WO2006126765A1

WO2006126765A1 - String fixing device

Info

Publication number: WO2006126765A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/004210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ho-Seob Lee
Original assignee: Ho-Seob Lee
Priority date: 2005-05-25
Filing date: 2005-12-09
Publication date: 2006-11-30
Also published as: KR100513839B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a string-fixing device. The string-fixing device in which a string is fixed by a unit- fixing part formed in a main body, comprises the unit fixing part 11, which includes a first pull-out hole 111 formed to penetrate the main body 10 and a second pull-out hole 112 formed near an outer edge of the first pull-out hole 111, in which a winding part 113 is provided between the first pull-out hole 111 and the second pull-out hole 112, and a string-fixing recess having a predetermined depth is formed on bottom of the main body. In use of the string-fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention, a string is tightened and fixed in place as a user pulls both ends of the string and the string is pulled out through the unit fixing part.

Description

STRING FIXING DEVICE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a string-fixing device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a string-fixing device, in which a string is tightened as both ends of a string, pulled by a user, are drawn out through a unit fixing part of the string- fixing device, and fixed as a portion of the string is pressed by tensile force of the string exposed outside the string-fixing device, so that a user can easily put on cloths or shoes or can simply tie or untie a string of daily products, and further it is possible to enhance reliability and productivity of daily products with a string since the string can be tied with only a single component. Background Art

[2] Generally, a string is used to prevent clothes or shoes from coming off.

[3] A string, having a variety of functions, is generally used such that the string is pulled out of daily products, such as clothes or shoes, as a user pulls both ends of the string, and then it is tied in a manner of knotting. However, there is a problem in that children have difficulty in tying knots and it happens that the tied string is spontaneously untied.

[4] In order to solve this problem, a prior art string-fixing device is suggested in

Korean Patent Publication No. 1999-13395 published on February 25, 1999. The prior art string-fixing device comprises a female member having a penetration hole, a male member movably inserted in the penetration hole of the female member, and an auxiliary member. In the prior art string-fixing device, a string is fixed by the penetration hole, in the status in which the male member is pushed in and disposed in the penetration hole of the female member. The string-fixing device is configured such that it is not deformed, so that any hinderance is not caused when using the string- fixing device.

[5] However, in order to fix a string in a certain position, the prior art string-fixing device must include the female member, the male member and the auxiliary member. That is, since the string-fixing device comprises a large number of components, productivity of the string-fixing device is low, and use of the string-fixing device is inconvenient.

[6] Further, in the case in which tensile force, exerted on a string due to pressure attributable to the auxiliary member while the string is fixed, is higher than that of the auxiliary member, the string fixed by the string-fixing device is untied by itself. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art and to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a string-fixing device in which a string is tightened as both ends of a string, pulled by a user, drawn out through a unit fixing part of the string-fixing device, and fixed as a portion of the string is pressed by tensile force of the string exposed outside the string-fixing device, so that a user can easily put on clothes or shoes or can simply tie or untie a string of daily products, and further it is possible to enhance reliability and productivity of daily products with a string since the string can be tied with only a single component. Technical Solution

[8] In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a string-fixing device constructed such that a string is fixed by a unit fixing part formed in a main body. The unit fixing part 11 comprises a first pull-out hole 111 formed to penetrate a main body 10, and a second pull-out hole 112 formed near one outer end of the first pull-out hole 111. A winding part 113 is provided between the first pull-out fixing hole 111 and the second pull-out fixing hole 112. A string-fixing recess 114 with a predetermined depth is provided at bottom of the main body 10.

[9] The unit fixing part can be symmetrically arranged in the main body 10. A string

20 passing out of the first pull-out hole 111 in a direction from top to bottom of the main body 10, passes through the second pull-out hole 112 in the direction from the bottom to the top of the main body 10. The string 20 passing out of the second pull-out hole 112 passes through the first pull-out hole 111 again in the direction from the top to the bottom of the main body 10. At this time, a portion of the string inserted in the first pull-out hole 111 at the second time of insertion presses a portion of the string inserted in the first pull-out hole 111 at the first time of insertion, thereby fixing the string in place.

[10] The first pull-out hole 111 has length longer than that of the second pull-out hole

112, and the winding part 113, provided between the first pull-out hole 111 and the second pull-out hole 112 and wound by the string, has guide parts 115 and 115' having a curvature shape at both corners thereof. The winding part 113 and the guide parts 115 and 115' are integrated into a single body.

Advantageous Effects

[11] As is apparent from the above descriptions, the string-fixing device has the advantages of a string of clothes, shoes, or other daily products being easily tied by just simply pulling both ends of the string through the unit fixing part, and in which the string cannot be easily and spontaneously untied, since tensile force of the string pulled out through the unit fixing parts presses a portion of the string. [12] Further, since the string-fixing device according to the present invention comprises a small number of components, productivity and operation reliability is enhanced.

Brief Description of the Drawings [13] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a string-fixing device according to one embodiment of the present invention; [14] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating bottom of the string-fixing device according to the one embodiment of the present invention; [15] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the string-fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; [16] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are a perspective view and a plan view, respectively, illustrating the status in which a string is engaged with the string-fixing device according to the one embodiment of the present invention; [17] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are views illustrating the status in which a string is being untied in the string-fixing device according to the embodiment of the present invention; [18] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are a perspective view and a plan view illustrating a string-fixing device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [19] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an exemplary view in which a string-fixing device of the present invention is used.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [20] Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [21] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a string-fixing device A comprises a unit fixing part 11 formed in a main body 10. The string-fixing device A is constructed such that both ends of a string 20 come together at a place when the string is fixed, and the fixed string can be easily untied. [22] The main body 10 is made of plastic by an extrusion molding method. The unit fixing part 11 is formed at a portion of the main body 10 so that the string 20 can be fixed by being hitched by the unit fixing part 11. [23] The unit fixing part 11 fixes a string 20 in such a manner that the string 20 winds around a portion of the unit fixing part 11 in advance, and then tensile force of the string 20, which is generated by pulling both ends of the string, presses the wound portion of the string, thereby preventing the string from being untied. [24] The unit fixing part 11 comprises a first pull-out hole 111 formed to penetrate the main body 10, and a second pull-out hole 112 formed near an outer end portion of the first pull-out hole 111. A winding part 113 is provided between the first pull-out hole 111 and the second pull-out hole 112 and is wound by the string 20.

[25] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a string-fixing recess 114 having a predetermined depth is formed at the bottom of the main body 10 in which the first pull- out hole 111 and the second pull-out hole 112 are formed. The string-fixing recess 114 has the depth corresponding to half of the total thickness of the main body 10.

[26] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the string-fixing recess 114 is configured such that a portion of the string 20, inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the direction from the top to the bottom of the main body 10, and a portion of the race 20, inserted through the second pull-out hole 112 in the direction from the bottom to the top of the main body 10, are prevented from being exposed outside, and the string 20 being pulled outside presses the portion of the string 20 which was inserted in the first pull- out hole 111 in the first place.

[27] The first pull-out hole 111 has length longer than that of the second pull-out hole

112, so that the string 20 can easily be inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the first place, and it can move by a small amount when the string 20 is pulled out to be fixed or untied. Accordingly, the string-fixing device has ease in use.

[28] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the string-fixing device is configured such that length of the first pull-out hole 111 is longer than length, i.e. diameter, of the second pull-out hole 112. However, the string-fixing device of the present invention is not limited to this structure. That is, lengths of the first and second pull-out holes 111 and 112 can be the same, since diameter of a string can vary according to degree of tensile force.

[29] Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the winding part 113, around which the string 20 is wound, has guide parts 115 and 115' at both corners, having curvature shape. The guide parts 115 and 115' prevent loss of pressure generated when a portion of the string that has been wound around the winding part 113, is moved back toward a wall of the string-fixing recess 114 by the tensile force applied to the string wound around the winding part 113, thereby to be pressed against the wall of the string-fixing recess 114. That is, since the string 20 has a circular cross-section, in the case in which a corner of the wall of the string-fixing recess 114 has an angle which is almost 90 degrees, the string 20 tends to be pushed toward the corner. Accordingly, the guide parts 115 and 115' prevent the string 20 from being pushed to the corner, as it cannot pressed enough.

[30] By the way, referring to FIG. 4, the string 20 is wound in the unit fixing part 11 such that the string 20 is inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the direction from the top to the bottom of the main body 10, and then it is inserted through the second pull-out hole 112 in the direction from the bottom to the top of the main body 10. [31] The string 20 passing out the second pull-out hole 112 is again inserted into the first pull-out hole 111, so that a portion of the string 20 that has previously been inserted into the first pull-out hole 10 is fixed by being pressed by a force exerted to a portion of the string 20 inserted into the first pull-out hole 10 later.

[32] According to the above disclosed embodiment, the unit fixing part 11 is formed at a side of the main body 10. However, the unit fixing parts 11 can be symmetrically formed at both sides of the main body 10.

[33] Referring to FIG. 10, a method of fixing a string 20 applied to an upper portion of pants or a skirt, using the string-fixing device A, is described below. First, a user holds a first end of a string 20 with his/her fingers and inserts the first end of the string 20 through the first pull-out hole 111 of the unit fixing part 11 in the direction from the bottom to the top.

[34] Next, the first end of the string 20 inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 is pulled out and then inserted through the second pull-out hole 112 in the direction from the top to the bottom. The first end of the string 20 passing from the bottom of the second pull-out hole 112 is inserted into the first pull-out hole 111 again in the direction from the bottom to the top.

[35] In this instance, the string 20 inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 the second time is inserted in such a way that it presses the string 20 disposed in the first pull-out hole 111, which was inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the first place, so that the string 20 is engaged with the unit fixing part 11.

[36] Further, methods of tightening, fixing, loosening and untying the string 20 in the string-fixing device will be described below.

[37] First, in order to tighten the string 20, a user holds a portion of the string 20, which is pulled up through the first pull-out hole 111 and exposed on top of the main body of the string-fixing device A, with one hand, and then holds the main body 10 with the other hand. In this status, if the user pulls the string 20, the string 20 disposed outside the main body 10 is pulled outside, winding around the winding part 113 due to the forward tensile force (+F), so that the string 20 is tightened and fixed in place.

[38] In this status, if the user simultaneously separates his or her hands from the main body 10 and the string 20, a backward tensile force (-F), which is a force generated to loosen the clothing, is exerted to the string 20. At this time, the string 20 is loosened by a small amount at first, but as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, as a portion of the string 20 which is loosened is pressed toward the wall of the string-fixing recess 114, the string 20 is not loosened any more.

[39] In this instance, if the user wants to loosen the string 20 more, the main body 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in the right upper portion in FIG. 6, so that the main body 10 and the string 20 come to have an angle larger than a predetermined angle, and a pressure applied to the wall of the string-fixing recess 14 is removed. Accordingly, the string 20 moves in the direction opposite the direction in which the string 20 is tightened.

[40] According to the embodiment of the present invention, only one second pull-out hole 112 is provided near the first pull-out hole 111 to fix the string 20, to adjust length of the string 20. However, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the string-fixing device according to the present invention can have two second pull-out holes 112 symmetrically arranged at both sides of the first pull-out hole 111. In this instance, the main body 10 preferably has rectangular shape.

[41] Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, in order to tighten the string 20 and reduce size of clothing so as to fit a user's body, both ends of the string 20 are pulled. However, the length of the string 20 can be adjusted and the string 20 can be tightened by pulling one end of the string through a unit fixing part 11 while the other end of the string 20 is fixed to another unit fixing part 11. In this case, the string-fixing device serves as a belt buckle.

[42] Still further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, one end of the string passing through the first pull-out hole 111 spontaneously stays down due to gravity. However, in the case in which the string is used as a shoe string, ends of the string can be received in a recess or hitched by a hook additionally provided on the bottom of the main body.

Claims

[1] A string-fixing device in which a string is fixed by a unit fixing part formed in a main body, comprising: the unit fixing part 11, which includes a first pull-out hole 111 formed to penetrate the main body 10 and a second pull-out hole 112 formed near an outer edge of the first pull-out hole 111, in which a winding part 113 is provided between the first pull-out hole 111 and the second pull-out hole 112, and a string- fixing recess having a predetermined depth is formed on bottom of the main body.

[2] The string-fixing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the unit fixing part 11 is formed to be symmetrical at both sides of the main body, in which a string 20 inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the direction from top to bottom is inserted through the second pull-out hole 112 in the direction from bottom to top, and the string 20 passing out from the second pull-out hole 112 is again inserted through the first pull-out hole 111 in the direction from top to bottom, and wherein a portion of the string 20 inserted in the first pull-out hole 111 in the first place, presses a portion of the string 20, inserted into the first pull-out hole 111 in the second place, thereby fixing the string in place.

[3] The string-fixing device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein length of the first pull-out hole 111 is longer than that of the second pull-out hole 112, and the winding part 113, around which a portion of the string 20 winds, has guide parts 115 and 115' having a curvature shape.