JP7350406B1 - Ball chain stopper and ball chain support structure using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to facilitate the manufacture of a stopper for a ball chain. [Solution] In a ball chain stopper that locks a ball chain 1 that includes a string member 3 and a plurality of ball members 2 arranged along the length direction of the string member 3, the string member 3 passes through. A first insertion part 11 through which the ball member 2 can pass and a second insertion part 12 that communicates with the first insertion part 11 and is narrower than the thickness of the string member 3. The second insertion part 12 is formed of one continuous wire 20, and the second insertion part 12 is a stop for a ball chain through which the string member 3 can pass by elastically deforming the wire 20. [Selection diagram] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a ball chain stopper and a ball chain support structure using the ball chain stopper.

Conventionally, ball chains made of resin materials have been used for various purposes. Ball chains are used, for example, as support members for curtains, operating members for raising and lowering blinds, and the like.

A ball chain has a structure in which ball members made of a synthetic resin material are fixed to a flexible string member at predetermined intervals. Examples of ball chains include those described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3. Further, as a ball chain stopper for locking the ball chain to another member, there are those described, for example, in Patent Documents 4, 5, and 6.

Utility model registration No. 3241137 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-93545 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-268857 Utility model registration No. 3082780 Utility Model Publication No. 56-145073 Publication No. 54-93662

The ball chain fasteners described in Patent Documents 4, 5, and 6 are all made of a plate-like member, and are provided with an insertion hole through which a ball member can pass, and a slit portion communicating with the insertion hole. Since the ball member is too large to pass through the slit, after passing the ball member through the insertion hole, the string member is inserted through the slit and pulled, thereby locking the ball member in the slit.

These ball chain stops require punching through holes and slits in a metal plate, and then bending the metal plate. Therefore, the manufacturing process is complicated and the cost is high.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to facilitate the manufacture of a stopper for a ball chain.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a ball chain stopper for locking a ball chain including a string member and a plurality of ball members arranged along the length of the string member. , comprising a first insertion part through which the string member can pass but through which the ball member cannot pass, and a second insertion part that communicates with the first insertion part and is narrower in width than the thickness of the string member, The first insertion part and the second insertion part are formed of one continuous wire, and the second insertion part employs a ball chain stopper that allows the string member to pass through when the wire is elastically deformed. (Configuration 1).

In the aspect provided with Configuration 1, a configuration may be adopted in which the third insertion portion through which the string member and the ball member can pass is formed of the wire rod.

Further, in an aspect including configuration 1 or in an aspect in which configuration 2 is added to configuration 1, the wire rod includes a base, a first curved portion extending in a curved manner from an end of the base, and a first curved portion thereof. and a proximal part that continues beyond the part, the first insertion part is formed by the first curved part, and the second insertion part is formed by the base part and the proximal part (Configuration 3). ).

In each aspect provided with Configuration 3, the first insertion part and the second insertion part are provided on one side with the base in between, and a first insertion part and a second insertion part on the other side, which are provided on one side with the base in between. A configuration can be adopted in which the first insertion portion on the other side and the second insertion portion on the other side are provided on the other side with each other in between (Configuration 4).

In the aspect with configuration 4, the base is linear, and the proximal part of the one-side second insertion part protrudes toward one side as it moves away from the one-side first insertion part with respect to the linear direction of the base. The proximal portion of the second insertion portion on the other side is inclined in the direction of protruding toward the other side as it moves away from the first insertion portion on the other side with respect to the linear direction of the base. can be adopted (Configuration 5).

This invention makes it easy to manufacture ball chain stops.

A plan view showing one embodiment of this invention Front view of Figure 1A Right side view of Figure 1A Front view of ball chain A perspective view showing the action when locking a ball chain to a ball chain stopper. Front view showing how the ball chain stopper is used (used as a joint) Front view showing how the ball chain stopper is used (used as a hook) Front view showing how the ball chain stopper is used (used as a loop forming tool) Front view showing how the ball chain stopper is used (used as a fastener)

Embodiments of this invention will be described based on the drawings. A ball chain stopper 10 of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, and a ball chain 1 that is locked to the ball chain stopper 10 is shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the action (locking method) when locking the ball chain 1 to the ball chain stopper 10, and FIGS. 4 to 7 show the support of the ball chain 1 using the ball chain stopper 10. It shows the structure.

The configuration of the ball chain 1 includes a string member 3 and a plurality of ball members 2 arranged along the length direction of the string member 3. The ball member 2 is made of a synthetic resin material and has various shapes such as a sphere, an ellipsoid (long sphere), or a block shape with smooth corners. The string member 3 is made of a flexible fiber material. The diameter of the ball member 2 (the minimum width of the member in the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the string member 3) is larger than the thickness of the string member 3. Further, the ball member 2 is fixed to the string member 3 at a predetermined interval by means such as casting or adhesion. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, one string member 3 is inserted through the through hole 2a of the ball member 2, but the ball member 2 has separate string members 3 connected to both ends of the ball member 2. Chain 1 may be used.

The ball chain 1 can be used for various purposes, such as as a support member for curtains and an operation member for raising and lowering blinds as described in the background art, as well as as a rope for suspending and supporting various articles indoors or outdoors.

As shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the structure of the ball chain stopper 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as the stopper 10) is such that a string member 3 having a thickness of w (see FIG. 2) can pass therethrough and the ball member 2 The second insertion part 12 is connected to the first insertion part 11 and has a width narrower than the thickness w of the string member 3. Furthermore, the stopper 10 of this embodiment is also provided with a third insertion portion 13 through which the string member 3 and the ball member 2 can pass.

The first insertion part 11, the second insertion part 12, and the third insertion part 13 are formed of one continuous wire 20 with a shaft diameter (diameter) d. Although the wire rod 20 is constituted by a metal shaft, it may be made of resin or the like as long as strength and durability are ensured.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the wire 20 includes a base 26, a first curved portion 21 extending in a curved manner from the end of the base 26, and a proximal portion 23 continuing beyond the first curved portion 21. It becomes. Furthermore, the wire 20 is configured to include a second curved portion 24 that curves and extends from the proximal portion 23 first. In this embodiment, the first insertion part 11, the second insertion part 12, and the third insertion part 13 are each provided two times, so the first bending part 21, the proximal part 23, and the second bending part Two 24's are also provided.

The base 26 in this embodiment has a straight shape. However, the shape of the base portion 26 is not limited to a straight line, and may be curved or bent in the middle. The first curved portions 21 extend in a curved manner from both ends of the base portion 26, reverse their directions, and then gradually approach the base portion 26. The first insertion portion 11 is surrounded by the first curved portion 21 . The first curved portion 21 of the embodiment is composed of a combination of an arc-shaped portion (arc-shaped portion 27) and a straight-line portion (straight portion 22) on the proximal portion 23 side. may be composed of only an arc-shaped portion (arc-shaped portion 27). Further, the linear portion (straight portion 22) of the first curved portion 21 may be curved or bent in the middle.

The first insertion section 11 includes a first insertion section 11a on one side provided on one side with the base 26 in between, and a first insertion section 11b on the other side provided on the other side with the base 26 interposed therebetween. Moreover, the first curved section 21 includes a first curved section 21a on one side and a first curved section 21b on the other side. The first insertion portion 11a on one side is a hole surrounded by the base 26 and the first curved portion 21a on one side. The first insertion portion 11b on the other side is a hole surrounded by the base 26 and the first curved portion 21b on the other side. The first insertion portion 11 (first insertion portion 11a on one side and first insertion portion 11b on the other side) has a smaller diameter (smaller cross section) than the ball member 2, and has a shape that allows the string member 3 to pass through but prevents the ball member 2 from passing through. It becomes.

The second insertion portion 12 is formed by a base portion 26 and a proximal portion 23. The proximal portion 23 gradually approaches the base 26 from the end of the first curved portion 21, and after coming closest to the base 26, it has an arcuate shape that moves away from the base 26.

The second insertion portion 12 includes a one-side second insertion portion 12a provided on one side with the base 26 in between, and an other-side second insertion portion 12b provided on the other side with the base 26 in between. Further, the proximal portion 23 includes a proximal portion 23a on one side and a proximal portion 23b on the other side. The second insertion portion 12a on one side is a slit (gap) formed between the base portion 26 and the proximal portion 23a on one side and can be expanded and contracted. The second insertion portion 12b on the other side is a slit (gap) that can be expanded and contracted between the base portion 26 and the proximal portion 23b on the other side.

The gap between the second insertion portions 12 (the second insertion portion 12a on one side and the second insertion portion 12b on the other side) expands and contracts due to elastic deformation of the wire 20, respectively. In this embodiment, the base 26 and the proximal part 23 are in contact with each other in the normal state (minimum gap is zero), and by entering the string member 3, the gap between the base 26 and the proximal part 23 is expanded, and the gap is closed. It is set to expand. That is, the string member 3 can pass through the second insertion portion 12 due to the elastic deformation of the wire rod 20 .

