socket

Abstract

To provide a socket having a substantially one-piece configuration in which an elastic engagement part is hard to receive an external force.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a metal socket that can be engaged with and disengaged from a stud. The socket includes a bottom part, a peripheral side part, a plurality of elastic engagement parts, and a cover part defining an opening. A part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement parts is positioned radially outside from a radially inside end of the cover part. Other parts exclusive of a part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement parts are positioned radially inside from the radially inside end of the cover part. The plurality of elastic engagement parts each include a base part and a projection part. The part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement parts includes the base part. The bottom part includes incised parts of the same number as the number of the plurality of elastic engagement parts. The bottom part erects from an outside end or an inside end in a radial direction of the incised parts in the bottom part to axial one side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a socket, and more particularly to a metal socket that engages and disengages with a stud.

Background Art

[0002] Snap buttons are composed of a socket (female snap button) and a stud (male snap button) that can engage and disengage with each other, and are widely used in clothing, bags, etc. As a metal socket, a two-component structure in which two parts, a socket shell and a ring, are combined is common, but a one-piece metal socket is also known. That is, Japanese Patent No. 4989520 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent No. 5959515 (Patent Document 2) disclose a one-piece socket formed by drawing a single metal plate. In these sockets, a plurality of elastic engaging portions (spring portions) are formed by cutting and bending a part of the socket body. These elastic engaging portions are portions that are temporarily bent radially outward by the engaging convex portions of the stud when engaging or disengaging the stud with respect to the socket. The one-piece metal socket has an advantage that the material cost and the assembly processing cost can be reduced compared to the two-component structure.

[0003] However, in the sockets described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, since the tip portions of the elastic engaging portions are substantially exposed to the outside, the elastic engaging portions are likely to come into contact with external objects and receive an external force during storage, transportation, attachment to the fabric of clothes, etc., and use of the socket, and thus may be deformed and lose their flexibility.

[0004] For such sockets of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the socket described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-174015 (Patent Document 3) is configured such that a part of the elastic engagement portion is covered by a cover member, making the elastic engagement portion less likely to receive an external force. However, since the socket of Patent Document 3 has a two-component structure combining two components, a socket body and a cover member, there is a problem that the material cost and the assembly and processing cost are higher compared to a one-piece socket. Furthermore, in a two-component structure, there is also a risk that each component may decompose over time or that foreign matter may enter the gaps between the components.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a socket having a substantially one-piece structure in which the elastic engagement portion is less likely to receive an external force.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a metal socket capable of engaging with and disengaging from a stud, the socket including a circular bottom portion, a circumferential side portion continuously extending axially in one direction from a radially outer end of the bottom portion, a plurality of elastic engaging portions continuously extending from the bottom portion, and a cover portion continuously extending radially inward from the circumferential side portion and defining an opening at a radially inner end for receiving an engaging convex portion of the stud. A part of each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions is located radially outside the radially inner end of the cover portion, and the other parts of each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions are located radially inside the radially inner end of the cover portion.

[0008] According to the present invention, since a part of each elastic engaging portion is located radially outside the radially inner end of the cover portion and is substantially covered by the cover portion, it is difficult for each elastic engaging portion to receive an external force. In the present invention, "continuously extending" means that the metal material of a certain part (for example, the bottom portion) continuously extends as it is to form another part (for example, each elastic engaging portion or the circumferential side portion), and therefore, it does not mean that another part is formed by adding a separate member to a certain part. Therefore, in the present invention, the metal material forming the bottom portion, the circumferential side portion, and each elastic engaging portion are continuous and integral, and the circumferential side portion and each elastic engaging portion are not formed by adding another member to the bottom portion. Similarly, the metal material forming the circumferential side portion and the metal material forming the cover portion are continuous and integral, and the cover portion is not formed by adding another member to the circumferential side portion. In the present invention, the bottom portion, the circumferential side portion, the plurality of elastic engaging portions, and the cover portion are formed from a single metal part. Therefore, the socket itself has a one-piece structure, and the socket itself is not configured by combining two or more parts.

