Slider

A slider includes a slider body, a tab, and a cover member that is elastically deformable, the slider body has a front attachment post and a rear attachment post standing up from an upper blade, the front attachment post and the rear attachment post have a pair of first side wall portions and a pair of second side wall portions arranged on an outside of the first side wall portions in a length direction, outer wall surfaces of the second side wall portions are arranged on an inside of the first side wall portions via step portions in a width direction, at least a part of the outer wall surfaces of the second side wall portions faces inner wall surface of the cover member. This enables the cover member to be made more difficult to tilt in the width direction even if the cover member receives force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a slider used for a slide fastener.

BACKGROUND ART

A slider with an automatic stop mechanism is disclosed in International Publication WO 2009/133617 A1 (Patent Document 1). As shown in FIG. 10, for example, a slider 100 described in this Patent Document 1 is formed using a slider body 101, a tab 102, a spring member 103, and a cover member 104. This slider 100 is assembled by attaching the cover member 104 to front and rear attachment posts 101a of the slider body 101 using elastic deformation of the cover member 104, after the tab 102 and the spring member 103 are placed on the slider body 101. Assembly operations of the slider 100, which is assembled using elastic deformation of the cover member 104 in this way, can be easily performed, and the slider 100 is sometimes called a snap-in-type slider.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: International Publication WO 2009/133617 A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Generally, in a slider, for example, a cover member is sometimes pulled in a width direction of the slider by receiving force from a tab. Therefore, the cover member needs to be attached to a slider body so as not to come off from front and rear attachment posts of the slider body by tilting in the width direction even if the cover member receives such force in the width direction.

According to the slider 100 of Patent Document 1, for example, as the cover member 104 attached to the slider body 101 is in contact with the front and rear attachment posts 101a from an inside in the width direction, the cover member 104 is difficult to tilt in the width direction even if the cover member 104 receives the force in the width direction as described above, and the cover member 104 can be restrained from coming off from the slider body 101. However, it is required that a cover member is prevented from tilting in the width direction more effectively in order to use a slide fastener in various products more stably.

The invention has been made in view of the above conventional problem, and the object of the invention is to provide a slider whose cover member can be made more difficult to tilt in the width direction even if the cover member receives force in the width direction of the slider.

Means for Solving the Problem

In order to achieve the above object, a slider provided by the invention is a slider including a slider body in which an element guide path is formed between an upper blade and a lower blade, a tab having an attachment shaft portion, and a cover member that is elastically deformable, in which the element guide path communicates with right and left shoulder mouths disposed at a front end portion of the slider body in a length direction and a rear mouth disposed at a rear end portion of the slider body in the length direction, in which the slider body has a front attachment post and a rear attachment post standing up from the upper blade, and in which the cover member engages with the front attachment post and the rear attachment post using elastic deformation of the cover member, being characterized in that each of the front attachment post and the rear attachment post has a pair of right and left first side wall portions, and a pair of right and left second side wall portions arranged on an outside of the first side wall portions in the length direction, each outer wall surface of the right and left second side wall portions is arranged on an inside of each outer wall surface of the right and left first side wall portions via a step portion in a width direction, the right and left first side wall portions are exposed outside, at least a part of each of the right and left second side wall portions is accommodated in the cover member, and at least a part of each outer wall surface of the second side wall portions faces an inner wall surface of the cover member.

In the slider according to the invention, it is preferable that the cover member has a cover body portion arranged along the length direction, a front leg portion bending at a front end portion of the cover body portion and extending toward the slider body, and a rear leg portion bending at a rear end portion of the cover body portion and extending toward the slider body, the front leg portion of the cover member engages with the front attachment post of the slider body, and the rear leg portion of the cover member engages with the rear attachment post of the slider body, the cover member has a cover main body portion extending from the front leg portion to the rear leg portion via the cover body portion, and at least each of the front leg portion and the rear leg portion has right and left side surface portions extending from right and left side edge portions of the cover main body portion toward an inner circumferential side of the cover main body portion.

In this case, it is preferable that the cover body portion has right and left side surface portions extending from the right and left side edge portions of the cover main body portion toward the inner circumferential side of the cover main body portion, and in a side surface view of the slider, each lower end portion of the side surface portions arranged on the cover body portion faces each upper end portion of the first side wall portions of the front attachment post and the rear attachment post.

Additionally, it is preferable that each of the right and left side surface portions of the cover member, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the cover member, has a deformation allowable portion in which a distance between the cover main body portion and an inner circumferential side end edge of the side surface portion is the shortest at a bending part which bends from the cover body portion toward the front leg portion or the rear leg portion.

In the slider of the invention, it is preferable that each of the front attachment post and the rear attachment post has an engaging pawl portion that engages with the cover member, each engaging pawl portion protrudes toward an outside of the second wall portion in the length direction, the cover member has front and rear accommodating hole portions that accommodate each engaging pawl portion, and each of the front and rear accommodating hole portions penetrates the cover member along the length direction.

In this case, each engaging pawl portion of the front attachment post and the rear attachment post has a pawl lower surface that is in contact with the cover member, and each pawl lower surface, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the engaging pawl portion, has a curved surface that curves in an arc-shape.

Additionally, in the slider of the invention, it is preferable that the slider body has a front recessed channel portion disposed in a front direction of the front attachment post, and a rear recessed channel portion disposed in a rear direction of the rear attachment post.

The Effect of the Invention

According to the slider of the invention, the cover member can be made more difficult to tilt in the width direction even if the cover member receives force in the width direction of the slider.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in detail with embodiments referring to drawings. Note that, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described below in any way, various modifications can be made if only they have structure and functional effect substantially identical to the invention.

