US20110174449A1

US20110174449A1 - Rapid safety cord concentrator

Info

Publication number: US20110174449A1
Application number: US12/830,814
Authority: US
Inventors: Hsien-Te Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-01-15
Filing date: 2010-07-06
Publication date: 2011-07-21
Also published as: TW201124103A

Abstract

The present invention provides a rapid safety cord concentrator, and more particularly a cord concentrator, having application in window curtains, which binds the free ends of pull cords, and enables the external force produced at the outset of the pull cords being operated by accident to be transmitted linearly into the cord concentrator. Accordingly, the binding stationary state gripping force of the cord concentrator on the pull cords is easily broke apart, thus causing the cord concentrator to instantly lose its gripping force on the pull cords and rapidly separating therefrom, thereby immediately releasing entangled limbs or torso from the pull cords.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a rapid safety cord concentrator, and more particularly to a rapid safety cord concentrator that directly uses the initial binding force produced due to the limbs or torso becoming entangled by the pull cords at the outset of the pull cords of a window curtain being operated by accident, and lightly transfers this binding force to counteract a stationary state gripping force interior of a cord concentrator, thereby causing the cord concentrator to instantly separate from the free ends of the pull cords.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
Regardless of whether a window curtain 100 (as depicted in FIG. 1) is of vertical type or horizontal type or curtain shade type, adjustment or roll up or roll down operation of the light shading width or light beam incident angle of the window curtain 100 requires a linkage unit located at the side of a rail on the window curtain to transmit the operating motive force. And the source of the motive force comes from manual operation of pull cords 10. Because of the existence of pull cords, thus, limbs or torso of a child innocently playing with the hanging lower ends of the pull cords frequently become entangled by the pull cords, thereby endangering the child. When the child plays with the pull cords 10 causing the pull cords 10 to entangle the limbs or torso 102, then, during such circumstances, a pulling force is formed between a hoop 101 at the lower ends of the pull cords and the corresponding linkage unit at the upper end, thereby causing the pulling force to produce a binding force on the limbs or torso 102, and endangering the child.
In order to resolve the aforementioned danger, Taiwan patent No. M322783 provides a safety anchor for window curtain pull cords, which uses the upper end of an anchor to join the two ends of closed type pull cords, a single pull cord is joined and hangs below, thereby eliminating the ring-like closed end. Taiwan patent No. M253301 uses a magnetic release device to indirectly split apart the pull cords, thereby enabling separation of the magnetic attraction between sections of the pull cords under circumstances whereby the pull cords are played with by a young child causing the limbs or torso to become entangled, resulting in an inappropriate force application on the pull cords. In addition, there are many related pull cord safety and protective designs classified under the A47H-003/04 international category of the Taiwan Patent Office, the majority of which provide explicit safety methods, while the present invention aspires to attain even higher safety features, with the intention of completely eliminating the aforementioned dangers, thereby bringing benefit to everyone.
Regarding a window curtain provided with pull cords, as long as there are pull cords hanging from an installed window curtain set, there is the potential hazard of danger occurring from the hanging pull cords. However, with respect to energy conservation and working efficiency, presently, there is no easy replacement for the pull cords or bead chains adopted as the pulling components to implement the roll up and roll down operation of the curtain shade. Hence, related industries have the responsibility and moral right to emphatically put into practice pull cord safety measures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primarily objective of the present invention is to use gripping devices fitted to a cord concentrator to enable binding of the hanging ends of a plurality of single pull cords hanging down in parallel, the binding being effective when the pull cords are in a stationary state. When the pull cords are pulled, then the hands grasping and pressing the cord concentrator is used to assist the gripping devices in obtaining maximum dynamic state gripping force required for dynamic operation, and enabling a force application to be effectively transmitted to the pull cords through the cord concentrator, the force being directed towards the window curtain shade. Wherein the stationary state gripping force is a light binding force, which can be easily broke apart when subjected to a light external force from the pull cords being operated by accident, thereby achieving the objective of rapid safety.
A second objective of the present invention is to provide the cord concentrator with the ability to naturally and rapidly transmit the acting force to the interior of the cord concentrator at the outset of operating the pull cords by accident, and use a linear acting force from vertically directed gripping forces to break apart the gripping devices, thereby obtaining rapid safety effectiveness.
