PLUG FOR BUCKLE, AND BUCKLE

Abstract

A plug for a buckle includes an attachment portion configured to be attached to the predetermined members; a pair of leg portions protruding in the same direction away from the attachment portion; extending portions extending in a direction from tip end portions of the pair of leg portions toward base end portions of the leg portions; a coupling piece coupling the base end portions of the pair of leg portions; a first restricting portion that is located at an intermediate portion of the coupling piece and faces extending ends of the extending portions; and second restricting portions that protrude from two sides in a longitudinal direction of the coupling piece in a manner of sandwiching the first restricting portion, extend in a protruding direction of the leg portions, and face inner side surfaces of the leg portions.

Claims

1. A plug for a buckle, the buckle including a plug and a socket that are configured to be coupled to each other or uncoupled from each other and to be respectively attached to predetermined members, the plug comprising: an attachment portion configured to be attached to the predetermined members; a pair of leg portions protruding in the same direction away from the attachment portion; extending portions extending in a direction from tip end portions of the pair of leg portions toward base end portions of the leg portions; a coupling piece coupling the base end portions of the pair of leg portions; a first restricting portion that is located at an intermediate portion of the coupling piece and faces extending ends of the extending portions; and second restricting portions that protrude from two sides in a longitudinal direction of the coupling piece in a manner of sandwiching the first restricting portion, extend in a protruding direction of the leg portions, and face inner side surfaces of the leg portions.

2. The plug according to claim 1, wherein the leg portions, the extending portions, and the second restricting portions are arranged such that, when the leg portions are bent by a force applied inward in a left-right direction, the extending ends of the extending portions come into contact with the first restricting portion, and the inner side surfaces of the leg portions come into surface contact with the second restricting portions.

3. The plug for a buckle according to claim 1, wherein the first restricting portion is formed by a lateral bar extending in the left-right direction at the intermediate portion of the coupling piece and is configured to come into surface contact with the extending ends of the extending portions.

4. The plug according to claim 3, wherein the lateral bar is positioned in a vicinity of an intermediate position of a length of the leg portions in a protruding direction thereof, and a space is formed between the lateral bar and the attachment portion provided at the base end portions of the leg portions.

5. The plug according to claim 1, wherein protruding ends of the second restricting portions are positioned between the leg portions and the extending portions extending in the direction from the tip end portions of the leg portions toward the base end portions of the leg portions, and are positioned so as to be surrounded by the leg portions and the extending portions.

6. The plug according to claim 1, wherein a width of the extending ends of the extending portions in a front-back direction and a width of the protruding ends of the second restricting portions in the front-back direction are substantially equal to a width of the base end portions of the leg portions in the front-back direction.

7. The plug according to claim 1, further comprising: restricting pieces extending in a direction in which the restricting pieces face each other at facing sides of the pair of extending portions, wherein the restricting pieces are displaced in the front-back direction from each other, and are provided at positions where the restricting pieces do not interfere with each other when the leg portions swing in the left-right direction.

8. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 1; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

9. The plug according to claim 2, wherein the first restricting portion is formed by a lateral bar extending in the left-right direction at the intermediate portion of the coupling piece and is configured to come into surface contact with the extending ends of the extending portions.

10. The plug according to claim 9, wherein the lateral bar is positioned in a vicinity of an intermediate position of a length of the leg portions in a protruding direction thereof, and a space is formed between the lateral bar and the attachment portion provided at the base end portions of the leg portions.

11. The plug according to claim 2, wherein protruding ends of the second restricting portions are positioned between the leg portions and the extending portions extending in the direction from the tip end portions of the leg portions toward the base end portions of the leg portions, and are positioned so as to be surrounded by the leg portions and the extending portions.

12. The plug according to claim 2, wherein a width of the extending ends of the extending portions in a front-back direction and a width of the protruding ends of the second restricting portions in the front-back direction are substantially equal to a width of the base end portions of the leg portions in the front-back direction.

13. The plug according to claim 2, further comprising: restricting pieces extending in a direction in which the restricting pieces face each other at facing sides of the pair of extending portions, wherein the restricting pieces are displaced in the front-back direction from each other, and are provided at positions where the restricting pieces do not interfere with each other when the leg portions swing in the left-right direction.

14. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 2; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

15. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 3; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

16. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 4; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

17. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 5; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

18. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 6; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

19. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 7; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

20. A buckle comprising: the plug according to claim 9; and a socket configured to be coupled to the plug.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a plug for a buckle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a right side view, showing the plug according to the first embodiment.

[0023] FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a bottom view, showing the plug according to the first embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A in FIG. 2A.

