EP2277399B1

EP2277399B1 - Method of connecting together mounting part and article to which the mounting part is to be mounted

Info

Publication number: EP2277399B1
Application number: EP09750304.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masahiko Kawahara; Mike Ableson
Original assignee: Morito Co Ltd
Current assignee: Morito Co Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-23
Filing date: 2009-02-26
Publication date: 2018-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 2029-02-26
Also published as: WO2009141942A1; CN101896085A; JP2009078123A; EP2277399A1; EP2277399A4; CN101896085B; KR20110020757A

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for connecting an attachment part and an attachment object according to the preamble of claim 1. As used herein, "attachment part" refers to, for example, a male/female fastener, a connecting ring, a buckle, etc., and "attachment object" refers to, for example, a belt, clothing, a shoe string, a bag, a bag handle, etc. Accordingly, "an attachment part and an attachment object" refers to, for example, a buckle and a belt, a connecting ring and a set of a bag and a bag handle, a D-shaped ring and a set of a shoe and a shoe string, etc.

Background Art

Normally, when attaching an attachment part such as a connecting ring to an attachment object, a tape or string (hereinafter referred to as a "piece of tape") is interposed therebetween. According to conventional inventions, when connecting an attachment part to a piece of tape, the tape is passed through the through-hole of the connecting ring so as to form a loop (see, for example, JP 2003-210233A and Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3086826 ).
From another document, EP 0 287 060 A1 , a slider for a sliding clasp fastener and a slider pull tab are known. According to this latter document, there is provided a pull tab for a slide fastener slider which comprises a first member made of a metal or hard plastics material and pivotally connected to the slider and a second member made of a soft, resilient material, said first member having a socket and said second member having a plug engageable with said socket, said socket having a cross-sectionally generally U-shaped transverse cavity with one end open and the other end closed adapted to receive a complementarily shaped plug.

Disclosure of Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

According to the conventional inventions, it is necessary to have a piece of tape looped, as a result of which only that part becomes thicker, impairing the appearance of the resulting product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for attaching an attachment part to a leading end of tape without the need to have the tape looped, and a method for connecting an attachment part to an attachment object by using such a piece of tape having the attachment part at a leading end thereof formed by that method. It is another object of the present invention to provide application examples in which the above methods are applied to specific commercial products.

Means for Solving Problem

A method for connecting a piece of tape having an attachment part at a leading end thereof to an attachment object includes the steps of preparing a piece of tape having a stopper at a leading end thereof preparing an attachment part that is attached to the leading end of the tape, the attachment part having a groove for insertion of the stopper; inserting the stopper of the tape into the groove; and fixing, to an attachment object, a trailing end of the tape that is formed by the above steps and that has the attachment part at the leading end thereof said step of preparing a piece of tape having a stopper at a leading end thereof, comprises a step of winding a leading end of tape around a center portion of a columnar stopper having a slip-off prevention portion at at least one of both ends thereof and fixing an overlap of the tape.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to attach an attachment part to a leading end of tape with ease without the need to have a piece of tape looped. Accordingly, even after the attachment part has been attached to an attachment object, the final product presents a neat appearance.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

In the case of using a synthetic resin stopper, the tape used in the present invention needs to be made of a material to which or through which a molten resin is attached or passes without being molten, such as a woven or knitted fabric made of a natural fiber or a synthetic fiber, or a narrow sheet made of a synthetic resin. Examples of natural fibers include cotton, hemp, silk, wool, and so on. Examples of synthetic resins include nylon, polyester, acrylic resin, polypropylene, acetate, rayon, and so on.
In the case of using a synthetic resin stopper, the stopper is affixed to a tape by injection molding or the like. As the synthetic resin, a thermoplastic resin such as, for example, molten polyacetal resin can be used. The stopper can have any shape as long as an attachment part can be attached to a leading end of tape, but generally, it is preferable to use a rod-shape stopper that is easily formed and extends in a direction perpendicular to the tape.
Preferably, the step of preparing a piece of tape having a stopper at a leading end thereof includes the steps of supplying a tape between dies in which two die holes that have a shape of the stopper are provided with a narrow spacing therebetween; injecting a synthetic resin into the die holes so as to simultaneously mold two right and left ends serving as stoppers; then removing the molded article from the dies; and lastly cutting between the two ends molded integrally with the tape so as to form a piece of tape with a stopper. This is because two tape ends each having a stopper can be obtained efficiently with a single cutting step.
Instead of using the method in which a synthetic resin is directly injection-molded onto tape to form stoppers in the tape, it is also possible to use a part molded in advance in a different location. According to this method, the step of preparing a piece of tape having a stopper at a leading end thereof includes a step of winding a leading end of tape around a center portion of a columnar stopper having a slip-off prevention portion at at least one of both right and left ends thereof and fixing an overlap of the tape. With this method, it is unnecessary to perform a task such as performing injection molding on a tape at a predetermined interval, and the production cost can be reduced as a result. In addition, the method in which injection molding is performed on a tape has a number of limitations on the type of tape material and the width, but if a part molded in advance in a different location is used, such limitations can be reduced. The material of such a part is not limited to a synthetic resin, and a metal can also be used.
In the step of preparing an attachment part having a groove for insertion of the stopper, it is preferable that the groove is open only on an insertion side, and is closed on an opposite side. This is to prevent the stopper from slipping off.
It is more preferable that the insertion side opening is also closed after the stopper has been inserted.
As a method for closing the insertion side opening, for example, it is possible to employ a method in which the insertion side opening is closed using a threaded lid, or a method in which a widened portion is provided in advance at an end of the stopper, and the widened portion is pushed completely into the groove with the finger so that the widened portion will not come out.
To fix the tape having an attachment part at a leading end thereof to an attachment object, usually, the tape is sewn to the attachment object using a thread, but other methods are also possible such as thermal fusing and bonding with an adhesive.
Examples of the "attachment part" and the "attachment object" include:

(a) the attachment part is a buckle (3D), and the attachment object is a belt (6);
(b) the attachment part is a connecting ring (3E), and the attachment object is a set of a bag (7) and a bag handle (71);
(c) the attachment part is a male and female buckle set (3F, 3G), and the attachment object is a belt;
(d) the attachment part is a D-shaped ring (3H, 3L), and the attachment object is a set of a shoe and a shoe string;
(e) the attachment part is a display plate (3J), and the attachment object is any one of a floor carpet (8), wallpaper and clothing; and
(f) the attachment part is a connector (3K), and the attachment object is a pair of two pieces of tape.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 shows diagrams used to illustrate a method for attaching an attachment part to a leading end of tape according to Embodiment 1, with FIG. 1(a) being a plan view before the attachment part is attached, and FIG. 1(b) being a plan view after the attachment part has been attached.
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 shows perspective views showing a method for fixing a stopper.
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 shows perspective views showing a method for fixing a stopper.
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram used to illustrate a method for forming stoppers at leading ends of tape.
[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram used to illustrate a method for forming stoppers at leading ends of tape.
[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a plan view of tape in which stoppers are formed at the leading end of the tape.
[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 shows perspective views of a leather belt according to Embodiment 2.
[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a bag according to Embodiment 3.
[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a buckle according to Embodiment 4.
[FIG. 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a shoe according to Embodiment 5.
[FIG. 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a display plate according to Embodiment 6.
[FIG. 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tape connector according to Embodiment 7.
[FIG. 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a tape connector according to Embodiment 8.

Embodiment 1 according to Figures 1 - 6 and the general description is described for information purposes only.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows diagrams illustrating a method for attaching an attachment part 3 to the leading end of a piece of tape 1, with FIG. 1(a) being a plan view before the attachment part 3 is attached, and FIG. 1(b) being a plan view after the attachment part 3 has been attached. FIGS. 2 and 3 show perspective views showing methods for fixing a stopper. FIGS. 4 to 6 are diagrams illustrating a method for forming stoppers at leading ends of tape.
As shown in FIG. 1(a), a rod-shaped synthetic resin stopper 2 is formed at the leading end of a piece of cloth tape 1. In a main body 31 of an "attachment part" (a "connecting ring 3" in FIG. 1) that is attached to the tape 1, a groove 32 into which the stopper 2 can be inserted from the side face is formed. The groove 32 is made up of a cylindrical groove portion 33 into which the stopper is inserted and a flat-plate shaped groove portion 34 into which the tape is inserted.
The groove 32 is open on the insertion side 35 so that the stopper 2 can be inserted therefrom, but the other side 36 does not need to be open. Rather, it is preferable that the other side 36 is closed in advance so that the stopper 2 will not pass through the groove 32 and fall off.
Furthermore, it is preferable to close the insertion side opening 35 as well after the stopper 2 has been inserted. As a method for closing the insertion side opening 35, it is possible to use, for example, a method in which the insertion side opening 35 is closed with a threaded lid 37 as shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), or a method in which a widened portion 21 is provided in advance at an end of the stopper 2, and the widened portion 21 is pushed completely into a groove 32C with the finger so that the stopper 2 will not come out from the groove 32C as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).
To form a stopper 2 at the leading end of the tape 1, it is possible to form stoppers one by one at a leading end of tape by injection molding, but it is preferable to use a continuous forming method, which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.
First, a tape 1 to be processed is fed between upper and lower dies 4 and 5 as shown in FIG. 4 by a continuous supply apparatus. In the upper and lower dies 4 and 5, two die holes 41, 42; 51, 52 that have a shape corresponding to the shape of stoppers to be molded are provided with a narrow spacing therebetween. In this embodiment, two linear die holes are provided with a narrow spacing therebetween. A resin is injected into the die holes from an injection opening (not shown). After molding, the upper and lower dies 4 and 5 are separated, and the tape 1 is removed from the dies. In this manner, the tape 1 having stoppers as shown in FIG. 5 is obtained. Such stoppers 2 are provided at intervals in the long tape 1.
Subsequently, the tape 1 is cut along the long dashed short dashed line of FIG. 5, which is between the thus-molded two resin stoppers 2, whereby pieces of the tape 1 that has stoppers 2 on both ends as shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained. Each end serves as an end of a different piece of the tape.
Embodiments 2 - 8 according to the general description and according to Fig. 7 - Fig. 13 describe the embodiment according to the invention.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 7 shows Embodiment 2 in which the "attachment part" is a buckle 3D and the "attachment object" is a leather belt 6. In this embodiment, the buckle 3D is attached to the leading end of the leather belt 6. A piece of tape 1D having a stopper 2D produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 is fixed by being sandwiched between upper and lower portions of the leather belt 6 and sewn using a thread 61.
It should be noted that, in Embodiment 2, the stopper 2D has a trapezoidal cross section, instead of a columnar cross section.
For a conventional leather belt, a belt is inserted into a buckle and sewn into a loop, but according to the method of the present embodiment, it is unnecessary to form a loop portion in the belt, and the final product presents a neat appearance.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 8 shows Embodiment 3 in which the "attachment part" is a connecting ring 3E, and the "attachment object" is a set of a bag 7 and a handle 71. A leading end of tape 1E having a stopper 2E produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 or 2 is sewn into a main body of the bag 7. The bag handle 71 is attached to the connecting ring 3E.
For a conventional handle 71, an end of the handle is inserted into a connecting ring 3E so as to form a loop, and then fixed, but according to the method of the present embodiment, it is unnecessary to form a loop portion at the handle end, and the final product presents a neat appearance.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 9 shows Embodiment 4 in which the "attachment part" is a male and female buckle set 3F and 3G, and the "attachment object" is a belt (not shown as it is the same as that of Embodiment 2 shown in FIG. 7). Pieces of tape 1F and 1G having a stopper produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 or 2 are attached to the belt. As with the embodiments described above, it is unnecessary to form a loop portion at the belt ends, and the final product presents a neat appearance.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 10 shows Embodiment 5 in which the "attachment part" is a D-shaped ring 3H, and the "attachment object" is a shoe string. A piece of tape 1H having a stopper produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 is attached to the D-shaped ring 3H for attaching a shoe string. As with the embodiments described above, it is unnecessary to form a loop portion at the leading end of the tape, and the final product presents a neat appearance. Furthermore, by imparting stretch to the tape 1H, it helps in tightening the shoe string.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 11 shows Embodiment 6 in which the "attachment part" is a display plate 3J, and the "attachment object" is a floor carpet 8, wallpaper or clothing. Two pieces of tape 1J having a stopper 2J produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 or 2 are fixed to the floor carpet 8, wallpaper, clothing or the like, and the display plate 3J having two grooves 32J is attached to the stoppers 2J.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 12 shows Embodiment 7 in which the "attachment part" is a connector 3K, and the "attachment object" is a pair of two pieces of tape. Two pieces of tape 1K having a stopper 2K produced in accordance with Embodiment 1 are prepared, and the ends are inserted into the connector 3K having two grooves 32K with the ends facing each other, whereby the two pieces of tape 1K can be connected. In this manner, it is possible to connect any number of pieces of tape.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 13 shows Embodiment 8 in which the "attachment part" is a D-shaped ring 3L, and although the "attachment object" is not shown, the attachment part can be attached to anything such as a bag, a belt or a shoe, as with the embodiments described above.
Unlike Embodiments 1 to 7 described above, a stopper 2L is a metal column around which a leading end of tape is wound, instead of a synthetic resin molded on a tape by injection molding. As shown in FIG. 13, slip-off prevention portions 22 are formed at the right and left ends of the stopper 2L, and the thickness of the stopper 2 is reduced at a center portion 23 by the thickness of the tape. A leading end of tape is wound around the center portion 23, and a portion where the leading end of tape overlaps the tape is fixed using a thread 24. It is preferable that, when the tape sticks out, the unnecessary portion of the tape is cut by a pair of scissors or a cutter in order to reduce the overlap portion. The thus-produced tape having the stopper shown in FIG. 13(a) is inserted into a groove 32L of the D-shaped ring 3L.
Although not shown, according to a variation, the entire tape may be made double-ply. In this case, it is only necessary to change the stopper such that the groove 32L is formed to have a thickness that allows the double-ply tape to pass therethrough. Here, the overlap portion of the tape need not necessarily be fixed with the thread 24, but such may be done. According to this variation, it is possible to eliminate the need to cut a sticking-out unnecessary tape end. In addition, because the entire tape is made double-ply, the effect of increasing the strength can be obtained.
Unlike Embodiments 1 to 7 described above, in Embodiment 8, in order to prevent the stopper 2L from slipping off, a lid 25 is provided on the stopper insertion direction side, whereby a finished attachment part shown in FIG. 13(b) is obtained. The thus-formed D-shaped ring 3L can be attached to an attachment object such as a bag, a belt or a shoe, as with the embodiments described above.
In Embodiment 8, because the stopper 2L is made of a metal, a high connecting strength is obtained. In addition, it is unnecessary to perform a task such as performing injection molding on a tape, as a result of which the production cost can be reduced. In addition, the method in which injection molding is performed on a tape (Embodiments 1 to 7) has a number of limitations on the type of tape material and the width, but Embodiment 8 uses a part molded in advance in a different location, and therefore has few such limitations.

Description of Reference Numerals

1, 1A, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F 1G, 1H, 1J, 1K, 1L: Tape
2, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 2J, 2K: Resin Stopper
2L: Stopper
3: Attachment part
3D: Belt Buckle
3F, 3G: Male And Female Buckle Set
3A, 3H, 3L: D-Shaped Ring
3J: Display Plate
3K: Connector
6: Leather Belt
7: Bag Main Body
8: Carpet
21: Widened Portion
32, 32C, 32J, 32K, 32L: Groove
33: Cylindrical Groove Portion
34: Flat-Plate Shaped Groove Portion
35: Insertion Side
36: The Other Side Opposite The Insertion Side
37: Threaded Lid

Claims

A method for connecting a piece of tape having an attachment part at a leading end thereof to an attachment object, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a piece of tape (1L) having a stopper (2L) at a leading end thereof;

preparing an attachment part (3L) that is attached to the leading end of the tape, the attachment part having a groove (32L) for insertion of the stopper;

inserting the stopper of the tape into the groove; and

fixing, to an attachment object (6, 7, 71, 8), the tape that is formed by said steps and that has the attachment part at the leading end thereof;

said step of preparing a piece of tape (1L) having a stopper (2L) at a leading end thereof characterized in that

a step of winding a leading end of tape around a center portion of a columnar stopper (2L) having a slip-off prevention portion (22) at at least one of both ends thereof and fixing an overlap of the tape.
The method according to Claim 1,
wherein a buckle (3D) is used as the attachment part, and a belt (6) is used as the attachment object.
The method according to Claim 1,
wherein a connecting ring (3E) is used as the attachment part, and a set of a bag (7) and a bag handle (71) is used as the attachment object.
The method according Claim 1, wherein a male and female buckle set (3F, 3G) is used as the attachment part, and a belt is used as the attachment object.
The method according to Claim 1,
wherein a D-shaped ring (3H) is used as the attachment part, and a set of a shoe and a shoe string is used as the attachment object.
The method according to Claim 1, wherein a display plate (3J) is used as the attachment part, and any one of a floor carpet (8), wallpaper, and clothing is used as the attachment object.
The method according to Claim 1, wherein a connector (3K) is used as the attachment part, and a pair of two pieces of tape (1K) is used as the attachment object.