FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY
The present invention relates to a drawstring fastener suitable, for example, for locking both ends or one end of a string (including a rope, a code, and similar articles, and the same applies hereinafter) disposed around an opening edge of clothes or a bag-like member and the like in an arbitrary length, or for adjusting a pull-out amount or a tightening degree of the string.
BACKGROUND ART
FIGS. 8(
a) and 8(b) show a drawstring fastener disclosed in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 8(b), the drawstring fastener comprises a female member 1 including a through hole at a periphery thereof; a male member 2 including a through hole at a periphery thereof, and movably fitted inside the female member; a spring 3 urging the male member 2 in a direction of protruding from the female member; and an operating string 8 pulled out through a pass-through hole provided at a lower end portion of the female member 1 in a state wherein a string upper end side is locked relative to the male member 2. The operating string 8 passing through a lower side of the male member 2 and turning around an engagement hole, is pulled out in a double state, and by a pulling force, moves the male member 2 in an inward entering direction in the female member 1 against an urging force so as to allow a length of a tightening string 11 passing through each through hole of the female and male members to be adjusted. FIG. 8(a) shows a usage example of the aforementioned drawstring fastener, and the operating string 8 is locked in a glove side which is an applied article in which the tightening string 11 is disposed. Consequently, in the usage example, by pulling the tightening string 11, a tensile force is provided to the operating string 8 so as to move the male member 2 in an entering direction in the female member 1 against an urging force of the spring 3, and the length of the tightening string 11 is adjusted in such a way as to conform each through hole of both members 1 and 2 approximately on a coaxial line.
FIGS. 9(
a) and 9(b) show a drawstring fastener disclosed in Patent Document 2. As shown in FIG. 9(b), a drawstring fastener 170 also comprises a female member 102 including through holes 110 and 110′ at a periphery thereof; a male member 104 including a through hole 122 at a periphery thereof, and movably fitted inside the female member; a spring 128 urging the male member 104 in a direction of protruding from the female member 102; and an operating string 124 pulled out through a pass-through hole 136 provided at a lower end portion of the female member 102 in a state wherein a string upper end side is locked relative to the male member 104. The operating string 124 is fixed in a lower end side of the male member 104, and by a pulling force, moves the male member 104 in an inward entering direction in the female member 102 against an urging force so as to allow a length of a tightening string 144 passing through each through hole of the female and male members to be adjusted. FIG. 9(a) shows a usage example of the aforementioned drawstring fastener, and the drawstring fastener 17 is locked in a glove 90 which is the applied article by an attachment string 118 latched and held in an attachment groove 142 provided on an upper side of the female member. Consequently, in the usage example, by pulling the operating string 124, a tensile force is provided to the attachment string 118 so as to move the male member 2 in an inward entering direction in the female member 102 against an urging force of the spring 128, and the length of the tightening string 144 is adjusted in such a way as to conform each through hole of both members 102 and 104 approximately on a coaxial line.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. H05-2090
Patent Document 2: US Patent Publication No. 2010/0257701
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
Each drawstring fastener described hereinabove has a small number of members, locks the tightening string disposed in the applied article such as the clothes and the like using a relative misalignment of each through hole, and moves the male member in the inward entering direction in the female member using the operating string so as to allow the pull-out amount of the tightening string to be adjusted. Accordingly, each drawstring fastener described hereinabove excels in simplicity and usability.
However, in a structure of each Patent Document 1 and 2, once the operating string is assembled, the operating string cannot be easily exchanged so as to lack versatility. In addition, the operating string in the Patent Document 1 turns around the engagement hole provided in the male member from the pass-through hole on the lower side of the female member by passing through from one side to the other side, so that the operating string becomes a double string and thickens so as to easily impair an external appearance property. The operating string in the Patent Document 2 has to be fixed relative to the lower end portion of the male member by a method of an adhesion, an insert, and the like so as to impair workability, and to be difficult to reduce a manufacturing cost.
There, an object of the present invention is to solve the aforementioned problems, and especially, and excels in a fashion ability by allowing the operating string to be easily incorporated, or by allowing the operating string to be easily exchanged. Other objects of the present invention will be clarified in the following explanation.
Means for Solving the Problems
In order to attain the aforementioned object, in the present invention, a drawstring fastener comprises a female member including a through hole at a periphery thereof; a male member including a through hole at a periphery thereof, and movably fitted inside the female member; an urging device urging the male member in a direction of protruding from the female member; and an operating string pulled out through a pass-through hole provided at a lower end portion of the female member in a state wherein a string upper end side is locked relative to the male member. By a pulling force of the operating string, the male member can move in an inward entering direction in the female member against an urging force. The male member includes an inner space provided at a lower side than the through hole, and passing therethrough; and a pass-through hole formed to pass through the aforementioned inner space and a lower end face, and disposed approximately on a coaxial line with the pass-through hole of the female member. A string upper end side of the operating string is locked in a state of passing through pass-through holes of the female member and the male member and of passing through the aforementioned inner space.
The aforementioned present invention is preferably embodied as follows.
(A) The male member includes an opening provided on a lower side periphery of the through hole, communicated with the inner space, and which is larger than the through hole. The male member is formed such that the operating string is pulled out from the inner space through the opening so as to allow a pull-out preventing enlarged portion such as a knot and the like to be formed. Incidentally, as for the pull-out preventing enlarged portion, the knot is preferred since it is simple; however, technically, a simple stopper and the like may be used. In the aspect (A), the male member includes the opening communicated with the inner space, and which is larger than the through hole, so that in a state wherein the operating string is once pulled out from the inner space through the opening, the pull-out preventing enlarged portion such as the knot and the like is formed, and then, by pulling the operating string, the operating string can be assembled or exchanged promptly.
(B) The male member includes a locking claw protruded on the lower side periphery of the through hole, and is formed to prevent coming out of the female member in a state wherein the locking claw is fitted in the through hole of the female member. In the aspect (B), in a state wherein the locking claw is fitted in the through hole of the female member, the male member is prevented from coming out of the female member, so that even in an aspect wherein the tightening string does not pass through the through holes as the drawstring fastener, the tightening string can be used as a unified article.
(C) The female member is formed to include a string insertion attachment groove provided on an upper side periphery. In the aspect (C), the drawstring fastener is attached to an applied article such that an attachment string is inserted into the attachment groove and forms a loop.
(D) The through hole of the female member is formed to be larger than the through hole of the male member and the aforementioned opening. In the aspect (D), the through hole of the female member is formed larger than the through hole of the male member and the opening, so that it is suitable for an operation for pulling out the operating string from the inner space through the opening, and the large through hole on a female member side; an operation for housing the operating string in the inner space again after the pull-out preventing enlarged portion such as the knot and the like is formed; and the like.
Effect of the Invention
In the present invention, in a case wherein the operating string is assembled or exchanged, for example, the operating string passes through the inner space of the male member by passing through the pass-through hole of the male member from the pass-through hole of the female member, and only by forming the enlarged portion such as the knot and the like at a passed-through end portion thereof, the operating string can be easily assembled. Also, as compared to the Patent Document 1, the operating string can be a single string so as to allow, for example, an outer diameter of the drawstring fastener to be easily controlled, or in a case wherein the drawstring fastener is disposed inside a bag-like portion, the operating string can be pulled out of a bag through a hole, an eyelet, and the like with an excellent external appearance. Thereby, the present invention can improve a fashion ability from the point of a built-in property, an exchanging property, a single string structure, and the like of the operating string so as to contribute to expand applications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1(
a) and 1(b) are perspective views showing a drawstring fastener of one embodiment and viewed from a front face side and a back face side according to the present invention.
FIG. 2(
a) is a left side view, FIG. 2(b) is a top view, FIG. 2(c) is a front view, FIG. 2(d) is a bottom view, and FIG. 2(e) is a back view, of the aforementioned drawstring fastener.
FIG. 3(
a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 2(c), and FIG. 3(b) is a view in a state wherein a tightening string and an operating string are incorporated in the drawstring fastener in FIG. 3(a), and the operating string is pulled.
FIG. 4(
a) is a pattern diagram showing a usage example of the aforementioned drawstring fastener; FIG. 4(b) is a pattern diagram showing a back side in which the drawstring fastener is disposed; and FIG. 4(c) is a pattern diagram in which a cloth and the like covering the drawstring fastener is omitted.
FIGS. 5(
a) and 5(b) show a case on the assumption that the present drawstring fastener is used for an applied article, wherein FIG. 5(a) shows an aspect where the drawstring fastener is assembled to the applied article through an attachment string; and FIG. 5(b) shows an aspect where the operating string is disposed to pass through from one face side to the other face side of the applied article via an eyelet.
FIGS. 6(
a) to 6(d) show a female member unit of the aforementioned drawstring fastener, wherein FIG. 6(a) is a top view; FIG. 6(b) is a front view; FIG. 6(c) is a bottom view; and FIG. 6(d) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 6(b).
FIGS. 7(
a) to 7(d) show a male member unit of the aforementioned drawstring fastener, wherein FIG. 7(a) is a left side view; FIG. 7(b) is a top view; FIG. 7(c) is a front view; FIG. 7(d) is a bottom view, and FIG. 7(e) is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C in FIG. 7(c).
FIGS. 8(
a) and 8(b) are drawings for explaining a drawstring fastener of Patent Document 1.
FIGS. 9(
a) and 9(b) are drawings for explaining a drawstring fastener of Patent Document 2.
BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Optimal embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), and FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e) show a drawstring fastener with an aspect without an operating string. FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) show an operation example of incorporating the operating string; FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), and FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show a usage example; FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d) show a female member unit; and FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e) show a male member unit. In the following explanation, a structure, an assembly, and the usage example will be described in detail in that order.
(Structure) A drawstring fastener 4 of the embodiment comprises a male member 1, a female member 2, a coil spring 3 as an urging device, and an operating string 6. Among those, both the male member 1 and the female member 2 are resin formed articles; however, they may be formed by a material other than a resin. The coil spring 3 is made of metal; however, it may be formed by the resin. Although an overall size is enlarged for the sake of drawing the figures, an actual size is considerably smaller. Details are as follows.
First, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), and FIGS. 7(a) to 7(e), the male member 1 entirely has a long cylinder portion in a shaft line direction. In the cylinder portion 10, there are included two through holes 11, 11 provided to face at an upper side (in a case wherein the cylinder portion 10 is longitudinally situated, and in a case wherein the cylinder portion 10 is laterally situated, this becomes one end side which is a left end or a right end, and the same applies hereinafter) circumference; two openings 12a provided to face at a lower side circumference only for a predetermined distance from the respective through holes 11, and communicated with an inner space 12 of the cylinder portion; two locking claws 13 protruded to face at a circumference between the respective through holes 11 and the respective openings 12a; a lower end portion 74 formed with a slightly smaller diameter; and a pass-through hole 16 on a lower side, formed to pass through the inner space 12 and a lower end face of the lower end portion 14.
An outer circumference of the cylinder portion 10 continues with the same diameter except for each locking claw 13 and the lower end portion 14. Inside the cylinder portion 10, a hole diameter is approximately the same up to slightly an upper side of the lower end portion 14, i.e., an upper pass-through hole 15 and the inner space 12 are continuing holes with the same diameter, and the lower pass-through hole 16 has a slightly smaller diameter. The pass-through hole 16 is set in a hole diameter in which the operating string 6 can easily pass through.
As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), although each through hole 11 is a rectangular hole, the through hole 11 may be a hole provided that it has a size in which a tightening string 5 of an object can easily pass through. The inner space 12 has a size wherein a knot 6a which is a pull-out preventing enlarged portion formed on a string upper end side (as in the case of the aforementioned cylinder portion 10, in a case wherein the inner space 12 is longitudinally situated, and in a case wherein the inner space 12 is laterally situated, this becomes one end side which is a left end or a right end, and the same applies hereinafter) of the operating string 6 can be housed.
Although the opening 12a has a rectangular shape slightly larger than the through hole 11, the opening 12a may have a shape so that it can easily pass through the pull-out preventing enlarged portion such as the knot 6a provided in the operating string 6 and the like. Each locking claw 13 is a protrusion, and as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), a protruding length is approximately the same length as that of an outer diameter of a cylinder portion 20 on a female member side. The lower end portion 14 becomes a portion fitting and supporting one end (an upper end in the figures) side of the coil spring 3.
As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), and FIGS. 6(a) to 6(d), the female member 2 has a cylinder portion 20 forming approximately a tunnel shape in an inner space 25 from an upper side up to a vicinity of a lower end. In the cylinder portion 20, there are included two through holes 21, 21 provided to face each other around an intermediate portion; an attachment portion 22 provided to protrude at one portion around the upper side in a flange shape; a spring support portion 24 provided inside the lower end as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b); and a pass-through hole 26 on the lower side formed to pass through the inner space 25 and a lower end face.
The inner space 25 has a size in which the male member 1 can be almost entirely housed. Each through hole 21 has approximately a long rectangular shape in a cylinder longitudinal direction, and is formed with a size almost the same as an opening area in which the through hole 11 on a male member side and the opening 12a are combined, or a slightly larger size than that. The attachment portion 22 passes through up and down, or in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder portion 20, and forms an attachment groove 23. In the attachment groove 23, as illustrated in FIG. 5(a) as an example, an attachment string 7 is incorporated in a state of passing through in a loop shape. The attachment string 7 is used when the drawstring fastener 4 is attached to an applied article such as clothes and the like as needed.
Also, as shown in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), in an incorporated state wherein the male member 1 is inserted into the inner space 25 on the female member side, the spring support portion 24 is a portion supporting the coil spring 3 to freely expand and compress between the spring support portion 24 and the lower end portion 14 on the female member side. The pass-through hole 26 is formed approximately with the same diameter as the pass-through hole 16 on the male member side, and faces the pass-through hole 16. Also, the pass-through hole 26 allows a corresponding end side of the operating string to pass through toward the pass-through hole 16 from the pass-through hole 26. Incidentally, in the coil spring 3, a coil diameter is larger than outer diameters of the spring support portion 24 and the lower end portion 14, and is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner space 25 on the female member side.
(Assembly) The aforementioned respective members are assembled as the drawstring fastener 4 in the following procedure. First, as shown in FIG. 6(d), one end of the coil spring 3 is fitted in the spring support portion 24 and is supported relative to the female member 2. From this state, the male member 1 is inserted into the cylinder of the female member 2. In an insertion operation thereof, in a middle of an insertion of the male member 1 relative to the cylinder portion 20 on the female member side, each locking claw 13 hits against an upper end edge of the cylinder portion 20; however, each locking claw 13 is pressed inward and is deformed in a diameter reduction direction, so that while being pushed into the cylinder portion 20, the locking claw 13 is eventually fitted into the corresponding through hole 21. By fitting thereof, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the male member 1 is assembled to the female member 2 in a pull-out preventing state, and by an urging force of the coil spring 3, the male member 1 is protruded up to the maximum (wherein the locking claw 13 is locked in a hole upper edge of the through hole 21 on the female member side) relative to the female member 2, and the male member 1 comes into a state wherein the through hole 11 is moved to an upper side more than the through hole 21 on the female member side. This assembly body is the drawstring fastener 4 with a three-piece structure.
Also, the aforementioned drawstring fastener 4 becomes the drawstring fastener 4 with a four-piece structure by detachably or exchangeably attaching the operating string 6 to the male member 1 as shown in FIG. 3(b). Namely, the drawstring fastener 4 is provided together with the string 6 in an aspect wherein the operating string 6 is not assembled, or is provided in an aspect wherein the operating string 6 is assembled. In the former case, as the string 6, the string 6 with different colors, patterns, and the like can be provided as a plural set, and a user selects a preferred string 6 and attaches the preferred string 6 to the drawstring fastener 4 later. In that operation, for example, as shown in FIG. 3(a), one end side of the string 6 is passed through the pass-through hole 16 on the male member side and the inner space 12 from the pass-through hole 26 on the female member side, and is pulled out from the inner space 12 through the opening 12a and the through hole 21 on the female member side so as to form the knot 6a. Subsequently, when the other end (even in this other end, an enlarged portion such as the knot 6a, another stopper, and the like is provided) side of the string 6 is pulled in an arrow direction in FIG. 3(b), the formed knot 6a is pulled into the inner space 12 from the through hole 21 and the opening 12a so as to become the drawstring fastener 4 with the four-piece structure.
(Usage example) As in the case of Patent Document 1 or 2, the aforementioned drawstring fastener 4 with the four-piece structure is used for locking both ends or one end of the tightening string 5 disposed, for example, around an opening edge of the clothes or a bag-like member and the like in an arbitrary length, or for adjusting a pull-out amount or a tightening degree of the tightening string 5. Namely, in a relationship with the tightening string 5, as illustrated in FIG. 3(b) as an example, by pulling the operating string 6 in the arrow direction of the same figure, by providing a tensile force in the aforementioned arrow direction by a method described regarding FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), and FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), or by directly operating to press the male member 1 into the cylinder of the female member 2, the male member 1 is pressed to the lower side of the female member 2 against the urging force of the coil spring 3, and from a state wherein both the through holes 11 and 21 of the male member 1 and the female member 2 are roughly conformed, corresponding ends of the tightening string 5 are respectively passed through the respective through holes. Subsequently, pulling or the tensile force of the aforementioned operating string 6 is released, or a pressing force relative to the male member 1 is released. Then, the male member 1 is moved upward by the urging force of the coil spring 3 relative to the female member 2. Thereby, a relative position of the through hole 11 relative to the through hole 21 on the female member side is misaligned so as to prevent the tightening string 5 from coming out by a predetermined tension (a string lock state). The drawstring fastener 4 has a non-conventional excellent operation effect as follows in addition to the aforementioned fundamental operations.
(1) In the drawstring fastener 4, the operating string 6 can be easily exchanged according to a preference of a user. Namely, in an exchange operation of the operating string 6, in the example in FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b), from a state in FIG. 3(b), the string 6 is slightly lifted upward, and as shown in FIG. 3(a), the knot 6a is pulled out from the opening 12a and the through hole 21, and only by unknotting or cutting off the knot 6a, and then, only by pulling the other end side, the string 6 is removed from the drawstring fastener 4. In a new operating string 6, as described above, one end side of the string 6 is passed through the pass-through hole 16 and the inner space 12 from the pass-through hole 26 as shown in FIG. 3(a), and is pulled out from the inner space 12 through the opening 12a and the through hole 21 so as to form the knot 6a. Subsequently, when the other end side of the string 6 is pulled in the arrow direction in FIG. 3(b), the knot 6a is pulled into the inner space 12 from the through hole 21 and the opening 12a.
(2) In the drawstring fastener 4, as described above, in addition to allowing the operating string 6 to be easily exchanged, compared to a double string structure such as Patent Document 1, the drawstring fastener 4 has a single string structure so as to easily control an entire outer diameter size to be small, and to allow a degree of freedom of design to increase. Moreover, as shown in the usage example shown in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), even if the drawstring fastener 4 is disposed inside a bag-like portion 81, the operating string 6 can be pulled out of a bag through eyelets 9, holes alternative to the eyelets, and the like with an excellent external appearance.
FIGS. 4(
a) to 4(c) will be additionally explained. The reference symbol 8 supposes a hood of a snowsuit or an article similar to that. As shown in FIGS. 4(b) and 4(c), the hood 8 includes a slender bag-like portion 80 provided along an opening circumferential edge portion; the bag-like portion 81 for the drawstring fastener 4 provided on both sides of the bag-like portion 80, and opening at a bag-like portion 80 side; and two eyelets 9 located inside the bag-like portion 81, and mounted by maintaining a predetermined interval on a surface material. The reference symbol 83 represents a sewing portion 83 for forming the bag-like portion 81.
In the bag-like portion 80, there is passed through the tightening string 5. In the tightening string 5, a corresponding end side is inserted into the bag-like portion 81 from the bag-like portion 80, and as shown in FIG. 4(c), is pulled out to a front side from a rear side of the hood 8 through each through hole 21, 11 of the drawstring fastener 4 disposed inside the bag-like portion 81, and the eyelet 9. At a terminal of the tightening string 5, there is provided a knot 5a or another pull-out preventing enlarged portion as needed. Also, the operating string 6 of the drawstring fastener 4 is pulled out to the front side from the rear side of the hood 8 through another eyelet 9. In FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c), a procedure of adjusting the pull-out amount or the tightening degree of the tightening string 5 is that in a state wherein the operating string 6 is pulled as in the case of the aforementioned fundamental operations, a pulled-out end side of the tightening string 5 is pulled or loosened for an required amount.
(3) FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) show a relationship between the drawstring fastener 4 and the hood 8 which is the applied article in the usage example in FIGS. 4(a) to 4(c). In the drawstring fastener 4 in FIG. 5(a), the attachment string 7 passing through the attachment groove 23 is located inside the bag-like portion 81, and is mounted on a hood 8 side by a sewing portion 7a. This structure is, as in the case of Patent Document 1 or 2, for allowing the male member 1 to efficiently move relative to the female member 2 by the tensile force of the operating string 6 by positioning and fixing the drawstring fastener 4 in an applied article side through the attachment string 7 by the sewing portion 7a and the like. On the other hand, the drawstring fastener 4 in FIG. 5(b) is simply inserted into the bag-like portion 81 without using the attachment string 7, and is loosely fitted. In the aforementioned drawstring fastener 4, even in this case, when the operating string 6 is pulled, a position of the female member 2 is controlled by hitting against the eyelet 9, so that the male member 1 moves relative to the female member 2 by the tensile force of the operating string 6. This operation is because the operating string 6 of the drawstring fastener 4 is the single string structure, and because the eyelet 9 can be used.
Incidentally, the aforementioned embodiment does not limit the present invention. The details of the present invention can be variously modified or expanded as needed provided that they substantively include technical elements specified in the subject of the present invention. As one example, as for the urging device, in place of the coil spring, an elastic piece or an elastic portion similar to that is integrally formed in the male member or the female member.
Incidentally, all contents of the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-252222 filed on Nov. 18, 2011 are cited in their entireties herein and are incorporated as a disclosure of the specification of the present invention.
Patent Application
20140310927
