Ring

Abstract

To solve such a problem that, in an openable / closable ring utilizing the elastic force of a spring, when the other ends of a pair of decorative members are opened about a connecting portion as the center of rotation to enlarge the diameter of the ring and the ring is worn on a finger, the end of the spring may protrude toward the inner circumferential surface of the ring, contact the finger and hurt the finger.SOLUTION: There is provided a ring 10 which has first and second decorative members 11, 12 whose one ends are rotatably connected to each other, in which an elongated spring member 17 is disposed at a connecting portion 13 of the first and second decorative members, the spring member has the base end fixed to the first decorative member 11, and the tip end 17a extending to a tip restricting portion 22 provided on the second decorative member 12, and the tip restricting portion 22 is provided with a stopper piece 24 that the tip end of the spring member abuts when the first and second decorative members are opened about the connecting portion 13 as the center of rotation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an openable and closable ring that utilizes the elastic force of a spring.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a free-size ring that can be fitted to a finger by utilizing the elastic force of a spring has been known (see Patent Document 1). The disclosed ring is provided with a leaf spring built into a connecting portion for biasing the other ends of a pair of decorative members in a closing direction, and an opening restriction means for preventing the pair of decorative members from opening by a certain angle or more in the connecting portion. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, this opening restriction means is composed of an arc-shaped guide hole 2 provided in one decorative member 1 and an opening restriction pin 4 provided in the other decorative member 3 and engaged with the guide hole 2. Then, when the pair of decorative members 1 and 3 are about to open by a certain angle or more, the opening restriction pin 4 is locked to the end of the guide hole 2, preventing the pair of decorative members 1 and 3 from opening by a predetermined angle or more.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the free-size ring described in Patent Document 1, since the end portion 5a of the leaf spring 5 is exposed on the inner peripheral surface side 6 of the ring, as shown in FIG. 7, when the pair of decorative members 1 and 3 are opened, the end portion 5a of the leaf spring 5 protrudes on the inner peripheral surface side 6 of the ring. Therefore, when the diameter of the ring is expanded and worn on a finger, the end portion 5a of the leaf spring 5 may hit the finger, causing pain to the finger and even the risk of injuring the finger.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention provides a ring with an opening and closing structure that utilizes the elastic force of a spring, and when a pair of decorative members are opened, the end of the spring does not protrude toward the inner circumferential surface side of the ring.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The ring according to the present invention is a ring having a pair of decorative members whose one ends are rotatably connected to each other, and a long spring member is disposed at the connecting portion of the pair of decorative members. One end of the spring member is fixed to one of the decorative members, while the other end extends to a tip restricting portion provided on the other decorative member. The tip restricting portion is provided with a stopper piece against which the other end of the spring member abuts when the other ends of the pair of decorative members are opened with the connecting portion as the rotation center.

[0007] Further, in the ring according to the present invention, the stopper piece is located on the same plane as the inner circumferential surface of the pair of decorative members.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the ring of the present invention, when the other ends of the pair of decorative members are opened with the connecting portion as the rotation center, a tip restricting portion is provided so that the other end of the spring member disposed at the connecting portion does not protrude toward the inner circumferential surface side of the ring. Therefore, when the ring is worn, the end of the spring member does not hit the finger.

[0009] Further, according to the ring of the present invention, when the other ends of the pair of decorative members are opened with the connecting portion as the rotation center, a stopper piece that abuts against the other end of the spring member is provided in the same planar shape as the inner circumferential surface of the decorative member, and its tip has a curved surface portion. Therefore, even when the stopper piece contacts the finger when the ring is worn, there is almost no discomfort.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, the ring of the present invention will be described based on embodiments with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings schematically show the ring and the constituent members of the ring, and their actual dimensions and dimensional ratios do not necessarily match the dimensions and dimensional ratios on the drawings. Also, unless otherwise specified, for the sake of convenience, the directions such as up and down are represented based on the orientation of the ring shown in FIG. 2. Furthermore, redundant descriptions will be omitted as appropriate, and the same reference numerals may be given to the same members.

[0012] In FIGS. 1 to 5, a ring 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. This ring 10 has a pair of decorative members 11 and 12 whose one ends are rotatably connected to each other. These decorative members 11 and 12 each have an arc shape, and are rotatably connected by a connecting part 13 provided at one end of each of them, and form an annular ring 10 by closing the other end sides. For the sake of convenience of explanation, the pair of decorative members 11 and 12 will be hereinafter described as the first decorative member 11 on one side and the second decorative member 12 on the other side.

[0013] The connecting part 13 is formed by axially attaching a male part 14 with a predetermined width provided at one end of the second decorative member 12 and a pair of female parts 15 that sandwich the male part 14 provided at one end of the first decorative member 11, using a shaft pin 16.

[0014] A long spring member 17 is arranged in the connecting portion 13. This spring member 17 is composed of a columnar elastic material that extends straight, and extends along the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 on both sides of the connecting portion 13 with the connecting portion 13 interposed therebetween. On the inner peripheral surfaces of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 including the connecting portion 13, concave groove portions 18 having a semicircular cross section are provided along the decorative members 11 and 12 corresponding to the length of the spring member 17, and the spring member 17 is fitted into the concave groove portions 18. The spring member 17 fitted into the concave groove portions 18 biases the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 in the direction in which the other end sides are closed at the connecting portion 13. In addition, since the spring member 17 is less visible from the outside when it is fitted into the concave groove portions 18, the decorative effect is enhanced.

[0015] The spring member 17 has a bent portion 19 at the base end portion extending toward the first decorative member 11 side. This bent portion 19 is formed by bending the base end portion of the spring member 17 by about 90 degrees, and is locked by being fitted into an engaging groove 20 provided at one end portion of the concave groove portion 18, and is fixed to the first decorative member 11. Further, the intermediate portion of the spring member 17 is held by a pair of locking claws 21 provided near the approximate intermediate portion of the concave groove portion 17. The locking claws 21 are hook-shaped formed so as to cover the concave groove portion 18 from both sides on the upper edge of the concave groove portion 17, and prevent the spring member 17 from popping out of the concave groove portion 18 when the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 are opened.

[0016] On one hand, the tip 17a of the spring member 17 extends to the tip restricting portion 22 provided on the second decorative member 12 near the shaft pin 16 of the connecting portion 13. This tip restricting portion 22 includes a recess 23 for accommodating the tip 17a of the spring member 17 and a stopper piece 24 provided above this recess 23. Below the recess 23, the concave groove portion 18 into which the tip 17a of the spring member 17 fits is continuously provided from the side of the first decorative member 11. That is, this recess 23 is a space portion provided between the concave groove portion 18 and the stopper piece 24. With the shaft pin 16 of the connecting portion 13 as the rotation center, when the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 are opened, there is a clearance that allows the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 to open to a certain extent until the tip 17a of the spring member 17 that has popped out from the concave groove portion 18 hits the stopper piece 24.

[0017] The stopper piece 24 is in the shape of a tongue that smoothly continues from the inner peripheral surface 12a of the second decorative member 12 and protrudes above the recess 23. Also, the stopper piece 24 is located on the same plane as the inner peripheral surface 12a of the second decorative member 12, and a curved surface portion 24a is formed at the upper surface side corner of its tip. The length of the stopper piece 24 is sufficient to cover above the tip 17a of the spring member 17, and the lateral width is substantially the same as the lateral width of the male portion 14. This stopper piece 24 has a flat lower surface 24b against which the tip 17a of the spring member 17 abuts when the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 are opened with the shaft pin 16 of the connecting portion 13 as the rotation center. When the tip 17a of the spring member 17 hits the lower surface 24b from below, the movement of the spring member 17 and the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 is restricted. Therefore, the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 cannot be opened further.

[0018] On the other end sides of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12, the tip portions 11b and 12b of both are arranged side by side in an alternating pattern, and opening restriction means 25 is provided at the side-by-side portion. The opening restriction means 25 is provided on the opposing side surfaces of the tip portions 11b and 12b of each other, and includes a slit 26 extending in the longitudinal direction provided on one tip portion 11b, and a guide pin 27 inserted into the slit 26 provided on the other tip portion 12b. The slit 26 is formed by covering the upper part of a long groove 26a provided on one tip portion 11b with a cut-up piece 26b. The guide pin 27 has a bulging portion 27a accommodated in the long groove 26a at the tip portion, preventing it from falling out of the slit 26. Therefore, even when the other end sides of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 are widened, the guide pin 27 slides in the long groove 26a while being guided by the slit 26, so that the other end sides of the decorative members 11 and 12 move smoothly.

[0019] Next, a case of expanding the diameter of the ring 10 having the above configuration and wearing it on a finger will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, in order to expand the diameter of the ring 10, when trying to open the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 to the left and right, the other end side opens to the left and right with the shaft pin 16 of the connecting portion 13 as the rotation center. Further, as the male portion tip 14a of the second decorative member 12 rotates inward due to the rotation at the connecting portion 13, a portion close to the tip portion 17a of the spring member 17 mounted in the concave groove portions 18 of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 is pushed up by the male portion tip 14a of the second decorative member 12. Since the intermediate portion of the spring member 17 is held by a pair of locking claws 21, the portion close to the tip portion 17a is pushed up against the biasing direction of the spring member 17 and floats up from the concave groove portion 18. Accordingly, the tip portion 17a of the spring member 17 floats up into the concave portion 23 of the tip restriction portion 22. As the tip portion 17a moves upward within the clearance of the concave portion 23 with the further rotation of the male portion tip 14a, when the tip portion 17a of the spring member 17 abuts against the lower surface 24b of the stopper piece 24, the movement of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12 is restricted, and further opening is regulated.

[0020] Therefore, even if the diameter of the ring 10 is expanded and worn on the finger, the tip 17a of the spring member 17 does not protrude toward the inner peripheral surface side 28 of the first and second decorative members 11 and 12. Thus, the tip 17a of the spring member 17 does not touch the finger, and the finger does not feel pain or get injured.

[0021] Further, as the connecting portion 13 rotates, the stopper piece 24 of the tip restricting portion 22 also rotates slightly toward the inner peripheral surface side 28 of the ring 10. In addition to the stopper piece 24 being located on the same plane as the inner peripheral surface 12a of the second decorative member 12, the tip of the stopper piece 24 is R-processed to form a curved surface portion 24a. Therefore, even if the tip of the stopper piece 24 contacts the finger, there is almost no sense of discomfort.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0022] 1 One decorative member 2 Guide hole 3 The other decorative member 4 Release restricting pin 5 Leaf spring 5a End portion 6 Inner peripheral surface side 10 Ring 11 First decorative member (one decorative member) 11a Tip portion 12 Second decorative member (the other decorative member) 12a Inner peripheral surface 12b 13 Connecting portion 14 Male portion 14a Tip of male portion 15 Female portion 16 Shaft pin 17 Spring member 17a Tip portion of spring member 18 Concave groove portion 19 Bent portion 20 Engaging groove 21 Locking claw 22 Tip restricting portion 23 Concave portion 24 Stopper piece 24a Curved surface portion 24b Lower surface 25 Release restricting means 26 slits 26a long groove 26b cut-up piece 27 guide pin 27a bulging portion 28 inner peripheral surface side

Claims

1. A ring having a pair of decorative members whose one ends are rotatably connected to each other, wherein a long spring member is disposed at the connecting portion of the pair of decorative members, one end of the spring member is fixed to one of the decorative members, while the other end extends to a tip restricting portion provided on the other decorative member, and the tip restricting portion is provided with a stopper piece against which the other end of the spring member abuts when the pair of decorative members are opened about the connecting portion as a rotation center. A ring.

2. The ring according to claim 1, wherein the tip restricting portion has a recess for accommodating the other end of the spring member and the stopper piece provided above the recess.

3. The ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper piece covers above the other end of the spring member extending to the tip restricting portion.

4. The ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the recess has a clearance that allows the other end of the spring member to move against the biasing direction of the spring member when the pair of decorative members are opened.

5. The ring according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the stopper piece is located on the same plane as the inner peripheral surface of the pair of decorative members and has a curved surface portion at the tip.

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