A third objective of the present invention is to enable the cord concentrator to bind the hanging free ends of the pull cords using a gripping force. And under a stationary state, as long as the binding gripping force is sufficient to hold the mass of the cord concentrator, then the cord concentrator is fixed in a stationary bound state. On the contrary, an external force able to disengage the stationary state binding gripping force of the cord concentrator is correspondingly slightly greater than the mass of the cord concentrator, thereby causing the cord concentrator to release its grip and separate from the pull cords.
A fourth objective of the cord concentrator of the present invention lies in when a downward pulling operation is carried out on the pull cords, then the force of the hands grasping and pressing the casing of the cord concentrator is used and directly transferred to the gripping devices, thereby producing an enormous dynamic operating gripping force to achieve rolling up and rolling down operations, after completion of which the hands are released, whereupon the gripping force returns to the light stationary state gripping force required for the stationary state.
A fifth objective of the present invention is for the shape of the cord concentrator to be inverse pyramidal, thereby enabling obtaining centrally directed force components when the hands are grasping and pulling the external inclined surfaces of the cord concentrator.
A sixth objective of the present invention lies in pressure-operated bars, the surfaces of which protrude from the exterior of the casing to form perceptible protrusions, which enable drop heights to be formed with the surface of the casing, thereby enabling the hands to begin operating the curtain shade by first conveniently grasping and pressing the pressure-operated bars.
A seventh objective of the present invention is to provide an electronic caution device, which, after the gripping devices have released the pull cords and they become displaced, is actuated, and sound or light means is used to notify and alert the guardian of a child to deal with the situation, thereby assisting in providing perfect safety of the child.
To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view depicting the binding state of a cord concentrator of the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting installation of the cord concentrator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a component relation diagram of the cord concentrator of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a composition diagram of the components of cord concentrator of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view depicting the assembled cord concentrator of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view depicting the cord concentrator gripping pull cords according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view depicting the gripping state of the cord concentrator according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a working drawing depicting the cord concentrator having released the binding force on the pull cords according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the gripping force produced by the cord concentrator according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a further implementation diagram depicting the gripping force of the cord concentrator according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is another implementation diagram of gripping devices fitted to the cord concentrator of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram depicting the mechanism of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is another implementation diagram of the cord concentrator according to the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram depicting the external appearance of the cord concentrator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention provides a cord concentrator, which enables an external force, produced when pull cords of a window curtain are operated by accident, to be used to easily and rapidly break apart the binding force on the pull cords using direct means to achieve rapid and safe protection of limbs and the torso, as well as enabling the user to smoothly and naturally produce a maximum dynamic gripping force required for dynamic operation when grasped with the hands for operation thereof, whereby application of an operating force can be smoothly transmitted to the pulling device or slats of the window curtain set through the cord concentrator.
The cord concentrator provided by the present invention uses a casing, the center of which is hollow, and front and rear ends of the casing are open to enable free ends of pull cords to pass through and be disposed therein. Gripping devices are assembled in the interior of the casing, and pressure-operated bars fitted to the gripping devices are in an exposed disposition. After completing assembly, the gripping devices grip the free ends of the pull cords, thereby binding the pull cords together in the casing. When in a stationary state, the gripping force on the pull cords by the gripping devices is only a light gripping force (herein defined as a stationary state gripping force), the degree of which is sufficient to hold the total mass of the cord concentrator. In comparison, as soon as the limbs or torso of a child is unintentionally entangled by the pull cords when playing, then a tension is immediately produced in the pull cords, and the tension effects a pulling force on the cord concentrator, at which time, provided that the pulling force bearing on the gripping devices is greater than the aforementioned stationary gripping force or greater than the total mass of the cord concentrator, then the gripping devices are caused to release their grip on the pull cords, thereby enabling the cord concentrator to immediately separate from the pull cords, and thus achieve rapid and safety effectiveness.
