Patent ID: 6745969
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
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 rigid mounting at a desired height and location on the wall; a cap member having a closed top, and an open bottom, an interior cavity, said cap member being adapted for attachment to one side of the mounting plate opposite the wall, said cap member including a mounting post centrally located and extending away from an interior surface of the top and toward the open bottom; and an opening extending through said cap member in communication with said cavity; a spool adapted for rotational movement about said post within said cavity to reel and collect through said opening a length of said pull-cord, said spool including a central cavity; a spring cartridge assembly adapted for mounting on said post and being retained within the cavity of said spool, and including means for spring biasing the spool in a rotational direction for reeling a length of the pull-cord during a constant spring-loaded state, for automatically and continuously collecting any loose length of said pull-cord; and said spool further including: 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 said 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 interior end portion of said post, whereby said spool is rotatably disposed about said post; 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.