SLIDER PULL TAB FOR SLIDE FASTENER

Abstract: A slider pull tab (18) for slide fastener is disclosed, which comprises a connector means (19), a decorative portion (21c) integral therewith and exposed to view at least on one surface of the connector means (19) and a grip web (23) formed from soft-type rubber or plastics material. The connector means (19) has a through opening (26) and/or a through aperture (27) which are filled by the material of the grip web (23) during formation of the latter thereby providing increased tensile strength against pull stresses exerted upon pulling the slider pull tab (18).

Description: This invention relates to sliders for slide fasteners and more particularly to a slider pull tab made up from the combination of a rigid portion and a flexible portion. There are known a variety of slide fastener sliders having associated therewith different forms and designs of pull tabs which are tailored to meet with the particular specifications set up by the garment manufacturers who produce all sorts of garment articles ranging from clothing, sports wear, sports equipment to bags, etc. A growing demand has recently been voiced for more aethetically attractive slider pull tabs which are formed predominantly of an elastic, flexible material such as synthetic rubber, synthetic leather or other synthetic resinous materials. A slider pull tab made of such an elastic material is examplified in for instance Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publication No. 62-102407, which pull tab is provided for a slide fastener comprising a connector means and a grip web formed from an elastic soft-type resinous material. The connector means has a through opening and aperture which is filled by the resinous material of the grip web. The pull tab feels soft and can be gripped flexibly and non-slippingly. However, since the body of this pull tab is formed uniformly and solely from an artificial soft rubber or resin, its appearance lacks ornamental appeal. Prior art pull tabs (as shown in Figure 10) are further vulnerable to a pull force because they are connected to the slider body through a connector which is merely embedded in part within the material of the pull tab. A further slider pull tab for a slide fastener is disclosed in earlier, not pre-published EP-A-0 353 730 and comprises a connector means and a grip web formed from an elastic soft-type resinous material. The connector means has a through opening and aperture which is filled by the resinous material of the grip web. With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art in view, the present invention seeks to provide an improved slider pull tab of a flexible structure which is both ornamentally attractive and abundant in tensile strength. As claimed the slider pull tab for a slide fastener of the present invention comprises a connector means and a grip web formed from an elastic soft-type resinous material. The connector means has a through opening and aperture which is filled by resinous material of the gripweb. According to the invention, a decorative portion integral with the connector means and exposed to view at least on one surface of the connector means is provided. The opening and aperture are completely filled by the resinous material with the opening being formed in and extending transversely clear through the decorative portion and the aperture being formed extending clear through the thickness of the connector means. The invention will be further described with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like or corresponding parts. Figure 1 is a partly sectional plan view of a slider pull tab embodying the invention shown connected to a slider body; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the pull tab of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a connector assembly forming part of the pull tab of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudianl cross-sectional view of the same; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the pull tab of Figure 1 shown being manipulated; Figure 6 is a partly sectional plan view of a modified form of a pull tab according to the invention; Figure 7 is a partly sectional plan view of another modified form of a pull tab; Figure 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the same; Figure 9 is a partly sectional plan view of still another modified form of a pull tab; and Figure 10 is a perspective view of a prior art slider pull tab. Referring now to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular, there is shown a slider 10 including a pull tab embodying the invention, the slider 10 being reciprocally movable to open and close a slide fastener (not shown) in a well known manner. The slider 10 comprises a slider body 11 formed by an upper flange 12 and a lower flange 13 defining therebetween a guide channel 14 for the passage of coupling element rows of the slide fastener and connected together at one end by a neck 15, and an arch-shaped trunnion 16 having an aperture 17 for pivotally receiving a pull tab 18. The pull tab 18 shown in Figures 1 - 4 inclusive has a connector means 19 including a first connector 20 and a second connector 21 pivotally connected thereto and a grip web 23 extending over the second connector 21. The first connector 20 has at one of its ends a ring-like hook portion 20a pivotally received in the aperture 17 of the trunnion 16 and at the opposite end a first decorative portion 20b having an integral pivotal pin 24 projecting transversely of the pull tab 18 at each of its opposite ends. The second connector 21 of the connector assembly 15 better shown in Figure 3 consists of a tongue-like portion 21a, the majority of which is adapted to be embedded in or enveloped by a plastics material forming the grip web 23, and a pair of arcuately shaped arms 21b each having one end formed integrally with the upper end portion of the tongue-like portion 21a and at the other end a transverse bore 25 pivotally engaged with the respective pin 24 so that the second connector 21 can rotate relative to the first connector 20. The second connector 21 further includes a second decorative portion 21c projecting from and above opposite surfaces of the tongue-like portion 21b as better shown cross-sectionally in Figures 2 and 4. There is a through opening 26 formed in and extending transversely clear through the second decorative portion 21c. A plurality of elongate apertures 27 are also provided extending clear through the thickness of the tongue-like portion 21b, one of which borders on the second decorative portion 21c. The grip web 23 is formed by injection-molding of a suitable elastic, soft synthetic resin such as synthetic rubber, soft-type polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane and the like. During this injection-molding, the resinous material flows into and fills up the opening 26 as well as the apertures 27, resulting in the formation of two directional connecting bridges 26' and 27' oriented in the direction of width and thickness respectively of the pull tab 18. The connecting bridges 26' and 27' serve to prevent the grip web 23 from separating from the second connector 21 and also provide increased tensile strength against pulling force exerted when manipulating the slider 10 to open or close the slide fastener by means of the pull tab 18. Both first and second connectors 20 and 21 are formed from a metallic material but may be likewise formed from mechanically strong plastics material. The decorative portions 20b and 21c of the first and second connectors 20 and 21 respectively may present any ornamentally attractive designs on their exposed surfaces or may be attached with trademarks or planted with jewelries to provide an aesthetic appeal for such slide fastener parts as sliders which have thus far been regarded for more functionally than ornamentally. Various modifications of the pull tab structure embodying the invention made be made as exemplified in Figures 6 through 9 inclusive. The pull tab 18 illustrated in Figure 6 features combining the first and second connectors 20, 21 into a one-piece structure devoid of the coupling means of pin 24 and bore 25. The decorative portion 21c of the second connector 21 carries an oval design exposed to view. The aperture 27 is arcuately shaped to extend along and in registry with the lower portion of the decorative portion 21c. The pull tab 18 shown in Figures 7 and 8 differs from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 - 4 in that the pins 24 are formed integral with the second connector 21 and engaged in the bores 25 formed in the first connector 20 to allow pivotal movement of the latter, and in that the decorative portion 21c carries a vertically oriented oval design exposed to view only on one surface of the grip web 23 and in that a pair of arcuate apertures 27 are located respectively in close proximity of the upper and the lower peripheral portions of the oval design. Figure 9 shows a one-piece structure of first and second connectors 20, 21 which is similar to that of Figure 6 but which is characterized by an extension of the grip web 23 up to the stem portion of the first connector 20.

