Fasteners and ornaments for decorative items

Abstract

To enable operation of connecting and opening a counterpart member to be performed with excellent operability with respect to a fastener of an ornament.SOLUTION: A fastener of an ornament can transit between an open state and a closed state through operation of a first turning member 20 and a second turning member 30 which are turnable in conjunction with each other. In the closed state, the first turning member 20 and the second turning member 30 are at a stop in a state in which a fourth projection 31 is stored in a recess 25 formed between a second projection 22 and a third projection 23, and in this state, operation in an arrowhead A direction relative to an operation unit 33 is performed, the second turning member 30 is turned against a biasing force of a spring 40 in a state in which the fourth projection 31 is abutted on a lateral face 23a of the third projection 23 according to the progress of the operation, and when the fourth projection 31 reaches an apex 23b of the third projection 23, the first turning member 20 is turned by a biasing force of the spring 40 and is transferred to the open state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a fastener for ornaments and an ornament.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a fastener used for ornaments such as necklaces that can be formed into a ring shape by connecting both ends of a string-like part, a closed state is provided at one end of the string-like part to hold the part provided at the other end so as not to fall off, and an open state in which the part can be inserted and removed can be taken, and a fastener that can be transitioned between these states by finger operation is known.

[0003] As such a fastener, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 uses a plate-shaped first rotating member 30 and a second rotating member 40, and a biasing member 70 that biases the second rotating member 40 in one rotational direction, and can be transitioned between the closed state shown in FIG. 4 and the open state shown in FIG. 7 of the document by finger operation. A connecting tool for ornaments is described.

[0004] Also, although it is not for ornaments, FIG. 7 of Patent Document 2 discloses a latch device 6 provided with a rotatable operation lever 6b and a lock lever 6c, and a drive spring (tension spring) 6d stretched between the legs of the operation lever 6b and the lock lever 6c as a device used for the door lock of a vending machine. By pushing the lock bar 9 into this latch device 6, the lock bar 9 pushes the lock lever 6c and transitions to a locked state where the lock bar 9 is latched, and by rotating the operation lever 6b by operating the handle 3, the latch of the lock bar 9 can be released to an unlocked state.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

[0006] However, with the fastener described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate the fastener itself with a finger in both directions when transitioning between the closed and open states (see Figures 8 and 10 of Patent Document 1, etc.). Therefore, when attaching an accessory, it is necessary to hook the corresponding part to be fixed to the fastener onto the hook and then perform an operation to transition from the open state to the closed state, which has the problem of poor operability.

[0007] On the other hand, the latch device described in Patent Document 2 allows for locking with a single action of pushing the latch device 6 onto the lock bar 9. However, the latch device described in Patent Document 2 is intended for use in large devices such as vending machine doors, and does not consider its use for connecting and disconnecting small items such as jewelry. Therefore, the operability when connecting and disconnecting small items is not considered at all.

[0008] This invention has been made in view of the above points, and aims to enable the operation of connecting and disconnecting mating members in a fastener for decorative items with good operability. Furthermore, this invention is not limited to the case of connecting both ends of a string-like portion, but is applicable to the connection and disconnection of any mating member to any fastener for decorative items. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the fastener for decorative items of the present invention comprises a housing having an opening for inserting a mating member from the outer circumference, a first rotating member rotatably arranged around a first rotating shaft located inside the housing, and a second rotating member located inside the housing, rotatably arranged around a second rotating shaft parallel to the first rotating shaft, and connected to the first rotating member via a biasing member. The first rotating member is provided with a first projection, a second projection, and a third projection in that order on the side facing the second rotating member, and the first projection and the second projection form a receiving portion for accommodating the opposing member. The second rotating member comprises an operating portion and a fourth projection formed on the side facing the first rotating member. As the first and second rotating members operate in conjunction, the fastener can transition between an open state in which the mating member inserted through the opening can be moved in and out of the housing, and a closed state in which the mating member housed in the housing is held in place so as not to fall out of the housing. In the above-described closed state, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are stopped with the fourth projection of the second rotating member housed in the recess formed between the second projection and the third projection of the first rotating member. When the second rotating member is rotated in the first direction relative to the operating part in the closed state described above, as the operation progresses, the second rotating member rotates against the biasing force of the biasing member with the fourth projection in contact with the side surface of the third projection, and when the fourth projection reaches the top of the third projection, the first rotating member rotates due to the biasing force of the biasing member, transitioning to the open state described above.

