Abstract:
A lift cord anchor clip for securement to a shade roller of a roman shade assembly is described. The clip comprises a spring metal band having a partly spherical shape and defining a throat opening which is narrower than the diameter of the spherical shape band. At least one clamping formation is integrally formed with the band and projects inwardly of an inner surface of the band. At least one end flange extends outwardly of the band below the clamping formation and is adapted for engagement by a tool to cause disengagement of the clamping formation. A cord attaching formation is also formed integral with the band for attaching a free end of a lift cord of a roman blind thereto.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention related to a lift cord anchor clip for securement about an actuation roller of a roman shade assembly whereby to attach the free ends of lift cords of the roman shade thereto to cause the shade to lift in a pleated form and to be lowered. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    There are several methods to cause roman shades to lift in a pleated manner wherein the panels of the roman shade are lifted in a stacking fashion overlapping one behind the other to place it in an open or partly open position and to then lower the shade to a closed fully extended position. Some of these known systems utilize a pair of pulleys about which each of the lift cords are guided and then the cords are passed through a cord lock which engages the lift cords with the shade at a desired position. It is also known to use aluminum shade rollers wherein a groove is provided along the length of the roller and a plastic button is fitted within the groove whereby to attach the lift cords thereto at a desires position. A clutch is provided at the end of the roller whereby to cause rotation of the roller and to lock it at a desired position. As the clutch mechanism is rotated the roller rotates and the cord rolls around the roller lifting the shade. The system uses an aluminum roller and a plastic locking component. 
         [0003]    Another known system is to provide an aluminum roller with holes drilled into the roller with metal screws secured in the holes. The lift cords are attached to the screws. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide a lift cord anchor clip for a roman shade and of the type which is securable to a shade roller and which substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art and provides the above-mentioned need. 
         [0005]    Another feature of the present invention is to provide a lift cord anchor clip for a shade roller of a roman shade and wherein the clip is symmetrical in construction and adjustable on the shade roller for positioning same at a desired location around the roller and at a desired position along the roller. 
         [0006]    A further feature of the present invention is to provide a lift cord anchor clip which is inexpensive to produce, easy to install and remove from a shade roller and versatile and which can be adapted to several types of shade rollers including existing shade rollers which may be provided with different type lift cord connectors. 
         [0007]    Another feature of the present invention is to provide a lift cord anchor clip in combination with an elongated shade roller of the type having support pins at opposed ends thereof and a clutch mechanism at an end to impart axial rotation to the shade roller and wherein two or more of the anchor clips are secured about the shade roller at any desired location therealong. 
         [0008]    According to the above features, from a broad aspect, the present invention provides a lift cord anchor clip for securement to a roman shade roller. The clip comprises a spring metal band having a partly spherical shape. The band defines a throat opening which is narrower than the diameter of the spherical shape band. At least one clamping means is formed integrally with the band and projects inwardly of an inner surface of the band. Engageable means is spaced in relation to the clamping means and adapted for engagement by a tool to cause disengagement of the clamping means. A cord attachment means is provided for securing a lift cord to the anchor clip. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the lift cord anchor clip constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of  FIG. 1 , the opposite side being identical; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a top view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a fragmented section view showing the clamping tooth formed on opposite sides of the anchor clip adjacent the throat opening thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a fragmented section view showing the construction of one of the cord attaching formations; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is an end section view showing the construction of the cord attaching formations; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a rear schematic view illustrating the construction of a roman blind attaching system using a shade roller and a pair of lift cord anchor clips constructed in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a cross section view showing how the lift cord anchor clip of the present invention is displaceable about the shade roller to adjust its position thereabout or removable from the shade roller. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 to 3  there is shown generally at  10  the lift cord anchor clip of the present invention. The clip is comprised of a spring metal band  11  having a partly spherical shape which defines a throat opening  12  which is narrower than the diameter  13  of the spherical shaped band  11 . The free ends  14  of the anchor clip are outwardly turned to provide an end flange to provide a smooth surface for ease of placement of the band about a shade roller, and to further provide an engageable means  16 , as will be described later. The band is also of a width as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , but this can vary. 
         [0019]    Formed on opposed sides of the anchor clip  10  and above the outwardly turned free ends  14  is a clamping means constituted by a punched out formation which forms a clamping tooth  15  as better illustrated in  FIG. 4 . This clamping tooth  15  has a pointed end  15   1  which projects inwardly from the inner surface  17  of the band  11  and upwards from the opening  12  to provide for engagement with a shade roller as will be described later. It is also contemplated that a single clamping means can be provided with teeth pointing in opposite directions on one side only of the anchor clip. 
         [0020]    The engageable means  16  is in the form of a slot  16  punched out of the end flange spring metal band  11  on opposed sides of the anchor clip below the clamping teeth  15 . This slot  16  permits the insertion of a screwdriver tip  50  (see  FIG. 8 ) for a purpose as will be described later. If a single clamping means is provided, then only one metal flange  16  would be required. The engageable means may also be constituted by the extension of the free ends  14  wherein to provide gripping thereof by a pair of pliers (not shown) to disengage the clamping tooth  15 . 
