U.S. patent application number 13/225754 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-15 for pull cord mechanism for a window shade.
Invention is credited to Xiang-Rong Zhu.
Application Number | 20120285631 13/225754 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44651326 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120285631 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhu; Xiang-Rong |
November 15, 2012 |
Pull Cord Mechanism for a Window Shade
Abstract
A pull cord mechanism for a window shade includes a frame (1), a
shade (2), a shade driving mechanism (3), and a pull cord (4) for
driving the shade driving mechanism (3). The shade driving
mechanism (3) is fixed to the frame 1 and drives the shade (2) to
fold and unfold. A barrel (5) is mounted to the frame (1) at a
location corresponding to the pull cord (4). The barrel (5)
includes a peripheral wall having a slit (7) extending in an axial
direction. A sliding block (8) is slideably received in the barrel
(5). A handle (9) is mounted to an outer periphery of the
peripheral wall of the barrel (5). The sliding block (8) is
connected to the handle (9) by a link (10) extending through the
slit (7). The pull cord (4) is received in the barrel (5). The
sliding block (8) is fixed to the pull cord (4) in the barrel
(5).
Inventors: |
Zhu; Xiang-Rong;
(US) |
Family ID: |
44651326 |
Appl. No.: |
13/225754 |
Filed: |
September 6, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/84.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E06B 2009/3222 20130101;
E06B 9/32 20130101; E06B 2009/785 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/84.01 |
International
Class: |
A47H 5/02 20060101
A47H005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 13, 2011 |
CN |
201110123942.5 |
Claims
1. A pull cord mechanism for a window shade comprising a frame, a
shade, a shade driving mechanism, and a pull cord for driving the
shade driving mechanism, with the shade driving mechanism fixed to
the frame, with the shade driving mechanism driving the shade to
fold and unfold, the improvements comprising: a barrel mounted to
the frame at a location corresponding to the pull cord, with the
barrel including a peripheral wall having a slit extending in an
axial direction, with a sliding block slideably received in the
barrel, with a handle mounted to an outer periphery of the
peripheral wall of the barrel, with the sliding block connected to
the handle by a link extending through the slit, with the pull cord
received in the barrel, with the sliding block fixed to the pull
cord in the barrel.
2. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
1, with the barrel having a tail end, with an end cap mounted to
the tail end of the barrel.
3. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
1, with the handle being a sleeve having a hole, with the hole
having a shape of cross sections corresponding to that of cross
sections of the barrel.
4. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
3, with the shape of the cross sections of the barrel being one of
square, rectangular, circular, elliptic, polygonal, and plum
blossom-shaped.
5. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
4, with the hole of the barrel being cylindrical, with the sliding
block including two ends each having an end face, with each of the
end faces of the sliding block having a curve corresponding to that
of the inner periphery of the hole of the barrel.
6. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
1, with the pull cord extending through a center of the sliding
block and fixed to the sliding block.
7. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
3, with the sleeve made of plastic or aluminum alloy, with the
sliding block made of plastic or aluminum alloy, with the sleeve,
the sliding block, and the link integrally formed of plastic by
injection molding or integrally formed by processing aluminum
alloy.
8. The pull cord mechanism for a window shade as claimed in claim
7, with the barrel made of aluminum alloy or plastic.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a pull cord mechanism for a
window shade.
[0002] As disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0011543 A1
(China Patent Application No. 200910041286.7), the pull cords of
currently available pull cord mechanisms for driving the shade
driving mechanisms of window shades are exposed. Driven by the
playful nature, a child often plays the pull cord as a toy.
However, the pull cord is soft and has an end fixed to the window
shade, such that the pull cord is liable to tangle the child by the
neck and, thus, causes danger, which potential risk has not yet
been effectively solved by now.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An objective of the present invention is to provide a pull
cord mechanism for a window shade capable of effectively preventing
the pull cord from tangling a child.
[0004] The present invention fulfills the above objective by
providing a pull cord mechanism including a frame, a shade, a shade
driving mechanism, and a pull cord for driving the shade driving
mechanism. The shade driving mechanism is fixed to the frame and
drives the shade to fold and unfold. A barrel is mounted through a
hook to the frame at a location corresponding to the pull cord. The
barrel includes a peripheral wall having a slit extending in an
axial direction. A sliding block is slideably received in the
barrel. A handle is mounted to an outer periphery of the peripheral
wall of the barrel. The sliding block is connected to the handle by
a link extending through the slit. The pull cord is received in the
barrel. The sliding block is fixed to the pull cord in the barrel.
In operation, the handle is moved to move the sliding block upward
or downward in the axial direction. Thus, the sliding block moves
upward or downward in a passageway in the barrel, actuating the
pull cord to move upward or downward, which, in turn, drives the
shade driving mechanism to fold or unfold the shade. Since the pull
cord is received in the passageway of the barrel, children are
prevented from being tangled by the pull cord, assuring use safety
of the shade.
[0005] To prevent the pull cord from entangling while it is being
pulled, an end cap is mounted to a tail end of the barrel to
effectively prevent the sliding block from moving out of the
barrel.
[0006] To allow repeated smooth movement of the pull cord, the
handle is a sleeve including a hole having a shape of cross
sections corresponding to that of the cross sections of the
barrel.
[0007] To provide the barrel with a guiding function, the hole of
the barrel is cylindrical. The sliding block includes two ends each
having an end face. Each of the end faces of the sliding block has
a curve corresponding to that of the inner periphery of the hole of
the barrel. The pull cord extends through a center of the sliding
block and is fixed to the sliding block.
[0008] To increase the sliding effect of the sleeve, the sleeve and
the sliding block are made of plastic.
[0009] Compared to the current techniques, the present invention
can effectively prevent the pull cord from tangling a child,
providing use safety.
[0010] The present invention will become clearer in light of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this
invention described in connection with the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a pull cord mechanism for a
window shade according to the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional taken along section line A-A
of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] A pull cord mechanism for a window shade includes a frame 1,
a shade 2, a shade driving mechanism 3, and a pull cord 4 for
driving the shade driving mechanism 3. The shade driving mechanism
3 is fixed to the frame 1 and drives the shade 2 to fold and
unfold. Particularly, a barrel 5 is mounted through a hook 6 to the
frame 1 at a location corresponding to the pull cord 4. The barrel
5 includes a peripheral wall having a slit 7 extending in an axial
direction. A sliding block 8 is slideably received in the barrel 5.
A handle 9 is mounted to an outer periphery of the peripheral wall
of the barrel 5. The sliding block 8 is connected to the handle 9
by a link 10 extending through the slit 7. The pull cord 4 is
received in the barrel 5. The sliding block 8 is fixed to the pull
cord 4 in the barrel 5. The shape of the cross sections 5a of the
barrel 5 is one of square, rectangular, circular, elliptic,
polygonal, and plum blossom-shaped.
[0014] An end cap 11 is mounted to a tail end of the barrel 5.
[0015] The handle 9 is a sleeve having a hole 9a. The hole 9a has a
shape of cross sections corresponding to that of the cross sections
5a of the barrel 5.
[0016] The hole 5b of the barrel 5 is cylindrical. The sliding
block 8 includes two ends each having an end face 8a. Each of the
end faces 8a of the sliding block 8 has a curve corresponding to
that of the inner periphery of the hole 5b of the barrel 5. The
pull cord 4 extends through a center of the sliding block 8 and is
fixed to the sliding block 8.
[0017] The sleeve 9 is made of plastic or aluminum alloy. The
sliding block 8 is made of plastic or aluminum alloy. The sleeve 9,
the sliding block 8, and the link 10 are integrally formed of
plastic by injection molding or integrally formed by processing
aluminum alloy. The barrel 5 is made of aluminum alloy or
plastic.
[0018] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible
without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of
the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.
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