US20070175594A1

US20070175594A1 - Coverings for architectural openings with cord lock

Info

Publication number: US20070175594A1
Application number: US11/620,761
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph G. Jelic
Original assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc
Current assignee: Hunter Douglas Inc
Priority date: 2006-01-31
Filing date: 2007-01-08
Publication date: 2007-08-02

Abstract

A cord-lock system for use in coverings for architectural openings and adapted to lock a control cord of the opening in any desired position includes a lock member that is pivotal about an axis parallel to the head rail of the covering with the lock member being movable between locked and unlocked positions by movement of the cord in a vertical plane perpendicular to the head rail. A cover plate pivotally overlying the lock member and operatively connected to the lift cords is also moved between locked and unlocked positions by movement of the lift cords in a manner that assures movement of the lock member between its locked and unlocked positions.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/764,137 (“the '137 application”), which was filed on Jan. 31, 2006 and entitled “Coverings for Architectural Openings With Cord Lock.” The '137 application is incorporated by reference into the present application in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to coverings for architectural openings and more particularly to a cord lock which might be used for example on a lift cord for moving a covering between extended and retracted positions.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
Coverings for architectural openings have assumed numerous forms for many years but the more popular forms of such coverings are retractable so as to be movable between an extended position across the architectural opening and a retracted position adjacent one or more sides of the opening. Examples of such retractable coverings are venetian blinds, vertical blinds, collapsible cellular shades, roll up shades, and the like.
In most any retractable covering for architectural openings, cords are utilized in the operation of the shade with an example being a lift cord which might extend from a bottom rail of the covering through a head rail to a hand-manipulated tassel. Other cords used in operating retractable coverings might simply extend from a hand manipulatable tassel to a control mechanism in a head rail for the covering so that hand movement of the tassel moves the cord in a desired operation of the covering. In many instances, it is desired to retain the cord, be it a lift cord or other control cord used in coverings, at a preselected position and, accordingly, cord locks have been devised and utilized for many years.
Typical cord locks include a pivotal lock member through which the cord passes with the lock member swinging between locked and unlocked positions depending upon a predetermined movement and orientation of the cord. Typically, the lock member pivots about an axis that extends perpendicularly to the architectural opening in which the covering is mounted so that movement of the cord in operation of the cord lock is in a plane parallel with the architectural opening. Such movement is not always convenient as the operator of the covering may be forced to operate the covering from a position not immediately adjacent to the covering. Accordingly, improvements in such lock mechanisms are continually being investigated by those skilled in the art.
It is to provide a covering for architectural openings with an improved cord-lock mechanism, that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cord lock of the present invention may be incorporated into the headrail of a covering for an architectural opening at an end thereof. The cord lock includes a pivot shaft extending in parallel relationship with the length of the head rail with the pivot shaft being mounted on a fixed plate at the end of the head rail. A lock member is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft with the lock member including a pair of substantially mutually perpendicular plate portions defining a gap therebetween through which a cord is passed. The lock member is pivotal between locked and unlocked positions about the pivot shaft. The cord passes freely through the gap in the lock member in the unlocked position but passes through a tortuous path through the lock member when in the locked position. In the locked position, the cord is pinched as it passes through the gap thereby preventing it from movement.
As will be appreciated, since the lock member is pivoted about a shaft parallel with the length of the head rail, the cord can be used to operate the cord lock by moving the cord within a vertical plane perpendicular to the pivot shaft and the architectural opening.
A cover plate is pivotally mounted on the end of the head rail also for movement between locked and unlocked positions and the cord passes through a hole in the cover plate so that movement of the cord while moving the lock member between locked and unlocked positions also moves the cover plate between locked and unlocked positions.
The cover plate is biased toward its locked position but that bias can be overcome by movement of the cord in a direction to unlock the lock member. Upon releasing the cord, the cover plate is allowed to return to its locked position pulling the cords therewith in a direction that pulls the lock member to its locked position. Accordingly, the entire cord lock system is biased toward a locked position, but can be released therefrom by movement of the cord in a direction perpendicularly away from the head rail and the architectural opening in which the covering is mounted.
The cord lock can be used in association with single or multiple cords. Further, single or multiple cord locks can be incorporated into a covering in accordance with the invention to selectively lock and unlock cords associated with different movements of the covering.
Other aspects, features, and details of the present invention can be more completely understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawings and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric of a top down/bottom up retractable covering for an architectural opening incorporating a pair of cord locks in accordance with the present invention with the covering being shown in a fully extended position.

FIG. 2 is an isometric similar to FIG. 1 showing the covering in a fully retracted position.

FIG. 3 is an isometric showing the covering of FIG. 1 with the bottom rail fully extended and the middle rail partially extended.

FIG. 4 is an isometric of the covering of FIG. 1 with the middle rail fully retracted and the bottom rail partially extended.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the covering of FIG. 1 with the cover plate and cord lock of the invention in a locked position.

FIG. 6 is an end elevation similar to FIG. 5 showing the cover plate and cord lock in an unlocked position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is an exploded rear isometric of the head rail of the covering of FIG. 1 incorporating a cord lock at each end thereof.

FIG. 10 is an exploded rear isometric of the middle rail of the covering of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is an isometric of a cord anchor in its molded form that is associated with the middle rail.