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the string member 3 passes through the second insertion part 12 and is accommodated in the first insertion part 11 (see arrow A) due to the enlargement of the gap (see arrow B). After the string member 3 is accommodated in the first insertion portion 11, the gap in the second insertion portion 12 is reduced (in the embodiment, the gap becomes zero), and the string member 3 is held in the first insertion portion 11. . Moreover, the string member 3 accommodated in the first insertion part 11 passes through the second insertion part 12 and leaves the first insertion part 11 due to the enlargement of the gap.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, the proximal part 23 of the second insertion part 12a on one side (the proximal part 23a on one side) is ) is inclined in the direction of protruding toward one side as it moves away from the first insertion part 11a on the one side, and the proximal part 23 (on the other side) of the second insertion part 12b on the other side with respect to the axial direction (linear direction) of the base The proximal portion 23b) is inclined in a direction protruding toward the other side as it moves away from the other side first insertion portion 11b. Therefore, the string member 3 can easily push and widen the gap between the second insertion portions 12 (see arrows A and B in FIG. 3).

Specifically, in the side view shown in FIG. 1C, with respect to the axial direction of the base 26, the one side proximal part 23a (in the same direction as the straight part 22 (one side straight part 22a) in the figure) is As the insertion portion 11a moves away from the lower side in the figure toward the upper side, it is inclined at an angle α in the direction of protruding to the right side in the figure. In the figure, the maximum protrusion amount of the second curved portion 24 (one side second curved portion 24a to be described later) is L ₁ in terms of the distance between the axes of the second curved portion 24 and the base 26 . In addition, with respect to the axial direction of the base 26, the other side proximal part 23b (same direction as the straight line part 22 (the other side straight part 22b) in the figure) is from the upper side in the figure where the other side first insertion part 11b is located. As it moves further downward, it is inclined at an angle β in a direction that projects to the left in the figure. In the figure, the maximum protrusion amount of the second curved part 24 (the other side second curved part 24b to be described later) is _L2 , which is the center-to-axis distance between the second curved part 24 and the base part 26. In the embodiment, angle α=angle β and protrusion amount _L1 =protrusion amount _L2 , but these angles and protrusion amounts (deviation amounts) may be made different from each other.

Further, the third insertion part 13 is composed of a one-side third insertion part 13a provided on one side with the base 26 in between, and an other-side third insertion part 13b provided on the other side with the base 26 in between. There is. In addition, the second curved section 24 is composed of a second curved section 24a on one side and a second curved section 24b on the other side. It has been reached. The end portion 25 of the wire 20 is in contact with the first curved portion 21 (straight portion 22 in the embodiment) or faces the first curved portion 21 with a slight gap.

The third insertion portion 13a on one side is a hole surrounded by the proximal portion 23a on the one side and the second curved portion 24a on the one side. The third insertion portion 13b on the other side is a hole surrounded by the proximal portion 23b on the other side and the second curved portion 24b on the other side. Note that the third insertion portion 13 can be configured by arbitrarily combining the proximal portion 23, the second curved portion 24, and the first curved portion 21. For example, the third insertion portion 13 may be configured only with the second curved portion 24 and the first curved portion 21, or the third insertion portion 13 may be configured only with the second curved portion 24 formed in an annular shape. You may. Furthermore, the third insertion section 13 may be configured with the proximal section 23, the second curved section 24, and the first curved section 21. The third insertion portion 13 (the third insertion portion 13a on one side and the third insertion portion 13b on the other side) has a larger diameter (larger cross section) than the ball member 2, and has a shape that allows the ball member 2 to pass through.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which this stopper 10 is used as a joint. The ends of the ball chain 1 are connected by locking the ball members 2 at the ends of the ball chain 1 to the two first insertion portions 11 of the stopper 10, respectively. Insertion of the string member 3 into the first insertion portion 11 (locking of the ball member 2) can be performed by the method shown in FIG. 3. Even if the ball chain 1 is pulled in a state where the ball member 2 is locked to the first insertion part 11, the ball member 2 is caught in the first insertion part 11 and the ball chain 1 cannot be pulled any further.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which this stopper 10 is used as a hook. Both ends of the ball chain 1 are connected to fixed members such as pillars (not shown), so that the ball chain 1 connects the fixed members on both sides. The string member 3 at the middle portion of the ball chain 1 is inserted into the first insertion portion 11 of the stopper 10, and the ball members 2 on both sides of the string member 3 cannot pass through the first insertion portion 11. Therefore, the stopper 10 is positioned with respect to the length direction of the ball chain 1. If the stopper 10 attempts to move in the longitudinal direction of the ball chain 1, the ball member 2 is locked in the first insertion portion 11, and its movement is restricted.

Further, since the string member 3 is inserted through the first insertion portion 11, the stopper 10 is suspended from the ball chain 1. Therefore, by hooking the hook portion of various articles to the other first insertion portion 11 of the stopper 10, the articles can be suspended and supported by the ball chain 1. In FIG. 5, a hanger for clothes is shown as an article to be hung and supported, but other articles other than hangers may be used. Moreover, the position at which the hook part of various articles is hooked is not limited to the first insertion part 11 but may be the third insertion part 13 or the like.

FIG. 6 shows an example in which this stopper 10 is used as a loop forming tool. By inserting the string member 3 at the middle portion of the ball chain 1 into one first insertion portion 11 of the stopper 10 and inserting the string member 3 at another position into the other first insertion portion 11, the ball A part of the chain 1 is fixed in a loop shape (annular shape). The string member 3 can be inserted into the first insertion portion 11 by the method shown in FIG. 3 . Even if the ball chain 1 is pulled, the ball member 2 is caught in the first insertion portion 11 and the ball chain 1 cannot be pulled any further, so that the loop shape is maintained.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which this stopper 10 is used as a fastening tool. The tip of the ball chain 1 is inserted into one third insertion portion 13 of the stopper 10, and the tip is pulled to lock the ball member 2 at the tip to one of the first insertion portions 11 of the stopper 10. . Insertion of the string member 3 into the first insertion portion 11 (locking of the ball member 2) can be performed by the method shown in FIG. 3.

Since the ball member 2 can pass through the third insertion part 13, the ball chain 1 can freely slide with respect to the third insertion part 13. A ball member 2 at the tip of the ball chain 1 is locked to a first insertion portion 11. Therefore, a part of the ball chain 1 is formed into a loop shape (annular shape), and when the ball chain 1 is pulled, the ball chain 1 slides with respect to the third insertion portion 13, and the shape of the loop is reduced. Therefore, if an article is placed inside the loop shape, the article can be tightened (tied) with the ball chain 1.

In this embodiment, the configuration of the present invention has been explained by taking as an example the stopper 10 having two each of the first insertion part 11, the second insertion part 12, and the third insertion part 13. The number of first insertion portions 11, second insertion portions 12, and third insertion portions 13 can be increased or decreased as appropriate without limitation. For example, it may be configured to include one each of the first insertion section 11, the second insertion section 12, and the third insertion section 13. Alternatively, an embodiment may be adopted in which the third insertion portion 13 is not provided.

1 Ball chain 2 Ball member 3 String member 10 Ball chain stopper (stopper)
11 First insertion part 12 Second insertion part 13 Third insertion part 20 Wire rod 21 First curved part 22 Straight part 23 Proximal part 24 Second curved part 25 End part 26 Base part 27 Arc-shaped part

Claims (5)

A ball chain stopper for locking a ball chain (1) comprising a string member (3) and a plurality of ball members (2) arranged along the length of the string member (3),
a first insertion part (11) through which the string member (3) can pass but through which the ball member (2) cannot pass; and a second insertion portion (12) having a narrow width;
The first insertion portion (11) and the second insertion portion (12) are formed of one continuous wire rod (20), and the second insertion portion (12) is such that the wire rod (20) is elastically deformed. A ball chain stopper that allows the string member (3) to pass through. The stopper for a ball chain according to claim 1, wherein the third insertion portion (13) through which the string member (3) and the ball member (2) can pass is formed of the wire rod (20). The wire (20) includes a base (26), a first curved part (21) extending in a curved manner from the end of the base (26), and a proximal part (21) continuing beyond the first curved part (21). 23), the first insertion part (11) is formed by the first curved part (21), and the second insertion part (12) is formed by the base part (26) and the proximal part (23). The ball chain stopper according to claim 1, wherein the ball chain stopper is The first insertion portion (11) and the second insertion portion (12) are a first insertion portion (11a) and a second insertion portion (12a) provided on one side with the base (26) in between. ), and a first insertion part (11b) on the other side and a second insertion part (12b) on the other side provided on the other side with the base (26) in between. stopper. The base (26) is linear, and the proximal part (23) of the one side second insertion part (12a) is closer to the one side first insertion part (11a) with respect to the linear direction of the base (26). The proximal part (23) of the second insertion part (12b) on the other side is inclined toward the one side as it goes away from the base (26), and the proximal part (23) of the second insertion part (12b) on the other side is The stopper for a ball chain according to claim 4, wherein the stopper for a ball chain is inclined in a direction protruding toward the other side as the distance from the portion (11b) increases.

Images