WO2004039185A2

WO2004039185A2 - Cord lock

Info

Publication number: WO2004039185A2
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001847
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gye Youl Kim
Original assignee: Gye Youl Kim
Priority date: 2002-10-30
Filing date: 2003-09-08
Publication date: 2004-05-13
Also published as: AU2003260981A8; KR200301484Y1; AU2003260981A1; WO2004039185A3

Abstract

A cord lock used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its available service length. A body section has a front wall, sidewalls and a bottom wall. The front wall is defined with a first opening through which the cord passes. A control section has a top wall and an inside wall. The top wall closes a space defined in the body section, and the inside wall is inserted into the space to be positioned behind the front wall and defined with a second opening through which the cord passes. A connecting section is injection-molded integrally with the control section and body section and defined with a pair of first grooves through which the cord passes. An elastic member is coupled to the connecting section to bias the control section in a direction where the cord is locked.

Description

CORD LOCK

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a cord lock used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its available service length and, more particularly, to a cord lock which is constructed in a simple manner to ease manufacturing, improve productivity and ensure convenience.

Background Art

Generally, a cord lock is widely used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its available service length. Various shapes of the cord lock have been disclosed in the art.

A typical example of the cord lock is described in Japanese Patent Laid- open Publication No. 2001-70012 dated March 31, 2001.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the conventional cord lock described in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2001-70012 comprises a receptacle- shaped cord lock body 1, a locking member 2, and a pair of corrugated elastic pieces 32. The cord lock body 1 is defined, in a sidewall thereof, with a first opening 10 through which strands of a cord pass. An upper end of the cord lock body 1 is opened, and a lower end of the cord lock body 1 is closed. The locking member 2 is received in the cord lock body 1 in a manner such that it can be moved through the opened upper end of the cord lock body 1 in a vertical direction. The locking member 2 is defined with a second opening 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the cord lock body 1. The locking member 2 can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position of the locking member 2, the first and second openings 10 and 20 are aligned with each other to allow free movement of the cord. In the unlocking position of the locking member 2, the first and second openings 10 and 20 are disaligned from each other to prevent movement of the cord. Lower ends of the corrugated elastic pieces 32 are placed on a bottom wall 14 of the cord lock body 1. The elastic pieces 32 bias the locking member 2 upward and project the locking member 2 out of the upper end of the cord lock body 1.

The conventional cord lock constructed as mentioned above is not free from shortcomings in that, since the cord lock comprises the receptacle-shaped cord lock body 1, the locking member 2 and the corrugated elastic pieces 32, the construction of the cord lock is made complicated, by which manufacturing costs are increased and productivity is degraded.

Also, if the cord does not pass through the first opening 10 of the cord lock body 1 and the second opening 20 of the locking member 2, the cord lock body 1 and the locking member 2 are unintentionally separated from each other, by which a probability of the cord lock body 1 and/or the locking member 2 to be lost is increased and assemblability of the cord lock is deteriorated.

As a result, in the conventional cord lock, because the component elements have complex configurations and the number of the component elements is substantial, manufacturing costs are increased, productivity is degraded, and assemblability is deteriorated.

Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cord lock which is constructed in a simple manner to ease manufacturing, improve productivity and ensure convenience. In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a cord lock suitable for being used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its available service length, comprising: a body section having a front wall, sidewalls and a bottom wall which delimit a space, the front wall being defined with a first opening through which strands of the cord pass; a control section having a top wall and an inside wall for adjusting an available service length of the cord, the top wall being positioned on an upper end of the body section to close the space of the body section, the inside wall being inserted into the space of the body section to be positioned behind the front wall and defined with a second opening through which the strands of the cord pass; a connecting section injection-molded integrally with the control section and the body section to connect them with each other, and defined, at both sides thereof, with a pair of first grooves through which the strands of the cord pass; and an elastic member coupled to the connecting section to bias the control section in a direction where the cord passing through the first opening of the body section and the second opening of the control section is locked, and defined, at substantially a middle portion thereof, with a pair of second grooves which assist the elastic member to be firmly coupled to the connecting section. By the features of the present invention, since a body section, a control section and a connecting section are integrally injection-molded to form a single component element, manufacturing costs are decreased and productivity is improved. Also, because it is possible to adjust an available service length of a cord through one-touch operation of the control section, convenient use of the cord lock is ensured.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of a conventional cord lock;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an inner structure of the conventional cord lock; FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a cord lock in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a construction of the cord lock according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state wherein a stopper of a control section is engaged with an edge defining an opening of a body section in the cord lock according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocking position of the cord lock according to the present invention, in which a cord is unlocked to be capable of being freely adjusted in its length; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locking position of the cord lock according to the present invention, in which the cord is locked to be incapable of being adjusted in its length.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a cord lock in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a construction of the cord lock according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state wherein a stopper of a control section is engaged with an edge defining an opening of a body section in the cord lock according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an unlocking position of the cord lock according to the present invention, in which a cord is unlocked to be capable of being freely adjusted in its length; and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a locking position of the cord lock according to the present invention, in which the cord is locked to be prevented from being adjusted in its length.

