Patent Publication Number: US-2019186195-A1

Title: Blinds safety string

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     One common potential cause of injury to infants and toddlers is the pull string for blinds and similar window and/or door coverings. Children have been known to inadvertently become tangled in pull strings, which has resulted in serious harm or even death to numerous children. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  depicts a blinds pull string having a safety disc comprising a hook-and-loop surface according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a detail view of a blinds pull string having a safety disc comprising a hook-and-loop surface according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a blinds safety anchor comprising a hook-and-loop surface according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  depicts one potential use of a blinds pull string according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a detail view of one potential use of a blinds pull string according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  depicts a blinds safety anchor comprising a suction cup according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates one potential use of a blinds safety anchor comprising a suction cup according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description, reference is made to exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the concepts disclosed herein, and it is to be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made, and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” “one example,” or “an example” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable combinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments or examples. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure include a safety disc attached to a binds pull string and a safety anchor fixed at a point near the blinds pull string, wherein the safety disc and the safety anchor are adapted to removably attach to one another. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a set of blinds  100  is installed to cover a window within a window frame  110 . Binds pull string  120  hangs from a retraction assembly of the blinds (not shown). Referring to  FIG. 2 , safety disc  130  is attached to pull string  120 . According to one embodiment, safety disc  130  is a roughly coin-sized circular disc having a hook-and-loop attachment surface. 
     In another embodiment, a safety disc comprises a magnet or magnetic material. In some embodiments, the safety disc is integrated with a pull drop/tassel  140  on the pull string. 
     According to various embodiments, safety disc  130  is secured to pull string  120  by an adhesive, by a knot in the pull string  120 , by mechanical means such as a crimp, or by other means known in the art. It may be desirable for safety disc  130  to be adapted to not slide along the length of pull string  120 , but rather remain fixed at a certain point on pull string  120 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , safety anchor  150  is fixed to window frame  110 . One embodiment of safety anchor  150  comprises a hook-and-loop attachment surface adapted to removable attach to safety disc  130  when pressed together. In another embodiment, safety anchor  150  comprises a magnet or magnetic materials adapted to removably attach to a magnet or magnetic safety disc. 
     According to various embodiments, safety anchor  150  may be installed at or near the top of window  110 . As would be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, safety anchor  150  may be installed at a height that may result in keeping pull string  120  out of reach of children when safety disc  130  is attached to safety anchor  150 . Thus, the ideal placement of safety anchor  150  may depend on the height and vertical placement of the particular window, the height of the children living or visiting the location, and the length of pull string  120 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , safety disc  130  is attached to safety anchor  150 , which may keep pull string  120  out of reach of young children. In some cases, attaching safety disc  130  to safety anchor  150  may only be called for when the blinds are open, as many pull strings hang much lower while blinds are open. In other cases, it may be preferred to attach safety disc  130  to safety anchor  150  even while blinds are closed. Referring to  FIG. 5 , safety disc  130  is secured to safety anchor  150  with enough holding force to prevent unwanted detachment. It may be preferable to take into account the weight of pull string  120  and pull drop/tassel  140  when selecting the specifications of the hook-and-loop surfaces and/or magnets. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , some embodiments of the present disclosure include a safety disc that comprises a suction cup  630  secured to pull string  620 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , suction cup  630  is adapted to temporarily adhere to window  640 . By placing suction cup  630  at a selectively high location on window, pull string  620  may be kept out of reach from children. Suction cup  630  may be removed from window  640  to lower the blinds or other window covering. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, safety discs can be secured to pull strings at a position of the pull string selected to reduce the risk of a child being able to reach the pull string. In some cases, this objective is achieved by maximizing the height of the lowest point of the pull string when the safety disc is secured. In one embodiment, the safety disc is secured approximately ⅓ of the total length of the pull string from the bottom of the pull string. In other cases, the safety disc is secured to the pull string at a point below ⅓ of the total length of the pull string from the bottom of the pull string. In one embodiment, the safety disc is secured to the pull string approximately 18 inches from the end of the pull string. In one embodiment, the safety disc is secured to the end of the pull string. 
     Although the present disclosure is described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of this disclosure, including embodiments that do not provide all of the benefits and features set forth herein, which are also within the scope of this disclosure. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.