The present invention relates to a string for use as a carrying or fastening device in article clothing and other objects worn on the body and which string is intended for stretching around parts of the body and has at least a first string end and that a first part of a lock is secured to the first string end which part is intended for co-operating with a second part of the lock and that the two parts of the lock has a strain capacity which is smaller than the strain capacity of the string as seen in the axial direction of the string.

The present invention also relates to a lock for use in connection with the string according to the invention as well as the use of such a string.

In many cases it is required that strings of different kinds break in case the string is exposed to a certain strain thus the persons carrying the string, e.g. around the neck, do not suffer any injury.

In case of strings in children's clothing, e.g. in the hood where the string is used as a fastening device around the chin, there is a risk that such strings may be stuck to playthings. Therefore, alternative solutions inside children's clothing are known in the form of providing the article clothing with elastic strings in stead of non-yielding strings. Elastic strings, however, do not possess the same properties as non-elastic strings and among other things they possess the disadvantage that in certain cases it is difficult to tie the elastic strings together.

In other cases, e.g. when strings for spectacles or other application of strings are used as a carrying device around the neck there is a risk that the string gets stuck to a door handle or the like in case of a sudden fall. In case disabled persons use such strings there is a risk that these persons unintentionally get the string wrapped around the neck.

DE 1,230,603 describes a lock for use in connection with clothing, among other things. The lock consists of a first part and a second part which are intended for en¬ gagement with each other in order to join the two parts of e.g. an article clothing. The first part of the lock comprises a head shaped as a hammer-head, and the second part of the lock comprises a recess which is intended to engage with the head on the first part. The coupling of the first part and the second part takes place by introducing the head on the first part into the recess on the second part. At a certain strain of the two parts the coupling may be broken. The two parts are secured to e.g. an article clothing by performing a welding of the article clothing in the plastic material from which the lock has been made.

The lock which has been described in the above-mentioned citation possesses different drawbacks. The coupling of the first part and the second part of the lock takes place with a lock which is not symmetrical of rotation. Thus there is a risk that a certain strain upon which the lock is suppose to break is not unambiguous. Furthermore, is it a disadvantage that the first part and the second part of the lock are secured to e.g. an article clothing by welding the article clothing in the parts ofthe lock. Finally, there is a risk of a permanent deformation of the parts of the lock in case of breakage in the coupling ofthe lock as a consequence ofthe overloading ofthe lock.

It is thus the object ofthe present invention to show a string which possesses the same properties and advantages as previously used strings, but which does not cause any injury to persons in case the string is exposed to a substantial strain. It is further the object to provide a lock for such a string.

This object is achieved by means of a preferred embodiment of a string which is char¬ acterised in that the first string end is provided with an end-splice with a minimum sectional width, that at least the first part of the lock is provided with a track for the engagement ofthe first string end which track is U-shaped and extends substantially in a parallel manner with a longitudinal direction ofthe first part of the lock and is pro¬ vided with barbs with a mutual distance which is smaller than the minimum sectional width of the end-splice which barbs are directed inwards from the forked branches of

of the U and downwards to the bottom ofthe U and that at least the first string end is led down between the forked branches of the U with the end-splice which is located between the bottom ofthe U and the barbs.

Another embodiment ofa string according to the invention comprises a first string end and a second string end which has a minimum sectional width in which the first and second part of the lock is provided with tracks for the engagement of the first respec¬ tively second string end which tracks are U-shaped and extend substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the first and respective part of the lock and is pro- vided with barbs with a mutual distance which is smaller than the minimum sectional width ofthe first respectively second string end.

The other embodiment of the string according to the invention is characterised in that the barbs are directed inwards from the forked branches of the U and forwards to the foremost end of the respective part of the lock, and that the first and second string ends are led down between the forked branches of the U with the foremost end of the respective string end which is located between the barbs and the foremost end of the part ofthe lock.

Strings with these characteristics possess the exact same properties as previously known strings as long as the strings are not exposed to a strain beyond a certain force. If this takes place the lock of the string will break and the string will in this manner not cause any injury to the person carrying the string.

In a preferred embodiment the lock is of the type which does not show a destructive deformation in case of breakage. When the lock breaks it will be possible with such a lock to subsequently join the lock again, thus making use ofthe string once again.

In a preferred embodiment the lock is of the cylindrical spring lock type. This lock consists of a he part and a she part. The she part consists of a cylinder part which is provided with a recess facing inwards from an inner cylinder surface. The he part consists of a tubular part with a groove facing inwards from an outer side of the tubu-

lar part. The tubular part which constitutes the he part is intended to be introduced into the cylinder part, thus the groove engages with the recess.

The fastening ofthe string proper to the lock may be performed in different ways. In a first embodiment the string shows two halves with a first string end and a second string end which both are provided with end-splices. The first part and the second part ofthe lock are provided with tracks for the engagement ofthe first respectively second string end which tracks are U-shaped and extend substantially parallel with the longi¬ tudinal direction of the first respectively second part of the lock. The tracks are pro- vided with barbs with a mutual distance which is smaller than the sectional width of the end-splices which barbs are directed inwards from the forked branches of the U and downwards to the bottom ofthe U. The first and the second string end are secured to each part of the lock in such a manner that the two string ends are led down be¬ tween the forked branches ofthe U with the end-splices located between the bottom of the U and the barbs.

The lock may, however, have many other presentations which meet the requirements of breakage at a certain substantial strain. The lock will preferably be made of a plastic material, e.g. POM.

The string proper used may have random cross-sections and dimensions. The string may also be made of many different materials.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment ofa string according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a first embodiment of a lock according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a lock according to the invention,

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment ofa lock according to the invention, and

Fig. 5 A and Fig. 5B show an alternative embodiment of another section ofthe lock.

According to the invention Fig. 1 illustrates a string 1 arranged in the hood 2 in an article clothing e.g. a child's jacket carried by a person. The string 1 stretches around a casing 3 in the hood 2 and may either hang loosely as illustrated which is well-known, or be tied around the chin ofthe person.

The string 1 is along its entire course provided with snaps 4,4' which are provided around the string wherein this is broken in order to create a passage from the first part 5 of the string to an adjacent second part 6 of the string and further down to an adja¬ cent third part 7 ofthe string. In the outermost ends 8,9 ofthe string 1 the string in the illustrated embodiment has not been provided with snaps 4, however, snaps 4 may be provided thus several string parts may be fastened to the already snap-fastened parts of the string in order to create a longer string.

The string 1 breaks if it is exposed to a certain strain. The lock 4 also breaks if it is exposed to a certain strain. The strain which the lock 4 may absorb is, however, smaller than the strain which the string 1 may absorb.

Fig. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a lock 4 according to the invention for use in connection with a string 1 according to the invention. The lock 4 comprises a first part 10 and a second part 11 which are identical. Each part 10,11 consists of a first section

12 which comprises means for securing the string end 13 to the respective part of the lock 4 and the second section 14 which comprises the lock device proper.

The second section 14 with the lock device proper comprises a U-shaped track which in the illustrated drawing is shown as seen down through the forked branches 15 ofthe

U and across a longitudinal direction L of the respective part of the lock 4. The U- shaped track extends parallel with the longitudinal direction L ofthe respective part of the lock. The U-shaped track is provided with barbs 16 extending inwards from the forked branches 15 ofthe U and forwards to the first section 12 of the respective part ofthe lock 4.

A distance b between opposite barbs 16 is smaller than a sectional width B of the string 1. The string end 13 is led down in the U-shaped track thus a foremost end 17 of the string end is located between the barbs 16 and the first section 12 of the respective part of the lock. The string 1 is thus secured to the respective part of the lock 4 and may not be released, even if the string 1 is exposed to a pull in the longitudinal direc¬ tion L.

The first section 12 comprises a fork with a first prong 18 and a second prong 19 with mutual distance A. The prongs of the fork 18,19 extend forwards parallel with the longitudinal direction L. An outer end 20 of the prongs of the fork 18,19 is provided with a stop 21 which extends towards the centre of the fork. Between the stops 21 there is a mutual distance a which is smaller than the distance A between the prongs of

The opposite identical second part 11 ofthe lock is turned 90° around the longitudinal direction L in relation to the first part 10 of the lock. The opposite second part 11 of the lock 4 is illustrated in sections thus the inner surface 22 of one ofthe prongs ofthe fork is visible.

By a mutual displacement ofthe two parts 10,11 ofthe lock 4 against each other along with the longitudinal direction L the stops 21 with which each prong 18,19 is provided will engage with the prongs of the fork 18,19 on the opposite lying part of the lock 4 by means of an elastic displacement away from each of the two prongs of the fork 18,19 in each part 10,11. A locking is thus established in this manner between the first part 10 and the second part 11 of the lock 4 and the two parts will be prevented from disengaging with each other if a smaller strain is exerted upon the string 1 in the longitudinal direction in relation to the force required in order to displace the prongs ofthe fork 18,19 elastically away from each other. Ifthe string 1, however, is exposed to a relatively larger force the lock 4 will break.

Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a lock 4 according to the invention for use in connection with the string 1 according to the invention. The lock 4, which is illus-

trated in Fig. 3 also comprises a first section 12 and a second section 14. The second section 14 is identical with the second section illustrated in Fig. 2 and will thus not be further described.

The first section 12, however, comprises, another type of locking device. A first part

10 ofthe lock 4 has a first section 12 which consists of a part 23 of a ball, which has a diameter D extending forwards. A second part 11 of the lock 4 has a first section 12 which comprises of a recess 24 with a mouth 25 which has an inner diameter d which is smaller than the diameter D for the ball part.

