fasteners for jewelry

Abstract

The shapes of the male and female engaging parts of the fastener are simplified. [Solution] The fastener of the present invention is characterized in that the male member and the female member each hold magnets that attract each other, one of the male or female engaging body has first convex island-shaped engaging bodies independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on the outer or inner circumferential surface, the other of the male or female engaging body has second convex island-shaped engaging bodies independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on the inner or outer circumferential surface, the second convex island-shaped engaging body has a base-side engaging body formed on the base end side of the male or female member and a tip-side engaging body formed on the tip side of the male or female member, and one tip-side engaging body is arranged on the tip side between at least two circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies, and in the engaged state of the male and female engaging body, the first convex island-shaped engaging body is received between circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies, and the tip-side engaging body is located outside the first convex island-shaped engaging body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a clasp used for jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as clasps used for jewelry such as necklaces and bracelets, the clasps disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 5981266) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 6236618) are known.

[0003] These clasps have a male member and a female member that are attached to both ends of a necklace or a bracelet. Permanent magnets are disposed inside the male member and the female member, and merely bringing the two members close to each other causes the two members to mutually attract each other by magnetic force and naturally connect to each other.

[0004] When the male member and the female member are connected, the two members rotate while engaging and locking with each other on the counterpart side. As a result, the structure is such that even if a force acts in the direction pulling the two members apart, they do not separate easily (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 and FIG. 5 of Patent Document 2). Twisting the male member and the female member slightly releases the lock and allows separation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The fasteners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 allow for easy connection and disconnection without the need for alignment of the male and female components, but they have the drawback of having complex shapes for the male and female engaging bodies. Specifically, because the male and female engaging bodies have complex hook-like shapes, it has been found that processing these components is difficult, and there are also problems with the strength and durability of the components. The fastener in Patent Document 2 aims to ensure the necessary strength by increasing the axial length of the male and female engaging bodies (section 0075), but this increases the overall length of the fastener, leading to increased weight and cost, and also restricts design possibilities.

[0007] This invention was conceived to solve these problems, and its purpose is to simplify the shapes of the male and female engaging bodies, thereby improving the ease of processing, strength, and durability of these engaging bodies, as well as to reduce weight, lower cost, and improve the design by making the fastener more compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a fastener for an accessory in which a string-like body is wrapped around the body and held in place by the engagement of a male engaging body formed on a shaft-shaped male member and a female engaging body formed on a cylindrical female member, wherein the male member and the female member each hold magnets that attract each other, and one of the male engaging body or the female engaging body has first convex island-shaped engaging bodies independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on the outer or inner surface, and the other of the male engaging body or the female engaging body has second convex island-shaped engaging bodies independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on the inner or outer surface The second convex island-shaped engaging body has a base-side engaging body formed on the base end side of the male member or the female member, and a tip-side engaging body formed on the tip side of the male member or the female member, and one tip-side engaging body is arranged on the tip side between at least two circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies, and in the engaged state of the male engaging body and the female engaging body, the first convex island-shaped engaging body is received between circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies, and the tip-side engaging body is located outside the first convex island-shaped engaging body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the fastener of the present invention, by simplifying the shapes of the male and female engaging bodies, the ease of processing, strength, and durability of these engaging bodies can be improved, and the fastener can be made more compact, resulting in reduced weight, lower costs, and improved design. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a front view of a necklace having a clasp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] (a) A perspective view from the female side and (b) A perspective view from the male side of the fastener in its separated state according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] This is a circumferential unfolded plan view of the triangular engaging body of the male member. [Figure 2C] This is a circumferential unfolded plan view of the rectangular engaging body of the female component. [Figure 3A] Figures (a)-(d) illustrate the fastening process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] Figures (e)-(h) illustrate the fastening process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a front view of a necklace having a clasp according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] This is a perspective view of the fastener in a separated state according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5B] (a) a left perspective view, (b) a front view, and (c) a right perspective view of the central female member of the fastener according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] A clasp according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The clasp of the present invention can be used, for example, in a magnetic necklace as an accessory.

[0012] ●First Embodiment FIGS. 1 to 3B show a first embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic necklace 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an elastic string-like body 2, a plurality of permanent magnets (not shown) embedded in the string-like body 2, a shaft-shaped male member 31 and a cylindrical female member 32 that constitute a fastener attached to both ends of the string-like body 2. A top 40 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the female member 32.

[0013] The string-like body 2 can be formed of an elastic body such as elastomer or silicone rubber. The plurality of permanent magnets embedded in the string-like body 2 can be formed of a magnetic material, and preferably can be formed of a hard magnetic material.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2A(a), 2A(b) and 2B, triangular engaging bodies 31a serving as convex first convex island-shaped engaging bodies are independently formed at a plurality of circumferential positions (four positions) on the outer peripheral surface of the male member 31. Here, the "island shape" of the first convex island-shaped engaging body refers to a state where the engaging bodies are scattered on the outer peripheral surface of the male member 31. The triangular engaging bodies 31a are formed at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the male member 31.

[0015] One side of the triangular engaging body 31a constitutes a sliding side 31a1, and the opposite side constitutes an inclined side 31a2. The remaining one side constitutes an abutting side 31a3.

[0016] The sliding side 31a1 is located on the distal end side of the male member 31 and is inclined with respect to the axial direction Z1 of the male member 31. The inclined side 31a2 is located on the proximal end side of the male member 31 and is inclined to the opposite side with respect to the axial direction Z1 of the male member 31. The abutting side 31a3 is formed along the axial direction Z1 of the male member 31.

[0017] On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 2A(a), 2A(b) and 2C, rectangular engaging bodies 32a and 32b serving as convex second convex island-shaped engaging bodies are independently formed at a plurality of (six) circumferential positions on the inner peripheral surface of the female member 32. Here, the "island shape" of the second convex island-shaped engaging body refers to a state where the engaging bodies are scattered on the inner peripheral surface of the female member 32. Regarding the rectangular engaging bodies 32a and 32b, four positions on the proximal end side of the female member 32 are first rectangular engaging bodies 32a serving as proximal end side engaging bodies, and two positions on the distal end side of the female member 32 are second rectangular engaging bodies 32b serving as distal end side engaging bodies.

[0018] The first rectangular engaging bodies 32a are formed at 90° intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the female member 32. More specifically, the shape of the first rectangular engaging body 32a is a parallelogram. The longitudinal center line of this parallelogram is inclined with respect to the axial direction Z2 of the female member 32.

[0019] The second rectangular engaging bodies 32b are formed at 180° intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the female member 32. The second rectangular engaging bodies 32b are arranged on the distal end side between two adjacent first rectangular engaging bodies 32a in the circumferential direction of the female member 32.

[0020] The second rectangular engaging body 32b is smaller than the first rectangular engaging body 32a. This is to maximize the space between the second rectangular engaging bodies 32b as much as possible, so as to smooth the connection between the male member 31 and the female member 32. However, in order to simplify the shape and structure of the female member 32, there is no problem even if the first rectangular engaging body 32a and the second rectangular engaging body 32b are formed in exactly the same shape.

[0021] The long sides 32a1, 32a2, 32b1, 32b2 of the rectangular engaging bodies 32a, 32b are formed to be inclined at the same predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction Z2 of the female member 32. Further, the short sides 32a3, 32a4, 32b3, 32b4 of the rectangular engaging bodies 32a, 32b are formed along the axial direction Z2 of the female member 32.

[0022] The triangular engaging body 31a and the square engaging bodies 32a and 32b are configured as described above. Below, the positional relationship between the triangular engaging body 31a and the square engaging bodies 32a and 32b when the male member 31 is inserted into and connected to the female member 32 will be explained with reference to Figures 3A and 3B. For convenience, in Figures 3A and 3B, the male member 31 will be described as moving downward from top to bottom.

[0023] As shown in Figures 3A(a)-(c), the attractive force of the magnets M1 and M2 on the male member 31 and female member 32 causes the triangular engaging body 31a of the male member 31 to descend as indicated by the arrow. At this time, the user of the magnetic necklace 1 only needs to lightly place their hands near the base of the male member 31 and female member 32. As the triangular engaging body 31a descends, the triangular engaging body 31a and the second rectangular engaging body 32b come into partial contact, as shown in Figure 3A(c).

