U.S. patent application number 12/790997 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-23 for tension cord fastener structure.
Invention is credited to CHIEH-JEN LIN.
Application Number | 20100319169 12/790997 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43353014 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100319169 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; CHIEH-JEN |
December 23, 2010 |
TENSION CORD FASTENER STRUCTURE
Abstract
A fastener structure is provided for fastening an elastic object
and includes a bore-carrying fastening member and a pivot-carrying
fastening member, which form grip band receiving holes and
receiving channels and which have inner sides forming concave arc
surfaces. The bore-carrying fastening member forms a bore that
rotatably receives a pivot formed on the pivot-carrying fastening
member therein. The locking member forms two flanges, which are
respectively receivable in the receiving channels of the
bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening
member so that the bore-carrying fastening member and the
pivot-carrying fastening member are combinable together with the
locking member with the concave arc surfaces of the bore-carrying
fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member and a
concave arc surface of the locking member together define and
delimit a conic bore for receiving and fastening the elastic
object.
Inventors: |
LIN; CHIEH-JEN; (Hsinchuang
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LEONG C. LEI
PMB # 1008, 1839 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD
WALNUT CREEK
CA
94598
US
|
Family ID: |
43353014 |
Appl. No.: |
12/790997 |
Filed: |
June 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/457 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4017 20151001;
A61P 35/00 20180101; Y10T 24/44017 20150115; A63B 21/4035 20151001;
A63B 21/4019 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/457 |
International
Class: |
A44B 99/00 20100101
A44B099/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 19, 2009 |
TW |
098211009 |
Claims
1. A fastener structure adapted to fasten an elastic object and
comprising a bore-carrying fastening member and a pivot-carrying
fastening member, which form grip band receiving holes and
receiving channels and which have inner sides forming concave arc
surfaces, the bore-carrying fastening member forming a bore that
rotatably receives a pivot formed on the pivot-carrying fastening
member therein, the locking member forming two flanges, which are
respectively receivable in the receiving channels of the
bore-carrying fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening
member so that the bore-carrying fastening member and the
pivot-carrying fastening member are combinable together with the
locking member with the concave arc surfaces of the bore-carrying
fastening member and the pivot-carrying fastening member and a
concave arc surface of the locking member together define and
delimit a conic bore for receiving and fastening the elastic
object.
2. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the
bore-carrying fastening member forms a locking sliding face in the
receiving channel thereof.
3. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the locking
member forms a pawl.
4. The fastener structure according to claim 1, wherein the conic
bore has an upper end diameter greater than a lower end diameter.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a tension cod
fastener structure, which comprises a bore-carrying fastening
member, a pivot-carrying fastening member, and a locking member,
which are releasably combinable to fasten an end of a tension cord
therebetween and prevent the tension cord from sliding off the
fastener structure in the use thereof.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] Body fitting facility or exercise equipments often use an
elongate elastic object, which is for example a metal spring or a
cord made of synthetic fibers or high-molecule polymers each having
its own advantages and disadvantages. Among these elastic objects,
a high-molecule polymer cord has the advantages of light weight and
high extensibility and is easy for carrying and use. However, such
a material of light weight and high extensibility is hard to have
ends thereof properly and securely fastened. An unexpected
loosening of the elastic object during the use thereof may cause
danger. Conventionally, to fasten the ends of the elastic object, a
knot is made or a stop member is attached to an end of the elastic
body. Such a knot or the stop member has a diameter larger than a
through hole defined in a grip so as to secure the elastic object
to the grip. Due to the tension induced in the elastic object
during the use thereof, the end of the elastic object that is made
size-expanded to secure to the grip may undergo deformation and
thus shrinkage of the size to such an extent that the end of the
elastic object slides off the through hole of the grip. Further,
fastening an elastic object in such a way often makes it difficult,
if not impossible, to release the elastic object for replacement
and thus cause certain troubles in the use of the elastic object.
Thus, it is desired to have a solution to overcome such a
problem.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In view of the above discussed problems, the present
invention aims to provide a fastener structure that overcomes those
problems of the prior art.
[0004] The present invention provides a tension cord fastening
structure, which comprises a bore-carrying fastening member and a
pivot-carrying fastening member each having an outer side wall in
which a grip band receiving hole is defined for receiving a band
extending from a grip therethrough. The bore-carrying fastening
member and the pivot-carrying fastening member have opposing faces
in each of which a receiving channel is formed for individually
receiving a flange of the locking member therein. The
pivot-carrying fastening member carries thereon a pivot that is
rotatably received in a bore defined in the bore-carrying fastening
member and the flanges of the locking member are respectively
received in the receiving channels of the pivot-carrying fastening
member and the bore-carrying fastening member, whereby these
fastening members and the locking member are combined together in
such a way that concave arc surfaces formed on inner sides of these
members define and delimit a bore, which is conic in shape for
receiving and fixing an end of an elastic object therein.
