Fastener

Abstract

A connector (1) integrally has a body part (2) that forms an accommodation space (10) through which a to-be-connected body passes and an opening (11) that communicates with the accommodation space (10), an opening / closing part (3) that opens and closes the opening (11), and an elastic deformation part (4) that connects the body part (2) and the opening / closing part (3) so that the opening / closing part (3) can be opened and closed, wherein: the length dimension following the elastic deformation part (4) is smaller than the length dimension following the opening / closing part (3); and the elastic deformation part (4) has a standing part (41) that protrudes outward from the body part (2) so as to separate from the accommodation space (10), and a continuation part (42) that is bent from the standing part (41) and extends toward the opening / closing-part (3) side.

Description

Connector

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector such as a carabiner or a ring that is connected to an object or that connects separate objects or parts to each other.

[0002] A known key buckle structure for a connector includes a hook portion and a connecting portion (main body), a lock lever (opening / closing portion) facing the connecting portion and having its tip hooked onto the hook portion, and an elastic arm (elastic deformation portion) connected to the connecting portion and the lock lever, all in one component (key body) (see Patent Document 1). The elastic arm has a starting end connected to the connecting portion and a starting portion extending from the starting end to the lock lever, and the portion of the elastic arm from the starting portion to the connection to the lock lever is extended in an S-shape. In this key buckle structure, the elastic arm, which has a long starting portion and an S-shaped extension, holds the lock lever movably in the opening / closing direction. By using the elastic arm with the aforementioned shape, the elastic stroke of the elastic arm is increased, thereby improving the durability of the key body.

[0003] China Utility Model Publication No. 212650519

[0004] However, in the key buckle structure described in Patent Document 1, the elastic arm is formed with a starting portion that extends from the connection portion side to the lock lever side and a portion that extends in an S shape, so the elastic arm is formed to be long, requiring a lot of material and making it difficult to reduce costs.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector that is made of a single member and that can improve durability and reduce costs.

[0006] [1] The connector of the present invention is a connector having an integral main body portion that forms a storage space through which a connected object is passed and an opening that communicates with the storage space, an opening / closing portion that opens and closes the opening, and an elastically deforming portion that connects the main body portion and the opening / closing portion so that the opening / closing portion can be opened and closed, wherein the length dimension along the elastically deforming portion is smaller than the length dimension along the opening / closing portion, and the elastically deforming portion has an upright portion that protrudes outward from the main body portion so as to be away from the storage space, and a continuous portion that is bent from the upright portion and extends toward the opening / closing portion.

[0007] [2] In the connector of the present invention, one of the left and right sides of the main body portion may be located at the rear side of the storage space, and the other of the left and right sides of the main body portion may be located at the front side of the storage space, and the opening may be located at the other left or right side, and the elastic deformation portion may be located within the other left or right side.

[0008] [3] In the connector of the present invention, the upstanding portion may be continuous with one end of the main body portion that defines the opening.

[0009] [4] In the connector of the present invention, an extension portion that extends toward the opening / closing portion and is continuous with the upright portion may be formed on one end portion that defines the opening and is closer to the storage space.

[0010] [5] In the connector of the present invention, an end surface of one end defining the opening that is continuous with the extension portion may be positioned away from the upright portion.

[0011] [6] In the connector of the present invention, the tip of the opening / closing part and the other end of the main body part that defines the opening are arranged opposite each other in opposing directions that intersect the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing part in the closed state, a hook-shaped engaging part is formed at the tip of the opening / closing part, a hook-shaped engaged part with which the engaging part engages in the opposing direction is formed at the other end that defines the opening, and engaging protrusions that protrude in the opposing direction so as to be engageable with each other in the opening / closing direction may be formed at each of the tip of the engaging part and the tip of the engaged part.

[0012] [7] In the connector of the present invention, the continuous portion may be continuous with the base end of the opening / closing portion, and the elastic deformation portion may hold the opening / closing portion so that it can swing in the opposing direction by its elastic deformation.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a connector that is made of a single member, and that can improve durability and reduce costs.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a coupler according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a front view showing a coupler according to the embodiment. Fig. 6 is a side view showing a coupler according to the embodiment. Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an explanatory view showing an engagement state of the opening and closing bodies of the coupler according to the embodiment. Fig. 9 is an explanatory view relating to the engagement of the opening and closing bodies of the coupler according to the embodiment. Fig. 10 is a front view showing a modified example of the coupler according to the embodiment.

