Branch Cap, Artificial Branch, and Manufacturing Method for Artificial Branch

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of decorative supplies, and in particular, to a branch cap, an artificial branch, and a manufacturing method for the artificial branch.

Artificial trees are mostly used for decoration and ornamental purposes. In conventional artificial trees, tip ends of branches thereof are generally exposed directly. On the one hand, since the tip ends of the branches are generally hard and sharp, they may sting users during use, bringing the users bad usage experience. On the other hand, the tip ends of the branches directly exposed may further affect an overall effect of the branches, making the branches less beautiful and natural.

To solve the above problems, the present disclosure provides a branch cap, an artificial branch having the branch cap, and a manufacturing method for the artificial branch, which, by arranging a tightly fastened branch cap at a tip end of the artificial branch, can prevent stinging of the user by the tip end of the artificial branch and improve usage experience, and can also make the artificial branch more beautiful and natural.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a branch cap is provided. The branch cap includes a cap body. The cap body is provided with a receiving hole for receiving a tip end of a branch body, the receiving hole having a base wall and a side wall.

The side wall of the receiving hole is formed with at least one convex rib, the at least one convex rib being adapted to press against the branch body.

In an embodiment, the branch body is provided with at least one mounting recess, and the at least one convex rib is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting recess.

In an embodiment, the side wall of the receiving hole is formed with at least one connecting recess. The tip end of the branch body is provided with at least one mounting protrusion, and the at least one connecting recess is adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting protrusion.

In an embodiment, the receiving hole includes a first hole portion and a second hole portion, an end of the first hole portion forms an opening end of the receiving hole, and another end of the first hole portion is in communication with the second hole portion.

A maximum inner diameter of the first hole portion is greater than a maximum inner diameter of the second hole portion.

In an embodiment, an inner diameter of the receiving hole at an opening end is greater than an outer diameter of the tip end of the branch body.

In an embodiment, each convex rib has an annular structure continuously distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole.

Alternatively, each convex rib includes a plurality of protruding portions, the plurality of protruding portions being distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving hole.

In an embodiment, each convex rib extends along a depth direction of the receiving hole.

In an embodiment, the branch cap is made of elastically deformable plastic or rubber.

In an embodiment, the cap body has a first end and a second end, an opening end of the receiving hole is formed at the first end, and a radial dimension of an outer contour of the cap body decreases from the first end to the second end.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an artificial branch is provided. The artificial branch includes a branch body and the branch cap in any one of the above embodiments. The branch cap is sleeved on a tip end of the branch body.

In an embodiment, the branch body includes a branch rod and a plurality of leaves. An end of each of the leaves is wound and fixed on the branch rod.

The tip end of the branch rod and at least part of the plurality of leaves are received in the receiving hole of the branch cap and pressed by the at least one convex rib.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a manufacturing method for an artificial branch is provided. The manufacturing method includes: forming a branch cap by injection molding, with the branch cap being provided with a receiving hole, and a side wall of the receiving hole being formed with at least one convex rib; aligning a tip end of a branch body with an opening end of the branch cap; and performing press-fitting so that the branch cap is tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body, with the at least one convex rib pressing against the tip end of the branch body.

In an embodiment, the aligning the tip end of the branch body with the opening end of the branch cap includes: fixing the branch body to an assembly station of an assembly device; vibrating the branch cap through a vibrating screen so that the opening end of the branch cap faces towards a preset direction when the branch cap enters a feed channel of the assembly device; transferring the branch cap to a positioning fixture of the assembly device through the feed channel; and adjusting a position of the positioning fixture so that the opening end of the branch cap is aligned with the tip end of the branch body.

In an embodiment, the performing press-fitting includes: pushing the branch cap on the positioning fixture through a push rod, to push the branch cap onto the tip end of the branch body. The push rod is driven pneumatically or hydraulically.

According to the branch cap and the artificial branch having the branch cap provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the branch body is pressed by the at least one convex rib in the branch cap, so that the branch cap can be tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body to prevent detachment of the branch cap from the branch body during use of the artificial branch. This prevents stringing of the user by the artificial branch during the use, improves usage experience of the user, and also makes the artificial branch more beautiful and natural.

According to the manufacturing method for an artificial branch provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the branch cap provided with at least one convex rib can be tightly fastened to the branch body, which prevents detachment of the branch cap from the branch body during use, improves usage experience of the artificial branch, and also makes the artificial branch more beautiful and natural. At the same time, with the manufacturing method, the branch cap can be quickly mounted on the branch body, thereby improving a degree of automation and speeding up assembly between the branch cap and the branch body.

: artificial branch;: branch body;: branch rod;: leaf;: mounting recess;: mounting protrusion;: branch cap;: cap body;: first end;: second end;: receiving hole;: first hole portion;: second hole portion;: convex rib;: protruding portion;: connecting recess; S: interface; X: central axis.

In order to make the above objectives, features, and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, specific implementations of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to specific embodiments disclosed below.

In the description of the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the orientation or position relationships indicated by the terms “central”, “longitudinal”, “transverse”, “length”, “width”, “thickness”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “inner”, “outer”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, “axial”, “radial”, “circumferential”, and the like are based on the orientation or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended to facilitate the description of the present disclosure and simplify the description only, rather than indicating or implying that the apparatus or element referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore are not to be interpreted as limiting the present disclosure.

In addition, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only, which cannot be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance, or implicitly specifying the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with “first” and “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one feature. In the description of the present disclosure, “a plurality of” means at least two, such as two or three, unless otherwise defined explicitly and specifically.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified and defined explicitly, the terms “mount”, “connect”, “join”, and “fix” should be understood in a broad sense., which may be, for example, a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; or a direct connection, an indirect connection via an intermediate medium, an internal connection between two elements, or interaction between two elements. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand specific meanings of these terms in the present disclosure according to specific situations.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise explicitly specified and defined, the expression a first feature being “on” or “under” a second feature may be the case that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature via an intermediate medium. Furthermore, the expression the first feature being “over”, “above” and “on top of” the second feature may be the case that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only means that the level of the first feature is higher than that of the second feature. The expression the first feature being “below”, “underneath” or “under” the second feature may be the case that the first feature is directly underneath or obliquely underneath the second feature, or only means that the level of the first feature is lower than that of the second feature.

It is to be noted that when one element is referred to as being “fixed to” or “arranged on” another element, it may be directly disposed on the other element or an intermediate element may exist. When one element is considered to be “connected to” another element, it may be directly connected to the another element or an intermediate element may co-exist. The terms “vertical”, “horizontal”, “left”, “right” and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent an only implementation.

The present disclosure provides a branch capand an artificial branchhaving the branch cap.

is a perspective view of an artificial branchaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inand, the artificial branchincludes a branch bodyand a branch cap. The branch capis sleeved on a tip end of the branch body. Specifically, the tip end of the branch bodyis in interference fit with the branch cap, to prevent falling of the branch bodyfrom the branch cap. The branch capwill be described in conjunction with the description of the artificial branch.

As shown in, in an embodiment, the branch bodyincludes a branch rodand a plurality of leaves, and each of the leaveshas an end wound and fixed on the branch rodand another end extending obliquely with respect to the branch rodtoward a tip end of the branch rod. The branch bodyis, for example, an artificial pine needle branch, but is not limited thereto. The plurality of leavesare generally evenly distributed around the branch rodand extend in a length direction of the branch rodto the tip end of the branch rod. Optionally, referring to, the branch rodis formed by a plurality of metal wires intertwined with each other, and forms a wavy structure on an outer side face of the branch rod. The metal wires are, for example, iron wires. Certainly, in some alternative embodiments, the branch rodmay be formed by a single elongated rod. The elongated rod is made of, for example, metal, plastic, or the like. The outer side face of the branch rodmay be a smooth surface or a non-smooth surface, for example, forming a wavy or zigzag structure, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

As shown into, in some embodiments, the branch capincludes a cap body. The cap bodyis provided with a receiving holefor receiving the branch body, and the receiving holehas a base wall and a side wall. The side wall of the receiving holeis formed with at least one convex rib, and the at least one convex ribis adapted to press against the branch body. Specifically, when the branch capis assembled with the branch body, the tip end of the branch rodand at least part of the plurality of leavesare received in the receiving holeof the branch capand are pressed by the at least one convex rib. In this way, the branch capcan be tightly fastened to the branch body, and at the same time, a possibility of falling of the leavesfrom the branch rodcan be reduced. Certainly, in some alternative embodiments, the tip end of the branch rodmay be received in the receiving holeof the branch cap.

Referring to, the tip end of the branch bodyis provided with at least one mounting recess, and the at least one convex ribis adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting recess. A plurality of convex ribsare provided, and the plurality of convex ribsare distributed at intervals along a depth direction of the receiving hole. Correspondingly, a plurality of mounting recessesare provided, and the plurality of mounting recessesfits the plurality of convex ribsso that the branch capcan be tightly fastened to the branch body. The side wall of the receiving holemay also be formed with at least one connecting recess, the branch bodyis correspondingly provided with at least one mounting protrusion, and the at least one connecting recessis adapted to be in interference fit with the at least one mounting protrusion. Specifically, a plurality of connecting recessesand a plurality of mounting protrusionsare provided. The plurality of convex ribsand the plurality of connecting recessesare distributed at intervals along the depth direction of the receiving holeon the side wall of the receiving hole. The side wall of the receiving holeis formed in a wavy structure or a zigzag structure in the depth direction (i.e., a longitudinal direction) of the receiving hole. The wavy structure or zigzag structure matches the wavy structure or zigzag structure formed by the tip end of the branch body. In this way, the plurality of convex ribscan block the plurality of mounting protrusionson the tip end of the branch body, thereby increasing an external force required to separate the branch capfrom the branch body, thereby enabling the branch capto be tightly fastened to the branch bodyand preventing separation of the branch capfrom the branch bodyduring use.

The branch capis made of elastically deformable plastic or rubber. In this way, during the mounting of the branch capto the branch body, the cap bodyand/or the convex ribof the branch capis/are elastically deformed, so that the branch capcan be easily mounted on the branch body. In this embodiment, the branch capis integrally formed (e.g., injection molded).

Referring toand, the cap bodyhas a first endand a second end, and an opening end of the receiving holeis formed at the first end. An inner diameter do of the receiving holeat the opening end is greater than an outer diameter D of the tip end of the branch body(i.e., d>D), so that the tip end of the branch bodycan be inserted into the receiving holeof the branch cap. In some embodiments, referring toand, the receiving holeincludes a first hole portionand a second hole portion, an end of the first hole portionforms an opening end of the receiving hole, and another end of the first hole portionis in communication with the second hole portion. The first hole portionis substantially in a shape of a trumpet, and the inner diameter do of the receiving holeat the opening end is formed as a maximum inner diameter dof the first hole portion(i.e., d=d). Optionally, the maximum inner diameter dof the first hole portionmay alternatively be formed at another position adjacent to the opening end of the receiving hole(i.e., d>d), which is not limited in the present disclosure. The maximum inner diameter dof the first hole portionis greater than a maximum inner diameter dof the second hole portion(i.e., d>d). In this way, the tip end of the branch bodycan be easily extended into the receiving hole, and after the tip end of the branch bodyis inserted into the receiving hole, interference fit can be formed between the tip end of the branch bodyand the second hole portion.

Referring to, in an embodiment, a plane where a crest of the convex ribclosest to the opening end of the receiving holeis located is taken as an interface S, the first hole portionis located on a side of the interface S close to the first end, and the second hole portionis located on a side of the interface S close to the second end. The interface S is substantially perpendicular to a central axis X of the cap body. It may be understood that the interface S is an imaginary plane introduced for the convenience of description, which is not an actual plane in the branch cap. Referring to,, and, a radial dimension of an outer contour of the cap bodydecreases from the first endto the second end. That is, the outer diameter of the cap bodydecreases from the first endto the second end, making artificial pine strips more natural and beautiful as a whole. Optionally, in an embodiment, as shown in, an outer surface of the branch capmay be formed as a smooth surface. In some other embodiments, as shown intoand, the outer surface of the branch capmay be formed as a non-smooth surface. For example, the outer contour of the branch capis shaped like a pine cone, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to, in some embodiments, the branch capincludes a plurality of convex ribsdistributed at intervals, and each convex ribhas an annular structure continuously distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole. In other words, each convex ribis arranged transversely. In yet another embodiment, referring to, each convex ribincludes a plurality of protruding portions, and the plurality of protruding portionsare distributed at intervals along the circumferential direction of the receiving hole. In still another embodiment, as shown inand, the branch capincludes a plurality of convex ribsdistributed at intervals, and each convex ribextends along a longitudinal direction (i.e., the depth direction of the receiving hole). In other words, each convex ribis arranged longitudinally. Certainly, in other embodiments, the plurality of protruding portionsmay alternatively be distributed in the receiving holein other manners, as long as each convex ribcan press against the tip end of the branch body, which is not limited in the present disclosure.

According to the branch capand the artificial branchhaving the branch capprovided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the branch bodyis pressed by the at least one convex ribin the branch cap, so that the branch capcan be tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch bodyto prevent detachment of the branch capfrom the branch bodyduring use of the artificial branch. This prevents stringing of the user by the artificial branchduring the use, improves usage experience of the user, and also makes the artificial branchmore beautiful and natural.

The present disclosure further provides a manufacturing method for an artificial branch. The manufacturing method may be used to manufacture the artificial branchin the above embodiments.

Referring toand, the manufacturing method for the artificial branchincludes the following steps.

In S, a branch capis formed by injection molding, with the branch capbeing provided with a receiving hole, and the side wall of the receiving holebeing formed with at least one convex rib.

In step S, the branch capis made of an elastic material such as rubber (or soft rubber) or plastic (or hard rubber). The receiving holeof the branch capis a blind hole. That is, an end of the receiving holeis formed as an opening end. In an embodiment, as shown in, the branch capincludes a plurality of convex ribsdistributed at intervals, and each convex ribhas an annular structure distributed along a circumferential direction of the receiving hole. Specifically, the side wall of the receiving holehas a wavy structure or a zigzag structure along a longitudinal direction R. In another embodiment, as shown inand, the branch capincludes a plurality of convex ribsdistributed at intervals, and each convex ribextends along the longitudinal direction R(i.e., the depth direction of the receiving hole).

In S, a tip end of a branch bodyis aligned with an opening end of the branch cap, which specifically includes the following steps.

In S, the branch bodyis fixed to an assembly station of an assembly device. The tip end of the branch bodyfaces a positioning fixture of the assembly device.

In S, the branch capis vibrated through a vibrating screen so that the opening end of the branch capfaces towards a preset direction when the branch capenters a feed channel of the assembly device.

In S, the branch capis transferred to the positioning fixture of the assembly device through the feed channel. A plurality of feed channels may be provided, different branch capsare transferred to different assembly positions on the positioning fixture through different feed channels, which can speed up assembly of the branch capand the branch body.

In S, a position of the positioning fixture is adjusted so that the opening end of the branch capis aligned with the tip end of the branch body.

In S, press-fitting is performed so that the branch capis tightly fastened to the tip end of the branch body, with the at least one convex ribpressing against the tip end of the branch body. Step Sof performing press-fitting specifically includes the following step.