Patent ID: 11969061
Assignee: YKK CORPORATION
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A slide fastener chain comprising:
a first fastener stringer comprising a first fastener tape having a first row of coupling elements mounted on a first longitudinal edge of the first fastener tape; and
a second fastener stringer comprising a second fastener tape having a second row of coupling elements mounted on a second longitudinal edge of the second fastener tape,
wherein the first row of coupling elements is configured to be interdigitated with the second row of coupling elements along a fastener axis in order to secure the first fastener stringer and a second fastener stringer together,
wherein each of the coupling elements of the first and second rows of coupling elements is shaped so as to comprise a main body having a shoulder portion, and a head portion extending parallel to a lateral axis, perpendicular the fastener axis, and away from the shoulder portion via a neck portion, the head portion defining a groove that extends parallel to the fastener axis,
wherein the main body of each of the coupling elements of the first row of coupling elements is mounted to the first fastener tape, and the main body of each of the coupling elements of the second row of coupling elements is mounted to the second fastener tape,
wherein, when the first row of coupling elements is interdigitated with the second row of coupling elements, the first longitudinal edge and second longitudinal edge remain spaced apart, and a first coupling element of the first row of coupling elements is received between two adjacent coupling elements of the second row of coupling elements such that:
i) the groove of the first coupling element receives and contacts, in a first contact region, a portion of the second longitudinal edge of the second fastener tape intermediate the adjacent coupling elements of the second row,
ii) the head portion of the first coupling element is received between and contacts, at second and third contact regions respectively, the neck portions of the adjacent coupling elements of the second row,
iii) one of the grooves of the adjacent coupling elements of the second row receives and contacts, in a fourth contact region, a first portion of the first longitudinal edge of the first fastener tape adjacent to the first coupling element, and
iv) another of the grooves of the adjacent coupling elements of the second row receives and contacts, in a fifth contact region, a second portion of the first longitudinal edge of the first fastener tape adjacent to the first coupling element,

wherein the first coupling element is intermediate the first and second portions of the first longitudinal edge of the first fastener tape, and
wherein contact in each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth contact regions forms a seal between the first coupling element and each of the adjacent coupling elements, the seal allying the first and second longitudinal edges.