US2863505A

US2863505A - Traverse rod and draw cord combination

Info

Publication number: US2863505A
Application number: US536983A
Authority: US
Inventors: Warren B S Cameron
Original assignee: Kenney Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Kenney Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1955-09-27
Filing date: 1955-09-27
Publication date: 1958-12-09
Anticipated expiration: 1975-12-09

Description

Dec. 9, 1958 w. B. s. CAMERON 2,863,505

` TRAVERSE ROD AND DRAW CORD COMBINATION Filed Sept. 27. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. N I B. S. CAMERON WARREN M,vnl7 y' `ATTORNEY Dec. 9, 1958 vw. B. s. CAMERON 2,863,505

TRAVERSA: RoD AND DRAW coRD COMBINATION Filed Sept. 27.' 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig'lo l //2. I L

355m ,Y l

WARREN B. S. CAMERON ATTOR N EYS Dec. 9, 1958 w. B. s. CAMERON TRAVERSE ROD AND DRAW CORD COMBINATION Filed sept. 27. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Hundllnillnlnlllls INVENToR. WARREN B. S. CAMERON ATTORNEYS United States Patent Otlice TRAVERSE RODJAND DRAW CORD COMBINATION l Warren B. S. Cameron, Hillsgrove, R. I., assignor to Kenney Manufacturing Company',jCranston, R. I.,'a corporation of Rhode Island employed with drawcurtains.- One aspect of this invention relates to an arrangement whereby a quick reversal of the position of the draw cord may be affected at the time of installation, and in `other aspects this invention relates, to an end pulley and a master carrier construction each particularly adapted to cooperate in the general organization designed for quick reversal of the position of the draw cord.

The drapery hardware industry has long sought for a simple, quick and convenient mechanism for reversing the position `of the draw cord employed in conventional traverse rods. Generally speaking traverse rods are assembled and shipped with the draw cord on the right hand side so that when the traverse rod is installed the draw cord will be in the position normally expected for use. However, in many installations, the right hand side of a Window may be in a relatively inaccessible location and it is highly desirable to shift the position of the draw cordttfrom the right hand side of the traverse rod to the left hand side. The conventional methods for reversing the position of the draw cord now employed in the industry for many years have been excessively complicated often requiring disassarnbly of parts and even restringing the cord in` some instances. These methods have been time consuming and diiiicult to perform.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a traverse rod and draw cord combination by means of which an easy reversal of the position of the draw cord may be attained. Further objects of my invention include the provision of a master carrier adapted particularly for release of the draw cord and provision of ample room for the draw cord to slide longitudinally of the said master carrier after said release. Still another object of my invention is the provision of a pulley arrangement at the ends of the traverse rod whereby ready access to the draw cord for the purpose of reversal is provided.

In the accomplishment of these and other objects of my invention in a preferred embodiment thereof I employ a conventional, telescoping type traverse rod. A draw cord is installed inthe traverse rod running `on pulleys mounted in the respective ends thereof; The draw cord is substantially longer than the traverse rod and extends downwardly therefrom through an opening in the lower portion of the traverse rod adjacent to the end. The other end of the traverse rod is provided with a similar opening and the draw cord may be withdrawn therefrom in order to position the draw cord at the other end of the traverse rod at the time of installation. For this purpose the draw cord is formed with a metal clip joining its ends so that during installation the draw cord may be regarded as an endless loop. This permits the user to draw the cord to its full extremity at either end of the traverse rod and to position the metal clip joining both ends of the draw cord at the center of the exposed loop of the cord. Thereafter the metal clip may be cut away from the draw cord and tassels applied to the free ends in the conventional manner.

Further objects and features of my invention and in particular the features thereof relating to themaster carriers and pulley arrangements Will'best be understoodV and appreciated from the detailed description of a pre-A ferred embodiment thereof selected for the'purposes of illustrationV and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a View in front elevation of the traverse rod and draw cord combination of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view in cross section of the left hand end of the traverse rod shown in Fig. 1 on an enlarged` scale,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 except showing the right hand end of the traverse rod,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan View of the two ends of the draw cord joined by a metal clip.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view in front elevation showing the` internal elements of the traverse rod on the end thereof which is otherwise shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a sectional View in front elevation showing the internal elements of the traverse rod at the end thereof as shown in Fig. 3, i

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of the pulley supporting arrangement employed at the ends of the traverse rod,

