US20070017266A1

US20070017266A1 - Key-ring clasp

Info

Publication number: US20070017266A1
Application number: US11/184,973
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Huang
Original assignee: Ho E Screw and Hardware Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ho E Screw and Hardware Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2007-01-25

Abstract

A clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp, the clasp includes a “C” shaped main body formed from wires; the lower end of the main body is punched to form a fixed latch seat receiving therein an elastic element and a latch to form a press-button opening/closing means; the latch seat has on its outer surface a slide way for straight displacement of a press button (extending radially of the clasp) of the latch in the slide way, to thereby control opening/closing of the space between the upper end of the latch and the upper end of the “C” shaped main body of the clasp. Thereby the key rings or a strip-like thing can be placed therein. By virtue that the latch seat on the outer surface of the opening/closing means is only slightly larger than the main body, the key rings can be directly mounted in the clasp and turn for 360 degrees for the convenience of mounting and dismantling the key rings.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an improved structure of clasp, and especially to a clasp for direct mounting therein key rings, the key rings can turn for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A conventional key-ring clasp is made by press forging, it is solid; the key rings are unable to turn for 360 degrees circularly along a bottom ring of a key-ring clasp.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing key-ring clasps made by press forging, wherein the clasps 91 are made each having an opening/closing means 94 connecting with a ring 93 rotatable on a protruding axle 92; wherein the rings 93 can be slipped thereover a plurality of key rings to get a function of collecting keys.
A opening/closing means 94 shown in FIG. 1 is operated taking advantage of an “L” shaped engaging block 941 to make effective of the function of the opening/closing clap 91; the engaging block 941 is pivotally connected to the clasp 91 by means of a pivot pin 942. An outer end 943 of the engaging block 941 protrudes out of the clasp 91 to form a press button able to be pressed along the direction of the arrow depicted, the entire “L” shaped engaging block 941 thus can rotate about the pivot pin 942 to make the other end of the engaging block 941 form an opening state relative to the clasp 91, then a strip-like thing or a loop for extending therein a belt of a pair of pants can be engaged in. Further, a spring 944 is provided to give an elastic restoring force to keep the opening/closing means 94 in a normally closed state.
An opening/closing means 95 shown in FIG. 2 is a press block 951 that is pivotally connected with the opening area of the clasp 91 by means of a pivot pin 952. When a pressing force is exerted on the press block 951 along the direction of the arrow depicted, the press block 951 is displaced to a position shown with a dotted line, so that the press block 951 is separated from the main body of the clasp 91 in order that the clasp 91 is opened to engage a strip-like thing. Similarly, a spring 953 is provided to give an elastic restoring force to keep the opening/closing means 95 in a normally closed state.
The above two conventional key-ring clasps are made by press forging, the lower areas of the clasps are designed to receive thicker parts of the opening/closing means, so that the key rings mounted thereon are unable to each turn for 360 degrees circularly along a bottom ring of a key-ring clasp; and they must be provided with protruding axles for mounting rings to allow inserting of key rings therein, these key rings are closed, it is quite inconvenient to mount or dismantle the key rings made from winding metallic wires. Particularly, when in operating the opening/closing means, a rotating force must be exerted; such rotation tends to induce a danger of clamping fingers. More importantly, in manufacturing such conventional structures, designing to add protruding axles and rings is necessary; and this largely increase the cost of production. The above stated are the main defects of the conventional key-ring clasps to be gotten rid off.
And more, FIG. 3 shows a clasp 80 formed by injection molding from wires, a wire is formed a “C” shaped main body 81, a rotating rod 82 with a pivot fulcrum on its lower end is provided at an opening, so that the rotating rod 82 can be exerted with a force to move it to a position depicted with dotted lines for opening to receive key rings. Such designing can allow the clasp mounting thereon with the key rings to turn for 360 degrees, however, the rotating rod 82 is moved by rotating, when a user presses to exert force, his fingers are subjected to being clamped, this is the main defect.
Moreover, FIG. 4 shows a clasp 70, wherein an opening/closing means 72 is opened by pressing and moving in a straight direction, and is made by press forging, the thicker part of the lower area of the clasp 70 is provided to receive the opening/closing means 72, so that the key rings mounted are unable to turn for 360 degrees.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp, the clasp includes a “C” shaped main body formed from wires; the lower end of the “C” shaped main body is punched to form a fixed latch seat receiving therein an elastic element and a latch to form a press-button opening/closing means; the latch seat is provided on its outer surface with a slide way for straight displacement of a press button (which button is extending radially of the clasp) of the latch in the slide way to thereby control opening/closing of the space between the upper end of the latch and the upper end of the “C” shaped main body of the clasp. Thereby the key rings or a strip-like thing can be placed therein. By virtue that the transverse sizes of the press-button opening/closing means respectively are only slightly larger than the diameter of the “C” shaped main body, the key rings can be directly mounted in the clasp and can turn for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp for the convenience of mounting and dismantling of the key rings.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp, wherein the key rings can be directly mounted in the clasp which does not have the designing of a conventional ring to thereby reduce the process of manufacturing this ring part, and thereby largely reduce the cost of production.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp, wherein the press-button opening/closing means of the clasp is operated to move in a straight direction along an outer side of the “C” shaped main body, the defect of hurting by clamping fingers of a user is hard to be incurred.
And further, the clasp of the present invention can be further changed for utilization; two clasps can be connected to each other, one for hooking a strip-like thing, and the other for collecting key rings.
Besides, the present invention can be directly connected with an inserting strip for insertion connecting to a belt of a user.
The present invention will be apparent in the novelty as well as the features thereof after reading the detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof in reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic plain view of a conventional clasp;
FIG. 2 is a schematic plain view of another conventional clasp;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plain view of a further conventional clasp formed by injection molding from wires;
FIG. 4 is a schematic plain view of a further conventional clasp having an opening/closing means moving in a straight direction;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is an anatomic perspective view showing the elements of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the actions of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing use of another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing use of a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the clasp structure provided by the present invention includes a “C” shaped main body 10 and a press-button opening/closing means 20 provided at an opening formed on the “C” shaped main body 10.
The “C” shaped main body 10 is formed by injection molding from wires, the press-button opening/closing means 20 is punched to form a fixed latch seat 21 at the opening of and on the lower end 11 of the “C” shaped main body 10. The height of the latch seat 21 is smaller than the length of the opening of the “C” shaped main body 10. The latch seat 21 forms a hollow portion 211 opened upwards and extending downwards to receive an elastic element 22 and a latch 23. The elastic element 22 is abutted against and between the bottom surface of the latch 23 and an inner bottom surface of the hollow portion 211 to give the latch 23 with an elastic restoring force. Referring to FIG. 7, the bottom portion of the latch 23 can be in the form of a sleeve in order that the elastic element 22 can be received in the sleeve.
The latch seat 21 is provided on its outer surface with a slide way 212 for placing therein a short rod 232 (with a smaller diameter) of a press button 231 which is extending radially of the clasp of the latch 23, so that the press button 231 can be pressed to make straight displacement of in the slide way 212, to thereby control opening/closing of the space between the upper end 233 of the latch 23 and the upper end 12 of the “C” shaped main body 10 of the clasp. The elastic element 22 provides an elastic restoring force for upward moving of the latch 23, and to normally keep closing of the upper end 233 of the latch 23 relative to the upper end 12 of the “C” shaped main body 10.
Referring to FIG. 7 again, normally the press button 231 is not exerted with pressing forces as shown by arrows in the drawing, the pushing force provided by the elastic element 22 keeps closing of the space between the upper end 233 of the latch 23 and the upper end 12 of the “C” shaped main body 10 as is shown in the drawing with solid lines. And when the press button 231 is exerted with a down pressing force, the short rod 232 displaces along the slide way 212 to the position depicted with dotted lines as shown in the drawing, now the space between the upper end 233 of the latch 23 and the upper end 12 of the “C” shaped main body 10 is opened by separation of the latter two in favor of hooking of the clasp into a strip-like thing or placing therein key rings.
One thing worth noting, in operating the present invention, by the fact that the transverse sizes of the latch seat 21 on the outer side of the press-button opening/closing means 20 respectively are only slightly larger than the diameter of the “C” shaped main body 10 but is far smaller than the diameters of normal key rings 30, the key rings 30 can be directly mounted on the clasp; and as shown in FIG. 9, the key rings 30 can be turned for 360 degrees circularly along the clasp for the convenience of mounting and dismantling of the key rings 30.
And in operating the press button 231 on the press-button opening/closing means 20 for opening, the press button 231 displaces in a straight direction along the slide way 212 on the latch seat 21, and the diameter of the press button 231 is larger than the width respectively of the short rod 232 and the slide way 212, thereby the problem of hurting by clamping fingers of a user is hard to be incurred, and thereby the clasp is much better than conventional clasps.
Further please refer to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, two clasps of the present invention can be connected with each other by means of a chain 40, one of the two clasps is for hooking a strip-like thing, and the other is for collecting the key rings 30.
Referring to FIG. 10, the clasp mounted with the key rings 30 of the present invention can be directly connected with an inserting strip 50 for insertion connecting to a belt of a user.
In conclusion, the novel clasp for key rings of the present invention is made according to a brand-new structural designing; having thus described the invention having highly practical effects, what I claim as new and desire to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Claims

1. A clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees, said clasp comprises:

a “C” shaped main body formed from wires to have two straight sections and two curved sections, and

a press-button opening/closing means provided at an opening formed on one of said straight sections of said “C” shaped main body that has an upper end and a lower end, said press-button opening/closing means includes:

a latch seat formed by punching on said lower end of said “C” shaped main body, and with a height smaller than the length of said opening of said “C” shaped main body, said latch seat forms a hollow portion opened upwards and extending downwards, and is provided on its outer surface with a straight slide way;

a latch provided in a hollow portion of said latch seat, a press button is extended radially of said clasp from a short rod with a smaller diameter than that of said clasp, said short rod is placed between said latch seat and said slide way;

an elastic element to give said latch with an elastic restoring force and to normally keep closed an upper end of said latch relative to said upper end of said “C” shaped main body;

when said press button is exerted with a down pressing force, said short rod displaces along said straight slide way, to open a space between said upper end of said latch and said upper end of said “C” shaped main body through the separation of said two upper ends for hooking said clasp onto another object or placing therein said key rings, said key rings placed in are adapted to turning for 360 degrees circularly along said clasp.

2. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein, said “C” shaped main body is a bent rod with a uniform diameter.

3. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a bottom portion of said latch is in the form of a sleeve in order that said elastic element is received in said sleeve.

4. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the diameter of said press button is larger than the width respectively of said short rod and said slide way.

5. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, further comprising another clasp, the same as said clasp, said another clasp being connected with said clasp by means of a chain, wherein said another clasp is for hooking said another object, and said clasp is for collecting said key rings.

6. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein said space formed between said upper end of said latch and said upper end of said “C” shaped main body defines the only opening in the “C shaped main body.

7. The clasp for mounting therein key rings adapted to turning for 360 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein said straight slide away comprises a “U” shaped opening having two sidewalls, a bottom wall and an upper opening at an end of the slide away.