[0010] Furthermore, when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, the rotation of the first rotating member due to the biasing force of the biasing member is preferably stopped by colliding with a stopper provided on the housing. Furthermore, the stopper may be located on the side wall of the housing. Furthermore, it is preferable that a stepped portion be formed on the side of the third projection that faces the fourth projection.

[0011] Furthermore, when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, as the second rotating member rotates, the fourth projection overcomes the stepped portion of the third projection. The biasing force of the biasing member causes the first rotating member to rotate slightly, causing the fourth projection to contact the side of the third projection that is closer to the top than the stepped portion. In this state, if the second rotating member is further rotated in the first direction relative to the operating part, the second rotating member will rotate further against the biasing force of the biasing member as the operation progresses, with the fourth projection in contact with the side of the third projection. Furthermore, it is preferable that the second pivot shaft is provided near the opening, and that the operating part of the second pivot member is provided so as to protrude from the side wall of the housing, generally opposite to the position where the opening is provided.

[0012] Furthermore, the ornament of this invention is an ornament equipped with a fastener for any of the ornaments described above. In addition to being implemented as an invention of a product, such as a fastener for an ornament or an ornament, as described above, this invention can also be implemented as an invention of a method or in other forms. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention as described above, in a fastener for decorative items, the operation of connecting and disconnecting mating members can be performed with good operability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the fastener for the ornament in the first embodiment of this invention, with the fastener and the mating member separated. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the fastener for the ornament according to the first embodiment of this invention, with the fastener and the mating member connected. [Figure 3] Figures 1 and 2 show examples of the configuration of decorative items equipped with the fasteners shown in Figures 1 and 2. [Figure 4] Figures 1 and 2 are plan views showing the configuration of the fasteners in the closed state with the housing cover removed. [Figure 5] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the fastener shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in a state during the transition from the closed state to the open state, with the housing lid removed. [Figure 6] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the fastener shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the open state, with the housing lid removed. [Figure 7] It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 4 for explaining the shape of the side surface 23a of the third protrusion 23. [Figure 8] It is a figure corresponding to FIG. 6 for explaining the shape of the top portion 23b of the third protrusion 23. [Figure 9] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the fastener of the ornament of the second embodiment of this invention in the closed state, with the housing lid removed. [Figure 10] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the fastener shown in FIG. 9 in a state during the transition from the closed state to the open state, with the housing lid removed. [Figure 11] It is a plan view showing the configuration of the fastener shown in FIG. 9 in the open state, with the housing lid removed.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] 〔First Embodiment: FIGS. 1 to 8〕 Embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the appearance and use of the fastener of the ornament of the first embodiment of this invention will be described. FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 are perspective views showing the configuration of the fastener of the ornament of the first embodiment of this invention in a state where the fastener and the mating member are separated and in a connected state, respectively. FIG. 3 is a figure showing a configuration example of an ornament provided with the fastener shown in FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2. FIGS. 4 to 6 are plan views showing the configuration of the fastener shown in FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2 with the housing lid removed, respectively. FIG. 4 shows the closed state, FIG. 5 shows the state during the transition from the closed state to the open state, and FIG. 6 shows the open state.

[0016] The fastener 100 of the first embodiment comprises a flat housing 10 having an opening 13 and a ring 16, as shown in Figure 1, with an operating section 33 protruding from the side of the housing 10. The housing 10 comprises a housing body 11 and a housing lid 12. Inside the housing 10 are the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30, as shown in Figures 4 to 6. The side walls 14 of the housing 10 are provided with four gaps 15a to 15d. In the state shown in Figure 1, a part of the second rotating member 30 is visible through gap 15b. The operating section 33 is also a part of the second rotating member 30 that protrudes to the outside of the housing 10 through gap 15a (see Figures 4 to 6).

[0017] The mating member 200 is a part that can be connected to the fastener 100, and comprises an exterior 201 in the shape of two plates connected together, which are arranged in parallel with a gap slightly wider than the thickness of the housing 10, and a bar 210 and a connecting part 220 provided between the two plates. By inserting the bar 210 of the mating member 200 into the opening 13 and abutting it against the second projection 22 of the first rotating member 20 exposed in the opening 13, the opening 13 is closed, and the bar 210 is held inside the opening 13 of the fastener 100 as shown in Figure 2, thereby connecting the fastener 100 and the mating member 200. Furthermore, by operating the control unit 33 in the direction of arrow A (first direction) from the state shown in Figure 2, the opening 13 can be opened, allowing the bar 210 to be freely removed from the opening 13. In other words, the connection between the fastener 100 and the mating member 200 can be released.

