JP2000279219A - Accessory connector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connecting tool, wherein not only a size is considerably reduced compared with a conventional connector, but also easy and sure operability is provided. SOLUTION: This accessory connector includes a head portion 33 formed to be roughly semispherical in its tip, a male member 31 having a locking groove portion 34 in an outer peripheral part in its rear side, and a female member 40 having a cylindrical body 41 for inserting the male member 31. In the hole portion of the cylindrical body, a floating ball 49 and a spring 50 for pressing the floating ball 49 are housed and a window portion 42a is opened, an opening/closing lever 43 having a locking pawl 45 and a supporting pawl portion 45 is inserted from the window portion 42a and supported on the cylindrical body 41 so as to be pivotally moved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connecting device for connecting both ends of a string-shaped accessory, such as a necklace or a bracelet, particularly formed of a thin chain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, cord-like accessories such as necklaces and bracelets are formed in a ring shape and attached to a neck, an arm or the like, and various types of couplings for connecting both ends thereof have been developed.
As a general example, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a so-called pulling ring 10, a main body 11 formed of a substantially C-shaped metal tube formed, and a main body 11 inserted into the main body 11 and substantially Some are constituted by arcuate connecting members 14 that slide between open ends of the C-shape.

The pulling ring 10 has a connecting member 1 inside a main body 11.
A spring member (not shown) that biases the closing member 4 in the closing direction is housed and connected to one end of a necklace 18 or a bracelet or the like via a circular ring, while the other end of the small member 1 is a small locking member 1.
2 are connected. In use, the connecting member 14
The pulling ring 10 is opened while holding the protruding portion 16 projecting more outward with a fingertip or the like, while resisting the urging force of the spring member, and is pulled by being inserted into a small hole formed in the locking member 12. It is connected to the wheel 10.

[0004] However, a connecting device used for an accessory, particularly a thin chain, such as a necklace or a bracelet,
Unless the size is reduced, there is no balance in accessories design. If the pulling ring 10 is to be made as small as possible, the protrusion 1
6 is very small and it is difficult to operate it with fingers, so that there is a limit in reducing its size.

On the other hand, a necklace clasp 20 as shown in FIG. 2 is generally used as a connecting tool used for a pearl jewelry 28 such as a pearl necklace formed in connection with a large number of gems. The necklace clasp 20 includes a hollow female member 21 having an insertion hole 26 formed therein and a male member 22 formed by bending a metal plate into a V-shape to form a leaf spring. Is pressed with a fingertip or the like, and is connected to the female member 21 through the insertion hole 26. Such a necklace clasp 20 is simple and easy to put on and take off, and is excellent in operability. However, since the leaf spring 22 itself cannot be reduced in size, the size of the necklace clasp 20 is larger than that of the pulling ring 10. It was hardly used for such accessories.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides not only a size that is significantly smaller than that of a conventional connecting tool but also a simple and reliable connecting tool in operability. The purpose is to do. Another object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is excellent in design even as a part of an accessory.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a substantially hemispherical or substantially mountain-shaped head is formed at the tip, and a rear portion of the head is formed. On the peripheral surface, a male member formed of a rod body having a locking groove formed therein, and an elongated window is opened at substantially the center of a cylindrical body into which the male member can be inserted and removed, and a hole is formed in the hole. An opening / closing lever having a locking claw portion and a supporting claw portion capable of engaging and disengaging with the locking groove of the male member is inserted from the window portion while accommodating the floating ball and a spring for biasing the floating ball, and a cylindrical body. By pivotally supporting the peripheral surface of the female member, the opening / closing lever is constituted by a female member that can pivot in the window portion. When the tip of the male member is inserted into the female member, The locking claw is pushed upward by the head, and when the locking claw reaches the locking groove, the urging force of the spring is applied. The male member and the female member are connected to each other by engaging with the locking groove, and when the open / close lever is pressed downward, the engagement is released against the urging force of the spring. Further, the male member and the female member are detachable accessories connecting members.

[0008] The present invention described in claim 2 is the first aspect of the present invention.
In the invention described in the above paragraph, the opening / closing lever has a tapered shape at a contact surface of the locking claw portion with the male member and at a contact surface of the support claw portion with the idle ball. It is characterized by being a connector for use.

[0009] The present invention described in claim 3 provides the present invention.
3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein a locking cap is attached to the female member at the rear of the cylinder so as to be movable back and forth, and after the male member is connected to the female member, the locking cap is formed. Is provided on the back surface of the opening / closing lever so that the opening / closing lever can be fixed.

[0010] The present invention described in claim 4 is the first aspect of the present invention.
4. The invention according to claim 3, wherein a screw portion is formed on a peripheral surface of the cylindrical body and an inner surface of the locking cap in the female member, and the locking cap is screwed into the cylindrical body for an accessory. It is a connecting tool.

