SLIDER CAPABLE OF MINIMIZING SCRATCHING ON ZIPPER, ZIPPER USING THE SLIDER, AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCT USING THE ZIPPER

A slider capable of minimizing scratching on zipper, which includes a top side plate, a bottom side plate opposing the top side plate, and a link part connecting the top side plate and the bottom side plate, the bottom side plate having two side walls extending from two side edges thereof, the top side plate having a top inner surface and a top outer surface, the bottom side plate having a bottom inner surface and a bottom outer surface, and an internal passage being formed by the top inner surface, the bottom inner surface, the side walls and the link part; and the slider being characterized in that a pair of parallel longitudinal grooves are formed in the top inner surface and/or the bottom inner surface during a molding process to accommodate at least a part of a set of border lines of a combination mold.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a slider, especially to a slider capable of minimizing scratching on a zipper by providing grooves on inner surface to contain leaked molten raw material from a border line of a combination mold.

Description of the Related Art

The body of a slider generally consists of a top cover, a bottom cover, a pair of sidewalls and a link part connecting the top cover and the bottom cover, and an internal passage is formed therein. When in use, two chains of a zipper are confined within the internal passage, and a user can pull up or down a tab, which is connected with the body of the slider, to make the two chains of the zipper engaged or disengaged with each other.

As shown inFIG.1, which illustrates a three-dimensional view of a conventional slider1, the conventional slider1has a top side plate11and a bottom side plate12opposing the top side plate11, where the top side plate11has a top outer surface111and a top inner surface112, and the bottom side plate12has a bottom outer surface121and a bottom inner surface122. Besides, a link part13is located at front end of the slider1and connected with the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12, both the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12have two side walls14extending from two side edges thereof, and a pair of extension parts17are each connected between the bottom inner surface122and a side wall14. Besides, a pull handle18is located on the top outer surface111(the pull handle18can also be located on the bottom outer surface121). In addition, two border line marks a and b are formed on the bottom inner surface122adue to leaked molten raw material from two border lines of a combination mold (not shown in the figure) when the slider1is being formed in a molding process.

To be more specific, the slider is manufactured by using a combination mold to perform a slider molding process. The slider molding process includes filling or injecting a volume of molten metal or molten plastic into the combination mold, and cooling and then demolding the combination mold to produce the slider. As for the formation of the internal passage, a set of mutually matched blocks are initially plugged in the slider combination mold before the molten metal or molten plastic is filled or injected into the molten metal or molten plastic, and are pulled out after the formation of the slider is completed to form a space for the internal passage.

FIGS.2and3respectively show a schematic view of the slider1with both the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122facing upwardly after the slider1is cut open. Each of the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122has a set of border line marks a, b, and c produced by the set of mutually matched blocks. To be more specific, each of the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122has a pair of longitudinal border line marks a, a pair of front end transverse border line marks b, and a pair of rear end transverse border line marks c.

Each front end transverse border line mark b is located at the front end of the slider1and is connected to the front end of a longitudinal border line mark a; and each rear end transverse border line mark c is located at the rear end of the slider1and is connected to the rear end of a longitudinal border line mark a.

Besides, it is clear fromFIG.2that the longitudinal border line marks a are the routes where two chains4and their fixing threads41must pass in the slider1to make the two chains4engaged or separated. As the fixing threads41are sewing threads or warp-and-weft yarns, etc., the routes they pass must be kept smooth to avoid causing damage to the zipper.

In fact, during the casting process of the sliders, the set of mutually matched blocks will keep closing and separating from each other, resulting in tear and wear due to continuous collision of the mutually matched blocks, thereby producing spills5on the border line marks a, b, and c of the top inner surfaces112and/or the bottom inner surfaces122. In addition, as shown inFIG.3, when the set of mutually matched blocks are pulled out of the combination mold, as the tail end of the mutually matched blocks can be worn by repeating friction with the combination mold, at least one uneven scratch6can be produced on the top inner surface112and/or the bottom inner surface122of the slider1, and the uneven scratch6mostly appears at one or both sides of the longitudinal border line mark a.

