Abstract:
A slider assembly includes: a slider comprising upper and lower plates provided with teeth guides, and a post connecting the upper and lower plates, the slider interlocking the teeth while advancing along the teeth arranged a set distance apart on each sides of first and second tapes; and separating the teeth while moving backwards therealong; a locking unit, disposed at the longitudinal-direction end of the first tape, for restricting the backward movement of the slider; and a bottom unit, disposed at the longitudinal-direction end of the second tape, elastically coupling with the locking unit by the vertical pressure (in the direction of the thickness of the tape) applied by the overlapping locking unit pressing down, and uncoupling therefrom by the force of moving the slider backwards. The slider assembly can be included in a zipper.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a National Stage of International Application No. PCT/KR2013/012439, filed Dec. 31, 2013 which claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No 10-2012-0158548, filed Dec. 31, 2012, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a slider assembly and a zipper comprising the same. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Generally, a zipper is installed in a bag or clothing to open and close an inlet and is widely used due to its easy way to open and close. 
     The structure of a conventional zipper can be simply defined as follows. Teeth are disposed at regular interval at the opposing sides of a pair of fabric tapes, respectively, and a slider with a structure in which the front and rear sides communicate with each other is coupled to one of the tapes. 
     When the slider is moved forward, the teeth at both sides enter through the front side of the slider to be engaged with each other in the slider and then exit through the rear side. On the contrary, when the slider is moved backward, the teeth being engaged with each other enter through the rear side of the slider to be disengaged from each other in the slider and then exit through the front side, respectively. 
     However, this conventional zipper has a problem in that the fastening operation is inconvenient. That is in order to fasten the zipper, a bottom stop insertion pin at an end of the tape, to which the slider is not coupled, should be inserted through the slider into a bottom stop box, and when a user wears gloves, for example, it is difficult for the user to insert the insertion pin into the bottom stop box. 
     A new concept of a slider assembly for solving the above problem is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No 2012-0014943 by the present applicant. This slider assembly has an advantage in that both tapes can be quickly engaged with each other by pressing a bottom stop and a locking unit in an up and down manner, which provides reliable and easy engagement and disengagement of the teeth. 
     However, this slider assembly requires a slider of a new structure which has a cylindrical shape with an opened bottom and in which both edges to be coupled to teeth are bent inward. Moreover, it requires teeth each having a new structure for accommodating the slider, i.e., teeth each having a specific structure in which an attachment part has a “C” shaped space, in which the edge of the slider is accommodated, and a coupling protrusion for fixing the tape is formed at the bottom of the attachment part. 
     Therefore, the existing slider and teeth cannot be used, and thus it is necessary to build new equipment for manufacturing the slider and teeth, which increases the initial investment in equipment. 
     Moreover, these teeth have such problems that the process of coupling to the tape is complicated and restrictive, which increases the overall production costs, and the standardization and optimization of each component requires a lot of time and effort. 
     In order to overcome these drawbacks, an object of the present invention is to provide a slider assembly of a new structure which can quickly and easily engage and disengage teeth with a simple operation. Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide a slider assembly which requires low initial investment in equipment, leads to low production costs, and is advantageous for standardization and optimization of components. 
     To accomplish the above objects, a slider assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a slider which comprises upper and lower plates which are provided with teeth guides and a pillar which connects the upper plate and the lower plate, the slider moving forward along teeth arranged at regular intervals on sides of first and second tapes, respectively, to engage the teeth with each other and moving backward to disengage the teeth from each other; a locking unit which is disposed at the first tape and limits the backward movement of the slider; and a bottom unit which is disposed at the second tape, elastically coupled to the locking unit by a force that presses the bottom unit and the locking unit in an up and down manner (in the thickness direction of the tape), and separated from the locking unit by a force that moves the slider backward. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, one of the locking unit and the bottom unit may comprise a coupling protrusion which is formed to protrude from an opposing surface and the other comprises a protrusion receiving portion to which the coupling protrusion is elastically inserted and coupled by a force that presses the bottom unit and the locking unit in an up and down manner. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the coupling protrusion and the protrusion receiving portion may comprise an elastic body, the elastic body being elastically deformed by the insertion of the coupling protrusion and confining the coupling protrusion in the protrusion receiving portion by its elastic restoration force such that the coupling protrusion is prevented from being upwardly or downwardly separated from the protrusion receiving portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic body may be elastically deformed by the pressure of the backward moving slider to release the confinement of the coupling protrusion such that the coupling protrusion is upwardly or downwardly separated from the protrusion receiving portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion receiving portion may comprise: a through hole into which the coupling protrusion is inserted; an elastic body; and a shutter which is coupled to the elastic body, moves in a direction that opens the through hole during the elastic deformation of the elastic body such that the coupling protrusion can be inserted into and separated from the through hole, and moves in a direction that at least partially closes the through hole during the elastic restoration of the elastic body such that the coupling protrusion is confined in the through hole. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion receiving portion may comprise an elastic body, the elastic body comprising an elastic coupling hole which is elastically deformed by the pressure of the coupling protrusion that is inserted therein and confines the coupling protrusion therein by its elastic restoration force such that the coupling protrusion is prevented from being upwardly or downwardly separated from the protrusion receiving portion. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic coupling hole may have an oval shape and may be configured such that the length of a minor axis increases during the elastic deformation such that the coupling protrusion can be inserted into and separated from the elastic coupling hole and the length of the minor axis decreases during the elastic restoration such that the inserted coupling protrusion is confined therein. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic coupling hole may have a polygonal shape whose width in one direction is short and whose width in the other direction is elongated such that the width in one direction increases during the elastic deformation such that the coupling protrusion can be inserted into and separated from the elastic coupling hole and the width in the other direction decreases during the elastic restoration such that the inserted coupling protrusion is confined therein. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion receiving portion may comprise a through hole which at least partially opens a surface opposite to the coupling protrusion such that the coupling protrusion can be inserted into the protrusion receiving portion, the through hole extending to a longitudinal end of the tape such that the coupling protrusion inserted and coupled to the protrusion receiving portion slides in the longitudinal direction of the tape by the pressure of the backward moving slider to exit to the outside through the end. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the contact surfaces between the bottom unit and the locking unit may have corresponding shapes. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the locking unit and the bottom unit may comprise a guide member which guides a position where the locking unit and the bottom unit are coupled to each other. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the coupling protrusion may comprise: a head which protrudes toward the protrusion receiving portion; and a support which supports the head and has a width smaller than that of the head, and a locking projection may be formed between the head and the support due to the difference in the width. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, the head may have a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width gradually decreases toward the protrusion receiving portion. 
     To accomplish the above objects, a zipper in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises: first and second tapes which are provided with teeth arranged at regular intervals on their sides; a slider which moves forward along the teeth of the first and second tapes to engage the teeth with each other and move backward to disengage the teeth from each other; a locking unit which is disposed at a longitudinal end of the first tape and limits the backward movement of the slider; and a bottom unit which is disposed at a longitudinal end of the second tape and coupled to the locking unit, and the locking unit and the bottom unit may be elastically coupled to each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement plane of the slider and separated from each other by the pressure of the backward moving slider. 
     According to the slider assembly of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and easily engage both tapes with a simple operation that presses the bottom unit and the locking unit in an up and down manner. 
     Moreover, it is possible to quickly and easily disengage both tapes with a simple operation that lowers the slider. 
     Furthermore, with the use of a slider and teeth having the same shapes as the existing slider and teeth, it is possible to minimize the initial investment in equipment, reduce the production costs, and facilitate the standardization and optimization of each component. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described below are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically show mg a zipper comprising a slider assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view showing an elastic coupling between a locking unit and a bottom unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a view showing that the elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 1  is released by a slider; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view schematically showing a zipper composing a slider assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a view showing an elastic coupling between a locking unit and a bottom unit of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a view showing that the elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 5  is released by a slider; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view schematically showing a zipper comprising a slider assembly in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 9  together with tapes at both sides; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the locking unit of  FIG. 9  in detail; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  in detail; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a portion of the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  in detail; 
         FIG. 14  is a view showing an elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing an elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 9 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing, that the elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  is released by a slider; and 
         FIG. 17  is cross-sectional views showing various shapes of the locking unit and the bottom unit. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Advantages and features of the present invention and methods of accomplishing the same will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. 
     The terms used in the present application are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” used in this specification do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, and/or operations in addition to stated components, steps, and/or operations. Moreover, since the reference numerals are used in the preferred embodiments, the reference numerals presented in the order of description are not necessarily limited to the order. 
     Moreover, the embodiments of the invention will be described herein with reference to perspective views and cross-sectional views that are schematic illustrations of idealized embodiments of the invention. In the drawings, the dimensions of members and regions are exaggerated for clarity of illustration. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, the embodiments of the invention should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated as a rectangle may be rounded or have a predetermined curvature. Therefore, the members illustrated in the drawings have schematic properties, and the shapes of the members illustrated in the drawings are illustrative of specific shapes of a slider assembly and a zipper and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. 
     First, the structure of a slider assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view schematically showing a zipper comprising a slider assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a slider assembly  10  comprises a slider  200 , a locking unit  300 , and a bottom unit  400 . 
     The slider  200  comprises an upper plate  210  provided with a pair of teeth guides  211  formed downward, a lower plate  230  provided with a pair of teeth guides  231  formed upward, a pillar  250  connecting the upper plate  210  and the lower plate  230 , a tap holder  270  fixed to the upper side of the upper plate, and a pull tap  290  inserted into the tap holder to enable the pulling of the slider. 
     The slider  200  moves forward along teeth  111  and  121 , which are arranged at regular intervals on both sides in the width direction of a first tape  110  and a second tape  120 , respectively, to engage the teeth  111  and  121  with each other and moves backward to disengage the teeth  111  and  121  from each other. 