[0025] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the plug according to the first embodiment.

[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a socket of the buckle according to the first embodiment.

[0027] FIG. 7A is a front view and FIG. 7B is a right side view, showing the socket according to the first embodiment.

[0028] FIG. 8A is a plan view and FIG. 8B is a bottom view, showing the socket according to the first embodiment.

[0029] FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B in FIG. 7A.

[0030] FIG. 10 is a rear view showing the socket according to the first embodiment.

[0031] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a coupled state of the plug and the socket of the buckle according to the first embodiment.

[0032] FIG. 12 is a front view showing a coupled state of the plug and the socket of the buckle according to the first embodiment.

[0033] FIG. 13 is a rear view showing a coupled state of the plug and the socket of the buckle according to the first embodiment.

[0034] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a plug for a buckle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 15 is a front view showing the plug according to the second embodiment.

[0036] FIG. 16A is a plan view and FIG. 16B is a bottom view, showing the plug according to the second embodiment.

[0037] FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C in FIG. 15.

[0038] FIG. 18 is a rear view showing the plug according to the second embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Hereinafter, a buckle 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13. As shown in the drawings, the buckle 10 includes a plug 12 and a socket 14 to which the plug 12 is fitted and locked. Accordingly, the plug 12 and the socket 14 can be respectively attached to a tape, a belt, or another pair of members, and the plug 12 and the socket 14 can be coupled to each other or can be uncoupled from each other. In the following description, a direction in which the plug 12 is inserted into or separated from the socket 14 is referred to as a forward-rearward direction, a direction in which the plug 12 is inserted into the socket 14 is referred to as a forward direction, and a direction in which the plug 12 in a coupled state is separated from the socket 14 is referred to as a rearward direction. The frontward direction is also referred to as a protruding direction of a pair of leg portions 20 to be described later. The forward-rearward direction is also referred to as an upper-lower direction on a paper surface in FIGS. 2A and 2B. A direction in which the pair of leg portions 20 of the plug 12 face each other is referred to as a left-right direction, and the left-right direction is a left-right direction on the paper surface in FIG. 2A. A direction orthogonal to the left-right direction and the forward-rearward direction is referred to as a front-back direction or a thickness direction.

[0040] The plug 12 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, polyamide, and polypropylene by integral molding. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and FIGS. 11 to 13, the plug 12 includes an attachment portion 16 through which a tape, a belt, and other predetermined members are inserted and coupled, a pair of leg portions 20 that protrude in a direction away from the attachment portion 16 and are inserted into the socket 14, and engagement portions 22 that are engagement protrusions located at tip end portions 20a of the leg portions 20. The engagement portions 22 are respectively formed at front and back sides of each of the tip end portions 20a of the leg portions 20 in a manner of protruding in the front-back direction. The tip end portion 20a where the engagement portions 22 are provided is formed with an extending portion 24 extending to the rearward direction which is a direction toward a base end portion 20b side of each of the leg portions 20.

[0041] The pair of leg portions 20 are symmetrical to each other and protrude at the same length. At the base end portion 20b side of the leg portions 20, a thickness in the left-right direction is smaller than a thickness in the front-back direction, and it is easy to elastically deform the leg portions 20 in the left-right direction. The thickness in the front-back direction becomes smaller toward the tip end portion 20a. The leg portion 20 is formed into a shape in which a width in the left-right direction is substantially equal to a width in the vicinity of the base end portion 20 and gradually becomes larger toward the tip end portion 20a at a tip of the leg portion 20. The engagement portions 22 of the tip end portion 20a of the leg portion 20 are provided in a manner of protruding from the tip end portion 20a in a pair in the front-back direction. A width between front and back end surfaces of the engagement portions 22 at front and back sides of the leg portion 20 is substantially equal to a width of the leg portion 20 in the front-back direction of the base end portion 20b.

[0042] The extending portions 24 provided integrally with the pair of leg portions 20 extend toward the base end portion 20b side while being slightly separated inward so as to face each other at the tip end portions 20a of the leg portions 20, and the extending portions 24 extend parallel to a protruding direction of the leg portions 20. An extending end 24a of the extending portion 24 is located at an intermediate position of the leg portion 20 or located at a position slightly closer to the tip end portion 20a than the intermediate position. A space 26 that is long and narrow in the forward-rearward direction is formed between the extending portion 24 and the leg portion 20. The extending end 24a of the extending portion 24 is formed to a flat surface in the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and is formed to be capable of coming into surface contact with a lateral bar 32 that is a first restricting portion to be described later. A width of the extending end 24a of the extending portion 24in the front-back direction is substantially equal to the width of the base end portion 20b of the leg portion 20 in the front-back direction.

