A cord lock includes a female member having a first opening, a second opening, and an insertion passage for a string; and a male member entering one portion into the insertion passage from the first opening, and having, at the one portion, a male-side fastening portion to be fastened to the string inserted to pass through the insertion passage in cooperation with a female-side fastening portion formed inside the insertion passage. Fastening relative to the string is released by a pulling operation of reducing an entering amount of one portion of the male member into the insertion passage relative to the female member by gripping the string pulled out of the first opening, and by a pulling operation of reducing an entering amount of one portion of the male member into the insertion passage relative to the male member by gripping the string pulled out of the second opening.

There is provided an apparatus for attaching an item to a substrate, using a prong ring with a ring and two or more prongs. When attached, the prongs extends from the ring on a first side of the substrate through such substrate and being bent. A lower die is positioned to approach the first side of the substrate. An upper die is on a second side of the substrate. The substrate is placed in a manner substantially perpendicular to the attaching movement of the upper and lower dies and a first redirecting member for redirecting the prongs which are bent inwardly. The first redirecting member cooperates with an abutting member positioned along the approach of the prong ring towards the first side of the substrate for inhibiting movement of the prong ring towards the substrate while the first redirecting member is used.

A fastener member for mechanical affixation to a structure includes a base having first and second sides, a plurality of fastening elements integrally formed and extending from a first side of the base, and at least one affixation element extending from the second side of the base and arranged to mechanically affix to an attachment opening of a structure. A system includes a structure and a fastener member for mechanical affixation to the structure. A method includes affixing the fastener member to a structure.

There is provided an apparatus for attaching an item to a substrate, using a prong ring with a ring and two or more prongs. When attached, the prongs extends from the ring on a first side of the substrate through such substrate and being bent. A lower die is positioned to approach the first side of the substrate. An upper die is on a second side of the substrate. The substrate is placed in a manner substantially perpendicular to the attaching movement of the upper and lower dies and a first redirecting member for redirecting the prongs which are bent inwardly. The first redirecting member cooperates with an abutting member positioned along the approach of the prong ring towards the first side of the substrate for inhibiting movement of the prong ring towards the substrate while the first redirecting member is used.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising: a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers; a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; wherein: the first and second attachment parts are connected in such a way as to allow the first attachment part and second attachment part to move relative to each other when the inner and outer layers move relative to each other, and the first attachment part comprises: a first flange portion adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layers, said flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap, and wherein the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped.

A fastener member for mechanical affixation to a structure includes a base having first and second sides, a plurality of fastening elements integrally formed and extending from a first side of the base, and at least one affixation element extending from the second side of the base and arranged to mechanically affix to an attachment opening of a structure. A system includes a structure and a fastener member for mechanical affixation to the structure. A method includes affixing the fastener member to a structure.

A quick-release assembly includes an installation main body and a quick-release clamping plate, the installation main body is provided with a groove structure, the groove structure is provided with a first clamping hole and a second clamping hole that are oppositely arranged, and a portion of the second clamping hole is located on a side wall of the groove structure; the quick-release clamping plate matches the groove structure, and a first clamping hook and a second clamping hook are provided on the quick-release clamping plate; the installation main body is provided with a sliding block installed on the installation main body in a sliding manner; an elastic member for providing a driving force for the sliding block is also arranged in the installation main body; and a quick-release button for releasing a locking state of the sliding block is also arranged in the installation main body.

A miniaturized coupling for jewelry includes a male coupling and a female coupling, each of which is millimeter-sized or sub-millimeter-sized and each of which is attached to or suited to be attached to a respective jewelry component. The male coupling has a locking member configured to be inserted into the female coupling through an opening into an interior of the female coupling. A resiliently-biased, snap connector located in the interior of the female coupling, so constructed that when the locking member is inserted into the female coupling it initially moves and then is retained by the snap connector. An actuating pin in the female coupling is configured to move the snap connector to release the locking member and thereby disengage the male and female couplings from each other. The actuating pin has an outer surface accessible at an outer surface of the female coupling.