Fig. 8'is a view in perspective of the rod end intol which the pulley support of Fig. 7 fits,

Fig. `9 is a View inperspective showing the elements of Figs. 7 and 8 assembled,

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view along the lines 1li-10"y of Fig. 9 showing the relative dispositionof the locking elements prior to joining,`

Fig. l1 is a sectionalview of the Fig. 10 after they have been locked,

Fig. 12 isa sectional View in end elevationjalong the lines 12--12 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 13 is a sectional view in end elevation along the lines 13-13 of Fig. 11, v

Fig. 14 is a sectional view in end elevation along the` lines 14--14 of Fig. 6,

Fig. 15 is a sectional View in end elevation lof the elements shown in Fig. 14 except that the cord locking clamp is in the unlocked position,

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 14,

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary View in front elevation of the arrangement shown in Fig. 15,

Fig. 18 is an end view of the master carrier arrangement of my invention showing how the locking clamp is installed, and j Fig. 19 is a view in end elevation along the line 19-19 of Fig. 6. j

The preferred embodiment of my invention may be seen generally in Fig. l wherein a telescoping traverse elements shown in rod is indicated generaily at 1d, master carriers are in dicated at 12, idler carriers are indicated at 14, a draw cordais indicated at i6, and a combination pulley and rod supporting arrangement is indicated at 1S.

The` telescoping traverse rod 1t) is of a conventional inverted U-shape cross sectional form having an outer tube 2@ and an inner tube 22 of slightly smaller cross section so that it can t in free sliding relation within the larger tube Ztl. Brackets (not shown) are employed to mount the rod on a lixed base or vwindow frame with the rod il@ being directly supported on the said brackets by means of an arrangement indicated at 13 in Fig. l and shown in more detail in Figs. 7-13. This arrangement is formed from a single sheet metal plate by conventional metal stamping and bending techniques and comprises a base plate 2.4 and a front plate 26 spaced apart by the approximate inside width of the curtain rods 2.0 or 22. ltwill be understood that the rod supporting and pulley arrangement indicated at 18 is adapted Fatented Dec. 9, 1958" 3 for installation at both ends of the traverse rod and for this purpose the element 18 which is installed in the section 22 of the rod is slightly smaller than the element 18 installed in the section 20. Also right and left hand elements 18 must be fabricated. However, since the mechanical construction of the elements 18 at each end is identical other than slight dimensional differences, and obvious reversal of positions of parts, only one such element 18 will be described in detail herein.

The base plate 24 and the front plate 26 of the Velement 18 fit in the end of the rod 10 in close abutting relationship into the side walls. In order to secure the element 18 in the end of the rod, I have provided a metal locking arrangement which includes a raised ear 28 on the front plate 26, and'a similar ear 30 on the base plate 24. The

ears

28 and 30 Vare of a general keystone shape and when the element 18 is fitted into the end of the rod, the bases of' the

ears

28 and 30 respectively seat into

notches

32 and 34 cut into the end of the rod on each side thereof. Thereafter the ears 28and 30 are pressed inwardly against the sides of the rod 10. The sequence of the pressing operation may be seen graphically depicted in Figs. lO and 11 wherein it will be seen that the ears drive the metal of the. rod into the opening in the respective plates 24 and 26 from which the

ears

30 and 28 were formed, and the keystone shape of the said ears has the effect of forming a dovetail lock which thereafter prevents any longitudinal or vertical relative motion between the rod and the element 18. While the

ears

28 and 30 hold the outer end of the element 18 both against longitudinal and vertical motion the inner end of the element 1S is located at a depth within the rod and likewise must be anchored particularly against vertical motion. I accomplish this in the preferred embodiment of my invention by means of a pair of inner end abutments 36, one of which is formed from the base plate 24 and the other of which is formed from the front plate`26, and each being bent inwardly toward the space between the plates 24 and' 26. lEach end abutment 36 is stamped to conform to the lower inside contour of the traverse rod 1t) and when the element 18 is tted into the end of the traverse rod the abutments 36 cooperate with the upper portion of the element 18 to prevent any vertical relative motion between the element 18 and the traverse rod. In this way the element 18 is firmly secured in the end of the rod against all types of relative motion.

In order to provide means for anchoring the outer end of the curtain I provide an outer end plate 38 formed from the base plate 24 and bent into a plane normal thereto at the outer end of the element 18. The outer end plate 33 is provided with a hole through which mechanism for anchoring the end of the curtain may be passed. The base plate 24 is also perforated in its lower portion to receive other curtain supporting elements.