The spills5formed on the aforementioned border line marks a, b and c can damage the zipper. For example, the spills5on the longitudinal border line marks a of the slider1on the top inner surface112can scratch a waterproof layer attached on the surface of a pair of support fabric straps of the zipper, or even damage the surface of the chains4, or abrade the sewing threads and the pair of support fabric straps, etc., When the aforementioned spills or scratches break the fixing threads41of the chains, the fastening elements of the chains will fall off from the pair of supporting fabric straps and the zipper will not function normally, making an article of apparel, on which the zipper is mounted, unable to use normally.

Furthermore, since the aforementioned spills5or scratches6can wear the surface of the fastening elements of the chains made of plastic steel or metal, this defect on the chains can spoil the aesthetics of an article of apparel having the zipper mounted thereon.

To cope with the issues mentioned above, the conventional way is to use a small abrasive file to reach into the slider1and remove the spills5, which is called a trimming process. Since the size of the abrasive file must be smaller than the internal space of the slider1, otherwise the internal space will be enlarged and the normal function of the zipper will thereby be affected. Therefore, it is not possible to completely scrape away the spills5. In addition, the abrasive file is not capable of correcting the unevenness of the scratches6.

In addition, due to the huge quantity of slider production, which can be tens of thousands or even millions of pieces per batch, it is costly and impossible to clean up the spills by the conventional process of rubbing each piece. Therefore, how to minimize the spillage on the border line marks in the inner space of the slider, and thereby reduce the scratching damage to the zippers when the zippers are in use, is a difficult problem to be solved in the field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a slider capable of minimizing scratching on a zipper, where a pair of longitudinal grooves are provided in parallel on an top inner surface and/or a bottom inner surface, and where each of the grooves accommodates at least a part of a set of combination mold border line marks formed during the production process of the slider, so as to reduce the scratching damage to the zipper caused by spills on the combination mold border line marks, and to prolong the service life of the combination mold and the zipper.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, a slider capable of minimizing scratching on a zipper is proposed, which includes a top side plate, a bottom side plate opposing the top side plate, and a link part connecting the top side plate and the bottom side plate, the bottom side plate having two side walls extending from two side edges thereof, the top side plate having a top inner surface and a top outer surface, the bottom side plate having a bottom inner surface and a bottom outer surface, and an internal passage being formed by the top inner surface, the bottom inner surface, the side walls and the link part; and the slider being characterized in that a pair of parallel longitudinal grooves are formed in the top inner surface and/or the bottom inner surface during a molding process to accommodate at least a part of a set of border lines of a combination mold to contain a leaked amount of a molten raw material from the border lines, so that the slider can minimize scratching on the zipper.

In one embodiment, the slider further includes at least one pull handle disposed on the top outer surface and/or the bottom outer surface.

In one embodiment, there are a set of border line marks on each of the top inner surface and the bottom inner surface, the set of border line marks including a pair of longitudinal border line marks, a front transverse border line mark connected to each of the longitudinal border line marks, and a rear transverse border line mark connected to each of the longitudinal border line marks.

In one embodiment, a pair of top stop receiving parts are formed on the front end of the top inner surface and/or that bottom inner surface to receive a pair of top stops of the zipper, and each of the grooves is partly disposed in one of the top stop receiving parts.

In one embodiment, the grooves each have a different width and depth.

For possible embodiments, the slider can be a pinless slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider, a press-fastened pinned slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider for invisible zippers, or a pinless slider for invisible zippers.

For possible embodiments, the slider material can be alloy metal or plastic.

In one embodiment, the intersections of both the front end transverse border line mark and the rear end transverse border line mark with each of the longitudinal border line marks are shaped with a beveled or rounded corner.

The present invention further provides a zipper having a slider as mentioned above to minimize scratching on the zipper when the zipper is in use, thereby prolonging the service life of the zipper.

The present invention further provides a commercial product having the zipper as mentioned above to offer a reliable zipping operation.

