GB2339235A

GB2339235A - Cord stopper

Info

Publication number: GB2339235A
Application number: GB9814840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hisanori Kato
Original assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Current assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Priority date: 1998-07-08
Filing date: 1998-07-08
Publication date: 2000-01-19
Also published as: GB9814840D0

Description

2339235 M&C Folio: 230P78936 Document #: 261513 CORD STOPPER The present

invention relates to a cord stopper. Cord stoppers are well known. Typically a stopper is attached to the end of a single length of cord, but two lengths of cord (sometimes both ends of the same cord) may both be held by the same cord stopper.

Cord stoppers are used on the ends of pull cords or draw strings used in clothing and on bags, the stopper is slid along the cord to tighten the clothing round the wearer, to close the mouth of the bag, etc. A draw back with known cord stoppers is that when the cord is pulled tight, to gather up the clothing or dose the bag, for example, there can be a long end length of cord hanging free. Thi ' s can get caught in doors, on escalators, or the like, which can cause damage and may be dangerous.

The present invention provides a cord stopper having means for gathering the end length of a cord on which the cord stopper is mounted.

Preferably the cord stopper comprises first means for gripping the cord to position the cord stopper along the length of the cord, and second means for gripping the end length of the cord.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cord stopper comprises a pair of spaced apart surfaces and the end length of the cord is gathered up between the surfaces. Preferably a hub is provided between the surfaces, and the cord is wound around the hub. Preferably the surfaces are spaced apart by less than the relaxed diameter of the cord, so that there is a slight wedging action as the cord is urged between the co-operating surfaces.

Preferably the free end of the cord is attached to the cord stopper, for example at the hub when one is provided. Preferably the cord stopper comprises a body portion housing means for gripping the cord, to locate the cord stopper along the length of the cord, a first plate member on the 2 housing, and a second plate member parallel to the first plate member and spaced therefrom, the end length of the cord being gatherable into the space between the first and second plate members. The end length of the cord may be attached to a central position between the plate members, so that the end length of the cord is in the form of a loop between the cord end and the gripping member of the cord gripper. This looped portion can then be wound up between the plate members.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a side view of a first embodiment of a cord stopper in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a cross-section through a bottom portion of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an underneath plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention, Figure 5 is an underneath view of the embodiment of Figure 4, Figure 6 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment of Figure Figure 7 is a cross-section through through a bottom portion of the embodiment of Figure 6, and Figure 8 is a view on line VHI-VH1 of Figure 6.

Figure 1 shows in side view a first embodiment of a cord stopper 2 in accordance with the invention. The cord stopper 2 comprises an outer housing 4 with a small "handle" 6 attached, the housing 4 and handle 6 being shaped to have the appearance of a cup, so that the overall appearance of the stopper 2 is that of a cup and saucer. In opposite sides of the housing wall 8, are apertures 10 through which a cord 12 passes. Within the housing 4, but not shown in the drawings, is a gripper mechanism which traps the cord 12, in order to position the cord stopper 3 along the cord. Such gripper mechanisms are well known in the art and typically will comprise a spning-loaded body member, through which the cord passes, so that under the pressure of the spring, the body member traps the cord against an edge of each apertures 10.

As shown in Figure 1, two saucer like plate members 14, 16 are mounted on a base 17 of the housing 4. The plate members 14, 16 have opposing surfaces 18, 20 which are spaced part by slightly less than the relaxed diameter of the coid 12. Referring to Agures 2 and 3, the end length 22 of the cord 12 is gathered up by winding it between the facing surface 18, 20 of the plates 14, 16. Because the cord 12 exits the housing 4 at the side aperture 10, a slot 24 is provided in the upper plate 14, so that the cord end length 22 can be pulled along the slot 24, to the centre hub 26 provided between the plates 14, 16. The end length 22 of the cord 12 is then wound around the hub 26 to gather up the end length 22.

As seen in Figure 2, the upper plate 14 has a waisted boss 28 which is a snap fit in a bottom wall (not illustrated) of the housing 4. The lower plate 16 has a square shaped boss 30 which is received in a co-operating annulus 31 on the lower surface 18 of the upper plate 14. The plates 14, 16 may be secured together by welding, gluing, or the like.

Thus, the invention provides a particularly convenient way for gathering up the end length 22 of the cord 12, and also enhances the novelty appearance of the cord stopper.

Referring to Figure 4, this shows a second embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the cord 12 passes down through the axis of a cupshaped housing 4'. In normal use the cord exits through the centre hub 26' of the plates 14', 16' as shown in dotted outline. When the user wishes to gather up the end length of the cord, the cord is wrapped around the centre hub (as in the embodiment of Figure 1), but in this case the radial slot 24'is provided in the bottom plate member 16'.

Shown in Figure 4 is an operating button 32 for compressing the spring loaded body member against the spring (not shown) to release the 4 cord 12, to slide the cord stopper along the cord. As indicated above, the cord gripping mechanism per se is well known in the art and need not be described in further detail here.

Figures 6 to 8 show a modification of the embodiment of Figures I to 3. In this modification, the end 34 of the cord end length 22 is attached to the hub 30', for example by gluing or simply by trapping the cord end 34 in a horse-shoe shaped annulus 36 on the bottom plate 16. The cord end 34 may be fed into an aperture 38 in the bottom plate 16 to locate it more firmly.

Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cord end length 22 may exit the housing 4 through an aperture close to the upper plate 14 to enhance the visual effect.

CLAMS:

1. A cord stopper having means for gathering the end length of a cord on which the cord stopper is mounted.

2. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 1, comprising first means for gripping the cord to position the cord stopper along the length of the cord, and the gathering means comprises second means for grippiirg the end length of the cord.

3. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second gripping means comprises a pair of spaced apart surfaces and the end length of the cord is gathered up between the surfaces.

4. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 3, wherein a hub is provided between the surfaces, and the end length of the cord is wound around the hub.

5. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the surfaces are spaced apart by less than the relaxed diameter of the cord, so that there is a slight wedging action as the cord is urged between the co-operating surfaces.

6. A cord stopper as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the spaced apart surfaces are formed by at least one plate member attached to a wall of a housing of the cord stopper.

7. A cord stopper as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the free end of the end length of the cord is attached to the cord stopper.

6 8. A cord stopper comprising a body portion housing means for gripping the cord, to locate the cord stopper along the length of the cord, a first plate member on the housing, and a second plate member parallel to the first plate member and spaced therefrom, the end length of the cord being gatherable into the space between the first and second plate members.

9. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the free end of the cord is attached to a central hub between the first and second plate members.

10. A cord stopper as claimed in claim 8, wherein the plate members are mounted on an end of the housing and the cord is pulled through an opening in the plate members when sliding the cord stopper along the cord.

11. A cord stopper substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to figures I to 3, figures 4 and 5, or figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.