The element 18 further serves the function of supporting pulley elements for the draw cord 16. These pulley elements in the preferred embodiment herein shown are made out of molded nylon and comprise small sheave elements 40 provided with hubs 42 on each side thereof. The hubs 42 slip down into U-shaped open bearings 44 and 46 formed in the plates 24 and 26 of the element 18. The sheaves 40 are dimensioned to lit in between the plates 24 and 26 with only a slight t'ree running clearance so that the hubs 42 may lodge accurately in the U-shaped open bearings 44 and 46, and support the sheaves 40 for rotation. It will be understood that when the sheaves 40 are placed in the open bearings 44 and 46 and the element 18 is thereafter placed in the end of the rod the sheaves 40 cannot thereafter rise out of the open bearings 44 and 46 because they come up against the top of the rod `which limits their upward motion.

The open bearings 44 and 46 are similar in construction in that they slant inwardly in the direction of the rod 10, but the bearings 44 are located inwardly of the bearings 46 and are substantially lower. The slant of the open bearings 44 and 46 is designed to prevent thesheaves 40 from inadvertently climbing upwardly while they rotate during operation. However, it should be noted that some motion of the hubs 42 in the bearings 44 and 46 is a distinct advantage because lint and dust often collect at these points and unless the sheaves 40'.

can move slightly they tend to jam or clog.

rEhe bearings 44 are positioned lower than the bearings 46 for the purpose of providing free running clearance between the two sections of the draw cord which pass over them. In this way the sheaves 40 may be located in longitudinal alignment for purposes of minimizing the width of the rod 10, but at the same time avoid chang or rubbing between sections of the cord.

The draw cord 16l is installed as may be seen in Figs. l, 5 and 6 in the form of an endless loop having its otherwise free ends joined by a metal clip 48 (shown in detail in Fig. 4). Dimensionally, the cord 16 is substantially longer than twice the length of the rod 10 in its fully extended position. Thus a loop of the cord 16 may be installed in the rod running the full length thereof, while still leaving a substantial loop of cord exposed at one end for operation of the master carriers as will be explained more in detail below.

When the traverse rod of my invention is shipped, the cord 16 is looped around the upper and outer sheave 40 at the left hand end of the rod (see Fig. 5) with the lower portion of the loop in that area riding over the top of the lower and inner sheave 40 at that end. At the right hand end (see Fig. 6) one leg of the cordloop runs over the outer, upper sheave'40 Vand the other leg runs over the lower, inner sheave 40. From there the two legs of the loop extend downwardly through the opening formed by the rod 10 and element 18 and are joined by the clip 48 to form the complete endless cord 16. There` after, if it is desired to change the exposed loop to the left hand end of the rod, a probe is inserted into vthe left hand end of the rod at 50 in Figs. 5 and 9, and the loop of the cord 16 in that area is pulled out as is indicated in dotted lines at 52 in Fig. l. The cord 16 may then be drawn through the rod with the previously exposed f loop at the right hand end eventually coming up against the upper outer sheave 40 on the said right hand end. In this condition the exposed loop will then be located on the left hand side of the rod 18. Final installation entails drawing the cord 16 over the sheaves 40 until the clip 48 is in the center of the exposed loop at either end, and thereafter cutting the cord 16 on both sides of the said clip 16. Pull-tassels, not shown, may then be attached to the free ends of the cord then remaining. The important factor, however, relating to the present invention is the condition of the rod, cord and associated elements arranged for shipment prior to nal installation, and it is my intention to claim the same broadly herein.

It will now be seen that the pulley and rod supporting elements 18 bear a definite cooperative relationship to the overall function of permitting the exposed loop of the cord 16 to be changed readily from end to end. The

openings in the bottom of the elements 18 permit free access to the cord 16 so that it can be easily pulled out, and further provide a suitable working clearance forthe exposed legs of the draw cord loop at either end of the rod. Furthermore, the vertically offset position of the sheaves 40 at each end of the rod 10 permits the said legs of the cord to run freely on the sheaves 40 without interference, and to be readily withdrawn for purposes of changing the position of the exposed loop. In addition, the freedom of motion of the sheaves 40 is imf portant in permitting the clip 48 to pass between the sheaves 4t) during the end reversing operation.

