GB2268775A - Link member. - Google Patents

Abstract

An openable/closable link member having, in its open configuration, two limbs 3,4, the free ends of which lie adjacent to each other and wherein the upper surface of the first limb 3 at or near its free end is provided with means 5,6, for inter-engaging with complementary means 9 provided on the lower surface of the second limb 4 at or near the free end thereof. The link member is closable by locating the said upper and lower surfaces opposite each other and pressing these together whereby the surfaces inter-engage said engagement lying substantially in the plane of the link member. <IMAGE>

Description

LINK MEMBER This invention relates to a link member which can be interlinked with other similar members to form a chain. More particularly, the link member, in its closed configuration, is resistant to opening by pulling opposite sides of the link member apart.

Babies and young children when travelling in prams, pushchairs or car seats frequently drop or eject items such as toys. These invariably fall onto dirty or, at least, non-sterile surfaces. The baby or young child can not retrieve the fallen item and yet when this has been recovered it may be dirty or contaminated and, as such, is a potential source of infection.

The present invention is directed to an openable/closable link member which can be used on its own or inter linked with others in the form of a chain to secure an item such as a toy to a pram or pushchair to prevent the item from touching the ground and to allow retrieval of the item by a young child.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an openable/closable link member said link member having, in its open configuration, two limbs the free ends of which lie adjacent each other, wherein the upper surface of the first limb at or near its free end is provided with means for interengaging with complimentary means provided on the lower surface of the second limb at or near the free end thereof, said link member being closable by locating the said upper and lower surfaces opposite each other and pressing these together whereby the surfaces interengage said engagement lying substantially in the plane of the link member.

In a preferred embodiment the link member, in its open configuration, comprises a C-shaped strip of a synthetic plastics material which is provided at each of its free ends with a disc, each of which lies in the same general plane as the C-shaped strip. The outer facing surface of one disc is provided with one component of a male/female fastening device and the inner facing surface of the other disc is provided with the other (co-operating) component of the male/female fastening device. According to an especially preferred embodiment, one limb ends with an annular disc having a hole therein and the other limb is provided on its inner facing surface with a circular stud with dimensions and conformation such that it snap fits into the hole.The link member is closed by bringing the annular disc and the circular stud together in an overlapping relationship so that the co-operating components of the fastening device face each other and then pressing the two together to cause fastening. The closed and fastened link member has xesistance to opening when opposite sides of the member (either side of the fastener) are pulled away one from the other in the plane of the fastening.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a link member, in its open configuration, in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a section through the annular ring of the link member shown in Figure 1 along the line X-X1 in the direction of the arrows; Figure 3 is a side view of the circular disc of the link member shown in Figure 1 from point Y; Figure 4 is a front view of the link member shown in Figure 1 in its closed configuration; Figure S is a front view of a link member according to a different embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of the link member shown in Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 1 a link member 1 according to the present invention, in its open configuration, comprises a strip which is generally C-shaped and which is formed of a resilient material, typically a synthetic plastics material. The strip may be a flat strip or alternatively may have a generally oval cross section. Furthermore, in some instances it may be preferred for the strip to have a circular cross section since such will have greater resistance to strain when the link member is closed.

In Figure 1, the link member comprises a body portion 2 and limbs 3 and 4. The free ends of the limbs are formed into discs which lie in the general plane of the C-shaped strip.

The free end of limb 3 is formed into an annular disc 5 which bounds a circular hole 6 concentric with the disc. The inward facing wall 7 of the hole is provided with two inward facing ridges 8 (see Figure 2). The free end of the limb 4 carries a disc 9 having an outer facing edge 10 which is provided with an outer facing ridge 11 (see Figure 3).

The dimensions of the circular hole 6, in inward facing ridges 8 on the inward facing wall of the hole, the disc 9 and the outer facing ridge 11 on the outerfacing edge of the disc being such that the disc can snap fit into the hole. The free end of the limb 4 protrudes beyond the periphery of the disc 9 to form a tongue 12. The annular disc 5, at its outer facing surface has recesses 13 and 14 formed therein. The recess 13 has a shape and depth complimentary to the shape and depth of the tongue 12 and the recess 14 is in the form of a channel in the Outer surface of the annular disc having approximately the same width as limb 4. As can be seen in Figure 3, the underside portion of the limb 4 adjacent disc 9 is cut away so that this lies in the channel when the link member is in the closed configuration.

To close the link member, the free end of limb 4 is positioned over the annular ring S so that the disc 9 faces the hole 6, The disc is then pressed into the hole so that it snap fits together. In this position the tongue 12 lies in recess 13 and the recessed underside portion of the strip adjacent the disc on limb 4 lies in the recess 14 (Figure 4). The disc cannot be removed from the hole without the application of force.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a link member comprises a body portion 13 and limbs 14 and 15. The limbs are disposed at an angle to one another so that their free ends 16 and 17 overlap with a small intervening clearance between them. The link member may be closed by pressing together complimentary engagement means (not shown) provided on the facing surfaces of the free ends 16 and 17 without causing strain in the body portion 13.

The free ends of the limbs 3, 4 and 14, 15 may be provided with complimentary engagement means other than that described above. For instance, interengagement may be achieved by the use of an inter- locking fabric such as VELCRO provided on the appropriate opposite surfaces of the free ends of the limbs.

The link member described above closes to form a circular ring shape. It is, however, possible for the link member to be shaped in such a way so as to form a non-circular shape when in the closed configuration. For example, triangular, square, elliptical and rectangular shaped link members (when in the closed configuration) are possible.

v By linking two or more link members together one can form a chain of a predetermined length which can be used to secure items together. Since the xbet members are resistant to opening and, as such, are baby proof and are safe (and may be manufactured from safe plastics materials), they, and chains made therefrom, have use in securing items such as toys to prams, pushchairs, baby harnesses, child's car seats etc. The link members and chains made therefrom also function as baby toys in their own right.

Claims (9)

Claims

1 An openable/closable link member said link member having, in its open configuration, two limbs the free ends of which lie adjacent each other, wherein the upper surface of the first limb at or near its free end is provided with means for interengaging with complimentary means provided on the lower surface of the second limb at or near the free end thereof, said link member being closable by locating the said upper and lower surfaces opposite each other and pressing these together whereby the surfaces interengage said engagement lying substantially in the plane of the link member.

2 A link member according to claim 1, which in its closed configuration is circular.

3 A link member according to either claim 1 or claim 2, which is in its open configuration is Shaped such that the free ends of the limbs overlap.

4 A link member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the free ends of the limbs are disc shaped.

5 A link member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for interengaging with complimentary means comprises a stud and socket type fastener.

6 A link member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is formed from synthetic plastics material.

7 A link member according to claim 6, which is integrally formed.

8 A link member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 A chain comprising two or more interlinked link members according to any one of claims 1 to 8.