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Apullstring (pull string,pull-string),pullcord (pull cord,pull-cord), orpullchain (pull-chain,pull chain) is astring,cord, orchain wound on aspring-loadedspindle that engages amechanism when it ispulled. It is most commonly used intoys and motorized equipment. More generally and commonly, a pullstring can be any type of string, cord, rope, or chain, attached to an object in some way used to pull or mechanically manipulate part of it.
Perhaps the simplest pullstring toy is theyo-yo (c. 460 BCE). Thejumping jack is a more complicated animated puppet paper doll that uses a pullstring to move its arms and legs up and down.Trompos and somespinning tops use a string that is wound around the top and then pulled to make it spin.
More recent toys includedolls, such asChatty Cathy (1959),Charmin' Chatty (1963),Talking Tamu (1970), Horse fromMister Rogers' Neighborhood also known as Ino A Horse,Look Around Crissy (1972),Sky Dancers (1994), andSheriff Woody (from theToy Story franchise), that have a pullstring built into them that activates aspeaker when it is pulled, causing the doll to say a built-in phrase. TheBlythe doll (1972) has a pullstring that changes the doll's eye color. Other non-doll toys likeSee 'n Say (1965). In Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood episode 1627, a similar toy to a see N Say called a Speak N Spell is featured, but instead of the arrow pointing, The handles attached to the strings have the names of all the animals that are pulled to activate the sounds of the animals.
The earliestpatent with a pullstring included in it is an 1886 "ToyBowling-Alley".[1]
Many motorizedlawn mowers,chainsaws,portable generators, and portableoutboard motors use a pullstring or pullcord attached to ahandle as a manualignition device. Some vehicle engines are also started with pullchains, such as the early-1900sPuckridge, or pullcords, like the pre-release version of theCitroën 2CV car, and theDKW RT 125 scooter. Early jet engines such as theJunkers Jumo 004 used a Riedel two-stroke starter motor actuated by a pullcord.
Some grenades such as the German Models24,39, and43 have pullcords. Some machine guns such as theM73 machine gun andM85 machine gun use a pullchain to charge and/or fire them. TheKord machine gun uses a device to cock the weapon.
VariousBooby trap weapons and devices have used cords/cables.
Atrain's emergency brake can be a cord or chain that will stop the train when pulled. Sometransit buses andtrams/trolleys have a pullcord, also known as a bell cord, that a passenger can pull to signal the driver that they are requesting a stop. Many newer vehicles now use buttons to request stops instead. TheJaguar XK120 sports car's doors have no external handles so it uses an interior pullcord instead.
Some types ofwindow blinds andcurtains use a cord pull to open, close, raise, and lower them. Some types of ladders like theextension ladder andattic ladder can have a pullstring that pulls it down from the ceiling. Adock plate can use a pullchain to move it. Somegates have a pullstring on itslatch. Apull switch uses a chain or string to actuate a switch, commonly used in lighting andceiling fans. Modernflush toilets use a pullchain attached to a lever that lifts the plunger to release water into the toilet bowl. Thephotoplayer uses pullchains to generate sound effects for silent films. Pre-1990s North American diesel locomotivetrain horns used a lever or pull cord to actuate an air valve. Oldersteam whistles were almost always actuated with a pull cord.
Somegrandfather clocks have a pullchain to raise the weights in order to wind the clock's gears. Alifejacket has a pullcord used to inflate it.
Abowstring is perhaps the simplest type of pullstring that pulls a bow's ends together. Aripcord is a type of pullstring used to release a parachute. Adrawstring is a type of pullstring used in many aspects of the fashion industry and in bags as a closing device.