Field of Invention
[0001] 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
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] The opening operation is hereby described.
[0014] 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.
[0015] 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.
[0016] 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.
[0017] 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
[0018] 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.