FIG.1is a disassembled perspective view illustrating a slider in a disassembled state according to Embodiment 1.FIG.2andFIG.3are a side view, and a cross-sectional view perpendicular to a width direction of the slider according to Embodiment 1.

Note that, in the following descriptions, a front and rear direction means a length direction or a sliding direction of the slider. Particularly, when the slider is used for a slide fastener, a direction in which the slider moves to couple right and left element rows is a front direction (a shoulder mouth side direction), and a direction in which the slider moves to separate element rows is a rear direction (a rear mouth side direction). Additionally, an upper and lower direction means a height direction of the slider, for example, the upper and lower direction is a direction perpendicular to a plane upper surface of an upper blade of a slider body. Particularly, a side in which a cover member (or a tab) is attached to the slider body of the slider is an upper direction, and a direction opposite to the upper direction is a lower direction. Furthermore, a right and left direction means the width direction of the slider, that is, a direction perpendicular to the length direction and the height direction of the slider.

A slider1for a slide fastener according to Embodiment 1 is formed by five components that are a slider body10, a tab40, a stop pawl body50, a plate spring member60, and a cover member30. This slider1has an automatic stop mechanism by the stop pawl body50.

In Embodiment 1, the slider body10, the tab40, the stop pawl body50, and the cover member30are formed of synthetic resin having thermal plasticity. The plate spring member60is formed of metal. Note that, material of the slider in the invention is not particularly limited, and can be changed. For example, at least one of the components of the slider body, the tab, the stop pawl body, and the cover member may be formed of metal.

The slider body10has an upper blade20, a lower blade11arranged parallel to the upper blade20, a connecting post12that connects a front end portion (a shoulder mouth side end portion) of the upper blade20and a front end portion (a shoulder mouth side end portion) of the lower blade11, right and left upper flange portions13disposed on right and left side portions of the upper blade20, and right and left lower flange portions14disposed on right and left side portions of the lower blade11.

The slider body10has a front attachment post (a first attachment post)21and a rear attachment post (a second attachment post)22standing up from the upper blade20in the upper direction, a front recessed channel portion23disposed in the front direction of the front attachment post21, and a rear recessed channel portion24disposed in the rear direction of the rear attachment post22. In this case, the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22are arranged apart from each other in the front and rear direction, and a space in which an attachment shaft portion43of the tab40, described below, can be inserted is disposed between the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22.

Right and left shoulder mouths are formed to interpose the connecting post12therebetween at a front end portion of the slider body10. A rear mouth is formed at a rear end portion of the slider body10. An element guide path15that is a substantially Y-shape is formed to communicate the right and left shoulder mouths to the rear mouth between the upper blade20and the lower blade11of the slider body10. Tape inserting spaces in which fastener tapes of the slide fastener (not shown) are inserted to pass are disposed at right and left side edge portions of the slider body10. In this case, the right and left tape inserting spaces of the slider body10are formed between the right and left upper flange portions13and the right and left lower flange portions14.

The front attachment post21of Embodiment 1 has a front base portion21aarranged at a middle portion in the width direction of the upper blade20, a pair of right and left front first side wall portions21b, a pair of right and left front second side wall portions21carranged on an outside (the front direction) of the front first side wall portions21bin the length direction, a front engaging pawl portion21dprotruding from the front base portion21ain the front direction, a front protruding portion21eprotruding from the front base portion21ain the upper direction, and a pawl accommodating recessed portion21fdisposed at a rear end portion of the front base portion21a.

The right and left front first side wall portions21bof the front attachment post21are integrally disposed with the front base portion21aon both right and left sides of the front base portion21a. Each of the right and left front first side wall portions21bhas an outer wall surface arranged perpendicular to the width direction of the slider1, and the right and left outer wall surfaces are formed in plane flat surfaces.

The outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bare exposed outside, not being accommodated in the cover member30attached to the slider body10. In this case, the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bare disposed parallel to outside surfaces of a front leg portion32of the cover member30attached to the slider body10, described below, at the same positions or substantially the same positions as the outside surfaces of the front leg portion32of the cover member30in relation to the width direction of the slider1to form the same flat surfaces or substantially the same flat surfaces as the outside surfaces.

Upper end portions (top end portions) of the right and left front first side wall portions21bhave upper end surfaces (top end surfaces) arranged parallel to an upper surface of the upper blade20. The upper end surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bface lower end portions of right and left side surface portions35of a cover body portion31of the cover member30, described below. In the case of Embodiment 1, in particular, the upper end surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bare in contact with the lower end portions of the right and left side surface portions35of the cover body portion31, thereby support a cover main body portion34from below.

The right and left front second side wall portions21cof the front attachment post21are accommodated in the cover member30attached to the slider body10. In this case, at least a part of each of the front second side wall portions21cis accommodated in the front leg portion32of the cover member30and covered so that it cannot be seen from the outside by the front leg portion32. The right and left front second side wall portions21cextend from the front first side wall portions21bvia step portions21gin the front direction.

The right and left front second side wall portions21cprotrude in the front direction of a front end surface of the front base portion21a. Additionally, the front second side wall portions21chave front end edges along the upper and lower direction. This enables the right and left front second side wall portions21cto be easily in contact with a part of the cover member30(the cover main body portion34of the front leg portion32), thereby a position of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10in the front and rear direction can be made stable. The cover member30can also be restrained from rattling in the front and rear direction.

Outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions21care formed in plane surfaces perpendicular to the width direction. Note that, in the invention, the outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions21cmay be arranged inclined to the length direction of the slider1. The outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21care arranged on an inside of the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bin the width direction, and the step portions21g, described above, are disposed between the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21band the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21c. Thus, a distance between the outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions21cis smaller than a distance between the outer wall surfaces of the right and left front first side wall portions21b. Additionally, in the case of Embodiment 1, the step portions21gof the front attachment post21are sloped downward toward the front direction in a side surface view of the slider body10.

As the step portions21gbeing disposed as described above, the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21ccan be stably positioned on the inside of the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21bin the width direction. Additionally, in attaching the cover member30to the slider body10, the front leg portion32of the cover member30can be guided toward a predetermined position by sliding contact with the step portions21gof the front attachment post21. This enables the front leg portion32of the cover member30to engage with the front engaging pawl portion21dof the front attachment post21easily and smoothly. Thus, workability of assembly operations of the slider1can be improved.

Furthermore, a thickness (dimensions in the width direction) of the side surface portions35of the front leg portion32of the cover member30, described below, can be absorbed by the step portions21gof the front attachment post21, and thereby, as described above, the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions21band the outside surfaces of the front leg portion32of the cover member30can be disposed on the same flat surfaces without a level difference, or on substantially the same flat surfaces with an extremely small level difference. As a result, a visual aspect of the slider1can be improved, and its appearance quality can be enhanced. Touch feeling of the slider1can also be improved, and fingers, other members, and the like, can be made difficult to be caught by the slider1.

Each plane outer wall surface of the right and left front second side wall portions21chas a part that faces each of right and left inner wall surfaces of the front leg portion32of the cover member30. In the case of Embodiment 1, in particular, the outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions21care arranged to be in contact with or be close to the right and left inner wall surfaces of the front leg portion32of the cover member30from the inside. Additionally, as the front second side wall portions21cbeing disposed on an inside of the front leg portion32of the cover member30, in a side surface view of the slider1(seeFIG.2), regions (areas) in which the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21cand the inner wall surfaces of the cover member30are in contact with each other or superposed with each other are secured larger than regions in which, for example, the slider body 101 and the cover body 104 of the slider 100 described in Patent Document 1 are in contact with each other. Accordingly, as described below, the cover member30can be made difficult to tilt in the width direction, and attachment strength of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10can be enhanced.

The front engaging pawl portion21dof the front attachment post21is arranged between the right and left front second side wall portions21cin the width direction, and as shown inFIG.2, for example, protrudes in the front direction of the right and left front second side wall portions21c. The front engaging pawl portion21d, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the front engaging pawl portion21d, has a pawl upper surface, an inclined surface sloping downward from the pawl upper surface toward a tip end portion of the front engaging pawl portion21d, and a pawl lower surface21harranged from the tip end portion of the front engaging pawl portion21dto the front end surface of the front base portion21a. Additionally, the pawl lower surface21hof the front engaging pawl portion21d, in a cross-section perpendicular to the width direction, has a depressed-surface-shaped curved surface that curves in an arc-shape.

For example, when the tab40is operated and the cover member30is pulled up by the attachment shaft portion43of the tab40, a part of the cover member30(specifically, the cover main body portion34of the front leg portion32) is in contact with the pawl lower surface21hof the front engaging pawl portion21d, and the pawl lower surface21hof the front engaging pawl portion21dreceives a load (stress) from the cover member30. At this time, as the curved surface as described above being disposed on the pawl lower surface21h, the load applied to the front engaging pawl portion21dfrom the cover member30can be made easy to disperse, and the load can be made difficult to concentrate on a part of the front engaging pawl portion21d. For this reason, it is possible to restrain from damage, and the like, to occur in the front engaging pawl portion21dand the front base portion21a.

The front protruding portion21eof the front attachment post21protrudes from the front base portion21ain the upper direction at a position between the front engaging pawl portion21dand the pawl accommodating recessed portion21fin the front and rear direction. The front protruding portion21eis inserted in an attachment hole portion61disposed on the plate spring member60, described below, and thereby a position of a front end portion of the plate spring member60with respect to the slider body10is determined.

The pawl accommodating recessed portion21fof the front attachment post21is formed from an upper surface of the front base portion21atoward the lower direction. A bottom surface portion that supports a spindle portion52of the stop pawl body50, described below, is formed at a lower end portion of the pawl accommodating recessed portion21f. Additionally, the pawl accommodating recessed portion21fis arranged at a position interposed by the right and left front first side wall portions21b.

The rear attachment post22of Embodiment 1 has a rear base portion22aarranged at a middle portion in the width direction of the upper blade20, a pair of right and left rear first side wall portions22b, a pair of right and left rear second side wall portions22carranged on an outside (in the rear direction) of the rear first side wall portions22bin the length direction, a rear engaging pawl portion22dprotruding from the rear base portion22ain the rear direction, and a rear protruding portion22eprotruding from the rear base portion22ain the upper direction. Additionally, a pawl hole22fthat penetrates the rear attachment post22and the upper blade20in the upper and lower direction and communicates with the element guide path15is disposed on the rear base portion22a.

Although the rear first side wall portions22b, the rear second side wall portions22c, the rear engaging pawl portion22d, and the rear protruding portion22eof the rear attachment post22of Embodiment 1 are formed in the opposite direction of the front and rear direction to corresponding portions of the front attachment post21that are the front first side wall portions21b, the front second side wall portions21c, the front engaging pawl portion21d, and the front protruding portion21e, they are formed substantially same as each corresponding portion of the front attachment post21. Hereinafter, brief descriptions are explained regarding the rear first side wall portions22b, the rear second side wall portions22c, the rear engaging pawl portion22d, and the rear protruding portion22e.

The right and left rear first side wall portions22bare integrally disposed with the rear base portion22a, and have plane outer wall surfaces arranged perpendicular to the width direction of the slider1. These outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22bare exposed outside. Additionally, the outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22bare arranged parallel to outside surfaces of a rear leg portion33of the cover member30attached to the slider body10, described below, at the same positions or at substantially the same positions as the outside surfaces of the rear leg portion33in relation to the width direction of the slider1, and thereby the outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22band the outside surfaces of the rear leg portion33of the cover member30are disposed on the same flat surfaces, or substantially the same flat surfaces.

Upper end portions (top end portions) of the right and left rear first side wall portions22bhave upper end surfaces (top end surfaces) arranged parallel to the upper surface of the upper blade20. The upper end surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22bface the lower end portions of the right and left side surface portions35of the cover body portion31of the cover member30, and in the case of Embodiment 1, in particular, are in contact with the lower end portions of the right and left side surface portions35of the cover body portion31.

The right and left rear second side wall portions22care accommodated in the cover member30attached to the slider body10. In this case, at least a part of the rear second side wall portion22cis accommodated in the rear leg portion33of the cover member30and covered so that it cannot be seen from the outside by the rear leg portion33. The right and left rear second side wall portions22cextend from the rear first side wall portions22bvia step portions22g, and protrude in the rear direction of a rear end surface of the rear base portion22a. Rear end edges of the rear second side wall portions22care along the upper and lower direction. This enables the right and left rear second side wall portions22ctogether with the right and left front second side wall portions21cto make a position of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10in the front and rear direction stable, and restrain the cover member30from rattling in the front and rear direction.

Outer wall surfaces of the right and left rear second side wall portions22care formed in plane surfaces perpendicular to the width direction. Note that, the outer wall surfaces of the right and left rear second side wall portions22cmay be arranged inclined to the length direction of the slider1. The outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions22care arranged on an inside of the outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22b. Additionally, the step portions22gare sloping downward toward the rear direction in a side surface view of the slider body10.

As such step portions22gbeing disposed on the rear attachment post22, in attaching the cover member30to the slider body10, the rear leg portion33of the cover member30can be guided by the step portions22g. This enables the rear leg portion33of the cover member30to engage with the rear engaging pawl portion22dof the rear attachment post22easily and smoothly. Furthermore, a thickness of the side surface portions35of the rear leg portion33of the cover member30can be absorbed by the step portions22g, and thereby the outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions22band the outside surfaces of the rear leg portion33of the cover member30can be disposed on the same flat surfaces, or substantially the same flat surfaces. As a result, appearance quality of the slider1can be enhanced.

Each outer wall surface of the right and left rear second side wall portions22chas a part that faces each inner wall surface of the rear leg portion33of the cover member30. In the case of Embodiment 1, in particular, the outer wall surfaces of the right and left rear second side wall portions22care arranged to be in contact with or be close to the inner wall surfaces of the rear leg portion33of the cover member30, and similar to the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21cas described above, in a side surface view of the slider1(seeFIG.2), regions in which the outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions22cand the inner wall surfaces of the cover member30are in contact with each other or superposed with each other are secured large.

The rear engaging pawl portion22dof the rear attachment post22protrudes in the rear direction of the right and left rear second side wall portions22c. The rear engaging pawl portion22d, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the rear engaging pawl portion22d, has a pawl upper surface, an inclined surface sloping downward from the pawl upper surface toward a tip end portion of the rear engaging pawl portion22d, and a pawl lower surface22harranged from the tip end portion of the rear engaging pawl portion22dto the rear end surface of the rear base portion22a. Additionally, the pawl lower surface22hof the rear engaging pawl portion22d, in a cross-section perpendicular to the width direction, has a depressed-surface-shaped curved surface that curves in an arc-shape. Thereby, a load applied to the rear engaging pawl portion22dfrom the cover member30can be made easy to disperse, and it is possible to restrain from damage, and the like, to occur in the rear engaging pawl portion22dand the rear base portion22a.

The rear protruding portion22eprotrudes from the rear base portion22ain the upper direction at a position between the rear engaging pawl portion22dand the pawl hole22fin the front and rear direction. The rear protruding portion22eis inserted in the attachment hole portion61of the plate spring member60, and thereby a position of a rear end portion of the plate spring member60with respect to the slider body10is determined.

The front recessed channel portion23that can accommodate a front side lower end portion of the cover member30is disposed at a front end portion of the upper blade20, and a rear recessed channel portion24that can accommodate a rear side lower end portion of the cover member30is disposed at a rear end portion of the upper blade20. As such front recessed channel portion23and rear recessed channel portion24being disposed on the slider body10, it becomes easy to make the all height dimensions of the slider1from a lower surface of the lower blade11to an upper surface of the cover member30small. Additionally, a part of each of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33(a thick portion34b) of the cover member30, described below, can be made easy to be inserted in each lower side of the front engaging pawl portion21dand the rear engaging pawl portion22dof the slider body10.

The tab40of Embodiment 1 has a tab main body portion41picked by fingers, and the like, right and left arm portions42extending from one end portion of the tab main body portion41, and the attachment shaft portion (a link portion)43that connects between tip end portions of the right and left arm portions42. A cross-section perpendicular to a shaft direction of the attachment shaft portion43shows a circular shape. An open window portion having a rectangular shape surrounded by the tab main body portion41, the right and left arm portions42, and the attachment shaft portion43is formed on the tab40. Note that, in the invention, the shape, size, material, and the like of the tab40are not particularly limited.

