Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41G—ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS; WIGS; MASKS; FEATHERS
  • A41G1/00—Artificial flowers, fruit, leaves, or trees; Garlands
  • A41G1/007—Artificial trees
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A41—WEARING APPAREL
  • A41G—ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS; WIGS; MASKS; FEATHERS
  • A41G1/00—Artificial flowers, fruit, leaves, or trees; Garlands
  • A41G1/02—Implements, apparatus, or machines for making artificial flowers, or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
  • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
  • A47G33/06—Artificial Christmas trees

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to the technical field of decorative supplies, and in particular, to a branch cap, an artificial branch, and a manufacturing method for the artificial branch.
• Artificial trees are mostly used for decoration and ornamental purposes.
• tip ends of branches thereof are generally exposed directly.
• the tip ends of the branches are generally hard and sharp, they may sting users during use, bringing the users bad usage experience.
• the tip ends of the branches directly exposed may further affect an overall effect of the branches, making the branches less beautiful and natural.
• the present disclosure provides a branch cap, an artificial branch having the branch cap, and a manufacturing method for the artificial branch, which, by arranging a tightly fastened branch cap at a tip end of the artificial branch, can prevent stinging of the user by the tip end of the artificial branch and improve usage experience, and can also make the artificial branch more beautiful and natural.
• a branch cap is provided.
• the branch cap includes a cap body.
• the cap body is provided with a receiving hole for receiving a tip end of a branch body, the receiving hole having a base wall and a side wall.
• the side wall of the receiving hole is formed with at least one convex rib, the at least one convex rib being adapted to press against the branch body.
• the branch body is provided with at least one mounting recess, and the at least one convex rib is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting recess.
• the side wall of the receiving hole is formed with at least one connecting recess.
• the tip end of the branch body is provided with at least one mounting protrusion, and the at least one connecting recess is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting protrusion.
• the receiving hole includes a first hole portion and a second hole portion, an end of the first hole portion forms an opening end of the receiving hole, and another end of the first hole portion is in communication with the second hole portion.
• a maximum inner diameter of the first hole portion is greater than a maximum inner diameter of the second hole portion.
• an inner diameter of the receiving hole at an opening end is greater than an outer diameter of the tip end of the branch body.
• each convex rib has an annular structure continuously distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole.
• each convex rib includes a plurality of protruding portions, the plurality of protruding portions being distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving hole.
• each convex rib extends along a depth direction of the receiving hole.
• the branch cap is made of elastically deformable plastic or rubber.
• the cap body has a first end and a second end, an opening end of the receiving hole is formed at the first end, and a radial dimension of an outer contour of the cap body decreases from the first end to the second end.
• an artificial branch is provided.
• the artificial branch includes a branch body and the branch cap in any one of the above embodiments.
• the branch cap is sleeved on a tip end of the branch body.
• the branch body includes a branch rod and a plurality of leaves. An end of each of the leaves is wound and fixed on the branch rod.
• the tip end of the branch rod and at least part of the plurality of leaves are received in the receiving hole of the branch cap and pressed by the at least one convex rib.
• a manufacturing method for an artificial branch includes: forming a branch cap by injection molding, with the branch cap being provided with a receiving hole, and a side wall of the receiving hole being formed with at least one convex rib; aligning a tip end of a branch body with an opening end of the branch cap; and performing press-fitting so that the branch cap is tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body, with the at least one convex rib pressing against the tip end of the branch body.
• the aligning the tip end of the branch body with the opening end of the branch cap includes: fixing the branch body to an assembly station of an assembly device; vibrating the branch cap through a vibrating screen so that the opening end of the branch cap faces towards a preset direction when the branch cap enters a feed channel of the assembly device; transferring the branch cap to a positioning fixture of the assembly device through the feed channel; and adjusting a position of the positioning fixture so that the opening end of the branch cap is aligned with the tip end of the branch body.