[0011] The present invention described in claim 5 is the first invention.
In the invention described in any one of claims 4 to 5, the locking groove portion of the male member is a connecting tool for an accessory that has at least two or more grooves formed on a peripheral surface of the rod.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the accessory accessory accessory according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof. The connecting member 30 according to the present invention is a male member 3 composed of a rod 32.
1 and a female member 40 comprising a tubular body 41 which can be inserted and removed.

The male member 31 has a substantially hemispherical head 33 formed at the tip of a rod 32 made of a noble metal such as gold alloy, platinum, silver or the like. Is formed with a locking groove 34. A large-diameter step 35 is formed behind the locking groove 34 in order to adjust the insertion depth into the female member 40 described later. Further, one end of the cut necklace 55 is connected to the end on the side of the step portion 35 by brazing or the like.

The female member 40 is composed of a cylindrical body 41 made of a noble metal such as gold alloy, platinum, silver or the like. One end is opened and the male member 31 is inserted into a hole 42 formed therein. It can be escaped. An elongated window 42a for attaching an opening / closing lever 43, which will be described later, is opened from a substantially central peripheral portion of the cylindrical body 41 in one direction.

The open end of the cylindrical body 41 is closed, and a floating ball 49 made of, for example, a sphere made of stainless steel or the like and a spring 50 made of a wire made of stainless steel, for example, are housed in the hole 42. The floating ball 49 is urged toward the opening. The closed end of the tubular body 41 is connected to the opposite end of the necklace 55 in the same manner as the male member 31.

The opening / closing lever 43 is provided below a plate made of a precious metal such as gold alloy, platinum, silver or the like, below a plate-like body, which comes into contact with the head 33 of the male member 31 and a floating ball 49. Are provided with a projecting supporting claw 44 and a locking claw 45 each having a tapered protruding contact surface. The opening / closing lever 43 is pivotally supported on a substantially central peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 41 by a through hole 47 formed substantially at the center of the pressing claw portion 44, and one side is inclined upward to form a rising portion 48. So that the window 42a corresponds to the inclination of the rising portion 48.
Can be pivoted at

A screw portion 53 made of a male screw is formed on the rear peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 41, while a locking cap 52 internally formed with a female screw (not shown) screwed with the screw portion 53.
Is attached, and the locking cap 52 is freely movable back and forth in the cylindrical body 41. The locking cap 52 is thick enough to be inserted into a gap formed between the back surface and the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body 41 when the rising portion 48 of the opening / closing lever 43 is open.

In order to use the connecting member 30 having such a structure, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the male member 31 is inserted into the hole 42 of the female member 40 from the opening side, a substantially hemispherical shape is obtained. The head 33 of the male member 31 formed in the shape of
The locking claw 45 is pushed upward from the tapered surface side, the opening / closing lever 43 pivots about the support shaft 47, and the pressing claw 44 on the opposite side is pushed down. Then, the floating ball 49
The pressing claw portion 44 abutting on the tapered surface of the cylinder 41 pushes the floating ball 49 into the inner portion of the cylindrical body 41 against the bias of the spring 50. When the male member 31 is further inserted deeply, the opening / closing lever 43 is pushed down by the urging force of the spring 50 when the locking groove 34 reaches the locking claw 45, and is engaged with the locking claw 45. The stop groove 34 is engaged, and the male member 31 and the female member 40 are connected.

Here, the locking cap 52 is rotated, screwed into a gap formed between the rising portion 48 of the opening / closing lever 43 and the cylindrical body 41, and is interposed on the back surface of the opening / closing lever 43 to fix the position. .

On the other hand, when releasing the connection between the male member 31 and the female member 40, first, the locking cap 52 is rotated to loosen the screw engagement with the cylinder 41, and the rising portion 48 of the opening / closing lever 43 is again rotated. A gap is formed between the opening and closing member 43 and the rising portion 48 of the opening / closing lever 43 is pressed downward by a finger or the like. Then, the locking claw 45 on the opposite side is pushed upward, and the engagement between the locking claw 45 and the locking groove 34 is released.

In the connecting member 30 having such a structure, the spring 50 is accommodated in the cylindrical body 41 in the longitudinal direction, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 41 according to the outer diameter of the spring 50 can be adopted. The outer diameter of the cylindrical body 41 can be reduced to about 1 mm or less. Further, the spring 50 is accommodated in the longitudinal direction in the cylindrical body 41 in a straight line without being curved. Therefore, there is no waste in using the urging force of the spring 50, and the entire length can be reduced to, for example, about 2.5 mm or less.

In the present invention, the female member 40 is supported on a cylindrical body 41 produced by cutting or casting a pipe material, and on a locking piece 48 produced by pressing or cutting a plate material. It can be attached by a shaft and easily assembled. The male member 31 can be easily manufactured by turning a wire or by casting. Therefore, the connecting device 30
Is not inferior in cost as compared with the conventional coupler.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a second embodiment of the male member 62 of the connector according to the present invention. In the male member 62 in this embodiment, two locking grooves 64 and 64a are formed in parallel on the peripheral surface behind the head 63.

In this embodiment, when the male member 62 is inserted through the opening of the female member 41, the male member 62
The locking claw portion pushed upward by the head 63 of the male member 6 is temporarily engaged with the locking groove portion 64 on the front side.
2 is inserted further deeply so that the locking groove 64
At the time when it reaches the rear locking groove 64a, it engages with the rear locking groove 64 by the urging force of the spring 50.

Therefore, even if the engagement between the rear locking groove 64a and the locking claw is disengaged by some external force, and the male member 62 may come off the female member,
Since the locking claw portion is re-engaged in the locking groove portion 64 on the front side, not only safety of the connecting tool can be remarkably improved, but also the length of the connecting tool at the time of connection can be adjusted by the insertion depth. It becomes possible.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to several embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be modified. For example, the external shape of the female member is not limited to the illustrated cylindrical shape, but may be any shape as long as it has a hole in which a floating ball and a spring for biasing the floating ball can be stored. There may be. Therefore,
A prism or a decorative shape may be adopted according to the design of the necklace or the like to be connected. Also, the locking cap is
It is also possible to attach to the cylindrical body by a method other than the method of forming a screw portion and screwing. For example, by attaching a locking cap made of an elastic material to the cylinder,
A method of sliding and moving back and forth may be used. In such a case, the locking cap can be more easily interposed on the back surface of the opening / closing lever.

[0027]

According to the connecting tool described above,
The size can be remarkably reduced as compared with the conventional connector. Therefore, even when used for a thin chain such as a necklace or a bracelet, the design balance can be maintained, and the aesthetic appearance of the accessory is not spoiled. Further, since the connection can be performed only by inserting the male member into the female member, the operability is remarkably excellent.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a conventional accessory connecting device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a conventional accessory connecting device.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the accessory accessory accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a female member in the accessory accessory connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an inserted state of the accessory accessory connector according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of the accessory accessory connecting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a male member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pulling ring 11 Main body 12 Locking member 13 Metal fitting 14 Connecting member 16 Protrusion 18 Necklace 20 Necklace clasp 21 Female type member 22 Male type member 24 Pressing piece 26 Insertion hole 28 Stringed jewelry 29 Pearl 30 Connector 31 Male member 32 rod Body 33 Head 34 Locking groove 35 Stepped portion 40 Female member 41 Cylindrical body 42 Hole 42a Window 43 Opening / closing lever 44 Pressing claw 45 Locking claw 47 Through hole 48 Rising part 49 Floating ball 50 Spring 52 Lock Cap 53 Screw part 62 Male member 63 Head 64 Lock groove 64a Lock groove 65 Step

Claims (5)

[Claims] A male member comprising a rod having a substantially hemispherical or substantially mountain-shaped head formed at the tip, and a locking groove formed on a peripheral surface behind the head; An elongated window is opened at substantially the center of the cylindrical body into which the male member can be inserted and removed, and a hole accommodates a floating ball and a spring for urging the floating ball. By inserting an opening / closing lever provided with a locking claw portion and a supporting claw portion that can be engaged and disengaged with the stop groove from the window portion and pivotally supported on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, the opening / closing lever can pivot on the window portion. When the tip of the male member is inserted into the female member, the locking claw is pushed upward by the head and reaches the locking groove. The male member and the female member are connected by being engaged with the locking groove by the urging force of the spring, When the open / close lever is pressed downward, the engagement is released against the urging force of the spring, and the male member and the female member are separated from each other. . 2. The open / close lever has a tapered shape at a contact surface of the locking claw portion with the male member and at a contact surface of the support claw portion with the floating ball. 2. The accessory for an accessory according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A locking cap is attached to the female member at the rear of the cylinder so as to be movable back and forth. After the male member is connected to the female member, the locking cap is connected to the back surface of the opening / closing lever. 3. The accessory accessory according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing lever is fixable by interposing the opening / closing lever. 4. 4. A threaded portion is formed on a peripheral surface of a cylindrical body of the female member and an inner surface of the locking cap, and the locking cap is screwed to the cylindrical body. 4. The accessory for an accessory according to claim 3. 5. The male member according to claim 1, wherein said locking groove portion has at least two grooves formed on a peripheral surface of said rod body. Jewelry accessories.