Claims: A slider pull tab (18) for a slide fastener which comprises a connector means (19) and a grip web (23) formed from an elastic soft-type resinous material, the connector means (19) having a through opening and aperture (26, 27) which is filled by resinous material of the grip web (23), characterised in that a decorative portion (21c) integral with the connector means and exposed to view at least on one surface of the connector means is provided, the opening and aperture (26, 27) are completely filled by the resinous material, the opening (26) is formed in and extending transversely clear through the decorative portion (21c) and the aperture (27) is formed extending clear through the thickness of the connector means (19). A slider pull tab (18) according to claim 1 wherein the connector means (19) includes a first connector (20) and a second connector (21) which are pivotally connected by a pin (24). A slider pull tab (18) according to claim 2 wherein the pin (24) is formed on the first connector (20) and engaged in a bore (25) formed in the second connector (21). A slider pull tab (18) according to claim 2 wherein the pin (24) is formed on the second connector (21) and engaged in a bore (25) formed in the first connector (20). A slider pull tab (18) according to any of claims 1 to 4, further including an additional decorative portion (20b) integral with the connector means (19). A slider pull tab (18) according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the aperture (27) is located in close proximity to the decorative portion (21c).

Inventors: ISHII, SUSUMU
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A44B19
IPC codes: A44B19