While the elements 13 bear a necessary cooperative relationship to the basic arrangement of the rod and cord, it is Valso my intention to claim.the Velements'` 18 broadly herein. In this connection, the ease of assembly of the elements 18 should also be emphasized. The U-shaped open bearings 44 and 46 permit the sheaves 40 to be' inserted in place during fabrication without the costly and time consuming fabrication of more conventional journals, and the possible relativemotion Vof the" hubs' 42l ensures free and; unobstructed operation. Also the nylon material of the sheaves 40 and hubs 42 is important in avoiding the necessity of lubrication. The nylon Vbearing surface runs smoothly, easily and noiselessly without further lubrication.

Turning now tothe master carrier arrangement employed in the'traverse rod and cord` combination of my invention (see Figs. 5, 6 andlA-l9), certain ofthe details are conventional and need not be described herein. For instance, there are two master carriers. They are attached to the draw cord on opposite sides of a loop that passes through the rod, over a sheave at the end of the rod and back again through the rod where the operating ends of thecord remain exposed.- Thus whenthe cord is pulled, the master carriers move in opposite directions, and since the master carriers support the inner, or moving edges of a pair of draw curtains, they act as prime movers for the curtain. Another conventional feature relates vto inwardly extending arms on the master carriers arranged to permitthe inner edges of the curtains to overlap when the-master `carriers are drawn together.

Among the features of the master carriers employed herein of importance to this invention are theimechanism forlocking and releasing the respective legsof the draw cord to permit rapid change of the end ofthe exposed loops of the draw VAcord and the mechanism forslidably supporting the carrier inthe rod 10 without interfering withthe action of the draw cord.

`The mastercarriersfherein shown are indicated at 12 in Fig. 1, and include a metal base plate 54-st`amped `to provide a-centralfvertical opening 56 which is spanned by a lower cross brace 58 and an upper crossbace 60. The lower cross brace 58 is offset slightly forwardly from `the plane of the base plate S4, and` theupper cross brace 60 is `oifset forwardly in `the same mannerbut to agreater extent.` The upper portion ofthe base plate 54 is-bent tirst to theirear, then upwardly andffnally forwardlytoprovide a cord guiding channel indicated at 62 as may be seen more clearly in the sectional end elevation shown in Figs. 14, and 18.

The master carriers 12 are slidably` supported in the rod 10 by means of molded nylon shoes 64 (see Figs. 2, 5 and 19) which are rounded longitudinally on their side and upper surfaces to promote a free sliding relationship between'the rods and carriers, especially at the point where the carriers must pass from the larger tube into the smaller tube 21. Also to ensure a smooth sliding relation as well as to provide extra space for the. clip 4S to pass through `the master carriers 12, the rear wall of the `cord guiding channel is bowed out slightly to the rear at 66 as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 19, itV will be seen that the upper portion of each nylon shoe 64 is molded to form a cord guiding channel indicated at 68. VThe channel 68 thus formed isAin generally opposed relationto the cord guiding channel 62 of the master carrier 12, and in this way the master carriers maintain the draw cords in accurate relative alignment so that they do not tend to kink or jam during operation.` However, in order to facilitate installation of the draw cord 16 in the master carrier 12, I provide a narrow space 69 (see Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6) between the adjacent ends of the `

channels

62 and 68 sothat the cord 16 may be slipped into position without having to be threadedthrough the remaining elements of the carrier as in previous designs. It will be further noted that the upper and lower extremities of the cord guiding channel 68 ride relatively close to the inside surface of the rod -10 so that the cord 16 cannot inad- @if vertently jam between the master carrier -12 and the inner surface Vof the rod 1i) in that area.

