A snap-fit ​​connector and an adjustable connecting structure comprising the connector

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a snap-fit ​​connector that can accurately telescope and adjust its own length and an adjustable connection structure containing the snap-fit ​​connector, wherein the adjustable connection structure is achieved by arranging a plurality of pairs of symmetrical snap-fit ​​connectors on the circumference of the ball head connection structure, and by fixing the two ends of the snap-fit ​​connector to a movable connector installed on the ball head and a base fixed to the ground, so that when the movable connector is rotated around the center of the ball head to any angular position, the threaded structure on the snap-fit ​​connector can be adjusted by rotating so that each snap-fit ​​connector is in a tensioned state, so that the movable connector is completely fixed relative to the ball head and the base at this angular position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of movable connection structures, in particular to a snap-fit ​​connection piece and an adjustable connection structure comprising the connection piece. Background Art

[0002] In many fields today, it is often necessary to adjust the relative angle between two components and fix them at a specific relative position, and such structures are usually achieved through ball head connection structures. Common ball head connection structures include a ball head fixedly connected to a first component and a spherical hole formed on another second component that is recessed inwards. By inserting and installing the ball head inside the spherical hole, the second component can rotate relative to the first component around the ball head within the range of the moving sphere; the outer surface of the ball head is abutted against the inner surface of the spherical hole to fix the relative position relationship between the first component and the second component. Since in actual installation and use, the friction between the two components is usually used in the ball head connection structure to fix them at a certain position, when one of the components is hit by an instantaneous external force or bears a load exceeding the limit, the stable position relationship between the two components will be destroyed, resulting in rotation between the two parts, one of the components will fall to the side, or even cause damage to the ball head connection structure.

[0003] For example, a universal double-sided mobile phone holder disclosed in the Chinese utility model patent document with authorization announcement number CN210297811U includes a first panel, a second panel, a nut, and a nano-traceless removable adhesive. The first panel is provided with the nano-traceless removable adhesive on one side, and a ball head is formed on the other side. The ball head and the first panel are connected by a short rod. The second panel is provided with the nano-traceless removable adhesive on one side, and an elastic ball socket is formed on the other side to cooperate with the ball head. The elastic ball socket is threaded and formed by a plurality of elastic sheets arranged vertically in a circle, with gaps between the two elastic sheets. The nut is mounted on the elastic ball socket, and the ball head is inserted into the elastic ball socket. The ball head and the elastic ball socket can be fixed or moved by tightening or loosening the nut. The connection method described in the invention realizes the connection and fixation between the ball head and the ball socket. By turning the nut, the elastic ball socket shrinks inward and fits tightly with the surface of the ball head. The friction between the two components fixes the relative position.

[0004] In the connection structure described above, the plastic or rubber material used for the elastic ball socket is susceptible to temperature fluctuations, causing it to shrink or expand. This can cause changes in the friction force on the contact surface, making it unable to provide sufficient support and fixation for the component connected to the ball head. This can cause the upper component to deflect, tilt, or even fall and become damaged. Furthermore, this connection mechanism is less resistant to external interference and is prone to deflection, making it impossible to achieve a stable and secure connection between the two components at a specific relative angle.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a safe and reliable snap-fit ​​connector and a stable and firm adjustable connection structure including the connector. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a protective connecting piece capable of effectively protecting a ball head connecting structure and a safe ball head movable connecting structure comprising the protective connecting piece.

[0007] The above technical objectives of the present invention are achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0008] A snap-fit ​​connection member includes a first connection unit for cooperating and fixing with a base, a second connection unit for cooperating and fixing with a movable part installed on the base, and a flexible connection section arranged between the first connection unit and the second connection unit; the first connection unit includes an adjustable connection structure fixedly connected to the lower end of the flexible connection section and a snap-fit ​​connection structure for fixedly connecting with a recessed socket opened on the base.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable connecting structure includes a cylindrical connecting rod and a mating piece located below the connecting rod; an external thread is provided on the outer side of the lower section of the connecting rod to form an adjusting thread segment, and an adjusting thread hole is provided on the mating piece for mating with the adjusting thread segment. The connecting rod is installed on the mating piece through a threaded structure and can achieve axial upward or downward movement along the adjusting thread hole by rotating itself clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second connecting unit includes a connecting bolt, the large end of the connecting bolt is fixedly connected to the upper end of the flexible connecting section, and a fastening threaded section for fixedly connecting to the movable part is formed on the connecting bolt.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fitting can be divided into two independent parts, a main body and a snap-fitting part; a hinge structure is formed between the main body and the snap-fitting part, and the snap-fitting part can rotate relative to the main body around the rotation center of the hinge; an elastic component is provided between the snap-fitting part and the main body or between the relative snap-fitting parts for driving the snap-fitting part to expand outward so that the snap-fitting part is in contact with the inner wall of the recessed socket opened on the base.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the engaging portion protrudes outward and extends to form a convex edge for embedding into a slot in the concave socket on the base.

[0013] An adjustable connection assembly includes a base and a movable part, the movable part is connected to the base via a ball head movable connection structure, and the movable part can rotate relative to the base around the spherical center of the ball head movable connection structure. It is characterized in that: the above-mentioned snap connection piece is installed between the base and the movable part, and the base is provided with an inward recessed socket for cooperating with the installation of the first connection unit, and the internal space of the inward recessed socket is recessed to the side to form a slot for cooperating with the installation of the snap-fit ​​part.

[0014] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner wall of the concave socket is formed with a guiding slope structure whose radial dimension gradually decreases from the outside to the inside.

[0015] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is characterized in that: the card slot also includes an internal space extending in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the first connecting unit to form a self-locking groove, and the card portion extends in a corresponding direction to form a self-locking portion corresponding to the self-locking groove.

[0016] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bottom of the concave socket is provided with an elastic cushion layer for abutting against the lower surface of the engaging portion so that it fits tightly with the engaging slot.

[0017] As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it includes a plurality of groups of snap-fit ​​connectors symmetrically arranged in pairs on both sides of the ball head.

[0018] In summary, the present invention can achieve the following multiple beneficial effects:

[0019] 1. The snap-fit ​​connector described in the present invention is connected to the mating component via a threaded connecting rod. The connecting rod is rotated to move axially along the threaded hole within the mating component. Because the resulting threaded structure is standardized, the number of rotations precisely corresponds to the movement of the rod, enabling precise control of the overall length of the snap-fit ​​connector.

[0020] 2. In the adjustable connection assembly described in the present invention, the snap-fit ​​connector is fixedly connected to the base by a method in which the end of the snap-fit ​​connector contracts inward when subjected to a squeezing force and rebounds and expands outward when the squeezing force is removed. When subjected to a tensile force, the connector will not fall off before the component is damaged. The connector has good connection stability, is simple and reliable, and is easy to disassemble and assemble, thus having broad application prospects.

[0021] 3. The adjustable connection assembly of the present invention provides a concave socket with a truncated cone-shaped structure whose radial dimension decreases from the outside to the inside. During plug-in installation, the engaging portion of the engaging connector is directly guided inwardly to contract, eliminating the need for the user to apply an inward force to the outer wall of the engaging portion. This simplifies the installation process and makes the assembly process more concise and efficient.

[0022] 4. A self-locking structure is formed between the engaging portion and the recessed socket in the adjustable connection assembly of the present invention, which prevents the components from separating under tension and provides good connection stability and safety.

[0023] 5. The adjustable connection assembly described in the present invention can simultaneously adjust the threaded structures on multiple sets of snap-fit ​​connectors symmetrically arranged relative to the ball head structure, thereby achieving fixed locking of the movable component relative to the base at any angular position within a certain range of three-dimensional space, thereby achieving precise and stable positioning when the ball head is connected. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship of the main parts of the snap connector;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a detailed structural diagram of each part of the snap-fit ​​connector;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the various parts of the coupling connection between the snap connector and the base;

[0027] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the state when the snap-fit ​​connector and the base are snap-fitted together;

[0028] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the connection relationship between various parts of an adjustable connection assembly including a snap-fit ​​connector;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a structural diagram of the adjustable connecting component when it is adjusted to a certain angle position and fixed.

[0030] In the picture:

[0031] 1——Snap-fit ​​connector;

[0032] 2——first connection unit,

[0033] 3 - second connecting unit, 3a - connecting bolt, 3aa - fastening threaded section;

[0034] 4——flexible connecting section;

[0035] 5 – moving parts;

[0036] 6——base, 6a——recessed socket, 6aa——card slot, 6aaa——self-locking slot,

[0037] 6b – elastic cushion, 6c – guiding slope structure;

[0038] 7 - adjustable connection structure, 7a - connecting rod, 7aa - adjusting thread section,

[0039] 8——clamping connection structure, 8a——matching piece, 8aa——main body, 8ab——clamping part,

[0040] 8aba—self-locking part, 8b—adjusting threaded hole, 8c—hinge structure, 8d—elastic component. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The following specific embodiments are merely explanations of the present invention and are not limitations of the present invention. After reading this specification, those skilled in the art may make non-creative modifications to the embodiments as needed. However, as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present invention, they are protected by patent law.

[0042] This solution is achieved through the following technical means:

[0043] Example 1: A snap-fit ​​connector 1 capable of telescopically adjusting the distance between its two ends comprises a first connecting unit 2, a second connecting unit 3, and a flexible connecting section 4 connecting the two connecting units. The first connecting unit 2 can be further divided into an adjustable connecting structure 7 and a snap-fit ​​connecting structure 8. The adjustable connecting structure 7 comprises a cylindrical connecting rod 7a made of aluminum alloy and a mating member 8a also made of aluminum alloy. A spiral external thread is provided on the outer side of the connecting rod 7a, forming an adjustable threaded section 7aa on the lower side of the connecting rod 7a. The mating member 8a is generally shaped like a hollow sleeve with an open lower surface. Its vertical cross-section is an inverted U-shaped. An adjustable threaded hole 8b is provided in the center of the mating member 8a, extending vertically and corresponding to the external thread on the connecting rod 7a. The mating member 8a comprises a main body 8aa and a snap-fitting portion 8ab. The lower end of the snap-fitting portion 8ab extends outward to form a raised edge, and its upper end is connected to the main body 8aa via a hinged structure 8c. Specifically, the engaging portion 8ab comprises a long, rectangular rod with an upper opening. The lower end of the main body 8aa extends downwardly and also has a hole in the extension. A double-headed rivet is inserted through the through-holes of both the engaging portion 8ab and the main body 8aa, movably connecting the two components. The engaging portion 8ab can rotate within a certain angle relative to the center of the hinge. Several pairs of symmetrical long, rectangular rods are mounted below the main body 8aa, and a compression spring 8d is connected between each pair of rods. This spring acts as an elastic component 8d, which, after the rods on either side are squeezed and installed within the recessed socket 6a, provides a force to expand the two opposing rods to the sides, causing the outer side of the engaging portion 8ab formed by the rods to tightly fit the inner wall of the recessed socket 6a. Preferably, a torsion spring can also be used as the elastic component 8d, so that the two ends of the torsion spring are respectively bonded and fixedly connected to the rod on the locking portion 8ab and the main body 8aa, thereby achieving the same aforementioned effect while providing a larger space for the central area and avoiding interference with the connecting rod 7a.

[0044] The flexible connecting section 4 is specifically a metal chain formed by a plurality of metal rings interlocked and fastened together. Its upper end is completely fixedly connected to the large end of the connecting bolt 3a included in the second connecting unit 3 by welding. Its lower end is formed with an outwardly protruding hook. By welding a ring-shaped connecting rod 7a for the hook to fix to the upper end of the connecting rod 7a in the first connecting unit 2, the hook can hook onto the ring-shaped connecting rod 7a, thereby connecting and fixing the flexible connecting section 4 to the first connecting unit 2 and the second connecting unit 3 at its two ends. The lower section of the connecting bolt 3a included in the second connecting unit 3 is also formed with a fastening threaded section 3aa for fixed connection with the fastening threaded hole on the movable connecting member.

[0045] During use, the snap connector 1 can be rotated to move the threaded connecting rod 7a along the axial direction of the adjusting threaded hole 8b, while changing its distance relative to the connecting bolt 3a at the other end, thereby achieving a telescopic change effect on the overall length of the snap connector 1.

[0046] Example 2: An adjustable connection assembly includes the above-mentioned snap-fit ​​connector 1, a metal base 6 that is completely fixed to the ground by screws, and a movable component 5 for supporting and installing other additional parts and devices. The metal base 6 is integrally formed with a connecting column that extends upward and protrudes, and a spherical ball head is fixedly installed on the upper end of the connecting column. Accordingly, the movable component 5 is composed of a left component and a right component that are symmetrically provided with hemispherical grooves at the lower part. The left component and the right component are respectively brought close to and snapped onto the ball head from both sides, and are locked by bolts so that the movable component 5 is sleeved on the ball head and does not fall off, forming a ball head movable connection structure, so that the movable component 5 can freely rotate around the spherical center of the ball head relative to the base 6.

[0047] A mounting hole with internal threads is opened from bottom to top on the movable part 5, and the connecting bolt 3a in the second connecting unit 3 of the snap connector 1 is tightened and fixed in the mounting hole to achieve the connection and fixation of the snap connector 1 relative to the movable part 5 located on the upper side.

[0048] The upper surface of the base 6 is provided with a downwardly recessed recessed socket 6a. The interior of the recessed socket 6a forms a cylindrical hollow space, and the bottom of the hollow space is horizontally recessed outward to form a circular annular slot 6aa. When the adjustable connecting assembly is fixedly connected to the base 6, a force directed toward the center is first applied to the outer side of the engaging portion 8ab, causing the two rods hinged to the main body 8aa as the engaging portion 8ab to rotate inward simultaneously, causing the engaging portion 8ab to shrink and deform radially reduce its size. At this time, the engaging portion 8ab can be inserted from the outside to the inside into the recessed socket 6a. When the engaging portion 8ab enters the recessed plug interface, the two sides are no longer subjected to the abutting force. At this time, under the action of the spring installed in the engaging portion 8ab, the engaging portion 8ab expands outward, causing the protrusion at the lower end of the engaging portion 8ab to enter the slot 6aa formed inside the recessed socket 6a. At this time, the first connecting unit 2 is mounted and fixed on the base 6 and does not fall off or separate unless a tensile force is applied by the first connecting unit 2 .

[0049] A further optimization of the structure of the adjustable connection assembly is to configure the recessed socket 6a to be a truncated cone with a larger top and smaller bottom, and to accordingly form a guiding slope 6c on the inner wall of the recessed socket 6a. With this configuration, when installing the engaging portion 8ab of the snap-fit ​​connection structure 8 into the recessed socket 6a, only a vertical downward force is applied to move the engaging portion 8ab downward. Under the influence of the inclined inner wall, the engaging portion 8ab naturally contracts toward the center until it springs outward from the slot 6aa, completing the secure connection. This simplifies the installation process.

[0050] Further preferably, the outer edge of the engaging portion 8ab is further formed with a self-locking portion 8aba that protrudes obliquely upward, and the engaging slot 6aaa is formed within the engaging slot 6aaa that is recessed upward for engaging the self-locking portion 8aba. After installation, the self-locking portion 8aba is embedded in the self-locking slot 6aaa. To disassemble, the self-locking portion 8aba is first pushed downward to disengage it from the self-locking slot 6aaa, and then the engaging portion 8ab is squeezed toward the center to release the connection between the components and separate them from each other. Further preferably, the bottom of the concave socket 6a is further filled with an elastic cushioning layer 6b made of rubber material on one side, which is used to apply an upward force to the bottom surface of the self-locking portion 8aba, ensuring that the self-locking portion 8aba is stably embedded in the internal space of the self-locking slot 6aaa during the fixed connection, further improving the stability of the connection.

[0051] Further preferably, snap connectors 1 are symmetrically mounted on both sides of the ball head structure on the base 6. By rotating and adjusting the snap connectors 1 on both sides so that the lengths of the snap connectors 1 on each side are different, the movable component 5 is tilted toward the shorter side. The snap connectors 1 on both sides are then further rotated and adjusted so that both snap connectors 1 are in a tensioned state, completely securing the movable component at this angle within the plane where the snap connectors 1 are located. Alternatively, by arranging multiple sets of snap connectors 1, each symmetrical, along the circumference of the ball head structure, the movable component can be stably connected and secured at any angle within a three-dimensional space.

[0052] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and such modifications or substitutions are intended to be within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be subject to the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. An adjustable connection assembly, comprising a base (6) and a movable part (5), wherein the movable part (5) is connected to the base (6) via a ball-jointed movable connection structure, and the movable part (5) is capable of rotating relative to the base (6) around the spherical center of the ball-jointed movable connection structure, characterized in that: A plurality of snap-fit ​​connectors (1) are installed between the base (6) and the movable component (5), which are symmetrically arranged in pairs on both sides of the ball head. The snap-fit ​​connector (1) includes a first connecting unit (2) for cooperating and fixing with the base (6), a second connecting unit (3) for cooperating and fixing with the movable component (5) installed on the base (6), and a flexible connecting section (4) arranged between the first connecting unit (2) and the second connecting unit (3); the first connecting unit (2) includes an adjustable connecting structure (7) fixedly connected to the lower end of the flexible connecting section (4) and a snap-fit ​​connecting structure (8) for fixedly connecting with the inner recessed socket (6a) provided on the base (6); the inner recessed socket (6a) for cooperating and installing the first connecting unit (2) is provided on the base (6), and the inner space of the inner recessed socket (6a) is recessed to the side to form a slot (6aa) for cooperating and installing the snap-fit ​​portion (8ab).

2. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the concave socket (6a) is formed with a guiding slope structure (6c) whose radial dimension gradually decreases from the outside to the inside.

3. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The card slot (6aa) further comprises an internal space extending in a direction opposite to the insertion direction of the first connecting unit (2) to form a self-locking slot (6aaa), and the engaging portion extends in a corresponding direction to form a self-locking portion (8aba) corresponding to the self-locking slot (6aaa).

4. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bottom of the recessed socket (6a) is provided with an elastic cushion layer (6b) for abutting against the lower surface of the engaging portion (8ab) to closely fit the engaging portion with the engaging slot (6aa).

5. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The adjustable connection structure (7) comprises a cylindrical connecting rod (7a) and a matching piece (8a) located below the connecting rod (7a); an external thread is provided on the outer side of the lower section of the connecting rod (7a) to form an adjusting thread segment (7aa); an adjusting thread hole (8b) for matching with the adjusting thread segment (7aa) is provided on the matching piece (8a); the connecting rod (7a) is mounted on the matching piece (8a) via a threaded structure and can achieve axial upward or downward movement along the adjusting thread hole (8b) by rotating itself clockwise or counterclockwise.

6. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The second connecting unit (3) includes a connecting bolt (3a), the large end of the connecting bolt (3a) is fixedly connected to the upper end of the flexible connecting section (4), and a fastening threaded section (3aa) for fixed connection with the movable part is formed on the connecting bolt (3a).

7. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The matching part (8a) can be divided into two independent parts, namely a main body (8aa) and a locking part (8ab); a hinge structure (8c) is formed between the main body (8aa) and the locking part (8ab); the locking part (8ab) can rotate relative to the main body (8aa) around the rotation center of the hinge; and an elastic component (8d) is provided between the locking part (8ab) and the main body (8aa) or between the mutually symmetrical locking parts (8ab) for driving the locking part (8ab) to expand outward so that the locking part (8ab) is in contact with the inner wall of the concave socket (6a) provided on the base (6).

8. The adjustable connection assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The engaging portion (8ab) protrudes outward and extends to form a convex edge for embedding into the engaging groove (6aa) in the concave socket (6a) on the base (6).

Images