[0024] In other words, in the illustrated example, the right end of the sliding side 31a1 of the triangular engaging body 31a contacts the left end of the long side 32b1 of the second rectangular engaging body 32b. Because the sliding side 31a1 and the long side 32b1 are inclined, the triangular engaging body 31a moves to the left as shown in Figure 3A(d). Depending on the relative rotational positions of the male member 31 and the female member 32, the triangular engaging body 31a may contact the first rectangular engaging body 32a directly, as shown in Figure 3B(e), without contacting the second rectangular engaging body 32b.

[0025] Next, as shown in Figure 3B(e), the left end of the sliding side 31a1 of the triangular engaging body 31a contacts the right end of the long side 32b2 of the first rectangular engaging body 32a. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 3B(f), the triangular engaging body 31a descends along the slope of the sliding side 31a1 and the long side 32b2. Between Figures 3B(e) and 3B(f), the triangular engaging body 31a and the first rectangular engaging body 32a slide in surface contact, thereby increasing the strength and durability of both engaging bodies.

[0026] Finally, as shown in Figure 3B(f), the lower end of the triangular engaging body 31a comes into contact with the bottom of the female member 32 (magnet M1). At this time, the two triangular engaging bodies 31a pass between the first square engaging body 32a and the second square engaging body 32b. In the state shown in Figure 3B(f), if a force is applied to the male member 31 and the female member 32 in a direction that pulls the two members apart, as shown in Figure 3B(g), the triangular engaging body 31a of the male member 31 rises, and its inclined side 31a2 comes into contact with the lower end corner of the second square engaging body 32b.

[0027] Since the inclined side 31a2 is inclined downward to the right in Figure 3B(g), the triangular engaging body 31a moves to the left as shown in Figure 3B(h). Then, the left contact side 31a3 of the triangular engaging body 31a comes into contact with the right short side 32a4 of the first quadrilateral engaging body 32a and stops.

[0028] Since the contact between the abutting edge 31a3 and the short edge 32a4 is surface contact, the strength and durability of the engaging members 31a and 32a can be increased. In addition, the reliability of the locking of the triangular engaging member 31a can be increased.

[0029] In the state shown in Figure 3B(h), the triangular engaging body 31a is locked by the first square engaging body 32a and the second square engaging body 32b, so the male member 31 and the female member 32 cannot be separated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the male member 31 and the female member 32 from unexpectedly separating and the magnetic necklace 1 from falling off while the magnetic necklace 1 is worn around the neck.

[0030] To remove the magnetic necklace 1 from around the neck, from the state shown in Figure 3B(f), gently twist the male member 31 and the female member 32 to move the triangular engaging body 31a of the male member 31 to the right as shown in Figure 3B(e). In this state, the male member 31 and the female member 32 can be separated.

[0031] As described above, the male member 31 and female member 32 constituting the fastener of this embodiment have simplified shapes using triangular engaging bodies 31a and square engaging bodies 32a and 32b. This improves the ease of processing, strength, and durability of these engaging bodies, as well as making the fastener more compact, reducing weight, lowering costs, and improving design. Furthermore, conventional fasteners described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 had the problem that debris easily got caught in the male and female engaging bodies due to their complex shapes. However, the fastener of this embodiment has a simplified shape, making it less likely for debris to get caught, and preventing problems with attaching and detaching the fastener due to debris clogging.

[0032] ●Second Embodiment Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic necklace 1 in Figure 4 has an elastic string-like body 2, a plurality of permanent magnets (not shown) embedded in the string-like body 2, and axial male members 31, 31 that constitute a clasp attached to both ends of the string-like body 2, and an intermediate cylindrical female member 33. Since this clasp is symmetrical, its design can be enhanced.

[0033] The top 40 is connected to the outer surface of the female member 33. Also, as shown in Figure 5B, a magnet M1 is placed in the longitudinal center inside the female member 33. By inserting and connecting the male members 31, 31 from the left and right to the openings at both ends of the cylindrical female member 33, the string-like body 2 can be held in a wrapped state around the neck.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5A, the left and right male members 31, 31 are the same as the male member 31 of the first embodiment. The intermediate cylindrical female member 33 has a first square engaging body 33a, similar to the first square engaging body 32a of the first embodiment, and a second square engaging body 33b, similar to the second square engaging body 32b of the first embodiment, formed on the inner circumferential surfaces of both the left and right ends. Note that magnets M1 and M2 are omitted in Figure 5A.

[0035] When the male members 31, 31 are brought close to the female member 33 from both sides, the attractive action of the magnets M1, M2 on both of them causes the female member 33 and the male members 31, 31 to align in a straight line, and then the male members 31, 31 are inserted and connected to the openings at both ends of the female member 33.

[0036] Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on embodiments, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the technical idea described in the claims. For example, the triangular engaging body 31a as the first convex island-shaped engaging body and the square engaging bodies 32a and 32b as the second convex island-shaped engaging body can be configured in various polygons, not limited to triangles or squares. For example, the triangular engaging body 31a can be configured in a square trapezoid. Furthermore, the present invention can be used not only as a clasp for necklaces but also as a clasp for bracelets and pendants. In addition, although the above embodiments used the triangular engaging body 31a as the male engaging body and the square engaging bodies 32a and 32b as the female engaging bodies, it is also possible to reverse this and use the square engaging body as the male engaging body and the triangular engaging body as the female engaging body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1: Magnetic necklace 2: String-like object 31: Male member 31a: Triangular engaging body (first convex island-shaped engaging body) 31a1: Sliding side 31a2: Inclined side 31a3: Contact edge 32: Female member 32a: First quadrangular engaging body (base end engaging body of the second convex island engaging body) 32a1, 32a2: Longer sides 32a3, 32a4: Shorter sides 32b: Second quadrangular engaging body (tip-side engaging body of the second convex island-shaped engaging body) 32b1, 32b2: Longer sides 32b3, 32b4: Shorter sides 33: Female component 33a: First quadrangular engaging body (base end engaging body of the second convex island engaging body) 33b: Second quadrangular engaging body (tip-side engaging body of the second convex island-shaped engaging body) 40: Top

Claims

1. In a fastener for an accessory, a male engaging body formed on a shaft-shaped male member and a female engaging body formed on a cylindrical female member engage to hold a string-like body wrapped around the body, The male member and the female member hold magnets that attract each other, The male or female engaging body has a first convex island-shaped engaging body independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on its outer or inner surface. The other of the male or female engaging body has a second convex island-shaped engaging body independently formed at multiple locations in the circumferential direction on its inner or outer surface. The second convex island-shaped engaging body has a base-side engaging body formed on the base end side of the male member or the female member, and a tip-side engaging body formed on the tip side of the male member or the female member, and one tip-side engaging body is arranged on the tip side between at least two circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies. A fastener characterized in that, in the engaged state of the male engaging body and the female engaging body, the first convex island-shaped engaging body is received between the circumferentially adjacent base-side engaging bodies, and the tip-side engaging body is located outside the first convex island-shaped engaging body.

2. The first convex island-shaped engaging body has a triangular engaging body, and the second convex island-shaped engaging body has a square-shaped engaging body, the square-shaped engaging body having a first square-shaped engaging body formed on the base end side of the male member or the female member, and a second square-shaped engaging body formed on the tip side of the male member or the female member, and one second square-shaped engaging body is arranged on the tip side between at least two circumferentially adjacent first square-shaped engaging bodies. A fastener characterized in that, in the engaged state of the male engaging body and the female engaging body, the triangular engaging body is received between the circumferentially adjacent first rectangular engaging bodies, and the second rectangular engaging body is located outside the triangular engaging body.

3. The fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the male member is attached to one end of the string-like body and the female member is attached to the other end of the string-like body.

4. The fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the male member is attached to both ends of the string-like body, and the female engaging bodies are formed on both ends of the female member.

5. The fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that the first quadrilateral engaging body and the second quadrilateral engaging body are parallelograms whose longitudinal centerlines are inclined with respect to the axial direction of the male engaging body or the female engaging body, and one side of the parallelogram and one side of the triangular engaging body are sliding sides that slide against each other when the male engaging body and the female engaging body engage.

6. The fastener according to claim 5, characterized in that the other side of the triangular engaging body is an inclined side that is inclined in the opposite direction to the inclination direction of the sliding side with respect to the circumferential direction of the male engaging body or the female engaging body.

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