Abstract:
A cord connector for use in a covering for an architectural opening, the connector being designed to interconnect a plurality of operating cords with a single pull cord and wherein the connector includes two interconnectable members that when interconnected define an interior space in which a retainer can be positioned. The retainer anchors the ends of the operating cords and is releasable from confinement by the two members when the two members are separated so that the operating cords can also be separated from the retainer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to European patent application No. 03077868.2, filed Sep. 11, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully disclosed herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to a device for connecting a plurality of operating cords of an architectural covering, such as a window covering, to a single pull cord. In particular, the invention relates to a connector for releasably holding operating cords, so as to safeguard children who might become entangled between the cords.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Relevant Art  
         [0005]     Such cord connectors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,562,140, 5,592,983 and 5,560,414, each having two hingedly connected parts. A pull cord is connected to the bottom of each connector, and a plurality of operating cords are clamped between its closed, hingedly connected parts. If the head of a child becomes entangled between the operating cords, the outward directed force on the cords causes the parts to move apart and hingedly open. The cords are then no longer clamped between the two parts and are released, thereby releasing the child&#39;s head.  
         [0006]     One drawback of such known cord connectors is that the operating cords have to be clamped sufficiently tightly between the two hingedly connected parts of each of them, so that the cords are not pulled out of the grip of the two parts when its blind is being operated normally by pulling on its pull cord. Such a minimum clamping force between the two hingedly connected parts must, however, be overcome to open the connector when a child is entangled in its cords. Unfortunately, this minimum clamping force is usually too great for the connector to be considered “child-safe”. This is because the grip of the connector parts usually exceeds the maximum force which an entangled child would be likely to exert against the cords.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In order to overcome the disadvantages of such existing cord connectors and provide an alternative connector which is easier to assemble and less expensive, the invention provides a connector for releasably connecting the lower free ends of a plurality of vertically-extending operating cords of an architectural covering, wherein: 
        the connector includes a pair of vertically-extending members and one or more connections between the members which can be connected and disconnected to respectively close and open the connector;     the free end of each operating cord is connected to the connector and is removably attached to a retainer; and     when the connections are connected and the connector is closed, the members form an interior space, between them, suitable for retaining therein the free ends of the operating cords and the retainer;     whereby when at least one of the connections is disconnected, the connector is open, so that the retainer is released from the interior space and the free ends of the operating cords can become detached from the retainer.        
 
         [0012]     Advantageously, the free ends of the operating cords are wound about the retainer when the retainer is in the interior space of the closed connector and are unwound from the retainer when the retainer is released from the interior space of the open connector. In this regard, it is especially advantageous that the walls of the interior space prevent the rotation of the retainer within the closed connector, and it is particularly advantageous that the retainer has the general form of an S with the free ends wound about its middle section, quite particularly between its top and bottom sections.  
         [0013]     Also advantageously, a pull cord is attached to a bottom portion of one of the members, and one of the connections is a hinged connection between bottom portions of the members. Thereby when an other one of the connections is disconnected, the one member is moved, relative to the other member, about the hinged connection, to open the connector, so that the retainer is released from the interior space and can rotate and the free ends of the operating cords can then become detached from the retainer. In this regard, it is especially advantageous that the other one of the connections is between top portions of the members and there is an elongated slit in the top of one of the members, through which the free ends of the operating cords extend in a side-by-side relationship into the retainer, and it is particularly advantageous that the elongation of the opening and the side-by-side relationship extend in a direction perpendicular to the hinged connection. In this regard, it is particularly advantageous that the other one of the connections is a frictional connection between top portions of the members, quite particularly a locking groove on one member and a mating locking pin that is on the other member and is vertically aligned with the locking groove. It is also especially advantageous that, when the connector is closed, the retainer is within an inner one of the members that is within the other member. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Further aspects of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description below of particular embodiments and the drawings thereof, in which:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a part of a window covering with the cord connector of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the two parts of the connector;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3 a  front perspective view of the connector in its closed position with lift cords and an operating cord attached to it;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section of the connector in its closed position with its attached lift and operating cords and its cord retainer, about which its lift cords are wound within it;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the connector in its open position with its lift cords wound fully about its retainer but outside of the connector; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  are perspective views of the connector&#39;s retainer, showing the retainer with the lift cords wound fully about it as in  FIG. 5  and with the lift cords partially unwound from it. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows the right side of a conventional horizontal venetian blind  1  with a longitudinally-extending head rail  3  and bottom rail  5 . A plurality of a longitudinally-extending slats  7 , between the head rail and bottom rail  3 ,  5 , can be raised and lowered by means of a pair of conventional operating cords  9 ,  9 ′ (shown in dotted lines in  FIG. 1 ). Ladder cords, which are usually provided in conventional horizontal venetian blinds, have not been shown in  FIG. 1  for the sake of simplicity. From an opening  11  in the front of the head rail  3 , a plurality of lift cords  13  extend downwardly to a cord connector  15  of the invention. A single pull cord  17  extends downwardly from the bottom of the cord connector  15 , and a tassel  19  is connected to the bottom of the pull cord  17 . When a user of the blind  1  moves the tassel  19  vertically, such movement is transmitted in a conventional manner to the pull cord  17 , the connector  15 , the lift cords  13  and the operating cords  9 , 9 ′.  
         [0022]     The connector  15  releasably connects the lift cords  13  to the pull cord  17 . Under normal operating conditions, the connector  15  securely holds the lift cords  13  together, so that a user can pull the pull cord  17  and tassel  19  vertically, particularly downwardly, without the lift cords becoming disconnected from the connector.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows the connector  15  without its cord retainer  21  that is shown in  FIGS. 4-6 . The connector  15  is preferably a box-like structure that has a vertically-extending left or inner member  23  and a vertically-extending right or outer member  25 . When the inner member  23  is within the outer member  25 , the members close the connector and its hollow interior  27 , within the inner member  25 , and can accommodate the retainer  21  with the lift cords  13  attached to it in the interior  27 .  
         [0024]     As seen from  FIGS. 2-5 , the inner member  23  has a pair of opposite, front and rear, interior walls  29 ,  30  which are connected by a left side wall  31 , and the outer member  25  has a pair of opposite, front and rear, exterior walls  32 ,  33  which are connected by a right side wall  34 . In the closed connector, its interior  27  is between the front and rear walls  29 ,  30  of the inner member and between the left side wall  31  of the inner member and the right side wall  34  of the outer member  25 . Bottom portions of the members  23 ,  25  are preferably hingedly connected to each other by means of a pair of frontwardly- and rearwardly-extending pivots  35  that are on bottom portions of the front and rear, interior walls  29 ,  30  of the inner member  23  and that extend through frontwardly- and rearwardly-extending bores  36  in bottom portions of the front and rear, exterior walls  32 , 33  of the outer member  25 . The inner member  23  can pivot about the hinged connection  35 ,  36 , out of the outer member  25 , to open the connector  15  when the lift cords  13  are pulled apart, for example by a child entangled in them, as described below.  
         [0025]     As also seen from  FIGS. 2-5 , the upper free end of the operating cord  17  extends into the bottom of the inner member  23 . In this regard, the bottom wall of the inner member  23  includes a vertical opening  37 , through which the upper free end of the operating cord  17  is inserted. A knot  17 A is provided in the upper free end of the operating cord  17  to prevent it from being separated from the inner member  23  and the connector  15  when the pull cord or the tassel  19  is pulled vertically, particularly downwardly.  
         [0026]     As further seen from  FIGS. 2-5 , the inner and outer members  23 ,  25  of the connector  15  are frictionally connected to one another to keep the inner member within the outer member and thereby keep the connector closed under normal operating conditions of the blind  1 . Preferably, the top of the front and rear, interior walls  29 ,  30  of the inner member  23  each include a locking indent or groove  39 ,  41 , and the top portions of the interior sides of the front and rear, exterior walls  32 , 33  of the outer member  25  each include a mating locking pin or abutment  43 , 45  (shown only in  FIG. 4 ). The locking pins  43 , 45  are vertically aligned with the locking grooves  39 ,  41 , respectively. Preferably, the locking pins  43 , 45  extend towards each other from the interior sides of the front and rear, exterior walls  32 , 33 , just below the top wall  47  of the outer member. As a result, the locking pins  43 , 45  nest in the locking grooves  39 ,  41  and are frictionally held there, under normal operating conditions of the blind  1  and its pull cord  17  and tassel  19 , when the inner member  23  is within the outer member  25  and the connector is closed as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3  and  4  As still further seen from  FIGS. 2-5 , the top wall  47  of the outer member  25  includes an elongated slit  49 , the length of which is perpendicular to the pivotal connection  35 ,  36  of the connector members  23 , 25  and parallel to the front and rear, exterior walls  32 , 33 . The slit  49  is only wide enough to accommodate the free ends of the lift cords  13  in side-by-side relationship as the lift cords extend downwardly through the slit  49  into the closed connector. The left lengthwise end  51  of the slit  49  extends to the left end of the top wall  47  and is open, so that the lift cords can move outwardly of the slit  49 , through its open end  51 , when the connector is open. The free ends of the lift cords  13 , extending through the slit  49  into the interior  27  of the closed connector  15 , are releasably attached to the retainer  21  within the connector&#39;s interior  27  under normal operating conditions of the blind  1  and its pull cord  17  and tassel  19 . The top wall  52  of the inner member  23  abuts against the open end  51  of the slit  49  in the top wall  47  of the outer member when the connector is closed. Thereby, the top wall  52  of the inner member prevents the lift cords  13  from moving lengthwise out of the slit  49 , through its open end  51 , when the connector is closed.  
