Locking device for lift cords of a venetian blind

Claim 1

A LOCKING DEVICE FOR USE WITH THE LIFT MEANS OF A VENETIAN BLIND AND THE LIKE FOR RELEASABLY LOCKING AT LEAST ONE TENSIONED LIFT MEANS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED SIDE WALLS AND AT LEAST ONE END WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN AND FIXED TO SAID SIDE WALLS, AT LEAST ONE GUIDE ROLLER BETWEEN AND CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALLS, SAID GUIDE ROLLER HAVING AN AXIS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO SAID SIDE WALLS, AND AT LEAST ONE LOCKING MEMBER BETWEEN AND CARRIED BY SAID SIDE WALLS FOR FREE TURNING MOVEMENT AROUND AN AXIS DIRECTLY BENEATH THE AXIS OF SAID GUIDE ROLLER, SAID LOCKING MEMBER BEING U-SHAPED AND HAVING A WEB PORTION CONNECTING THE ENDS OF ITS LEGS, SAID WEB PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOT ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE LIFT MEANS, AT LEAST ONE EDGE OF SAID SLOT BEING PROVIDED WITH A LIP POINTING TOWARDS SAID END WALL OF THE HOUSING WITH WHICH SAID LOCKING MEANS COOPERATES, SAID END WALL OF THE HOUSING BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING LOCATED TO ALLOW THE PORTION OF THE LOCKING MEMBER LOCATED ABOVE ITS SLOT TO PASS THERETHROUGH, WHEREBY TO CLAMP THE FIT MEANS BETWEEN THE EDGE OF THE SLOT AND THE PORTION OF THE END WALL SUBADJACENT SAID OPENING.