[0009] In the present invention, the socket is formed from a metal such as aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, a copper alloy, or stainless steel.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of elastic engagement portions include a base portion connected to the bottom portion, and a bulging portion that extends from the base portion in one axial direction and bulges inward in the radial direction. The bulging portion includes an engagement end that is the most radially inner in the bulging portion and a tip end that is the end opposite to the base portion. A part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions includes the tip end, and the other part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions includes the engagement end. In this embodiment, the tip end of each elastic engagement portion is radially outside the radially inner end of the cover portion and is substantially covered by the cover portion. Thereby, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation in which the tip end of each elastic engagement portion receives an external force from an external object or the like.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, a part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions includes the base portion. In this embodiment, the base portion of each elastic engagement portion is radially outside the radially inner end of the cover portion and is substantially covered by the cover portion. Thereby, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation in which the base portion of each elastic engagement portion receives an external force from an external object or the like.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, the base portions of the plurality of elastic engagement portions include thin-walled portions in which the thickness is partially compressed. By processing a thin-walled portion in the base portion of each elastic engagement portion, the metal material of the base portion is hardened in the thin-walled portion, and the strength of the base portion can be increased. Thereby, it becomes possible to maintain the flexibility of each elastic engagement portion in the medium to long term.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of elastic engagement portions are formed by partially cutting and bending the bottom portion, and the bottom portion includes cut portions corresponding to each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions. Further, in another embodiment, the bottom portion includes rib portions provided between two adjacent cut portions in the circumferential direction. In this embodiment, the rib portions can compensate for the decrease in the strength of the bottom portion due to the provision of the cut portions. Further, since the rib portions bite into the fabric when the socket is attached to the fabric, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation in which the socket rotates relative to the shaft portion of the attachment member in the medium to long term.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] In the present invention, since a part of each elastic engagement portion is located radially outside the radially inner end of the cover portion and is substantially covered by the cover portion, it becomes difficult for each elastic engagement portion to receive an external force. Further, the metal material forming the bottom portion, the metal material forming the peripheral side portion and each elastic engagement portion are continuous and integral. Similarly, since the metal material forming the peripheral side portion and the metal material forming the cover portion are continuous and integral, the socket itself has a one-piece structure in which the bottom portion, the peripheral side portion, the plurality of elastic engagement portions and the cover portion are formed from a single metal part. Thereby, while reducing the material cost and the assembly and processing cost as compared with a two-component socket, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation in which the flexibility of the elastic engagement portion is impaired. Further, there is no possibility that each component is disassembled over time or foreign matter enters the gap between the components as in the case of a two-component socket. In the present invention, since it has a one-piece structure including the cover portion in particular, while protecting each elastic engagement portion from an external force by the cover portion, the cover portion which is liable to receive an external force is not separated from the peripheral side portion, which is very beneficial.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and appropriate modifications and the like are possible within the scope of the claims and the equivalent scope. FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are a top view, a bottom view, and a side view of a socket (female snap button) 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of the socket 1 in FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the socket 1 broken along line A-A in FIG. 1. In the following description of the socket 1 (1A, 101), the vertical direction is based on the paper surfaces of FIGS. 4, 10, and 14 unless otherwise specified. The socket 1 has a one-piece structure formed by drawing a single metal plate or the like, and is not formed by combining two or more parts. The socket 1 includes a circular plate-shaped bottom portion 10, five elastic engagement portions 20 as an example that continuously extend upward from the bottom portion 10, a peripheral side portion 30 that continuously extends upward from the radially outer end of the bottom portion 10, and a cover portion 40 that continuously extends upward and radially inward in a curved shape from the peripheral side portion 30. Each elastic engagement portion 20 is formed by partially cutting the bottom portion 10 and bending it upward. The space (2) on the bottom portion 10 of the socket 1 and radially inside each elastic engagement portion 20 is an engagement space 2 that detachably receives the engagement convex portion 62 of the stud 60 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The peripheral side portion 30 extends upward from the radially outer end of the bottom portion 10 substantially parallel to the axis of the socket 1. In this specification, the axial direction of the socket 1 is substantially synonymous with the vertical direction. The cover portion 40 defines an opening 42 at its radially inner end 41 for receiving the engagement convex portion 62 of the stud 60 (see FIG. 7 etc.) into the engagement space 2 of the socket 1.