The stop pawl body50of Embodiment 1 has a pawl main body portion51showing a substantially C-shape or a substantially J-shape in a side surface view of the stop pawl body50, the spindle portion52extending from a front end portion of the pawl main body portion51in the lower direction, and a pawl portion53protruding from a rear end portion of the pawl main body portion51in the lower direction. The pawl main body portion51is arranged to pass over an upper side of the attachment shaft portion43of the tab40at least between the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22.

The stop pawl body50is attached to the slider body10in a posture in which the spindle portion52is accommodated in the pawl accommodating recessed portion21fof the front attachment post21to make a tip end portion of the spindle portion52be in contact with the bottom surface portion of the pawl accommodating recessed portion21f, as well as the pawl portion53is inserted in the pawl hole22fof the rear attachment post22. Additionally, the stop pawl body50is arranged swingable or rotatable at a contacting portion of the spindle portion52and the bottom surface portion between the pawl accommodating recessed portion21fas a fulcrum. As the stop pawl body50being swung or rotated, the pawl portion53can be entered in or exit from the element guide path15of the slider body10.

The plate spring member60of Embodiment 1 is formed by punching a metal piece having a predetermined shape from a continuous elongated metal plate member, such as stainless steel. The attachment hole portions61that open as cutting inward from a front end edge and a rear end edge of the plate spring member60are respectively formed at one end portion (a front end portion) and the other end portion (a rear end portion) of the plate spring member60. This plate spring member60is attached to the slider1by being held between the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22of the slider body10, and the cover main body portion34of the cover member30. Additionally, the plate spring member60urges the stop pawl body50in a direction in which the pawl portion53moves into the element guide path15of the slider body10.

The cover member30of Embodiment 1 has the cover body portion31arranged along the length direction, the front leg portion32bending at a front end portion of the cover body portion31and extending in the lower direction, and the rear leg portion33bending at a rear end portion of the cover body portion31and extending in the lower direction. The cover member30shows an inverted U-shape in a side surface view of the cover member30. This cover member30is formed elastically deformable. Additionally, the cover member30is fixed on the slider body10as the front leg portion32being engaged with the front attachment post21of the slider body10and as the rear leg portion33being engaged with the rear attachment post22of the slider body10.

The cover member30has the cover main body portion (a ceiling portion)34extending from the front leg portion32to the rear leg portion33via the cover body portion31, and the right and left side surface portions35extending from right and left side edge portions of the cover main body portion34toward an inner circumferential side of the cover main body portion34. The cover member30is formed in a box-shape opening in the lower direction and having a bottom surface part on an upper side. Additionally, a space portion that accommodates a part of the stop pawl body50and the plate spring member60is disposed in the cover member30. In this case, the cover main body34forms a front surface portion of the front leg portion32, an upper surface portion of the cover body portion31, and a rear surface portion of the rear leg portion33. The right and left side surface portions35of the cover member30are continuously disposed over the front leg portion32, the cover body portion31, and the rear leg portion33.

Inner circumferential side end edges of the right and left side surface portions35of the cover member30, as shown inFIG.5, have lower end edges36linearly disposed on the cover body portion31along the front and rear direction, and inclining end edges37provided on the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33, as well as arranged inclined with respect to the upper and lower direction. Additionally, the lower end edges36and the front and rear inclining end edges37are continuously formed via the inner circumferential side end edges that curves in an arc-shape. The inclining end edges37disposed on the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33of the cover member30are arranged to face the step portions21gand22gformed on the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22. In this case, the inclining end edges37of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33, and the step portions21gand22gof the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22are apart from each other.

The cover main body portion34of the cover body portion31(that is, the upper surface portion of the cover body portion31), as shown inFIG.5, has an inner surface (a back surface) that curves in a depressed shape so that a middle portion of the cover main body portion34in the length direction is the farthest from the upper blade20. Thereby, in case the stop pawl body50is pulled up against urging force of the plate spring member60, the plate spring member60and the stop pawl body50can be made difficult to interfere the cover main body portion34of the cover body portion31.

The right and left side surface portions35arranged on the cover body portion31extend from the cover main body portion34of the cover body portion31in the lower direction. Additionally, the lower end portions of the right and left side surface portions35, as described above, have the lower end edges36linearly disposed along the front and rear direction. The lower end edges36of the right and left side surface portions35are in contact with four points that are upper surfaces of the right and left front first side wall portions21bof the front attachment post21, and upper surfaces of the right and left rear first side wall portions22bof the rear attachment post22of the slider body10. This means the cover member30is supported by the slider body10at these four points, and thereby the slider of Embodiment 1, as described below, can have a high strength against a load applied from an upper side of the cover member30.

Each of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33of the cover member30has the cover main body portion34and the right and left side surface portions35, each cross-section perpendicular to the height direction of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33shows a substantially U-shape.

The right and left side surface portions35arranged on the front leg portion32of the cover member30are disposed on an outside of the front second side wall portions21cof the front attachment post21, and cover the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21c. The right and left side surface portions35arranged on the rear leg portion33of the cover member30are disposed on an outside of the rear second side wall portions22cof the rear attachment post22, and cover the outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions22c.

In this case, the right and left side surface portions35of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33are arranged to be in contact with or be close to the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21cof the front attachment post21or the outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions22cof the rear attachment post22. As the front leg portion32, the rear leg portion33, and the cover member30being disposed in this way, regions in which the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21cand the inner wall surfaces of the cover member30are in contact with each other or superposed with each other can be secured large, as described above.

In the cover member30of Embodiment 1, front and rear inserting recessed portions38are disposed on the cover main body portion (the upper surface portion)34of the cover body portion31in which the front protruding portion21edisposed on the front attachment post21and the rear protruding portion22edisposed on the rear attachment post22of the slider body10are inserted.

Additionally, accommodating hole portions39are disposed on the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33of the cover member30in which the front engaging pawl portion21ddisposed on the front attachment post21and the rear engaging pawl portion22ddisposed on the rear attachment post22of the slider body10are respectively inserted and accommodated. As the front engaging pawl portion21dand the rear engaging pawl portion22dof the slider body10being accommodated in such accommodating hole portions39disposed on the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33, the cover member30engages with and is attached to the slider body10.

In Embodiment 1, the accommodating hole portions39disposed on the cover member30linearly penetrate the cover member30along the length direction. Thereby, a die used for molding the cover member30can be formed by a relatively simple structure, which leads reduction of manufacturing costs of the slider1.

Additionally, each of the cover main body portion (the front surface portion)34of the front leg portion32and the cover main body portion (the rear surface portion)34of the front leg portion33has a thin portion34adisposed at a lower end portion of the front leg portion32or the rear leg portion33, a thick portion34bdisposed adjacent to the accommodating hole portion39with a thickness (dimensions of the front and rear direction) of the cover main body portion34increased more than the thin portion34a, and a gradual increase portion34cincreasing gradually a thickness of the cover main body portion34from the thin portion34atoward the thick portion34b. As the thin portions34abeing disposed at the lower end portions of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33, in assembling the slider1, the cover member30can be made easy to cover the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22of the slider body10. Additionally, as the thick portions34bbeing disposed adjacent to the accommodating hole portions39on the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33, engaging force of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10can be enhanced.

In the cover member30of Embodiment 1, each of the right and left side surface portions35, for example, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the cover member30, as shown inFIG.5, has a deformation allowable portion, in which a distance X from the cover main body portion34to the inner circumferential side end edge of the side surface portion35is the shortest, at a bending part which bends from the cover body portion31toward the front leg portion32or the rear leg portion33. As deformation allowable portions, in which a distance X of the side surface portion35from the cover main body portion34is short, being disposed at the bending parts of the cover member30in this way, the cover member30can be made easy to elastically deform so that the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33open to be apart from each other. Thereby, in case the cover member30is made to cover and engage with the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22, the cover member30can be made to elastically deform easily and can be assembled with the slider body10easily. Additionally, when the cover member30is made to elastically deform, it is less likely to cause damage in the right and left side surface portions35of the cover member30.

Hereinafter, a manufacturing method of the slider1of Embodiment 1 by assembling the five components that are the slider body10, the tab40, the stop pawl body50, the plate spring member60, and the cover member30is explained.

First, the tab40is placed on the upper blade20of the slide body10. At this time, the attachment shaft portion43of the tab40is inserted between the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22of the slider body10, as well as the front attachment post21or the rear attachment post22are inserted in the open window portion of the tab40.

Next, the stop pawl body50and the plate spring member60are placed in order on the slider body10on which the tab40is placed. In case the stop pawl body50is placed on the slider body10, the spindle portion52of the stop pawl body50is inserted in the pawl accommodating recessed portion21fdisposed on the front attachment post21of the slider body10, as well as the pawl portion53of the stop pawl body50is inserted in the pawl hole22fdisposed on the rear attachment post22of the slider body10. Subsequently, the plate spring member60is placed on the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22so that the front protruding portion21eand the rear protruding portion22eof the slider body10are inserted in the front and rear attachment hole portions61of the plate spring member60.

Then, the cover member30is attached to the slider body10on which the tab40, the stop pawl body50, and the plate spring member60are placed. At this time, the cover body portion31of the cover member30is brought close to the slider body10in a forward or backward inclined posture, and the front engaging pawl portion21d(or the rear engaging pawl portion22d) of the slider body10is inserted in the accommodating hole portion39disposed on the front leg portion32(or the rear leg portion33) of the cover member30.

Subsequently, the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30is pushed in the lower direction so that the inclining cover body portion31follows the front and rear direction. Thereby, the cover member30is made to elastically deform so that the front leg portion32and rear leg portion33open outside in the length direction, as well as the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30is made to go down. At this time, as the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30can be made to go down while being guided by the step portions21g(or the step portions22g) disposed on the rear attachment post22(or the front attachment post21) of the slider body10, a position (a position in the width direction, in particular) of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10is prevent from shifting, and assembly operations of the cover member30can be smoothly and stably performed.

Furthermore, when the accommodating hole portion39disposed on the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30reaches a position of the rear engaging pawl portion22d(or the front engaging pawl portion21d) of the slider body10because of the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30being made to go down, the cover member30elastically returns, as well as the rear engaging pawl portion22d(or the front engaging pawl portion21d) of the slider body10is inserted in the accommodating hole portion39disposed on the rear leg portion33(or the front leg portion32) of the cover member30.

Thus, the cover member30engages with and is attached to the front attachment post21and the rear attachment post22of the slider body10, the slider1of Embodiment 1 is manufactured. Assembly operations of the slider1using elastic deformation of the cover member30as described above, can be easily and stably performed by hands, or by using an automatic assemble machine.

In the slider1of Embodiment 1 manufactured as described above, when the tab40is not operated in a free state (a non-operation state), the pawl portion53is made to enter in the element guide path15of the slider body10with the stop pawl body50being urged by the plate spring member60. An automatic stop mechanism by the stop pawl body50in this way is provided in the slider1of Embodiment 1.

Additionally, in the slider1of Embodiment 1, as described above, the inner wall surfaces of the front leg portion32and the rear leg portion33of the cover member30are arranged to be in contact with or be close to the outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions21cand the outer wall surfaces of the right and left rear second side wall portions22cdisposed in the slider body10, and in a side surface view of the slider1, regions in which the inner wall surfaces of the cover member30and the front second side wall portions21cand the rear second side wall portions22care in contact with each other or superposed with each other are secured large.

For this reason, even if the cover member30receives a load (stress) in the direction of tilting from the width direction by, for example, such as the tab40, it is easy to catch the load in a tilting direction due to contact between the inner wall surfaces of the cover member30, and the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions21cand the rear second side wall portions22c. Thus, the cover member30can be made difficult to tilt in the width direction, as a result, attachment strength of the cover member30with respect to the slider body10can be enhanced.

Furthermore, in the slider of Embodiment 1, as described above, the right and left side surface portions35arranged on the cover body portion31of the cover member30extend in the upper and lower direction. Moreover, the lower end edges36of the right and left side surface portions35are in contact with the total four points that are the upper surfaces of the right and left front first side wall portions21bof the front attachment post21, and the upper surfaces of the right and left rear first side wall portions22bof the rear attachment post22of the slider body10, and the cover member30is supported at these four points. For this reason, in case the cover member30is pushed from the upper direction and a load (stress) in the lower direction is applied to the cover member30, the load in the lower direction can be stably supported by contacting between the cover member30and such four contacting points of the front first side wall portions21band the rear first side wall portions22b. Additionally, the right and left side surface portions35disposed on the cover body portion31can restrain the cover body portion31from deforming to bend downward. Therefore, the slider1of Embodiment 1 can exhibit a high strength against a load (an impact load) applied from an upper side of the cover member30.

FIG.6andFIG.7are a perspective view and a side view illustrating a slider according to Embodiment 2.FIG.8andFIG.9are a plan view and a side view illustrating a slider body of the slider according to Embodiment 2. Note that, an illustration of a tab is omitted inFIG.6toFIG.9.

The slider2for a slide fastener according to Embodiment 2 is formed as a so-called free slider2, not having an automatic stop mechanism by such a stop pawl body50of the slider1of Embodiment 1 as described above.

Such a slider2of Embodiment 2 is formed by three components that are a slider body70, a tab (not shown), and a cover member90. Note that, the tab40explained in the above described Embodiment 1 can be used as an example of a tab of Embodiment 2.

The slider body70of Embodiment 2 has an upper blade80, a lower blade71, a connecting post72that connects a front end portion of the upper blade80and a front end portion of the lower blade71, and right and left upper flange portions73disposed on right and left side portions of the upper blade80. Additionally, the slider body70has a front attachment post81and a rear attachment post82standing up in the upper direction from the upper blade80, a front recessed channel portion83disposed in the front direction of the front attachment post81, and a rear recessed channel portion84disposed in the rear direction of the rear attachment post82.

The front attachment post81of Embodiment 2 has a front base portion81aarranged at a middle portion in the width direction of the upper blade80, a pair of right and left front first side wall portions81b, a pair of right and left front second side wall portions81carranged in the front direction of the front first side wall portions81b, and a front engaging pawl portion81dprotruding from the front base portion81ain the front direction. The front first side wall portions81b, the front second side wall portions81c, and the front engaging pawl portion81dof Embodiment 2 are formed substantially same as the front attachment post21of the above described Embodiment 1.

Specifically, the right and left front first side wall portions81bof Embodiment 2 have plane outer wall surfaces arranged perpendicular to the width direction of the slider2, the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions81bare exposed outside. Additionally, upper end portions of the front first side wall portions81bhave upper end surfaces arranged parallel to an upper surface of the upper blade80, the upper end surfaces of the front first side wall portions81bare in contact with lower end portions (lower end edges96) of right and left side surface portions95of a cover body portion91. Thereby, the cover member90is supported from below.

The right and left front second side wall portions81cof the front attachment post81extend from the front first side wall portions81bvia step portions81gin the front direction. Outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions81care formed in plane surfaces perpendicular to the width direction, and are arranged on an inside of the outer wall surfaces of the front first side wall portions81bvia step portions81gin the width direction. As the step portions81gbeing disposed between the front first side wall portions81band the front second side wall portions81c, workability of assembly operations of the slider2can be improved, similar to the slider1of the above described Embodiment 1.

The plane outer wall surfaces of the right and left front second side wall portions81care arranged to be in contact with or be close to inner wall surfaces of a front leg portion92of the cover member90, in a side surface view of the slider2, regions in which the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions81cand the inner wall surfaces of the cover member90are in contact with each other or superposed with each other are secured large. Accordingly, the cover member90can be made difficult to tilt in the width direction, and attachment strength of the cover member90with respect to the slider body70can be enhanced, similar to the slider1of the above described Embodiment 1.

The front engaging pawl portion81dof Embodiment 2, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the width direction of the front engaging pawl portion81d, has a pawl upper surface, an inclined surface sloping downward from the pawl upper surface to a tip end portion of the front engaging pawl portion81d, and a pawl lower surface81harranged from the tip end portion of the front engaging pawl portion81dto a front end surface of the front base portion81a. The pawl lower surface81hof the front engaging pawl portion81d, in a cross-section perpendicular to the width direction, has a depressed-surface-shaped curved surface that curves in an arc-shape. For this reason, a load applied to the front engaging pawl portion81dfrom the cover member90can be made easy to disperse, and it is possible to restrain from damage, and the like, to occur in the front engaging pawl portion81dand the front base portion81a, similar to the slider1of the above described Embodiment 1.

The rear attachment post82of Embodiment 2 has a rear base portion82aarranged at a middle portion in the width direction of the upper blade80, a pair of right and left rear first side wall portions82b, a pair of right and left rear second side wall portions82carranged on an outside (in the rear direction) of the rear first side wall portions82bin the length direction, and a rear engaging pawl portion82dprotruding from the rear base portion82ain the rear direction.

Although the rear first side wall portions82b, the rear second side wall portions82c, and the rear engaging pawl portion82dof the rear attachment post82of Embodiment 2 are formed in the opposite direction of the front and rear direction to corresponding portions of the front attachment post81that are the front first side wall portions81b, the front second side wall portions81c, and the front engaging pawl portion81d, they are formed substantially same as each corresponding portion of the front attachment post81.

That is, the right and left rear second side wall portions82cof the rear attachment post82extend from the rear first side wall portions82bvia step portions82gin the rear direction. Outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions82care formed in plane surfaces perpendicular to the width direction, and arranged on an inside of the outer wall surfaces of the rear first side wall portions82bvia step portions82gin the width direction. The outer wall surfaces of the right and left rear second side wall portions82care arranged to be in contact with or be close to inner wall surfaces of a rear leg portion93of the cover member90. The rear engaging pawl portion82dhas a pawl lower surface82harranged from a tip end portion of the rear engaging pawl portion82dto a rear end surface of the rear base portion82a.

The front recessed channel portion83that can accommodate a front side lower end portion of the cover member90is disposed at the front end portion of the upper blade80, and the rear recessed channel portion84that can accommodate a rear side lower end portion of the cover member90is disposed at a rear end portion of the upper blade80.

The cover member90of Embodiment 2 has the cover body portion91, the front leg portion92bending at a front end portion of the cover body portion91and extending in the lower direction, and the rear leg portion93bending at a rear end portion of the cover body portion91and extending in the lower direction. This cover member90is formed elastically deformable.

The cover member90has a cover main body portion94extending from the front leg portion92to the rear leg portion93via the cover body portion91, and the right and left side surface portions95extending from right and left side edge portions of the cover main body portion94to an inner circumferential side of the cover main body portion94. The cover main body portion94forms a front surface portion of the front leg portion92, an upper surface portion of the cover body portion91, and a rear surface portion of the rear leg portion93. The right and left side surface portions95of the cover member90are continuously disposed over the front leg portion92, the cover body portion91, and the rear leg portion93.

Inner circumferential side end edges of the right and left side surface portions95of the cover member90have the lower end edges96disposed on the cover body portion91, and inclining end edges provided on the front leg portion92and the rear leg portion93, as well as arranged inclined with respect to the upper and lower direction.

The lower end edges96of the side surface portions95of the cover body portion91are in contact with four points that are upper end portions (upper surfaces) of the right and left front first side wall portions81bof the front attachment post81of the slider body70, and upper end portions (upper surfaces) of the right and left rear first side wall portions82bof the rear attachment post82, and the cover member90is supported by the slider body70at these four points. Thereby, the slider of Embodiment 2 can have a high strength against a load applied from an upper side of the cover member90.

The right and left side surface portions95arranged on the front leg portion92of the cover member90are arranged to be in contact with or be close to the outer wall surfaces of the front second side wall portions81cof the front attachment post81. The right and left side surface portions95arranged on the rear leg portion93of the cover member90are arranged to be in contact with or be close to the outer wall surfaces of the rear second side wall portions82cof the rear attachment post82. Thereby, a region in which each outer wall surface of the front second side wall portions81cand the rear second side wall portions82cand each inner wall surface of the cover member90is in contact with each other or superposed with each other can be secured large. Thus, the cover member90can be made difficult to tilt in the width direction.

Additionally, accommodating hole portions99are disposed on the front leg portion92and the rear leg portion93of the cover member90in which the front engaging pawl portion81ddisposed on the front attachment post81and the rear engaging pawl portion82ddisposed on the rear attachment post82of the slider body70are respectively inserted and accommodated. The accommodating hole portions99linearly penetrate the cover member90along the length direction. As the front engaging pawl portion81dand the rear engaging pawl portion82dof the slider body70being accommodated in the accommodating hole portions99of the front leg portion92and the rear leg portion93of the cover member90, the cover member90engages with and is attached to the slider body70.

According to the above free slider2of Embodiment 2, similar to the above described slider1of Embodiment 1, attachment strength of the cover member90with respect to the slider body70can be enhanced, and the slider2can exhibit a high strength against a load applied from an upper side of the cover member90.

Furthermore, in attaching the cover member90to the slider body70, as the front leg portion92and/or the rear leg portion93of the cover member90can be guided by the step portions81g,82gdisposed on the front attachment post81and/or the rear attachment post82of the slider body70, a position (a position in the width direction, in particular) of the cover member90with respect to the slider body70can be prevented from shifting, and assembly operations of the cover member90can be smoothly and stably performed.

Note that, the slider1of Embodiment 1 is mainly used for a slide fastener having fastener elements made of synthetic resin formed by injection molding. Additionally, the slider2of Embodiment 2 is mainly used for a slide fastener having coil-shaped fastener elements. The sliders of the invention, however, can be equally applied to slide fasteners having various kinds of fastener elements, such as fastener elements made of synthetic resin and formed by injection molding, coil-shaped fastener elements, or fastener elements made of metal.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST