GB2428269A

GB2428269A - Chain or cord fastening which disconnects under excess force

Info

Publication number: GB2428269A
Application number: GB0514037A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Grant Costello
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-07-08
Filing date: 2005-07-08
Publication date: 2007-01-24
Also published as: GB0514037D0

Abstract

A safety device for a cord or chain is claimed, the safety device being particularly suitable for use with control cords for window and door dressings such as curtains and blinds. The safety device comprises first and second locking means (5,6) arranged to be attached to respective first and second sections of the cord (2) or chain. The first and second locking means (5,6) with a snap-fit (as shown) or a friction fit are arranged to releasably engage with one another so as to provide a discontinuity between the first and second sections of cord (2) or chain when sufficient force is applied to either of the first and second sections of cord or chain. The device is particularly suited to ensuring that children or pets do not get inadvertently trapped or entangled in the cord or chain, as it will break apart the sections of the cord or chain if sufficient weight is applied to the cord or chain.

Description

1 Safety Device 3 This invention relates to a safety device. The 4

invention relates to a safety device more particularly but not exclusively for affixing to a 6 cord or chain.

8 Often cords or chains are used to control the 9 opening and closing of window or door dressings, such as blinds or curtains. A separate cord or 11 chain may also control the orientation of blinds, 12 such as Venetian or vertical blinds. This enables 13 the operator to fully screen a window or enlarge a 14 partition between the individual blinds to partially screen a window.

17 Typically, a free end of the cord or chain 18 controlling the blinds or curtains hangs free.

1.9 Alt.ernatively, the cord or chain can be loop shaped such that either end can be pulled downwards in 21 order to open or close the blinds or curtains. A 22 separate cord or chain may he used to direct the 23 orientation of blinds in one direction or the other.

24 Generally, if the cord or chain controls the opening or closing of window or door dressings, the cord or 1 chain is made of a strong material to enable the 2 curtains or blinds to be manoeuvred. Therefore, the 3 cord or chain can be strong enough to bear a 4 significant load, for example the weight of a small child.

7 A person or animal can get entangled in the cord or 8 chain causing injury or worse harm to themselves.

9 In particular, young children are at risk of injury or strangulation if they become entangled in the 11 cord or chain. Young children may also attempt to 12 climb up such cords and can injure themselves if 13 they manage to climb up the cord and fall from a 14 height.

16 In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, 17 there is provided a safety device, for a cord and/or 18 chain, comprising: 19 first and second locking means arranged to be attached to respective first and second sections of 21 cord or chain, the first and second locking means 22 arranged to releasably engage with one another so as 23 to provide a discontinuity between the first and 24 second sections of cord, or chain, when disengaged.

26 Preferably, the locking means is re engagable.

28 The safety device is re usable, in that, if it is 29 broken apart by the exertion of excessive force, for example if a child pulls forcefully on the cord or 31 chain, it may be easily locked back together.

1 Preferably, the locking means comprises a friction 2 fit mechanism.

4 Alternatively, the locking means comprises a clip fit mechanism.

7 The locking means may comprise a plastics material, 8 which is typically resilient.

Alternatively, or additionally, the locking means 11 may comprise a metal material.

13 Preferably, the first and second locking means are 14 arranged to be retained on the respective sections of chain or cord via a knot in the cord or chain.

17 A knot in the cord or chain is a simple, effective 18 and inexpensive means of retaining the locking means 19 to the cord or chain.

21 Alternatively, the first and second locking means 22 are arranged to be retained on respective sections 23 of cord or chain via a respective retention member.

The retention member may be a bead, a plate or a 26 pin.

28 The retention member may comprise an opening 29 therethrough, through which the cord or chain may be arranged to pass.

1 A bead, plate or pin can be used to retain the 2 Locking means adjacent to ends of the cord or chain 3 to provide a more secure fixing than a knot. A hole 4 through he bead or plate can allow the bead or plate to be secured to an end of the cord or chain 6 by a small knot in the cord or chain.

8 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 9 described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 12 Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of a safety 13 device according to an aspect of the first 14 embodiment of the present invention, in a first configuration; 17 Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the safety 18 device of Figure 1 in a second configuration; Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a safety 21 device according to an aspect of the second 22 embodiment of the present invention; and 24 Figure.4 is a schematic perspective view of the safety device on a cord for a Venetian blind.

27 Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a 28 safety device 1 which is attached to a cord 2 at the 29 free ends 3,4 of the cord 2.

31 The safety device 1 is typically manu.[acLured of a 32 resilient plastics material. Alternatively, or 1 additionally, the safety device 1 may comprise 2 metal. In Figure 1, the safety device 1 is shown 3 disengaged and in Figure 2 the safety device 1 is 4 engaged.

6 The safety device 1 comprises an upper cup 5 and a 7 lower cup 6. The upper cup 5 tapers in diameter 8 toward its open end 7. At the open end 7 of the 9 upper cup 5, an annular lip 9 extends outward of the cup 5. The lower cup 6 has an annular gallery 10 in 11 its internal face near its open end 8. The annular 12 gallery 10 is complimentarily shaped to receive the 13 lip 9. In a first arrangement, the lip 9 and 14 gallery 10 join the cups 5,6 at their open ends 7,8 as shown in Figure 2.

17 In use, the upper end 3 of the cord 2 is attached to 18 the upper cup 5 and the lower end 4 of the cord 2 is 19 attached to the lower cup 6. There are respective openings 11,12 through the base of each of the cups 21 5,6. Beads 13,14 are secured to the upper and lower 22 free ends 3,4 of the cord 2 by small knots in the 23 cord 2. The beads 13,14 have larger diameters than 24 the respective openings 11,12 in the cups 5,6 preventing passage of the cord 2 back through the 26 openings 11,12. This enables the ends 3,4 of the 27 cord 2 to be retained within the cups 5,6.

29 Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the safety device 100 which is substantially similar to the 31 safeLy device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and 32 identical parts are accorded identical reference 1 numerals. The ends 3,4 of the cord 2 are restricted 2 from being pulled through the holes in the cups 5,6 3 by knots 15,16 tied near the ends 3,4 of the cord 2.

4 Therefore, when the cups 5,6 are joined together the safety device 100 forms a link in the cord 2 which 6 can be released or broken upon application of 7 sufficient force.

9 Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the safety device 1 on a Venetian blind 17. The Venetian blind 17 is 11 positioned fully across the length of the window 12 using the cord 2. The cord 2 is cut typically at 13 about 150 mm from the metal blind casing 18. The 14 upper and lower ends 3,4 of the cord 2 are passed through the top and bottom cups 5,6 of the safety 16 device 1.

18 The safety device 1 is attached near the top of the 19 cord 2 and below the metal blind casing 18. The safeLy device 1 is located near the top of the cord 21 2 as the safety device 1 is to be employed only if 22 sufficient force to disconnect the cups 5,6 from one 23 another is applied at a position lower down on the 24 cord 2 than that of the safety device 1.

26 The ends 3,4 of the cord 2 are knotted to hold the 27 cups 5,6 in place at the respective ends 3,4 of the 28 cord. The top and bottom cups 5,6 of the safety 29 device 1 are connected by means of the lip 9 and gallery 10.

1 The top and bottom cups 5,6 are held together by a 2 ring/groove mechanism formed from the lip 9 and the 3 gallery 10 that will disengage subject to sufficient 4 force being applied to the cord 2. Typically, this force is less than a child's weight, for example 20 6 to 25 kg.

8 In this way, if a child attempts to climb up the 9 cord 2, the cups 5,6 of the safety device 1 will disengage one another when the child applies 11 sufficient force to the end of the cord. Therefore, 12 the child is prevented from climbing or hanging from 13 the cord 2 as only the upper end 3 of the cord 2 14 remains attached to the blind or curtain.

16 If the safety device 1 has broken apart, it is 17 possible to re attach the part of the safety device 18 1 that has broken off or disconnected to the cord 2.

19 The safety device can be re connected by re connecting each of the cups 5,6 of the safety device 21 1 together via the lip 9 and gallery 10 arrangement.

23 While various embodiments of the invention have been 24 described, it will he apparent to those skilled in

the art once given this disclosure that various

26 modifications, changes, improvements and variations 27 may be made without departing from the scope of the 28 invention.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A safety device for a cord or chain, comprising first and

second locking means arranged to be attached to respective first and second sections of the cord or chain, the first and second locking means arranged to releasably engage with one another so as to provide a discontinuity between the first and second sections of cord or chain when sufficient force is applied to either of the first and second sections of cord or chain.
2. The safety device of Claim 1, wherein the locking means are adapted to engage with one another in a clip fit arrangement. *sse
3. The safety device of Claim 2, wherein the first * locking means comprises a first cup having an annular lip extending outwardly therefrom, and the second locking means comprises a second cup having a gallery S...

running around the internal surface thereof, the s'.' S...

gallery adapted to receive the lip to effect the...

releasable engagement between the first and second locking means.
4. The safety device of Claim 1, wherein the locking means are adapted to engage with one another in a friction fit arrangement.
5. The safety device of any preceding claim, wherein each locking means is formed from a resilient plastics material.
6. The safety device of any preceding claim, wherein each locking means further comprises a respective retention member adapted to effect the attachment of the locking means to the respective first or second sections of cord or chain.
7. A dressing for a door or window, the dressing comprising a control cord divided into first and second discontinuous sections, and a safety device according to any preceding claim releasably engaging the respective first and second sections of the control:.

cord. :.:;:,
8. A safety device as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

S
9. A dressing for a door or window as hereinbefore S. described with reference to the accompanying drawings. .. :