 350 can have various different configurations, but in this embodiment, most preferably is configured as shown in
With particular reference to
In particular, the trough 450 includes an inner wall 452 and outer wall 454 which are preferably parallel to each other and oriented vertically. The inner wall 452 is preferably part of an outer surface of the circular hinge 422. A gap 456 is provided between the inner wall 452 and outer wall 454, along which the cord C can be routed when the cords C are extending generally along central axis X. An open top 458 of the trough 450 allows the cords C to be easily placed within the trough 450. Details of the attachment of this fourth alternative clip 400 are similar to those described with respect to the third alternative clip 300 (
With particular reference to
The guide path of this fifth alternative clip 500 is preferably provided in the form of a collar 550. The collar 550 functions similar to the eyelet 50 of the initial embodiment clip 10 (
With this collar 550, a lower hole 558 is provided on a side of the lower wall 554 opposite the entry 556. The lower wall 554 is preferably of a shorter length than the upper wall 552 so that the cords C can pass down through the lower hole 558 and out of the collar 550 in a vertical direction along the dangle axis Z, and short of a vertical plane in which the end cap 510 is located, such that the end cap 510 can be directly adjacent the frame F of the window W (
Most preferably, the degree of friction imparted on the cords C by the guide path of the various different embodiments of this invention is sufficiently low and the weight of the dangles D is preferably sufficiently high that the bottom rail B of the window covering can be raised and lowered along with the pushing of the button A of the cord brake without requiring that the user handle the cords C in any fashion. Alternatively, the user can hold the cords C with one hand while pushing the button A and moving the bottom rail B up or down. Such a procedure may be needed when friction through the cord brake is too high.
In particular, most preferably when the bottom rail B is to be lifted, the button A of the cord brake is depressed and the bottom rail B is lifted. The dangles D are sufficiently heavy that as this bottom rail B is lifted, the weight of the dangles D causes the cords C passing through the cord brake and out of the bottom rail B to remain substantially horizontal as they extend over to the clip 10 and then turn from the central axis X to the dangle axis Z before extending down to the dangle D.
Similarly, when the bottom rail B is to be lowered, the cord brake A is depressed and the bottom rail B is pulled downward. The cords C are fed through the cord brake and the dangles D move upwards towards the clip without requiring any handling of the cords C.
In some embodiments of this invention, it may be necessary to remove the cords C from the clip when the bottom rail B is to be lowered all the way down to a bottom of the frame F surrounding the window W. In such a configuration, only a short portion of the cords C remain and the cords C are not sufficiently long to make it all the way to a position of the clip 10 if this position is at an extreme edge of the shade S. Most preferably, the various different guide paths are configured so that the cords C can be readily removed from the guide path when such positioning of the bottom rail B at a very lowermost portion is desired. The cords C are merely removed from the guide path so that it now extends down from the cord brake in the bottom rail B. The bottom rail B can then be adjusted in position with depression of the button A on the cord brake until the bottom rail B is precisely where desired, with the cords C optionally remaining out of the clip 10. However, in this configuration, only a short portion of the cords C extend out of the bottom rail B and the window W is substantially entirely blocked so that the centralized position of the cords C has no effect on the view through the window W.
When the bottom rail B is to again be raised, after the bottom rail B has been lifted to a desired location along with depression of the button A for release of the cords C, the cords C can be again routed through the guide path of the clip 10 so that the cords C again remain in a most preferred position not blocking a view through the window W (
This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
870876 | Fleming | Nov 1907 | A |
1220881 | Nelson | Mar 1917 | A |
1270634 | Lowe | Jun 1918 | A |
1830223 | Bushnell | Nov 1931 | A |
2307095 | Zaferakis | Jan 1943 | A |
3062381 | Maiden | Nov 1962 | A |
3142858 | Bieda | Aug 1964 | A |
3248749 | Williams | May 1966 | A |
3485285 | Anderle | Dec 1969 | A |
4271893 | McCluskey | Jun 1981 | A |
4328605 | Hutchison et al. | May 1982 | A |
4373569 | Barettella | Feb 1983 | A |
4597430 | Marquez | Jul 1986 | A |
4673018 | Judkins | Jun 1987 | A |
4836265 | Bussert | Jun 1989 | A |
4909297 | Koller et al. | Mar 1990 | A |
5025848 | Prochaska | Jun 1991 | A |
5105867 | Coslett | Apr 1992 | A |
5158127 | Schumacher | Oct 1992 | A |
5279473 | Rozon | Jan 1994 | A |
5316247 | Wodka | May 1994 | A |
5323514 | Masuda et al. | Jun 1994 | A |
5354011 | Rozon | Oct 1994 | A |
5485875 | Genova | Jan 1996 | A |
5676415 | Ament | Oct 1997 | A |
5706876 | Lysyj | Jan 1998 | A |
5762281 | Foley | Jun 1998 | A |
5915442 | Prosch | Jun 1999 | A |
5960846 | Lysyj | Oct 1999 | A |
6024154 | Wang | Feb 2000 | A |
6029734 | Wang | Feb 2000 | A |
6047759 | Lysyj | Apr 2000 | A |
6056036 | Todd | May 2000 | A |
6149094 | Martin | Nov 2000 | A |
6283192 | Toti | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6289964 | Colson | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6289965 | Ruggles | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6330899 | Ciuca | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6408492 | Sparks et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6443207 | Cheng et al. | Sep 2002 | B1 |
6463985 | Hsu | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6470948 | Yates | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6508293 | Huang | Jan 2003 | B1 |
6571853 | Ciuca | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6575223 | Chung | Jun 2003 | B1 |
6601635 | Ciuca | Aug 2003 | B2 |
6637493 | Lampers | Oct 2003 | B1 |
6644372 | Judkins | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6644373 | Palmer | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6644375 | Palmer | Nov 2003 | B2 |
6675861 | Palmer | Jan 2004 | B2 |
6681831 | Cheng et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
6761202 | Cheng et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6761203 | Huang | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6823925 | Militello | Nov 2004 | B2 |
6845801 | Hsu | Jan 2005 | B2 |
6941996 | Ward | Sep 2005 | B2 |
6941998 | Nien | Sep 2005 | B2 |
6948545 | Cheng et al. | Sep 2005 | B1 |
6966353 | Hsu | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6971434 | Nien | Dec 2005 | B2 |
6991020 | Cheng | Jan 2006 | B1 |
7198087 | Hsu | Apr 2007 | B2 |
7225850 | McCarty et al. | Jun 2007 | B2 |
7255149 | Rossato et al. | Aug 2007 | B2 |
7373965 | Cheng | May 2008 | B2 |
20020033241 | Palmer | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020157796 | Judkins | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20030111191 | Ciuca | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20040094274 | Judkins | May 2004 | A1 |
20040154758 | Cheng | Aug 2004 | A1 |
20040182522 | Strand et al. | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20050098274 | Nien | May 2005 | A1 |
20050189077 | Nien | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20050274466 | Hsu | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20050274868 | McCance | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060010782 | Nien | Jan 2006 | A1 |
20060054288 | Bibby | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060081341 | Nien | Apr 2006 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3024712 | Feb 1981 | DE |
2339820 | Feb 2000 | GB |