General window curtains have two or three pull cords, which separately hang down in parallel as single cords, and the free ends of the multiple parallel cords are bound together by a cord concentrator.
The present invention provides a stationary state gripping force between the cord concentrator and the pull cords when in a stationary state, and as long as the gripping force is sufficient to hold the total mass of the cord concentrator, then the stationary state gripping force of the cord concentrator is of slight intensity. And when wanting to draw the window curtain to change the curtain shading state thereof, then the pull cords must use the cord concentrator to transmit an enormous pulling force; thus, the cord concentrator must produce an enormous dynamic state gripping force to enable dynamic operation of the window curtain. The additional enormous gripping force is produced by a person grasping the exterior of the casing of the cord concentrator and conveniently pressing the pressure-operated bars of the gripping devices. Accordingly, the convenient grasping and pressing of the pressure-operated bars enables converting the force thereon into a gripping auxiliary force to grip the ends of the pull cords, thereby enabling the force application to be reliably transmitted from the cord concentrator to the pull cords when pulling. After releasing the hands, then the cord concentrator returns to a stationary gripping state, and returns to a light stationary state gripping force.
A detailed description of the content and structural operation of the present invention is presented hereafter:
Referring first to FIG. 2, which shows a cord concentrator 1 provided by the present invention, in which the cord concentrator 1 is joined to the plurality of parallel hanging free ends of pull cords 10 of a window curtain 100.
Referring next to FIG. 3, which shows the cord concentrator 1 of the present invention, and the cord concentrator 1 is structured from a casing 11 internally provided with a hollow passageway, a through opening 15 is provided therein corresponding to the ends of the pull cords 10, and the through opening 15 enables the free ends of the pull cords 10 to pass therethrough. The casing 11 is provided with at least one hollowed out assembling portion 12, which enables gripping devices 2 to be disposed and assembled thereon. The gripping devices 2 are two components in reciprocal disposition, and mutually joined to the casing 11.
The gripping devices 2 are each fitted with a pressure-operated bar 22, which is connected using a runout end 21 for runout turning. A pivot shaft 20 is fitted at the angle joint portion of the runout end 21 and the pressure-operated bar 22 to serve as a pivot, and the end of the runout end 21 forms a tangential pressure mouth 210. The assembling portion 12 is provided with a pivot hole 13 corresponding to the position of the pivot shaft 20 fitted to the gripping device 2, thereby enabling the pivot shaft 20 to be pivotal disposed therein and form the pivot function to allow the gripping device 2 to bias turn the runout end 21 through linkage therewith when operating the pressure-operated bar 22 to change the angular position thereof. During the process of runout turning the runout ends 21, the tangential pressure mouths 210 operate on the pull cords 10 to effect gripping or releasing of the pull cords 10, and when the gripping devices 2 are mutually operated as two components in reciprocal disposition, then the two tangential pressure mouths 210 function collectively.
Referring next to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the cord concentrator 1 of the present invention effects binding together of the pull cords as described above, then a containment opening 201 is formed by relative disposition of the tangential pressure mouths 210 provided on the runout ends 21 of the gripping devices 2. And presence of the containment opening 201 is due to the pressure-operated bars 22 integrating with the casing 11 using the pivots formed after joining of the pivot shafts 20 of the gripping devices 2 to the pivot holes 13 defined in the casing 11.
The aforementioned tangential pressure mouths 210 are incurvate in form, thereby facilitating forming the containment opening 201. And tangential edges of the tangential pressure mouths 210 are dentate in form, thereby providing an auxiliary gripping force.
Referring next to FIG. 6, which shows the containment opening 201 formed by the tangential pressure mouths 210 clamping together and gripping the free ends of the pull cords 10, thereby obtaining integrative binding of the pull cords 10 in the cord concentrator 1. The gripping process involves first passing the pull cords 10 through the through opening 15 defined in the casing 11, after which the pressure-operated bars 22 fitted to the gripping devices 2 are turned, thereby causing the pivot shafts 20 of the gripping device 2 pin connected to the pivot holes 13 of the casing 11 to serve as pivots, causing synchronized turning of the runout ends 21 linked to the pressure-operated bars 22, and enabling the runout ends 21 to form a rotated state whereby they tangentially grip the pull cords 10. The gripping force is maintained by exterior integration of the gripping devices 2 with the casing 11, thereby forming a combined force, and the combined force is a static friction fixing force between the components, the fixing force being converted into the aforementioned gripping force.
