Connector

Abstract

To provide a novel connector that can dynamically connect one article 2, which has a circular top wall 4 like a used container lid and a cylindrical skirt wall 6 hanging down from the periphery of the top wall 4, to another article 2 to represent a movable part. [Solution] A holding means 24 for holding articles is provided on the upper surface, and a hinge means 26 is provided on the outer circumferential surface, and the hinge means 26 of one connector 14a is engaged with the hinge means 26 of the other connector 14b.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector for creating a three-dimensional ornament by using an article having a circular top wall such as a used container lid and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of the top wall as mosaic pieces.

Background Art

[0002] The following Patent Document 1 is a document that was filed by the applicant of the present application prior to the present application and has already been published. This document discloses a used (although it is not specified as used but is presumed to be used) container lid made of an appropriate synthetic resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, having a circular top wall and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of the top wall, and is applied to a container (a container usually called a PET bottle). A connector for creating a three-dimensional ornament by using the container lid as a mosaic piece is disclosed. Such a connector includes an annular main part having an annular shape and a clamping part disposed on the upper surface of the annular main part. The inner diameter of the annular main part corresponds to the outer diameter of the skirt wall of the container lid, and the annular main part is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the skirt wall of the container lid. The clamping part has two clamping pieces disposed at intervals, and the two clamping pieces sandwich and hold the lower end parts of the skirt walls of each of the other two container lids. Thus, a plurality of container lids are connected in series in the vertical direction and in parallel in the horizontal direction by the connector.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to provide a novel connector that can dynamically connect one article having a circular top wall, such as a used container lid (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as "container lid") and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of this top wall, to another article to represent a movable part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, as a connector that solves the above-mentioned main technical problems, an article having a circular top wall and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of the top wall is used as a mosaic piece to create a three-dimensional decorative item. A connector is provided, characterized in that a holding means for holding the article is provided on the upper surface, and a hinge means is provided on the outer circumferential surface, and the hinge means of one connector and the other connector are connected in a manner that allows them to pivot relative to each other by engaging the hinge means of one connector with the hinge means of another connector.

[0007] Preferably, the hinge means includes a first hinge and a second hinge arranged circumferentially spaced apart, wherein the first hinge has a hinge shaft projection projecting in the opposite direction to the second hinge and having a cylindrical outer surface, and the second hinge has a hinge bearing having an arc-shaped inner surface that aligns with the outer surface of the hinge shaft projection in the direction from which the hinge shaft projection projected, and an entrance slit with a cutout outer surface facing the inner surface, wherein the hinge shaft projection of one connector can pass through the entrance slit of the other connector and be fitted into the hinge bearing of the other connector, and the hinge shaft projection of the other connector can pass through the entrance slit of the first connector and be fitted into the hinge bearing of the first connector. In this case, the outer surface is preferably polygonal cylindrical in shape, and the first hinge and the second hinge are preferably arranged on one side face of the outer surface. Furthermore, grooves are formed on both sides of the first hinge, the width of the first groove located between the first hinge and the second hinge corresponds to the width of the first hinge, and the width of the second groove located on the opposite side of the first groove from the first hinge corresponds to the width of the second hinge, and the hinge shaft projection and the hinge bearing are preferably located below the outer surface and on the sides of the polygon that defines the outer surface when viewed from below. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the connector of the present invention, hinge means are provided on the outer circumferential surface, and the hinge means of one connector engages with the hinge means of another connector, thereby connecting the two connectors in a manner that allows them to pivot relative to each other. Therefore, the connector of the present invention makes it possible to dynamically connect one article to another article to represent a movable part. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A slanted view of a typical example of a used container lid. [Figure 2] An oblique view from above of a preferred embodiment of a connector constructed according to the present invention. [Figure 3]A plan view of the connector shown in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the connector. [Figure 5] Front view of the connector shown in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 2 shows a rear view of the connector. [Figure 7] Figure 2 shows a left side view of the connector. [Figure 8] Figure 2 shows a top-down inclined view of a combination of one connector and one other type of connector. [Figure 9] A side view of the state shown in Figure 8. [Figure 10] This figure shows a partially enlarged view of the plan view of the state shown in Figure 8. [Figure 11] This figure shows a partially enlarged view of the bottom of the state shown in Figure 8. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating typical examples of used container lids and preferred embodiments of connectors configured according to the present invention.