• the performing press-fitting includes: pushing the branch cap on the positioning fixture through a push rod, to push the branch cap onto the tip end of the branch body.
• the push rod is driven pneumatically or hydraulically.
• the branch body is pressed by the at least one convex rib in the branch cap, so that the branch cap can be tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body to prevent detachment of the branch cap from the branch body during use of the artificial branch.
• the branch cap provided with at least one convex rib can be tightly fastened to the branch body, which prevents detachment of the branch cap from the branch body during use, improves usage experience of the artificial branch, and also makes the artificial branch more beautiful and natural.
• the branch cap can be quickly mounted on the branch body, thereby improving a degree of automation and speeding up assembly between the branch cap and the branch body.
• 100 artificial branch; 1: branch body; 11: branch rod; 12: leaf; 111: mounting recess; 112: mounting protrusion; 2: branch cap; 21: cap body; 211: first end; 212: second end; 213: receiving hole; 2131: first hole portion; 2132: second hole portion; 221: convex rib; 2211: protruding portion; 222: connecting recess; S: interface; X: central axis.
• first and second are used for descriptive purposes only, which cannot be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance, or implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one feature. In the description of the present disclosure, "a plurality of” means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise defined explicitly and specifically.
• the terms “mount”, “connect”, “join”, and “fix” should be understood in a broad sense., which may be, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, an internal connection between two elements, or interaction between two elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand specific meanings of these terms in the present disclosure according to specific situations.
• a first feature being “on” or “under” a second feature may be the case that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature via an intermediate medium.
• the expression the first feature being “over”, “above” and “on top of” the second feature may be the case that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only means that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature.
• the expression the first feature being "below”, “underneath” or “under” the second feature may be the case that the first feature is directly underneath or obliquely underneath the second feature, or only means that the level of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.
• the present disclosure provides a branch cap 2 and an artificial branch 100 having the branch cap 2.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial branch 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• the artificial branch 100 includes a branch body 1 and a branch cap 2.
• the branch cap 2 is sleeved on a tip end of the branch body 1. Specifically, the tip end of the branch body 1 is in interference fit with the branch cap 2, to prevent falling of the branch body 1 from the branch cap 2.
• the branch cap 2 will be described in conjunction with the description of the artificial branch 100.
• the branch body 1 includes a branch rod 11 and a plurality of leaves 12, and each of the leaves 12 has an end wound and fixed on the branch rod 11 and another end extending obliquely with respect to the branch rod 11 toward a tip end of the branch rod 11.
• the branch body 1 is, for example, an artificial pine needle branch, but is not limited thereto.
• the plurality of leaves 12 are generally evenly distributed around the branch rod 11 and extend in a length direction of the branch rod 11 to the tip end of the branch rod 11.
• the branch rod 11 is formed by a plurality of metal wires intertwined with each other, and forms a wavy structure on an outer side face of the branch rod 11.
• the metal wires are, for example, iron wires.
• the branch rod 11 may be formed by a single elongated rod.
• the elongated rod is made of, for example, metal, plastic, or the like.
• the outer side face of the branch rod 11 may be a smooth surface or a non-smooth surface, for example, forming a wavy or zigzag structure, which is not limited in the present disclosure.
• the branch cap 2 includes a cap body 21.
• the cap body 21 is provided with a receiving hole 213 for receiving the branch body 1, and the receiving hole 213 has a base wall and a side wall.
• the side wall of the receiving hole 213 is formed with at least one convex rib 221, and the at least one convex rib 221 is adapted to press against the branch body 1.
• the tip end of the branch rod 11 and at least part of the plurality of leaves 12 are received in the receiving hole 213 of the branch cap 2 and are pressed by the at least one convex rib 221.
• the branch cap 2 can be tightly fastened to the branch body 1, and at the same time, a possibility of falling of the leaves 12 from the branch rod 11 can be reduced.
