Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
METAL PARTS ATTRACTING HOLDER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a metal parts attracting
holder for holding e.g. needles such as sewing needles or dress
pins or other metal parts using magnetic force of magnets.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Needles such as sewing needles or dress pins are often
stored as stuck on a pin cushion filled with stuffing. In
addition to such pin cushions, holders are also proposed that
are configured to hold metal parts such as sewing needles using
magnetic force of magnets ( see Japanese Regi stered Utility Model
No. 3101736 for example). Such holders using magnets allow
a plurality of metal sewing needles or the like to be held
strongly.
In sewing, it may sometimes be necessary to use different
types of sewing needles or dress pins. In such a case, a
plurality of holders may be used to hold the needles as grouped
by the type of the needles. Arranging a plurality of holders
each holding one type of needles side by side on a table for
example allows the user to quickly pick up a necessary needle.
Disadvantageously, arranging a plurality of holders side
by side when they are not in use occupies a large space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been proposed in view of these
circumstances, and it is an object thereof to provide a metal
parts attracting holder with improved usability.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a metal parts attracting holder that is made up
of: a case including a bottom wall, a top wall and a side wall
connecting the bottom wall and the top wall to each other; a
cover removably attached to the case; and a permanent magnet
provided within the case . The top wal 1 has an attracting surfa ce
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to which a metal part is attached by the magnetic force of the
permanent magnet. The cover is formed with a recess with which
the bottom wall is engaged.
Preferably, the cover includes a ceiling portion and a
skirt portion formed integral with the ceiling portion, where
the ceiling portion is configured to cover the top wall with
a gap present between the ceiling portion and the top wall,
and the skirt portion is configured to cover a part of the side
wall. The recess is provided in the ceiling portion.
Preferably, the recess extends circularly in plan view,
so as to form a closed circle. The ceiling portion is formed
with an inner ridge and an outer ridge that flank the recess
in plan view. The bottom wall is provided with a bulge that
is brought into engagement with the recess.
Preferably, each of the recess and the bulge is formed
by a curved surface in cross-sectional view.
Preferably, the skirt portion has an inner surface formed
with an engagement projection, and the side wall has an outer
surface formed with an engagement groove with which the
engagement projection is engaged.
Other features and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the detailed description given
below with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. I is a perspective view of an example of metal parts
attracting holder in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the metal parts attaching
holder shown in Fig. 1, with a cover detached from a main body;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the main body;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 1V-IV in Fig.
3;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines V-V in Fig.
3;
Fig. 6 illustrates the metal parts attaching holder in
across section corresponding to Fig. 4, with the cover attached
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to the main body;
Fig. 7 illustrates the metal parts attaching holder in
a cross section corresponding to Fig. 5, with the cover attached
to the main body;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of
use of the metal parts attracting holder shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a plurality of
metal parts attracting holders of Fig. 1 in a stacked state;
Fig. 10 illustrates another example of use of the metal
parts attracting holder shown in Fig. 1 in a cross section
corresponding to Fig. 4;
Fig. 11 illustrates another example of use of the metal
parts attracting holder shown in Fig. 1 in a cross section
corresponding to Fig. 5; and
Fig. 12 illustrates another example of use of the metal
parts attracting holder shown in Fig. 1 in a cross section
corresponding to Fig. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of the present invention are
described below with reference to the accompany-Ing drawings.
Figs. 1-7 show an example of metal parts attracting holder
in accordance with the present invention. The metal parts
attracting holder A of this embodiment includes a main body
1 and a cover 2 attachable to the main body 1. Fig. 1 is an
overall perspective view of the metal parts attracting holder
A, with the cover 2 attached to the main body 1. Fig. 2 is
a perspective view of the metal parts attaching holder A, with
the cover 2 detached from the main body 1. Fig. 3 is a plan
view of the main body 1.
As shown in Figs. 4-7, the main body 1 includes a case
10, a magnetic member 14, and permanent magnets 15 and 16. The
case 10 includes a lower case member 11 and an upper case member
12 assembled together to define a hollow space, in which the
magnetic member 14 and the permanent magnets 15 and 16 are
arranged. The case 10 (the lower case member 11 and the upper
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case member 12) maybe made of a synthetic resin having a certain
Strength. The lower case member 11 and the upper case member
12 are integrally bonded together by e.g. ultrasonic welding
or bonding using an adhesive. The
case 10 is generally
elliptical in plan view (the diameter in the direction x shown
in Figs. 1-3 is longer than that in the direction y).
As shown in Figs. 4-7, the lower case member 11 includes
a bottom wall 111, a circumferential wall 112, and projections
113 and 114. The bottom wall 111 is generally elliptical in
plan view. The circumferential wall 112 extends upward from
the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 111. The projections
113 and 114 project upward on the inner side of the
circumferential wall 112. The projections 113 and 114 differ
from each other in height. The projections 113 are provided
for supporting the magnetic member 14 disposed thereon. The
projections 114 are provided for restricting the displacement
of the magnetic member 14 and permanent magnets 15, 16.
The bottom wall 111 of the lower case member 11 is formed
with a bulge 111a. The bulge 111a projects to be lower than
the surrounding portions and is annular (generally elliptical
in this embodiment) as viewed in the height direction of the
main body 1 (i.e., in the direction z from the bottom wall 111
toward a top wall 121). The bulge 111a is configured to be
received in a recess 201 formed at the upper surface of the
cover 2, which will be described later.
The upper case member 12 includes a top wall 121, a
circumferential wall 122, and projections 123 and 124. The
top wall 121 is generally elliptical in plan view. The
circumferential wall 122 extends downward from the peripheral
edge of the top wall 121. The projections 123 and 124 project
downward on the inner side of the circumferential wall 122.
The projections 123 and 124 are provided for restricting the
displacement of the permanent magnets 15 and 16. The
projections 124 are provided at locations corresponding to the
projections 114 of the lower case member 11.
Attracting surfaces 125 and 126 spaced apart from each
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other in the direction x are defined in the upper surface of
the top wall 121. The attracting surfaces 125 and 126 are at
locations corresponding to the permanent magnets 15 and 16,
respectively. Specifically, the attracting surfaces 125 and
126 overlap the permanent magnets 15 and 16, respectively, as
viewed in the height direction of the main body 1 (direction
z) . In this embodiment, the direction x and the direction z
are perpendicular to each other.
The upper surface of the top wall 121 is formed with a
groove 127 extending between the attracting surfaces 125 and
126 in the direction y (i.e., the direction perpendicular to
both of the direction z and the direction x) . As better shown
in Figs. 2 and 4, in this embodiment, the groove 127 is generally
arcuate in cross section and extends substantially through the
entire dimension of the top wall 121 in the dizec'. y. The
shape of the groove 127 is not limited to the arcuate cross
section, and other suitable shapes may be employed.
The circumferential wall 122 is formed, at predetermined
locations, with extensions 128 proj ecting outward from its lower
end. Further, in this embodiment, the circumferential surface
of the case 10 is formed with an engagement groove 17 at the
portion where the lower case member 11 and the upper case member
12 are bonded together. The functions of the extensions 128
and engagement groove 17 are described later.
The magnetic member 14 is provided for p. eventing the
magnetic field of the permanent magnets 15 and 16 disposed on
its upper surface from spreading downward. The magnetic member
14 may be a thin plate made a ferromagnetic material such as
ion or iron-based alloy and rectangular as viewed in plan. The
magnetic member 14 maybe made of a ferromagnetic material other
than iron.
The permanent magnets 15 and 16 are disposed on the upper
surface of the magnetic member 14 and spaced apart from each
other in the direction x. For example, the permanent magnets
15 and 16 are in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped having
a relatively small thickness and may comprise ferrite magnet.
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The permanent magnets 15 and 16 are held by the projections
113, 114, 123 and 124 at appropriate positions within the case
10.
The cover 2 is configured to fit to the upper portion of
the main body I. The cover 2 includes a ceiling portion 20
that is an upper portion of the cover 2, and a skirt portion
21. The ceiling portion 20 is generally elliptical in plan
view. The skirt portion 21 extends generally downward from
the periphery of the ceiling portion 20.
When the cover 2 is attached to the main body 1, the ceiling
portion 20 covers the top wall 121 of the main body 1 with a
predetermined gap interposed therebetween in the height
direction of the main body 1 (direction z) . The ceiling portion
includes a recess 201, an inner ridge 202 and an outer ridge
15 203. The recess 201 is formed at the upper surface of the ceiling
portion 20 and annular (generally elliptical in this embodiment)
as viewed in the height direction of the main body 1 (direction
z) . The inner ridge 202 is a raised portion positioned on the
inner side of the recess 201 as viewed in the height direction
20 of the main body 1 (direction z) . The outer ridge 203 is a
raised portion portioned on the outer side of the recess 201
as viewed in the height direction of the main body 1.
As better shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in the vertical cross
section containing the central axis Ox extending in the vertical
direction (direction z) , the recess 201 has a curved contour.
As described above, the bulge 111a at the bottom wall 111 of
the main body 1 is configured to be received in the Iecess 201.
In this regard, the bulge 111a also has a curved contour in
the vertical cross section containing the central axis Ox. The
shape of the bulge 111a in this vertical cross section generally
conforms to that of the recess 201.
When the cover 2 is attached to the main body 1, the skirt
portion 21 covers almost the entirety of the circumferential
wall 112 and a part of the circumferential wall 122 of the main
body 1 in a direction perpendicular to the height direction
(direction z) of the main body 1. (That is, the cover 2 covers
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a part of the side of the main body 1.) The skirt portion 21
has an inner circumferential surface formed with a plurality
of engagement projections 211. The engagement projections 211
are configured to engage with the engagement groove 17 of the
main body 1. The lower edge of the skirt portion 21 has cutout
portions 212 that are retreated upward. When the cover 2 is
attached to the main body 1, the extensions 128 of the main
body 1 are received in the cutout portions 212, whereby the
posture of the cover 2 in the attached state is maintained.
