# US 8,783,330 B2 · System for confining lift cords in coverings for architectural openings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,330 B2 - Document ID: US8783330B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/914,168 - Filed: 2013-06-10 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-22 - Assignees: Hunter Douglas Inc. - Applicants: Hunter Douglas Inc. - Inventors: James M. Anthony; Ralph G. Jelic; Joseph E. Kovach; Robert A. Simons - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783330B2 ## CPC - E06B 9/32: Operating, guiding, or securing devices therefor (operation of tilting bars E06B9/307) - E06B 9/262: with flexibly-interconnected horizontal or vertical strips; Concertina blinds {, i.e. upwardly folding flexible screens} - E06B 9/326: Details of cords, e.g. buckles, drawing knobs - F16G 11/00: Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes (attaching ropes or cables to lift cars or cages B66B7/08, to winch drums or barrels B66D1/34; ground anchors E02D5/00; anchoring devices for prestressed members E04C5/00; rope clamps in earth drilling E21B19/12) - F16G 11/02: with parts deformable to grip the cable or cables; Fastening means which engage a sleeve or the like fixed on the cable - F16G 11/046: {by bending the cable around a surface} - F16G 11/14: Devices or coupling-pieces designed for easy formation of adjustable loops, e.g. choker hooks; Hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point, e.g. by forming loops - F16G 11/143: {Hooks} - E06B 2009/2627: {Cellular screens, e.g. box or honeycomb-like} - Y10T 24/3982: Safety release - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) - F16G: BELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A system for incorporation into a retractable covering that includes a flexible lift cord extending from a headrail to a bottom rail. The system includes a flexible protector of a length similar to that of an associated lift cord with the lift cord being operatively connected to the protector. The protector is in turn connected to a fabric extending between the headrail and the bottom rail at predetermined spaced locations so that any loop of protector formable is limited by the spacing between the locations at which the protector is connected to the fabric. The maximum size of a loop so formed in the protector and thus the lift cord associated therewith is insufficient to encapsulate a body part of a child or infant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A covering for an architectural opening, comprising: a head rail; a bottom rail; a flexible shade material extending between the head rail and the bottom rail; a lift cord extending between the head rail and the bottom rail in adjacent relationship to the shade material; and a protector extending along a length of the shade material and secured to the shade material at vertically-spaced locations to establish a fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location, the protector operatively associated with the lift cord so that the fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location limits the size of a loop that can be formed in the lift cord, wherein the protector comprises an elongated, flexible base cord including a plurality of loops spaced along the length of the base cord, and wherein the protector further comprises a plurality of clips spaced along the length of the base cord. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The covering of claim 1, wherein the plurality of clips are fixed to the base cord. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) The covering of claims 1 or 2, wherein each clip has a sleeve that receives the base cord. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The covering of claim 3, wherein each clip further has a C-shaped clasp extending laterally from the sleeve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The covering of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of guide rings secured to shade material at the vertically-spaced locations, wherein each clip is attached to one of the plurality of guide rings. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The covering of claim 5, wherein: the C-shaped clasp has a neck entry that opens to a passage extending through the clasp; and the neck entry has a dimension that is smaller than a cross-section of one of the plurality of guide rings. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The covering of claim 1, wherein the lift cord is slidably threaded through the plurality of loops. ### Claim 8 A covering for an architectural opening, comprising: a head rail; a bottom rail; a flexible shade material extending between the head rail and the bottom rail; a lift cord extending between the head rail and the bottom rail in adjacent relationship to the shade material; and a protector extending along a length of the shade material and secured to the shade material at vertically-spaced locations to establish a fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location, the protector operatively associated with the lift cord so that the fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location limits the size of a loop that can be formed in the lift cord, wherein the protector comprises an elongated, open sheath that surrounds the lift cord along a length of the lift cord, wherein the protector further comprises a plurality of clips spaced along the length of the sheath, and wherein each clip has a sleeve secured around the sheath. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The covering of claim 8, wherein the sheath constricts in transverse cross-section when stretched. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The covering of claim 8, wherein the sheath is spirally woven. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The covering of claim 8, wherein the lift cord is axially slidable within the sheath and the sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The covering of claim 8, wherein each clip further has a C-shaped clasp extending laterally from the sleeve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The covering of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of guide rings secured to the shade material at the vertically-spaced locations, wherein each clip is attached to one of the plurality of guide rings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The covering of claim 13, wherein: the C-shaped clasp has a neck entry that opens to a passage extending through the clasp; and the neck entry has a dimension that is smaller than a cross-section of one of the plurality of guide rings. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The covering of claim 13, wherein the lift cord and the sheath are threaded through the guide rings. ### Claim 16 A covering for an architectural opening, comprising: a head rail; a bottom rail; a flexible shade material extending between the head rail and the bottom rail, wherein the shade material includes a rear pleated sheet of material and a front looped sheet of material; a lift cord extending between the head rail and the bottom rail in adjacent relationship to the shade material; and a protector extending along a length of the shade material and secured to the shade material at vertically-spaced locations to establish a fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location, the protector operatively associated with the lift cord so that the fixed length of the protector from one location to the next adjacent location limits the size of a loop that can be formed in the lift cord. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein: the protector comprises substantially-parallel, elongated side runs interconnected at longitudinally-spaced locations by cross-rungs; and the lift cord is woven through the cross-rungs. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein the protector comprises: an elongated, flexible cord secured to the rear pleated sheet of material at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the cord; and a plurality of loops secured to the cord along the length of the cord and through which the lift cord is passed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein the protector comprises an elongated flexible tape secured to the rear pleated sheet of material at longitudinally-spaced locations along the length of the tape, the tape including a plurality of longitudinally-spaced holes along the length of the tape through which the lift cord is woven. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein the protector comprises a sheath in which the lift cord is confined. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The covering of claim 20, wherein the sheath is secured to the rear pleated sheet of material by a guide ring that at least partially surrounds the lift cord. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein the protector comprises elongated cords woven to define open gaps along the length of the cords through which the lift cord is woven. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The covering of claim 16, wherein the protector comprises a tube of material through which the lift cord slidably passes. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The covering of claim 23, wherein the covering further comprises a plurality of guide rings confined within the tube of material and secured to the rear pleated sheet of material.