US20040149305A1

US20040149305A1 - Fastener for hair binder

Info

Publication number: US20040149305A1
Application number: US10/356,567
Authority: US
Inventors: Kai-Mou Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-03
Filing date: 2003-02-03
Publication date: 2004-08-05

Abstract

A fastener formed of a male fastening element and a female fastening element for joining the ends of a cord member is disclosed. The male fastening element has an elongated front neck terminating in a spherical head. The female fastening element has a rounded recessed hole adapted to receive the spherical head of the male fastening element, a front insertion hole axially forwardly extended from the rounded recessed hole to the front side and adapted to receive the elongated neck of the male fastening element, and two protrusions suspended in the front insertion hole at two sides and adapted to hold down the elongated neck of the male fastening element in the front insertion hole of the female fastening element.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hair binders and, more specifically, to a fastener for hair binder.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,319, issued to the present inventor, discloses a hair binder, which comprises a cord member and a fastener formed of a male fastening element and a female fastening element respectively fastened to two opposite ends of the cord member for joining the ends of the cord member. The male fastening element has a rounded head with a neck at its front side and a coupling groove or coupling flange around the rounded head and the neck. The female fastening element has a bottom open chamber and a coupling hole for receiving the rounded head and neck of the male fastening element, and a coupling flange or coupling groove for engagement with the coupling groove or coupling flange of the male fastening element to secure the rounded head of the male fastening element to the inside of the female fastening element. The fastener is functional, however its structure is complicated, resulting in a fabrication difficulty.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a fastener for hair binder, which has a simple structure. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener for hair binders which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. According to one aspect of the present inventions the fastener is comprised of a male fastening element and a female fastening element for joining the ends of a cord member. The male fastening element has an elongated front neck terminating in a spherical head. The female fastening element has a rounded recessed hole adapted to receive the spherical head of the male fastening element, a front insertion hole axially forwardly extended from the rounded recessed hole to the front side and adapted to receive the elongated neck of the male fastening element, and two protrusions suspended in the front insertion hole at two sides and adapted to hold down the elongated neck of the male fastening element in the front insertion hole of the female fastening element. According to another aspect of the present invention, the male fastening element and the female fastening element are respectively injection-molded from plastics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational assembly view of a fastener for hair binder according to the present invention. [0006]
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the present invention, showing the male fastening element and female fastening element respectively installed in the ends of a cord member. [0007]
FIG. 3 is a sectional assembly view of FIG. 2. [0008]
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the present invention. [0009]
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hair binder constructed according to the present invention.[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. from [0011] 1 through 5, a fastener 1 is show comprised of a female fastening element 11 and a male fastening element 12. The female fastening element 11 and the male fastening element 12 are respectively injection-molded from plastics, and respectively fastened to the ends of a cord member 2 for joining the ends of the cord member 2.
The [0012] male fastening element 12 has an elongated neck 121 forwardly extended from the front side and terminating in a spherical head 122, and a mounting hole 123 in the rear side for fastening to one end of the cord member 2. The female fastening element 1 has a rear mounting hole 113 in the rear side for fastening to one end of the cord member 2, a rounded recessed hole 111 disposed in the top near the front side and adapted to receive the spherical head 122 of the male fastening element 12, a front insertion hole 112 axially forwardly extended from the rounded recessed hole 111 to the front side and adapted to receive the elongated neck 121 of the male fastening element 12, and two protrusions 1121 suspended in the front insertion hole 112 at two sides and adapted to hold down the elongated neck 121 of the male fastening element 12 in the front insertion hole 112 of the female fastening element 11. The width between the protrusions 1121 is smaller than the diameter of the elongated neck 121. The elongated neck 121 is kept in horizontal and then lowered to force the protrusions 1121 outwards in reversed directions, and then moved over the protrusions 1121 and set in the front insertion hole 112, and at the same time the spherical head 122 is rested in the rounded recessed hole 111. The diameter of the rounded recessed hole 111 is greater than the diameter of the front insertion hole 112. Therefore, the male fastening element 12 cannot be pulled backwards from the female fastening element 11 after positioning of the spherical head 122 in the rounded recessed hole 111.
It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed. [0013]

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. A fastener comprising a male fastening element and a female fastening element respectively fastened to two opposite ends of a cord member for joining the ends of the cord member, wherein said male fastening element has an elongated neck forwardly extended from a front side thereof and terminating in a spherical head for fastening to said female fastening element; said female fastening element has a top side, a front side, a rounded recessed hole disposed in said top side near said front side and adapted to receive the spherical head of said male fastening element, a front insertion hole axially forwardly extended from said rounded recessed hole to said front side and adapted to receive the elongated neck of said male fastening element, and two protrusions suspended in said front insertion hole at two sides and adapted to hold down said elongated neck of said male fastening element in the front insertion hole of said female fastening element.

2. The fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male fastening element and said female fastening element each have a rear side and a mounting hole in the respective rear side for accommodating the cord member.