JPH10318337A - Ball chain splicer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a ball chain steadily lockable in an elastic manner, in addition to being ease of installation. SOLUTION: Plural pieces of balls are installed in a series of ball chains being connected via a connecting member. This ball chain splicer is provided with a body 12 which bent a beltlike elastic body in a direction where both the ends 12a and 12b are approached to each other, and these respective ends 12a and 12b of this body 12 are superposable with each other at a time when the body 12 is elastically deformed to the inside, and thereby each of holding parts being interconnected when superposed with each other, where the connecting member is insertable, is made up in and around these ends 12a and 12b of the body 12, respectively. In this constitution, the body 12 is forcibly pressed from the outside, thereby having it elastically deformed inward, while the ball chains are inserted into respective holding parts interconnected, and the pushing pressure is released and the ball chain is pinched to an inner end of each holding part by resilient force of the body 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball chain connector which is engaged with a ball chain and connects the ball chain to another member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a ball chain connecting device for connecting a plurality of balls in series through a rod-shaped connecting member thinner than the balls to connect other members has been proposed by the present applicant. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-25411, there is a connector in which an elongated plate is bent at a predetermined angle near the center. At each end of the plate of the connector 10 of the above publication, one protruding piece 13, 14 protruding opposite to each other is provided.
One notch 16 and 17 are formed on the tip side of.

The connecting tool 10 is used in such a manner that the ball 2 at the end of the ball chain 1 is inserted into the connecting tool 10 and the connecting member 3 of the ball chain 1 is inserted into at least one of the cuts 16 and 17. Engage. Then, the protruding pieces 13 and 14 of the connecting tool 10 are pressed in a direction of approaching each other and plastically deformed, and the protruding pieces 13 and 14 are overlapped between the pair of balls 2 to securely hold the connecting member 3 of the ball chain 1. Is done. And the connection tool 10 becomes annular, and is attached to another member such as a hook.

[0004]

In the case of the above-mentioned prior art, when the connecting tool 10 is attached to the ball chain 1, the connecting tool 1 is plastically deformed.
Special fixtures and auxiliary tools were required. Also,
When adjusting the length of the ball chain 1, etc.
When the fixing device 10 is removed from the connector, the connecting portion 10 must be plastically deformed to separate the protruding pieces 13 and 14, and if this operation is troublesome and repeated removal is performed, the vicinity of the central portion of the fixing device 10 is deteriorated and damaged. I was afraid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the related art, and has as its object to provide a ball chain connector which is easy to mount and elastically securely locks a ball chain. I do.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a ball chain connecting device attached to a ball chain in which a plurality of balls are connected in series via a connecting member. It has a main body whose ends are bent in a direction approaching each other, and each end of this main body can be superimposed on each other when the main body is elastically deformed inward. The ball chain connecting tool is formed with a holding portion which is connected to the connecting member when the connecting member is inserted.

In the ball chain connecting device of the present invention, first, the main body is pressed from the outside to be elastically deformed inward, and the ends of the main body are overlapped with each other so that the holding portions communicate with each other. When the ball chain is inserted into each of the holding portions and the pressing is released, the ball chain is held between the inner end surfaces of the holding portions by the resilience of the main body and is securely held.

The ball chain connecting device may be provided with a grip for pressing the main body on an outer surface between the center of the main body and each end. The gripping portion may be formed in such a manner as to increase the catch and friction of the finger, such as one having an uneven portion, one having knurling, rough surface, or the like. A stopper may be provided at the other end of the main body in the vicinity of the holding portion, the stopper being in contact with one end when the respective ends of the main body are overlapped with each other. The length of the overlapping portions is limited, and the positions where the holding portions communicate with each other are determined.

Further, the ball chain connecting device may be provided with the other end of the ball chain held by the holding portion or a slit for holding a separate ball chain. A through-hole into which the ball chain is inserted is formed in the main body, and the slit is provided continuously with the through-hole, and the slit extends toward the center of the main body along the longitudinal direction of the main body. ing. Then, the method of attaching the ball chain to the ball chain connector is to insert the other end of the ball chain or a separate ball chain into the through hole and move the connecting member of the ball chain into the slit. The ball is locked to the side edge of the slit and is securely held.