• the tip end of the branch rod 11 may be received in the receiving hole 213 of the branch cap 2.
• the tip end of the branch body 1 is provided with at least one mounting recess 111, and the at least one convex rib 221 is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting recess 111.
• a plurality of convex ribs 221 are provided, and the plurality of convex ribs 221 are distributed at intervals along a depth direction of the receiving hole 213.
• a plurality of mounting recesses 111 are provided, and the plurality of mounting recesses 111 fits the plurality of convex ribs 221 so that the branch cap 2 can be tightly fastened to the branch body 1.
• the side wall of the receiving hole 213 may also be formed with at least one connecting recess 222, the branch body 1 is correspondingly provided with at least one mounting protrusion 112, and the at least one connecting recess 222 is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting protrusion 112.
• a plurality of connecting recesses 222 and a plurality of mounting protrusions 112 are provided.
• the plurality of convex ribs 221 and the plurality of connecting recesses 222 are distributed at intervals along the depth direction of the receiving hole 213 on the side wall of the receiving hole 213.
• the side wall of the receiving hole 213 is formed in a wavy structure or a zigzag structure in the depth direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction) of the receiving hole 213.
• the wavy structure or zigzag structure matches the wavy structure or zigzag structure formed by the tip end of the branch body 1.
• the plurality of convex ribs 221 can block the plurality of mounting protrusions 112 on the tip end of the branch body 1, thereby increasing an external force required to separate the branch cap 2 from the branch body 1, thereby enabling the branch cap 2 to be tightly fastened to the branch body 1 and preventing separation of the branch cap 2 from the branch body 1 during use.
• the branch cap 2 is made of elastically deformable plastic or rubber. In this way, during the mounting of the branch cap 2 to the branch body 1, the cap body 21 and/or the convex rib 221 of the branch cap 2 is/are elastically deformed, so that the branch cap 2 can be easily mounted on the branch body 1.
• the branch cap 2 is integrally formed (e.g., injection molded).
• the cap body 21 has a first end 211 and a second end 212, and an opening end of the receiving hole 213 is formed at the first end 211.
• An inner diameter d0 of the receiving hole 213 at the opening end is greater than an outer diameter D of the tip end of the branch body 1 (i.e., d0 > D), so that the tip end of the branch body 1 can be inserted into the receiving hole 213 of the branch cap 2.
• D an outer diameter of the tip end of the branch body 1
• the receiving hole 213 includes a first hole portion 2131 and a second hole portion 2132, an end of the first hole portion 2131 forms an opening end of the receiving hole, and another end of the first hole portion 2131 is in communication with the second hole portion 2132.
• the maximum inner diameter d1 of the first hole portion 2131 may alternatively be formed at another position adjacent to the opening end of the receiving hole 213 (i.e., d1 > d0), which is not limited in the present disclosure.
• the maximum inner diameter d1 of the first hole portion 2131 is greater than a maximum inner diameter d2 of the second hole portion 2132 (i.e., d1 > d2). In this way, the tip end of the branch body 1 can be easily extended into the receiving hole 213, and after the tip end of the branch body 1 is inserted into the receiving hole 213, interference fit can be formed between the tip end of the branch body 1 and the second hole portion 2132.
• a plane where a crest of the convex rib 221 closest to the opening end of the receiving hole 213 is located is taken as an interface S, the first hole portion 2131 is located on a side of the interface S close to the first end 211, and the second hole portion 2132 is located on a side of the interface S close to the second end 212.
• the interface S is substantially perpendicular to a central axis X of the cap body 21. It may be understood that the interface S is an imaginary plane introduced for the convenience of description, which is not an actual plane in the branch cap 2. Referring to FIG. 2 , FIG. 5 , and FIG.
• an outer surface of the branch cap 2 may be formed as a smooth surface.
• the outer surface of the branch cap 2 may be formed as a non-smooth surface.
• the outer contour of the branch cap 2 is shaped like a pine cone, but is not limited thereto.