[0018] Such a fastener 100 can be used to connect and disconnect the ends of a cord-like portion 300 of an ornament such as a necklace 1, for example, as shown in Figure 3. The fastener 100 can be attached to one end of the cord-like portion 300, and a mating member 200 can be attached to the other end. The ring 16 of the fastener 100 and the connecting portion 220 of the mating member 200 are attachment parts used to attach the cord-like portion 300. In Figure 3, the cord-like portion 300 is shown as a string with pearls threaded through it, but it may be a chain or may have a pendant top. The shape and material are arbitrary.

[0019] Of course, it can also be used to connect and disconnect appropriate parts of other ornaments. Furthermore, while the fastener 100 is preferably used for ornaments of a size that a person can wear, it is not limited to this. It is also not prevented from being used to connect and disconnect objects other than ornaments. While such fasteners 100 and mating member 200 can each be made of metal, they are not limited to metal and can of course be made of other materials such as resin, ceramic, or wood. The fasteners 100 and mating member 200 may be made of different materials, or the components that make up the fasteners 100 and mating member 200 may be made of different materials.

[0020] Next, the internal structure of the fastener 100 will be described, mainly with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Figures 4 to 6 show the fastener 100 as seen from the housing lid 12 side with the housing lid 12 removed. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a flat, plate-shaped first rotating member 20 and a second rotating member 30 are arranged inside the housing 10. The first rotating member 20 is rotatable around the first rotating shaft 26, and the second rotating member 30 is movable around the second rotating shaft 32. The first rotating shaft 26 and the second rotating shaft 32 are parallel to each other, and as shown in Figure 1, both ends are fixed to the housing body 11 and the housing lid 12, respectively. The first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are positioned so that through holes pass through their fixed shafts.

[0021] Furthermore, the first rotating member 20 has three protrusions, a first protrusion 21, a second protrusion 22, and a third protrusion 23, in that order on the side facing the second rotating member 30. It also has a rod-shaped spring fixing part 27 for fixing the spring 40. Between the first projection 21 and the second projection 22, a housing portion 24 is formed to receive the bar 210 of the mating member 200. In the open state, as shown in Figure 6, a part of the second projection 22 is exposed inside the opening 13, allowing the bar 210 inserted into the opening 13 from outside the housing 10 to abut against the second projection 22. In the open state, the first projection 21 is hardly exposed inside the opening 13, and in the closed state, as shown in Figure 4, it enters the opening 13 and abuts against the second rotating member 30 so as to cover the exit of the opening 13, holding the bar 210 of the housing portion 24 so as not to fall out of the housing portion 24.

[0022] Furthermore, a recess 25 is formed between the second projection 22 and the third projection 23 to accommodate the fourth projection 31 on the second rotating member 30 side when the member is closed, as shown in Figure 4. Although almost the entire recess 25 is in contact with the fourth projection 31 in Figure 4, this is not essential. The required functions and shapes of the recess 25 will be described later. The required functions and shapes of the side surface 23a and top surface 23b of the third projection 23 will also be described later.

[0023] On the other hand, the second rotating member 30 has the aforementioned fourth projection 31 on the side facing the first rotating member 20, as well as an operating part 33 that is exposed to the outside of the housing 10 and can be operated by the user, and a rod-shaped spring fixing part 34 for fixing the spring 40. The second pivot shaft 32 does not need to be located far from the opening 13. Furthermore, considering that stability is enhanced if the position where the first projection 21 abuts in the closed state does not move significantly, it is preferable that the second pivot shaft 32 be located near that position, i.e., near the exit of the opening 13. In addition, from the viewpoint of providing sufficient rotational moment to the second pivot member 30 by the spring 40, it is preferable to position the second pivot shaft 32 far from the spring fixing part 34. Moreover, if the operating part 33 is located far from the second pivot shaft 32, the operation when opening will not be too fine and will be a relatively large operation, which is preferable in terms of operability.

[0024] In this embodiment, the second rotation shaft 32 is positioned near the exit of the opening 13, which is the end of the housing 10, taking these factors into consideration. The operating section 33 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10 through a gap 15a provided between the side walls 14, approximately opposite to the location of the opening 13. The gap 15a can also be considered to be located as far away as possible from the second rotation shaft 32.