The aforementioned gripping force differs according to the working state, and is separated into the gripping force required when in a stationary state and the enormous dynamic state requirements when pulling the pull cords. When in a stationary state, the gripping force only needs to be sufficient to hold the total mass of the cord concentrator 1 to form a binding force on the pull cords 10. The stationary state gripping force uses the combined frictional force between the gripping devices 2 and the casing 11 as the basis for stationary binding of the pull cords 10.
When it is required to pull the curtain to change the light shading or roll up or roll down the curtain, then the cord concentrator 1 must transmit a working force to the pull cords 10, necessarily requiring a corresponding maximum dynamic operating gripping force between the cord concentrator 1 and the pull cords 10. The gripping force is produced through the hands of a person grasping the exterior of the casing 11, and conveniently simultaneously pressing the exterior of the outward facing pressure-operated bars 22 of the gripping devices 2, thereby causing the pressure-operated bars 22 to transmit forces to the runout ends 21, enabling the tangential pressure mouths 210 of the runout ends 21 to obtain auxiliary forces and achieve maximum gripping force to grip the pull cords 10. Accordingly, a linkage relation is maintained between the cord concentrator 1 and the pull cords 10, providing a transmission path for force application. In which, when the pressure-operated bars 22 are grasped and pressed by the hands to displace the pressure-operated bars 22 toward the central direction, then the frictional force effects dynamic friction during the displacement process.
Referring next to FIG. 7, based on the aforementioned gripping state of the present invention, when the pull cords 10 are played with by a child, if limbs or torso 102 of the child become entangled by the pull cords 10, then the optimum safety measure at that time is to release binding of the ends of the pull cords 10 and cause instant release of the binding force. For example, under circumstances of the aforementioned stationary state (no application of an operating force on the window curtain), then binding of the casing 11 and the pull cords 10 is converted into a stationary gripping force by means of the gripping devices 2, thereby enabling the tangential pressure mouths 210 to lightly grip the ends of the pull cords 10 to achieve a stationary state linkage relation. And when it is required to disengage the linkage relation of the casing 11 and the pull cords 10 under the circumstances of a stationary state, as long as a light external force F sufficiently exceeds the stationary state gripping force, then the pull cords 10 are caused to be released from the casing 11.
The aforementioned external force F is linearly transmitted to the tangential pressure mouths 210, whereupon a lever effect is formed between the runout ends 21 and the pressure-operated bars 22, thereby pulling and turning the pressure-operated bars 22, causing the pressure-operated bars 22 to separate, whereupon the tangential pressure mouths 210 correspondingly release their gripping force.
The upper end of the casing 11 is provided with the through opening 15 (as depicted in FIGS. 3, 4) to enable the pull cords 10 to pass therethrough. The through opening 15 is formed from the disposition of joining lines 150 of the diameters of two half moon shaped openings in the upper ends of two half outer casings. Accordingly, when external forces are applied to the through opening 15, then the joining lines 150 are disengaged, thereby causing division of the two half outer casings along the joining lines 150. The aforementioned external forces applied to the through opening 15 are inclined external forces, and the inclined external forces are the horizontal components produced by the inclined external forces F depicted in FIG. 7. The aforementioned cord concentrator 1 is formed from disposition of the joining lines 150 of the two half outer casings, and the joining lines 150 are clasped together using dry clasping means.
The effect of the aforementioned horizontal component forces is to cause the two half outer casings to separate, while at the same time cause inner widths W of the assembling portions 12 to expand during the separating process, thereby causing clasp grooves 14 to unclasp from clasp protrusions 200 of the gripping devices 2. In addition, because of the aforementioned pull cords 10 applying forces on the tangential pressure mouths 210, thus, the tangential pressure mouths 210 of the gripping devices 2 also simultaneously serve as pivots through the pivot shafts 20 (pivot holes 13), creating a torque effect on the pressure-operated bars 22. Hence, separation from the clasp grooves 14 enables the pressure-operated bars 22 to naturally lose the constraining forces of the tangential pressure mouths 210. Accordingly, expansion of the inner widths W of the assembling portions 12 first causes disengagement of the clasp protrusions 200, resulting in directly causing the tangential pressure mouths 210 to loosen their grip, thereupon rapidly causing the pull cords 10 to separate from the cord concentrator 1.
Referring next to FIG. 8, after separation of the cord concentrator 1, then the pull cords 10 loosen their binding forces on the limbs or torso 102, thereby achieving safety effectiveness.
However, after achieving the aforementioned safety measure, the child may continue to play with the unraveled pull cords 10, and, similarly, externally producing danger from accidentally operating the pull cords 10 and becoming entangled thereby. Hence, the present invention is further configured with a follow-up safety design, which is actuated after the cord concentrator 1 separates from the pull cords 10. The design comprises an electronic caution device 4 fitted in the interior of the cord concentrator 1. The electronic caution device 4 is actuated using a start switch 41, and emits sound or a light caution signal. Actuation is determined when a change in the angular positions of the gripping devices 2 occurs, whereupon the electronic caution device 4 is actuated and instructs the start switch 41 to emit an acousto-optic signal.
Referring next to FIG. 9, which shows the cord concentrator 1 fitted with the gripping devices 2, the primary operating function of which is to produce a gripping force to grip the ends of the pull cords 10, and thereby enable achieving binding between the cord concentrator 1 and the pull cords 10. The configuration establishes requirements for two kinds of gripping forces. One of which is a gripping force when in a stationary state, and the second is the gripping force required when pulling the pull cords 10, which requires a maximum gripping force for dynamic operation of the window curtain. The stationary state gripping force can use general frictional forces, enabling a light gripping force to be produced after assembling the gripping devices 2 to the casing 11, thereby enabling binding of the pull cords 10 by the cord concentrator 1.
If the present invention is used in a window curtain of lightweight, then the counterforce produced when operating the curtain is correspondingly slight, thus, the amount of maximum gripping force required for dynamic requirements is similarly small. Accordingly, the frictional forces between the gripping devices 2 and the casing 11 are able to directly produce the maximum gripping force.
The present invention additionally implements a clasping means as a method for maintaining the gripping force of the gripping devices 2, whereby the pressure-operated bars 22 fitted with the clasp protrusions 200 clasp into the clasp grooves 14 correspondingly positioned in the casing 11, thereby forming an assembled state which effects a pivot function based on the pivot shafts 20 of the gripping devices 2 joined to the pivot holes 13 of the casing 11 to support joining of the gripping devices 2 with the casing 11. The integrative forces between the gripping devices 2 and the casing 11 use fixed positioning of the clasp protrusions 200 in the clasp grooves 14 defined in the casing 11, the fixed positioning means being mechanical, which enable defining the positions of the gripping devices 2 in the corresponding spaces of the assembling portions 12. Similarly, the pressure-operated bars 22 of the gripping devices 2 being positionally limited by the clasp grooves 14 enable the runout ends 21 to effect mechanically fixing gripping forces, which easily sufficiently holds the total mass of the cord concentrator 1, or can be suitably increased to prevent wind force from swaying the cord concentrator 1 causing the pull cords 10 to separate therefrom, or can be supplemented to satisfy the enormous gripping force required by the dynamic state when used in a window curtain of lightweight. The enormous gripping force is defined as that which surmounts the external force when operated by accident.
Referring next to FIG. 10, which shows the cord concentrator 1 fitted with the gripping devices 2, forming a stationary state gripping force in accordance with the binding when in a stationary state, which uses the aforementioned frictional or tangential clasping means to enable the runout ends 21 of the gripping devices 2 to produce a stationary state gripping force that sufficiently effects a binding force that enables gripping the ends of the pull cords 10 by means of the tangential pressure mouths 210 and produce the stationary binding state.
The aforementioned assembling of the gripping devices 2 to the casing 11 is primarily implemented to produce the combining force, and when an enormous gripping force is required, in principle, an external force is applied to the exterior of the pressure-operated bars 22 fitted to the gripping devices 2, which requires the hands of a person grasping positions on the pressure-operated bars 22 to operate movement thereof. Hence, the pressure-operated bars 22 protrude from the exterior of the casing 11 to enable the person to conveniently grasp and press the pressure-operated bars 22, thereby enabling the runout ends 21 linked to the pressure-operated bars 22 to produce maximum gripping force.
Referring next to FIGS. 11 and 12, which show another embodiment of the present invention using angular positions of the runout ends 21 fitted to the gripping devices 2 to effect horizontal change, and achieve gripping of the pull cords 10, in which the gripping is a hundred-percent mechanical force. The gripping devices 2 are joined to the assembling portions 12 of the casing 11, and the pressure-operated bars 22 of the gripping devices 2 are joined to the runout ends 21 at an angle. The corner joining area of the pressure-operated bar 22 and the runout end 21 is fitted with the pivot shaft 20, and the pivot shaft 20 is pin connected to the pivot hole 13 of the casing 11 as described above, thereby enabling positional change relative to the casing 11. The angular position relationship between the runout end 21 and the pressure-operated bar 22 is slightly greater than 90 degrees (under the situation where the pressure-operated bars 22 are parallel to the pull cords 10) to facilitate the runout ends 21 opposing crossing the angular position of a horizontal line L. Accordingly, positions of the tangential pressure mouths 210 are able to change between positions above and below the horizontal line L to determine gripping or releasing of the pull cords 10. FIG. 12 depicts the operating modes, in which when the pressure-operated bars 22 fitted to the gripping devices 2 effect angular position changes according to pivots formed between the pivot shafts 20 and the pivot holes 13, while at the same time effecting angular position changes of the runout ends 21. When the pressure-operated bars 22 are assembled to the casing 11, then the runout ends 21 fitted to the pressure-operated bars 22 overreach the horizontal angle position of the horizontal line L, at which time the tangential pressure mouths 210 press the ends of the pull cords 10. The pull cords 10 are made from twisted fiber, thus, the body of the cords is provided with elasticity. Movement of the pressure-operated bars 22 causes angular position of the runout ends 21 to change and overreach the horizontal line L. Accordingly, when the runout ends 21 are at the angular position of the horizontal line L, then the tangential pressure mouths 210 present the correspondingly minimum containment opening 201. And after overreaching the horizontal line L, then the runout ends 21 draw back slightly, after which width of the containment opening 201 enlarges, but is at least still able to grip the pull cords 10.
Definition of the aforementioned horizontal line L is determined from the central points of the two pivot shafts 20.
Similarly, as described above, when wanting to naturally release the stationary state gripping force, so long as the tangential pressure mouths 210 produce the vertically directed gripping external force F, then the size of the external force F is similarly able to sufficiently exceed the gripping force of the tangential pressure mouths 210, the counterforce points being the forces from upward changing of the angular positions of the runout ends 21 to achieve a horizontal position. The object of the forces is the containment opening 201 formed by the tangential pressure mouths 210, and effects resistance to the elastic force of the cord material. When it is required for the runout ends 21 to release the pull cords 10, then the runout ends 21 must be swung in a reverse direction to effect upward turning towards the angular position of the horizontal line L. When the angular position is reached, then the containment opening 201 effects maximum gripping force to grip the pull cords 10, the maximum gripping force being only a light stationary state gripping force. When the upward pulling external force F is applied, as long as the force F is able to upwardly change the angular positions of the runout ends 21, then releasing of the pull cords 10 can be achieved. Hence, the gripping devices 2 are at least able to effect high and low angular position changes of the tangential pressure mouths 210 of the runout ends 21 relative to the horizontal line L, thereby achieving a mechanical gripping force. And after the runout ends 21 overreach the position of the horizontal line L, then a configuration of the casing 11 can be similarly used to finally enable position fixing of the gripping devices 2, such as groove means to restrict the runout ends 21 from overreaching the horizontal line L.
Maintaining the aforementioned gripping force can be similarly formed using clasping means, which slightly strengthens the force, and is applicable for use in window curtains of light material or where operating force requirements are light.
Referring next to FIG. 13, which shows the gripping devices 2 of the present invention joined to the assembling portions 12 of the cord concentrator 1, in which the pivot shafts 20 joined to the assembling portions 12 of the casing 11 enable achieving a pivot effect that supports the combination relation between the gripping devices 2 and the casing 11, and primarily enables position variation of the gripping devices 2 on the casing 11 to change the gripping pressure state of the tangential pressure mouths 210 on the pull cords 10. The primary function of the tangential pressure mouths 210 of the gripping devices 2 is to effect the stationary state gripping force, and the gripping pressure means can be effected using a tangential pressure surface 16 provided on another side of the cord concentrator 1 opposite the working side of the tangential pressure mouth 210. Accordingly, the gripping device 2 can be a single component, while similarly achieving the gripping force of the tangential pressure mouth 210.
Maintaining the gripping force of the aforementioned single gripping device 2 is similar to that described above, and can be achieved by further adopting clasping or friction means, which can strengthen the gripping force to make it applicable for use in window curtains of light material or where operating force requirements are light.
Referring next to FIG. 14, which shows the cord concentrator 1 of the present invention joined to the ends of the pull cords 10, in which the outer end of the cord concentrator 1 is configured as a downward expanding water-drop form, thereby providing the outer surface of the cord concentrator 1 with inclined surfaces 110. Function of the inclined surfaces 110 is to enable the cord concentrator 1 to be easily pulled, which involves, when a person wants to operate the pull cords 10, the hands being used to grasp and press the exterior of the casing 11 to form a gripping pressure F1, and after grasping and pressing the exterior of the casing 11, during the operating process of pulling the pull cords 10 downward, a pulling force F2 is produced, and in the force system formed by the gripping pressure F1 and the pulling force F2, an inclined resultant force F3 is formed. The resultant force F3 is directed towards the central position, thereby reducing the gripping load on the hands of the person, and enabling the cord concentrator 1 to be easily pulled.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A safety cord concentrator, providing a cord concentrator able to consolidate the hanging free ends of pull cords of a window curtain, comprising:

a casing provided with a hollow passageway, having a through opening to enable external passage into the casing, and at least one hollowed out assembling portion laterally positioned on the casing;

at least one gripping device, fitted into and assembled to the assembling portion, the middle of the gripping device presents a pivot point, the pivot point enables turning toward the internal direction of the casing to present a tangential pressure mouth, and a pressure-operated bar is fitted to the casing to enable parallel integration therewith, the tangential pressure mouths internally grip the hanging free ends of the pull cords, and the external form of the pressure-operated bar exposes a grasping surface external of the casing.

2. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the tangential pressure mouth is formed at the end of a runout end of the gripping device

3. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 2, wherein a corner joint relationship exists between the runout end and the pressure-operated bar, and pivot shafts are fitted at the corner joint area to serve as a pivot, the pivot shafts are pin connected to pivot holes defined in the assembling portion of the casing, thereby enabling the pressure-operated bar forms a lever function.

4. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the pressure-operated bar protrudes from the exterior of the casing and forms a drop height.

5. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the working end of the pressure-operated bar is provided with clasp protrusions, which function to engage in clasp grooves defined in the assembling portion.

6. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the gripping devices are two sets assembled to the casing, and the runout end of each of the gripping devices are in reciprocal disposition.

7. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 6, wherein the two gripping devices are each fitted with the pivot shafts, and the operating angles of the runout ends overreach a horizontal line based on the horizontal line between the two pivot shafts.

8. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein tangential edges of the tangential pressure mouths are dentate in form.

9. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the tangential pressure mouths are incurvate in form.

10. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the casing is fitted with an electronic caution device, the electronic caution device is provided with a start switch, and the start switch is actuated when the gripping device is displaced.

11. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein the exterior of the casing is in the shape of a water-drop.

12. The safety cord concentrator according to claim 1, wherein a tangential pressure surface is provided interior of the casing opposite the working side of the tangential pressure mouth.