         [0027]     As seen from  FIGS. 4-6 , the retainer  21  is a generally rectangular, rigid web  53  with a pair of lengthwise parallel slits  55  and  57 . The retainer is preferably provided within the interior  27  of the closed connector  15  with its web  53  extending generally vertically and one of its slits  55  above its other slit  57 . The slits  55 ,  57  are open only on opposite widthwise sides of the web  53 , whereby the retainer has a generally S-shape with a middle section  58  between the slits and top and bottom sections  56 ,  60  above and below the slits. The end portion  13 A of the free end of each lift cord  13  can be threaded through the web  53 : initially through its lower slit  57 , then around its middle section  58  and through its upper slit  59 , and then again around its middle section  58  and through its lower slit (as shown in  FIG. 5 ). Preferably, the end portion  13 A of the free end of each lift cord is threaded through the web  53 : initially through its upper slit  59 , then around its middle section  58  and through its lower slit  57 , and then the web is rotated transversely of its middle section (as indicated by the arrow  4  in  FIG. 6 ), so that its upper slit  59  is on top, thereby winding the end portion of the lift cord another half turn about its middle section  58 . The retainer and the wound end portions  13 A of the lift cord can then be placed in the hollow interior  27  of the open connector  15  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and the lift cords  13  can be urged through the open end  51  of the slit  49 , so that the lift cords extend upwardly through the slit in side-by-side relationship. Then, the connector can be closed by urging its inner member  23  to pivot about its pivotal connection  35 ,  36  and to move within its outer member  25  until the locking pins  43 , 45  nest in the locking grooves  39 ,  41 , to frictionally hold the members together and hold the connector closed (as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) under normal operating conditions. When closed, the front and rear wall  29 ,  30  of the connector&#39;s inner member abut against both the front and rear sides of the retainer  21  and prevent it from rotating within the interior  27 , so that the lift cords  13  cannot unwind from the retainer.  
         [0028]     In normal operation of the blind  1 , the connector  15  remains closed with the locking pins  43 , 45  nesting in the locking grooves  39 ,  41 , regardless of the downward force exerted on the pull cord  17  and tassel  19  by a user of the blind and on the bottom of the connector by the pull cord. Within the closed container, the free ends of the lift cords remain wound about the retainer  21 .  
         [0029]     However if an infant became entangled in the lift cords  13 , the weight and force of the infant would urge the lift cords to move apart from their side-by-side relationship within the slit  49  in the top wall of the outer member  25  (as indicated by the arrows  1  in  FIG. 3 ). As a result, some of the lift cords would move lengthwise within the top wall slit  49 , towards its open end  51 , and would abut against the top wall  52  of the inner member  23 . This would cause the inner member  23  to begin to pivot about the pivotal connection  35 ,  36  away from the outer member  25 , then cause the locking pins  43 , 45  to come out of the locking grooves  39 ,  41 , and then cause the inner member to pivot out of the outer member, thereby opening the connector  15  (as indicated by the arrows  2  in  FIG. 5 ). Then, all the lift cords  13  would move lengthwise within the top wall slit  49  and then out of its open end  51  and then out of the open connector. Then, the connector members  23 ,  25  would fall, along with the pull cord  17  and the tassel  19 , away from the retainer  21  and the end portions  13 A of the lift cords, which are wound about it (as indicated by the arrow  3  in  FIG. 5 ). Then, the retainer would rotate transversely of its middle section  58  (as indicated by the arrow  4  in  FIG. 6 ), thereby allowing the lift cords to unwind from the retainer and then to be pulled out of the retainer slits  55 ,  57  by the pull of the entangled infant (as indicated by the arrows  5  in  FIG. 6 ). Thereby, the free ends of the lift cords would become separated from one another and the infant would be freed from the entanglement of the lift cords.  
         [0030]     This invention is, of course, not limited to the above-described embodiments which may be modified without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its advantages. In this regard, the terms in the foregoing description and the following claims, such as “left”, “right”, “longitudinally”, “bottom”, “top”, “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, “lower”, “perpendicular”, “parallel”, “length”, “width”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “upwardly” and “downwardly”, have been used only as relative terms to describe the relationships of the various elements of the cord connector of the invention for window coverings. For example, the cord connector  15  could be used for a vertical venetian blind or a pleated blind, rather than a horizontal venetian blind  1 . Also, the left member  23  could be an outer member with bores  36  and the right member  25  could be an inner member with pivots  35 . Further, other frictional means, besides the engagement of the locking pins  43 , 45  and locking grooves  39 ,  41 , can be used to hold the connector closed under normal operating conditions.