Patent GB-1183194-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to methods and apparatus for making Sliding Clasp Fasteners and Fasteners produced thereby
Inventor: MEACHAM GEORGE THOMAS
IPC: A44B19/36
Filed: 1966-08-11
Abstract: 1,183,194. Sliding clasp fasteners. LIGHTNING FASTENERS Ltd. 12 July, 1967 [11 Aug., 1966], No. 36010/66. Heading E2S. A sliding clasp fastener has a reinforcing tape 5 secured to stringer tapes 2 by adhesive the reinforcing tape or the stringer tapes in the region of the adhesive being provided with depressions so as to form depressions in the adhesive. This is stated to result in less likelihood of needle breakage during sewing of the fastener to a garment by a line of stitching extending over the reinforcing tape since the adhesive is thinned in the regions of the depressions in the adhesive. The fastener is made by applying the reinforcing tape with the adhesive to the stringer tapes and then before setting of the adhesive forming the depressions in the reinforcing tape or the stringer tapes so as to form the depressions in the adhesive which are retained in the adhesive after setting. A machine for securing or assisting in securing the reinforcing tape to the stringer tapes comprises two pressure members 7, 10 one of the members 10 having a surface 12 facing the other member, provided with a plurality of projections, the pressure members being relatively movable towards one another whereby when the stringer tapes having the reinforcing tape applied thereto with the adhesive, are gripped together with the reinforcing tape between the members, then with the adhesive in a non set condition the projections form the depressions in the reinforcing tape or the stringer tapes in the region of the adhesive so as to form the depressions in the adhesive. As shown the reinforcing tape is located adjacent a conventional bottom stop 4 and bridges the stringer tapes and coupling elements to act as a strain tape to limit the degree of separation of the stringers in the region of the bottom stop. The reinforcing tape 5 is secured by its end potions to the stringer tapes 2 and an unsecured intermediate portion 6 of the tape 5 extends loosely across the elements in the closed condition of the fastener so as to allow the slider to pass along the elements and partly to project beyond the tape 5 into engagement with the bottom stop. In the machine the pressure member 7 is a lower member and has an upper horizontal support surface 8 with a recess 9 in the surface to accommodate the bottom stop 4 and element 3 of the fastener. The pressure member 10 is movable vertically upward and downwards away from the surface 8 and the projections of the surface 12 are provided by knurling two side edge portions of the surface. Both members are heated by cartridge heaters 14 for the purpose of raising the temperature of the adhesive which is thermoplastic. The portion of the surface 12-located between the edge portions 11 is recessed to accommodate support mandrels 13 for the reinforcing tape, the mandrel being located directly above the recess 9 and being secured to a cantilever arm. A stop pin 16 projects downwardly from the mandrel to limit the degree of movement of the fastener along the surface by engagement of the bottom stop with the stop pin. The reinforcing tape is fed to the machine along a metal support strip 17 by feeding means (not shown) and a cutting edge 11a of the surface 12 coacts with the end of the strip 17 to cut short lengths of the reinforcing tape.