Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIFT CORD ANCHOR CLIP FOR ROMAN SHADE
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention related to a lift cord anchor
clip for securement about an actuation roller of a roman
shade assembly whereby to attach the free ends of lift cords
of the roman shade thereto to cause the shade to lift in a
pleated form and to be lowered.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] There are several methods to cause roman shades to
lift in a pleated manner wherein the panels of the roman
shade are lifted in a stacking fashion overlapping one
behind the other to place it in an open or partly open
position and to then lower the shade to a closed fully
extended position. Some of these known systems utilize a
pair of pulleys about which each of the lift cords are
guided and then the cords are passed through a cord lock
which engages the lift cords with the shade at a desired
position. It is also known ta use aluminum shade rollers
wherein a groove is provided along the length of the roller
and a plastic button is fitted within the groove whereby to
attach the lift cords thereto at a desires position. A
clutch is provided at the end of the roller whereby to cause
rotation of the roller and to lock it at a desired position.
As the clutch mechanism is rotated the roller rotates and
the cord rolls around the roller lifting the shade. The
system uses an aluminum roller and a plastic locking
component.
[0003] Another known system is to provide an aluminum
roller with holes drilled into the roller with metal screws
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secured in the holes. The lift cords are attached to the
screws.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is a feature of the present invention to
provide a lift cord anchor clip for a roman shade and of the
type which is securable to a shade roller and which
substantially overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of
the prior art and provides the above-mentioned need.
[0005] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a lift cord anchor clip for a shade roller of a
roman shade and wherein the clip is symmetrical in
construction and adjustable on the shade roller for
positioning same at a desired location around the roller and
at a desired position along the roller.
[0006] A further feature of the present invention is to
provide a lift cord anchor clip which is inexpensive to
produce, easy to install and remove from a shade roller and
versatile and which can be adapted to several types of shade
rollers including existing shade rollers which may be
provided with different type lift cord connectors.
[0007] Another feature of the present invention is to
provide a lift cord anchor clip in combination with an
elongated shade roller of the type having support pins at
opposed ends thereof and a clutch mechanism at an end to
impart axial rotation to the shade roller and wherein two or
more of the anchor clips are secured about the shade roller
at any desired location therealong.,
[0008] According to the above features, from a broad
aspect, the present invention provides a lift cord anchor
clip for securement to a roman shade roller. The clip
comprises a spring metal band having a partly spherical
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shape. The band defines a throat opening which is narrower
than the diameter of the spherical shape band. At least one
clamping means is formed integrally with the band and
projects inwardly of an inner surface of the band.
Engageable means is spaced in relation to the clamping means
and adapted for engagement by a tool to cause disengagement
of the clamping means. A cord attachment means is provided
for securing a lift cord to the anchor clip.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A preferred embodiment of the present invention
will now be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of the lift cord anchor clip
constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1, the opposite side
being identical;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a fragmented section view showing the
clamping tooth formed on opposite sides of the anchor clip
adjacent the throat opening thereof;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmented section view showing the
construction of one of the cord attaching formations;
[0015] FIG. 6 is an end section view showing the
construction of the cord attaching formations;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a rear schematic view illustrating the
construction of a roman blind attaching system using a shade
roller and a pair of lift cord anchor clips constructed in
accordance with the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a cross section view showing how the lift
cord anchor clip of the present invention is displaceable
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about the shade roller to adjust its position thereabout or
removable from the shade roller..
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring now to the drawings and more particularly
to Figures 1 to 3 there is shown generally at 10 the lift
cord anchor clip of the present invention. The clip is
comprised of a spring metal band 11 having a partly
spherical shape which defines a throat opening 12 which is
narrower than the diameter 13 of the spherical shaped band
11. The free ends 14 of the anchor clip are outwardly
turned to provide an end flange to provide a smooth surface
for ease of placement of the band about a shade roller, and
to further provide an engageable means 16, as will be
described later. The band is also of a width as illustrated
in Figure 2, but this can vary.
[0019] Formed on opposed sides of the anchor clip 10 and
above the outwardly turned free-ends 14 is a clamping means
constituted by a punched out formation which forms a
clamping tooth 15 as better illustrated in Figure 4. This
clamping tooth 15 has a pointed end 151 which projects
inwardly from the inner surface 17 of the band 11 and
upwards from the opening 12 to provide for engagement with a
shade roller as will be described later. It is also
contemplated that a single clamping means can be provided
with teeth pointing in opposite directions on one side only
of the anchor clip.
[0020] The engageable means 16 is in the form of a slot 16
punched out of the end flange spring metal band 11 on
opposed sides of the anchor clip below the clamping teeth
15. This slot 16 permits the insertion of a screwdriver tip
50 (see Figure 8) for a purpose as 'will be described later.
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If a single clamping means is provi-ded, then only one metal
flange 16 would be required. The engageable means may also
be constituted by the extension of the free ends 14 wherein
to provide gripping thereof by a pair of pliers (not shown)
to disengage the clamping tooth 15.
[0021] With additional reference to Figures 5 and 6, it
can be seen that located centrally on the top of the anchor
clip 10 is a cord attachment means constituted by a cord
attaching formation 20 which is formed integral with the
band. This cord attaching formation 20 is illustrated in
top view in Figure 3 and side view in Figures 1 and 6. It
is formed from a single elongated flat rectangular spring
metal band which is stamped to define an elevated transverse
wall 21 having opposed outwardly curved guide walls 22. A
pair of cylindrical through bores 23 are formed by punching
a sleeve adjacent a respective side edge 24 of the clips and
then punching it outwardly downwards over the elevated
transverse wall 21 to form a pair of spaced-apart tunnel-
like through bore formations 23. These hollow cylindrical
through bores provide for the passage of a string
therethrough. The cylinders have an inner rounded surface
231 to provide low friction with the string. As well, the
curved guide walls 22 provide low friction with the string
attached through one of the hollow cylinders, as will be
described later, and in functional contact with the guide
walls 22.
[0022] The clamping teeth 15 may have a slightly different
configuration then that illustrated and could be jagged or
rounded instead of pointed as long*as it can bite within a
shade roller. Figure 4 illustrates the position of the tooth
15 which is punched inwardly and wherein the free end or
pointed 151 end projects inwardly upward from the bottom
opening 12, as shown in Figure 1.
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[0023] As shown in Figure 7 the roman blind attaching
system is comprised of an elongated shade roller 31 which is
supported between a pair of support brackets 32. Support
pins 33 are provided at opposed ends of the roller to secure
the roller to the brackets and to permit rotation of the
roller. The support brackets 32 are secured to a header
board 34 by the use of screws 35, and this is well known in
the art. A clutch mechanism 36, having a pull chain 37,
imparts rotation to the roller 31. Such clutch mechanism is
also well known in the art. As herein shown the roman shade
38 consists of panels 39 and cord guide rings 40 secured to
each sewn panel pleat junction 41 in the rear of the roman
shade 38. The guide rings 40 guide the lift cords 42
therethrough. There are two lift cords 42 and 421 each
secured at a lower end 43 and 431 of the roman shade 38 with
the guide rings positioned in vertical alignment.
[0024] Two lift cord anchor clips 10 and 101 are secured
about the shade roller 31 at desired locations offset with
respect to an associated one of the lift cords 42 and 421
such that the cords will wind about the roller 31 to a side
of the clips 10 and 101' as shown in phantom lines at 42 and
421. It should be noted that the clip 10 is of symmetrical
design, and therefore it can be clipped to any side of the
roller, either the right side or the left side. Because the
clip is symmetrical the user person cannot make a mistake in
the installation.
[0025] As shown in Figure 8 a free end portion 45 of each
of the lift cords 42, 421, herein lift cord 42, is secured to
one of the through bores 23 by passing the free end 45 of
the cord through one of the through bores 23, the one facing
inside the roller, and while holding the lift cord taut. A
knot or several knots 46 are formed adjacent the exit end of
the though bore 23 whereby to secure the lift cord to the
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anchor clip 10. The lift cord abuts against the curved
guide wall 22 under the elevated wall 21 and is thus not
exposed to any sharp edges. In fact the clip is also
formed with rounded edges, such as shown at 25 in Figure 5.
[0026] Because these shade rollers 31 are provided with
different diameters, depending on their application and
manufacturers, the lift cord anchor clip 10 of the present
invention is also fabricated of different diameter sizes so
that these clips may be secured to these different diameter
size shade rollers. The spring metal clip 10 has a diameter
which is slightly smaller than the diameter of the shade
roller 31 and sufficient to permit clamping engagement of
the anchor clip 10 about the shade roller 31 with the
clamping teeth 15 biased against and biting into the outer
surface 311 of the shade roller to prevent rotational
displacement of the anchor clips 10 and 101 about the shade
roller 31.
[0027] As also shown in Figure 8, in order to adjust the
position of the anchor clip 10 about the outer surface of
the roller 31, it is necessary to disengage one clamping
tooth 15 from the outer surface 311 of the roller 31 and this
is done by placing a tool, herein a screwdriver tip 50, in
the slot 16 in the free end 14 below the tooth 15 and
pulling the screwdriver outwardly in the direction of arrow
51 whereby to draw out the lower portion 53 of the anchor
clip to disengage the tooth 15 from the outer surface 311.
The anchor clip 10 can then be adjusted by rotating it in
the direction of arrow 54 which is counter to the projection
of the opposite clamping tooth 151 which can then slide over
the outer surface 311 of the roller. When the retracting
action of a screwdriver is removed, the section 53 of the
anchor clip will snap back into position about the outer
surface 311 of the roller 31 with both clamping teeth 15 and
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151 biting into the outer surface 311 of the roller and
preventing rotation of the clip. This adjustment is made
after the cord 42 is secured thereto whereby to make the
cord taut. By retracting the anchor clip 10, as shown in
Figure 8, the clip can also be removed from its engagement
with the roller 31 by pushing the clip in an upward
direction.
[0028] It is within the ambit of the present invention to
cover any obvious modifications over the preferred
embodiments described herein, provided such modifications
fall within the scope of the appended claims.
