Patent ID: 6889407

Claim:
A cord lock apparatus comprising: a base defining a converging passageway having a left side and a right side; a locking insert having (i) a lower portion that is lockingly retained in the base passageway; (ii ) an elastically flexible left arm having a lower end that is attached to the lower portion and an upper end that extends out of the passageway, wherein the left arm is oriented generally parallel to the left side of the passageway; (iii) an elastically flexible right arm having a lower end that is attached to the lower portion and an upper end that extends out of the passageway, wherein the right arm is oriented generally parallel to the right side of the passageway; and (iv) a flexible transverse portion connecting the upper end of the left arm with the upper end of the right arm such that the transverse portion is disposed outside of the passageway when the lower portion is lockingly retained in the base passageway; and a cord having a first portion disposed between the passageway left side and the locking insert left arm, and a second portion disposed between the passageway right side and the locking insert right arm; wherein the left arm, the right arm, and the transverse portion form a loop that is adapted to receive a user's finger, and wherein pulling upwardly on the transverse portion of the locking insert relative to the base will cause the left arm and the right arm of the locking insert to move elastically inwardly; and wherein the locking insert further comprises an end stop disposed on the lower portion and an abutment disposed on the upper end of at least one of the left arm and the right arm, such that the locking insert is movable between a first position wherein the end stop engages the base and a second position wherein the abutment engages the base.