Clothing peg and manufacturing method thereof
By molding the clamping member on the elastic member attachment of the clothespin, the problem of insecure connection and complex recycling of the clothespin is solved, and a longer service life and a simplified recycling process is achieved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510117241.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2019-11-08
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing clothespins are prone to disengagement during long-term use because the connection between the elastic member and the clamping member is not firmly strong, and the recycling process is complicated because the plastic and metal members need to be separated.
By molding the clamping members separately on the attachment portion of the elastic member, the elastic member and the clamping member are closely combined, and the clothespins are made of only plastic material, simplifying the recycling process.
Significantly improves the service life of clothespins and simplifies the recycling process, as clothespins only need to be recycled from a single plastic material without the need to separate and recycle different materials.
Smart Images
Figure CN119795481A_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] This application is a divisional application of the Chinese invention patent application entitled “Clothespin and its manufacturing method” with application date of November 8, 2019 and application number 201911088430.2. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a clothespin and a method for manufacturing the clothespin. Background Art
[0003] Clothespins are widely used in daily life. Common clothespins usually include two clamping members and an elastic member, and the elastic member is arranged between the clamping members so that the two clamping members cooperate to form an openable and closable clamping structure under the action of the elastic member. However, the connection between the elastic member and the clamping member is prone to become loose during long-term use, so that the elastic member and the clamping member are easily disengaged and cause damage to the clothespin.
[0004] In addition, the clamping member of a common clothespin is usually made of plastic, while the elastic member thereof is a metal elastic component, such as a spring. An important drawback of this type of clothespin is that its recycling process becomes complicated, because due to the presence of the metal member, the recycling process requires the plastic member and the metal member to be separated and then recycled separately.
[0005] The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and / or other problems existing in the prior art. Summary of the invention
[0006] The main purpose of the present invention is to provide a clothespin and a manufacturing method thereof to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art.
[0007] To achieve the aforementioned object of the invention, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a clothes clip, which includes two clamping members and an elastic member, wherein the two clamping members cooperate to form an openable and closable clamping structure under the action of the elastic member; the elastic member includes a main body and two attachment parts respectively formed as one piece with the main body at both ends of the main body, and wherein the clothes clip is constructed to attach the elastic member to the two clamping members by respectively molding a corresponding clamping member on each attachment part.
[0008] In some more specific embodiments, the two clamping members are respectively overmolded on the two attachment parts by injection molding the two clamping members on the two attachment parts respectively.
[0009] In some more specific embodiments, the resilient member is formed by molding before being attached to the two clamping members.
[0010] In some more specific embodiments, each attachment portion includes a first anchoring portion and a connecting neck, wherein the first anchoring portion is embedded in the corresponding clamping member; the connecting neck is embedded in the corresponding clamping member and connects the first anchoring portion to the main body of the elastic member; wherein the first anchoring portion extends in a first direction along the extension direction of the corresponding clamping member and protrudes relative to the connecting neck.
[0011] In some more specific embodiments, the first anchoring portion is formed with a ridge on a side close to the connecting neck.
[0012] In some more specific embodiments, a ridge is disposed on each end of the first anchoring portion.
[0013] In some more specific embodiments, the cross-sectional area of the connecting neck is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main body, so that a shoulder is formed at the connecting area of the main body and the connecting neck, wherein the shoulder is combined with the material of the corresponding clamping member.
[0014] In some more specific embodiments, each attachment portion further includes a second anchoring portion, which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes relative to the connecting neck.
[0015] In some more specific embodiments, the second anchoring portion is formed in a shaft shape.
[0016] In some more specific embodiments, the clothespin is made only of plastic material.
[0017] In some more specific embodiments, the hardness of the plastic used to make the clamping member is greater than the hardness of the plastic used to make the elastic member.
[0018] In some more specific embodiments, the resilient member is a different color than the clamping member.
[0019] In some more specific embodiments, the elastic member is made of new plastic.
[0020] In some more specific embodiments, the clamping member is made from recycled plastic.
[0021] In some more specific embodiments, the elastic member is made of polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic.
[0022] In some more specific embodiments, the clamping member is made of polypropylene (PP) plastic.
[0023] In some more specific embodiments, the elastic member has an arc-shaped structure, and the opening of the arc-shaped structure is arranged toward the clamping structure.
[0024] In some more specific embodiments, the elastic member is omega-shaped.
[0025] In some more specific embodiments, each clamping member is provided with a tooth structure, and the tooth structures respectively formed on the two clamping members can mesh with each other when the clamping structures are in a closed state.
[0026] In some more specific embodiments, each clamping member is elongated.
[0027] In some more specific embodiments, each clamping member is formed with a hollow structure in an end portion thereof adjacent to the openable and closable clamping structure.
[0028] In some more specific embodiments, the clothes clip includes a detachable lanyard, which includes a lanyard body and two closed loops at both ends of the lanyard body; one of the closed loops defines an opening for half of the opened clamping structure to pass through so that the closed loop can move to a position surrounding the body of the elastic member; the size of the other closed loop is set so that one end of the lanyard carrying the elastic member and the clamping member can pass through the other closed loop, thereby forming a hanging loop by the other closed loop and the lanyard body.
[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a method for manufacturing a clothespin, the method comprising the following steps:
[0030] - placing an elastic member in a mold, wherein the elastic member includes a main body and two attachment parts formed integrally with the main body at both ends of the main body;
[0031] In a single molding step, a first clamping member is molded on one of the two attachment parts and a second clamping member is molded on the other of the two attachment parts, so that an openable and closable clamping structure is defined by the first and second clamping members and the elastic member.
[0032] In some more specific embodiments, during the molding process of the first clamping member and the second clamping member, the elastic member is maintained in a preloaded state.
[0033] In the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention, a clamping member is molded on the two attachment parts of the elastic member respectively, so that the clamping member and the elastic member are molded into one body. Therefore, the elastic member is not easy to fall off from the clamping member, which significantly improves the service life of the clothespin. Moreover, the clothespin of the present invention is made of only plastic material, so it does not need to be disassembled and recycled separately during recycling, which greatly simplifies the recycling process. In addition, the molding manufacturing process is simple, and the manufactured clothespin has a firm structure and a long service life. The design of the structure of the attachment part of the elastic member also greatly improves the bonding strength of the elastic member and the clamping member, and prolongs the service life of the clothespin. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The features and advantages of the present invention, as well as other features and advantages, will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0035] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view showing a clothespin according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 An exploded perspective schematic diagram of the clothespin shown;
[0037] Figure 3 Show Figure 1 A schematic cross-sectional view of the clothespin shown;
[0038] Figure 4 A schematic front view showing a hanging rope of a clothespin according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and
[0039] Figure 5 A schematic perspective view of a clothespin with a hanging rope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0040] See also Figure 1-Figure 3 The present invention provides a clothes clip, which includes two clamping members 100, 200 and an elastic member 300, wherein the two clamping members 100, 200 cooperate to form an openable and closable clamping structure under the action of the elastic member 300, and the elastic member 300 includes a main body 310 and two attachment parts 380 respectively formed as one body with the main body at both ends of the main body, and the elastic member 300 is attached to the two clamping members 100, 200 by respectively molding a corresponding clamping member 100, 200 on each of the attachment parts 380.
[0041] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a clothespin, the method comprising the following steps:
[0042] - placing the elastic member 300 in a mold, wherein the elastic member 300 includes a main body 310 and two attachment portions 380 formed integrally with the main body at both ends of the main body;
[0043] In a single molding step, the first clamping member 100 is molded on one of the two attachment portions 380 and the second clamping member 200 is molded on the other of the two attachment portions 380 , so that an openable and closable clamping structure is defined by the first and second clamping members 100 , 200 and the elastic member 300 .
[0044] By molding the clamping members 100, 200 on the two attachment portions 380 of the elastic member 300, respectively, the clamping members 100, 200 and the elastic member 300 are formed as one body. Therefore, the elastic member 300 is not easy to fall off from the clamping member, which significantly prolongs the service life of the clothespin.
[0045] As an example, the above molding process can be achieved by injection molding. Figure 1 , 3 As shown, by injection molding the two clamping members 100, 200 on the two attachment portions 380, the two clamping members 100, 200 are respectively over-molded on the two attachment portions 380. This injection molding method is particularly suitable for forming a part in which an insert (i.e., the two attachment portions 380 of the elastic member 300) is embedded, and in this way, the attachment portion 380 is embedded in the corresponding clamping member, so that the two are combined into one in a more compact manner.
[0046] Preferably, the elastic member 300 has been formed before being placed in the mold, for example, by molding. That is, the elastic member 300 is first formed (preferably by molding), and then the two clamping members 100, 200 are molded on the elastic member 300. The above molding process can also be called one-step molding. Since the elastic member 300 is also molded, the clothespin can be manufactured in a fully automatic manner.
[0047] Advantageously, during the process of molding the first clamping member 100 and the second clamping member 200, the elastic member 300 is maintained in a preloaded state, for example, maintained in a state where the two attachment portions 380 of the elastic member 300 are stretched away from each other, so that when the entire clothespin is removed from the mold, the restoring action of the elastic member 300 causes one end of the two clamping members 100 and 200 to move toward each other to form a closed clamping structure 500.
[0048] As a preferred example, the clothespin is made of plastic material only, in other words, all components constituting the clothespin are made of plastic material. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the plastic used to make the clamping member and the plastic used to make the elastic member have different performance requirements, such as the clamping member requires a higher hardness and the elastic member requires a higher elasticity, therefore, the hardness of the plastic used to make the clamping member can be greater than the hardness of the plastic used to make the elastic member. As a preferred example, the elastic member is made of new plastic, such as POM (polyoxymethylene) plastic. In order to save costs, the clamping member can be made of recycled plastic, such as PP (polypropylene) plastic. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto, and the plastic material used to make the clamping member and the plastic material used to make the elastic member can also be the same.
[0049] Since the clothespins of the present invention are made of only plastic material, they do not need to be disassembled, classified and recycled separately before recycling, which greatly simplifies the recycling process. In addition, the manufacturing process of the clothespins is simple, and the manufactured clothespins have a firm structure and a long service life.
[0050] The structure of the attachment portion 380 of the elastic member as an example is described in detail below. Figure 2 , 3 As shown, each attachment portion 380 includes a first anchoring portion 320 and a connecting neck 340, wherein the first anchoring portion 320 is embedded in the corresponding clamping member 100, 200; the connecting neck 340 is embedded in the corresponding clamping member 100, 200 and connects the first anchoring portion 320 to the main body 310 of the elastic member 300; wherein the first anchoring portion 320 extends in a first direction along the extension direction of the corresponding clamping member and protrudes relative to the connecting neck 340.
[0051] Since the first anchoring portion 320 is embedded in the corresponding clamping member 100, 200 and extends in the first direction along the extension direction of the corresponding clamping member, during the injection molding process, the material of the corresponding clamping member surrounds the first anchoring portion 320 and combines with it to prevent the elastic member from being separated from the corresponding clamping member. As an example, the first anchoring portion 320 can be formed in a plate shape.
[0052] As an example, the first anchoring portion 320 is formed with a ridge 360 on one side close to the connecting neck 340. The number of the ridges 360 can be one or more. The presence of the ridges 360 makes it more firmly combined with the material of the corresponding clamping member, preventing the elastic member from being separated from the corresponding clamping member.
[0053] Advantageously, if Figure 2 As shown, a ridge 360 may be provided on each end of the first anchoring portion 320. Thus, the entire attachment portion 380 substantially forms an anchor-like structure to be more firmly combined in the corresponding clamping member.
[0054] Preferably, a second anchoring portion 330 may also be provided. That is, each attachment portion 380 further includes a second anchoring portion 330, which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes relative to the connecting neck 340. As an example, the second anchoring portion 330 may be formed in an axis shape. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the shapes of the first anchoring portion 320 and the second anchoring portion 330, and the extending directions thereof are not limited to the above description, as long as the first anchoring portion and the second anchoring portion can play a role in preventing the elastic member from being separated from the corresponding clamping member.
[0055] like Figure 1-3As shown, the cross-sectional area of the connecting neck 340 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the main body 310 , so that a shoulder 350 is formed at the connecting area of the main body 310 and the connecting neck 340 , wherein the shoulder 350 is combined with the material of the corresponding clamping member 100 , 200 .
