EP2578109A1

EP2578109A1 - Fastener

Info

Publication number: EP2578109A1
Application number: EP11789945.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kiyoshi Odashima
Original assignee: Maika Co Ltd
Current assignee: CLIPWARE Corp
Priority date: 2010-05-31
Filing date: 2011-05-30
Publication date: 2013-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2031-05-30
Also published as: EP2578109A4; EP2578109B1; WO2011152545A1; JPWO2011152545A1; JP6075757B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a fastener with a more reliable Disengagement of a camp part, and improved operability then disengaging same. A clamp part comprises a base part (1) and an insert part (2). A button arm (11), a release button (12), and an upper hook receiver (13) are formed on the base part (1). A slide part (21), an engaging part (22), and an engaging hook (23) are formed on the insert part(2). A projection (15) is formed on the inner side of the upper end of the button arm (11). When the release button (12) is pressed, the projection (15) contacts an external incline face (25), a gap (5) is temporarily formed between the button arm (11) and a slide part (21).

Description

Field of Invention

This invention is a fastener which is fastened on sheets such as cloth. It is fastened on the sheet without making a hole, or using a bottom which is sewn on the sheets.

Background of invention

When something, such as name plate, is fastened on sheets, such as clothing material, the needle of a safety pin or a pin is typically stuck into the material, or a clip catches the top of pocket. When needle is used, this needle must damage the material. When clip is used, not only the clipping position is restricted but the clip might be pulled off.
To solve the above problem, this inventor disclosed fasteners in the prior patent application ( JP2009-514035 ), then these fasteners fasten nameplates or similar devices on clothes without sticking needles, and these fasteners do not easily drop-off. These fasteners is useful because these achieve property which is "easy fit and less drop-out". Also these fasteners have another advantage which materials are not damaged, because these fasteners do not press materials hard.
These fasteners comprises a clamping unit which expands and contracts and retaining means so that said clamping unit does not become wider than a clamped width, then a stopper is clamped by the clamping unit. Especially it is the most characteristic in these fasteners that the resiliency method is provided to flick the clamping unit opening. Therefore, the controllability is remarkably improved to release these fasteners.
The main components of these fasteners are described in the above mentioned application referring Figure 11 to Figure 14 in detail, so this description should be quoted. An outline of the function is hereby described referring Figure 5 of the present application. Both release buttons 52 are pressed to release a clamping unit, the upper portion of slide portions 61 are bent. By continuous pressing, when the bottom of pawls 63 are out of the top surface of pawl receivers 53, slide portions 61 will slide down along the inside surface of button arms 51, because each slide portions 61 and each button arms 51 are respectively in the shape of "upper-narrow and lower-wide" and own resiliency helps this slide down. Therefore, whole the insert portion 6 is forced to slide down and the clamping unit is instantly opened.
The above-mentioned prior invention is improved furthermore in the present invention. The present invention provides a fastener which clamping unit is more successfully opened and its opening operability is improved.

Disclosure of the Invention

To achieve the subject of the present invention, a fastener comprises a clamping unit which expands and contracts, a stopper which is clamped by said clamping unit, said clamping unit comprises a base portion and a slide portion, by pushing outer wall of said base portion said slide portion is bent, resiliency from bending of said slide portion make itself slide along said outer wall, by pushing said outer wall a aperture is made between said outer wall and said slide portion when said clamping unit open.
Therefore, friction between slide portion and base portion is minimized when opening, and then resiliency of slide portion is used to move toward opining at the maximum. Thereby the clamping unit opens powerfully.
The principal structure of the fastener of the present invention is similar to the above-mentioned prior invention. It comprises clamping unit which is composed of a base portion and a slide portion. The slide portion slides along the inside of base portion, it is flicked out, and then the clamping unit opens. The deference from the prior invention is hereby described as embodiment referring attached figures. Figure 1 is a section showing whole structure of clamping unit. Figure 2 is a partial section describing opened appearance of a clamping unit. Figure 3 is an enlarged partial section describing motion of a clamping unit. Figure 4 is a section from A-A direction of figure 1. Figure 5 is a section briefly describing prior invention.
As described above, the principal structure as a fastener referred from the prior invention. As showing in figure 1 to figure 3, a clamping unit of this embodiment comprises a base portion 1 and an insert portion 2 which is inserted into the base portion 1. Release buttons 12 are on both sides of the base portion 1, and the parts underneath of release buttons 12 are button arms 11 which are flexible. Upper pawl receivers 13 are respectively provided at upper both sides of the base portion 1. The line C of figure 2 is the imaginary cutting line for convenience' sake to show inside structure.
The insert portion 2 has slide portions 21 which are flexible at both sides, and these tops are engage portions 22. The bottom of the engage portions 22 are respectively extends outwardly, and these pawls 23. The pawls 23 are engaged with the upper pawl receivers 13 of the base portion 1.
The button arms 11 have projections 15 at its top insides. The tips of the projections 15 contact with outer slops 25 of the engage portions 22. The tops of these projections 15 are in the shape of arc. As described later, when the projections 15 press down engage portions 22, the outer slopes 25 contact projections 15 on a point together.
The opening operation is hereby described.
The release buttons 12 are pressed inwardly to disengage pawls 23 from upper pawl receivers 13, as shown in figure 3(a) to figure 3(b). On this occasion, projections 15 press inwardly outer slopes 25 with one point contact, and thereby the slide portions 21 gradually bend. As press progressing, apertures 5 are momentarily created between the button arms 11 and slide portions 21.
As shown in figure 3(b), when the bottom surface of paws 23 is out of top surface of upper pawl receivers 13, the apertures 5 become maximum size. The slide portions 21 slide down along outer slopes 25 by own resiliency. Because the apertures 5 are created, the resistance of this motion becomes minimum and the start velocity of slide portions 21 become larger. Furthermore, because the tip of projections 15 and outer slopes 25 contact together on one point, the friction of each another are minimized. Therefore, its downward force is used for opening at the maximum.
After the above motion, the slide portions 21 move and projections 15 come off from outer slopes 25. Thereby, the slide portions 21 contact with the button arms 11. In the prior invention, these contact on the faces each another. However, in this embodiment as shown in figure 4, slide portions 21 and button arms 11 contact on the line, because the cross section of slide portions 21 is in the shape of arc. Therefore, these friction force is minimized and this slide down become more smooth.
The present invention is not limited the above described embodiments. Any field of art, which substantially are in the scope of claims of this invention and achieve the effects of this invention, are within the scope of the present invention.

Applications for Industry

The fastener of the present invention can be used instead of a safe pin or a clip type fastener, and it will be used in the many different and wide fields.

Claims

fastener, comprising: a clamping unit which expands and contracts; a stopper which is clamped by said clamping unit, said clamping unit comprising base portion and slide portion, wherein said slide portion is bent by pressing outer wall of said base portion inwardly, and wherein resiliency from bending of said slide portion make itself slide along said outer wall, and wherein by pushing said outer wall an aperture is made between said outer wall and said slide portion when said clamping unit opens.