[0025] The second rotating member 30 has a significantly bent shape near the spring fixing portion 34, but this bend is not essential. The shape was designed to keep the second rotating shaft 32 and the operating portion 33 as far apart as possible while avoiding interference with the first rotating member 20 and the spring 40. Furthermore, in the shape of the second rotating member 30 in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the bent portion of the second rotating member 30 protrudes outward to the position of the side wall 14 when in the open state, so a gap 15b is provided in the side wall 14 to avoid interference with the bent portion. The side wall 14 also has two gaps 15c and 15d, but these are for the purpose of reducing the weight of the housing 10, and their absence does not impair functionality.

[0026] The spring 40 is fixed at both ends to the spring fixing part 27 and the spring fixing part 34, respectively, and connects the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30. The spring 40 is a biasing member that, when closed, is slightly stretched compared to its natural state and exerts a biasing force on both rotating members, causing the first rotating member 20 to rotate clockwise and the second rotating member 30 to rotate counterclockwise. In the open state, it may be in its natural state, but it is preferable that it is slightly stretched compared to its natural state even in the open state. In this embodiment, the spring 40 is a helical spring, but the shape of the spring is not limited as long as it can exert a biasing force on both rotating members in the same direction as in this embodiment. In addition, a biasing member other than a spring, such as a rubber band, may be used.

[0027] Next, referring to Figures 7 and 8, and taking into account the operation of the fastener 100, the configuration and function of each part of the fastener 100 will be further explained. Figure 7 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 4, illustrating the shape of the side surface 23a of the third projection 23. Figure 8 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 6, illustrating the shape of the top 23b of the third projection 23.

[0028] First, I will explain the matters related to the operation when transitioning from a blocked state to an open state. In the closed state shown in Figure 4, as described above, the first projection 21 of the first rotating member 20 abuts against the second rotating member 30, closing the exit of the opening 13 of the housing 10. At this time, it is assumed that the bar 210 of the mating member 200 is housed in the housing section 24, but the presence or absence of the bar 210 does not affect the operation of transitioning from the closed state to the open state.

[0029] In the closed state, the spring 40 provides a biasing force that causes the first rotating member 20 to rotate clockwise and the second rotating member 30 to rotate counterclockwise. However, since the right side of the second projection 22 of the first rotating member 20 and the left side of the fourth projection 31 of the second rotating member 30 are in contact, these act as an obstacle, preventing both rotating members from rotating even with the biasing force. Conversely, the second projection 22 and the fourth projection 31 only need to be in contact to the extent that both rotating members cannot rotate according to the biasing force; it is not necessary for their entire bodies to be in contact. Even if the second projection 22 and the fourth projection 31 are separated in some parts, the contact points may be only one or more points.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the closed state, the right side of the fourth projection 31 in the figure also contacts the left side surface 23a of the third projection 23 in the figure, so that the fourth projection 31 engages with the recess 25 as a whole. However, it is not essential that the third projection 23 and the side surface 23a contact each other in the closed state. In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the rotational moment that the spring 40 imparts to the second rotating member 30 is greater than the rotational moment that the first rotating member 20 imparts to it, so even if the fourth projection 31 and the side surface 23a do not contact each other, the fourth projection 31 is pressed against the second projection 22, and a somewhat stable closed state can be formed.

[0031] However, if the third projection 23 and the side surface 23a are not in contact, and the bar 210 is pulled out of the housing 24 while the mechanism is closed, there will be room for the first rotating member 20 to rotate clockwise as the bar 210 abuts against the first projection 21, thus weakening the stability of the closed state. Therefore, it is preferable that, in the closed state, the fourth projection 31 is also in contact with the side surface 23a, so that the first rotating member 20 cannot easily rotate clockwise even if an external force is applied to it.

[0032] In the blocked state described above, when the user moves the operating part 33 in the direction of arrow A, the second rotating member 30 and the first rotating member 20 operate in conjunction, allowing the fastener 100 to transition from the state shown in Figure 5 to the open state shown in Figure 6. In this process, the second rotating member 30 first rotates clockwise in response to the operation of the operating unit 33. Accordingly, the tip of the fourth projection 31 moves toward the top 23b while contacting the side surface 23a of the third projection 23. Figure 5 shows the state in which the tip of the fourth projection 31 has reached just before the top 23b.

[0033] In the state shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first rotating member 20 is biased clockwise by the biasing force of the spring 40, so that the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 are always in contact. Furthermore, if the part of the fourth projection 31 that contacts this side surface 23a is slightly rounded, wear due to repeated operation can be prevented and the operation can be made smoother.

[0034] Here, Figure 7 is Figure 4 with a dashed circle X added. The center of circle X is located at the center of the second pivot shaft 32, and its radius is equal to the distance from the center of the second pivot shaft 32 to the end of the fourth projection 31 that contacts the side surface 23a of the third projection 23 in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 7, if the position and shape of the side surface 23a are set so that it is approximately on circle X when closed, the position of the first rotating member 20 does not change even when the second rotating member 30 rotates clockwise in conjunction with the operation of the operating part 33. In this case, the spring 40 is stretched by the same amount as the rotation of the second rotating member 30. That is, the operation of the operating part 33 is performed while stretching the spring 40 and against the biasing force of the spring 40, and the second rotating member 30 rotates against the biasing force of the spring 40. Therefore, unless a certain force is applied to the operating part 33 while operating it, it is not possible to transition from the closed state to the open state, thus preventing the fastener 100 from being released due to misoperation or unintended impact.

[0035] If the side surface 23a were shaped to curve inward towards the top 23b, the contact point with the fourth projection 31 would function as a cam follower, causing the first rotating member 20 to rotate counterclockwise as the second rotating member 30 rotates counterclockwise. However, in the closed state shown in Figure 4, the contact between the second projection 22 and the fourth projection 31 restricts the counterclockwise rotation of the first rotating member 20. As a result, the second rotating member 30 cannot rotate clockwise at all, making it impossible to open the mechanism. Therefore, such a shape for the side surface 23a is undesirable.

[0036] Conversely, if the side surface 23a is shaped to extend outside the circle X as it approaches the top surface 23b, then the first rotating member 20 will also rotate clockwise as the second rotating member 30 rotates clockwise. In this case, the degree to which the spring 40 stretches in response to the operation of the operating part 33 will be smaller compared to when the first rotating member 20 does not rotate. Consequently, the force required to operate the operating part 33 will also be smaller. If this force is too small, there is a risk of accidental release, but by adjusting the degree of rotation of the first rotating member 20 in response to the rotation of the second rotating member 30 through the shape of the side surface 23a, the force required to operate and the feel of the operation when releasing can be adjusted.

[0037] In any case, when the tip of the fourth projection 31 reaches the top 23b of the third projection 23 due to the rotation of the second rotating member 30, at that point there is no longer a member preventing the clockwise rotation of the first rotating member 20, so the biasing force of the spring 40 causes the first rotating member 20 to rotate clockwise with momentum.

[0038] In this embodiment, the rotation stops in the state shown in Figure 6 when the outer side of the first projection 21 of the first rotating member 20 collides with the side wall 14 of the housing 10, and the fastener 100 moves to the open state. Here, the side wall 14 functions as a stopper. Furthermore, by making the first rotating member 20 and the side wall 14 from a hard material such as metal, a clicking sound can be produced by this collision, making it easier for the user to recognize the transition to the open state.

[0039] In order to actually remove the mating member 200 from the fastener 100, it is necessary to move the fastener 100 to the open state and then pull out the bar 210 of the mating member 200 from the opening 13. If the transition to the open state can be recognized by sound, the timing of pulling out can be easily grasped, improving operability. In addition, by using the side wall 14 as a stopper, there is no need to provide a stopper other than the housing 10 itself, and the number of parts can be reduced.

[0040] In the open state, the tip of the fourth projection 31 is in contact with the top 23b of the third projection 23. If the operating part 33 could continue to move in the direction of arrow A even after transitioning to the open state, there would be a risk that the tip of the fourth projection 31 would fall from the top 23b towards the spring fixing part 27, which is undesirable. Therefore, the range of motion of the operating section 33 is restricted by the side wall 14. In other words, when the operating section 33 has moved to approximately the end of the gap 15a, the tip of the fourth projection 31 reaches the top 23b of the third projection 23, preventing the operating section 33 from moving any further in the direction of arrow A.

[0041] However, it is not essential that the outer surfaces of the operating part 33 and the first projection 21 are in contact with the side wall 14 when the device is open. After the operating part 33 contacts the side wall 14 during the transition from the closed state to the open state, the second pivoting member 30 may rotate slightly counterclockwise due to the biasing force of the spring 40 when the user releases their hand, causing the operating part 33 to move away from the side wall 14. Similarly, after the outer surface of the first projection 21 collides with the side wall 14, the first pivoting member 20 may rotate slightly clockwise due to the biasing force of the spring 40, causing the outer surface of the first projection 21 to move away from the side wall 14.

[0042] Next, we will explain matters related to the operation when transitioning from the open state shown in Figure 6 to the closed state shown in Figure 4. As already mentioned, when the fastener 100 is in the open state, the bar 210 of the mating member 200 is inserted into the opening 13 as shown by arrow B in Figure 6, and by abutting it against the second projection 22 located on the back side of the opening 13, the fastener 100 can be moved to the closed state and the bar 210 can be held in the housing 24. At this time, the force applied from the bar 210 to the second projection 22 causes the first rotating member 20 to rotate counterclockwise, and the second rotating member 30 also moves in conjunction with this, progressing through the state shown in Figure 5 to the closed state shown in Figure 4.

[0043] Here, Figure 8 is Figure 6 with a dashed circle Y added. The center of circle Y is located at the center of the first rotation axis 26, and its radius is equal to the distance from the center of the first rotation axis 26 to the position in Figure 6 where the top 23b of the third projection 23 contacts the fourth projection 31. As shown in Figure 8, if the position and shape of the top portion 23b are set to be approximately on a circle Y in the open state, the position of the second rotating member 30 does not change even if the first rotating member 20 rotates counterclockwise as the bar 210 abuts against the second projection 22. In this case, the spring 40 is stretched as the first rotating member 20 rotates. Therefore, the bar 210 cannot be moved from the open state to the closed state unless a certain force is applied while pushing it in, thus preventing the fastener 100 from being closed due to misoperation or unintended impact.

[0044] If the top portion 23b is shaped such that it extends outward from circle Y as it moves to the left in the diagram, then when the top portion 23b of the third projection 23 and the top portion of the fourth projection 31 are in contact, this contact point will function as a cam follower as the first rotating member 20 rotates counterclockwise, causing the second rotating member 30 to rotate clockwise. However, if there is no play between the operating portion 33 and the side wall 14 in the open state, the second rotating member 30 cannot rotate clockwise, and therefore the closing operation cannot be performed. Thus, such a shape for the top portion 23b is undesirable. However, if there is play between the operating portion 33 and the side wall 14, the top portion 23b may extend outward from circle Y by the amount of that play.

[0045] Conversely, if the top portion 23b is shaped to move inward towards the circle Y as it moves to the left in the figure, then when the top portion 23b of the third projection 23 and the top portion of the fourth projection 31 are in contact, the second rotating member 30 will also rotate counterclockwise as the first rotating member 20 rotates counterclockwise. In this case, the degree to which the spring 40 stretches in response to the bar 210 hitting the second projection 22 will be smaller compared to when the second rotating member 30 does not rotate. Consequently, the force required to transition to the closed state will be reduced. If this force is too small, there is a risk of mis-closing, but the shape of the top portion 23b allows for adjustment of the force required for operation and the feel of operation during closing, as explained using Figure 7. Furthermore, even if the system becomes unintentionally blocked, there is no major problem if the operating unit 33 is operated to temporarily open the system before inserting and holding the mating member 200. Therefore, the need to prevent accidental blockage is smaller compared to the case of accidental opening described above.

[0046] In any case, when the rotation of the first rotating member 20 causes the fourth projection 31 to reach the end of the top 23b of the third projection 23, there is no longer a member to prevent the counterclockwise rotation of the second rotating member 30. As a result, the biasing force of the spring 40 causes the second rotating member 30 to rotate counterclockwise with momentum and stop in the state shown in Figure 4, and the fastener 100 moves into the closed state. The fastener 100 for the decorative item in this embodiment, with the configuration and operation described above, can connect and disconnect the mating member 200 with good operability.

[0047] [Second Embodiment: Figures 9 to 11] Next, a fastener for an ornament according to a second embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. Figures 9 to 11 are plan views corresponding to Figures 4 to 6, showing the configuration of the fastener in the second embodiment with the housing cover removed. Figure 9 shows the closed state, Figure 10 shows the state in the transition from the closed state to the open state, and Figure 11 shows the open state.

[0048] The fastener 100 of this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a stepped portion 28 is provided on the side surface of the third projection 23 that abuts against the fourth projection 31, allowing the transition from a closed state to an open state and from an open state to a closed state to be performed in two stages each. Therefore, only matters related to this difference will be explained, and the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment will be used for parts that are common to or corresponding to the first embodiment.

[0049] As shown in Figures 9 to 11, in the fastener 100 of the second embodiment, a stepped portion 28 is provided on the side surface of the third projection 23. This stepped portion 28 divides the side surface that abuts the fourth projection 31 into a first side surface 23c near the bottom of the recess 25 and a second side surface 23d near the top 23b. In the closed state shown in Figure 9, only the first side surface 23c is in contact with the fourth projection 31. This contact is not essential, as is the case with side surface 23a in the first embodiment.

[0050] In this closed state, if the user moves the operating part 33 in the direction of arrow A, the fastener 100 can be moved through the intermediate state shown in Figure 10 to the open state shown in Figure 11. In this process, the second rotating member 30 first rotates clockwise in response to the operation of the operating part 33. In response, the tip of the fourth projection 31 moves toward the stepped portion 28 against the biasing force of the spring 40, while contacting the first side surface 23c of the third projection 23. As in the first embodiment, it is preferable that the shape of the first side surface 23c be on a circle X similar to that in Figure 7, or that it extends outward from the circle X as it approaches the stepped portion 28.

[0051] Then, when the tip of the fourth projection 31 crosses the stepped portion 28, there is a gap between the tip of the fourth projection 31 and the second side surface 23d. The first rotating member 20 rotates slightly clockwise to fill this gap, and the tip of the fourth projection 31 comes into contact with the second side surface 23d of the third projection 23. This state is shown in Figure 10. The conditions required for the shape of the second side surface 23d are the same as those for the first side surface 23c, except that the diameter of the circle to be compared is determined based on the end of the fourth projection 31 that contacts the second side surface 23d. Subsequently, when the tip of the fourth projection 31 reaches the top 23b of the third projection 23 due to the rotation of the second rotating member 30, the first rotating member 20 rotates clockwise with momentum due to the biasing force of the spring 40, and moves to the open state, similar to the first embodiment.

[0052] In this second embodiment, when the tip of the fourth projection 31 crosses over the stepped portion 28, it can provide a certain resistance to the operation of the operating portion 33, giving the user the feeling of transitioning from a closed state to an open state in two stages. This provides an opportunity to stop the operation midway through the transition. Furthermore, since the user can grasp the intermediate position within the operating range, it becomes easier to understand how far the operating part 33 needs to be moved to release it. In addition, compared to the case where it can be released in a single step as in the first embodiment, the risk of accidental release due to impact or unintended contact with the operating part 33 is reduced. On the other hand, since the resistance from the stepped portion 28 is not very large, it is not always necessary to stop the operation when overcoming the stepped portion 28, and the overall operability is not worsened.

[0053] The transition from the open state to the closed state is similar. Starting from the state shown in Figure 11, when the rotation of the first rotating member 20 causes the fourth projection 31 to reach the end of the top 23b of the third projection 23, the biasing force of the spring 40 causes the second rotating member 30 to rotate counterclockwise with momentum, but it stops temporarily at the position shown in Figure 10. Subsequently, when the first rotating member 20 is rotated further, it transitions to the closed state shown in Figure 9.

[0054] Therefore, even when transitioning from an open state to a closed state, an opportunity to stop the operation can be provided. Although this explanation describes an example where only one stepped portion 28 is provided, two or more stepped portions 28 may be provided to divide the side surface of the third projection 23 into three or more areas, thereby providing three or more levels of tactile sensation.

[0055] [Variation] This concludes the description of the embodiments. However, in this invention, the specific configuration and use of the fastener 100 and the mating member 200, the specific operating procedure, the specific shape and material of the parts, their arrangement, etc., are not limited to those described in the embodiments above.

[0056] For example, in the embodiment described above, an example was described in which the operating unit 33 protrudes from the side of the housing 10, but this is not the only example. The operating section 33 may protrude upward in Figure 1 through the housing cover 12, or protrude downward in Figure 1 through the housing body 11. In this case, the second rotating member 30 may be provided with a three-dimensional structure, and the operating section itself may be raised in the thickness direction of the housing 10 from a flat plate-shaped portion having the fourth projection 31, or the operating section may be connected to an axis that rises in the thickness direction of the housing 10. Alternatively, the second rotating member 30 may be made mostly straight without a bent portion near the spring fixing portion 34, allowing the operating portion 33 to protrude from the gap 15b. While the configuration of the above-described embodiment offers superior operability, the fastener 100 can be released as in the above-described embodiment if the operating portion 33 can be used to rotate the second rotating member 30.