For possible embodiments, the commercial product can be an article of clothes, an article carrier, or a camping gear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Most of the components of the slider of the present invention are identical to the slider shown inFIG.1, i.e., the slider1of the invention includes a top side plate11and a bottom side plate12disposed opposite to each other, the top side plate11has a top outer surface111and a top inner surface112, and the bottom side plate12has a bottom outer surface121and a bottom inner surface122. A link part13connects the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12at the front end of the slider1, and the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12each have a side wall14at the two side edges, and a pair of extension parts17are each connected with the corresponding side walls14of the bottom side plate12. The link part13connects the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12at the front end of the slider1, and the top side plate11and the bottom side plate12each have a side wall14at the edge of each side, and the pair of extension parts17are each connected to a corresponding side wall14and a bottom inner surface122of the bottom side plate12. A pull handle18is disposed on the top outer surface111, and the pull handle18may be disposed on the top outer surface111and/or the bottom outer surface121as required.

As shown inFIGS.4ato4c, a plan view of the bottom inner surface122, a top inner surface112, and a cross-section of the bottom inner surface122of the first embodiment of the slider of the present invention are shown respectively.FIGS.4aand4bshow that the slider1has only a pair of parallel grooves8on the bottom inner surface122, and of course, only a pair of parallel grooves8on the top inner surface112can be provided according to practical needs. The top side plate11and the bottom side plate12each have two side walls14on two side, and the side wall14of the bottom side plate12is higher than the side wall14of the top side plate11. The positions of the grooves8are arranged to make each groove8accommodate a longitudinal border line mark a, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c.

As shown inFIG.4c, which illustrates a cross-sectional view ofFIG.4ataken along a line X1-X2, the positions of the pair of grooves8and the sloped sides of the groove8can be seen in the figure.

In addition, each of the side walls14has an extension part17at a lower part thereof; the bottom inner surface122has a boss15for stabilizing the opening and closing function of a coil type zipper, such as a nylon zipper or a braided zipper, within the head1, and the boss15has a shape, width and height dependent on the shape of the coil type fastening elements of the chains4(shown inFIG.2), and thus the shape, width and height of the boss15do not have to be particularly limited.

Furthermore, although both the extension parts17and the boss15protrude from the bottom inner surface122, however, as the distance between the extension parts17and the boss15is so wide, the fixing threads41of the fastening elements of the chains4still can touch the spills5on the respective longitudinal border line marks a and get scratched by the spills5when the slider1is pulled along the chains4. The pair of grooves8of the present embodiment can accommodate a part of the spills5and scratches6on the longitudinal border line marks a and the rear end transverse border line mark c, so that the height of the spills5and scratches6accommodated in the grooves8can be lower than the respective inner surfaces112,122, thereby reducing the scratching on the zipper.

In fact, the front end of each of the longitudinal border line marks a gradually descends from the top inner surface112into the corresponding beveled edge of a groove8, and finally to the bottom of the groove8. The groove8extends from below the bottom inner surface122, including the beveled edge of the groove8, without an apparent boundary. The position at which each of the longitudinal border line marks a enters the corresponding area of the groove8can be set as desired. The profile shape, depth and width of each of the grooves8need not be restricted, and even each of the grooves8may have different widths or depths, depending on the size and needs of the zipper, but the depth of each of the grooves8is preferably 0.05 mm or more.

FIGS.5aand5billustrate a second embodiment of slider of the present invention, which differs from the first embodiment in that the bottom inner surface122has a pair of parallel grooves8in addition to the top inner surface112. Each of the side walls14of the bottom side plate12is higher than the side walls14of the top side plate11, and the inner side of the side walls14of the bottom side plate12has an extension part17.

The pair of grooves8are positioned to correspond to the longitudinal border line marks a, and each of the grooves8accommodates an entire corresponding longitudinal border line mark a, a part of the front end transverse border line mark b, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c. The top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122each have a boss15. The boss15and the extension parts17are used to stabilize the opening and closing function of the coil type zipper, such as a nylon zipper or a braided zipper, within the slider1. The shape, width and height of the boss15depend on the shape of the fastening elements of the chains4, and therefore need not be particularly limited.

Furthermore, although both the extension parts17and the boss15are above the bottom inner surface122, however, as the distance between the extension parts17and the boss15is so wide, the fixing threads41of the fastening elements of the chains4still can touch the spills5on the longitudinal border line marks a and get scratched by the spills5when the slider1is pulled along the chains4. The grooves8of the present embodiment can accommodate the spills5and scratches6on the corresponding longitudinal border line marks a and the rear end transverse border line mark c, thus reducing scratching on the zipper.

In addition, in die casting the slider, the breakage of the sliding blocks in the combination mold could occur when they are wedged with each other to experience an impact, and there will be excessive spills of a raw material at the intersections of the longitudinal border line marks a with the rear end transverse border line mark c. In order to solve the problem, referring toFIGS.5cand5d, each end of the sliding block may be designed with a beveled or rounded edge so that the intersections of the longitudinal border line marks a with the rear end transverse border line mark c have a beveled or rounded shape. That said, the present invention is not limited thereto, but any shapes capable of solving the problem of excessive spills can be used instead.

The front end of each of the longitudinal border line marks a of the slider1gradually descends from the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122respectively into a corresponding beveled edge of a groove8, and finally to a bottom of the groove. The grooves8extend from below the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122, and each have two beveled edges. The position at which each of the longitudinal border line marks a enters the corresponding area of the groove8can be set as desired. The profile shape, depth and width of each of the grooves8need not be restricted, and even each of the grooves8may have different widths or depths, depending on the size and needs of the zipper, but the depth of each of the grooves8is preferably 0.05 mm or more.

FIGS.6aand6billustrate a third embodiment of the slider of the present invention, which differs from the first embodiment in that: both the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122of the slider1of this embodiment have a pair of parallel grooves8, and a pair of top stop receiving parts16are formed on the front end of the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122for receiving a pair of top stops (not shown in the figure) of a zipper. Besides, each of the grooves8accommodates an entire corresponding longitudinal border line mark a, a part of the front end transverse border line mark b, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c.

Besides, a portion of each of the grooves8is located in the top stop receiving part16, and the top stop receiving part16may be enlarged if necessary, so that a part of each front end transverse border line mark b and a part of each longitudinal border line marks a are located in the top stop receiving part16. The top side plate11and the bottom side plate12each have two side walls14at two side edges. Both the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122have a boss15, and two extension parts17are located at two opposite side walls14of the bottom side plate12. The boss15and the extension parts17are used to stabilize the opening and closing function of the coil type zipper within the slider1. The shape, width and height of the boss15depend on the shape of the fastening elements of the chains4, and therefore need not be particularly limited.

Furthermore, although both the extension parts17and the boss15are above the bottom inner surface122, however, as the distance between the extension parts17and the boss15is so wide, the fixing threads41of the fastening elements of the chains4still can touch the spills5on the longitudinal border line marks a and get scratched by the spills5when the slider1is pulled along the chains4. The grooves8of the present embodiment can accommodate the spills5and scratches6on the corresponding longitudinal border line marks a and the rear end transverse border line mark c, thus reducing scratching on the zipper.

The grooves8extend from below the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122, and each have two beveled edges. In this embodiment, each of the grooves8accommodates an entire corresponding longitudinal border line mark a, a part of the front end transverse border line mark b, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c. The profile shape, depth and width of each of the grooves8need not be restricted, and even each of the grooves8may have different widths or depths, depending on the size and needs of the zipper, but the depth of each of the grooves8is preferably 0.05 mm or more.