[0017] The bottom 10 has a circular bottom opening 11 at the center. The bottom opening 11 is for passing the shaft portion 52 of the attachment member 50 (see FIG. 6 etc.) when attaching the socket 1 to a fabric f1 such as clothing (see FIG. 6 etc.). The bottom opening 11 is smaller than the upper opening 42. Around the bottom opening 11 in the bottom 10, an annular recess 12 that is recessed downward and an annular ridge 13 that protrudes upward adjacent to the inner side in the radial direction of the annular recess 12 are provided. The inner end in the radial direction of the annular ridge 13 defines the bottom opening 11. The annular ridge 13 has a stepped portion 13a at the middle portion in the vertical direction where the diameter slightly decreases in a stepped manner.

[0018] In the region radially outside the annular recess 12 in the bottom 10, there are five cutouts 14 corresponding to the respective elastic engagement portions 20 at intervals of 72 degrees in the circumferential direction. Each cutout 14 is an opening that penetrates the bottom 10 vertically. Each cutout 14 is defined by a substantially semi-elliptical cutting edge 14a separated from the elastic engagement portion 20 and a connecting end side 14b that connects to the elastic engagement portion 20 between the two outer ends in the radial direction of the cutting edge 14a. The connecting end side 14b is located radially inside the outer end in the radial direction of the bottom 10. Each elastic engagement portion 20 is bent upward from the connecting end side 14b of each cutout 14 to nearly 90 degrees and raised with respect to the bottom 10. The connecting end side 14b of each cutout 14 is also the base end side 14b of each elastic engagement portion 20.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, the cut edge 14a consists of two straight edges 14ab that extend linearly and substantially parallel from both ends of the connecting end side 14b radially inward, and a semi-circular edge 14aa that protrudes in a substantially semi-circular shape further radially inward from the radially inner ends of the two straight edges 14ab. The midpoint of the semi-circular edge 14aa is the most radially inner end at the cut edge 14a. The radially inner end of the cut edge 14a and its vicinity, that is, the midpoint of the semi-circular edge 14aa and its vicinity, slightly enter the region of the annular recess 12 in the bottom 10. The incision 14 excluding the radially inner end entering the region of this annular recess 12 is formed in the main region of the bottom 10 that bulges upward relative to the annular recess 12 (the region excluding the annular recess 12, the annular ridge 13, and the rib portion 15 described later in the bottom 10). Note that the upper and lower surfaces of the stepped portion 13a of the annular ridge 13 are at the same level as the upper and lower surfaces of the main region of the bottom 10, and the upper end of the annular ridge 13 protrudes slightly above the main region of the bottom 10.

[0020] In the region between two incisions 14 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction in the bottom 10, rib portions 15 that are elongated in the radial direction and recess downward are respectively provided. Each rib portion 15 can be said to be convex on the lower surface side of the bottom 10. The radially inner end of each rib portion 15 is connected to the annular recess 12. The radially outer end of each rib portion 15 is at substantially the same radial position as the connecting end side 14b of each incision 14. The degree to which each rib portion 15 recesses downward from the main region of the bottom 10 is the same as the degree to which the annular recess 12 recesses. The rib portion 15 serves to compensate for the decrease in the strength of the bottom 10 due to the provision of the incision 14.

