JPH116545A - Ball chain joint - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A simple structure, easy to assemble, and surely connects a ball chain and an article to be mounted such as a rubber stopper. A ball chain joint attached to a ball chain 28 connected to the ball chain 28. The ball chain joint has a main body 12 obtained by bending an elastic band-shaped body in a direction in which a pair of ends thereof approach each other. Each end of the body 12 is the body 1
When the elastic member 2 is elastically deformed inward, it can overlap with each other, and is formed near one end of the main body 12 and engaged with the other end, and an engaging portion formed near the other end. An engaged portion 16 is provided which is engaged with the engaging portion 14. The body 12 has a hole 20 formed eccentrically and into which the ball chain 28 is inserted.
And a connecting member 2 formed continuously with the hole 20 and extending toward the center of the main body 12 along the longitudinal direction of the main body 12.
6 has a guide groove 18 which can be inserted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a joint for a ball chain for attaching a rubber stopper or the like for a drain port to the tip of a ball chain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball chain for connecting a plurality of balls in series via a rod-shaped connecting member thinner than the balls is known.
For example, one end is locked by a hook or the like provided in a bathtub or a sink, and the other end is provided with a rubber stopper or the like for a drain port. Conventionally, a ball chain joint for connecting a ball chain and a rubber plug has been disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 53-142658.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a main body 1 which is a metal band is provided, and the main body 1 has through holes 2 at both ends.
Are formed, and a slit 3 communicating with one of the through holes 2 and extending toward the center of the main body 1 along the longitudinal direction of the main body 1 is formed.

[0003] The ball chain joint is used by inserting a ball chain 4 into a through hole 2 in which a slit 3 is continuous and inserting a connecting member 4a of the ball chain 4 into the slit 3. The slit 3 is locked on both side edges. Then, the main body 1 is folded in two from the center, and a pair of through holes 2 are overlapped to attach the eyelets 5. Thereafter, the metal double ring 6 is inserted through the eyelet 5 and the double ring 6 is inserted into the mounting portion 8 formed on the rubber plug 7 to complete the connection between the ball chain 4 and the rubber plug 7.

[0004]

In the case of the above-mentioned prior art, the main body 1 and the double ring 6 are required between the ball chain 4 and the rubber plug 7, so that the number of parts is large and the cost is high. Further, in the main body 1, eyelets 5 are fitted into the pair of through holes 2 to prevent the main body 1 from opening, and the work of caulking the eyelets 5 and inserting the double ring 6 is necessary. Was not so good.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and reliably connects a ball chain and an article to be mounted such as a rubber stopper. An object of the present invention is to provide a joint for a ball chain.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ball chain joint which is attached to a ball chain in which a plurality of balls are connected in series via a connecting member. Has a body bent in a direction approaching each other, and each end of the body can be overlapped with each other when the body is elastically deformed inward. An engaging portion is provided near one end of the main body to be engaged with the other end, and an engaged portion is provided near the other end to be locked by the engaging portion. I have. The engaging portion may be a hook-shaped protrusion, and the engaged portion may be a through hole into which the hook-shaped protrusion is inserted. A hole through which the ball chain can be inserted is provided at an eccentric position other than the center of the main body, and a guide extending toward the center of the main body along the longitudinal direction of the main body in the hole. The grooves are provided continuously. When the ball at the end of the ball chain is inserted into the hole and the connecting member is inserted into the guide groove, the ball comes into contact with and is held on both side edges of the guide groove.

[0007] A side edge of the guide groove is provided near the hole with a stopper piece protruding inward of the guide groove and capable of being elastically deformed when the connecting member passes. . With this retaining piece, the ball chain inserted into the guide groove does not return to the hole naturally, and can be prevented from falling off.

The hole is formed near an end of the main body, and when both ends of the main body are engaged with each other, the hole is overlapped with a part of the other end of the main body to close. Is done. Thereby, the ball chain does not fall off from the main body.

In addition, a concave portion for fitting the ball of the ball chain is provided near the center of the main body, so that the ball chain can be prevented from falling off without returning to the hole.

The body can be freely bent, for example, it is bent into a substantially U-shape having a bent portion near the center of the body, and the vicinity of both ends of the main end is bent at substantially right angles in a direction approaching each other. You may be. In addition, it may be a triangular shape formed by bending the vicinity of the center of the main body at an acute angle, or an arc or a circle having the whole curved.

[0011] In the ball chain joint of the present invention, a ball chain is attached to the guide groove.
The two ends of the main body are not engaged with each other and inserted into the mounting portion of the rubber plug from opposite directions, and the both ends are engaged with each other in the mounting portion to hold the rubber plug.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of the present invention. A joint 10 for a ball chain of this embodiment has a plate-shaped main body 12 having a moderate elasticity such as a metal or a synthetic resin. I have.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 12 has a U-shaped notch formed at one end and an open end, and the inside of the notch forms an engaging portion 14 by being bent up from the main body 12 and raised. . At the other end of the main body 12, an engaged portion 16 which is a rectangular through hole is formed. An elongated guide groove 18 is formed from near the center of the main body 12 along the longitudinal direction of the main body 12, and a circular hole 20 is formed at the tip of the guide groove 18. On the side edge of the main body 12 on the side of the hole 20, there is formed an enlarged portion 22 that extends outward in a circular shape along the contour of the hole 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 12 is curved near its center and bent into a substantially U-shape, and the portion slightly closer to the center than the engaging portion 14 and the engaged portion 16 is substantially inward at a right angle. It is bent to form a pair of corners 12a.

Next, a method for using the ball chain joint 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The ball chain joint 10 includes an end of a ball chain 28 in which a plurality of balls 24 are connected in series through a rod-shaped connecting member 26 that is thinner than the balls 24, and a rubber plug 30 for a drain of a bathtub or a sink. It is something that connects. First, as shown in FIG. 3, the ball 24 located at the end of the ball chain 28 is inserted from the hole 20 and the connecting member 26 is inserted into the guide groove 18 and moved to the end of the guide groove 18. At this time, the balls 24 are locked on both side edges of the guide groove 18 and are securely attached.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the rubber plug 30 is integrally formed with a mounting portion 32 protruding upward at the upper end surface thereof, and penetrates the mounting portion 32 at the base end of the mounting portion 32. An insertion port 34 is formed. Then, both ends of the main body 12 are inserted from both ends of the insertion port 34, and at this time, the end where the engaged portion 16 is formed is positioned slightly above the end where the engaging portion 14 is formed. . And a pair of corners 1
2a are pressed inward each other, the end on which the engaged portion 16 is formed rides over the engaging portion 14, and the engaging portion 14
Inserted into 6. Thereafter, when the pressing is released, the engaged portion 16 is moved by the elastic force of the main body 12 as shown in FIG.
Is pressed against the base end side of the device and is securely locked. In addition,
The positions of the engaging portion 14 and the engaged portion 16 may be opposite to the above-described embodiment, and the engaging portion 14 may protrude downward, and the engaged portion 16 may be located outside the engaging portion 14.

According to the ball chain joint 10 of this embodiment, since it is securely attached to the rubber plug 30 by the elastic force of the main body 12, there is no need for eyelets, double rings, etc. Can do it. Further, the mounting can be performed by one action, the work efficiency is good, and the number of parts is small and the mounting work is simple, so that the cost can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the same members as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The ball chain joint 36 of this embodiment is provided with the guide groove 18 so that the ball chain 28 does not come off from the main body 12.
A pair of retaining pieces 38 are formed in the vicinity of the boundary between the hole and the hole 20 so as to protrude inside the guide groove 18. Retaining piece 38
The side edge on the side of the hole 20 is inclined in the direction of the guide groove 18 so that the connecting portion 26 of the ball chain 28 can be easily inserted, and the side edge on the side of the guide groove 18 is
The side surface is formed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting member 26 so that the connecting member 26 is locked so as not to fall off.
The method of forming the retaining piece 38 may be any of a method of simultaneously punching out the main body 12 by press working, a crushing work, and a caulking method.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described based on. Also in this embodiment, the ball chain 28 is prevented from coming off from the main body 12, and the mounting portion 42 of the rubber plug 30 is formed in a relatively high cylindrical shape, and the gap with the main body 12 is narrower than the diameter of the ball 24. The ball 24 at the end of the ball chain 28 is
2 and the ball chain 28 is
This is so that it does not deviate from zero.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ball chain joint 44 of this embodiment includes the corner portion 12a and the engaged portion 16
A hole 20 is formed between them. As shown in FIG. 9, when the engaging portion 14 and the engaged portion 16 are locked with each other, the ball chain joint 44 closes the hole 20 near the end of the main body on the locking portion 14 side. 28 is prevented from falling off the main body 12.

Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
Description will be made based on 0. In the ball chain joint 46 of this embodiment, a concave portion 47 into which the ball 24 of the ball chain 28 is fitted is formed near the center of the main body 12. Ball chain joint 4 of this embodiment
6 engages the ball chain 28 with the recess 47 after engaging the ball chain 28 with the end of the guide groove 18. As a result, the ball chain 28 is connected to the ball chain joint 4.
Prevent from falling out of 6.

Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
1 will be described. In the ball chain joint 48 of this embodiment, both side edges of the main body 12 are formed substantially parallel, and the entire main body 12 is curved in a circular shape.

Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
2 will be described. In the ball chain joint 50 of this embodiment, the center of the main body 12 is bent at an acute angle and is formed in a triangular shape. The main body 12 has no bulging portion on both side edges, and has a shape that is narrowest near the center of the main body 12 and gradually widens toward both ends. It may be formed in a width.

The joint for a ball chain of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the material and the shape of each member can be appropriately changed. In each embodiment, the enlarged portion may not be provided, and the groove 18 may be opened to the side of the main body 12 without the hole 20.

[0025]

The joint for a ball chain according to the present invention has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, has high working efficiency, and can be reduced in cost. And it is easy to attach and detach the ball chain joint to the object to be attached,
It is possible to easily change the article to be attached and adjust the length of the ball chain. Further, the ball chain is securely locked to the main body and does not fall off. Further, the ball chain joint of the present invention can be easily elastically deformed and has good operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a ball chain joint according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state before assembling the ball chain joint of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a first stage of an assembling process of the ball chain joint according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a second stage of an assembling process of the ball chain joint according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a use state of the ball chain joint of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a right side view of a ball chain joint according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a ball chain joint according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view before assembling a ball chain joint according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ball chain joint of this embodiment after assembly.

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ball chain joint of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the ball chain joint of the sixth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the ball chain joint of the seventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional ball chain joint.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a state before assembly of a conventional ball chain joint.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Joint for ball chains 12 Main body 14 Engaging part 16 Engaged part 18 Guide groove 20 Hole 22 Enlarged part 24 Ball 26 Connecting member 28 Ball chain

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of balls (24) are connected to a connecting member (2).
Ball chain (2) connected in series through
8) A ball chain joint attached to the ball chain joint having a main body (12) obtained by bending an elastic band in a direction in which a pair of ends thereof approach each other, and each end of the main body (12) is the main body. When the (12) is elastically deformed inward, they can overlap each other, and are formed near one end of the main body (12) and engaged with the other end.
4) and the engaging portion (14) formed near the other end.
An engaged portion (16) locked to the main body (12), a hole (20) formed eccentrically in the main body (12) and into which the ball chain (28) is inserted, and a continuous portion with the hole (20). The main body (1) is formed along the longitudinal direction of the main body (12).
The connecting member (26) extending toward the center of (2).
A joint for a ball chain, characterized in that a guide groove (18) through which is inserted is provided. 2. A side edge of the guide groove (18)
The joint for a ball chain according to claim 1, wherein a retaining piece (38) protruding toward the inside of the guide groove (18) is provided near the hole (20). 3. The hole (20) is provided in the body (12).
The hole (20) is formed near the end of the main body (1) when the both ends of the main body (12) are engaged with each other.
2. The ball chain joint according to claim 1, wherein a part of the other end of (2) is superposed and closed. 4. The ball chain (28) according to claim 1, wherein a recess (47) is provided near the middle of the body (12) for receiving the ball (24). Ball chain joint. 5. The main body (12) is connected to the main body (1).
2. The ball chain for a ball chain according to claim 1, wherein the second end is bent in a substantially U-shape having a bent portion near a center thereof, and near both ends of the main end are bent substantially perpendicularly in a direction approaching each other. Joint.