[0057] Furthermore, it is not essential to stop the rotation of the first rotating member 20 by a stopper such as an outer wall when transitioning to the open state. For example, in the state shown in Figure 6, a stopper such as a projection could be provided on the right side of the point where the top 23b of the third projection 23 is in contact with the fourth projection 31, and this stopper could be used to stop the rotation of the first rotating member 20 at the position shown in Figure 6.

[0058] Furthermore, the mating member 200 does not need to protrude from the outside of the housing 10 while connected to the fastener 100, as shown in Figure 2. The mating member 200 may be sized to fit completely within the opening 13. Furthermore, the fastener 100 does not need to be a roughly disc-shaped object as shown in Figure 1, but may have a more elongated shape. Also, the fastener 100 and the mating member 200 do not need to be flat. For example, the housing 10 of the fastener 100 may be spherical or ellipsoidal.

[0059] The first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 do not need to be flat plates; they may be members with a thickness that cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the first rotating member 20 and the second rotating member 30 only need to have a shape and arrangement that enables them to perform the functions described with reference to Figures 4 to 6 on a specific plane inside the fastener 100, so they may also have a three-dimensional structure for a different purpose in a direction perpendicular to the plane of paper in Figures 4 to 6. The modified operation part described above is one example of this.

[0060] Furthermore, the configurations of each embodiment and modified example described above can be combined in any way as long as they do not contradict each other, and it is also possible to implement only a part of them. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 1...Necklace, 10...Housing, 11...Housing body, 12...Housing lid, 13...Opening, 14...Side wall, 15a~15d...Gap, 16...Ring, 20...First rotating member, 21...First projection, 22...Second projection, 23...Third projection, 23a...Side, 23b...Top, 23c...First side, 23d...Second side, 24...Housing section, 25...Recess, 26...First rotating shaft, 27...Spring fixing section, 28...Stepped section, 30...Second rotating member, 31...Fourth projection, 32...Second rotating shaft, 33...Operating section, 34...Spring fixing section, 40...Spring, 100...Fastener, 200...Mating member, 201...Outer casing, 210...Bar (insertion section), 220...Connecting section, 300...Chain section

Claims

1. A housing having an opening for inserting a mating component from the outer periphery, A first rotating member is arranged to be rotatable around a first pivot axis located inside the housing, The housing includes a second pivot member which is rotatably arranged around a second pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and connected to the first pivot member via a biasing member, The first rotating member is provided with a first projection, a second projection, and a third projection in this order on the side facing the second rotating member, and the first projection and the second projection form a receiving portion for accommodating the mating member. The second rotating member comprises an operating portion and a fourth projection formed on the side facing the first rotating member, The first and second rotating members operate in conjunction with each other, enabling a transition between an open state in which the mating member inserted through the opening can be moved in and out of the housing, and a closed state in which the mating member housed in the housing is held in place so as not to fall out of the housing. In the closed state, the first rotating member and the second rotating member are stopped with the fourth projection of the second rotating member housed in the recess formed between the second projection and the third projection of the first rotating member. When the second rotating member is rotated in the first direction relative to the operating part in the closed state, as the operation progresses, the second rotating member rotates against the biasing force of the biasing member with the fourth projection in contact with the side surface of the third projection, and when the fourth projection reaches the top of the third projection, the first rotating member rotates due to the biasing force of the biasing member, transitioning to the open state. A fastener for decorative items, characterized in that a stepped portion is formed on the side surface of the third projection facing the fourth projection.

2. A fastener for an ornament according to claim 1, A fastener for decorative items, characterized in that when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, the rotation of the first rotating member due to the biasing force of the biasing member is stopped by colliding with a stopper provided on the housing.

3. A fastener for an ornament according to claim 2, The stopper is a fastener for decorative items, characterized in that it is the side wall of the housing.

4. A fastener for an ornament according to claim 1, A fastener for decorative items, characterized in that, when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, the fourth projection overcomes the stepped portion of the third projection as the second rotating member rotates, the first rotating member rotates slightly due to the biasing force of the biasing member, causing the fourth projection to come into contact with the side surface of the third projection that is closer to the top than the stepped portion, and in this state, when the second rotating member is further rotated in the first direction relative to the operating part, the second rotating member rotates further against the biasing force of the biasing member with the fourth projection in contact with the side surface of the third projection as the operation progresses.

5. A fastener for an ornament according to claim 1, A fastener for decorative items, characterized in that the second pivot shaft is provided near the opening, and the operating part of the second pivot member is provided so as to protrude from the side wall of the housing, generally opposite to the position where the opening is provided.

6. An ornament comprising a fastener for an ornament as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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