In the ball chain connecting device, the pair of holding portions may be formed at a substantially right angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body, and one end of the holding portion may be formed in an elongated cutout opening on one side of the main body. Good. At one end of the pair of cutouts, a locking portion, which is an elongated cutout substantially perpendicular to the cutout toward the end of the body, is formed in an L-shape. When this ball chain is inserted into the ball chain connector,
It can be performed from the side with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body.

The ball chain connecting device may be attached to the ball chain in a one-touch manner. For example, one of the pair of holding portions is formed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the main body, and one end thereof is an elongated cutout portion opened on a side surface of the main body. And at the tip of the notch, at a substantially right angle to the notch,
An engaging portion, which is an elongated notch formed toward the end of the main body, is provided and is formed in an L shape. The other of the pair of holding portions is formed with a concave notch portion having the same length as the locking portion and having the same side surface of the main body cut out.
Further, a projection is provided which protrudes from the edge of the concave notch portion, which is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body, to an opening on one side surface. The protrusion has a side edge on the end side of the main body inclined from the base end to the distal end of the protrusion in a direction away from the end.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. A ball chain connector 10 of this embodiment has a plate-shaped main body 12 made of metal, synthetic resin or the like and having an appropriate elasticity. doing. Body 12
Is bent in a substantially circular shape so that the ends 12a and 12b of the main body 12 approach each other.

In the vicinity of the end 12a, there is provided a cutout 14 formed laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body 12. The cutout portion 14 constitutes a holding portion, and has an introduction portion 16 formed substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the main body 12 and an elongated engagement member formed at substantially right angles from the tip of the introduction portion 16 toward the end 12a. A stop portion 18 is provided and formed in an L shape.
In the vicinity of the other end 12b, a cutout portion 20 is provided which is a holding portion having substantially the same shape as the introduction portion 16. Body 12
When the side surface is pressed, the body 12 is elastically deformed and the end 1
2b overlaps along the inside of the end 12a and the notch 14,
20 overlap and communicate with each other. A wide stopper 22 with which the edge of the end 12b abuts when the notches 14, 20 communicate with the inner end face near the end 12a of the main body.
Are formed. And the center of the main body 12 and the end 1
Near the center between 2a and 12b, a concave portion 24, which is a grip portion with which a finger abuts when elastically deforming the main body 12, is provided.
Are respectively formed.

Next, a method of using the ball chain connector 10 of this embodiment will be described. The connecting tool 10 includes a ball chain 30 in which a plurality of balls 26 are connected in series through a rod-shaped connecting member 28 which is thinner than the balls 26.
First, each concave portion 24 of the main body 12 is pressed from the side to be elastically deformed, and the end portion 12b of the main body 12 is overlapped inside the end portion 12a, and the end portion 12b is connected to the stopper 22. Abut. In this state, the notches 14, 20
And the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 is inserted into the cutouts 14 and 20. Then, the pressing of the concave portion 24 is released, and the end portions 12 a, 1
2b is applied with a force in a direction away from each other, and the connecting member 28 is inserted into the inside of the locking portion 18, is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking portion 18 and the inner end surface of the notch 20, and is securely held.

According to the connecting device 10 of this embodiment, since it is locked to the ball chain 30 by an appropriate amount of elastic force by the main body 12, it is easily elastically deformed by hand and attached to the ball chain 30. be able to. At the time of installation, no mechanical resignation is required, no special fixing tool or auxiliary tool is required, and the work is simple and good in workability. In addition, the attachment and detachment of the ball chain 30 can be arbitrarily repeated, and is not limited to the vicinity of the end of the ball chain 30,
It can be installed at any position on the ball chain 30,
The length can be appropriately changed without cutting the ball chain 30. Since the connection tool 10 is attached to the ball chain 30 from the side with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, it is easy for the operator to visually recognize and the work is easy and reliable.

The shape of the gripping portion may be a convex portion, and may be any concave and convex portion including a concave portion and a convex portion. Further, the gripping portion may be processed such as a knurl or a rough surface, and may be any as long as it is formed so as to increase the catch and friction of the finger.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The connecting tool 32 of this embodiment is bent near the center of the main body 12 to form a pair of side surfaces 34a and 34b, which are inclined surfaces, and the lower ends of the side surfaces 34a and 34b are opposed to each other. Bent bottom portions 36a, 36b
Are formed, and the whole is a triangle. Side part 34a
A corner between the bottom portion 36a and the bottom portion 36a is a contact portion 38 at which the tip of the bottom portion 36b contacts. When the tip of the bottom portion 36b contacts the contact portion 38, the cutouts 14, 20 coincide with each other. Is positioned.

A method of using the connecting tool 32 of this embodiment will be described. First, the main body 12 is elastically deformed by pressing the side portions 34a and 34b from the side, and the bottom portion 36 which is an end portion is formed.
The tip of b is brought into contact with the contact portion 38. In this state, the notches 14 and 20 coincide, and the connecting member 2 of the ball chain 30
8 is inserted into the cutouts 14 and 20. And the side part 34
a, 34b is released, and a force is applied to the side portions 34a, 34b in a direction away from each other due to the elastic force of the main body 12,
It is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking portion 18 and the inner end surface of the cutout portion 20, and is securely held. Irregularities, knurls, rough surfaces, and the like may be formed on the grips of the side surfaces 34a and 34b.

According to the connector 32 of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. Since the corner between the side surface portion 34a and the bottom surface portion 36a is the contact portion 38, there is no need to form the stopper or the like for positioning the end portion, and the structure is simple.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The connecting tool 40 of this embodiment is folded in two near the center of the main body 12, and formed with side surfaces 42a and 42b positioned at a predetermined interval therebetween and parallel to each other.
Bottom portions 44a and 44b which are bent at substantially right angles in the same direction are formed at the lower end portion of 42b, and the bottom portions 44a and 44b, which are the end portions, are in contact with each other. When the corners between the side surfaces 42a, 42b and the bottom surfaces 44a, 44b contact each other, the cutouts 14, 20 overlap and communicate with each other.

A method of using the connection tool 40 of this embodiment will be described. First, the side faces 42a, 42b are pressed from the side to elastically deform the main body 12, and the side faces 42a, 42b are pressed.
b and the corners between the bottom surfaces 44a and 44b are brought into contact with each other. In this state, the notches 14 and 20 match, and the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 is inserted into the notches 14 and 20. Then, when the pressing of the side portions 42a and 42b is released,
Due to the elastic force of the main body 12, a force is applied to the side portions 42a and 42b in a direction away from each other, and the connecting member 28 is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking portion 18 and the inner end surface of the cutout portion 22 and is securely held.

According to the connecting device 40 of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained. Since the main body 12 is formed in an L-shape and the ball 26 is not located inside the main body 12, it can be gripped regardless of the size of the ball 26.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
The connecting tool 46 of this embodiment is bent near the center of the main body 12 to form a pair of inclined side surfaces 48a and 48b, and the end of each side surface 48a and 48b is
50a, 50b projecting at right angles to the longitudinal direction of
It is formed as. The protruding pieces 50a and 50b are bent in a direction approaching each other, and a part thereof overlaps each other. The corner between the side surface 48a and the protruding piece 50a is
The leading end of the projecting piece 50b becomes the contacting part 52, and when the leading end of the protruding piece 50b comes into contact with the contacting part 52, the cutouts 14, 20 overlap and communicate with each other.

A method of using the connecting tool 46 of this embodiment will be described. First, the side surfaces 48a and 48b are pressed from the side to elastically deform the main body 12, and the tip of the protruding piece 50b is brought into contact with the contact portion 52. At this time, the notches 14 and 20 coincide with each other, and the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 is
Insert into 4 and 20. When the pressing of the side portions 48a and 48b is released, the resilience of the main body 12 causes the side portions 48a and 48b to release.
A force is applied to the portions a and 48b in a direction away from each other, and the connecting member 28 is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking portion 18 and the inner end surface of the notch portion 20 and is securely held.

According to the connecting tool 46 of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.
When the ball chain 2 is hung on another member such as a hook, the ball chain 30 can be held relatively perpendicularly.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the connecting device 52 of this embodiment, a rounded crown 54 is formed near the center of the main body 12, and a crown 5 is formed.
4 are a pair of inclined side surfaces 56a, 56b on both sides.
Are formed, and bottom surfaces 58a and 58b are formed below the side surfaces 56a and 56b. A narrow slit 60 is formed in the crown 54 along the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, and the ball 2 of the ball chain 30 is formed in the side surface 56 b.
A circular through-hole 62 larger than 6 is formed continuously at the end of the slit 60. A corner portion between the side surface portion 56a and the bottom surface portion 58a is a contact portion 64 with which the tip of the bottom surface portion 56b contacts.
When the tip of the bottom surface portion 58b contacts the contact portion 64, the cutout portions 14 and 20 overlap and communicate with each other.

A method of using the connecting tool 52 of this embodiment will be described. First, the main body 12 is elastically deformed by pressing the side portions 56a and 56b from the side, and the tip of the bottom portion 58b is brought into contact with the contact portion 64. At this time, the notches 14, 20
And the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 is inserted into the cutouts 14 and 20. When the pressing of the side portions 56a and 56b is released, the resilience of the main body 12 causes the side portions 56a and 56b to release.
a, 56b are applied with a force in a direction away from each other, and
8 is sandwiched between the inner end surface of the locking portion 18 and the inner end surface of the cutout portion 20 and is securely held.

According to the connecting tool 52 of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained, and the ball chain 30 can be held at two places. It can be connected or a separate ball chain 30 can be connected together.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The connecting tool 66 of this embodiment is different from the connecting tool 32 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the shape of the bottom portion 36 is different. The locking portion 18 is formed in an L-shape, and the groove at the corner is slightly bulged outward, and the locking portion 18 is formed to be long on the right side in the drawing. A concave notch 67 is formed in the bottom surface portion 36b so that the locking portion 18 matches.
A triangular projection 68 is formed on the side edge parallel to the side surface toward the opening side. The protrusion 68 is formed to be longer than the width of the locking portion 18, and the tip of the protrusion 68 reaches the side edge of the locking portion 18. The right side edge portion 70 of the projection 68 in the drawing is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the locking portion 18, and the left side edge portion 72 in the drawing is formed obliquely.

A method of using the connecting tool 66 of this embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 13, when the locking portion 18 and the concave portion 67 match in a state where no pressing force is applied or in a state where the pressing force is weakly applied, the ball chain 3 is attached to the locking portion 18.
0 of the ball chain 30 at this time.
Comes to the position 26a. And the side portions 34a, 34b
Is pressed from the side to elastically deform the main body 12, and the tip of the bottom surface portion 36b is brought into contact with the contact portion 38. At this time, the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 is
, And is pressed against the inner end surface of the locking portion 18, and the side edge portion 72 is further pressed by the connecting portion 28 of the ball chain 30, so that the entire bottom surface portion 36b relatively moves upward in the drawing. Then, the ball chain 30 gets over the protrusion 68 and enters the side edge portion 70 side of the protrusion 68. Thereafter, the side portion 34
When the pressing of the main body 12 is released, a force is applied to the side portions 34a and 34b in a direction away from each other by the elastic force of the main body 12, so that the connecting member 28 of the ball chain 30 and the side edge 70 of the projection 68 and the locking portion 18, the ball 26 is located at 26b and is reliably held.

According to the connector 66 of this embodiment, the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.
6 has a large notch 67, so that when the ball chain 30 is inserted, the notches 14, 67 do not have to be exactly aligned, and the workability is good. After inserting the ball chain 30 into the cutouts 14 and 67,
The ball chain 30 is securely locked to the projection 68 by a simple operation of only pressing the 4a and 34b, and can be easily attached with one touch.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The connecting tool 74 of this embodiment is formed by forming a round wire or round bar made of metal or resin into a ring shape, and has both ends flattened. The crushed portions are provided as a bottom surface portion 76a and a bottom surface portion 76b, and are located so as to be able to be stacked on each other. The notch 14 in the bottom surface portion 76a is
6 and the locking portion 18 are formed in an L-shape, and a cutout portion 20 is also formed in the bottom surface portion 76b.

The method of using the connector 74 of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and has the same effects. Further, since the main body 12 has a round bar shape, the strength can be increased.

Note that the ball chain connecting device of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the material and the shape of the square member can be appropriately changed. In each of the above embodiments, a concave portion which is a grip portion may be formed, knurled or roughened. Further, the crown 54, the slit 60, and the through hole 62 of the fifth embodiment may be formed in each of the other embodiments. Further, each of the holding portions may be a through hole or the like other than the cutout portion having one end opened.

[0035]

The ball chain connecting device of the present invention can be securely and easily attached to the ball chain by the elasticity of the connecting device itself, and can be detachably used repeatedly. Also, the attachment of the ball chain is easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ball chain connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a ball chain connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state of the ball chain connecting device of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state of a ball chain connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a right side view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of this embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a use state of a ball chain connector according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a use state of the ball chain connecting device of this embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a right side view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of this embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a use state of a ball chain connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a right side view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of this embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing a use state of the ball chain connector of the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a ball chain connector according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10, 40, 46, 52, 66, 74 Ball chain connector 12 Main body 14, 20 Notch 16 Introducing part 18 Locking part 22 Stopper 24 Recess 26 Ball 28 Connecting part

Claims (8)

[Claims] A plurality of balls (26) are connected to a connecting member (2).
8) are connected in series via a ball chain (3
In the ball chain connecting device (32) attached to (0), the band-shaped elastic body is connected to both ends (12a, 12b).
Has a body (12) bent in a direction approaching each other,
The ends (12a, 12b) of the main body (12) can be overlapped with each other when the main body (12) is elastically deformed inward, and the respective ends (12a, 12b) of the main body (12) are near the ends (12a, 12b). When they are superimposed on each other, they communicate with each other, and
8) are formed respectively, and the main body (1)
2) is pressed from the outside to elastically deform inward, the ball chain (30) is inserted into each of the communicating holding portions, the pressing is released, and the ball chain (30) is released by the elastic force of the main body (12). ) Is held between the inner end faces of the holding portions. 2. When the ends (12a, 12b) of the main body (12) overlap each other near the holding portion, the main body (12) has at least one end (12b).
A stopper (22) with which the main body (1) comes into contact is provided.
2. The ball chain connector according to claim 1, wherein the length at which the ends (2a, 12b) of (2) overlap each other is limited. 3. The ball chain connector according to claim 1, wherein a grip portion for pressing the main body (12) is provided on an outer surface of the main body (12). 4. The ball chain connector according to claim 3, wherein said grip portion comprises an uneven portion. 5. The ball chain connector according to claim 3, wherein the grip portion has a knurl or a rough surface. 6. A through hole (62) through which a ball chain (30) is inserted into said main body (12), and said through hole (6).
2) a slit (60) which is formed continuously with the main body (12) and extends in the center direction of the main body (12) along the longitudinal direction of the main body (12), and the ball chain (30) is provided in the through-hole (62). Is inserted, and the connecting member (28) of the ball chain (30) is inserted into the slit (60), and the ball (26) of the ball chain (30) is held in contact with the side edge of the slit (60). The ball chain connector according to claim 1. 7. The main body (1), wherein the pair of holding portions are
An elongated notch (1) formed substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of (2) and having one end opened on the same side surface of the main body (12).
At least one end of the pair of notches (14, 20) has a notch that is substantially perpendicular to the notch (14) and is elongated toward the end of the body (12). And an L-shaped locking portion (18) is provided.
The ball chain (30) is inserted into the cutouts (14, 20) from the side with respect to the longitudinal direction of the main body (12), and the locking portion (1) formed in one of the cutouts is provided.
2. The ball chain connector according to claim 1, which is sandwiched between the inner wall of (8) and the inner wall of the other cutout (20). 8. One of the pair of holding portions includes an introduction portion (16) cut out from a side of an end (12a) of the main body (12) and a leading end of the introduction portion (16). An L-shaped portion provided with a locking portion (18) formed at a substantially right angle toward an end portion (12a) of the main body (12), and the other of the pair of holding portions is formed in a longitudinal direction of the main body. A notch (6) whose one end is open to the side surface of the main body at a substantially right angle to the direction
7), a projection (68) protruding from an end of the notch (67) parallel to the longitudinal direction of the main body (12) to an opening on one side is provided. The side edge on the end side of the main body (12) extends from the base end to the tip end of the projection (68).
2. The ball chain connector according to claim 1, wherein the ball chain connector is inclined in a direction away from b).