[0015] [Configuration of the Present Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a connector 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as a round resin carabiner that can be connected to an object or connect separate objects or parts to each other. The connector 1 includes a main body 2 that defines a storage space 10 through which a string or other part of an object (not shown) is passed and an opening 11 that communicates with the storage space 10, an opening / closing section 3 that opens and closes the opening 11, and an elastically deformable section 4 that connects the main body 2 and the opening / closing section 3 so that the opening / closing section 3 can be opened and closed. The connector 1 is integrally formed as a single member from a resin material. In the following description, the left-right direction of the connector 1 is the X-axis direction, the front-to-rear direction (width direction) of the connector 1 is the Y-axis direction, and the up-down direction of the connector 1 is the Z-axis direction. The X, Y, and Z-axes are perpendicular to each other. The opening and closing direction is defined as direction A (the opening direction is A1, and the closing direction is A2), and the opposing direction between the tip 31 of the opening / closing part 3 and the other end 22 of the main body 2 that defines the opening 11 and faces the tip 31 is defined as direction B (which in this embodiment is also the circumferential direction of the connector 1). Note that the above directions are set for the sake of convenience in explaining this embodiment, and the connector 1 used in practice will be oriented in each direction as appropriate depending on the mode of use.

[0016] In this embodiment, the main body 2 is formed in a C-shape so as to function as a hook that can be hung on a connected object, and its inner peripheral surface defines the accommodation space 10. In this embodiment, the position on one side of the arc center of the main body 2 in the X-axis direction is the back side of the accommodation space 10, and the position on the other side of the arc center of the main body 2 in the X-axis direction is the front side. An opening 11 is disposed at the position on the other side in the X-axis direction.

[0017] One end 21 and the other end 22 of the main body 2 define the opening 11. An extension 211 is formed in a portion of the one end 21 closer to the inner periphery (inside, toward the accommodation space 10) and extends toward the opening / closing part 3 in direction B, which is also the circumferential direction of the main body 2. An end face 212 of the one end 21 that is continuous with the extension 211 is formed along the radial direction of the connector 1 and is disposed spaced apart in direction B from a rising part 41, which will be described later.

[0018] As shown in Figures 4 to 6 , a hook-shaped engaged portion 23 is continuously formed in a portion of the other end 22 closer to the outer periphery (outside), and engages with a hook-shaped engaging portion 33 (described later) of the opening / closing portion 3 in the direction B. The engaged portion 23 has a base piece 231 extending from the other end 22 in the direction B, and an engaging piece 232 bent inward from the tip of the base piece 231 and extending along the radial direction of the connector 1. An engaging protrusion 233 (described later) is formed at the tip of the engaging piece 232 and protrudes in the direction B. The engaging protrusion 233 engages with an engaging protrusion 333 (described later) of the engaging portion 33 in the direction A. The inner circumferential surface at the base of the base piece 231 is curved to smoothly guide the movement of the engaging portion 33. The length of the engaging piece 232 is smaller than the radial thickness of the main body 2.

[0019] The opening / closing part 3 is formed in an arc shape, and has a radial thickness dimension equal to the radial thickness dimension of the main body part 2, and a width dimension in the Y-axis direction equal to the width dimension in the Y-axis direction of the main body part 2. The tip part 31 of the opening / closing part 3 is disposed opposite the other end part 22 of the main body part 2 in the B direction when the opening 11 is in the closed state, and the part of the base part 32 closer to the outer periphery (outside) is connected to the elastic deformation part 4.