[0056] The shoulder 350 allows the elastic member to be better combined with the corresponding clamping member on the one hand, and on the other hand, Figure 3 As shown, a smooth transition is formed between the elastic member 300 and the clamping member, thereby improving the quality and appearance of the clothes clip.
[0057] Since there is a boundary line or seam at the junction of the elastic member 300 and the clamping member 100, 200, such as the junction of the shoulder 350 and the corresponding clamping member 100, 200, in order to avoid the user thinking that the boundary line is a crack or defect formed on the same part, the color of the elastic member can be selected to be different from that of the clamping member. Advantageously, the color of the elastic member can be slightly different from the color of the clamping member.
[0058] The above describes an exemplary specific structure of the attachment portion 380 of the elastic member. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the construction of the attachment portion of the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the attachment portion is embedded in the clamping members 100, 200 by overmolding as described above, a firm and reliable connection of the elastic member to the two clamping members can be achieved.
[0059] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the elastic member has an arc structure, and the opening of the arc structure is arranged toward the clamping structure. Preferably, the elastic member is formed into an Ω shape. The above structure achieves sufficient elasticity with a simple structure to achieve the opening and closing of the openable and closable clamping structure 500. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the elastic member body 310 may also adopt other structures, for example, U-shaped, wavy, V-shaped, W-shaped, etc.
[0060] Preferably, if Figure 2 As shown, the first clamping member 100 and the second clamping member 200 have the same structure, and the two are arranged in a mirror image. Therefore, the structure of the first clamping member 100 will be introduced and explained below by taking the first clamping member 100 as an example, and those skilled in the art can know the structure of the second clamping member 200 according to the description of the structure of the first clamping member 100. The structures of the first clamping member 100 and the second clamping member 200 are both slender, and the first clamping member 100 includes a gripping portion 110 and a clamping portion 120. The two attachment portions of the elastic member 300 are respectively attached to the first clamping member 100 and the second clamping member 200 at the middle portion between the gripping portion and the clamping portion of the first clamping member 100 and the second clamping member 200, and the clamping structure 500 of the clothespin is formed between the clamping portions of the two clamping members.
[0061] As an example, a gripping groove 111 matching with a finger is further provided on the outer side of the gripping portion 110 of the first clamping member 100. An anti-slip protrusion may be provided in the gripping groove 111 to facilitate the operation of the user.
[0062] Advantageously, if Figure 3 As shown, each clamping member is provided with a tooth structure 121 , and the tooth structures 121 respectively formed on the two clamping members can mesh with each other when the clamping structure 500 is in a closed state.
[0063] Advantageously, each clamping member may be formed with a hollow structure 122 in its end adjacent to the openable clamping structure 500. In other words, the hollow structure 122 may correspond to the position of the toothed structure 121 on the clamping portion, and may be a plurality of holes interconnected or isolated from each other, or may be a single hole. The hollow structure 122 may reduce the overall weight of the clothespin and save materials.
[0064] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown, the clothes clip of the present invention may also include a detachable lanyard 400, which includes a lanyard body 410 and two closed loops 420, 430 at both ends of the lanyard body 410; one of the closed loops 420 defines an opening for half of the opened clamping structure to pass through, so that the closed loop 420 can move to a position surrounding the body 310 of the elastic member; and the size of the other closed loop 430 is set so that one end of the lanyard carrying the elastic member and the clamping member can pass through the other closed loop 430, thereby forming a hanging loop by the other closed loop 430 and the lanyard body 410.
[0065] Figure 5 4 shows a clothespin in an assembled position, in which the closed loop 420 has been moved to a position around the body 310 of the elastic member and the other closed loop 430 has been moved from the end of the closed clamping structure 500 toward the clothespin body, and a portion of the clamping member 100, 200 passes through the other closed loop 430. After the illustrated position, the other closed loop 430 will continue to move until the entire clothespin passes through the closed loop 430, so that the other closed loop 430 and the lanyard body 410 form a hanging loop, and the clothespin can be hung on other components through the hanging loop. Thus, the lanyard 400 can be used to hang the clothespin on a rod, such as a shower curtain rod, by first winding the lanyard body 410 around the rod and then passing the clothespin through the other closed loop 430. The lanyard 400 makes the clothespin convenient to use and not easy to lose.
[0066] It should be understood that the above embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable people familiar with the technology to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A clothespin, comprising: Two clamping members (100, 200); as well as The elastic member (300), wherein the two clamping members (100, 200) cooperate to form an openable and closable clamping structure under the action of the elastic member (300), is characterized in that: The elastic member (300) comprises a main body (310) and two attachment parts (380) respectively formed integrally with the main body at both ends of the main body, and the clothes clip is configured to attach the elastic member (300) to the two clamping members (100, 200) by respectively molding the corresponding clamping members (100, 200) on each of the attachment parts (380), the clothes clip is made of only plastic material, and the hardness of the plastic used to make the clamping members is greater than the hardness of the plastic used to make the elastic member.
2. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that By respectively injection molding the two clamping members (100, 200) on the two attachment portions (380), the two clamping members (100, 200) are respectively overmolded on the two attachment portions (380).
3. The clothespin according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: Each of the attachment portions (380) comprises: A first anchoring portion (320) embedded in a corresponding clamping member (100, 200); and A connecting neck (340) is embedded in the corresponding clamping member (100, 200) and connects the first anchoring portion (320) to the main body (310) of the elastic member (300); wherein the first anchoring portion (320) extends in a first direction along the extension direction of the corresponding clamping member and protrudes relative to the connecting neck (340).
4. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic component has an arc-shaped structure, and an opening of the arc-shaped structure is arranged toward the clamping structure.
5. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic member (300) is formed in an Ω shape, a U shape, a wave shape, a V shape or a W shape.
6. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also included is a detachable lanyard (400), wherein the lanyard (400) includes a lanyard body (410) and two closed loops (420, 430) at both ends of the lanyard body (410); One of the closed loops (420) defines an aperture for passing one half of the opened clamping structure, so that the one closed loop (420) can be moved to a position surrounding the body (310) of the elastic member; as well as The size of the other closed loop (430) is set so that one end of the lanyard carrying the elastic member and the clamping member can pass through the other closed loop (430), thereby forming a hanging loop by the other closed loop (430) and the lanyard body (410).
7. The clothespin according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first anchoring portion (320) is formed with a ridge (360) on a side close to the connecting neck (340).
8. The clothespin according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first anchoring portion (320) is formed in a plate shape.
9. The clothespin according to claim 3, characterized in that: Each of the attachment portions (380) further includes a second anchor portion (330), which extends in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and protrudes relative to the connecting neck (340).
10. The clothespin according to claim 9, characterized in that The second anchoring portion (330) is formed in a shaft shape.
11. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that The elastic member (300) is formed by molding before being attached to the two clamping members (100, 200).
12. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that The elastic member has a different color from the clamping member.
13. The clothespin according to claim 1, characterized in that The elastic member is made of new plastic such as polyoxymethylene plastic, and the clamping member is made of recycled plastic such as polypropylene plastic.
14. A method for manufacturing a clothespin, characterized in that: The method comprises the following steps: - placing an elastic member (300) in a mold, wherein the elastic member (300) comprises a main body (310) and two attachment parts (380) formed integrally with the main body at both ends of the main body; - In a single molding step, a first clamping member (100) is molded on one of the two attachment parts (380) and a second clamping member (200) is molded on the other of the two attachment parts (380), so that an openable and closable clamping structure is defined by the first and second clamping members (100, 200) and the elastic member (300), wherein the clothes clip is made of only plastic material and the hardness of the plastic used to make the clamping member is greater than the hardness of the plastic used to make the elastic member.
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that By respectively injection molding the two clamping members (100, 200) on the two attachment portions (380), the first clamping member (100) and the second clamping member (200) are respectively overmolded on the two attachment portions (380).
16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The elastic member (300) is molded before being arranged in a mold.
17. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: During the process of molding the first clamping member (100) and the second clamping member (200), the elastic member (300) is maintained in a preloaded state.
18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: The elastic member (300) is formed in an Ω shape, a U shape, a wave shape, a V shape or a W shape.