Patent ID: 6463986
Filing Date: 2002-10-15
Classification: E06B

Abstract:
A pull-cord keeper for a window treatment assembly, said window treatment assembly including for operation a pull-cord, said keeper comprising:a housing configured for secure mounting attachment on a wall near an upper portion of the window treatment assembly, said housing further including: a mounting plate configured for mounting attachment to the wall; a cap member having a closed top and an open bottom, said cap member being adapted for attachment to one side of the mounting plate opposite the wall; and a cavity being defined therebetween; fastening means for securely mounting said mounting plate to the wall; an opening extending through said housing in communication with said cavity; a spool adapted for rotational movement within said cavity to reel and collect through said opening a length of said pull-cord; a spring for biasing the spool in a rotational direction for reeling the length of the pull-cord during a constant spring-loaded state, for automatically and continuously collecting any loose length of said pull-cord; the mounting plate further comprises a spindle extending centrally away therefrom, said spindle having a slot; and the spool further comprises: a cylindrical hub portion with first and second flanges extending radially outward at top and bottom ends thereof, respectively, said hub being hollow for defining a centrally located cavity open at said top end, said bottom end of said hub partially closing off said cavity with a centrally located hole therethrough, said hole being surrounded by a ring shaped bushing extending partially into said cavity, said bushing being adapted for rotatably receiving an end portion of said spindle whereby said spool is rotatably disposed about said spindle; and a slot radially extending through said first flange and hub, said slot terminating at said second flange, said slot being adapted for receiving and retaining a free end of the pull-cord.