Rotatable Connector

Abstract

A rotatable connector formed from two parts, each comprising a body extending from a connecting head having a first face and an opposed second face, the second face having an arcuate tail section on an outer perimeter edge and shaped to be received by a tail socket defined between the first face and a pin extending from a proximal end of the body. When the two parts are engaged, the connecting heads are coaxial to define an axis of rotation. When the parts are rotated on the axis relative to one another, the tail section of the first part travels through the tail socket of the second part and the tail section of the second part travels through the tail socket of the first part, thereby connecting the two parts together. When the parts are rotated in the opposite direction, the parts are disconnected from each other.

Claims

1. A rotatable connector (200) formed from two parts (100), each part comprising: a body (20) extending from a connecting head (10); wherein the connecting head (10) has a first face (11) and an opposed second face (12), characterized in that the second faces of each part (12) include an arcuate tail section (13) arranged on an outer perimeter edge of a segment of each connecting head (10) and each second face is shaped and dimensioned to be received through a tail socket (30) defined between the first face (11) and a pin (40) extending from a proximal end of the body (20); so that when the two parts (100) are engaged the two connecting heads (10) are coaxial to define an axis of rotation, and when the two engaged parts (100) are rotated relative one to another, the tail section (13) of the first part travels through the tail socket (30) of the second part and the tail section (13) of the second part travels through the tail socket (30) of the first part, thereby connecting the two parts (100) together; and when the two parts are rotated in an opposite direction, the two parts are disconnected one from the other.

2. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the two parts (100) are identical.

3. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the body (20) of each part (100) is identical.

4. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the body (20) of each part (100) is different.

5. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the first face (11) is planar.

6. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the connecting head (10) has an aperture (14) through which a hook, carabiner, line, or lanyard can be received.

7. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 6 wherein the aperture (14) is substantially central.

8. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 6 wherein the aperture (14) includes a reinforced ring.

9. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the tail section (13) is tapered from a first end (13A) to a second end.

10. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 9 wherein the tail socket (30) is tapered.

11. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 formed from a synthetic plastics material.

12. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein contact surfaces of the tail section (13) and tail socket (30) have serrations or teeth formed therein in order to provide a detent mechanism in the form of a rack-and-pinion.

13. A rotatable connector (200) according to claim 1 wherein the range during which the parts (100) are connected is within a range of 110 to 170 degrees.

14. A method of connecting two parts (100) as described in claim 1 including the steps of positioning the two first faces (11) adjacent one to another so that they abut; and rotating at least one part in a first direction with respect to the other part so that the tail section (13) of each part enters the tail socket (30) of the other part.

15. A method of disconnecting two parts (100) as described in claim 14 having the steps of rotating at least one of the parts in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction so that the tail sections (13) of each part travel through the tail sockets (30) of each part until disconnected to separate the parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1A shows a rear isometric view of a first embodiment of a part;

[0051] FIG. 1B shows a front isometric view of a first embodiment of a part;

[0052] FIG. 1C shows a side view of a first embodiment of a part;

[0053] FIG. 1D shows a rear view of a first embodiment of a part;

[0054] FIG. 1E shows an opposite side view of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1C;

[0055] FIG. 1F shows a front view of the first embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the first embodiment;

[0057] FIGS. 3A to 3C show various views of the pin;

[0058] FIGS. 4A to 4D show two parts through the stages of connection and disconnection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0059] FIGS. 1A to 3C show a preferred embodiment of the parts 100 that form the rotatable connector. The pictured connector 200 in FIG. 4A-4D is formed from two parts 100. Each part 100 has a connecting head 10 and a body 20.

[0060] The connecting head 10 is substantially ring shaped. The connecting head has a first face 11 that is planar and a second opposed face 12 that is contoured, providing a raised and lowered surface that defines the arcuate tail section 13 that connects with the tail socket 30.

[0061] The first faces 11 of the two parts 100 form the engagement surfaces. The first faces 11 of two parts 100 are positioned adjacent to one another so as to abut, and at least one of the parts is rotated to connect and disconnect the two parts by means of the tail sections and tail sockets.

[0062] In the pictured embodiment, the second face 12 includes a tail section 13 arranged on an outer perimeter edge of a segment of the connecting head 10. The tail section 13 is shaped and dimensioned to be received through a tail socket 30. The tail section is a contour on the contoured face 12 as the tail section has a profile that extends from the second face of the connecting head.

[0063] The tail section 13 is an arcuate portion that projects from and extends around part of the perimeter edge of the connecting head. The tail section 13 is received by a tail socket 30 that is defined between the first face 11 and a pin 40 extending from a proximal end of the body 20. The tail socket 30, in one example, is defined by a channel through which the tail section 13 can travel. A cross section of the tail section 13 corresponds to a cross section of the tail socket 30.

[0064] The tail section 13 is tapered along its length, starting from a narrow tip 13A, shown in FIG. 1F, to a wider section that corresponds to the size of the tail socket 30. In this way as the tail section 13 travels further along the channel of the tail socket 30, the tail section 13 connects fully in the socket 30 so that there is no lateral movement of one part relative to the other.

[0065] The connection of the two bodies 20 of each part 100 prevents further rotation and is the point at which both parts are connected together in the most compact configuration, as in FIG. 4D.

[0066] When the two parts 100 are connected and at least one part is rotated in a first direction relative to the other, the tail section 13 of first part travels through the tail socket 30 of the second part and the tail section 13 of the second part travels through the tail socket 30 of the first part so as to connect the two parts 100 together.

[0067] When at least one of the parts 100 is rotated in second directions relative to the other, the actions are reversed resulting in disconnection of the parts from each other.

[0068] The connecting head 10 has an aperture 14. The aperture 14 is for receiving a line or lanyard so that the rotatable connector can be secured to a user.

[0069] FIG. 2 shows the pin 40 exploded from the part 100. The pin 40 is manufactured separately to aid with tooling and is fitted into a recess 21 by an interference fit. The pin 40 has a plug 42 that is adapted to be received in the recess. The pin 40 is not intended to be removed once fitted.

[0070] The pin 40 has a catch 41 which acts to hold the tail section within the tail socket 30. The shoulder 22 (proximal end) of the body 20 is concave and the pin 40 is shaped 43 to correspond to the curvature, as in FIGS. 2 and 3A-C.

[0071] FIGS. 4A-D show the two parts 100 during the stages of connection and disconnection.

[0072] FIG. 4A shows the two parts 100 separately.

[0073] In FIG. 4B, the first faces 11 are aligned so that the engagement surface of the first faces 11 abut and are engaged. The tapered end 13A of the tail section 13 is aligned with and about to enter the tail socket 40, so the parts 100 are engaged but not yet connected.

[0074] In FIG. 4C, both bodies 20 have been rotated towards each other in the first direction so that the tail sections 13 are travelling along the tail sockets 30 to create a connection between the parts 100. The catches 41 on the pin 40 create a waist that prevents the tail sections from escaping from the tail socket 30.

[0075] The dashed lines ‘A’ and arrow in FIG. 4B indicate the range of movement during which the parts are connected. The preferred range is 110 to 170 degrees, and the range of connected movement corresponds to the length of the tail section 13. When the parts 100 are rotated beyond this range the parts are separate and not connected.

[0076] The invention has been described by way of examples only, and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.