[0043] A coupling piece 30 is integrally provided between the base end portions 20b of the pair of leg portions 20. The coupling piece 30 and the attachment portion 16 form a trapezoidal space 28. The coupling piece 30 forms an upper side and right and left oblique sides of the trapezoid of the space 28. The lateral bar 32 that is a first restricting portion extending in the left-right direction at an intermediate portion of the coupling piece 30 is provided at an upper side portion of the space 28 formed by the coupling piece 30. Portions of the coupling piece 30 located at both left and right end portions of the lateral bar 32 form two oblique sides of the trapezoid of the space 28.

[0044] A pair of protruding pieces 34 are provided at the oblique sides of the trapezoid formed by the coupling piece 30. The protruding pieces 34 are second restricting portions protruding in parallel to a protruding direction of the leg portions 20. The lateral bar 32 that is the first restricting portion is located closer to the base end portion 20b than an intermediate position in a protruding length of the leg portion 20 and is provided in the left-right direction. The lateral bar 32 is close to the extending end 24a of the extending portion 24. The protruding piece 34 that is the second restricting portion is located close to the leg portion 20 and the extending portion 24 in the space 26 between the leg portion 20 and the extending portion 24, and the protruding piece 34 faces the leg portion 20 and the extending portion 24 in the left-right direction. A width of a protruding end 34a of the protruding piece 34 in the front-back direction is substantially equal to the width of the base end portion 20b of the leg portion 20 in the front-back direction. Therefore, the protruding end 34a of the second restricting portion 34 is located in the space 26 between the leg portion 20 and the extending portion 24 extending in a direction from the tip end portion 20a of the leg portion 20 toward the base end portion 20b of the leg portion 20, and is provided in a manner of being surrounded by the leg portion 20 and the extending portion 24.

[0045] The attachment portion 16 provided integrally with the leg portion 20 includes a pair of side edge portions 16a that are integrally continuous with respective base end portions 20b of the pair of leg portions 20, a first bar 35 coupling intermediate portions of the side edge portions 16a, and a second bar 36 coupling end portions of the side edge portions 16a at an opposite side to the leg portion 20. The first bar 35 and the second bar 36 are provided in parallel in the left-right direction. The first bar 35 and the second bar 36 are integrally formed with an insertion hole 38 for an attachment member such as a tape between the first bar 35 and the second bar 36. The space 28 formed by the attachment portion 16 and the coupling piece 30 also functions as an insertion hole for a tape or the like, together with the insertion hole 38.

[0046] The socket 14 is also formed of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal, polyamide, and polypropylene by integral molding. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 13, the socket 14 includes a hollow plug fitting portion 40 into which the leg portions 20 of the plug 12 are inserted, and an attachment portion 42 located at an opposite side of a plug insertion port 40a of the plug fitting portion 40. The attachment portion 42 is formed with an insertion hole 44 through which a tape, a belt, or other predetermined members are inserted.

[0047] The plug fitting portion 40 of the socket 14 is a flat housing in which a front surface portion 45 and a back surface portion 46 face each other at a predetermined interval and an insertion space for the plug 12 is formed. The front surface portion 45 and the back surface portion 46 are formed into a substantially V shape in which end portions of the front surface portions 45 and the back surface portion 46 at the plug insertion port 40a side are inclined to the center of the plug insertion port 40a in the forward-rearward direction towards central portions of the front surface portion 45 and the back surface portion 46. Side wall portions 48 facing each other are provided on side surfaces of the socket 14 in the left-right direction, and an operation port 50 is formed in a central portion in the forward-rearward direction of each of the side wall portions 48. The operation port 50 exposes an operation portion 20c on an outer side surface of the leg portion 20. The operation ports 50 are formed to be bent into a V shape in a manner of coming close to each other in the left-right direction, and are formed in a manner in which the operation portions 20c can be exposed to two sides in the left-right direction of the operation portion 50.

[0048] Guide portions 52 that guide an insertion operation of the plug 12 are formed continuously from the plug insertion port 40a on inner surfaces of the front surface portion 45 and the back surface portion 46 of the plug fitting portion 40. The guide portion 52 is provided in the forward-rearward direction from the plug insertion port 40a, and guides a sliding operation of the plug 12 in the forward-rearward direction. Counterpart engagement portions 54 that engage with the engagement portions 22 at a front surface side of the leg portions 20 are formed at positions of the front surface portion 45 of the plug fitting portion 40 close to the attachment portion 42, and the counterpart engagement portions 54 protrude into a space in the plug fitting portion 40. Further, counterpart engagement portions 56 are formed at left and right sides of the back surface portion 46 of the socket 14. The counterpart engagement portions 56 are step portions formed inside the side wall portions 48 close to an opening where the insertion hole 44 of the attachment portion 42 is formed. The counterpart engagement portions 56 engage with the engagement portions 22 at a back surface side of the leg portions 20 of the plug 12.

[0049] Next, a usage method and an engagement operation of the buckle 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. First, in order to attach a tape member or the like to the plug 12 of the buckle 10, an end portion of the tape member (not shown) for coupling is inserted from a back surface side of the space 28 of the attachment portion 16 of the plug 12, and is inserted into the insertion hole 38 crossing over an outer periphery of the first bar 35. Then, the end portion of the tape member is overlapped with the tape member at a back surface side of the insertion hole 38, and is drawn out so that a length of the tape member can be freely adjusted. On the other hand, a tape member or the like (not shown) attached to the socket 14 is coupled to a coupling bar 43 of the attachment portion 42 through the insertion hole 44, and the tape member cannot be adjusted.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, the leg portions 20 of the plug 12 face the plug insertion port 40a of the plug fitting portion 40 of the socket 14, and then the plug 12 is pushed into the socket 14, Accordingly, the plug 12 and the socket 14 are coupled to each other. When the leg portions 20 are inserted into the plug fitting portion 40, outer side surfaces of the engagement portions 22 of the leg portions 20 come into contact with the counterpart engagement portions 54, and the leg portions 20 are inserted while being elastically deformed in a direction in which the leg portions 20 temporarily come close to each other. When the plug 12 is further pushed into the socket 14, the pair of leg portions 20 that was elastically deformed due to separation of the engagement portions 22 from the counterpart engagement portions 54 return to original positions, and the engagement portions 22 on the front and back sides of the pair of leg portions 20 respectively face the counterpart engagement portions 54 and 56 and are engaged with the counterpart engagement portions 54 and 56. Since the engagement portions 22 protrude from the leg portions 20 in the front-back direction and are engaged with the counterpart engagement portions 54 and 56 at the front surface portion 45 and the back surface portion 46 of the socket 14, when a tensile force is applied in the longitudinal direction of the leg portions 20, no force is generated in the left-right direction of the leg portions 20, engagement is stable and an engagement force is strong.

[0051] In order to uncouple the plug 12 and the socket 14, the operation portions 20c of the pair of leg portions 20 are pressed from the outside, and the engagement portions 22 of the plug 12 are elastically deformed to positions not facing the counterpart engagement portions 54 and 56 of the socket 14. In this state, when the plug 12 and the socket 14 are slightly moved relative to each other in a direction away from each other, the engagement portions 22 are separated so as to be pushed out from engagement positions along side surface portions of the counterpart engagement portions 54 due to an elastic force of the leg portions 20. As a result, the plug 12 and the socket 14 are easily disengaged.

[0052] Next, a case in which an unnecessary force acts on the plug 12 of the buckle 10 from the outside will be described. When a force acts on the leg portions 20 of the plug 12 to an inner side in the left-right direction, the extending ends 24a of the extending portions 24 of the leg portions 20 come into contact with the lateral bar 32 that is the first restricting portion, deformation beyond the lateral bar 32 is restricted. At this time, inner side surfaces 20d of the leg portions 20 come into surface contact with the protruding pieces 34 that are the second restricting portion, and similarly, deformation beyond the protruding pieces 34 is prevented. When a force acts on the leg portions 20 to an outer side in the left-right direction, the extending portions 24 come into surface contact with the protruding pieces 34 that are the second restricting portion, and similarly, deformation beyond the protruding pieces 34 is prevented.

[0053] When a force in a twisting direction acts on the leg portions 20, tip end portions 20a of the leg portions 20 tend to come onto tip end portions of the protruding pieces 34. However, since the width of the extending end 24a of the extending portion 24 in the front-back direction and the width of the protruding end 34a of the protruding piece 34 in the front-back direction are substantially equal to the width of the base end portion 20b of the leg portion 20 in the front-back direction, the extending portions 24 do not come onto the protruding portions 34.

[0054] According to the plug 12 of the buckle 10 in the present embodiment, deformation of the plug 12 in inward and outward directions is prevented even when an unnecessary force is applied to the leg portions 20 of the plug 12, and positions of the leg portions 20 are restricted even when a force in a twisting direction is applied to the leg portions 20. Accordingly, a reliable engagement between the plug 12 and the socket 14 can be easily achieved. In particular, when a force acts on the leg portion 20 toward an inner side in the left-right direction, positions of the leg portions 20 are restricted by the lateral bar 32 that is the first restricting portion and the protruding pieces 34 that are the second restricting portion, and deformation or damage to the leg portions 20 is prevented. Further, since the extending portion 24 extends from the tip end portion 20a of the leg portion 20 toward the base end portion 20b and is positioned in a manner of surrounding the second restricting portion 34, the second restricting portion 34 is prevented from being caught by other members, and the second restricting portion 34 is effectively protected.

[0055] In addition, the coupling piece 30 that couples the base end portions 20b of the leg portions 20 forms a trapezoidal shape, and forms the space 28 that becomes wide at the tip end portion 20a side of the leg portions 20. Accordingly, a tape member or the like can be easily attached to the attachment portion 16, a length of the protruding piece 34 can be reduced, and the short protruding piece 34 can reliably obtain a function of restricting the leg portions 20. Further, since the tip ends of the leg portions 20 are not coupled to each other, the pair of leg portions 20 can be bent by a light pressing operation of the operation portions 20c to release engagement, and operability is good.

[0056] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 18. The same components as those in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. A plug 60 for a buckle according to this embodiment has the same configuration as the plug according to the embodiment described above. The plug 60 integrally includes restricting pieces 24b facing each other and having a step in the thickness direction. The restricting pieces 24b are provided at the extending portions 24 that are integrally provided at the pair of leg portions 20. The restricting pieces 24b extend in the left-right direction from facing side surfaces of the extending portions 24 that are formed to extend from the pair of leg portions 20 and the restricting pieces 24b extend in a direction in which the restricting pieces 24b come close to each other. The restricting pieces 24b are formed into a quadrangular plate shape. The restricting pieces 24b are displaced from each other in a front-back direction of the plug 60, and are provided at positions where the restricting pieces 24b do not interfere with each other even when the leg portions 20 swing in a direction of coming close to each other.

[0057] The plug 60 according to this embodiment is used in the same manner as the plug according to the embodiment described above, and has the same function and effect as those in the embodiment described above. Even when a force in a twisting direction is applied to the leg portions 20, similarly, the extending ends 24a of the extending portions 24 do not come onto tip end portions of the protruding pieces 34, and the restricting pieces 24b come into contact with each other due to the twisting, so that deformation or damage to the leg portions 20 is prevented. In addition, when the plug 60 is to be inserted into a socket, even if the plug 60 is inserted in an erroneous direction, the restriction pieces 24b come into contact with a plug insertion port of the socket and the insertion is stopped. Therefore, damage to the leg portions 20 due to erroneous insertion can be prevented.

[0058] The buckle according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and a shape of the coupling piece 30 of the plug 12 may be a semicircular shape or a polygonal shape in addition to a trapezoidal shape. The engagement portion 22 may be a portion that protrudes in the left-right direction in addition to a portion that protrudes in the front-back direction, and may be engaged with a counterpart engagement portion of the socket 14. A position of the lateral bar 32 that is the first restricting portion is preferably provided in the vicinity of an intermediate portion of the coupling piece 30 in the protruding direction of the leg portions 20, and may be provided at a position in a range of 40% to 60% of the length of the leg portions 20. It is preferable that a width of the extending end 24a of the extending portion 24 in the front-back direction and a width of the protruding end 34a of the protruding piece 34 in the front-back direction are substantially equal to a width of the base end portion 20b of the leg portion 20 in the front-back direction. Alternatively, either the width of the extending end 24a of the extending portion 24 in the front-back direction or the width of the protruding end 34a of the protruding piece 34 in the front-back direction may be 80% or more of the width of the base end 20b in the front-back direction.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0059] 10 buckle [0060] 12, 60 plug [0061] 14 socket [0062] 16, 42 attachment portion [0063] 20 leg portion [0064] 20a tip end portion [0065] 20b base end portion [0066] 20c operation portion [0067] 20d inner side surface [0068] 22 engagement portion [0069] 24 extending portion [0070] 24a extending end [0071] 24b restricting piece [0072] 26, 28 space [0073] 30 coupling piece [0074] 32 lateral bar (first restricting portion) [0075] 34 protruding piece (second restricting portion) [0076] 34a protruding end [0077] 38, 44 insertion hole [0078] 40 plug fitting portion [0079] 40a plug insertion port [0080] 45 front surface portion [0081] 46 back surface portion [0082] 48 side wall portion [0083] 50 operation port [0084] 52 guide portion [0085] 54, 56 counterpart engagement portion