[0021] Each elastic engagement part 20 includes a base part 20a extending upward from the base end side (connection end side) 14b, and a bulging part 20b bent into a substantially C-shaped cross-section so as to protrude radially inward upward from the base part 20a. The base part 20a is curved radially inward and upward from the base end side 14b at its lower end part, and then extends linearly in cross-section to the upper bulging part 20b. Further, the width of the bulging part 20b gradually decreases along the circumferential direction from its lower end to its upper end (tip) 20d. The upper end 20d of the elastic engagement part 20 is close to the cover part 40 but does not contact the cover part 40. The bulging part 20b includes an engagement end 20c which is the innermost end in the radial direction in the elastic engagement part 20.

[0022] The reference symbol L shown in FIG. 4 is a virtual line along the vertical direction passing through the radially inner end 41 of the cover part 40 (shown only on the left side in FIG. 4). The virtual line L is parallel to the axis of the socket 1. The virtual line L in FIG. 4 is represented as a circular virtual line L in FIG. 2. The virtual line L in FIG. 2 coincides with the upper opening 42. It can be said that the virtual line L represents the range where the cover part 40 covers the elastic engagement part 20. In the socket 1 of the first embodiment, the upper and lower end parts of the base part 20a and the bulging part 20b of the elastic engagement part 20 in the initial state are located radially outside the virtual line L, and these parts are the "part" in the claims of the elastic engagement part 20 that is radially outside the radially inner end 41 of the cover part 40. Also, the upper and lower intermediate parts of the bulging part 20b including the engagement end 20c are located radially inside the virtual line L, and these parts are the "other part" in the claims of the elastic engagement part 20 that is radially inside the radially inner end 41 of the cover part 40. Thus, since the cover part 40 covers the elastic engagement part 20 except for the upper and lower intermediate parts of the bulging part 20b, a situation where the elastic engagement part 20 contacts an external object or the like and receives an external force can be reduced or eliminated. Further, since the socket 1 has a one-piece structure including the cover part 40 in particular, while the cover part 40 protects each elastic engagement part 20 from external forces, the cover part 40 which is likely to receive external forces does not separate from the peripheral side part 30, which is very beneficial.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the state where the socket 1 is attached to a fabric f1 such as clothing by the attachment member 50. The attachment member 50 includes a substantially disk-shaped base portion 51 and a cylindrical shaft portion 52 protruding concentrically from the base portion 51. The shaft portion 52 is shown in a clamped state in FIG. 6. The attachment member 50 is composed of two parts, a main body 50A and a cap 50B. The main body 50A forms the shaft portion 52 and the base core 51a. The cap 50B is assembled to the radially outer end of the base core 51a of the main body 50A, and the cap 50B and the base core 51a form the base portion 51. When attaching the socket 1 to the fabric f1, the attachment member 50 is placed on the lower support die of a button attaching machine (not shown), the socket 1 is held by the upper punch die, and the fabric f1 is disposed between the attachment member 50 and the socket 1. Then the punch die is lowered. Thereby, the shaft portion 52 of the attachment member 50 penetrates the fabric f1 upward, then passes through the bottom opening 11 of the socket 1 upward, and is then clamped by the punch die. The end of the clamped shaft portion 52 is received on the stepped portion 13a of the annular raised portion 13 of the socket 1. In this way, the socket 1 is attached to the fabric f1. Since the rib portion 15 bites into the fabric f1 in the state where the socket 1 is attached to the fabric f1, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation where the socket 1 rotates relative to the shaft portion 52 of the attachment member 50 in the medium to long term.