• the branch cap 2 includes a plurality of convex ribs 221 distributed at intervals, and each convex rib 221 has an annular structure continuously distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole 213. In other words, each convex rib 221 is arranged transversely.
• each convex rib 221 includes a plurality of protruding portions 2211, and the plurality of protruding portions 2211 are distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving hole 213.
• the branch cap 2 includes a plurality of convex ribs 221 distributed at intervals, and each convex rib 221 extends along a longitudinal direction (i.e., the depth direction of the receiving hole 213).
• each convex rib 221 is arranged longitudinally.
• the plurality of protruding portions 2211 may alternatively be distributed in the receiving hole 213 in other manners, as long as each convex rib 221 can press against the tip end of the branch body 1, which is not limited in the present disclosure.
• the branch body 1 is pressed by the at least one convex rib 221 in the branch cap 2, so that the branch cap 2 can be tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body 1 to prevent detachment of the branch cap 2 from the branch body 1 during use of the artificial branch 100.
• the present disclosure further provides a manufacturing method for an artificial branch 100.
• the manufacturing method may be used to manufacture the artificial branch 100 in the above embodiments.
• the manufacturing method for the artificial branch 100 includes the following steps.
• a branch cap 2 is formed by injection molding, with the branch cap 2 being provided with a receiving hole 213, and the side wall of the receiving hole 213 being formed with at least one convex rib 221.
• the branch cap 2 is made of an elastic material such as rubber (or soft rubber) or plastic (or hard rubber).
• the receiving hole 213 of the branch cap 2 is a blind hole. That is, an end of the receiving hole 213 is formed as an opening end.
• the branch cap 2 includes a plurality of convex ribs 221 distributed at intervals, and each convex rib 221 has an annular structure distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole 213.
• the side wall of the receiving hole 213 has a wavy structure or a zigzag structure along a longitudinal direction R1.
• the branch cap 2 includes a plurality of convex ribs 221 distributed at intervals, and each convex rib 221 extends along the longitudinal direction R1 (i.e., the depth direction of the receiving hole 213).
• a tip end of a branch body 1 is aligned with an opening end of the branch cap 2, which specifically includes the following steps.
• the branch body 1 is fixed to an assembly station of an assembly device.
• the tip end of the branch body 1 faces a positioning fixture of the assembly device.
• the branch cap 2 is vibrated through a vibrating screen so that the opening end of the branch cap 2 faces towards a preset direction when the branch cap 2 enters a feed channel of the assembly device.
• the branch cap 2 is transferred to the positioning fixture of the assembly device through the feed channel.
• a plurality of feed channels may be provided, different branch caps 2 are transferred to different assembly positions on the positioning fixture through different feed channels, which can speed up assembly of the branch cap 2 and the branch body 1.
• a position of the positioning fixture is adjusted so that the opening end of the branch cap 2 is aligned with the tip end of the branch body 1.
• Step S3 of performing press-fitting specifically includes the following step.
• the branch cap 2 on the positioning fixture is pushed through a push rod, to push the branch cap 2 onto the tip end of the branch body 1.
• the push rod is driven pneumatically or hydraulically.
• the branch cap 2 provided with at least one convex rib 221 can be tightly fastened to the branch body 1, which prevents detachment of the branch cap 2 from the branch body 1 during use, improves usage experience of the artificial branch 100, and also makes the artificial branch 100 more beautiful and natural.
• the branch cap 2 can be quickly mounted on the branch body 1, thereby improving a degree of automation and speeding up assembly between the branch cap 2 and the branch body 1.

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Citations (3)

• 2024
  • 2024-04-17 CN CN202410464995.0A patent/CN120827231A/zh active Pending
  • 2024-09-17 US US18/887,846 patent/US20250325062A1/en active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-04-16 EP EP25170958.0A patent/EP4635354A1/fr active Pending

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