Patent ID: 7597131

Claim:
A cord lock apparatus housed in a top rail of a window shade, said top rail allowing a plurality of cords to pass through and said cords guided in said top rail of said window shade to exit said rail at an opening of said top rail, said apparatus comprising: a base, having an adjustable portion, a guide post, and a cord separating member, said guide post is positioned thereon for said cords to laterally pass along, wherein said cord separating member is positioned relative to said adjustable portion such that an angle is formed by said cord separating member and said adjustable portion with respect to said guide post, so as to define a passage for said cords to pass along and enter into said top rail, and said adjustable portion has a first-direction ascending opening and an accommodation recess respectively; a panel structure, disposed on said adjustable-portion of said base to move in an upward or downward vertical motion, and an insert plate wherein a second-direction ascending opening oriented in an opposite direction from said first-direction ascending opening is disposed thereon allowing said cords to pass through said openings, and an extension tongue is provided extending frontwardly from the upper margin of said insert plate; and a cord gripping device including an engaging block and a knurled roller, said engaging block having an oblique surface at one side and is attached to said accommodation recess, said knurled roller including a notched portion and an axial hole, said knurled roller positioned near the top of said engaging block within said accommodation recess by a shaft passing through said axial hole, and a gap is provided therebetween said knurled roller and said engaging block allowing said cords to pass through; wherein said panel structure is alternatively adapted to move in a vertically upward or downward motion from operation of said cords, said extension tongue affects said knurled roller to orient to an engaged position when said panel structure is relatively moved in a downward motion wherein the gap between said knurled roller and said engaging block is reduced so as to grip said cords in place, said extension tongue affects said knurled roller to orient to a unlock position when said panel structure is relatively moved in a upward motion wherein the gap between said knurled roller and said engaging block is increased permitting the release action of said cords.