US3123182A

US3123182A - Push button drape cord operator

Info

Publication number: US3123182A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1964-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 1981-03-03

Description

March 3, 1964 C, E, MALONE ETAL 3,123,182

PUSH BUTTON DRAPE CORD OPERATOR Filed May 16, 1962 urli/ERM 1 CARL E IY-IAILTDRS SIDNEY L. POLACK FIG-.5 www@ A Patented Mar. 3, 1964 3,123,182 PUSH BUTTON DRAPE CORD OPERATOR Carl E. Malone, 2281 SW. 33rd Way, and Sidney L.

Polack, 3600 NE. 24th St., both of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Filed May 16, 1962, Ser. No. 195,274 4 Claims. (Cl. 18S-65.1)

This invention relates to an operating device for the cords of draperies, curtains or similar articles, or other articles which employ flexible pull cords for their operation.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a simple and effective device for opening and closing standard draw drapes Without having to handle or touch the operating cords, thus completely eliminating the soiling and consequent damage to the cords as a result of their constant handling.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate the guess- Work now involved in selecting the proper cord for opening and closing the drapes, by providing clearly marked push-buttons which are selectively depressed, and the device then drawn down, to thus positively open or close the drapes.

yIt is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which can be easily installed by the housewife without the possibility of installation error and without requiring complicated instructions.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which will prevent wear and tear on the cords since a positive gripping engagement therewith is obtained Without the use of sharp or cutting teeth.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device 'of this kind which will have a minimum of working parts; which will be inexpensive to manufacture; which will be completely rust-proof and wln'ch will be very effective for its intended purpose.

vengagement with the cords to hold the casing against unintentional shift along the length of the cords while permitting manual positioning of the casing at any desired point along the cords to thereby conveniently locate the casing out of the reach of children, and in which position the casing will remain even though the cords which extend through it are pulled up or down. The invention further contemplates the use of plainly-designated cord clamping means, such as push-buttons, by the use of which one or the other of the cords can be gripped and caused to be moved longitudinally on movement of the casing to thereby open or close the drapes.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, we have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

'In the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. l is a perspective view of drapes or curtains having operating cords to which the improved operating device is applied;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating device;

illustrative FIG. 3 is a front elevational View of the device with the cover of its casing removed to disclose the operating parts, the view being taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a detail View, showing one of the guide pulleys and the tension roller which co-operates with the same; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the lin'e 7-7 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 indicate curtains or drapes adapted to be moved toward one another to closed position, or moved apart to open position by a known arrangement of a draw cord generally indicated at 3. The cord extends around a roller or pulley 4 so that it provides for the two cord lengths indicated respectively at 5 and 6. The cord length shown at 5 may be considered as the drapery-opening cord so that a pull imposed upon it will separate or open the drapes, While the cord length shown at 6 may be considered as the drapery-closing cord effective to bring the drapes toward "one another to the closed position substantially as shown in FIG. l, when the latter cord length is pulled.

The improved operating device includes a casing generally indicated at 7, the same, in the form shown being substantially rectangular and being provided with a rear wall 8 and a side wall 9 extending around its perimeter. Provided in the opposite end portions of the side wall 9 are

slots

10 and 11 through which the

cords

5 and 6 respectively pass and which cords extend through the interior of the casing 7. The casing 7 is of relatively ilat and compact form and the same may, for lightness and ease of manufacture, be preferably composed of a suitable plastic material.

Formed on the back wall 8 of the casing and projecting forwardly therefrom, is a stud 12 on which a guide pulley 13 is rotatively mounted. Adjacent to the opposite end of the casing is a similar stud 14 on which a guide pulley 15, similar to that shown at 13, is rotatively mounted. The two

cord lengths

5 and 6, which extend in substantially parallel relationship through the casing 7, are held in contact with the

guide pulleys

13 and 15 by means of tension rollers to be now described.

The cord length 5 is held in the groove of the guide pulley 13 by means of a tension roller 16 which is biased toward the guide pulley 13 by means of a torsion spring l17 which has one end engaging a pin 1S projecting from an arm 19 on which the roller 16 is rotatively mounted. The arm 19 is pivoted on a stud 20 projecting forwardly from the rear wall 8. 'Ihe second end of the spring 17 engages against the side Wall 9 of the casing.

Adjacent to the opposite end of the casing, the cord length 5 is held against the guide pulley 15 and in the groove thereof, by means of a tensionroller 21, rotative on an arm 22, pivoted on stud 23 formed on the rear wall l8 of the casing. Spring 24, having one end engaging the pin 25 on the arm 2.2 biases the roller toward the guide pulley 15'.

The cord length 6 is held in a similar manner against the guide pulleys by the tension rollers indicated respectively' at 26 and 27. Roller 26 is rotatively mounted on an arm 28, pivoted on the stud 29 and biased toward guide pulley 13 by means of a torsional spring 30', Vwhile roller 27 is rotative on the arm 31, pivoted on the stud 32` and biased toward the guide pulley i by means of the torsional spring 33.

Provided in the center of the casing 7 and projecting forwardly from the rear well 8 thereof, is a stationary block 34, rwhich may be formed integrally with said rear wall. T-he block 34 is provided with a central, internallythreaded holes 35 for the reception of a cover-fastening screw 5d employed for securing a cover plate 36 over the open side of the casing 7, -as clearly shown in FIG. 4. In each of its opposite sides the block 3d is formed with a recess or concavity 37, the surface of each of said cavities being roughened, serrated or knurled as shown in FIG. 3 vfor frictional gripping engagement with either the

cord length

5 or 6 as selectively desired.

Slidable through a guide passage '38 in the side wall 9 of the casing is a push-button 39, which has `a shank 40 formed with a closed-end slot 4l within which a guide pin i2 is coniined and which limits the sliding movement of the push-button and also prevents its detachment from the casing. The inner end 49 of the shank 49 is of arcuate for-m to conform to the shape of the adjacent cavity 37 in the block 34. The arcuate end 49 is roughcned or serrated to provide a gripping surface.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the push-button 39 is pressed inwardly and is held in such depressed condition, the cord length 5 will be firmly gripped between the end '49 of the push-button and the adjacent cavity 37 so that when the casing is then pulled downwardly, a pull will be exerted on the cord length 5 and the drapes will be moved to a separated or open position.

Located in the lside ywall 9 at a point opposite to the push-button 39, is a similar push-button 43, slidable in guide passage 44, and within the limits defined by the slot 45 within which the pin 46l is located. Push-button 43 has an arcuate, roughened or serrated inner end 47 co-operating wit-h the `adjacent concavity 37 in the stationary block 34 in gripping er clamping the cord length 6 on the inward depression `of the push-button 43. This arrangement is such that when the push-button 43 is pressed inwardly, it will cause the cord length 6 to be gripped between it and the `adjacent concavity 37, and while the cord length 6 is so gripped and the casing is moved downwardly, a pull will be exerted on the cord length 6 to draw the drapes toward one another or to the closed position substantially as shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing, the operation of the described device will be readily understood. In applying the device to the conventional draw-cord arrangement, the cover 36 is removed by the withdrawal of the single, central fastening screw 50, and the

cord lengths

5 and 6` are then inserted within the casing by entering them through the slots and y11 to dispose the cord lengths against the sides lof the guide pulleys 13 and `15 substantially as shown in FIG, 3 and into the grooves in the pulleys. This is facilitated by holding the tension rollers lr6, 2, 26 and 27 away from the guide pulleys, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 6, permitting the cords to read-ily enter the peripheral grooves in the guide pulleys.

A feature of the present device is that it can be arranged to be set in any selected position along the length of the cords, such as up out of the reach of children, where it will remain undisturbed even though the cords on which it is attached are pulled up or down. As a result, the device will always remain at the selected position and ready for use without the need `for groping or searching for it.

The two

cord lengths

5 and 6 are really one length of cord so that pulling on one of the cord lengths produces an exact pull on the other length but in the opposite direction. Thus, it will be apparent that since the cord lengths passing through the device are held in constant tension between the guide pulleys and the tension rollers, any movement of the cords in any direction will merely produce an independent Irotation of both the guide pulleys and tension rollers vwithout actually moving the device itself which seems to float `without shifting its position. Since there is independent and #constant tension between the guide pulleys and the tension rollers, the device may be moved up or down along the cords and automatically held in the selected position.

The opening or closing of the drapes is accomplished by grasping the device and pushing in or depressing the desired, clearly marked push-button (39 to open and 43 to close the drapes). While holding the selected button firmly depressed, the `device is then drawn downwardly, thus exerting a pull on the gripped cord length to either open or close the drapes. At the end of the required downward pull `of the cord length, the button is released and the device can then be slid upwardly along the cord lengths to position it conveniently for the next stroke. The procedure just described is repeated until the drapes are opened or closed to the desired degree.

Having thus described a single embodiment, it is obvious that the invention is not restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What we claim is:

1. An operator for the cords of curtains, drapes and the like comprising, a casing containing a pair of spacedapart pulleys, tension rollers contained in the casing and spring-biased to maintain a pair of parallel cord lengths in engagement with the pulleys, the casing being slidable yon the cord lengths, a stationary element within the casing between the cord lengths, and inwardly-movable push button gripping members respectively located on opposite sides of the stationary element for selective inward depression to grip one or the other of the cord lengths between the depressed gripping member `and the stationary element so that a pull exerted on the casing while one of the cord lengths is so gripped will cause said gripped cord length to be longitudinally shifted.

2. An operator for drapery cords and the like cornprising, 'a casing, a pair of drapery cords extending therethrough, guide pulleys in the casing and against which said cords are held, tension rollers for holding the cords against the pulleys, a block `disposed centrally in the casing, push-buttons at the opposite sides of the block, the cords being disposed between the push-buttons and the block, one of said push-buttons being eiective on its inward depression to grip one of the cords between it and the block, and the other pushabutton being effective t0 grip the other cord between it and the block when said other push-button is depressed.

3. An operator for drapery cords and the like cornprising, a casing through which a pair of substantially' parallel cord lengths pass, a plurality of guide pulleys located within the casing and lagainst which the cord lengths are held, a spring-biased tension roller vfor holding the cords against each pulley but permitting sliding movements of the casing along the cord lengths, a lixed block in the casing between the cord lengths, the opposite sides of the block being :recessed and roughened, the opposite sides of the casing having inwardly-depressible buttons provided with arcuately-shaped roughened inner ends, the cord lengths passing between the recessed sides of the fixed block and the inner ends or the buttons, whereby manually-applied pressure on either of the buttons causes the adjacent cord length to be gripped between the roughened end `of such button and one of the recesses in the block so that `a downward pull on the casing will then cause the gripped cord length to be downwardly moved in company -with the casing.

4. An operator for the cords of curtains, drapes and the like comprising, a casing containing a pair of spacedapart pulleys, a pair of spring-biased tension rollers located adjacent to each pulley, a pair of parallel cord engths extending through the casing and passing between 4the pulleys and the adjacent rol-1ers, an elongated, stationary block located between the pulleys and situated centrally of -the casing, the `opposite sides of the block having roughened recesses, the cord lengths respectively passing along opposite sides of the block adjacent to said recesses, a slidable push-button projecting outwardly' from each yside of the casing, each push button having an larcuately-shaped inner end conforming substantially to one of the recesses in the block, the cord lengths extending 10 between the ends of the push buttons and the adjacent recesses wherein a push exerted on either of the push buttons will cause it to grip one of the cords disposed between it and the adjacent recess.

References Cited in the l: of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 115,022 Brown May 23, 1871 299,967 Davis June 10, 1884 1,498,048 Lee lune 17, 1924 3,050,803 Hulterstrum Aug. 28, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 567,967 Italy Oct. 17, 1957 OTHER REFERENCES Schoenberg, Abstract of application Serial Number 591,049, published July 4, 1950, vol. 636', O,G. 366.

Claims

1. AN OPERATOR FOR THE CORDS OF CURTAINS, DRAPES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, A CASING CONTAINING A PAIR OF SPACEDAPART PULLEYS, TENSION ROLLERS CONTAINED IN THE CASING AND SPRING-BIASED TO MAINTAIN A PAIR OF PARALLEL CORD LENGTHS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PULLEYS, THE CASING BEING SLIDABLE ON THE CORD LENGTHS, A STATIONARY ELEMENT WITHIN THE CASING BETWEEN THE CORD LENGTHS, AND INWARDLY-MOVABLE PUSH BUTTON GRIPPING MEMBERS RESPECTIVELY LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE STATIONARY ELEMENT FOR SELECTIVE INWARD DEPRESSION TO GRIP ONE OR THE OTHER OF THE CORD LENGTHS BETWEEN THE DEPRESSED GRIPPING MEMBER AND THE STATIONARY ELEMENT SO THAT A PULL EXERTED ON THE CASING WHILE ONE OF THE CORD LENGTHS IS SO GRIPPED WILL CAUSE SAID GRIPPED CORD LENGTH TO BE LONGITUDINALLY SHIFED.