[0020] A hook-shaped engaging portion 33 that engages with the hook-shaped engaged portion 23 of the main body 2 is formed continuously at a portion of the tip portion 31 closer to the inner periphery (inside, toward the accommodation space 10). The engaging portion 33 has a base piece portion 331 that extends from the tip portion 31 in the direction B, and an engaging piece portion 332 that is bent from the tip of the base piece portion 331 toward the outer periphery and extends along the radial direction of the connector 1, and an engaging protrusion 333 that protrudes in the direction B at the tip of the engaging piece portion 332 engages with the engaging protrusion 233 of the engaged portion 23 in the direction A. The outer surface at the tip of the engaging piece portion 332 is curved so that the movement of the engaging portion 33 is smoothly guided by the engaged portion 23. A side wall portion 335 is formed on each of both sides in the Y-axis direction of the base piece portion 331, and the pair of side wall portions 335 has the engaging piece portion 232 disposed between them, thereby suppressing movement of the opening / closing unit 3 in the Y-axis direction. The length dimension of the engaging piece portion 332 is smaller than the thickness dimension of the opening / closing unit 3 in the radial direction.

[0021] An engagement bottom surface 332A extending along the radial direction of the coupler 1 is formed on the engagement piece portion 332 of the engagement portion 33, and an engagement bottom surface 232A extending along the radial direction of the coupler 1 is formed on the engagement piece portion 232 of the engaged portion 23. When the engagement portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 are engaged, the engagement bottom surface 332A is disposed opposite the tip surface of the engagement protrusion 233 in direction B, and the engagement bottom surface 232A is disposed opposite the tip surface of the engagement protrusion 333 in direction B. Furthermore, the engagement protrusion 333 of the engagement portion 33 is formed with an engagement side surface 333A that protrudes toward the engagement bottom surface 232A and extends in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the coupler 1, and the engagement protrusion 233 of the engaged portion 23 is formed with an engagement side surface 233A that protrudes toward the engagement bottom surface 332A and extends in a direction perpendicular to the radial direction of the coupler 1. When the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 are engaged, the engaging side surfaces 333A, 233A are positioned opposite each other in direction A. Because the engaging bottom surfaces 332A, 232A are positioned opposite the tip surfaces of the engaging protrusions 233, 333 in direction B, the engaged state of the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 can be maintained even if, for example, the main body 2 or the opening / closing portion 3 is pulled in direction B. Furthermore, because the engaging side surfaces 333A, 233A are positioned opposite each other in direction A, the engaged state of the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 can be maintained even if, for example, the peripheral portion of the other end 22 of the main body 2 is pulled outward. When the opening / closing portion 3 is pulled outward, the base piece 231 of the engaged portion 23 abuts the tip of the engaging piece 332, thereby maintaining the engaged state. The tip end surface of the engaging protrusion 233 and the continuous portion of the engaging side surface 233A are chamfered, so that the engaging portion 33 can be smoothly engaged with and released from the engaged portion 23.

[0022] The elastic deformation portion 4 is formed in an approximately J-shape, having an upright portion 41 that protrudes outward (diametrically outward of the connecting device 1) from the main body portion 2 so as to move away from the storage space 10, and a continuous portion 42 that is bent into a curved shape from the upright portion 41 and extends in direction B toward the opening / closing portion 3, and is positioned within the other side in the X-axis direction.

[0023] In this embodiment, the standing portion 41 is continuous with a central portion in direction B of the extending portion 211 formed at one end 21, and extends from this continuous portion toward the outside in the radial direction of the connector 1, being formed in a shape that stands outward relative to the extending portion 211. Furthermore, the standing portion 41 is arranged spaced apart in direction B from the end face 212 of the one end 21 so as not to interfere with the end face 212 when the elastic deformation portion 4 elastically deforms in conjunction with the opening and closing movement (particularly in direction A1) of the opening and closing portion 3.

[0024] The continuous portion 42 is bent from the tip of the standing portion 41 toward the opening / closing portion 3 and curved along direction B, and is arranged so that its outer circumferential surface forms part of the circular outer circumferential surface of the connector 1. The bent portion is curved with a greater curvature than the curved portion of the continuous portion 42 along direction B. In addition, the continuous portion 42 is continuous with a portion of the base end portion 32 of the opening / closing portion 3 that is closer to the outer circumferential side.

[0025] The length of this elastically deforming portion 4 (the length from the upright portion 41 to the continuous portion 42) is smaller than the length of the opening / closing portion 3 itself. The elastically deforming portion 4 constantly urges the opening / closing portion 3 in the direction A1 toward the closed position of the opening 11, and its elastic deformation also allows the opening / closing portion 3 to swing slightly in the direction B. The open position of the opening / closing portion 3 is a position within the storage space 10 that has been opened and moved in the direction A2 from the closed position.