[0005] With the pivot of the pivot-carrying fastening member
received in the bore of the bore-carrying fastening member, the
pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening
member are rotatable with respect to each other about the pivot for
selectively opening and closing. When the pivot-carrying fastening
member and the bore-carrying fastening member are opened, an
elastic object can be positioned between the pivot-carrying
fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening member and then
the fastening members are closed to allow a pawl formed on a lower
portion of the locking member to slide over a locking sliding face
of the bore-carrying fastening member so that the flanges of the
locking member can be slidably fit into the receiving channels of
the pivot-carrying fastening member and the bore-carrying fastening
member to secure the fastening members together thereby fastening
elastic object that is received in the bore in position inside the
fastener structure. Being different from the existing techniques
that employs a knot or a stop member to fix the elastic object, the
present invention uses the concave arc surfaces of the fastening
members and the locking member that constitute a conic bore of
which an upper end diameter is greater than a lower end diameter
thereof to fasten an elastic object, so that the elastic object,
when stretched and thus deformed, is subjected to constraint
imposed by the conic bore, causing expansion of diameter at the end
thereof to thereby make tight engagement with the concave arc
surfaces so as to effectively secure and fasten the end of the
elastic object. Further, with the arrangement of the locking
member, besides the effectively realized operation safety and
secured fastening, easy replacement and adjustment of the elastic
object are also realized.
[0006] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0007] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fastener structure
according to the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the fastener structure of the
present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is also an exploded view of the fastener structure of
the present invention taken from a different perspective.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken, showing the
fastener structure of the present invention in an assembled
form.
[0012] FIG. 5 is another perspective view, partially broken,
showing the fastener structure of the present invention in an
assembled form.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the operation of
the fastener structure of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0015] A preferred embodiment of a fastener structure according to
the present invention will be illustrated hereinafter, with
reference to the attached drawings, in order to give a description
to the structure and function thereof for the purposes of better
understanding of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the
present invention provides a fastener structure for a tension cord
and the tension cord fastener of the present invention comprises a
locking member 1, a bore-carrying fastening member 2, and a
pivot-carrying fastening member 3, which will be described
individually hereinafter.
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, each of the bore-carrying fastening
member 2 and the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 has an outer
side wall in which a grip band receiving hole 20 is defined for
receiving a band 41 extending from a grip 4 therethrough. The
bore-carrying fastening member 2 and the pivot-carrying fastening
member 3 have opposing faces in each of which a receiving channel
22 is formed for individually receiving a flange 11 of the locking
member 1 therein. The pivot-carrying fastening member 3 carries
thereon a pivot 31 that is rotatably received in a bore 21 defined
in the bore-carrying fastening member 2 and the flanges 11 of the
locking member 1 are respectively received in the receiving
channels 22 of the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the
bore-carrying fastening member 2, whereby these fastening members
2, 3 and the locking member 1 are combined together in such a way
that concave arc surfaces 10 formed on inner sides of these members
define and delimit a bore 100, which, according to the present
invention, is conic in shape for receiving and fixing an end of an
elastic object 5 therein.
[0017] Reference is continuously made to FIGS. 1-6. As shown in
FIG. 6, with the pivot 31 of the pivot-carrying fastening member 3
received in the bore 21 of the bore-carrying fastening member 2,
the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying
fastening member 2 are rotatable with respect to each other about
the pivot for selectively opening and closing. When the
pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening
member 2 are opened, the elastic object 5 can be positioned between
the pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying
fastening member 2 and then the fastening members 2, 3 are closed
to allow a pawl 12 formed on a lower portion of the locking member
1 to slide over a locking sliding face 23 of the bore-carrying
fastening member 2 so that the flanges 11 of the locking member 1
can be slidably fit into the receiving channels 22 of the
pivot-carrying fastening member 3 and the bore-carrying fastening
member 2 to secure the fastening members 2, 3 together thereby
fastening elastic object 5 that is received in the bore 100 in
position inside the fastener structure. Since the concave arc
surfaces 10 of the fastening members 2, 3 and the locking member 1
constitute a conic bore 100 of which an upper end (as shown in the
drawings) diameter is greater than a lower end diameter thereof,
the elastic object 5, when stretched and thus deformed, undergoes
expansion of diameter at the end thereof thereby making tight
engagement with the concave arc surfaces 10 to effectively secure
and fasten the end of the elastic object. To replace or adjust the
elastic object 5, the pawl 12 of the locking member 1 is forced
inward and an operation is performed through an operation bar 13 of
the locking member 1 to move the locking member 1 out of the
fastening members 2, 3 so as to release the fastening members 2, 3
and free the elastic object 5.
[0018] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0019] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *