Connector for quick assembling and disassembling

Abstract: A rotating connector, wherein, said rotating connector includes a fixed unit (1) and a combined fastening part; two parallel fixed bolts (3) which are extended outward are fixed on one said of said fixed unit, and a neck section (4) is formed on the end part of each fixed bolt; Said combined fastening part is composed of a buckling unit (5) and a plug-in (6) block; said plug-in block is circular, and a jack-post (9) which is extended outwards is concentrically formed on one side of said plug-in block, and a taper flange is formed on the end of said jack-post; two rabbets (11) which are corresponded to the heads of said fixed bolts on said fixed unit are formed on the plug-in (6) block and around said jack-post, and the number and position, relative to each other and to the center line of the plug-in block, of the rabbets are equal to the number and position, relative to each other and to the center line of the fixed unit, of the fixed bolts, and some teeth (8) are evenly arranged on the exterior periphery

Description: The invention relates connector comprising a fixing unit and a combined fastening part, at least two parallely fixed bolts extending outwardly from one side of said fixing unit, and a neck section being formed on the end portion of each bolt to define a flange on the bolt. The connector is suitable for mounting various ornaments, buttons and badges and the like onto fabric, clothing etc. . The connector is further usable for curtain catches and for connecting two or more flat elements in an overlying relationship, for example for connecting belts of a packsack. Conventionally buttons or badges are secured to a fabric or clothing by means of sewing or pins or clips. If the buttons are sewed onto a clothing it is inconvenient to remove the button in order to scour or iron the clothing. Securing badges by pins or clips may cause injuries to the wearer. Therefore it is proposed to fix the buttons or badges by means of screw bolts which are fixed on the back of the button or the badge and fit in a nut. However, with this kind of assembling it is difficult to fix the connector in the proper circumferential position. Further, the connector easily looses and the structure is complicated such that the manufacturing costs are high. From the EP-A-0 349 721 a connector is known comprising a fixing unit from which two bolts parallely extend. The bolts have a neck portion forming a flange near the end of the bolts. The fastening means are fixed to a button or a badge and includes support means having a passage in which at least one flange transversely extends. In order to secure the badge or the button to a fabric the bolts are pierced through a fabric until the base of the fixing unit bears against the fabric. Then the fastening unit together with the button or the badge is pressed against the locking unit until the flange of the support means engages the neck sections of the bolts. The problem of the invention is to provide by simple means a reliable connector which is easy and quickly to assemble and disassemble, which does not loose in the connected status, and is exactly positonable in cicumferential direction. Starting out from the connector of the generic kind this problem is solved in that the fastening part includes a plug-in block and a locking unit rotably connectable with said plug-in block; the plug-in block is circular, a jack-post concentrically extending from one side of the plug-in block and having a tapered flange at the end; two openings are formed on the plug-in block around the jack-post such that the number and position thereof relative to each other and to the center line of the plug-in block are equal to the number and position of the bolts relative to each other and to the center line of the fixing unit, some teeth being evenly arranged on the exterior periphery of said plug-in block; the exterior periphery of said locking unit is shaped such that sliding is prevented when the locking unit is held to rotate; in the locking unit a cavity is concentrically formed consisting of three concentric cylindrical cavity portions communicated with each other, the largest cavity portion at one end of the locking unit having a diameter which is slightly greater than the envelope line of the exterior periphery of the plug-in block, the middle cavity portion having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the jack-post, and the cavity portion at the other end of the locking unit having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the middle cavity portion to receive the end flange of the jack-post; at least two arcuated protrusions extending toward the center line of the locking unit are symetrically formed on the interior periphery of the largest cavity portion; and arcuated guide grooves communicating with the largest cavity portion are formed on the locking unit around the jack-post, the number of the guide grooves being equal to the number of the bolts, the width of the guide grooves being less than the diameter of the flange of the bolts and greater than the diameter of the neck section of the bolts, the corresponding end of each guide groove being an end arc part having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the flange of the bolts, and the radius of the center line of the guide grooves being equal to the radius of the circle on which the center lines of the bolts are situated; whereby the plug-in block can be pressed and inserted into the cavity and the locking unit can be rotated relative to the plug-in block being unable to move axially relative to the plug-in block because the end flange of the jack-post is locked, the bolts can pass through the end arc part and the heads of the bolts can be inserted into the openings. The connector of the present invention is easy and quickly to assemble and disassemble. The connenctor can be made of plastics or metal. Therefore the manufacturering costs are low. The connector does not loose in the connecting condition. Finally the connector can be positioned in an exact circumferential position. Therefore the connector is particulary suitable for assembling button, badges and other ornaments and for connecting flat elements in an overlying relationsship. Preferably the bolts are welded on one side of the fixing unit. In another preferred embodiment two bolts are part of a U-shaped element, the bottom of which is embedded in the fixing unit. Conveniently the head of each bolt is tapered and the openings are tapered blind holes. The head of each bolt may also be hemispherical and the openings may be hemispherical blind holes. In order to prevent sliding when the locking unit is held to rotate some teeth are arranged on the exterior of the locking unit. For this purpose the locking unit may also be 8-shaped or rectangular. The fixing unit may be a button, a badge, a curtain catch or an ornament. The fixing unit may be combined with a curtain hoist link for forming a curtain catch. The sectional shape of the teeth of the plug-in block may be curvilinear or arcuated. In another embodiment one or more flanges are formed at the end part of the bolt, the flanges being locked by two edges of said arcuated guide grooves to complete the connection. Some arcuated shallow grooves may be arranged on the end wall of the largest cavity portion of the "I" shape cavity, which center line coincides with the center line of the corresponding arcuated guide groove. The number of the shallow grooves is equal to the number of the guide grooves, and the width thereof is equal to the diameter of the end arc part of the guide groove. The depth of the shallow grooves decreases progressively from the end arc part to the other end of the guide groove so as to fasten the unit which is to be fastened gradually with the buckling unit being rotated. But it is also practicable that there is no shallow grove. It is also practicable that only one flange is formed on the end part of said fixed bolt, for example, a flat flange, wherein, the diameter of said opening corresponds to the largest traverse dimension of said flat flange, and the width of said guide groove is greater than the diameter of said fixed bolt and less than the largest traverse dimension of said flat flange, and the diameter of the end arc part of said arc guide groove is greater than the largest traverse dimension of said flat flange. It is also practicable that one or more cylinder flanges having the same diameter and separated from each other are arranged on the end part of said fixed bolt. In this case, the diameter of said opening corresponds to the diameter of said cylinder flange, and the width of said guide groove is greater than the diameter of said fixed bolt and less than the diameter of said cylinder flange, and the diameter of the end arc part of said arc guide groove is greater than that of said cylinder flange. The plug-in block is put on the largest cavity portion of said "I" shape cavity of the locking unit and is pressed in the "I" shape cavity (if the material of the locking unit and the plug-in block is metal, the heating method can be applied). The tapered jack-post of said plug-in block is pressed and inserted through the middle cylinder cavity portion into the cavity at the other end of the locking unit and is locked in the cavity because of the deformation of said locking unit. The locking unit can be concentrically rotated relative to said plug-in block. Because two arcuated protrusions formed on the interior periphery of said largest cavity portion are engaged with the teeth on the exterior periphery of said plug-in block, the locking unit cannot rotate free, but can be rotated by hand. The openings on said plug-in block are aligned with the arc end part of said guide grooves. If the fixing unit is a button or a badge, the fixed bolts on the fixing unit pierce through the clothing or other articles of daily use, and pass through the arc end part of said arc guide groove and are inserted into the corresponding openings on the plug-in block, and then the fixing unit is rotated until the neck sections of said fixed bolts are close to the other end of the arc guide groove. Therefore, the fixing bolts are locked in the locking unit so as to assemble the fixed unit such as a button, a badge etc. to the clothing or other articles of daily use because the diameter of said fixed bolts is greater than the width of said arc guide groove. Because there are two or more fixed bolts which pierce through the clothing or other articles of daily use, the fixing unit cannot rotate relative to the clothing or other articles of daily use so as to obtain an accurate and unchangable fixed position. The same method can be used to connect flat overlapping elements if the bolts are pierced through the elements. In the case of one or more flanges formed on the end part of said fixed bolt, the width of said arcuated guide groove is greater than the diameter of said bolt and less than the diameter of the flange on the end part of said bolt, and the diameter of the arc end part of said guide groove is greater than that of said flange. When the locking unit is rotated, the guide groove can also lock the flange of said fixed bolt to complete the connection. Embodiments of the connector of the present invention are hereinafter detailed by referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the first embodiment of a connector of the present invention, the connector being connected for use. Fig. 2 is the sectional view A-A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of a fixing unit of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of the fixing unit shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a plug-in block of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of the plug-in block shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the locking unit of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side view of the locking unit shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a front view of a second embodiment of the present invention, the connector being used for a curtain catch. Fig. 10 is a side view of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention, the connector being connected for use. Fig. 12 is the sectional view B-B in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 are two views of the end flanges of the bolts of the fourth embodiment of the present invention, indicating that the flanges are flat flanges. Fig. 15 is a schematic view of the fixing unit of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, two neck sections being provided on the bolt. Fig. 16 and 17 are a front sectional view and a side view of the locking unit of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the connector of the present invention is composed of a fixing unit 1 and a combined fastening part 2. Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the fixing unit 1 may be a button or a badge etc. needed for assembling. Two parallel bolts 3 are perpendicularly fixed on one side of said fixing unit 1. A neck section 4 is formed on the end part of each bolt 3. The head of the bolt 3 is tapered. The combined fastening part 2 is composed of a locking unit 5 and a plug-in block 6. Referring to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the plug-in block 6 is a generally circular block, on which arcuated teeth are provided. A jack-post 9 extending outwardly is concentrically fixed on the center of one side of the plug-in block 6. A tapered flange 10 is formed on the end of the jack-post 9. Two openings 11 are formed on the side, from which the jack-post 9 extends outwardly of the plug-in block 6 and around the jack-post 9. The shape and the dimensions of said openings 11 corresponds to those of the head of the bolts 3. The interior shape of said openings 11 is tapered. The distance between the center line of the opening 11 and the center line of the plug-in block 6 is equal to that between the center line of the bolt 3 and the center line of the fixing unit 1. Referring to Fig. 7 and 8, the locking unit 5 is circular and on the periphery thereof some teeth 12 are arranged to avoid sliding while it is held to rotate. A cavity consisting of three concentric cylindrical cavity portions 13a, 13b, 13c which are communicated with each other is formed in the center of the unit 5. Two protrusions 14 extending towards the center line of the locking unit 5 are symmetrically formed on the interior periphery of the cavity portion 13a. The diameter of the cavity portion 13a is slightly greater than the greatest diameter of the envelope line of the exterior periphery of the plug-in block 6. Two arcuated guide grooves 15 are axisymmetrically formed on the locking unit 5. The radius of the center line of the guide groove, i.e., the radius of the arc by which the width of said arc guide groove 15 is evenly divided, is equal to half the central distance between two bolts 3 on said fixing unit 1. The corresponding end of each guide groove 15 is an end arc part 16, the diameter of which is greater than that of the bolt 3 and the width of said guide groove 15 is greater than the diameter of the neck section 4 on the bolt 3 and less than the diameter of the bolt 3. Some arcuated shallow grooves 21 may be arranged on the end wall of the largest cavity portion 13a of the "I"-shaped cavity, the center line of which coincides with the center line of the corresponding guide groove 15. The number of the shallow grooves 21 is equal to the number of the guide grooves 15, and the width thereof is equal to the diameter of the end arc part 16 of the guide groove 15, the depth decreasing progressively from the end arc part 16 to the other end of the guide groove 15. After the combined fastening part 2 has been assembled, the openings 11 on the plug-in block 6 are aligned with the end arc parts 16 of the guide groove 15. The bolts 3 pierce through the clothing or other articles of daily use, and pass through the end arc parts 16 of the guide grooves 15, and are inserted into the corresponding openings 11 on the plug-in block 6. Then the locking unit 5 is rotated relative to the plug-in block 6 until the neck section 4 on the bolt 3 is close to the other end of the guide groove 15. Therefore, two edges of the guide groove 15 are close to two sides of the neck section 4 on the bolt 3 so that the neck section 4 is locked by the edges of the guide groove 15 to complete the connection. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show the second embodiment of the connector of the present invention, wherein the connector is used for a curtain catch. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment, in that the fixing unit 1 is combined with a curtain hoist link 17. Fig. 11 and Fig. 12 show the third embodiment of the connector of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that two bolts 3 are part of a U-shaped element, the bottom 18 of which being embedded in the fixing unit 1 so as to improve strength. A hemisperical flange 19 is formed on the head of each bolt 3. The width of the guide groove 15 is greater than the diameter of the bolt 3 and less than the diameter of the end hemispherical flange 19 of the bolt 3. The diameter of the end arc part 16 of the guide groove 15 is greater than the diameter of the end hemispherical flange 19. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 show the end part of the bolt 3 of the fourth embodiment of the connector of the present invention. The fourth embodiment differs from the third embodiment in that a flat head 20, the traverse dimension of which is greater than the diameter of the bolt 3 is formed on the end of the bolt 3. The width of the guide groove 15 is greater than the diameter of the bolt 3 and less than the traverse dimension of the flat head 20. The opening 11 is a cylindrical hole, the diameter of which corresponding to the traverse dimension of the flat head 20. Fig. 15 indicates the end part of the bolt 3 of the fifth embodiment of the connector of the present invention. It differs from the first embodiment in that two separate neck sections 4a, 4b are arranged on the end part of the bolt 3. Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 indicate the locking unit of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. It differs from the first embodiment in that there is no arcuated shallow groove 21 and there are three arcuated protrusions 14 evenly arranged on the interior periphery of the largest cylinder cavity portion.

Claims: A connector comprising a fixing unit (1) and a combined fastening part (2), at least two parallel fixed bolts (3) extending outwardly from one side of said fixing unit (1), and a neck section (4) being formed on the end portion of each bolt (3) define a flange on the bolt, characterized in that the fastening part (2) includes a plug-in block (6) and a locking unit (5) rotably connectable with said plug-in block (6); the plug-in block (6) is circular, a jack-post (9) concentrically extending from one side of the plug-in block (6) and having a tapered flange (10) at the end, two openings (11) are formed on the plug-in block (6) around the jack-post (9) such that the number and position thereof relative to each other and to the center line of the plug-in block (6) are equal to the number and position of the bolts (3) relative to each other and to the center line of the fixing unit (1), some teeth (8) being evenly arranged on the exterior periphery of said plug-in block (6); the exterior periphery of said locking unit (5) is shaped such that sliding is prevented when the locking unit (5) is held to rotate; in the locking unit (5) a cavity is concentrically formed consisting of three concentric cylindrical cavity portions (13a, 13b, 13c) communicating with each other, the largest cavity portion (13a) at one end of the locking unit (5) having a diameter which is slightly greater than the envelope line of the exterior periphery of the plug-in block (6), the middle cavity portion ( 13b) having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the jack-post (9), and the cavity portion (13a) at the other end of the locking unit (5) having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the middle cavity portion (13b) to receive the end flange (10) of the jack-post (9); at least two arcuated protrusions (14) extending toward the center line of the locking unit (5) are symetrically formed on the interior periphery of the largest cavity portion (13a); and arcuated guide grooves (15) communicating with the largest cavity portion (13a) are formed on the locking unit (5) around the jack-post (9), the number of the guide grooves (15) being equal to the number of the bolts (3), the width of the guide grooves (15) being less than the diameter of the flange of the bolts (3) and greater than the diameter of the neck section (5) of the bolts (3), the corresponding end of each guide groove (15) being an end arc part (16) having a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the flange of the bolts (3), and the radius of the center line of the guide grooves (15) being equal to the radius of the circle on which the center lines of the bolts (3) are situated; whereby the plug-in block (6) can be pressed and inserted into the cavity (13a, 13b 13c) and the locking unit (5) can be rotated relative to the plug-in block (6) being unable to move axially relative to the plug-in block (6) because the end flange (10) of the jack-post (9) is locked, the bolts (3) can pass through the end arc part (16) and the heads of the bolts (3) can be inserted into the openings (11). Connector according to claim 1 characterized in that the fixed bolts (3) are welded on one side of the fixing unit (1). Connector according to claim 1 characterized in that two bolts (3) are part of a U-shaped element, the bottom of which is embedded in the fixing unit (1). Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the head of each bolt (3) is tapered and the openings (11) are tapered blind holes. Connector according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the head of each bolt (3) is hemispherical and the openings (11) are hemispherical blind holes. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that some teeth (12) are arranged on the exterior of the locking unit (5). Connector according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking unit (5) is 8-shaped or rectangular. Connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing unit (1) is a button, a badge, or an ornament. Connector according to one of the claims 1 to 7, charcterized in that the fixing unit (1) is combined with a curtain hoist link (17) for forming a curtain catch.

Inventors: ZHANG NING, ZHANG, NING
Applicants: ZHANG NING, ZHANG, NING
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A44B1
IPC codes: A44B1