[0026] The opening 11 in the connector 1 described above is opened and closed as follows. (Opening Operation) First, with the connector 1 in the closed state as shown in FIG. 2 , the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 are disengaged. Specifically, by slightly bending the main body 2 toward the accommodation space 10 or by moving the opening / closing portion 3, which is pivotally held by the elastically deforming portion 4, toward the other end 22 of the main body 2, as shown in FIG. 6 , the engaging piece 332 of the engaging portion 33 and the engaging piece 232 of the engaged portion 23 are separated, disengaging them, and further disengaging the engaging protrusions 333, 233. At this time, the engaging protrusion 333 overcomes the engaging protrusion 233, allowing the opening / closing portion 3 to move in the A2 direction. Next, the opening / closing portion 3 is operated to move in the A2 direction against the bias of the elastically deforming portion 4, thereby opening the opening 11. This allows a portion of an article, such as a string, to be inserted through the opening 11 into the storage space 10, allowing the connector 1 to be connected to an article, to connect articles to each other, or to connect parts of articles to each other. (Closing Operation) When the opening operation of the opening / closing section 3 is stopped in the open connector 1, the opening / closing section 3 moves in the direction A1 due to the bias of the elastic deformation section 4. Subsequently, by slightly bending the main body 2 toward the storage space 10 or by moving the opening / closing section 3, which is swingably held by the elastic deformation section 4, toward the other end 22 of the main body 2, the engaging protrusion 333 overcomes the engaging protrusion 233, engaging the engaging pieces 332, 232 with each other and the engaging protrusions 333, 233 with each other, thereby closing the opening 11 as shown in FIG. 5 . The base piece 231 is positioned on the outer periphery of the connector 1 relative to the engaging section 33. In this manner, the opening 11 of the connector 1 is opened and closed.

[0027] The connector 1 described above is made of resin, has the main body 2, the opening / closing portion 3, and the elastically deforming portion 4 integrated into a single continuous unit, and has a generally circular appearance when the opening 11 is closed (see FIG. 2 ). Because the connector 1 is formed of a resin material as a single member, it can reduce material costs and the labor required for assembly and processing compared to, for example, a three-member connector in which the main body, the opening / closing portion, and the elastically deforming portion (spring portion) are each separate members, or a connector made of an expensive, difficult-to-process material such as titanium, thereby reducing the cost required to manufacture the connector 1. Furthermore, in the elastic deformation portion 4, the upright portion 41 is formed to stand up toward the outside of the connector 1, so that the elastic deformation area (area where deformation does not become excessive) toward the outside of the connector 1 can be made larger compared to, for example, an elastic deformation portion that is formed by extending directly from one end 21 of the main body portion 2 in direction B. Therefore, even if the opening / closing portion 3 is suddenly twisted in the Y-axis direction and pulled outward beyond the other end 22 of the main body portion 2, the risk of the elastic deformation portion 4 being destroyed can be reduced.

