Cord fastener

• US 5,671,508 A
• Filed: 06/06/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Original Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Inventors: Murai, Ryukichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US08/659,310
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 24/115 K, 24/115 R, 24/115 J, 24/115 G, 24/122.6, 24/129 R, 24/136 R, 24/712.1, 24/712.3, 24/132 R, 24/115 N, 160/178.2, 403/208-210, 403/216, 403/212
• US Class Current: 24/115.00K
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 11/005 with friction boxes adjustments
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 11/101 deforming the cable by moving a part of the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3916 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3991 Loop engaging

Abstract

A cord fastener used for fastening end portions of a cord is composed of two identical fastener members coupled together via an interlocking engagement between a locking portion and a resilient leg. The fastener members each include a cord-receiving portion for receiving the end portions of the cord, pointed teeth projecting from the cord-receiving portion to bite the material of the cord and a support wall disposed on at least one side of the cord-receiving portion at a position such that the support wall of each fastener member makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when the two fastener members are assembled together. The cord fastener is manufactured less costly because the two identical fastener members can be molded on a single set of mold assembly.

Claims

1. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener members adapted to be coupled together to hold a potion of a cord therebetween, said two fastener members having identical construction and each including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener members makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when said two fastener members are assembled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener member to join said two fastener members when they are forced together in a connecting direction, said at least one tooth biting into said portion of the cord in said connecting direction during joining of said two fastener members.

5. A cord fastener according to claim 1, wherein said cord-receiving portion has at least one recessed portion for receiving a part of the cord portion when the latter is distorted between two said fastener members coupled together.

2. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener members adapted to be coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween, said two fastener members having identical construction and each including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener members makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when said two fastener members are assembled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener member to join said two fastener members when they are forced together;

further including a sidewall disposed on one side of said cord-receiving portion and having said locking portion, wherein said resilient leg is disposed on the opposite side of said sidewall from said cord-receiving portion, said sidewall and said resilient leg having two confronting inside surfaces each forming said support wall.

3. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener members adapted to be coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween, said two fastener members having identical construction and each including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener members makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when said two fastener members are assembled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener member to join said two fastener members when they are forced together;

wherein said support wall is composed of a plurality of discrete support wall members disposed on opposite sides of said cord-receiving portion and arranged in a zigzag pattern.

4. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener members adapted to be coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween, said two fastener members having identical construction and each including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener members makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when said two fastener members are assembled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener member to join said two fastener members when they are forced together;

wherein the number of said tooth is plural, said plural teeth being arranged in a zigzag pattern along an imaginary centerline of said cord-receiving portion.

6. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener members adapted to be coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween, said two fastener members having identical construction and each including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener members makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener member when said two fastener members are assembled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener member to join said two fastener members when they are forced together;

wherein said cord-receiving portion has at least one recessed portion for accommodating a part of the cord portion when the latter is distorted between said two fastener members coupled together;

wherein said cord-receiving portion has a first end and a second end remote from said first end, said recessed portion being located at each of said first and second ends of said cord-receiving portion.

7. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener parts symmetrical in construction about an axis of rotation and integrally connected with each other by a hinge portion such that said two fastener parts are coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween when they are folded together about said hinge portion, each said fastener parts including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener parts makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener part when said two fastener parts are coupled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener part to join said two fastener parts when they are folded together about said hinge portion, said fastener parts joined in a joining direction, said at least one tooth biting said cord portion in said joining direction during joining of said fastener parts.

8. A cord fastener according to claim 7, wherein said two fastener parts and said hinge portion are integrally molded of synthetic resin.

12. A cord fastener according to claim 7, wherein said cord-receiving portion has at least one recessed portion for receiving part of the cord portion when the latter is distorted between two said fastener parts coupled together.

9. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener parts symmetrical in construction about an axis of rotation and integrally connected with each other by a hinge portion such that said two fastener parts are coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween when they are folded together about said hinge portion, each said fastener parts including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener parts makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener part when said two fastener parts are coupled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener part to join said two fastener parts when they are folded together about said hinge portion;

further including a sidewall disposed on one side of said cord-receiving portion and having said locking portion, wherein said resilient leg is disposed on the opposite side of said sidewall from said cord-receiving portion, said sidewall and said resilient leg having two confronting inside surfaces each forming said support wall.

10. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener parts symmetrical in construction about an axis of rotation and integrally connected with each other by a hinge portion such that said two fastener parts are coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween when they are folded together about said hinge portion, each said fastener parts including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener parts makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener part when said two fastener parts are coupled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener part to join said two fastener parts when they are folded together about said hinge portion;

wherein said support wall is composed of a plurality of discrete support wall members disposed on opposite sides of said cord-receiving portion and arranged in a zigzag pattern.

11. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener parts symmetrical in construction about an axis of rotation and integrally connected with each other by a hinge portion such that said two fastener parts are coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween when they are folded together about said hinge portion, each said fastener parts including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener parts makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener part when said two fastener parts are coupled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener part to join said two fastener parts when they are folded together about said hinge portion;

wherein the number of said at least one tooth is plural, said plural teeth being arranged in a zigzag pattern along an imaginary centerline of said cord-receiving portion.

13. A cord fastener comprising:

two fastener parts symmetrical in construction about an axis of rotation and integrally connected with each other by a hinge portion such that said two fastener parts are coupled together to hold a portion of a cord therebetween when they are folded together about said hinge portion, each said fastener parts including a cord-receiving portion for receiving the portion of the cord, at least one tooth projecting from said cord-receiving portion for biting engagement with the portion of the cord, a support wall disposed on at least one side of said cord-receiving portion at such a position that said support wall of each of said two fastener parts makes no interference with the support wall on the opposite fastener part when said two fastener parts are coupled together, a locking portion, and a resilient leg interlockingly engageable with said locking portion on the opposite fastener part to join said two fastener parts when they are folded together about said hinge portion;

wherein said cord-receiving portion has at least one recessed portion for accommodating a part of the cord portion when the latter is distorted between said two fastener parts coupled together;

wherein said cord-receiving portion has a first end and a second end remote from said first end, said recessed portion being located at each of said first and second ends of said cord-receiving portion.