WO2001067913A1

WO2001067913A1 - Apparatus for coupling accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2001067913A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/000296
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jang-Kyu Seong
Original assignee: Seong Jang Kyu
Priority date: 2000-02-29
Filing date: 2001-02-27
Publication date: 2001-09-20
Also published as: AU3774801A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for coupling accessory, such as pendant, ring, cuff button, tiepin as well as earring, having coupling able to separate and combine for altering the two different styles. One end of first member (24) forms a female-connector (32). The female-connector (32) has a cutout (29) at the center and a receiver (30). A locking pin (22) with locker (20) is slidable along the groove of female-connector (32). One end of second member (26) forms a male-connector (28) with groove. The male-connector (28) of second member (26) inserts into the cutout (29) of first member (24). The locking pin (22) with locker (20) slides through the groove of male-connector (28). Then, the locker (20) turns down at the receiver (30) to lock the coupling.

Description

APPRATUS FOR COUPLING ACCESSARY

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for coupling accessory, more particularly apparatus for coupling accessory being capable to easily combine and separate for altering the two different styles with an earring as a basic form, added to it another accessory such as pendent, ring, cuff button and tiepin.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Generally, the accessory such as an earring and pendent is selectively worn for decorating oneself depending on the vogue or one's favorite, so that one possesses many different types of accessory.

Among the one's possession, let's examine the earrings. There are two types of earring, i.e. a pendent style and piercing style. Because the earring has a solid shape, it can not be separated itself regardless the wearing styles. Thus, the designed earring gives only one image. Besides the earring, one may possess other kinds of accessory such as a pendent. It also gives only one image for the user because it can not alter its design.

Recently, in order to solve the above problems, the accessoiy for altering the two designs front and back has designed to wear and been sold in the market. Fig. 1 shows a divided first member 2 and second member 4 and a pin 6 and formed to alter the design front and back.

There is a rod 8 between the divided parts to combine the first member 2 and second member 4. When the number of usage is increased, the connecting portion of rod 8 is easily worn off to be loosened. Thus, it often happens that the accessory is freely separated and lost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is designed by considering the conventional problems. The purpose of the present invention is to provide the apparatus for coupling accessory being not only easily dividable into two parts and combinable together, but also wearing the accessory when a newly designed product comes to the market as one can buy only one side of favorite part, not necessarily purchasing both of them. In order to achieve the above purpose, the apparatus for coupling accessory comprises a female-connector 32 forming a cutout 29 at the center of one end of first member 24, a locking pin 22 with a locker 20 being slidably inserted in the female-connector 32, a receiver 30 being formed for locking the locker 20 at one end of the female-connector 32 by turning down the locker 20, a male-connector 28 of second member 26 for inserting into the cutout 29 of first member 24 and allowing the locking pin 22 with locker 20 sliding through an opened slot of male-connector 28.

Also, an alternative example of the coupling for accessory of the present invention, it comprises a connecting axis being formed at the end part of first member to the thickness direction, a U-shape clamp having a hooking part being rotatable against the connecting axis, a plate spring part being disposed at the top portion of connecting axis of the first member and formed to hold elastically the connecting axis when the U-shape clamp relocates on the curvature of the first member. Another alternative example of the coupling for accessory of the present invention, it comprises a hooking part being formed bent-up at the end part of first member, a plate spring part being elastically held the hooking part by abutting the end part of the hook and a hooking bar being disposed on the second member for inserting the hooking part and plate spring part of the first member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows a conventional accessory. Fig. 2 shows an apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention.

Fig. 3a is a cut out drawing of the apparatus for coupling accessory of Fig. 2.

Fig. 3b is a locking status of the apparatus for coupling accessory of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a locking state showing a ring style according to the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention. Fig. 6 is another alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows a locking part of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a coupling state of a necklace by using the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The coupling for accessory of the present invention as comprised above will be discussed in detail accompanying with the drawings as follows.

The present invention is a ring style of accessory which is formed two dividable semi-circular shapes of first member 24 and second member 26 for possibly altering and combining the different designs.

As shown in Fig. 2, a female-connector 32 is formed a cutout 29 at the center of one end of first member 24. A locking pin 22 with a locker 20 being inserted into the female-connector 32 is slidable back and forth to lock at a receiver 30.

The locking pin 22 being inserted into the female-connector 32 of the first member 24 slides along the female-connector 32 until reaching the receiver 30 being located at the end of female-connector 32 for locking at the receiver 30.

The cutout 29 being formed between the female-connector 32 and receiver 30 and at the center of one end of first member 24 is for inserting a male-connector 28 of second member 26. When the cutout 29 of the first member 24 is inserted by the male- connector 28 of second member 26 as shown in Figs. 3a and 3b, the female- connector 32 and receiver 30 of the first member 24 and the male-connector 28 of second member 26 are aligned for allowing the locking pin 22 with locker 20 sliding through an opened slot of the male-connector 28. The diameter of locking pin 22 is larger than the clearance of opened slot of the male-connector 28, so that the lock 20 with locking pin 22 slides through the slot without deviation. The lock 20 with locking pin 22 moves through the male-connector 28 to reach the receiver 30 of the first member 24, then the lock 20 turns down to lock at the receiver 30. The first member 24 and second member 26 being combined by a rod shape of locking pin 22 is designed to open both sides. At the opposite end of the locking pin 22, a locking rod 36 is formed to pierce an ear.

The locking rod 36 does not need to completely close the first member 24 and second member 26 for locking. Because it has designed to lock only the end portion of the locking rod 36, it is easy to pierce the earlobe.

A free end of the locking rod 36 is elastically formed to stay outward than a circular shape being made by the connection of first member 24 and second member 26. Thus, the free end of the locking rod 36 is forcedly connected to a position of second member 26 against the position of the end portion of the locking rod 36 being fixed at the end of the first member 24.

The free end of the locking rod 36 has several notches 37 along the curvature for adjusting user's earlobe thickness. One of the notches 37 of the locking rod 36 formed at the end portion of the first member 24 is held by a detent 35 being formed at the end of the second member 26. Thus, the user having a thin earlobe can adjust the ring diameter to make smaller by pushing the first and second members inwardly.

As shown in Fig. 3, because the elasticity of the locking rod 36 activates outward, the notch 37 is not easily deviated from the detent 35.

When the locking rod 36 formed on the first member 24 is released from the second member 26, the first member 24 is pushed down inwardly to deviate the notches 37 of the locking rod 36 from the detent 35 of the second member 26. Alternatively, simply pull the first member 24 and the second member 26 outward direction each other, the notch 37 of the locking rod 36 slides to release the detent 35 of the second member 26. As shown in Fig. 4, if the first member 24 is pushed all way to touch the end part of second member 26, the L shape hook formed on the end of second member 26 is locked at the stepped abut 41 formed on the end of first member 24 for forming a ring shape.

If the first member 24 and second member 26 are coupled each other, it could be used an earring as well as a ring.

An alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention will be discussed accompanying with drawings as follows.

Fig. 5 is an alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention. In the alternative example of the present invention, the end portion of the first member 24 has a hinge 58 and a foldable U-shape clamp 52.

At the end part of the second member 26 being matched with the first member 24, there is a latch bar 50 to latch the foldable U-shape clamp 52 being formed on the end part of the first member 24. There are two arms 53a, 53b being formed at the end of the second member 26 to attach the latch bar 50. The U-shape clamp 52 being installed on the first member 24 is inserted between the latch bar 50 being attached on the end portion of the second member 26. Thus the first member 24 and second member 26 are able to open both side to pierce the earlobe. As be seen in Figs. 5a and 5b, the U-shape clamp 52 being installed on the first member 24 has a smooth bent up handle 54 being longer than the distance of hinge point to bent end for easily hooking up the latch bar 50 being attached on the end portion of the second member 26.

The U-shape clamp 52 being installed on the hinge 58 of the first member 24 has a square boss 60 to prevent a free rotation. There is a plate spring 56 being installed above the hinge 58 for elastically holding the U- shape clamp 52 at a certain position by contacting one surface of the square boss 60.

Because only one end of the plate spring 56 is fixed on the first member 24, the free end of the plate spring 56 must have elastic support.

As be seen in Fig. 5c, the plate spring 56 will hold down to restrain the rotation of U-shape clamp 52 by contacting other flat surface of the square boss 60 when it rotates 90°, due to flat surfaces of the square boss 60.

As be seen in Figs. 5c and 5d, the plate spring 56 is momentarily lifted up and bounced back to hold the U-shape clamp 52 by pressing down the contacted flat surface of the square boss 60 while the smooth bent up handle 54 is inserting through the hook bar 50 of the second member 26.

The configuration of U-shape clamp 52 of the first member 24 and the hook bar 50 of second member 26 are easily coupled and separated each other, it is possible to switch another second member having different designs. As shown in Fig. 7, the locking rod 36 is formed on the upper portion of the first member 24 and the second member 26 for piercing the user's earlobe with more than two notches 37 along the lengthwise. There is a L- shape hook 38 being formed on the end of second member 26 to prevent apart the first member 24 and the second member 26.

The mechanism of the locking rod 36 being formed on the upper portion of the first member 24 and the second member 26 for hanging on the user's earlobe and the L-shape hook 38 are same as before. Thus, the detail descriptions for the mechanism of the locking rod 36 will be skipped here. Another alternative example of the coupling for accessory of the present invention will be discussed accompanying with drawings as follows.

Fig. 6 is another alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention. And Fig. 7 shows a locking rod of the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention. In another alternative example of the apparatus for coupling accessory, the first member 24 and the second member 26 are separated, but not opened apart each other, either one of the first member 24 or the second member 26 has formed a locking rod 36.

There is an end curved up hook 40 being formed at the end of the first member 24. At the tip of the end curved up hook 40, a plate spring 42 is always contacted on it. Because the plate spring 42 is elastically contacting with the tip of end curved up hook 40, the loop is always closed. When a hook bar 44 being formed on the second member 26 is inserted to the closed loop of the first member 24, the plate spring 42 is momentarily pushed up to hook. As be seen in Fig. 6, the plate spring 42 is little stuck out from the tip of the end curved up hook 40 in order to easily hook up the end curved up hook 40 being formed on the first member 24 to the hook bar 44 being formed on the second member 26. Because the plate spring 42 is little stuck out from the tip of the end curved up hook 44, the lower stuck out portion of the plate spring 42 is pushed up to hook the hook bar 44 being formed on the second member 26.

Once the hook bar 44 is inserted into the loop of the end curved up hook 40, the plate spring 42 is bounced back to close the loop. Thus, the hook bar 44 will not deviate from the loop.

Reversibly, when the first member 24 is separated from the second member 26, the plate spring 42 will be momentarily pushed up to the opposite direction against the elasticity of the plate spring 42 being maintained the closed loop of the end curved up hook 40 being formed on the first member 24 by the hook bar 44 being formed on the second member 26.

When the first member 24 is separated from the second member 26, it is easy to switch another second member having different design.

As be seen in Fig. 6b, in order to easily hook up the hook bar 44 to the closed loop being formed by the end curved up hook 40 and the plate spring 42 being attached on the first member 24, one end of the hook bar 44 forms a slim and stream line shape. Because one end of the hook bar 44 has a slim and streamline shape, the hook bar 44 can easily snap into the loop by pushing it on the contacting point of the loop.

As shown in Fig. 7, the locking rod 36 being formed on the upper portion of the first member 24 and the second member 26 for piercing the user's earlobe has more than two notches 37 along the lengthwise. There is a L-shape hook 38 being formed on the end of second member 26 to prevent apart the first member 24 and the second member 26.

The mechanism of the L-shape hook 38 and the locking rod 36 being formed on the upper portion of the first member 24 and the second member 26 for hanging on the user's earlobe are same as before. Thus, the detail descriptions for the mechanism of the locking rod 36 will be skipped here.

As shown in Fig. 8, because the configuration of the first member 24 and second member 26 is formed to easily couple and uncouple each other, it is possibly applied not only ring, earring but also necklace.

It is possible to combine the accessory of the present invention having the first member 24 and second member 26 with an accessory 82 hanging on the necklace chain 80.

In the present invention, the apparatus for coupling accessory is divided into two members, but it is possible to be divided into more than three members. It is also possible for the first member and second member to be a different size.

Accordingly, the apparatus for coupling accessory of the present invention is able not only to easily couple or uncouple the separable accessory but also to prevent lost due to loose the coupling.

Because it has a configuration being easily divided into two members and replaced another designed member, it has an effect to have many different designs by combining them. Thus, the user does not necessarily buy many kinds of accessory.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for coupling accessory divided into a first member 24 and a second member 26, either one of the divided members has a locking rod 36 to prevent disengaging of the first member 24 and the second member 26, said apparatus comprising : a female-connector 32 forming a cutout 29 at the center of one end of the first member 24; a locking pin 22 with a locker 20 being slidably inserted in said female-connector 32; a receiver 30 being formed for locking the locker 20 at one end of the female-connector 32 by turning down the locker 20; and a male-connector 28 being foπned on the second member 26 for inserting into the cutout 29 of the first member 24 and allowing the locking pin 22 with locker 20 sliding through an opened slot of said male-connector 28.

2. An apparatus for coupling accessory divided into a first member 24 and a second member 26, either one of the divided members has a locking rod 36 to prevent disengaging of the first member 24 and the second member 26, said apparatus comprising: an U-shape clamp 52 having a smooth bent up handle 54 being ratably fixed by a hinge 58 and being disposed at the end portion of the first member 24; a plate spring 56 being installed above the hinge 58 for elastically holding the U-shape clamp 52 at a certain rotating position; and a latch bar 50 being formed on the second member 26 and matched with the first member 24 for latching said U-shape clamp 52 of the first member 24.

3 An apparatus for coupling accessory as claimed in claim 2, wherein said U-shape clamp 52 has a square boss 60 for surface contacting to prevent a free rotation.

4. An apparatus for coupling accessory divided into a first member 24 and a second member 26, either one of the divided members has a locking rod 36 to prevent disengaging of the first member 24 and the second member 26, said apparatus comprising : an end curved up hook 40 being formed at the end of the first member 24; a plate spring 42 being always contacted at the tip of said end curved up hook 40; and a hook bar 44 of the second member 26 for inserting a closed loop of the end curved up hook 40 and the plate spring 42 of the first member 24.

5. An apparatus for coupling accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plate spring 42 has a stream line shape of sectional view.

6. An apparatus for coupling accessory as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plate spring 42 is stuck out little bit from the tip of the end curved up hook 40.

7. An apparatus for coupling accessory as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 4, wherein more than two notches 37 are formed along the length of the locking rod 36 and a L-shaped hook 38 is formed on the end of the first member 24 or the second member 26 to prevent the first member 24 and the second member 26 being apart.