In order tolock the master carriers 12 to the draw cord 167 I provide a locking-clamp 70 located inthe central opening 56 of the base plate 54. The locking clamp 70 isa simple strip of sheet metal bent in its upper portion to provide a cord retaining hook 72. At its lower extremity the clamp 70 is bent around approximately double to provide a clamp retaining member 74. In Fig. 18 the way in which the locking clamp 70 is installed is graphically depicted. The hook element 72 is inserted in the space between tlle Lipper cross brace 60 and the rear wall 66 Vof the cord guiding channel 62, while at the same time the clamp retaining member 74 remains open and is passed through the lower `portion of the central opening 56 of the base plate 54. Thereafter the clampretaining element 74 is bent inwardly adjacent to the lower cross brace 58 and thereafterl serves to guide the clamp '70 in a substantially vertical path of sliding motion relative to the master carrier 12. In this position the clamp 70 remains asa permanent part of the structure of `the master carrier 12 because the bottom of the central opening 56 interrupts the downward motion of the clamp 70 before the hook element 72 drops .below the lower rear edge of the cord guiding channel 62 thus preventing the clamp 7() from becoming separated from the master carrier 12. Y i The vertical sliding motion of the clamp 70 is ernployed inlocking the cord 16 to the master carrier 12 and the operation of the arrangement of my invention is shown graphically in Figs. 14-17. Prior to locking the cord 16, the clamp Pilis in the upward position shown in Figs. 15 and 17 in which both halves of the cord 16 slide freely on either side of the hook element 72.- When the clamp 'tl is drawn downwardly, the hook element 72 batches the innermost cord in the cord guiding channelj62 and draws the same downwardly into the upper portion of the Central opening 56 as maybe se-en more clearly in Fig. 16. ln this position the clamp 70 is locked under an ear 76 depending from the lower vcross brace 58. VA hole 78 is provided in the lower portion of the clamp retaining member 74 to receive the ear 76 and holdthe clamp 7@ in the locked position. It will be seen that the downward motion of the clamp 711 causes the cord 16 to jamin the upper portion of the central opening 56 of the base plate 54 and thus prevent relative motion between the cord 16` and the master carrier 12.

With reference to Figs. 14-19 it should be noted that l have herein shown only one of the master carriers which in this instance is indicated as the right-hand master carrier that may be seen in Fig. 6. When the left-hand master carrier employed in Fig. 5 is installed in the rod, its position is reversed so that the section of the cord 16 lying innermost in the cord guiding channel 62 will be the section ofthe cord which remains free in the right-hand master carrier 12 shown in Fig. 6, and thus `the two master carriers will be attached to different sections ofY the cord so that when thecord is operated the master carriers will move in opposite directions. p

Two further details relating to the master carriers ofY my invention are of importance and will now be described. One of these relates to the way in which I insure a firm locking arrangement between the hook element 72 and the cord 16 when the clamp 70 is in its locked position, but provide ample room for the clip 48 to pass through the master carrier when the clamp 7) is in its unlocked position. This is accomplished in my invention .by bending the hook element 72 to the left at Si? (see Fig. 14) prior to bending it around in the form of the hook shown. ln this way drawing: the clamp 71B downwardly causes the outwardly bent portion 80 to wedge against the Lipper cross brace 60 and thereby drive the hook element 72 into firm locking engagement with 4the cord 16 when the clamp'tl is in its fully depressed position. On the other hand, raising the clamp 70 to the unlocked position permits the hook element 72 to ride forwardly and well clear ofthe cord 16 so that the clip 48 may pass free and clear of the hook element 72.

A second feature of importance relates to a slanting side buttress surface 82 shown on the left-hand side of the central opening 56 of the base plate 54 in Figs. 5, 6, 16 and 17. During the locking operation in which the clamp 70 is drawn downwardly against the cord 16, the cord is forced into the upper portion of the central opening 56 in which position (see Fig. 16) the cord 16 is bent sharply in four places and cannot move longitudinally relative to the carrier 12. When the locking motion takes place, however, the hook element 72 of the clamp 70 must be guided substantially toward the center of the upper portion of the central opening 56 so that the cord 16 does not effectively block the downv ward motion of the clamp 70. Accordingly, in order to guide the hook element 72vproperly, the side edge 82 'of the central opening 576 is slanted and causes the hook element 72 to draw the cord 16 slightly away from the upper right-hand corner of the opening 56 shown in Pigs. 16 and 17. This drawing action prevents the cord 16 from blocking the clamp '70 on the right-handside. On the left-hand side the blocking effect is avoided by spacing the left-hand corner S4 of the opening 56 substantially to the left of the upper extension of the line formed by the side edge 82 of the opening 56. Thus the hook element 72 is held away from the corner 84 by the side edge S2 against which the clamp 70 abuts during the locking uperation. In this way, the blocking action of the cord 16 which might otherwise be present is avoided. Y

It will now be seen that the master carriers 12 coopcrate materially in the over-all combination of the traverse rod and cord combination of my invention in that they permit easy and rapid disengagement ofthe cord 16 and free access for the clip 48 to pass longitudinally through the rod when the position of the exposed loop of the cord 16 is being reversed. However, I wish it to be understood that I intend to claim the master carrier 12 and its supporting and locking arrangement broadly herein.