FIG. 12 is an exploded rear isometric of the bottom rail of the covering of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is an exploded rear isometric of the right cord lock system.

FIG. 14 is an exploded rear isometric of the left cord lock system.

FIG. 15 is an exploded front isometric of the left cord lock system of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a vertical section through the cord lock mounted in the end of the headrail as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 17 is a vertical section through the cord lock mounted in the end of the headrail similar to FIG. 16 with lift cords included.

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged section taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 showing the cord lock at the left end of the headrail as viewed from the rear in a locking position.

FIG. 20 is a section similar to FIG. 19 showing the cord lock in an intermediate position.

FIG. 21 is a section similar to FIG. 19 showing the cord lock in an unlocked position.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged section similar to FIG. 19 showing the cord lock at the right end of the headrail, as viewed from the rear, in a locked position.

FIG. 23 is a section similar to FIG. 22 showing the cord lock in an intermediate position.

FIG. 24 is a section similar to FIG. 22 showing the cord lock in an unlocked position.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 18.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing the interior of an alternative cover plate utilizing a leaf spring.

FIG. 27 is an elevation similar to FIG. 26 showing the leaf spring in an alternate position.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along line 28-28 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged section taken along line 29-29 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 30 is an isometric similar to FIG. 1 showing an alternative covering including the cord locks of the present invention wherein the covering has headrail and a bottom rail but no middle rail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A retractable top down/bottom up covering 32 for an architectural opening is shown in FIGS. 1-4 for purposes of illustrating an environment for use of a cord lock system 34 in accordance with the present invention. The covering shown in FIGS. 1-4 can be seen to include a head rail 36 suspendable from a frame (not shown) adjacent to an architectural opening (not shown) by a pair of mounting brackets 38, a bottom rail 40, a middle rail 42, and a panel of fabric material 44 extending between the middle rail and the bottom rail. The bottom rail is raised and lowered between extended and retracted positions by a cord system 46 including a pair of lift cords 54 a and 54 b, one associated with each end of the bottom rail, which is manipulated with a hand tassel 56 at one end of the headrail. The cord lock system or mechanism in accordance with the present invention is associated with the lift cords for the bottom rail at the associated end of the head rail as will be described in more detail hereafter. A second cord system 52 with a pair of lift cords 48 a and 48 b associated with the middle rail is attached to the middle rail adjacent its ends with the cords having their opposite ends secured to a hand manipulatable tassel 50 adjacent the opposite end of the head rail.
The operation of the top down/bottom up covering 32 is illustrated generally in FIGS. 1-4 with the covering being shown in FIG. 1 having the bottom rail 40 fully extended and the middle rail 42 fully retracted so the panel of material 44 is extended completely across an architectural opening (not shown).
FIG. 2 shows the covering 32 with both the bottom rail 40 and middle rail 42 fully retracted so the panel of material 44 is substantially concealed from view. FIG. 3 shows the bottom rail fully extended and the middle rail partially extended so the panel of material extends only across a lower portion of the architectural opening. FIG. 4 shows the covering with the middle rail fully retracted and the bottom rail only partially extended so the panel of material extends only across an upper portion of the architectural opening.
As will be appreciated with the description of the cord-lock system 34 hereafter and for purposes of illustration, a system 34 is disposed at each end of the head rail 36 with each system being identical even though the cords associated with each cord lock system are used for independently moving the middle rail 42 and bottom rail 40 respectively. The lock systems, as will be apparent, are designed to selectively grip or not grip the cords 48 a, 48 b and 54 a, 54 b passing therethrough depending upon the position of the cord lock. The cord lock is moved between locking and unlocking positions as illustrated generally in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, the cord-lock system is shown in a locked position with the cords 54 a and 54 b and the associated tassel 56 hanging substantially vertically with FIG. 6 showing the cords and associated tassel having been pulled outwardly in a vertical plane perpendicular to the length of the head rail to release the lock so the cords can slide freely therethrough in a manner to be described hereafter. As will also be appreciated from FIG. 6, the tassel 56 can be raised or lowered but when the cord lock associated therewith is in a locked position, as shown in FIG. 5, the cords will not slide through the lock and the tassel is therefore fixed and cannot be pulled downwardly or raised. When the cord lock is unlocked, however, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the tassel and associated cords can be pulled downwardly to raise either the bottom rail to which the cords are attached and raised or elevated to allow the bottom rail to which the cords are attached to drop by gravity. Of course, once the bottom rail is in a desired position relative to the architectural opening for releasable placement or fixation, the tassel is simply allowed to be pivoted back to the locked position of the cord lock shown in FIG. 5 which prevents the cord from moving and thus releasably fixes the bottom rail spatially within the architectural opening. The cords 48 a and 48 b as well as the tassel 50 associated with the middle rail operate in the same manner.
While the cord lock system 34 of the present invention can be utilized to releasably fix or lock any cord in a covering for architectural openings, for purposes of the present disclosure, the cord has been illustrated as a lift cord for a collapsible panel 44. The panel itself could be any retractable or collapsible panel of material such as a venetian blind, collapsible cellular shade, or the like, but for purposes of the present disclosure, it has been illustrated as a collapsible fabric of the type disclosed in detail in International application No. PCT/US2004/043043 (Publication Nos. WO 2005/062875 A2 and WO 2005/062875 A3), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The material 44 is probably best illustrated by reference to FIGS. 7 and 8 to include a support structure 58 anchored at its upper end to the middle rail 42 and at its lower end to the bottom rail 40 and has a plurality of semi-rigid arcuate vanes 60 suspended from opposite faces of the support structure in overlapping relationship. The support structure might be a sheer fabric, a plurality of spaced microfibers, cords, or the like, with the vanes preferably being made of a fabric material or fabric cover material for pleasing aesthetics. As will be appreciated, the panel of collapsible material 44 extends only between the middle rail and the bottom rail. The middle rail is operably connected to its associated tassel 50 with the lift cords 48 a and 48 b extending from the middle rail 42 through the head rail 36 and its associated cord-lock system 34, and the bottom rail 40 is connected to its tassel 56 with the lift cords 54 a and 54 b extending through the head rail and its associated cord-lock system 34.