[0028] [Modifications] In the above embodiment, the coupler 1 is configured as a single-opening type with one opening 11, but this is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 7 , a double-opening coupler 100 may be configured with openings 11A, 11B on one side and the other side. The coupler 100 includes a main body 2A forming storage spaces 10A, 10B, opening / closing sections 3A, 3B disposed in the openings 11A, 11B, respectively, an elastically deforming section 4A connecting the main body 2A and the opening / closing section 3A, and an elastically deforming section 4B connecting the main body 2A and the opening / closing section 3B. The configurations of the main body 2A, the opening / closing sections 3A, 3B, and the elastically deforming sections 4A, 4B are generally similar to the configurations of the main body 2, the opening / closing section 3, and the elastically deforming section 4 described above, except for the configuration having two openings 11A, 11B. The coupler 100 is configured symmetrically about the center of the arc of the main body 2A as a base axis. Furthermore, the main body 2A is formed with two extensions 211A and 211B, which are formed similarly to the extension 211 described above. A bridge portion 6 extending in the X-axis direction is connected to the tips of the extensions 211A and 211B. Therefore, the storage space formed by the main body 2A is divided into an upper storage space 10A connected to the opening 11A and a lower storage space 10B connected to the opening 11B. Furthermore, the bridge portions 6 are arranged so that the opening / closing sections 3A and 3B, which are moved open in the A2 direction, abut against each other, thereby preventing the opening / closing sections 3A and 3B from moving open excessively in the A2 direction. While the coupler 100 includes the bridge portion 6, the coupler can also be configured without the bridge portion 6. The coupler 1 may also include a bridge portion substantially similar to the bridge portion 6 described above. In this case, for example, one end of the bridge portion is continuous with the tip of the extension portion 211, and the other end of the bridge portion is configured to be continuous with the inner surface of the main body portion 2 at one end side in the X-axis direction of the connector 1.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the connector 1 is configured to have a substantially circular ring shape when closed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and any other configuration is possible as long as the upstanding portions 41 of the elastically deforming portions 4 stand up from the main body portion 2, ensuring a large area for elastic deformation of the elastically deforming portions 4 outward. For example, the connector may be configured so that its entire outer periphery is rectangular, in which case a groove or the like may be formed on the outer periphery of the main body portion of the connector, and the upstanding portions 41 may stand up outward from this groove. Also, a grooved portion in which the continuous portion 42 of the elastically deforming portion of the connector is disposed may be formed on the outer periphery of the connector.

[0030] In the above embodiment, the upright portion 41 of the elastic deformation portion 4 is continuous with the one end 21 of the main body portion 2, but this is not limiting and the upright portion 41 may be continuous with a portion outside the one end 21 instead of the one end 21. Even in this case, it is sufficient that the upright portion 41 is formed to stand outward from the main body portion 2.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the extending portion 211 is formed at the one end 21 of the main body 2, but the extending portion 211 may be omitted. In this case, the standing portion 41 is provided standing from another position on the main body 2.

[0032] In the above embodiment, engaging protrusions 333, 233 are formed on the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the connector 1 functions sufficiently without the engaging protrusions 333, 233, the configuration of the engaging protrusions 333, 233 may be omitted.

[0033] In the above embodiment, the elastic deformation portion 4 holds the opening / closing portion 3 so that it can swing in direction B, but this is not limited to this. For example, if the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 can be engaged and released simply by bending the main body portion 2 or the opening / closing portion 3, the elastic deformation portion 4 may hold the opening / closing portion 3 so that it is immovable in direction B.

[0034] In the above embodiment, the connector 1 is formed from one continuous piece made of resin material, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, the connector 1 may be formed from one continuous piece made of metal material. Even in this case, costs can be reduced compared to a connector having a three-piece structure in which the main body portion, opening / closing portion, and deformation portion are made of separate members, and the upstanding portion 41 is provided to stand outward from the main body portion 2, which can also improve the durability of the connector 1.

[0035] [Operation and Effect] (1) The connector 1, 100 of this embodiment includes main body portions 2, 2A that form accommodation spaces 10, 10A, 10B through which connected objects are passed and openings 11, 11A, 11B that communicate with the accommodation spaces 10, 10A, 10B, opening and closing portions 3, 3A, 3B that open and close the openings 11, 11A, 11B, and elastically deformable portions 4, 4A, 4B that connect the main body portions 2, 2A and the opening and closing portions 3, 3A, 3B so that the opening and closing portions 3, 3A, 3B can be opened and closed. The length dimension along the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B is smaller than the length dimension along the opening / closing portions 3, 3A, 3B, and the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B have standing portions 41 that protrude outward from the main body portions 2, 2A so as to be spaced apart from the storage spaces 10, 10A, 10B, and continuous portions 42 that are bent from the standing portions 41 and extend toward the opening / closing portions 3, 3A, 3B. According to the connector 1,100 of this embodiment, the main body portion 2, 2A, the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B, and the elastic deformation portion 4, 4A, 4B are integrally formed, so that the connector 1,100 can be constructed from a single member. In addition, since the elastic deformation portion 4, 4A, 4B has the above-mentioned standing portion 41 and continuous portion 42, the angle at which the elastic deformation portion 4, 4A, 4B, which is elastically deformed as the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B moves in the opening / closing direction A, can elastically deform outward as described above, can be increased. Therefore, for example, even if the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B is suddenly opened outward beyond the opening 11, 11A, 11B, the elastic deformation portion 4, 4A, 4B can be elastically deformed favorably, and the durability of the connector 1,100 can be improved. Furthermore, by making the length dimension along the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B smaller than the length dimension along the opening / closing portions 3, 3A, 3B, the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B are not formed to be excessively long, and the material required to form the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B can be reduced, thereby reducing costs.