Further, when the cover 2 is attached, the engagement broj ections
211 of the cover 2 engage with the engagement groove 17 of the
main body 1.
The cover 2 having the above-described structure may be
made of a synthetic resin having a certain strength as a single
unit.
The use and advantages of the metal parts attracting holder
A having the above-described structure are described below with
reference to Figs. 8-12.
In use of the metal parts attracting holder A, as shown
in Fig. 8, just putting the metal parts N such as sewing needles
or dress pins on the top wall 121 of the main body 1 causes
the metal parts N to be instantaneously attracted to and held
on the attracting surfaces 125, 126 due the magnetic force of
the permanent magnets 15 and 16 contained in the main body 1.
Due to the arrangement of the two permanent magnets 15 and 16,
all the metal parts N lie across the groove 127 and generally
in parallel to a line connecting the two permanent magnets 15
and 16 to each other. Moreover, since the groove 127 is provided,
the user can easily pick up a desired metal part or metal parts
N with fingers.
A plurality of metal parts attracting holders A may be
used to hold different types of metal parts N as classified.
As described above, in this embodiment, the upper surface of
the cover 2 is formed with a recess 201 for receiving the bulge
llia of the bottom wall 111 of the main body 1. Thus, after
the cover 2 of each metal parts attracting holder A is attached
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to the main body 1, the bottom wall 111 of the main body 1 may
be fitted onto the cover 2 of another metal parts attracting
holder A such that the bulge 111a is received in the recess
201. In this way, when not in use, the plurality of metal parts
attracting holders A can be stacked for storage. Stacking the
metal parts attracting holders A prevents a large space from
being occupied by the holders, which enhances the usability.
As described above, the recess 201 of the cover 2 is annular
as viewed in the height direction (direction z) , and the ceiling
portion 20 has the inner ridge 202 raised upward on the inner
side of the recess 201 and the outer ridge 203 raised upward
on the outer side of the recess 201. As described above, the
bottom wall 111 of the main body 1 has the bulge illa projecting
downward and configured to be received in the recess 201 of
the cover 2. With this arrangement, when the annular bulge
111a is received in the recess 201, movement of the bulge 111a
is constrained by the inner ridge 202 and the outer ridge 203
positioned on the inner side and the outer side, respectively,
of the bulge 111a . This allows the metal parts attracting
holders A to be stacked in a stable manner. Moreover, this
embodiment in which the bulge 111a is elliptical effectively
prevents the rotation about the central axis Ox.
As described above, the cover 2 has the ceiling portion
20 and skirt portion 21 extending generally downwaid from the
periphery of the ceiling portion 20. This arrangement makes
it possible to use the metal parts attracting holder A, with
the main body 1 placed on the ceiling portion 20 of the cover
2, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 for example. When the main body
1 is placed on the cover 2, the attracting surfaces 125 and
126 of the main body 1 are positioned higher than in the state
shown in Figs. 4 and 5 for example, which may be sometimes
convenient for the user. For example, when the metal parts
attracting holder A is used for a sewing work using a sewing
machine, placing the main body 1 on the cover 2 makes the height
of the attracting surfaces 125 and 126 closer to the height
of the sewing table of the sewing machine than in the state
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shown in Figs. 4 and 5, which may enhance the usability. In
the state shown in Figs. 10 and 11 again, the bulge 111a (bottom
wall 111) of the main body 1 is received in the recess 201 of
the cover 2, so that the main body 1 is stably held on the cover
2.
As shown in Fig. 12, with the cover 2 attached to the main
body 1, metal parts N such as clips maybe placed on the ceiling
portion 20 of the cover 2 to be held on the ceiling portion
20 due to the magnetic force of the permanent magnets 15 and
16 in the main body 1. As described above, the recess 201 in
this embodiment has a curved contour in the vertical cross section
containing the central axis Ox extending in the vertical
direction (direction z) , and the bulge 111a has a curved contour
conforming to the recess 201 when received in the recess 201.
With this arrangement, when slid to the recess 201, the metal
part N placed on the ceiling portion 20 inclines to conform
to the curved contour of the recess 201, as indicated by the
hypothetical line in Fig. 12, which allows the user to easily
pick up the metal part N with fingers.
As described above, the inner circumferential surface of
the skirt portion 21 has engagement projections 211, whereas
the outer circumferential surface of the main body 1 has the
engagement groove 17 for engagement with the engagement
projections 211. This arrangement prevents unintentional
detachment of the cover 2 from the main body ].
Having thus described the embodiments of the present
invention, the technical scope of the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above. The specific
structure of each part of the metal parts attracting holder
according to the present invention can be varied in many ways
without departing from the spirit of the prevent invention.
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