     More specifically, when the slider  200  in which the locking unit  300  and the bottom unit  400  are coupled to each other is pulled in a direction that is away from the locking unit  300  to move forward, the teeth  111  and  121  enter the slider  200  through the area defined by the upper plate  210 , the lower plate  230 , and the pillar  250  in the front side of the slider  200 . The teeth  111  and  121  enter the slider  200  are engaged with each other in the slider  200 . Then, the engaged teeth  111  and  121  exit to the outside of the slider  200  through the area defined by the upper plate  210  and the lower plate  230  in the rear side of the slider  200 . On the contrary, when the slider  200  is pulled toward the locking unit  300  to move backward, the teeth  111  and  121  enter through the rear side of the slider  200  to be disengaged from each other and then exit through the front side of the slider  200 . Here, the expression that the slider moves forward indicates that the slider  200  moves in a direction that is away from the locking unit  300  to engage the teeth  111  and  121  with each other, and the expression that the slider moves backward indicates that the slider  200  moves toward the locking unit  300  to disengage the teeth  111  and  121  from each other. 
     The shape and structure of the slider  200  are well known in the art, and its detailed description will be omitted. 
     The locking unit  300  is disposed at the longitudinal end of the first tape  110  and limits the backward movement of the slider  200 . The locking unit  300  comprises a protrusion receiving portion  310  and a locking unit body  330 . 
     The protrusion receiving portion  310  comprises a through hole  311 , an elastic body  313 , a shutter  315 , a protrusion  318 , an intermediate hole  316 , and a cover  317 . One or more through holes  311  are formed on the bottom side of the protrusion receiving portion  310 , and a coupling protrusion  410  which will be described later is inserted therein. One end of the elastic body  313  is coupled to the protrusion  318  protruding from the wall of the locking unit  300 , and the other end is coupled to the shutter  315 . The shutter  315  is located at the top of the through hole  311  and configured to at least partially close the through hole  311  in a state where the elastic body  313  is not deformed. 
     When the shutter  315  is moved backward toward the elastic body  313  by an external force, the elastic body  313  is elastically contraction-deformed, and the through hole  311  is opened. When the external force is removed, the elastic body  313  is elastically restored such that the shutter  315  moves forward toward the intermediate hole  316  to at least partially close the through hole  311 . At this time, when the coupling protrusion  410  is being inserted into the through hole  311 , the shutter  315  presses the coupling protrusion  410  in a forward direction by the elastic, restoration force of the elastic body  313  such that the coupling protrusion  410  is forcibly inserted into the through hole  311 . The front end of the shutter  315  penetrates the intermediate hole  316  and extends to the outside of the locking unit  300 . Accordingly, when the slider  200  moves backward and presses the front end of the shutter  315 , the shutter  315  elastically contraction-deforms the elastic body  313  and moves backward to open the through hole  311 , and as a result, the coupling protrusion  410  forcibly inserted into the through hole  311  can be separated downward from the through hole  311 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the protrusion receiving portion  310  is located, at the side of the locking unit  300 , and an inclined side channel  213  is formed on the side of the upper plate  210  of the slider  200 . Therefore, as the slider  200  moves backward, the side channel  213  presses the front end of the shutter  315  such that the shutter  315  moves backward toward the elastic body  313 . Depending on the pressure method of the slider  200 , the locations and shapes of the protrusion receiving portion  310 , the shutter  315 , and the slider  200  can be configured in various ways. For example, when the protrusion receiving portion  310  is not located at the side of the locking unit  300 , but located at the rear end, i.e., the backward end of the slider  200 , the shutter  315  may extend toward the forward direction of the slider  200 , and at this time, the rear side of the slider  200  or the pillar  250  may be configured to press the front end of the shutter  315  to open the through hole  311 . 
     The locking unit body  330  may be formed integrally with the above-mentioned protrusion receiving portion  310  or may be coupled to the protrusion receiving portion  310  as a separate member and comprises a first tape receiving portion  331 , a pair of upper rails  333 , and a pair of lower rails  335 . The first tape receiving portion  331  receives and combines the first tape  110  such that the locking unit  300  is located at the longitudinal end of the first tape  110 . The upper rails  333  and the lower rails  335  receive the teeth guides  211  and  231  of the slider  200 , respectively, to limit the backward movement of the slider  200 . 
     The bottom unit  400  is disposed at the longitudinal end of the second tape  120  and coupled to the locking unit  300  in an up and down manner, i.e., elastically coupled to the surfaces of the first and second tapes  110  and  120  in the vertical direction. The bottom unit  400  comprises the coupling protrusion  410  and a bottom unit body  430 . 
     The coupling protrusion  410  comprises a support  413  which vertically protrudes from the upper side of the bottom unit body  430  and a head  411  which has a width greater than that of the support  413  and vertically protrudes from the top of the support  413 , and a locking projection  415  is formed at the boundary between the support  413  and the head  411  due to the difference in the width. The coupling protrusion  410  is inserted into the protrusion receiving portion  310  through the through hole  311  of the locking unit  300  and forcibly inserted into the through hole  311  under the pressure from the shutter  315  by the elastic restoration force of the elastic body  313 , thereby coupling the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300  with each other. 
     The head  411  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases downward, and the locking projection  415 , whose width sharply decreases as described above, is formed therebelow. During the insertion into the through hole  311 , the hemisphere- or cone-shaped head  411  slowly presses the shutter  315  to enable smooth backward movement, and during the elastic restoration of the elastic body  313 , the locking projection  415  is locked by the upper side of the shutter  315  or the upper side of the through hole  311 , thereby preventing the separation of the coupling protrusion  410 . Although the head  411  having a hemispherical or conical shape has been described in the foregoing, various shapes of the shutter  315  and the head  411 , which enable the smooth backward movement of the shutter  315  upon pressure, are also available. For example, the smooth backward movement of the shutter  315  can be achieved by a combination of a rod-shaped head  411  and a shutter  315  having an inclined plane. 
     The bottom unit body  430  serves as a support of the coupling protrusion  410  and, at the same time, comprises a second tape receiving portion  431  to receive and combine the second tape  120  such that the bottom unit  400  is located at the longitudinal end of the second tape  120 . The contact surfaces between the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300  have corresponding shapes, and thus when the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300  are in close contact with each other to be combined, the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300  guide the coupling protrusion  410  to be inserted into an accurate position of the through hole  311 . Moreover, a guide member that guides the coupling protrusion  410  to be inserted into an accurate position of the through hole  311  may be further added to the locking unit  300  or the bottom unit  400 . 
     In the following, the coupling of the slider assembly  10  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIG. 3  is a view showing an elastic coupling between the locking unit  300  and the bottom unit  400  of  FIG. 1 , in which the lower figures are partial cross-sectional views cut along line A-A′ shown in the upper figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3( a ) , as the bottom unit  400  is brought into close contact with the bottom of the locking unit  300 , the coupling protrusion  410  is located below the through hole  311  and raised. At this time, since the contact surfaces between the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300  have corresponding shapes, the coupling protrusion  410  is guided to be accurately positioned below the through hole  311 . Moreover, the head  411  of the coupling protrusion  410  has a width smaller than that of the through hole  311  and thus smoothly passes through the through hole  311 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3( b ) , as the head  411  is further raised, it is in contact with the shutter  315  that at least partially close the through hole  311 . Since the head  411  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases downward, as the head  411  is raised, the shutter  315  slides along the front end slope of the head  411  and is pushed toward the elastic body  313 , and thus the elastic body  313  is elastically contraction-deformed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3( c ) , when the locking projection  415  passes through the upper side of the shutter  315  as the head  411  is further raised, the width of the coupling projection  410  sharply decreases. Accordingly, as the shutter  315  rapidly moves forward by the elastic restoration force of the contraction-deformed elastic body  313 , the locking projection  415  is locked by the upper side of the shutter  315 , and as a result, the coupling protrusion  410  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  310 , thereby coupling the bottom unit  400  and the locking unit  300 . 
     In this state, when the slider  200  moves forward in a direction that is away from the locking unit  300 , the first and second teeth  111  and  121  arranged on the sides of the first and second tapes  110  and  120  enter the slider  200  to be engaged with each other in the slider  200  and then exit through the rear side of the slider  200 , thereby fastening the zipper. 
     In the following, the separation of the slider assembly  10  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIG. 4  is a view showing that the elastic coupling between the locking unit  300  and the bottom unit  400  of  FIG. 1  is released by the slider  200 , in which the lower figures are partial cross-sectional views cut along line B-B′ shown in the upper figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( a ) , when the slider  200  moves backward toward the locking unit  300  while the coupling protrusion  410  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  310 , the first and second teeth  111  and  121  being engaged with each other enter through the rear side of the slider  200  to be disengaged from each other in the slider  200  by the pillar  250  and then exit through the front side of the slider  200 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( b ) , as the slider  200  further moves backward, the front end of the shutter  315  is brought into contact with the slider  200 . More specifically in the shown embodiment, the front end of the shutter  315  is brought into contact with the side channel  213  formed to be inclined on the side of the upper plate  210  of the slider  200 . When the slider  200  further moves backward, the shutter  315  is further pushed backward, and the through hole  311  is opened together with the contraction deformation of the elastic body  313 . As the through hole  311  is opened, the coupling protrusion  410  is released from the through hole  311  and thus separated downward from the through hole  311 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4( c ) , when the force that moves the slider  200  backward is removed while the coupling protrusion  410  is completely separated downward from the through hole  311 , the elastic body  313  is elastically restored, and as a result, the shutter  315  moves forward again to at least partially close the through hole  311 . Therefore, the separation of the zipper by the separation of the locking unit  300  and the bottom unit  400  is completed. 
     In the following, the structure of a slider assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view schematically showing a zipper comprising a slider assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a slider assembly  20  comprises a slider  600 , a locking unit  700 , and a bottom unit  800 . 
     The slider  600  comprises an upper plate  610 , a lower plate  630 , a pillar  650 , a tap holder  670 , and a pull tap  690 . Although the lower plate  630  is shown in the form of a partially opened plate, the lower plate  630  may be in the form of a single plate depending on the combination with the locking unit  700 . The shape and structure of the slider  600  are similar to those of the slider  200  described in the previous embodiment, and thus its detailed description will be omitted as it is well known in the art. 
     The locking unit  700  is disposed at the longitudinal end of a first tape  510  and limits the backward movement of the slider  600 . The locking unit  700  comprises a locking unit body  730 , a locking unit cover  750 , and a protrusion receiving portion  710 . 
     The locking unit body  730  comprises a through hole  711  (see  FIG. 7 ) and a first tape receiving portion  731 . One or more through holes  711  are formed below the protrusion receiving portion  710 , and a coupling protrusion  810  which will be described later is inserted therein. The first tape receiving portion  731  receives and combines the first tape  510  such that the locking unit  700  is located at the longitudinal end of the first tape  510 . Lower rails  733 , which receive a pair of teeth guides  631  formed upward from the lower plate  630  and limit the backward movement of the slider  600 , is provided between the locking unit body  730  and the bottom unit  800 , and a receiving box  717  which receives the protrusion receiving portion  710  is provided between the locking unit body  730  and the locking unit cover  750 . 
     The locking unit cover  750  comprises upper rails  753  which receive a pair of teeth guides  611  formed downward from the upper plate  610  and limit the backward movement of the slider  600 . 
     The protrusion receiving portion  710  comprises an elastic body  713  which is located inside the receiving box  717  and whose one end projects to the outside of the locking unit  700 . The elastic, body  713  comprises an elastic coupling hole  715  where the coupling protrusion  810  ran be inserted and separated during the elastic deformation of the elastic body  713  and which can confine the inserted coupling protrusion  810  by the elastic restoration force. The elastic, coupling hole  715  is located above the through hole  711  and configured to at least partially close the through hole  711  in a state where the elastic body  713  is not deformed. 
     For example, the elastic coupling hole  715  has an oval shape as shown in the figure and is configured such that the length of the major axis of the oval is greater than the diameter of the through hole  711  and the length of the minor axis of the oval is smaller than the diameter of the through hole  711 . Since the length of the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  is smaller than the diameter of the through hole  711 , the elastic body  713  at least partially closes the through hole  711  in a state where the elastic body  713  is not deformed. Although the elastic coupling hole  715  has been illustrated as having an oval shape, the elastic coupling hole  715  may be formed into various shapes such as a polygon with one long end, etc. 
     When the one end of the elastic body  713 , which projects to the outside of the locking unit  700 , is pressed by an external force such as the backward movement of the slider  600 , the elastic body  713  is deformed such that the length of the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  increases and the length of the major axis decreases. As such, when the elastic body  713  is elastically deformed, the through hole  711  is opened. 
     The bottom unit  800  is disposed at the longitudinal end of a second tape  520  and coupled to the locking unit  700  in an up and down manner, i.e. elastically coupled to the surfaces of the first and second tapes  510  and  520  in the vertical direction. The bottom unit  800  comprises the coupling protrusion  810  and a bottom unit body  830 . 
     The coupling protrusion  810  comprises a support  813  which vertically protrudes from the upper side of the bottom unit body  830  and a head  811  which has a width greater than that of the support  813  and vertically protrudes from the top of the support  813 , and a locking projection  815  is formed at the boundary between the support  813  and the head  811  due to the difference in the width. The coupling protrusion  810  is inserted into the receiving box  717  through the through hole  711  of the locking unit  700  and the elastic coupling hole  715 , and when the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  contracts as the elastic deformation of the elastic body  713  is restored, the coupling protrusion  810  is forcibly inserted into the elastic coupling hole  715  by the elastic restoration force of the elastic body  713 , thereby coupling the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700  with each other. 
     The head  811  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases downward, and the locking projection  815 , whose width sharply decreases as described above, is formed therebelow. During the insertion into the elastic coupling hole  715 , the hemisphere- or cone-shaped head  811  slowly presses the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  such that the elastic body  713  is elastically deformed to increase the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715 , and during the elastic restoration of the elastic body  713 , the locking projection  815  is locked by the upper side of the elastic body  713 , thereby preventing the downward separation of the coupling protrusion  810 . 
     The bottom unit body  830  serves as a support of the coupling protrusion  810  and, at the same time, comprises a second tape receiving portion  831  to receive and combine the second tape  520  such that the bottom unit  800  is located at the longitudinal end of the second tape  520 . The contact surfaces between the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700  have corresponding shapes, and thus when the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700  are in close contact with each other to be combined, the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700  guide the coupling protrusion  810  to be inserted into an accurate position of the elastic coupling hole  715 . Moreover, a guide member that guides the coupling protrusion  810  to be inserted into an accurate position of the elastic coupling hole  715  may be further added to the locking unit  700  or the bottom unit  800 . 
