Patent ID: 8540006

Claim:
An apparatus for locking a lift cord designed to lift coverings for architectural openings, comprising: a locking member having a groove and at least one opening, wherein the groove is configured to engage a guide ring attached to a covering for an architectural opening and the at least one opening is configured to receive the lift cord such that the lift cord passes through both the guide ring and the locking member; wherein the locking member is configured to engage the guide ring and the lift cord such that the locking member allows the lift cord to freely move in and out of the at least one opening in a first direction to raise or lower the covering, and the locking member moves about the guide ring when the lift cord is pulled in a second direction to pinch the lift cord between the locking member and the guide ring to prevent the lift cord from being pulled away from the covering; wherein the locking member and the guide ring maintain contact with the lift cord while the lift cord is being pulled in the second direction; and wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.