Adjustable fitting ring structure

An adjustable fitting ring structure includes a connecting base, a fitting ring, a guiding part, and an adjustable part. The connecting base has a receiving slot. There's a plurality of concave wedged slots on the receiving slot. The end portions respectively pass through the connecting base and each have a long slot. A gear portion is located in the long slot. The guiding part includes a base portion, a gear, and a plurality of flexible arms. Each of the flexible arms has a wedged body that contacts the wedged slot. The adjustable part is pivoted with the base portion to make the guiding part rotate so that the two end portions move in the same direction or in different directions. Thereby, the dimension of the fitting ring can be adjusted. It is easy for users to adjust the fitting ring. The structure is simplified and the assembly process is simple.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an adjustable fitting ring structure. In particular, this invention relates to an adjustable fitting ring structure that is applied to a safety helmet and can be adjusted according to the wearer's head circumference.

2. Description of the Related Art

In order to protect themselves when they are driving a bicycle, riders need to wear safety helmets. Because safety helmets are not manufactured in a personalized manner, an adjustable fitting ring is added to the safety helmet. Therefore, the wearer can adjust the fitting ring to match their head circumference.

Reference is made toFIGS. 1 and 2. The adjustable fitting ring structure of the prior art includes a fitting ring1a, a connecting base2a, a guiding part3a, and an adjustable part4a. The fitting ring1ahas two end portions11a. The upper side and the lower side of the two end portions11aboth have tooth portions12a.

The connecting base2aincludes a first connecting part21aand a second connecting part22athat can connect together. The two side surfaces of the connecting base2aeach have an opening23a. The two end portions11aof the fitting ring1arespectively pass through the two opening23a. The tooth portions12aare received in the connecting base2a. A positioning convex block211aprotrudes from the connecting surface between the first connecting part21aand the second connecting part22a.

The guiding part3ahas a gear31a. The gear31ais connected with the tooth portion12aof the fitting ring1a. The guiding part3aassembles with the first connecting part21a.

The adjustable part4ais connected with the guiding part3ato rotate the guiding part3a. The adjustable part4aincludes a gear disk portion41a, a middle portion42a, and a connecting portion43a. These portions are assembled together in order. A plurality of cone gears411ais disposed on the gear disk portion41ain a radial direction. The cone gears411aare connected with the convex block211a.

However, the end portions11aof the fitting ring1aof the adjustable fitting ring structure of the prior art are geared with the upper side or the lower side of the gear31avia the gear portion12a. Therefore, the end portions11aeasily slip out and escape from the gear31a. Unattended to, the gear31awill not rotate smoothly.

Furthermore, the adjustable fitting ring structure of the prior art uses the cone gear411aof the adjustable part4ato contact the positioning block21aof the connecting base2ato position the adjustable part4aand prevent the adjustable part4afrom rotating automatically. The adjustable part4amakes the guiding part3arotate to change the dimension of the fitting ring1a. After the adjustable fitting ring structure has been used for a long time, the cone gear411aand the positioning block becomes worn, and the user feels uncomfortable when he or she adjusts the adjustable fitting ring structure.

Moreover, the quantity of elements required for the adjustable fitting ring structure of the prior art is large. The assembly process is complex, and the manufacturing costs are subsequently high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One particular aspect of the present invention is to provide an adjustable fitting ring structure. The adjustable part can be rotated to change the dimension of the fitting ring. It is easy for the user to adjust the fitting ring. The structure is simplified and the assembly process is simple.

The adjustable fitting ring structure includes a connecting base having a receiving slot, a fitting ring having two end portions, a guiding part received in the receiving slot and pivoted on the connecting base, and an adjustable part located on one side of the guiding part and pivoted on the connecting base. Two sides of the receiving slot individually have an opening. The two openings link with the receiving slot, and there is a plurality of concave wedged slots disposed on the inner wall of the receiving slot. Each of the two end portions has a long slot. The upper side of the inner surface of the long slot located on the end portion has a gear portion, and the lower side of the inner surface of the long slot located on another end portion has another gear portion. The two end portions respectively pass through the openings, and are stacked in the connecting base. The guiding part includes a base portion, a gear, and a plurality of flexible arms. The gear is located on one surface of the base portion and extends into the two long slots. The two gear portions gear with the gear and are located on the two opposite sides of the gear. The surface of the outer edge of the flexible arm has a wedged body to contact and connect with the wedged slot of the receiving slot. The base portions bend and extend to form the flexible arms, and the flexible arms are disposed at the surrounding edge of the base portion at intervals. The adjustable part makes the guiding part rotate so that the two end portions move in the same direction or in different directions.