     In the following, the coupling of the slider assembly  20  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a view showing an elastic coupling between the locking unit  700  and bottom unit  800  of  FIG. 5 , in which the lower figures are partial cross-sectional views cut along line C-C′ shown in the upper figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7( a ) , as the bottom unit  800  is brought into close contact with the bottom of the locking unit  700 , the coupling protrusion  810  is located below the through hole  711  and raised. At this time, since the contact surfaces between the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700  have corresponding shapes, the coupling protrusion  810  is guided to be accurately positioned below the through hole  711 . Moreover, the head  811  of the coupling protrusion  810  has a width smaller than that of the through hole  711  and thus smoothly passes through the through hole  711 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7( b ) , as the head  811  is further raised, it is in contact with the elastic coupling hole  715  that at least partially closes the through hole  711 . Since the head  811  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases downward, as the head  811  is raised, the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  slides along the front end slope of the head  811  and increases, and thus the elastic body  713  is elastically deformed. 
     Referring, to  FIG. 7( c ) , when the locking projection  815  completely passes through the elastic coupling hole  715  as the head  811  is further raised, the width of the coupling projection  810  sharply decreases. Accordingly, as the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  sharply decreases by the elastic restoration force of the elastic body  713 , the locking projection  815  is locked by the upper side of the elastic body  713 , and as a result, the coupling protrusion  810  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  710 , thereby coupling the bottom unit  800  and the locking unit  700 . 
     In this state, when the slider  600  moves forward in a direction that is away from the locking unit  700 , the first and second teeth  511  and  521  arranged on the sides of the first and second tapes  510  and  520  enter the slider  600  to be engaged with each other in the slider  600  and then exit through the rear side of the slider  600 , thereby fastening the zipper. 
     In the following, the separation of the slider assembly  20  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a view showing that the elastic coupling between the locking unit  700  and the bottom unit  800  of  FIG. 5  is released by the slider  600 , in winch the lower figures are partial cross-sectional views cut along line D-D′ shown in the upper figures. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8( a ) , when the slider  600  moves backward toward the locking unit  700  while the coupling protrusion  810  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  710 , the first and second teeth  511  and  521  being engaged with each other enter through the rear side of the slider  600  to be disengaged from each other in the slider  600  by the pillar  650  and then exit through the front side of the slider  600 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8( b ) , as the slider  600  further moves backward, the front end of the elastic body  713  is brought into contact with the slider  600 . More specifically, in the shown embodiment, the front end of the elastic body  713  is brought into contact with the pillar  650  of the slider  600 . When the slider  600  further moves backward, the elastic body  713  is pressed by the pillar  650  of the slider  600  and deformed, the length of the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  increases, and thus the through hole  711  is opened. Therefore, the coupling protrusion  810  is released from the through hole  711  and thus separated downward from the through hole  711 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8( c ) , when the force that moves the slider  600  backward is removed while the coupling protrusion  810  is completely separated downward from the elastic coupling hole  715 , the elastic body  713  is elastically restored, and as a result, the minor axis of the elastic coupling hole  715  decreases again to at least partially close the through hole  711 . Therefore, the separation of the zipper by the separation of the locking unit  700  and the bottom unit  800  is completed. 
     In the above, although the case where the coupling protrusion  810  is fixed or unfixed by the combination of the through hole  711  and the elastic, coupling hole  715  has been described, the coupling protrusion  810  can be fixed or unfixed without the through hole  711  or only by the elastic coupling hole  715  regardless of the through hole  711 . 
     In the following, the structure of a slider assembly in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view schematically showing a zipper comprising a slider assembly in accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view showing the slider assembly of  FIG. 9  together with tapes at both sides. Moreover,  FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the locking unit of  FIG. 9  in detail,  FIG. 12  is an exploded perspective view showing a portion of the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  in detail, and  FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a portion of the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 13 , a slider assembly  30  comprises a slider  1200 , a locking unit  1300 , and a bottom unit  1400 . 
     The slider  1200  comprises an upper plate  1210 , a lower plate  1230 , a pillar  1250 , a tap holder  1270 , and a pull tap  1290 . The shape and structure of the slider  1200  are similar to those of the slider  200  described in the previous embodiment, and thus its detailed description will be omitted as it is well known in the art. 
     The locking unit  1300  is disposed at the longitudinal end of a first tape  1110  and limits the backward movement of the slider  1200 . The locking unit  1300  comprises a protrusion receiving portion  1310 , a locking unit body  1330 , and a first tape coupling portion  1350 . 
     The protrusion receiving portion  1310  comprises a support  1313  which vertically protrudes from the lower side of the locking unit body  1330  and a head  1311  which has a width greater than that of the support  1313  and vertically protrudes from the bottom of the support  1313 , and a locking projection  1315  is formed at the boundary between the support  1313  and the head  1311  due to the difference in the width. The protrusion receiving portion  1310  is inserted between a shutter  1414  and a shutter  1415  through an upper opening  1411   a  of a through hole  1411  of the bottom unit  1400 , which will be described later. Then, the protrusion receiving portion  1310  is pressed from the shutter  1414  and the shutter  1415  by the elastic restoration three of an elastic, body  1413  connected to the shutter  1414  and the shutter  1415  and inserted and fixed between the shutter  1414  and the shutter  1415 , thereby coupling the locking unit  1300  and the bottom unit  1400  with each other. 
     The head  1311  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases upward and which is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the tape, and the locking projection  1315 , whose width sharply decreases as described above, is formed therebelow. During the insertion into the upper opening  1411   a  of the through hole  1411 , the elongated hemisphere- or cone-shaped head  1311  slowly presses the shutters  1414  and  1415  to enable smooth backward movement, and during the elastic restoration of the elastic body  1413 , the locking projection  1315  is locked by the lower sides of the shutters  1414  and  1415  or the lower sides of the protrusions of the shutters  1414  and  1415 , thereby preventing the upward separation of the coupling protrusion  1310 . 
     The locking unit body  1330  comprises a platform  1331  which receives the slider  1200 , a first guide  1333  which guides one side of the slider  1200  and, at the same time, combines with the first tape coupling portion  1350  with the first tape  1110  interposed therebetween such that the locking unit  1300  is located at the longitudinal end of the first tape  1110 , and a second guide  1335  which guides the other side of the slider  1200  and, at the same time, serves as a support of the coupling protrusion  1310 . 
     The bottom unit  1400  is disposed at the longitudinal end of a second tape  1120  and coupled to the locking unit  1300  in an up and down manner, i.e., elastically coupled to the surfaces of the first and second tapes  1110  and  1120  in the vertical direction. The bottom unit  1400  comprises a protrusion receiving portion  1410  and a second tape coupling portion  1450 . 
     The protrusion receiving portion  1410  comprises the elastic body  1413 , the shutters  1414  and  1415 , and an opening body  1430 . The opening body  1430  has a box shape, in which an opening cover  1430   a  and an opening base  1430   b  are coupled to each other, and comprises a through hole  1411  with a partially opened upper surface which extends to the longitudinal end surface of the tape (in the backward direction of the slider). That is, the through hole  1411  has a slot shape which comprises the upper opening  1411   a  which at least partially opens the upper surface of the opening body  1430  and an end opening  1411   b  which at least partially opens the longitudinal end surface of the tape in the opening body  1430 . Therefore, the coupling protrusion  1310  is inserted downward into the protrusion receiving portion  1410  through the upper opening  1411   a , slides in the protrusion receiving portion  1410  in the backward direction of the slider  1200  by the force that moves the slider  1200  backward while being confined, in the protrusion receiving portion  1410 , and then exits to the outside of the protrusion receiving portion  1410  through the end opening  1411   b.    
     The opening body  1430  comprises a guide bar  1431  and a protrusion  1433 . One end of the elastic body  1413  is coupled to the protrusion  1433  protruding from the inside of the opening body  1430 , and the other end is coupled to the shutters  1414  and  1415 . The pair of shutters  1414  and  1415  are located at the bottom of the upper opening  1411   a  and configured to at least partially close the upper opening  1411   a  in a state where the elastic body  1413  is not deformed. The pair of shutters  1414  and  1415  are coupled to the guide bar  1431 , for example, and guided. The pair of shutters  1414  and  1415  move backward in a direction that is away from each other during the elastic deformation of the elastic body  1413  and move forward in a direction that is close to each other when the elastic deformation of the elastic body  1413  is restored. 
     When the shutters  1414  and  1415  move backward toward the elastic body  1413  by an external force, the elastic body  1413  is elastically contraction-deformed, and the upper opening  1411   a  is opened. When the external force is removed, the elastic body  1413  is elastically restored such that the shutters  1414  and  1415  move forward to at least partially close the upper opening  1411   a . At this time, when the coupling protrusion  1310  is being inserted between the shutters  1414  and  1415 , the shutters  1414  and  1415  press the coupling protrusion  1310  in the forward direction by the elastic restoration force of the elastic body  1413  such that the coupling protrusion  1310  is forcibly inserted into the protrusion receiving portion  1410 , thereby preventing the upward separation of the coupling protrusion  1310  through the upper opening  1411   a.    
     The second tape coupling portion  1450  comprises a second tape cover  1451  and a second tape base  1453  which are coupled to each other with the second tape  1120  interposed therebetween such that the bottom unit  1400  is located at the longitudinal end of the second tape  1120 . The second tape coupling portion  1450  may be formed integrally with the protrusion receiving portion  1410  or may be coupled to the protrusion receiving portion  1410  as a separate member. 
     The contact surfaces between the bottom unit  1400  and the second guide  1335  of the locking unit body  1330  have corresponding shapes, and thus when the bottom unit  1400  and the locking unit  1300  are in close contact with each other to be combined, the bottom unit  1400  and the locking unit body  1330  guide the coupling protrusion  1310  to be inserted into an accurate position of the upper opening  1411   a  of the through hole  1411 . 
     In the following, the coupling of the slider assembly  30  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIGS. 14 and 15  show an elastic coupling between the locking unit  1300  and the bottom unit  1400 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 14( a ) and 15( a ) , as the locking unit  1300  is brought into close contact with the top of the bottom unit  1400  in the vertical direction (in the D 1  direction), the coupling protrusion  1310  is located above the upper opening  1411   a  of the through hole  1411  and lowered. At this time, since the contact surfaces between the bottom unit  1400  and the locking unit  1300  have corresponding shapes, the coupling protrusion  1310  is guided to be accurately positioned above the upper opening  1411   a . Moreover, the head  1311  of the coupling protrusion  1310  has a width smaller than that of the upper opening  1411   a  and thus smoothly passes through the upper opening  1411   a.    
     Referring to  FIG. 14( b ) , as the head  1311  is further lowered, it is in contact with the shutters  1414  and  1415  that at least partially close the upper opening  1411   a . Since the head  1311  has a hemispherical or conical shape, whose width increases upward, as the head  1311  is lowered, the shutters  1414  and  1415  slide along the front end slope of the head  1311  and are pushed in a direction that is away from each other, i.e., toward the elastic body  1413 , and thus the elastic body  1413  is elastically contraction-deformed. 
     Referring to  FIG. 14( c ) , when the locking projection  1315  passes through the lower sides of the shutters  1414  and  1415  or the lower sides of the projections of the shutters  1414  and  1415  as the head  1311  is further lowered, the width of the coupling projection  1310  sharply decreases. Accordingly, as the shutters  1414  and  1415  are rapidly closer to each other by the elastic restoration force of the contraction-deformed elastic body  1413 , the locking projection  1315  is locked by the lower sides of the shutters  1414  and  1415  or the lower sides of the projections of the shutters  1414  and  1415 , and as a result, the coupling protrusion  1310  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  1410  to prevent the upward separation of the coupling, protrusion  1310  through the upper opening  1411   a , thereby coupling the bottom unit  1400  and the locking unit  1300 . 
     In this state, when the slider  1200  moves forward in a direction that is away from the locking unit  1300 , the first and second teeth  1111  and  1121  arranged on the sides of the first, and second tapes  1110  and  1120  enter the slider  1200  to be engaged with each other in the slider  1200  and then exit through the rear side of the slider  1200 , thereby fastening the zipper. 
     In the following, the separation of the slider assembly  30  having the above-described structure will be described. 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing that the elastic coupling between the locking unit and the bottom unit of  FIG. 9  is released by a slider. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16( a ) , when the slider  1200  moves backward toward the locking unit  1300  while the coupling protrusion  1310  is inserted and fixed to the protrusion receiving portion  1410 , the first and second teeth  1111  and  1121  being engaged with each other enter through the rear side of the slider  1200  to the disengaged from each other in the slider  1200  by the pillar  1250  and then exit through the front side of the slider  1200 , respectively. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16( b ) , as the slider  1200  further moves backward, the side of the slider  1200  is guided by the first guide  1333  and the second guide  1335  of the locking unit body  1330  and received in the platform  1331 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 16( c ) , as the slider  1200  further moves backward, the locking unit  1300  is pushed in the backward direction of the slider  1200 . Accordingly, the coupling protrusion  1310 , which is prevented from being upwardly separated through the upper opening  1411   a  by the pressure of the shutters  1414  and  1415  and the locking projection  1315 , slides between the shutters  1414  and  1415  in the longitudinal direction of the tape (in the D 2  direction), and finally exits to the outside of the protrusion receiving portion  1410  through the end opening  1411   b  formed on the longitudinal end surface of the bottom unit  1400 . Therefore, the separation of the zipper by the separation of the locking unit  1300  and the bottom unit  1400  is completed. 
     In the above, although the coupling protrusion  1310 , which is inserted and coupled between the shutters  1414  and  1415  which are closer to or further away from each other by the elastic body  1413 , has been described as an example, the insertion and coupling of the locking unit  1300  and the bottom unit  1400  can be implemented in various ways. For example, the object of the present invention can be achieved by various types of the locking unit and the bottom unit such as the protrusion receiving portion ( FIGS. 17( a ) and 17( b ) ) which can be elastically deformed without the elastic body or the protrusion receiving portion ( FIG. 17( c ) ) whose width can be elastically deformed. 
     The invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     According to the slider assembly of the present invention, it is possible to quickly and easily engage both tapes with a simple operation that presses the bottom unit and the locking unit in an up and down manner. Moreover, it is possible to quickly and easily disengage both tapes with a simple operation that lowers the slider. Furthermore, with the use of a slider and teeth having the same shapes as the existing slider and teeth, it is possible to minimize the initial investment in equipment, reduce the production costs, facilitate the standardization and optimization of each component.