[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a stud (male snap button) 60 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the socket 1 is attached to the fabric f2 by an attachment member 70. The stud 60 is formed by processing a single metal plate, and includes a base portion 61 and an annular engaging convex portion 62 protruding from the base portion 61. The attachment member 70 includes a disk-shaped base portion 71 and a cylindrical shaft portion 72 protruding from the base portion 71. The shaft portion 72 is shown in a clamped state in FIG. 7. A bottom opening 63 for passing the shaft portion 72 of the attachment member 70 is provided in the base portion 61 of the stud 60. The engaging convex portion 62 includes a large-diameter portion 62a whose outer diameter expands near the protruding end, and a constricted portion 62b whose outer diameter shrinks from the large-diameter portion 62a toward the base portion 61 side. The diameter of the large-diameter portion 62a is set to be slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 42 of the socket 1 and slightly larger than the engaging end diameter which is the diameter of the circle connecting the engaging ends 20c of the five elastic engaging portions 20 respectively. The outer diameter of the constricted portion 62b is substantially the same as the engaging end diameter of the socket 1.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of the socket 1 and the stud 60. The stud 60 in FIG. 8 is shown upside down compared to FIG. 7. When connecting the socket 1 and the stud 60, the engaging convex portion 62 of the stud 60 is inserted into the engaging space 2 from the opening 42 of the socket 1. At this time, the large-diameter portion 62a of the engaging convex portion 62 of the stud 60 contacts the engaging ends 20c of the respective elastic engaging portions 20 of the socket 1 while temporarily deflecting the respective elastic engaging portions 20 radially outward. And as soon as the large-diameter portion 62a passes over the engaging end 20c, the respective elastic engaging portions 20 return to the initial position on the radially inner side or the vicinity thereof. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 7, the socket 1 and the stud 60 are in a connected state. In this connected state, the bulging portions 20b of the respective elastic engaging portions 20 of the socket 1 contact or are close to the constricted portion 62b of the engaging convex portion 62 of the stud 60.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a bottom view showing a socket 1A which is a modified example of the socket 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional arrow view of the socket 1A similar to FIG. 4. FIG. 11 is a broken perspective view of the socket 1A similar to FIG. 5. The socket 1A has substantially the same configuration as the above-described socket 1 except that a depression 21 as a thin portion is provided in a base portion 20Aa of five elastic engagement portions 20A described below. Therefore, for the configurations other than the elastic engagement portions 20A, the same reference numerals are used and their descriptions are omitted, and the points already described for the socket 1 also apply to the socket 1A in the same manner. Each elastic engagement portion 20A of the socket 1A includes a base portion 20Aa and a bulging portion 20Ab as a bulging portion bent in a substantially C-shaped cross section so as to protrude radially inward upward from the base portion 20Aa. The bulging portion 20Ab includes an engagement end 20Ac which is the innermost end in the radial direction in the elastic engagement portion 20A. A depression 21 is provided in the base portion 20Aa of each elastic engagement portion 20A, which depresses radially outward from the surface facing the inner side in the radial direction of the base portion 20Aa. The depression (thin portion) 21 is a portion obtained by pressing against a part of the base portion 20Aa and the bottom portion 10 adjacent to the base portion 20Aa and partially compressing the thickness along the radial direction to form a dent. The depression 21 has an elongated oval shape extending from near the connecting end side (base end side 14b) of the bottom portion 10 through the base end side 14b of the base portion 20Aa to slightly above the substantially middle in the vertical direction of the base portion 20Aa. Further, the depression 21 is provided at the center in the width direction of the base portion 20Aa, and the width of the depression 21 (the length along the circumferential direction of the socket 1) is about 1 / 3 of the width of the base portion 20Aa. By processing the depression 21 in the base portion 20Aa of each elastic engagement portion 20A, particularly from the base end side 14b to the bottom portion 10 near the base end side 14b, the metal material of the depression 21 portion is hardened, and the strength of the region including the base end side 14b which is the central portion where the elastic engagement portion 20A bends radially inward and outward can be increased, whereby the flexibility of each elastic engagement portion 20A can be maintained in the medium to long term.

[0027] FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are a top view and a bottom view of the socket 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional arrow view taken along line B-B of the socket 1 in FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the socket 101 broken along line B-B in FIG. 12. The socket 101 has a one-piece structure formed by drawing a single metal plate or the like. The socket 101 includes a bottom portion 110, six elastic engaging portions 120 continuously extending from the bottom portion 110, a peripheral side portion 130 continuously extending upward from the radially outer end of the bottom portion 110, and a cover portion 140 continuously extending radially inward from the upper end of the peripheral side portion 130. Each elastic engaging portion 120 is formed by partially cutting open the bottom portion 110, bending it radially inward, and raising it upward. The engaging space 102 on the bottom portion 110 of the socket 101 and radially inside each elastic engaging portion 120 is an engaging space 102 for detachably receiving the engaging convex portion 62 of the stud 60 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The peripheral side portion 130 extends upward from the radially outer end of the bottom portion 110 substantially parallel to the axis of the socket 101. The cover portion 140 defines an opening 142 at its radially inner end 141 for receiving the engaging convex portion 62 of the stud 60 (see FIG. 7 etc.) into the engaging space 102 of the socket 101.

[0028] The bottom portion 110 includes a substantially horizontal central bottom portion 111 provided with a bottom opening 113, and a peripheral bottom portion 112 connecting the radially outer end of the central bottom portion 111 and the lower end of the peripheral side portion 130. An annular recess 115 that is recessed downward is provided between the bottom opening 113 and the radially outer end of the central bottom portion 111 in the central bottom portion 111.

[0029] The peripheral bottom 112 has an inclined portion 112a that inclines from its radially inner end to the radially outer side and upward, a curved portion 112b that curves upwardly convex from the upper end of the inclined portion 112a, and a peripheral end portion 112c that extends radially outward from the radially outer end of the curved portion 112b and is connected to the lower end of the circumferential side portion 130. On the inclined portion 112a and the curved portion 112b of the peripheral bottom 112, there are six cutouts 114 corresponding to the respective elastic engagement portions 120 at 60-degree intervals in the circumferential direction. Each cutout 114 is an opening that penetrates the peripheral bottom 112 vertically. Each cutout 114 is defined by a substantially U-shaped cut edge 114a separated from the elastic engagement portion 120 and a connecting end side 114b that connects to the elastic engagement portion 120 between the two radially inner ends of the cut edge 114a. The connecting end side 114b is located at the boundary between the central bottom 111 and the peripheral bottom 112. Each elastic engagement portion 120 is bent radially inward from the connecting end side 114b of each cutout 114 and bulges radially inward and upward with respect to the peripheral bottom 112. The connecting end side 114b of each cutout 114 is also the base end side 114b of each elastic engagement portion 120. Referring to FIG. 13, the cut edge 114a consists of two side edges 114ab that extend linearly substantially parallel to the radially outer side from both ends of the connecting end side 114b and a peripheral edge 114aa that connects between the radially outer ends of the two side edges 114ab and extends substantially along the circumferential direction.

[0030] Each elastic engagement portion 120 includes a base portion 120a that extends upward from the base end side (connecting end side) 114b, and a bulging portion 120b that is bent into a substantially C-shaped cross-section so as to protrude radially inward upward from the base portion 120a. The base portion 120a extends obliquely upward and radially outward in a substantially linear cross-section from the base end side 114b to the bulging portion 120b at its lower end portion. The width of each elastic engagement portion 120 along the circumferential direction is substantially constant from the base end side 114b to the upper end (the tip of the bulging portion 120b) 120d. The upper end 120d of the elastic engagement portion 120 is close to the cover portion 140 but does not contact the cover portion 140. The bulging portion 120b includes an engagement end 120c that is the most radially inner end in the bulging portion 120b.

[0031] The reference sign L’ shown in Fig. 14 is a virtual line along the vertical direction passing through the radially inner end 141 of the cover portion 140 (shown only on the left side in Fig. 14). The virtual line L’ in Fig. 14 is represented as a circular virtual line L’ in Fig. 13. It can be said that the virtual line L’ represents the range where the cover portion 140 covers the elastic engagement portion 120. In the socket 101 of the second embodiment, a part of the elastic engagement portion 120 in the initial state is radially outside the virtual line L’, and the other part other than the said part is radially inside the virtual line L’. More specifically, the upper end portion including the tip 120d of the bulging portion 120b, the radially outer portion in the lower half of the bulging portion 120b, and the radially outer portion excluding the lower end portion of the base portion 120a are radially outside the virtual line L’. Also, the radially inner portion including the engagement end 120c of the bulging portion 120b and the radially inner portion including the lower end portion of the base portion 120a are radially inside the virtual line L’. Since the cover portion 140 covers a part of the elastic engagement portion 120 in this way, it is possible to reduce or eliminate a situation where the elastic engagement portion 120 comes into contact with an external object or the like and receives an external force.

Explanation of Reference Signs

[0032] 1, 1A, 101 Socket 2, 102 Engagement Space 10, 110 Bottom 14, 114 Incision 15 Rib Portion 20, 20A, 120 Elastic Engagement Portion 20a, 20Aa, 120a Base 20b, 20Ab, 120b Bulging Portion 20c, 20Ac, 120c Engagement End 20d, 20Ad, 120d Tip of the Bulging Portion 21 Depression (Thin Wall Portion) 30, 130 Peripheral Side Portion 40, 140 Cover Portion 41, 141 Radially Inner End of the Cover Portion 42, 142 Opening 60 Stud

Claims

1. A metal socket (1, 1A, 101) that can engage and disengage with a stud (60), comprising a circular bottom (10, 110), a circumferential side portion (30, 130) continuously extending axially in one direction from the radially outer end of the bottom (10, 110), a plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120) continuously extending from the bottom (10, 110), and a cover portion (40, 140) continuously extending radially inward from the circumferential side portion (30, 130) and defining an opening (42, 142) for receiving the engagement convex portion (62) of the stud (60) at the radially inner end (41, 141). A part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120) is radially outside the radially inner end (41, 141) of the cover portion (40, 140), and the other parts of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120) are radially inside the radially inner end (41, 141) of the cover portion (40, 140). The plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120) include a base portion (20a, 20Aa, 120a) connected to the bottom (10, 110), and a bulging portion (20b, 20Ab, 120b) extending axially in one direction from the base portion (20a, 20Aa, 120a) and bulging radially inward. A part of each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120) includes the base portion (20a, 20Aa, 120a). The bottom (10, 110) includes the same number of incisions (14, 114) as the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120). The incisions (14, 114) are formed by partially cutting the bottom (10, 110), and the incisions (14, 114) correspond to each of the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120). The base portion (20a, 20Aa, 120a) is characterized in that it is bent axially in one direction and rises from the radially outer or inner connecting end edge (14b, 114b) of the incision (14, 114) in the bottom (10, 110).

2. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the bottom (10, 110), the circumferential side portion (30, 130), the plurality of elastic engagement portions (20, 20A, 120), and the cover portion (40, 140) are formed from a single metal member.

3. The bulging portions (20b, 20Ab, 120b) include an engaging end (20c, 20Ac, 120c) that is the most radially inner in the bulging portions (20b, 20Ab, 120b), and a tip end (20d, 20Ad, 120d) that is an end on the side opposite to the base portion (20a, 20Aa, 120a). A part of each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions (20, 20A, 120) includes the tip end (20d, 20Ad, 120d). The socket according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the other part of each of the plurality of elastic engaging portions (20, 20A, 120) includes the engaging end (20c, 20Ac, 120c).

4. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the base portion (20Aa) of the plurality of elastic engaging portions (20A) includes a thin-walled portion (21) with a partially compressed thickness.

5. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastic engaging portions (20, 20A, 120) are formed by partially cutting and bending the bottom portion (10, 110).

6. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (10) includes rib portions (15) respectively provided between two adjacent cut portions (14) in the circumferential direction.

7. The socket according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion (10) is directly clamped by a mounting member (50).

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