[0036] (2) In the connector 1 of this embodiment, in the connector 1 described above, one of the left and right sides (one side in the X-axis direction) of the main body 2 may be located at the back of the storage space 10, and the other of the left and right sides (the other side in the X-axis direction) of the main body 2 may be located at the front of the storage space 10, with the opening 11 located at the other left and right side, and the elastic deformation portion 4 may be located within the other left and right side. With this configuration, the elastic deformation portion 4 is not formed long enough to extend from one left and right side of the main body 2 to the other left and right side, so the elastic deformation portion 4 can be made short, which can reduce costs.

[0037] (3) In the coupler 1, 100 of this embodiment, the upright portion 41 may be continuous with one end 21 of the main body 2, 2A that defines the opening 11, 11A, 11B. This configuration allows the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B to be short, thereby reducing costs.

[0038] (4) In the coupler 1, 100 of this embodiment, the portion of one end 21 defining the opening 11, 11A, 11B near the storage space 10, 10A, 10B may be formed with an extending portion 211, 211A, 211B that extends toward the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B and is continuous with the standing portion 41. With this configuration, the standing portion 41 is continuous with the extending portion 211, 211A, 211B extending from the above-mentioned position, so that the coupler 1, 100 can be configured such that the elastically deforming portions 4, 4A, 4B do not protrude outward beyond the main body portion 2, 2A or the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B, and the external design of the coupler 1, 100 can be improved.

[0039] (5) In the coupler 1, 100 of this embodiment, the end surface 212 of one end 21 defining the openings 11, 11A, 11B, which is continuous with the extending portion 211, may be spaced apart from the upright portion 41. This configuration simplifies the mold for forming the coupler 1, 100, and by locating the end surface 212 spaced apart from the elastically deforming portions 4, 4A, 4B, the elastically deforming portions 4, 4A, 4B can be smoothly elastically deformed in association with the opening and closing movement of the opening and closing portions 3, 3A, 3B in the A direction.

[0040] (6) In the coupler 1,100 of this embodiment, in the coupler 1,100 described above, the tip end 31 of the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B and the other end 22 of the main body portion 2, 2A that defines the opening 11, 11A, 11B are arranged opposite each other in an opposing direction (direction B) that intersects the opening / closing direction (direction A) of the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B in the closed state, and a hook-shaped engaging portion 33 is formed on the tip end 31 of the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B, and a hook-shaped engaged portion 23 with which the engaging portion 33 engages in the opposing direction (direction B) is formed on the other end 22 that defines the opening 11, 11A, 11B, and the tip end of the engaging portion 33 and the tip end of the engaged portion 23 may each be formed with an engaging protrusion 333, 233 that protrudes toward the opposing direction (direction B) so as to be engageable with each other in the opening / closing direction (direction A). With this configuration, the engaging portions 33 of the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B and the engaged portions 23 of the main body units 2, 2A are engaged to prevent the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B and the main body units 2, 2A from separating in the opposing direction (direction B). Furthermore, the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B and the main body units 2, 2A are prevented from separating in the opening / closing direction (direction A). For example, even if the main body units 2, 2A are pulled outward, the main body units 2, 2A are prevented from coming off the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B. This allows the main body units 2, 2A and the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B to be suitably maintained in an engaged state. Furthermore, when the main body units 2, 2A and the opening / closing units 3, 3A, 3B are engaged, the engaging protrusions 333 of the engaging portions 33 overcome the engaging protrusions 233 of the engaged portions 23 to engage with each other. This overcomes the engaging protrusions, generating an engagement sound to alert the operator that the engagement is complete.

[0041] (7) In the coupler of this embodiment, in the coupler 1, 100 described above, the continuous portion 42 may be continuous with the base end portion 32 of the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B, and the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B may hold the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B so that it can swing in the opposing direction (direction B) by elastic deformation. With this configuration, for example, even if the engaging portion 33 and the engaged portion 23 described above are engaged, the engaging protrusions 333, 233 can be disengaged by elastically deforming the elastic deformation portions 4, 4A, 4B to swing the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B toward the main body portion 2, 2A in the opposing direction (direction B), thereby disengaging the engaging protrusions 333, 233 from each other. This allows the opening / closing portion 3, 3A, 3B to be easily opened and closed in direction A.

[0042] 1... Connector, 10, 10A, 10B... Accommodation space, 100... Connector, 11, 11A, 11B... Opening, 2, 2A... Main body, 21... One end, 2 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11, 211A, 211B... Extension part, 212... End surface, 22... Other end part, 23... Engaged part, 231, 331... Base piece part, 232, 332... Engagement Piece part, 232A, 332A... Engagement bottom surface, 233, 333... Engagement protrusion, 233A, 333A... Engagement side surface, 3, 3A, 3B... Opening / closing part, 31... Tip part, 32... Base end part, 33... Engaging part, 335... Side wall part, 4, 4A, 4B... Elastic deformation part, 41... Standing part, 42... Continuous part, 6... Bridge part.

Claims

1. A connector (1,100) integrally comprising a main body (2, 2A) that forms a storage space (10, 10A, 10B) through which a connected object is passed and an opening (11, 11A, 11B) that communicates with the storage space (10, 10A, 10B), an opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B) that opens and closes the opening (11, 11A, 11B), and an elastically deformable section (4, 4A, 4B) that connects the main body (2, 2A) and the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B) so that the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B) can be opened and closed, wherein the length dimension along the elastically deformable section (4, 4A, 4B) is smaller than the length dimension along the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B), The elastically deforming portion (4, 4A, 4B) has an upright portion (41) that protrudes outward from the main body portion (2, 2A) so as to be spaced away from the storage space (10, 10A, 10B), and a continuous portion (42) that is bent from the upright portion (41) and extends toward the opening / closing portion (3, 3A, 3B).

2. A connector (1) according to claim 1, wherein one of the left and right sides of the main body (2) is located at the back of the storage space (10), the other of the left and right sides of the main body (2) is located at the front of the storage space (10), and the opening (11) is located at the other left or right side, and the elastically deformable portion (4) is located within the other left or right side.

3. A connector (1, 100) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the upstanding portion (41) is continuous with one end (21) of the main body portion (2, 2A) that defines the opening (11, 11A, 11B).

4. A connector (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an extension portion (211, 211A, 211B) extending toward the opening / closing portion (3, 3A, 3B) and continuing from the upright portion (41) is formed in a portion of one end portion (21) defining the opening (11, 11A, 11B) that is closer to the storage space (10, 10A, 10B).

5. A connector (1, 100) according to claim 4, wherein an end face (212) of one end (21) defining the opening (11, 11A, 11B) that is continuous with the extension (211) is positioned away from the upright portion (41).

6. In the connector (1, 100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the tip end (31) of the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B) and the other end (22) of the main body (2, 2A) that defines the opening (11, 11A, 11B) are arranged opposite each other in an opposing direction (direction B) that intersects with the opening / closing direction (direction A) of the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B) in the closed state, a hook-shaped engaging section (33) is formed on the tip end (31) of the opening / closing section (3, 3A, 3B), and a hook-shaped engaged section (23) that engages with the engaging section (33) in the opposing direction (direction B) is formed on the other end (22) that defines the opening (11, 11A, 11B), A connecting device in which an engaging protrusion (333, 233) is formed at each of the tip of the engaging portion (33) and the tip of the engaged portion (23), protruding in the opposing direction (direction B) so as to be engageable with each other in the opening / closing direction (direction A).

7. A connector (1, 100) according to claim 6, wherein the continuous portion (42) is continuous with the base end portion (32) of the opening / closing portion (3, 3A, 3B), and the elastically deforming portion (4, 4A, 4B) holds the opening / closing portion (3, 3A, 3B) so that it can swing in the opposing direction (direction B) due to its elastic deformation.

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