The present invention has the following characteristics. The adjustable part can be rotated to change the dimension of the fitting ring. It is easy for the user to adjust the fitting ring. The structure is simplified and the assembly process is simple.

For further understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments and examples of the invention. The description is only for illustrating the invention and is not intended to be considered limiting of the scope of the claim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made toFIGS. 3˜5. The adjustable fitting ring structure includes a connecting base10, two decorative boards20, a cover board30, a fitting ring40, a guiding part50, and an adjustable part60.

At the center of the front surface of the connecting base10, there is a receiving slot11. A convex column12protrudes from the center of the interior of the receiving slot11. The upper side and the lower side of the receiving slot11each individually have a convex rib13. The convex column has a through hole14passing through the front side and the rear side of the connecting base10. On two sides of the receiving slot11individually there is an opening15(as shown inFIG. 5). The two openings15link with the receiving slot11. There is a plurality of concave wedged slots disposed on the inner wall of the receiving slot having a continuous sawtooth shape, and there is a protruding portion17between two adjacent wedged slots16.

On both the left side and the right side of the front surface of the connecting base10there is a concave slot18. In the inner surface of the concave slot18, there is a rib181and a first assembling portion182. In this embodiment, the first assembling portion182is a plugging hole.

The two decorative boards20correspond to the two concave slots18. The rear side of the decorative board20has a second assembling portion21that can be assembled with the first assembling portion182. In this embodiment, the second assembling portion21is a plugging column.

The cover board30has a hole31that corresponds to the through hole14of the connecting base10. The connecting base10and the cover board30respectively has a third assembling portion19and a fourth assembling portion32that can be assembled together. In this embodiment, the third assembling portion19is a plugging hole that is located on the rear surface of the connecting base10, and the fourth assembling portion32is a plugging column that is located on the front surface of the cover board30.

The fitting ring40has a left end portion41and a right end portion42. The two end portions41,42each have a long slot43,44. The left end portion41located on the upper side of the inner surface of the long slot43has an upper gear portion45. The right end portion42located on the lower side of the inner surface of the long slot44has a lower gear portion46.

The guiding part50includes a base portion51, a gear52, and a plurality of flexible arms54. The gear52is located on the center of the rear surface of the base portion51. The base portion51has a through hole53. The through hole53corresponds to the convex column12of the connecting base10, and passes through the rear surface of the gear52.

The flexible arms54are formed by bending outwards and extending the base portion51. The flexible arms54are arc shaped and are disposed on the surrounding edge of the base portion51at intervals. The cross location of the flexible arm54and the base portion51forms a bending portion55.

The outer surface of the flexible arm54has a wedged body541. The wedged body541corresponds to the wedged slot16of the connecting base10. The end of the flexible arm54is a free end that extends slantedly forward towards the base portion51to form a pushing portion56.

The adjustable part60is hollow. There is a plurality of convex edges61on the surrounding edge of the adjustable part60that can be pushed to rotate the adjustable part60. A shaft portion62and a plurality of guiding columns63protrude from the center of the inner surface of the adjustable part60and face towards the guiding part50. The shaft portion62corresponds to the through hole14of the convex column12of the connecting base10, and the rear end of the shaft portion62has a screw hole64. The guiding columns63and the flexible arms54are disposed on the shaft portion62in a radial direction.

When the present invention is assembled, the second assembling portion21of the two decorative boards20is assembled with the first assembling portion182of the connecting base10, and the fourth assembling portion32of the cover board30is assembled with the third assembling portion19of the connecting base10(as shown inFIG. 5). Thereby, the two decorative boards20and the cover board30are respectively located on the front side and the rear side of the connecting base10.

The two end portions41,42of the fitting ring40respectively pass through the two openings15of the connecting base10and are stacked in the connecting base10. The long slots43,44of the two end portions41,42are sleeved on the convex column12, and the upper side and the lower side of the two end portions41,42contact the two convex ribs13.

The guiding part50is received in the receiving slot11. The wedged body541of the flexible arm54contacts and is connected with the inner wall of the wedged slot16of the receiving slot11. The convex column12of the connecting base10is plugged into the through hole53of the guiding part50so that the guiding part50is pivoted with the connecting base10. The gear52of the guiding part50extends into the long slots43,44of the two end portions41,42. The upper and lower gear portions45,46gear with the gear52and are located on the two opposite sides of the gear52(refer toFIG. 6)

The adjustable part60is located on one side of the guiding part50. The guiding column63extends into the space formed by the bending portion55, the flexible arm54, and the pushing portion56, and can move in the space so that the adjustable part60makes the guiding part50rotate. The shaft portion62of the adjustable part60passes through the through hole14of the connecting base10and the hole31of the cover board30in sequence and uses a locking element70(a screw) to screw into the screw hole64of the shaft portion62. Thereby, the adjustable part60is pivoted with the connecting base10. The cover board30, the connecting base10and the adjustable part60are connected together via the locking element70.

The present invention rotates the adjustable part60to make the guiding part50rotate so that the gear52move the upper and lower gear portions45,46of the two end portions41,42of the fitting ring40. Thereby, the two end portions41,42of the fitting ring40move in same direction or in different directions, and the dimension of the fitting ring40is adjusted.

When the adjustable part60is rotating, the guiding column63leans against one side of the bending porting55of the guiding part50(as shown inFIG. 7). The adjustable part60makes the guiding part50rotate via fitting the guiding column63into the bending portion55. At the same time, the protruding portion17in the receiving slot11contacts the wedged body541to make the flexible arm54deform forward towards the base portion51and the wedged body541crosses over the protruding portion17and enters into another wedged slot16. By utilizing the recovery force provided by the flexible arm54, the wedged body541pushes and contacts the inner wall of another wedged slot16.

When the adjustable part60is rotating in a reverse direction, the guiding column63pushes and contacts one side of the pushing portion56(as shown inFIG. 8). The adjustable part60makes the guiding part50rotate in a reverse direction via fitting the guiding column63into the pushing portion56. At the same time, the pushing portion56is pulled to make the flexible arm54move forward towards the base portion51and deform. Simultaneously, the wedged body541, in a reverse direction, crosses over the protruding portion17and enters into another wedged slot16. By utilizing the recovery force provided by the flexible arm54, the wedged body541pushes and contacts the inner wall of another wedged slot16.

When the adjustable part60is rotated, the wedged body541of the guiding part50contacts the wedged slots16of the receiving slot11in sequence thereby making multiple stepping sounds. After the adjustable part60has been adjusted, the guiding part50is positioned in the connecting base10by utilizing the wedged body541of the guiding part50to push and contact the wedged slot16of the connecting base10.

The adjustable fitting ring structure uses the long slots43,44of the end portions41,42of the fitting ring10to sleeve the gear52to limit the movement of the two end portions41,42. Thereby, the end portions41,42do not easily slip out and can firmly gear with the upper and lower gear portions45,46and rotate smoothly.

The adjustable part60uses the guiding column63to rotate the guiding part50, and the guiding part50has a flexible arm54. By utilizing the flexible force of the flexible arm54, the wedged body541of the guiding part50pushes and contacts the wedged slot16of the connecting base10in sequence thereby generating multiple stepping sounds and position the guiding part50. Therefore, the dimension of the fitting ring40will not be changed. Wear and tear between the components is reduced. Even when the adjustable fitting ring structure has been used for a long time, it is still smooth.

The required components for the adjustable fitting ring structure are reduced. The assembling process is simple, and the cost is also reduced.

The description above only illustrates specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.