From the foregoing description, it will now be seen that the operation of my invention is substantially as follows. The Vtraverse rod 10' 'and associated elements substantially shown in Fig. 1 are attached to a Window frame or the like in the conventional manner. Thereafter if it is desired to reverse the position of the exposed loop of the cord 16, the master carriers 12 are unlocked from the cord 16 permitting the same to run freely through the rod, the cord 16 is withdrawn from the lefthand end of the rod to provide an exposed loop as may be seen at 52 in Fig. l, and the cord is drawn through the rod to the left-hand end to a position in which the clip 4S is located substantially in the center of the said exposed loop, thereafter the master carriers 12 are moved to their proper location in the center of the rod 10 and the locking clamps 70 are drawn downwardly to their locked position. At this point the traverse rod and cord combination will be in substantially the desired condition for use and the clip 4S may be cut out of the cord and replaced by pull tassels on the ends of the two remaining exposed sections of the cord 16. Finally, of course, the curtain may be attached to the curtain supporting elements in the conventional manner.

Since numerous minor variatio-ns of the preferred embodiment of my invention herein shown will now be apparent to those skilled in the art, it is not my intention to conne the invention to the precise form herein shown but rather to limit it in terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described and disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedI States' is.;

1. A traverse lrod and cord combination comprising a hollow rod dening an elongated passageway from end to end thereof; a draw cord having free ends; joining means for said free ends of said cord for rendering said cord in the form of an endless loop; cord supporting means at each end of said rod; a portion of said endless loop extending from end to end of said rod through said elongated passageway; said cord encompassing within its endless loop said cord supporting means at each end of said rod; walls forming openings into said passageway at each end of said rod adjacent to said cord supporting means; a master carrier having a portion slidable in said elongated vpassageway and releasable locking means operatively associated with said master carrier for'connecting'said master carrier to one side of said endless loop of said cord within sai-d elongated passageway; and said elongated passageway, said openings, said master carrier, and said locking means when in a released state, each dimensioned to form a space for said cord greater in width than the maximum traverse dimension of said cordend joining means; whereby said cord and cord end joining means may be drawn through and out either end of said rod without obstruction from said rod, said cord supporting means, said locking means or said master carrier.

2. The traverse rod and cord combination defined in claim 1 further characterized by said cord supporting means each comprising a sheave at an end of the rod.

3. The traverse rod and cord combination dened in claim 1 further characterized by said joining means comprising a metal clip compressed around said free ends.

4. A traverse rod and cord combination comprising a pair of telescoping hollow rods together defining an elongated passageway from end to end thereof; a draw cord having free ends; joining-means for said free ends of said cord for rendering said cord in the form of an endless loop; cord supporting means at each end of said elongated passageway; a portion of said endless loop extending through said elongated passageway; said cord encompassingy within its endless loop both said cord lsupporting means; walls forming openings into said passageway at each end vof said passageway adjacent to said cord supportingmeans; a master carrier having a portion slidable in said elongated passageway, and releasable locking vmeans operatively associated with said master carrier for connecting said master carrier to one side of said endless loop of said cord within said elongated passageway; and said elongated passageway, said openings, said master carrier, and said locking means when in a released state, each dimensioned to form a space for said cord greater in Width than the maximum transverse dimension of said cord end joining means; whereby said cord and cord end joining means may be drawn through and out either end of said rod Without obstruction from said rod, said cord supporting means, said locking means, or said master carrier.

`References Cited in the le of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,494,429 Kirsch May 20, 1924 1,546,523 Walaschek July 21, 1925 1,878,526 Kenney et al Sept. 20, 1932 1,881,627 Ienkinson Oct. 1l, 1932 2,106,585 Weckstrom Jan. 25, 1938 2,222,229 Kahler Nov. 19, 1940 2,315,301 Van Deventer et al Mar. 30, 1943 2,619,166 Graber Nov. 25, 1952 2,644,517 Graber July 7, 1953 2,653,344 Graber Sept. 29, 1953 2,718,922 Petter Sept. 27, 1955 2.736.373 Truesdale Feb. 28, 1956 2,745,488 Rosenbaum May 15, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 561,566 Germany Oct. 15, 1932