[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a typical example of a used container lid attached as a mosaic piece to a connector constructed according to the present invention. The container lid, shown as number 2 overall, has a circular top wall 4 and a cylindrical skirt wall 6 hanging down from the periphery of the top wall 4. A ridge 8 extending continuously in the circumferential direction is formed on the lower edge of the skirt wall 6. Above the ridge 8 on the outer surface of the skirt wall 6, a knurl 10 consisting of multiple alternating axial protrusions is formed along the entire circumferential direction. The knurl 10 may also be formed only in multiple circumferentially spaced areas. When the illustrated container lid 2 is attached to the neck of a container (not shown) and the neck is sealed, the tamper evident base 12 is connected to the lower end of the skirt wall 6 via a plurality of breakable bridging parts (not shown), as shown by the dashed line. However, when the container lid 2 is detached from the neck of the container, the plurality of bridging parts break, and the tamper evident base 12 is separated from the skirt wall 6. Such a container lid 2 is formed from a suitable synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. However, the connector constructed according to the present invention can be applied not only to used container lids made of synthetic resin, but also to used container lids whose shell (outer shell) is formed from a suitable thin metal sheet such as an aluminum-based alloy sheet. The container lid 2 itself, as described above, may be of a well-known form, and therefore a detailed description thereof (such as the configuration of the inner surface of the top wall and the inner circumferential surface of the skirt wall) is omitted in this specification.

[0012] The mosaic pieces applied to the connector constructed according to the present invention are not limited to used container lids, but also include articles formed specifically for mosaic pieces, having a circular top wall and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of the top wall, and made from appropriate materials such as synthetic resin or thin metal sheets.

[0013] Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7, the illustrated connector configured according to the present invention, generally designated by the numeral 14, is preferably integrally molded from a suitable synthetic resin such as polyester-based synthetic resin like polyethylene or polypropylene, or polycarbonate-based synthetic resin. The connector 14 may be transparent or translucent, or may be colored in a desired color such as white, red or blue.

[0014] In the illustrated embodiment, the connector 14 includes an annular main portion 16. The inner peripheral surface 18 of the annular main portion 16 is cylindrical, and its inner diameter corresponds to the outer diameter of the skirt wall 6 of the container lid 2 (more specifically, the outer diameter of the portion above the ridge 8). More specifically, it is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the skirt wall 6. On the other hand, the outer peripheral surface 20 of the annular main portion 16 is preferably polygonal, particularly a regular polygon, and is a regular octagon in the illustrated embodiment, having eight side surfaces 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d, 20e, 20f, 20g, and 20h.

[0015] On the inner peripheral surface of the annular main portion 16, at a plurality of locations over the whole or at intervals in the circumferential direction, a plurality of irregularities 22 corresponding to the beads 10 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the skirt wall 6 of the container lid 2 are preferably formed alternately. In the illustrated embodiment, the irregularities 22 are formed at four locations equally spaced in the circumferential direction, more specifically, at locations corresponding to the side surfaces 20b, 20d, 20f, and 20h.

[0016] In the connector of the present invention, a holding means 24 for holding an article such as the container lid 2 is provided on the upper surface, and a hinge means 26 is provided on the outer circumferential surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding means 24 is located on the upper surface of the annular main portion 16, particularly in the central part of the multiple side surfaces 20a, 20c, 20e, and 20g. Each of the holding means 24 has a substantially rectangular bottom plate piece 28 projecting radially inward from the upper end of the inner circumferential surface 18 of the annular main portion 16, an inner clamping piece 30 rising upward from the radially inner edge of the bottom plate piece 28, and an outer clamping piece 32 rising upward from the upper surface of the outer circumferential edge of the annular main portion 16. The radially outer surface of the inner clamping piece 30 and the radially inner surface of the outer clamping piece 32 face each other with a required distance in the radial direction. This required distance corresponds to the thickness of the lower end of the skirt wall 6 of the container lid 2, or more specifically, is substantially the same as, slightly smaller than, or larger than. The inner clamping piece 30 and the outer clamping piece 32 are both substantially rectangular in shape, and their upright heights from the upper surface of the annular main body 16 are approximately equal, but the circumferential width of the inner clamping piece 30 is narrower than the circumferential width of the outer clamping piece 32. Each of the four retaining means 24 is connected to the others at the center of the annular main body 16 in a plan view by spokes 34 that extend radially inward. As can be understood by referring to Figure 4 in conjunction with Figure 2 or Figure 3, the spokes 34 extend radially inward from the central lower end of the radially inward surface of each of the four retaining means 24, from the bottom plate piece 28 to the inner clamping piece 30.

[0017] In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge means 26 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular main portion 16, particularly on the side surface 20d. The hinge means 26 includes a first hinge tool 36 and a second hinge tool 38 that are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. Grooves 40 and 42 are formed on both sides of the first hinge tool 36. Therefore, the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 are commonly disposed on the side surface 20d. In a front view, the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 are rectangular and extend linearly in the vertical direction, and the grooves 40 and 42 also extend linearly in the vertical direction. The upper end surfaces of the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 are both arc-shaped and are curved downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the annular main portion 16 toward the radially outer side. The lower ends of the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 are both located below the lower end of the outer peripheral surface 20 of the annular main portion 16. Also, as can be understood by referring to FIG. 3, in a plan view, the outer surfaces of the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 are located somewhat beyond the polygonal sides (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 3 and 4) that define the outer peripheral surface 20 of the annular main portion 16 in the radially outer direction. And the groove width of the first groove 40 located between the first hinge tool 36 and the second hinge tool 38 corresponds to the width of the first hinge tool 36, and the groove width of the second groove 42 located on the side opposite to the first groove 40 with respect to the first hinge tool 36 corresponds to the width of the second hinge tool 38.

[0018] The first hinge 36 has a hinge shaft projection 44, and the second hinge 38 has a hinge shaft bearing 46. The hinge shaft projection 44 and the hinge shaft bearing 46 share a common central axis, which is shown by a dashed line in Figure 2. The hinge shaft projection 44 protrudes in the opposite direction to the second hinge 38, and its outer surface is cylindrical. The hinge shaft bearing 46 has an arc-shaped inner surface 48 (see Figure 7) that aligns with the outer surface of the hinge shaft projection 44 in the direction from which the hinge shaft projection 44 protrudes, and an entrance slit 50 whose outer surface is cut out to face the inner surface 48. Both ends of the inner surface 48, that is, the two end faces that are perpendicular to the inner surface 48 and located on both sides of the inner surface 48, are open, and both ends of the entrance slit 50 are also open. The width of the entrance slit 50 is narrower than the diameter of the hinge shaft projection 44. As described later, the hinge shaft projection of one connector 14a can pass through the entrance slit 50 of the other connector 14b and be fitted into the hinge shaft bearing 46 of the other connector 14b, and the hinge shaft projection 44 of the other connector 14b can pass through the entrance slit 50 of the connector 14a and be fitted into the hinge shaft bearing 46 of the connector 14a. Such hinge shaft projections 44 and hinge shaft bearings 46 are located below the outer circumferential surface 20 of the annular main portion 16 and are located on the sides of the polygon that defines the outer circumferential surface 20 when viewed from below (lines shown as dashed lines in Figure 4).

[0019] In the illustrated embodiment, a connecting means 52 is further provided on the side surfaces 20b and 20f of the outer peripheral surface 20 of the annular main portion 16, and another connecting means 54 is provided on the side surface 20h. Each of the connecting means 52 consists of a connecting groove 56 that extends along the side surfaces 20b and 20f (and thus substantially linearly) and is open upward, and a roughly elongated rectangular connecting piece 58 that defines the outer wall of the connecting groove 56. Each of the connecting pieces 58 protrudes upward from the bottom surface of the annular main portion 16, but its upper edge is located somewhat below the top surface of the annular main portion 16. Slits 60 are formed on both sides of the connecting piece 58, and the upper edge and both side edges of each connecting piece 58 are free edges. The outer surface of one connecting piece 58 is located somewhat radially outward from the sides of the polygon defining the outer circumferential surface 20 (lines shown as dashed lines in Figures 3 and 4) in both plan and bottom views. Each of the other connecting means 54 consists of another connecting groove 62 that extends along the side surface 20h (and thus substantially linearly) and is open downward, and another connecting piece 64 that is roughly elongated rectangular and defines the outer wall of the other connecting groove 62. Each of the other connecting pieces 64 protrudes downward from the upper surface of the annular main portion 16, but its lower edge is located somewhat above the lower surface of the annular main portion 16. Slits 66 are also formed on both sides of the other connecting pieces 64, and the upper and side edges of each of the other connecting pieces 64 are also free edges. The outer surface of the other connecting pieces 64 is also located somewhat radially outward from the sides of the polygon defining the outer circumferential surface 20 (lines shown as dashed lines in Figures 3 and 4) in both plan and bottom views. The shape of one connecting piece 58 corresponds to the shape of the other connecting groove 62, and the shape of the other connecting piece 64 corresponds to the shape of one connecting groove 56. Furthermore, it is convenient that the thickness of one connecting piece 58 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the width of the other connecting groove 62, and similarly, it is convenient that the thickness of the other connecting piece 64 is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the width of the first connecting groove 56.

[0020] Next, the usage of the connector configured according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 8 to 11. Although not necessarily shown in Figures 8, 10, and 11, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 9, an article such as a container lid 2 is held on the upper surface of the connector 14 by the holding means 24. The container lid 2 is held by the holding means 24 by inserting the lower end of the skirt wall 6 between the inner clamping piece 30 and the outer clamping piece 32, which are the holding means 24.

[0021] In the connector of the present invention, the hinge means 26 of one connector 14a and the hinge means 26 of the other connector 14b engage with each other, thereby connecting the two connectors 14a and 14b in a manner that allows them to pivot relative to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge shaft projection 44 of one connector 14a passes through the entrance slit 50 of the other connector 14b and is fitted into the hinge bearing 46 of the other connector 14b, and the hinge shaft projection 44 of the other connector 14b passes through the entrance slit 50 of one connector 14a and is fitted into the hinge bearing 46 of one connector 14a. The hinge shaft projection 44 elastically overcomes and passes over the side edge of the entrance slit 50. Although not necessarily shown in Figures 8 to 11, the upper end of the container lid 2, and more specifically the upper end of the skirt wall 6, is inserted from below into the inside of either the annular main portion 16 of the connector 14a or 14b, and one of the connectors, i.e., either connector 14a or 14b, is fixed. If the upper ends of the container lid 2 are inserted into the inside of both the annular main portions 16 of connector 14a and 14b, the container lids 2 will interfere with each other during rotation.

[0022] The connectors 14a and 14b described above can also be used in combination with other types of connectors 14', which are not shown. Connector 14' is identical to connector 14, except that other connecting means 54 are provided on the side surface 20d of the outer peripheral surface 20 of the annular main portion 16, instead of the hinge means 26 and grooves 40 and 42. Therefore, a detailed explanation of connector 14' is omitted. Such other types of connectors 14' are identical to the connector shown in Figure 7 of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-016364, filed by the applicant of this application prior to this application. Connectors 14a and 14', or connectors 14b and 14', are connected by engaging one of the connecting means 52 or the other connecting means 54 of connectors 14a and 14b with another connecting means or one of the connecting means of connector 14'.

[0023] In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge mechanism 26 comprises a first hinge 36 and a second hinge 38 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The first hinge 36 has a hinge shaft projection 44 that protrudes in the opposite direction to the second hinge 38 and has a cylindrical outer surface. The second hinge 38 has a hinge bearing 46 with an arc-shaped inner surface 48 that aligns with the outer surface of the hinge shaft projection 44 in the direction from which the hinge shaft projection 44 protrudes, and an entrance slit 50 whose outer surface is cut out to face the inner surface 48. Therefore, two connectors 14a and 14b of the same shape can be connected to each other. In other words, there is no need to configure the connectors 14a and 14b as male and female, making them extremely versatile and easy to manage.

[0024] In the illustrated embodiment, grooves 40 and 42 are further formed on both sides of the first hinge 36, with the width of the first groove 40, located between the first hinge 36 and the second hinge 38, corresponding to the width of the first hinge 36, and the width of the second groove 42, located on the opposite side of the first groove 40 relative to the first hinge 36, corresponding to the width of the second hinge 38. The hinge shaft projection 44 and the hinge bearing 46 are located below the outer circumferential surface 20 and, in a bottom view, on the sides of the polygon defining the outer circumferential surface 20. Therefore, even if other types of connectors 14' described above are connected to connectors 14a and 14b, the connectors 14a, 14b, and 14' can all be arranged at equal pitches. If the first groove 40 and the second groove 42 are not formed, the radial thickness of the first hinge 36 and the second hinge 38 cannot be absorbed, and therefore the connectors 14a, 14b, and 14' cannot be arranged at equal pitches.

[0025] In the connector of the present invention, a hinge means 26 is provided on the outer circumferential surface, and the hinge means 26 of one connector 14a and the hinge means 26 of the other connector 14b engage with each other, thereby connecting the two connectors 14a and 14b in a manner that allows them to pivot relative to each other. Therefore, according to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to dynamically connect one article to another article to represent a movable part.

[0026] Although the connector configured according to the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the attached drawings, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and appropriate modifications and changes are possible without departing from the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the connector 14 had an annular main part 16, but the main part does not necessarily have to be annular and may be a flat plate if it is not fixed to an article such as a container lid 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding means was configured to grip the lower end of the skirt wall of the container lid, but it may also be configured to grip a required part of the top wall, for example, a cylindrical inner sealing piece that is typically formed on the inner surface of the top wall of the container lid, although not shown. If desired, multiple hinge means 26 may be provided on the connector 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge means 26 was provided only on the side surface 20d of the outer circumferential surface of the annular main part 16, but it may be provided on multiple side surfaces including side surface 20h along with side surface 20d. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0027] 2: Container lid (article) 4: Top wall 6: Skirt Wall 14: Connectors 24: Holding means 26: Hinge mechanism

Claims

1. Using an article having a circular top wall and a cylindrical skirt wall hanging down from the periphery of the top wall as a mosaic piece, a connecting device for creating a three-dimensional decorative item is used. A connector characterized in that a holding means for holding the article is provided on the upper surface, and a hinge means is provided on the outer circumferential surface, and the hinge means of one connector and the other connector are connected in a manner that allows them to pivot relative to each other by engaging the hinge means of one connector with the hinge means of another connector.

2. The hinge means includes a first hinge and a second hinge arranged at circumferential intervals, wherein the first hinge has a hinge shaft projection projecting in the opposite direction to the second hinge and having a cylindrical outer surface, and the second hinge has a hinge bearing having an arc-shaped inner surface that aligns with the outer surface of the hinge shaft projection in the direction from which the hinge shaft projection projected, and an entrance slit with a cutout outer surface facing the inner surface, wherein the hinge shaft projection of one connector can pass through the entrance slit of the other connector and be fitted into the hinge bearing of the other connector, and the hinge shaft projection of the other connector can pass through the entrance slit of the one connector and be fitted into the hinge bearing of the one connector, as described in claim 1.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein the outer surface is polygonal cylindrical in shape, and the first hinge and the second hinge are disposed in common on one side face of the outer surface.

4. Grooves are formed on both sides of the first hinge, and the width of the first groove located between the first hinge and the second hinge corresponds to the width of the first hinge, while the width of the second groove located on the opposite side of the first groove from the first hinge corresponds to the width of the second hinge. The connector according to claim 3, wherein the hinge shaft projection and the hinge bearing are located below the outer circumferential surface and, in a bottom view, are located on the sides of a polygon that defines the outer circumferential surface.

Images