FIG.7illustrates a fourth embodiment of the slider of the present invention, which differs from the first embodiment in that the slider1of the present embodiment is for use with zippers having individually toothed fastening elements for chains, such as metal zippers or plastic steel zippers. Since the top and bottom surfaces of each of the individual toothed fastening elements are essentially planar, there is no need to provide the boss15on the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122. The top side plate11and the bottom side plate12are each provided with two sidewalls14on two side edges, and the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122have substantially the same configuration, as can be seen inFIG.7. In addition, the top inner surface112of the slider1has a pair of parallel grooves8, and each of the grooves8accommodates an entire corresponding longitudinal border line mark a, a part of the front end transverse border line mark b, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c.

The grooves8extend from below the top inner surface112and the bottom inner surface122, and each have two beveled edges. In this embodiment, the depth and width of each of the grooves8need not be restricted, and even each of the grooves8may have different profiles, widths or depths, depending on the size and needs of the zipper, but the depth of each of the grooves8is preferably 0.05 mm or more.

FIG.8aillustrates a three-dimensional view of a slider according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The slider1, used for invisible zippers, has a bottom side plate12with two side walls14on two side edges of the bottom side plate12, and a pair of winged flaps141extend inwardly at the top of each of the side walls14; a link part13is disposed at the front end of the slider1, and a tapered cover131is disposed on top of the link part13; the pair of winged flaps141and the tapered cover131together form a combined top side plate11asimilar in function to a top side plate of a conventional slider, and the pair of winged flaps141and the tapered cover131together form a combined top side plate11asimilar in function to an existing cover plate of an existing slider, and a Y-shaped gap19is formed between the pair of winged cover plates141and the tapered cover plate131to allow the pair of supporting fabric straps to protrude out of the slider1through the Y-shaped gap19.

The combined top side plate11ahas a combined top inner surface113, the bottom side plate12has a bottom inner surface122, and each of the side walls14has an extension part17on the inner side thereof, and each of the combined top inner surface113and the bottom inner surface122has a boss15. The extension parts17and the boss15are used to stabilize the closing and opening of the fastening elements of the chains4within the slider1.

FIG.8billustrates a plan view of the bottom inner surface122of the slider1, in which the bottom inner surface122has a pair of parallel grooves8. Each of the grooves8accommodates an entire corresponding longitudinal border line mark a, a part of the front end transverse border line mark b, and a part of the rear end transverse border line mark c.

The grooves8extend from below the bottom inner surface122, and each have two beveled edges. The depth and width of each of the grooves8need not be restricted, and even each of the grooves8may have different profiles, widths or depths, depending on the size and needs of the zipper, but the depth of each of the grooves8is preferably 0.05 mm or more.

Since all zippers require a slider1for the function of opening and closing, both the top inner surface and the bottom inner surface of the slider1need to be as flat as possible, or even smooth, in order not to scratch the zipper, to be specific, not to scratch a waterproof layer of the zipper's supporting fabric surface, the sewing threads or the warp and woof yarns, or the individual toothed fastening elements, such as metal or plastic steel fastening elements. In particular, when the zipper is a precious metal zipper with shiny surfaces, to avoid the shiny surfaces from being scratched is usually a first priority requirement. The design of the grooves in the present invention not only avoids the problem of spills or scratching of the combination mold border line marks, but also eliminates the need for the traditional spills trimming process in the production of sliders. For sliders with particularly stringent requirements, a trimming tool matching the shape of the grooves can be used to efficiently remove the larger spills on each border line mark to ensure the spills will be not higher than the inner surfaces112,122to avoid scratching on the zipper.

In addition, the slider of the invention is applicable for a variety of zipper chains, such as zipper chains having coil type fastening elements, zipper chains having continuous folding type fastening elements, metal zipper chains having independent tooth type fastening elements, plastic steel zipper chains having independent tooth type fastening elements, or waterproof zipper chains having coil type fastening elements. As the fastening elements of each type of zipper chains have different element sectional shapes, to make zippers stably opened and closed inside the slider, a boss can be formed on the corresponding centers of the top inner surface and the bottom inner surface accordingly.

The slider can be a pinless slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider, a press-fastened pinned slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider, a spring-loaded pinned slider for invisible zippers, or a pinless slider for invisible zippers, etc., and the material can be metal or plastic, etc., but not limited thereto.