U.S. patent application number 12/830814 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-21 for rapid safety cord concentrator.
Invention is credited to Hsien-Te HUANG.
Application Number | 20110174449 12/830814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44276679 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110174449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HUANG; Hsien-Te |
July 21, 2011 |
RAPID SAFETY CORD CONCENTRATOR
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.
Inventors: |
HUANG; Hsien-Te; (Taipei
City, TW) |
Family ID: |
44276679 |
Appl. No.: |
12/830814 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 9/326 20130101;
E06B 2009/3265 20130101; A47H 11/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/340 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/00 20060101
A47H005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 15, 2010 |
TW |
099101069 |
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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
[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic view depicting the binding state of a
cord concentrator of the prior art.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting installation of the cord
concentrator of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a component relation diagram of the cord
concentrator of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a composition diagram of the components of cord
concentrator of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a top view depicting the assembled cord
concentrator of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a schematic view depicting the cord concentrator
gripping pull cords according to the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a schematic view depicting the gripping state of
the cord concentrator according to the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a working drawing depicting the cord concentrator
having released the binding force on the pull cords according to
the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a diagram depicting the gripping force produced by
the cord concentrator according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 10 is a further implementation diagram depicting the
gripping force of the cord concentrator according to the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 11 is another implementation diagram of gripping
devices fitted to the cord concentrator of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 12 is a diagram depicting the mechanism of FIG. 11.
[0027] FIG. 13 is another implementation diagram of the cord
concentrator according to the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a diagram depicting the external appearance of
the cord concentrator according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] A detailed description of the content and structural
operation of the present invention is presented hereafter:
[0034] 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.
[0035] 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.
[0036] 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.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.
[0039] 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.
[0040] 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.
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] 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.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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.
[0048] 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.
[0049] 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.
[0050] 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.
[0051] 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.
[0052] 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.
[0053] 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.
[0054] Definition of the aforementioned horizontal line L is
determined from the central points of the two pivot shafts 20.
[0055] 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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.
[0060] 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.
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