By a mutual displacement of the two parts 10,11 against each other along the longitu¬ dinal direction L the ball part 23 with which the first part 10 is provided will engage with the recess 24 which the other part 11 is provided with. By the ball part's 23 pas¬ sage of the mouth 25 this will expand elastically thus the ball part 23 with the larger diameter D may pass the mouth 25 with the smaller diameter d. When the ball part 23 has passed the mouth 25 a locking will be established between the two parts 10,11 of the lock, and the two parts 10,11 will be prevented from disengaging with each other in case the string 1 is only exposed to a smaller force in the longitudinal direction in relation to the force needed to expand the mouth 25 elastically. In case the string 1, however, is exposed to a relatively larger force the lock 4 will break.

Fig. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a lock 4 according to the invention for use in connection with a string 1 according to the invention. The lock 4 illustrated in Fig. 4 comprises furthermore a first section 12 and a second section 14. The second section 14 is identical with the second section illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 and will therefore not be described further.

The first section 12 comprises, however, another type of locking device. A first part 10 of the lock 4 has a first section 12 which comprises of a part 26 of a cylinder hav- ing a diameter C. The cylinder part 26 is on an outer cylinder surface 27 provided with a recess 28. The recess 28 extends along the entire circumference of the cylinder part 26 and has a bottom diameter c which is smaller than the diameter C. A second part

11 ofthe lock 4 has a first section 12 which consists of a tubular part 29 with a mouth 30 having a diameter C which is identical with the diameter C of the cylinder part 26 on the first part 10 ofthe lock 4. The tubular part 29 is on an inner tubular surface 31 provided with a groove 32. The groove 32 extends along the entire inner tubular sur- face 31 and has a top diameter c, which is identical with the bottom diameter c of the recess 28.

By a mutual displacement of the two parts 10, 11 against each other along the longitu¬ dinal direction L the cylinder part 26 with which the first part 10 has been provided will engage with the tubular part 29 with which the second part 11 is provided. By the cylinder part's 26 first passage ofthe groove 32 the tubular part 29 will expand elasti¬ cally thus the cylinder part 26 with the larger diameter C may pass the groove 32 with the smaller top diameter c. By the cylinder part's 26 further passage of the groove 32 the recess 28 will at a time be located outside the groove 32. The groove 32 will then engage with the recess 28 and the elastic expansion ofthe tubular part 29 stops. Thus a locking is established between the two parts 10,11 of the lock 4 and the two parts 10,11 will be prevented from disengaging with each other if the string 1 is only ex¬ posed to a smaller force in the longitudinal direction L in relation to the force neces¬ sary in order to expand the tubular part 29 elastically. If, however, the string 1 is ex- posed to a relatively larger force, the lock 4 will break.

Fig. 5 A and Fig. 5B illustrate an alternative embodiment of the second section 14 of the two parts 10,11 of the lock 4. In this embodiment the second section 14 further¬ more comprises a U-shaped track which in Fig. 5 A is shown as seen down through the forked branches 33 ofthe U across the longitudinal direction L and which in Fig. 5B is shown in a parallel manner with the longitudinal direction L. The U-shaped track also extends in a parallel manner with the longitudinal direction L of the respective part of the lock 4. The U-shaped track is, however, provided with a first set of flaps 34 ex¬ tending inwards from the forked branches 33 of the U and downwards to the bottom 35 of the U-shaped track and a second set of flaps 36 extending inwards and towards the first section (not shown) ofthe respective part ofthe lock 4.

The string end 13 is provided with an end-splice 37 in the form of a ring which is se¬ cured around the string end 13. A distance e between the opposite flaps in the first set of flaps 34 respectively the second set 36 ofthe flaps, respectively, is smaller than the sectional width E ofthe end-splice 37. The end 13 ofthe string 1 is led down in the U- shaped track thus the end-splice 37 is located between the first set 34 of flaps and the bottom 35 of the U-shaped track and between the second set 36 of flaps and the first section (not shown) ofthe respective part ofthe lock 4. The string 1 is thus secured to the respective part of the lock 4 and cannot be released in case the string 1 is exposed to a pull in the longitudinal direction L.

The end-splice may consist of different types. A first type of end-splice may consist of a metal ring with a slot. The string end is led down through the slot, after which the ring squeezes around the string end. Another and preferred type of end-splice may consist of a plastic strip which is melted around the string end by means of heated jaws which are squeezed around the string end and the plastic strip, thus the plastic strip is melted into and around the string end.

An alternative way of securing the string end to the respective part of the lock is to mould the part of the lock directly on the string end by leading the string end into a moulding device in order to mould the part ofthe lock.

The present invention relating to a string and to a lock for use in connection with such a string is in the drawings illustrated in specific embodiments. It will, however, be possible to show other embodiments, e.g. other types of locking devices of the first section of the lock and other types of devices for securing a string end to the respec¬ tive part ofthe lock.