With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the components of the head rail 36 and the lock system 34 are seen. The head rail includes an extruded elongated bar 62 of aluminum, plastic, or the like. As can also be appreciated by reference to FIG. 7, the cross section of the head rail defines an upper vertically oriented rectangular passage 64, a C-shaped groove 66 to the right of the passage and a downwardly opening horizontally oriented rectangular notch 68. The C-shaped groove receives a protective plastic valence member 70 that hangs downwardly to overlie a portion of the covering material 44 when the covering is fully retracted as seen in FIG. 7. The vertically oriented rectangular passage 64 and the horizontally oriented rectangular notch 68 are adapted to receive components of the lock system as will be described hereafter.
FIGS. 10 and 11 disclose the middle rail 42 from its rear side and its associated components and it will again be appreciated the middle rail includes an extruded elongated rigid member 72 of aluminum, plastic, or the like. The extrusion has a downwardly opening generally rectangularly shaped slot 74 that receives decorative end caps 76 having a male plug 78 for receipt in the slot. The slot opens downwardly along the length of the middle rail so as to receive cord guide inserts 80 having two vertical passages 82 therethrough. Both vertical passages have a downwardly directed cylindrical neck 84 and one of the passages has a raised oval neck 86. The vertical passage having the oval neck is used with the middle rail of the present invention to receive lift cords in a manner to be described in detail hereafter with the other vertical passage actually being a dummy passage having no use in the covering illustrated.
The cord guide insert 80 in its molded form is shown in FIG. 11 to include the insert and a pair of breakaway plugs 88 with one of the plugs being insertable in the bottom of the insert for a purpose to be described hereafter. The other plug has no use in the covering illustrated. The insert 80 itself has longitudinally extending ribs 90 on opposite sides thereof to establish a friction grip with the interior of the downwardly opening slot in the middle rail to assist in retaining the insert in the slot.
FIG. 12 shows the bottom rail 40 from the rear side in an exploded view with the bottom rail being substantially identical to the bottom rail disclosed and described in detail in International application No. PCT/US2004/043043 (Publication Nos. WO 2005/062875 A2 and WO 2005/062875 A3), which has previously been incorporated herein by reference. The bottom rail can be seen to include another elongated extrusion 92 of aluminum, plastic, or the like, having an upwardly opening channel 94 with overhanging lips 96, a pair of outwardly flared side walls 98 and a pair of depending legs 100 defining a channel 102 therebetween. The channel defined between the depending legs is adapted to receive a ballast bar 104 of cylindrical configuration and a pair of finger operable clips 106 are adapted to be positioned in the channel at opposite ends of the ballast bar and moved longitudinally with the ballast bar within the channel to position the ballast bar at any desired location along the length of the extrusion. Use of a ballast bar in the bottom rail of retractable coverings is a known expedient for assuring a horizontal orientation of the bottom rail regardless of the position of the covering so the covering always hangs vertically within the architectural opening.
A pair of pivotal finger locks 108 are adapted to be received in the upwardly opening channel 94 and are operable to secure one end of a lift cord 54 a or 54 b as will be described in more detail hereafter and as is described in the aforenoted international application. A dummy vane 110 of generally airfoil configuration conforming generally in shape to the semi-rigid vanes 60 on the covering fabric 44 and which is preferably made of the same material as the semi-rigid vanes is suspended from the extrusion within a protective outer transparent or translucent plastic cover 112 having inwardly directed barbs 114 along its open top. The dummy vane 110 within the plastic cover is insertable into the space between the flared side walls 98 and the depending legs 100 with the barbs being caught on a ledge 116 defined on an outer surface of the depending legs. End caps 118 conforming generally in configuration to the cross-section of the dummy vane are insertable into open ends of the vane and are maintained in the open ends of the extrusion by male plugs 120 generally conforming in configuration to the upwardly opening channel 94 of the extrusion and the downwardly opening channel 102.
As mentioned previously, the fabric or covering material 44 extends between the middle rail 42 and the bottom rail 40 and includes the support structure 58 in the form of sheer fabric, microfibers, cords, or the like, which supports the plurality of semi-rigid arcuate horizontally extending vanes 60 off opposite sides of the support structure. With reference to FIG. 25, the middle rail is shown in cross section with the fabric material being supported in an outwardly opening channel 122 provided along the left side of the middle rail as viewed in FIG. 25. An anchor bar 124, having the top of the support structure wrapped therearound, is inserted into the channel and is held in place by overhanging lips 126. A C-shaped channel 128 on the opposite side of the middle rail, which would face the exterior of a room of the building structure in which the covering is mounted, supports a second relatively rigid valence member 130 that is overlapped by the previously described valence member 70 of the head rail. The valence members are intended to protect the fabric material 44 and obscure from view the upper components of the covering 32.
The lower end of the support structure 58 for the fabric 44 is adhesively secured to one side wall 98 of the bottom rail 40 as probably best seen in FIG. 7. A strip 132 of double-faced adhesive can be used so that one face of the adhesive strip is secured to a flared side wall 98 of the bottom rail and the other face of the adhesive to the support structure 58.
Also, as mentioned previously, the lift cords for operating the covering in cooperation with the cord lock of the present invention include lift cords 48 a and 48 b associated with the middle rail 42 and lift cords 54 a and 54 b associated with the bottom rail 40. For purposes of the present disclosure, there are a pair of lift cords associated with the middle rail and a second pair of lift cords associated with the bottom rail with the lift cords being connected to the middle rail and the bottom rail at locations spaced inwardly a short distance from each end of the respective rails. Further, as mentioned previously, for purposes of the present disclosure, the lift cords 48 a and 48 b associated with the middle rail are raised and lowered with a tassel 50 at one end of the head rail (the right end as viewed in FIG. 9) and the lift cords 54 a and 54 b associated with the bottom rail are raised and lowered by a tassel 56 at the opposite end of the head rail (the left end as viewed in FIG. 9).
With reference first to the lift cords 48 a and 48 b associated with the middle rail 42 and as seen in the rear view of FIG. 9, both cords have an upper end anchored in the associated tassel 50 in a conventional manner such as by knotting the ends of the cords and the cords subsequently pass upwardly through the associated cord lock system or mechanism 34 of the present invention at the right end of the head rail and one cord 48 b drops downwardly adjacent the right end of the head rail as viewed in FIG. 9 and is connected to the middle rail adjacent to the corresponding right end of the middle rail. The other lift cord 48 a extends horizontally across through the head rail 36 and drops downwardly out of the head rail adjacent its opposite end and passes downwardly for connection to the middle rail adjacent to the corresponding left end of the middle rail.
Similarly, the tassel 56 at the left end of the head rail associated with the lift cords 54 a and 54 b for the bottom rail 40 has the upper end of two lift cords secured thereto as by knotting the ends of the cords in a conventional manner and the cords extend upwardly and then horizontally through the associated cord lock mechanism 34 at the left end of the head rail as viewed in FIG. 9 before one of the lift cords 54 a extends downwardly and is connected to the associated left end of the bottom rail after slidably passing through the middle rail 42. The other lift cord 54 b associated with the left tassel extends horizontally across the head rail 36 to a location near its opposite left end and then passes downwardly through the middle rail to the bottom rail adjacent to the right end of the bottom rail. It will be appreciated more fully with the description hereafter that as the tassels are pulled downwardly, the lower ends of the lift cords associated with the middle rail or bottom rail are pulled upwardly in unison so that the middle rail or bottom rail is raised in a horizontal orientation.
Referring to FIG. 12, the lift cords 54 a and 54 b, which have their lower ends adjacent to the opposite ends of the bottom rail 40, are shown in an operative relationship with the finger locks 108. The lower ends of the lift cords pass around an end of an associated finger lock and underneath the finger lock with the finger lock thereafter being positioned within the upwardly opening channel 94 of the bottom rail and pivoted about pivot fingers 134 at one end thereof until the finger locks lie totally within the upwardly opening channel 94 and are frictionally retained therein with the lower ends of the lift cords. Accordingly, and as mentioned previously, when the tassel 56 associated with the lift cords is pulled downwardly, the lower ends of the lift cords are raised thereby raising the bottom rail and consequently the lower edge of the fabric material 44 secured thereto. Allowing the tassel associated with the lift cords to be elevated permits the weight of the bottom rail to pull the lift cords downwardly by gravity thereby lowering the lower edge of the fabric panel. As mentioned previously, the inserts 80 associated with the middle rail as seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 have the passage 82 therethrough through which the lift cords 54 a and 54 b can slidably pass. This is probably best appreciated by reference to FIG. 18. FIG. 18 also shows the end of the lift cord 54 a connected to its associated finger lock 108 and secured in the upwardly opening channel 94 of the bottom rail.
As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, the lift cords 48 a and 48 b associated with the tassel 50 at the right end of the head rail 36 as viewed in the rear view of FIG. 9 are anchored at their lower ends to the middle rail 42 with the insert 80 and associated plug 88. The lift cords are inserted into associated openings 136 which receive the neck 86 of the insert 80 through the top of the middle rail and into the associated insert. Lift cord 48 a is secured to the insert 80 with the plug 88 as best seen in FIG. 18. The lift cord 48 b is secured in the insert 80 at the right end of the middle rail in an identical manner even though it is not illustrated. As will be appreciated by reference to FIG. 18, the insert has an elbow channel 138 formed therein which communicates with the associated vertical passage 82 through the insert and the end of the lift cord 48 a is inserted into the elbow channel and retained therein by friction with the plug 88 that is inserted into the elbow channel from beneath the middle rail. In this manner, the lower end of the lift cord 48 a is secured to the associated left end of the middle rail and the lift cord 48 b is connected to the middle rail in an identical manner adjacent to the right end of the middle rail. Accordingly, by pulling the tassel 50 associated with the lift cords 48 a and 48 b downwardly, the middle rail can be raised thereby raising the upper edge of the panel of fabric material 44 as well. Of course, by allowing the tassel 50 to be raised, the middle rail will drop by gravity thereby lowering the upper edge of the panel similarly.
The cord lock system 34 is probably best seen in FIGS. 13-15 and is designed to selectively grip the lift cords at any desired location along their length so that the middle rail 42 or bottom rail 40 of the covering can be desirably positioned within the architectural opening. As will be appreciated with the description that follows, the cord lock system can be positioned in a locking (FIG. 19) or unlocking (FIG. 21) position with the cord being slidable therethrough in the unlocking position and prevented from movement in the locking position.
The cord lock system 34 can be seen to include a flat plate-like portion 140 of generally triangular configuration so as to define two outwardly flared side edges 142 and a pivot shaft 144 at its apex on which a cover plate 146 (FIGS. 16-25) can be pivotally mounted. The pivot shaft protrudes a slight distance away from the outer face of the plate portion and beneath the pivot shaft is a cylindrical recess 148 that receives a magnet 150 which can be adhesively secured in place.
A relatively thick portion 152 of the cord lock system protrudes from the rear face of the plate portion 140 with the relatively thick portion supporting an upper vertically oriented rectangular plug 154 having protruding ribs 156 on opposite sides thereof and a lower bifurcated plug 158. The rectangular plug is adapted to be received in the open end of the vertically oriented rectangular passage 64 through the extended bar 62 of the head rail 36 and the bifurcated plug 158 is adapted to be received in the open end of the downwardly opening notches of the extrusion. This is probably best illustrated in FIG. 9. The bifurcated arms of the plug have a pair of transverse passages 160 at their distal end with the passages adapted to receive first 162 and second 164 horizontally disposed pivot pins. As can also be appreciated, when the cord lock system is mounted in the end of the head rail in a vertical orientation, the plate portion 140 of the cord lock system is skewed so as to form a small acute angle with vertical. As probably best seen in FIG. 13, a lower segment of the relatively thick portion 152 of the cord lock has a horizontal pocket 166 formed therein which opens through the front face of the plate portion. The pocket is adapted to receive a third 168 horizontally disposed pivot pin with the pivot pins, as will be described later, serving to guide the routing and movement of the lift cords associated with the cord lock system.
A lock member 170, as probably best seen in FIGS. 13 and 15, is pivotally mounted on a fourth 172 pivot pin secured in a hole 174 through the relatively thick portion 152 of the cord lock so as to extend in parallel relationship with the length of the head rail 36. A notch or seat 176 is formed in the plate portion 140 adjacent to the lock member 170 to limit pivotal movement of the lock member in one direction as will be apparent with the description that follows.
The lock member 170 includes a base component 178 having a base or end plate 180 and a pair of upstanding plate-like pivotal legs or lever arms 182 with the legs having two pair 184 and 186 of aligned openings therethrough with one pair 184 of openings adapted for receipt of the fourth 172 pivot pin. The base plate 180 is disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said base plate moves about the fourth pivot pin. The other pair 186 of openings pivotally receive a fifth pivot pin 188 that passes through openings in a pair of pivot arms 190 of a pivot element 192 with the pivot element having a bottom or guide plate 194 that is substantially perpendicular with the base plate 180 of the lock member. The bottom plate 194 is disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said bottom plate moves about the fifth pivot pin 188.
A gap 196 (FIGS. 19-24) is defined between the base plate 180 and the bottom plate 194 through which the lift cords pass as will be described hereafter. As will be appreciated, the pivot element 192 is adapted to pivot relative to the base component 178 of the lock member 170 which facilitates desired movement of the lock member between locking and unlocking positions.
The cover plate 146 for the cord lock is probably best seen in FIG. 9 to comprise a generally airfoil shaped element with a raised inwardly directed rim 198. A hole or opening 200 is provided through the rim at a pointed lower edge of the cover plate, and a circular passage 202 is provided through the opposite or upper end of the cover plate so that the cover plate can be pivotally seated on the pivot shaft 144. The cover plate is secured to the pivot shaft with a lock pin 204 having a pair of bifurcated arms 206 with catches 208 on their ends so that the pin can be inserted through a cylindrical passage 202 in the cover plate and into a rectangular hole 212 centered in the pivot shaft and retained therein by the catches as possibly best seen in FIG. 17. The cover plate is thereby permitted to pivot about the pivot shaft 144 and relative to the cord lock member between locked and unlocked position with the movement limited by engagement of the rim on the cover plate with the flared side edge of the plate-like portion 140 of the cord lock system. A recess 214 is provided on the inner face of the cover plate to receive another magnet 216 which can be adhesively secured therein. The magnets on the cover plate and the plate portion of the cord lock are alignable when the cover plate is in its locked position. The cover plate is pivotal between locking (FIG. 19) and unlocking (FIG. 21) positions similarly to the lock member 170 and the cover plate is biased toward the locked position by the magnets which attract each other so that when the cover plate is moved to an unlocking position, thereby misaligning the magnets (FIG. 21), the magnets will attract each other thereby encouraging the cover plate to return to its locked position.
Referring first to the cord lock system 34 at the left end of the head rail 36 as viewed from the rear in FIG. 9, which cooperates with the lift cords 54 a and 54 b associated with the bottom rail 42, as possibly best seen in FIGS. 9 and 18, the lift cords pass from the bottom rail to the cord lock system by extension through the middle rail 42 and then above the second 164 and third 168 pivot pins and around the third pivot pin before being extended downwardly between the two pivot pins 172 and 188 of the lock member 170 and downwardly through the gap 196 between the base plate 180 and bottom plate 194 of the lock member. The cord 54 a, which goes to the adjacent end of the bottom rail from the cord lock system, extends over the second pivot pin 164 and then downwardly so that it easily slides over the second pivot pin. The lift cord 54 b extends across the top of both the third 168, second 164 and first 162 pivot pins and horizontally through the head rail 36 and subsequently passes over and downwardly across the first pivot pin 162 of the cord lock system 34 at the opposite or right end of the head rail.
It will be appreciated from the above that the lift cords 54 a and 54 b are free to slide about their respective pivot pins and through the cord lock system 34 as long as the cord lock system is in its unlocked position which is illustrated in FIG. 24. As can also be appreciated by reference to FIG. 24, in the unlocked position the magnets 150 and 216 on the cover plate 146 and the plate portion 140 of the cord lock are misaligned. In the unlocked position, the lift cords 54 a and 54 b extend in a straight line through the lock member 170 from the third pivot pin 168 and thus through an opening 218 in the plate portion and relatively thick portion 152 of the cord lock. Obviously, the cords are free to slide in an up and down motion along the longitudinal axis of the lift cords by movement of the associated tassel 56. It will also be appreciated the cords establish a significant acute angle from vertical and the acute angle formed by the lift cords is in a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the head rail 36 and consequently to the architectural opening in which the cover is mounted. It should also be appreciated the fourth pivot pin 172 about which the lock member 170 pivots, which determines the direction in which the lift cords are pulled to lock or unlock the system, extends in parallel relationship with the length of the head rail and therefore in a parallel relationship with the architectural opening in which the covering is mounted.
Further, when the lift cords 54 a and 54 b are in a straight line from the opening 218 in the relatively thick portion 152 through the hole 200 at the bottom of the cover plate 146, the cords have forced a pivotal movement of the cover plate between its locked position as shown for example in FIG. 22 and the unlocked position of FIG. 24. As will be appreciated from the description that follows, the movement of the lift cords by the tassel 56 effects movement of the cover plate between the locked and unlocked positions and consequently the lock member 170 between its locked and unlocked positions.
When the lift cords 54 a and 54 b are moved from the unlocked position of FIGS. 24 back toward a more vertical orientation through an intermediate position illustrated in FIG. 23, it will be appreciated the lift cords are no longer straight but bend as they pass through the gap 196 in the lock member 170. Further movement of the lift cords toward a vertical orientation causes the lock member to pass over center and into a locking position as seen in FIG. 22 and it will there also be appreciated the magnets 150 and 216 on the cover plate 146 and the plate portion 140 of the cord lock system are aligned to releasably and magnetically hold the cover plate in the locked position.
In the locked position of FIG. 23, the lift cords 54 a and 54 b are seen to pass through a tortuous path as they extend through the lock member 170 and the cords become pinched within the gap 196 defined between the base plate 180 and the bottom plate 196of the lock member. The weight of the fabric 44 in addition to the middle 42 and bottom 40 rails of the covering are pulling on the lift cords and therefore retain the lock member 170 in the locked position. When it is desired to unlock the cord system lock, the lift cords are pivoted counterclockwise as viewed in FIGS. 22 and 23 with the tassel 56, i.e. away from the general vertical orientation of the lift cord shown in FIG. 22 to the more inclined orientation of FIG. 24. In doing so, the cords pull against the base plate 180 of the lock member causing the lock member to pivot about the fourth pivot pin 172 until the lock member passes back over center and into the unlocked position of FIG. 24 where it will remain until the lift cords shift clockwise toward a more vertical orientation.
As mentioned above, the cover plate 146 is biased by the magnets 150 and 216 toward the locked position of FIG. 22 where the magnets are aligned and accordingly if the lift cords 54 a and 54 b are released by the operator of the covering, the cover plate will shift from its unlocked position of FIG. 24 to its locked position of FIG. 22 simply through pivotal movement of the cover plate which pulls the lift cords back toward a more vertical orientation. An identical process occurs at the right end of the head rail as viewed in rear view of FIG. 9 with the process for the right end being illustrated in FIGS. 19-21. At the right end, of course, the lift cords 48 a and 48 b pass through the cord lock 34 and cover plate 146 rather than the lift cords 54 a and 54 b as described previously. The lift cords 48 a and 48 b are shown in FIG. 21 in an unlocked position of both the cover plate 146 and lock member 170 and then the cords pass through the intermediate position of FIG. 20 on their way to the locked position of FIG. 19 wherein the lift cords pass through a tortuous path in their routing through the lock member.
It will be appreciated from the above the cord lock 34 is an over-center system dictated by the positioning of the lock member 170 with the positioning of the lock member being dictated by movement of the lift cords 48 a and 48 b and the cover plate 146. Movement of the cover plate toward the unlocked position of FIG. 21, for example, causes the lock member to pivot beyond center into a releasably fixed position wherein the lift cords extend straight through the lock member and are free to slide therethrough as when the associated middle rail 42 is being raised or lowered. Movement of the cover plate, however, with the lift cords back toward a more vertical orientation as seen in FIG. 19 causes the lock member to pivot past center in an opposite direction into the locked position in which it is retained primarily by the weight of the fabric 44 and the middle rail 42 pulling on the lift cords.
It should be appreciated that movement of the tassel 50 and associated lift cords 48 a and 48 b in moving the cord lock 170 and cover plate 146 between locked and unlocked positions is in a vertical plane perpendicular to the head rail 36. Such movement is distinct from conventional coverings where the tassel and lift cords are moved in a vertical plane parallel with the head rail.
It should also be appreciated that while two cord locks systems 34 have been described as being used with the covering and with the cord lock systems at opposite ends of the head rail, it will be appreciated with only minor modifications that would be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that both cord lock systems could be positioned at the same end of the head rail 36 along with their associated tassels.
In an alternative embodiment of a covering incorporating the cord lock system of the present invention shown in FIG. 30, the middle rail 42 has been removed so that the fabric material or panel 44 extends from the head rail 36 directly to the bottom rail 40. Similarly, the cord-lock system 34 at the right end of the head rail of the first-described embodiment that is associated with the middle rail 42 has, of course, been removed leaving only a single cord-lock system 34 at the left end of the head rail (or the right end as viewed in FIG. 30) identical to that previously described. In the alternative embodiment, of course, only lift cords 54 a and 54 b associated with the bottom rail need be manipulated by a single tassel 56, and the cord-lock system associated with the cords 54 a and 54 b, which is not seen, would be the only cord-lock system necessary for operating the covering in that only movement of the bottom rail 40 from a raised retracted position to a lower extended position would be necessary.
An alternative cover plate 220 is shown in FIGS. 26-29. In this system, a leaf spring 222 replaces the magnets 150 and 216 of the first-described embodiment even though the rest of the cord-lock system 34 is identical. In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 26-29, the magnets are removed and the leaf spring, which can be metal or plastic, extends from an anchored location at its lower end in a bracket 224 formed in the cover plate to a bracket 226 formed on the plate portion 140 of the cord lock system. The leaf spring can be anchored in the brackets 224 and 226 with adhesive and as will be appreciated the length of the leaf spring between the brackets is greater than the spacing between the two brackets themselves so the leaf spring is bowed along its length. Movement of the cover plate with the lift cords from the locked position of FIG. 26 to the unlocked position of FIG. 27 causes the leaf spring to snap into an opposite orientation so that the cover plate can be held in either the locked position of FIG. 26 or the unlocked position of FIG. 27 until that position is overcome by movement of the lift cords, which is not shown.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood the disclosure has been made by way of example, and changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A covering for an architectural opening movable between extended and retracted positions comprising in combination:

an elongated horizontally disposed upper rail,

an elongated bottom rail parallel with said upper rail,

a retractable panel extending between said upper rail and bottom rail, and

a control system for moving said covering between said extended and retracted positions, said control system including at least one lift cord operatively connected at one end to said bottom rail and being free at its opposite end, and a pivotal cord lock operatively associated with said cord for locking said cord in predetermined positions to hold said bottom rail in a predetermined releasably fixed spacing from said upper rail, said cord lock including a lock member pivotal about a pivot shaft, wherein said pivot shaft extends in parallel relationship with said upper rail.

2. The covering of claim 1 wherein said upper rail has first and second ends and wherein said pivot shaft projects longitudinally from one end of said upper rail.

3. The covering of claim 2 wherein said lock member includes (a) a lever arm pivotal about said pivot shaft, (b) a base plate on said lever arm disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said base plate moves about said pivot shaft, and (c) a bottom plate disposed substantially perpendicularly to said base plate, there being a gap between said base plate and bottom plate through which said cord slidably passes.

4. The covering of claim 3 wherein said lock member further includes a pivot arm pivotally connected to said lever arm and wherein said bottom plate is connected to said pivot arm so as to be disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said bottom plate moves with pivotal movement of said pivot arm.

5. The covering of claim 3 wherein said lock member is pivotal between a locked position and an unlocked position, said covering being movable between said extended and retracted positions when said lock member is in the unlocked position and is retained in a releasably fixed position when the lock member is in the locked position.

6. The covering of claim 5 wherein said upper rail has an opening in said one end and said cord extends along the length of said upper rail and through said opening, and wherein said cord extends in a straight line from said opening through said lock member when the lock member is in said unlocked position and extends along a tortuous path through said lock member when the lock member is in the locked position.

7. The covering of claim 6 wherein said lock member is biased toward said locked position by the weight of said retractable panel and can be moved to said unlocked position by pulling on said free end of said cord in a predetermined direction to overcome said bias.

8. The covering of claim 7 wherein said cord is straight from said opening in said upper rail through said lock member when extended in said predetermined direction.

9. The covering of claim 6 further including a cover plate pivotally connected to said upper rail at said one end for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the length of said upper rail, said cover plate at least partially enclosing said lock member and having a hole therein through which said cord passes, said cover plate being pivotally moved between locked and unlocked positions with said cord extending in a straight line from said opening through said hole when said cover plate is in the unlocked position and along a tortuous path when said cover plate is in the locked position.

10. The covering of claim 9 wherein said cover plate is biased toward its locked position.

11. The covering of claim 10 further including a magnet system wherein said biasing of said cover plate is with said magnet system which includes a magnet operatively connected to said upper rail and a magnet operatively connected to said cover plate with said magnets being magnetically connected when said cover plate is in said locked position.

12. The covering of claim 10 further including a leaf spring wherein said biasing of said cover plate is with said leaf spring which is operatively associated with said upper rail and said cover plate.

13. The covering of claim 1 wherein said control system includes at least two lift cords with one of said cords being connected to said bottom rail at one end thereof and the other of said lift cords being connected to the bottom rail at an opposite end thereof.

14. A covering for an architectural opening movable between extended and retracted positions comprising in combination:

an elongated horizontally disposed head rail,

an elongated bottom rail parallel with said head rail,

an elongated middle rail parallel with said head rail and said bottom rail and disposed therebetween,

a retractable panel extending between said bottom rail and middle rail, and

a control system for moving said covering between said extended and retracted positions, said control system including at least one first lift cord operatively connected to said bottom rail at one end and being free at its opposite end, at least one second lift cord operatively connected to said middle rail at one end and being free at its opposite end, and second identical pivotal cord locks operatively associated with said at least one first and second lift cords respectively for locking said cords in predetermined positions to hold said bottom and middle rails respectively in predetermined releasably fixed spacings from said head rail, said cord locks including a lock member pivotal about a pivot shaft, wherein said pivot shafts extend in parallel relationship with said head rail.

15. The covering of claim 14 wherein said head rail has first and second ends and wherein said pivot shafts project longitudinally from an end of said head rail.

16. The covering of claim 15 wherein one pivot shaft is at one end of said head rail and the other pivot shaft is at the second end of said head rail.

17. The covering of claim 15 wherein said lock member includes (a) a lever arm pivotal about an associated pivot shaft, (b) a base plate on said lever arm disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said base plate moves about said associated pivot shaft, and (c) a bottom plate disposed substantially perpendicularly to said base plate, there being a gap between said base plate and bottom plate through which an associated cord slidably passes.

18. The covering of claim 17 wherein said lock member further includes a pivot arm pivotally connected to said lever arm and wherein said bottom plate is connected to said pivot arm so as to be disposed substantially tangentially to an arc in which said bottom plate moves with pivotal movement of said pivot arm.

19. The covering of claim 17 wherein said lock member is pivotal between a locked position and an unlocked position, said covering being movable between said extended and retracted positions when said lock member is in the unlocked position and is retained in a releasably fixed position when the lock member is in the locked position.

20. The covering of claim 19 wherein said head rail has a pair of openings therein with said openings being in one or both ends thereof with one opening associated with said at least one first lift cord and the other opening with said at least one second lift cord, said lift cords extending along the length of said head rail and through an associated one of said openings, and wherein said cords extend in a straight line from its associated opening through said lock member when the lock member is in said unlocked position and extend along a tortuous path through said lock member when the lock member is in the locked position.

21. The covering of claim 20 wherein said lock members are biased toward said locked position by the weight of said retractable panel and can be moved to said unlocked position by pulling on said free end of the associated lift cord in a predetermined direction to overcome said bias.

22. The covering of claim 21 wherein said associated lift cord is straight from its associated opening in said head rail through its associated lock member when extended in said predetermined direction.

23. The covering of claim 20 further including a cover plate associated with each cord lock, said cover plates being pivotally connected to said head rail for pivotal movement about an axis parallel with the length of said head rail, said cover plates at least partially enclosing its associated lock member and each cover plate having a hole therein through which an associated cord passes each of said cover plates being pivotally moved between locked and unlocked positions with an associated lift cord extending in a straight line from its associated opening in said head rail through said hole when said cover plate is in the locked position and along a tortuous path when said cover plate is in the locked position.

24. The covering of claim 23 wherein each cover plate is biased toward its locked position.

25. The covering of claim 24 further including a magnet system associated with each cover plate and wherein said biasing of said cover plates is with said magnet system which includes a magnet operatively connected to said head rail and a magnet operatively connected to said cover plate with said magnets being magnetically connected when said cover plate is in said locked position.

26. The covering of claim 24 further including a leaf spring associated with each cover plate and wherein said biasing of said cover plates is with said leaf springs which are operatively associated with said head rail and said cover plates.

27. The covering of claim 14 wherein said control system includes at least two first lift cords and at least two second lift cords when one of said first lift cords and one of said second lift cords being connected at one end of said bottom rail and middle rail respectively and another of said first lift cords and said second lift cords being connected to an opposite end of said bottom rail and middle rail respectively.

28. The covering of claim 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 or 27 wherein said first pivotal cord lock is at one end of said head rail and said second pivotal cord lock is at the other end of said head rail.