Connecting device and assembly apparatus using the same
The present connecting device comprises a screw bolt with a hollow portion and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion. The present assembly apparatus comprises at least one body including a plurality of screw openings and at least one connecting device including at least one screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening. In addition, the body and the connecting device can optionally comprise a conductive portion, a light-emitting layer positioned on the conductive portion, and a passivation layer position on the light-emitting layer so as to form a light-emitting structure. Preferably, the conductive portion is made of silver, the light-emitting layer is made of an electroluminescent material such zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
(A) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connecting device and an assembly apparatus using the same, and more particularly, to a connecting device capable of preventing disengagement due to abrasion and an assembly apparatus using the same.
(B) Description of the Related Art
The assembly component 10 is connected by the interference between the annular protrusion 14 and the annular cove 24, and therefore the relative size of the annular protrusion 14 and the annular cove 24 must be precisely controlled. Otherwise, the annular protrusion 14 cannot be squeezed into the opening 22, i.e., the annular protrusion 14 is too large, or the annular protrusion 14 cannot form a firm interference with the annular cove 24, i.e., the annular protrusion 14 is too small. In addition, after assembly and disassembly of the bolt 12 and the spherical body 20 has occurred a number of times, the annular protrusion 14 is likely to decrease in size due to abrasion, while the annular cove 24 is likely to broaden due to abrasion. As a result, the connection between the bolt 12 and the spherical body 20 tends to become loose.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention discloses a connecting device capable of preventing disengagement due to abrasion and an assembly apparatus using the same. The connecting device comprises a screw bolt with a hollow portion and a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion. The present assembly apparatus comprises at least one body including a plurality of screw openings and at least one connecting device including a screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening.
Preferably, the body and the connecting device are made of plastic or metal. In addition, the body and the connecting device can optionally comprise a conductive portion, a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion, and a passivation layer position on the surface of the light-emitting layer so as to form a light-emitting structure. Preferably, the conductive portion is made of silver, the light-emitting layer is made of an electroluminescent material such as zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
Compared to the prior art, the body and the connecting device of the present assembly apparatus is connected by the engagement between the screw bolt and the screw opening to prevent the disengagement due to the abrasion of assembling and disassembling. In addition, the present assembly apparatus can optionally include the conductive portion, the light-emitting layer and the passivation layer to possess light-emitting ability.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description and upon reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a connecting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) illustrate a connecting device 30 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The connecting device 30 comprises two screw bolts 32 including a hollow portion 34 and a supporting member 36 movably positioned in the hollow portion 34, wherein the supporting member 36 includes a protrusion 38 at one end and the size of the protrusion 38 is larger than the size of the hollow portion 34. The method for preparing the connecting device 30 includes first placing the supporting member 36 in the hollow portion 34 of the screw bolt 32, then performing a thermal treating process to soften the end of the supporting member 36, and applying a certain force to the end inwardly to form the protrusion 38. The protrusion 38 can prevent the screw bolt 32 from disengaging out of the supporting member 36, while the screw bolt 32 is allowed to move between the two protrusions 38, as shown in
The spherical body 80 comprises a conductive portion 82, a light-emitting layer 84 positioned on the surface of the conductive portion 82, a passivation layer 86 positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer 84, and a plurality of screw openings 58. If a different shape is desired, the spherical body 80 can be made in cylindrical, cubic, or polyhedral shapes. Preferably, the conductive portion 82 is made of silver, the light-emitting layer 84 is made of an electroluminescent material such as zinc sulfide, and the passivation layer 86 is made of polycarbonate. The assembly apparatus 90 is built by engaging the screw bolt 32 with the screw opening 52 to connect the connecting device 60 and the spherical body 80. The assembly apparatus 90 can emit electroluminescence by applying current to the conductive portion 70 of the connecting device 60.
Compared to the prior art, the body and the connecting device of the present assembly apparatus is connected by the engagement between the screw bolt and the screw opening to prevent the disengagement due to the abrasion of assembling and disassembling. In addition, the present assembly apparatus can optionally include the conductive portion, the light-emitting layer and the passivation layer to possess light-emitting ability.
The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A connecting device, comprising:
- at least one screw bolt including a hollow portion; and
- a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion.
2. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is made of plastic or metal.
3. The connecting device of claim 1, wherein the supporting member comprises:
- a conductive portion;
- a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and
- a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
4. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
5. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
6. The connecting device of claim 5, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
7. The connecting device of claim 3, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
8. An assembly apparatus, comprising:
- at least one body including a plurality of screw openings; and
- at least one connecting device including:
- at least one screw bolt capable of engaging with the screw opening; and
- a supporting member including a plurality of branches movably positioned in the hollow portion, wherein the branch includes a protrusion at one end and the size of the protrusion is larger than the size of the hollow portion.
9. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the body comprises:
- a conductive portion;
- a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and
- a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
10. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
11. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
12. The assembly apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
13. The assembly apparatus of claim 9, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
14. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the supporting member comprises:
- a conductive portion;
- a light-emitting layer positioned on the surface of the conductive portion; and
- a passivation layer positioned on the surface of the light-emitting layer.
15. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the conductive portion is made of silver.
16. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the light-emitting layer is made of electroluminescent material.
17. The assembly apparatus of claim 16, wherein the electroluminescent material is zinc sulfide.
18. The assembly apparatus of claim 14, wherein the passivation layer is made of polycarbonate.
19. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, wherein the body and the connecting device are made of plastic or metal.
20. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a molecular model.
21. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a toy.
22. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as a decoration.
23. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an illumination apparatus.
24. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an indication symbol.
25. The assembly apparatus of claim 8, being used as an advertisement symbol.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 3, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Inventor: Shang Chang (Hsinchu City)
Application Number: 11/322,423
International Classification: E04B 1/19 (20060101);