Referring to Figs. 3 through 7, a cord lock in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to be used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its range of service length. The cord lock comprises a body section 100, a control section 200, a connecting section 300 and an elastic member 400.

The body section 100 has a front wall 101, sidewalls 103 and a bottom wall 104 which delimit a space 105 to receive a portion of the cord 'W' used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. The front wall 101 is defined with a first opening 102 through which strands of the cord 'W pass. The first opening 102 has substantially an elliptical sectional shape.

A rib 106 having substantially a U-shaped sectional shape is projectedly formed on an inner surface of the body section 100 in the space 105 so that unintentional movement of an inside wall 201, as will be described below in detail, of the control section 200 is prevented by the rib 106 and the inside wall

201 properly operates within a predetermined space portion.

The control section 200 functions to adjust an available service length of the cord 'W. The control section 200 has a top wall 206 and the inside wall 201. The top wall 206 is positioned on an upper end of the body section 100 to close the space 105 of the body section 100. The inside wall 201 is inserted into the space 105 of the body section 100 to be positioned behind the front wall 101. The inside wall 201 is defined with a second opening 202 through which the strands of the cord 'W' pass. The second opening 202 also has substantially an elliptical sectional shape. The corners of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 are formed with rounded portions 205, which are rounded to have a predetermined radius of curvature, so that the inside wall 201 is not interfered by the sidewalls 103 of the body section 100 when the inside wall 201 is positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100. A front surface of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 has an inclined surface portion 204 so that a lower end of the inside wall 201 is not interfered by an inner surface of the front wall 101 of the body section 100. A stopper projection 203 is formed on the front surface of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 so that the inside wall 201 is not unintentionally separated from the front wall 101 of the body section 100. The connecting section 300 is injection-molded integrally with the control section 200 and the body section 100 to connect them with each other. The connecting section 300 is defined, at both sides thereof, with a pair of first grooves 301 and 301' through which the strands of the cord 'W' pass.

Hinge portions 302 and 302' having a predetermined thin thickness 't' are respectively formed at a boundary region between the connecting section 300 and body section 100 and at a boundary region between the connecting section 300 and the control section 200 so that the control section 200 can be softly rotated when the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 is moved to be positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100. That is to say, due to the fact that the hinge portions 302 and 302' of a predetermined thin thickness 't' are respectively formed at the boundary region between the connecting section 300 and body section 100 and at the boundary region between the connecting section 300 and the control section 200, when performing assembling work to convert the cord lock of the present invention from an unfolded state shown in Fig. 4 to a folded position shown in Fig. 5, the^' inside wall 201 of the control section 200 can be easily positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100.

A pair of curved protrusions 303 are formed on the connecting section 300 so that the elastic member 400 as will be described below in detail can be firmly affixed to the connecting section 300 when the elastic member 400 is coupled to the connecting section 300.

As can be readily seen from Fig. 7, the elastic member 400 is coupled to the connecting section 300 to bias the control section 200 in a direction where the cord 'W' passing through the first opening 102 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section 200 is locked by the cord lock of the present invention. The elastic member 400 is defined, at substantially a middle portion thereof, with a pair of second grooves 401 and 401' which aid the elastic member 400 to be firmly coupled to the connecting section 300.

Hereafter, working effects of the cord lock according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described in detail.

First, in the cord lock according to the present invention, since the control section 200 and the connecting section 300 are injection-molded integrally with each other to form a single component element, manufacturing costs are decreased and productivity is improved. Further, in the cord lock according to the present invention, after the elastic member 400 is coupled to the connecting section 300, by applying force to the control section 200 in a direction shown by the arrow 'A' in Fig. 4, the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 is positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100. In this way, the cord lock can be easily assembled by any one.

In the meanwhile, in the case of coupling the elastic member 400 to the connecting section 300, due to the fact that the pair of curved protrusions 303 are formed on the connecting section 300, it is possible to couple the elastic member 400 to the connecting section 300 while preventing the elastic member 400 from being unintentionally decoupled from the connecting section 300.

Further, in the case of positioning the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100, due to the fact that the corners of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 are formed with the rounded portions 205 and the front surface of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 has the inclined surface portion 204, the inside wall 201 can be easily positioned behind the front wall 101 without interference from the sidewalls 103 and the front wall 101 of the body section 100.

Moreover, in the case of positioning the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100, due to the fact that the hinge portions 302 and 302' having a predetermined thin thickness 't' are respectively formed at the boundary region between the connecting section 300 and body section 100 and at the boundary region between the connecting section 300 and the control section 200, the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 can be more easily positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100. In addition, in a state wherein the inside wall 201 of the control section

200 is positioned behind the front wall 101 of the body section 100, even when the cord 'W' does not pass through the first opening 101 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section 200, as can be readily seen from Fig. 5, since the stopper projection 203 formed on the front surface of the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 is engaged with an edge of the body section 100 which defines the first opening 102, the inside wall 201 is prevented from being unintentionally separated from the front wall 101.

Besides, in a state wherein the strands of the cord 'W' pass through the pair of first grooves 301 and 301' of the connecting section 300, the first opening 101 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section

200 as shown in Fig. 3, the control section 200 is biased by elastic force of the elastic member 400 in a direction shown by the arrow 'B' in Fig. 7. By this fact, as the first opening 101 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section 200 are disaligned from each other, the cord 'W' is prevented from being moved and is maintained in a locked position.

When it is necessary to adjust an available service length of the cord 'W' which passes through the pair of first grooves 301 and 301' of the connecting section 300, the first opening 101 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section 200, as a user applies force to the control section in a direction shown by the arrow 'B', the first opening 101 of the body section 100 and the second opening 202 of the control section 200 are aligned with each other. By this fact, the cord 'W' can be moved to allow the cord 'W to be easily adjusted in its available service length.

Therefore, because it is possible to adjust an available service length of the cord 'W' through a one-touch operation of the control section 200, an available service length of the cord 'W' can be easily adjusted by any user.

Also, by pushing the control section 200, the inside wall 201 of the control section 200 can properly operate within the predetermined space portion to lock and unlock the cord 'W' while prevented from being unintentionally moved due to the presence of the rib 106.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the cord lock according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, provides advantages in that, since a body section, a control section and a connecting section are integrally injection-molded to form a single component element, manufacturing costs are decreased and productivity is improved. Also, because it is possible to adjust an available service length of a cord through a one-touch operation of the control section, convenient use of the cord lock is ensured.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A cord lock suitable for being used for clothes, knapsacks, etc. to allow a cord to be adjusted in its available service length, comprising: a body section having a front wall, sidewalls and a bottom wall which delimit a space, the front wall being defined with a first opening tlirough which strands of the cord pass; a control section having a top wall and an inside wall for adjusting an available service length of the cord, the top wall being positioned on an upper end of the body section to close the space of the body section, the inside wall being inserted into the space of the body section to be positioned behind the front wall and defined with a second opening through which the strands of the cord pass; a connecting section injection-molded integrally with the control section and the body section to connect them with each other, and defined, at both sides thereof, with a pair of first grooves through which the strands of the cord pass; and an elastic member coupled to the connecting section to bias the control section in a direction where the cord passing through the first opening of the body section and the second opening of the control section is locked, and defined, at substantially a middle portion thereof, with a pair of second grooves which assist the elastic member to be firmly coupled to the connecting section.

2. The cord lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein a rib having substantially a U-shaped sectional shape is projectedly formed on an inner surface of the body section in the space so that unintentional movement of the inside wall of the control section is prevented by the rib and the inside wall properly operates within a predetermined space portion.

3. The cord lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein corners of the inside wall of the control section is formed with rounded portions so that the inside wall is not interfered by the sidewalls of the body section when the inside wall is positioned behind the front wall of the body section, a front surface of the inside wall of the control section has an inclined surface portion so that a lower end of the inside wall is not interfered by an inner surface of the front wall of the body section, and a stopper projection is formed on the front surface of the inside wall of the control section so that the inside wall is not unintentionally separated from the front wall of the body section.

4. The cord lock as set forth in claim 1, wherein thinned hinge portions are respectively formed at a boundary region between the connecting section and body section and at a boundary region between the connecting section and the control section so that the control section can be softly rotated when the inside wall of the control section is moved to be positioned behind the front wall of the body section, and a pair of curved protrusions are formed on the connecting section so that the elastic member can be firmly affixed to the connecting section when the elastic member is coupled to the connecting section.