         [0021]    With additional reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it can be seen that located centrally on the top of the anchor clip  10  is a cord attachment means constituted by a cord attaching formation  20  which is formed integral with the band. This cord attaching formation  20  is illustrated in top view in  FIG. 3  and side view in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . It is formed from a single elongated flat rectangular spring metal band which is stamped to define an elevated transverse wall  21  having opposed outwardly curved guide walls  22 . A pair of cylindrical through bores  23  are formed by punching a sleeve adjacent a respective side edge  24  of the clips and then punching it outwardly downwards over the elevated transverse wall  21  to form a pair of spaced-apart tunnel-like through bore formations  23 . These hollow cylindrical through bores provide for the passage of a string therethrough. The cylinders have an inner rounded surface  231  to provide low friction with the string. As well, the curved guide walls  22  provide low friction with the string attached through one of the hollow cylinders, as will be described later, and in functional contact with the guide walls  22 . 
         [0022]    The clamping teeth  15  may have a slightly different configuration then that illustrated and could be jagged or rounded instead of pointed as long as it can bite within a shade roller.  FIG. 4  illustrates the position of the tooth  15  which is punched inwardly and wherein the free end or pointed  15   1  end projects inwardly upward from the bottom opening  12 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 7  the roman blind attaching system is comprised of an elongated shade roller  31  which is supported between a pair of support brackets  32 . Support pins  33  are provided at opposed ends of the roller to secure the roller to the brackets and to permit rotation of the roller. The support brackets  32  are secured to a header board  34  by the use of screws  35 , and this is well known in the art. A clutch mechanism  36 , having a pull chain  37 , imparts rotation to the roller  31 . Such clutch mechanism is also well known in the art. As herein shown the roman shade  38  consists of panels  39  and cord guide rings  40  secured to each sewn panel pleat junction  41  in the rear of the roman shade  38 . The guide rings  40  guide the lift cords  42  therethrough. There are two lift cords  42  and  42   1  each secured at a lower end  43  and  43   1  of the roman shade  38  with the guide rings positioned in vertical alignment. 
         [0024]    Two lift cord anchor clips  10  and  10   1  are secured about the shade roller  31  at desired locations offset with respect to an associated one of the lift cords  42  and  42   1  such that the cords will wind about the roller  31  to a side of the clips  10  and  10   1 , as shown in phantom lines at  42  and  42   1 . It should be noted that the clip  10  is of symmetrical design, and therefore it can be clipped to any side of the roller, either the right side or the left side. Because the clip is symmetrical the user person cannot make a mistake in the installation. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 8  a free end portion  45  of each of the lift cords  42 ,  42   1 , herein lift cord  42 , is secured to one of the through bores  23  by passing the free end  45  of the cord through one of the through bores  23 , the one facing inside the roller, and while holding the lift cord taut. A knot or several knots  46  are formed adjacent the exit end of the though bore  23  whereby to secure the lift cord to the anchor clip  10 . The lift cord abuts against the curved guide wall  22  under the elevated wall  21  and is thus not exposed to any sharp edges. In fact the clip is also formed with rounded edges, such as shown at  25  in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0026]    Because these shade rollers  31  are provided with different diameters, depending on their application and manufacturers, the lift cord anchor clip  10  of the present invention is also fabricated of different diameter sizes so that these clips may be secured to these different diameter size shade rollers. The spring metal clip  10  has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the shade roller  31  and sufficient to permit clamping engagement of the anchor clip  10  about the shade roller  31  with the clamping teeth  15  biased against and biting into the outer surface  31   1  of the shade roller to prevent rotational displacement of the anchor clips  10  and  10   1  about the shade roller  31 . 
         [0027]    As also shown in  FIG. 8 , in order to adjust the position of the anchor clip  10  about the outer surface of the roller  31 , it is necessary to disengage one clamping tooth  15  from the outer surface  31   1  of the roller  31  and this is done by placing a tool, herein a screwdriver tip  50 , in the slot  16  in the free end  14  below the tooth  15  and pulling the screwdriver outwardly in the direction of arrow  51  whereby to draw out the lower portion  53  of the anchor clip to disengage the tooth  15  from the outer surface  31   1 . The anchor clip  10  can then be adjusted by rotating it in the direction of arrow  54  which is counter to the projection of the opposite clamping tooth  15   1  which can then slide over the outer surface  31   1  of the roller. When the retracting action of a screwdriver is removed, the section  53  of the anchor clip will snap back into position about the outer surface  31   1  of the roller  31  with both clamping teeth  15  and  15   1  biting into the outer surface  31   1  of the roller and preventing rotation of the clip. This adjustment is made after the cord  42  is secured thereto whereby to make the cord taut. By retracting the anchor clip  10 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , the clip can also be removed from its engagement with the roller  31  by pushing the clip in an upward direction. 
         [0028]    It is within the ambit of the present invention to cover any obvious modifications over the preferred embodiments described herein, provided such modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.