Patent Publication Number: US-8973224-B2

Title: Slide fastener

Description:
This application is a national stage application of PCT/JP2011/061059 which claims priority to PCT/JP2010/063664, PCT/JP2010/063665, and PCT/JP2010/063666, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a slide fastener, and more particularly, to a slide fastener in which one of the fastener stringers is separable from a slider when a lateral pulling force is applied to a pair of fastener stringers. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As is known in the related art slide fastener, an upper blade or a lower blade of a slider has flexibility and flanges which extend from the upper and lower blade is designed. When a lateral pulling force is applied to a pair of fastener stringers, the width of a tape insertion path of a slider is expanded and one of the fastener stringers is separated from the slider (hereinafter, referred to as ‘snapped,’ see e.g. Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a slider in which both flanges at edges of one of the upper blade and the lower blade have an inclined shape with a shoulder mouth side thereof being lower than a central portion thereof, and the gap of the tape insertion path gradually narrows from the shoulder mouth side toward a rear mouth side. In addition, Patent Document 1 discloses another slider in which flexibility is increased by forming a recess in the upper surface of the upper blade at one side, and the flanges on one side edge are formed such that the gap of the tape insertion path at the one side edge is wider than the gap of the tape insertion path at the other side edge and is uniform. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: WO2010/113275 (FIG. 13, FIG. 17) 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by Invention 
     However, in the slider disclosed in Patent Document 1, in which the gap of the tape insertion path gradually narrows from the shoulder mouth side toward the rear mouth side, when the slider is slowly snapped, the snapping may be stopped on the way in some cases because, after the first fastener element has passed through the tape insertion path, the next fastener element cannot pass through the tape insertion path. 
     In addition, in the slider in which the flanges are configured such that the gap of the tape insertion path is uniform from the shoulder mouth side to the rear mouth side, if a twisting operation, such as rotation of the pull-tab on the slider, is strongly applied, the slider may be inclined and stopped in some cases because some fastener elements on one of the fastener stringers, positioned at the rear mouth side of the slider get out of the tape insertion path and the tape insertion path at one side edge is laid over the fastener elements of the left and right fastener stringers. 
     According to above-described two states of the sliders, the fastener elements made of resin may be pressed by the flanges of the tape insertion path. If this state of being pressed continues for a long time, a damage mark may be produced on the fastener elements. 
     The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener having a simple structure which can prevent fastener elements from being damaged and easily separate one of the fastener stringers from the slider. 
     Means for Solving Problems 
     The object of the present invention is achieved by the following configurations. 
     (1) A slide fastener including: a pair of fastener stringers in which fastener element rows including a plurality of fastener elements are arranged along opposing tape side edges of a pair of fastener tapes; and a slider slidably attached along the fastener element rows to engage and disengage the fastener elements, wherein the slider includes: a body including an upper blade and a lower blade which are disposed in parallel while being spaced apart from each other in an up-down direction, a guide post which connects the upper blade and the lower blade at front ends thereof, upper flanges provided along both left and right side edges of the upper blade and protruding downward, lower flanges provided along both left and right side edges of the lower blade and protruding upward, and a pull-tab attachment portion provided on an upper surface of the upper blade; and a pull-tab rotatably attached to the pull-tab attachment portion, wherein a tape insertion path is formed between the upper flanges and the lower flanges, for inserting and guiding the fastener tapes of the pair of fastener stringers thereinto, wherein one of the fastener stringers is separated from the tape insertion path at one side of the body in a width direction when a lateral pulling force directed outward in the width direction of the fastener tapes is applied to the pair of fastener stringers, wherein at least one of opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges at the one side of the body in the width direction has a protrusion on a rear end portion thereof, and wherein the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges at the one side of the body in the width direction respectively have straight portions which are parallel with each other, except for a position at which the protrusion is formed. 
     (2) The slide fastener according to (1), wherein a gap of the tape insertion path at a position where the protrusion is formed is wider than a gap of the tape insertion path at another side of the body in the width direction. 
     (3) The slide fastener according to (1) or (2), wherein a gap of the tape insertion path at a position where the protrusion is formed is smaller than the gap of the tape insertion path in the straight portions. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the slide fastener of the present invention, since at least one of the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges at the one side of the body in the width direction has the protrusion on the rear end portion thereof, it is difficult for the fastener elements on the one of the fastener stringers, which are positioned at the rear mouth side of the slider to get away from the tape insertion path. It is therefore possible to prevent the slider from being inclined and stopped with respect to the fastener stringers by the twisting of the pull-tab. In addition, since the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges at the one side of the body in the width direction have the straight portions which are parallel with each other, except for the position at which the protrusion is located, even if the fastener is slowly snapped, respective fastener elements inside the element guide path can sequentially pass through the tape insertion path, thereby preventing the snapping operation from stopping on the way. Therefore, with use of a simple structure, it is possible to prevent the fastener elements from being damaged and to easily separate one of the fastener stringers from the slider. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view illustrating an embodiment of a slide fastener according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the slider shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the slider shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the upper slider in which the upper blade is cut away; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged front view of the slide fastener where the upper blades of the upper slider and the lower slider are cut away to show the state in which the insert pin of a reverse separable end stop is inserted into the upper and lower sliders; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged front view of the slide fastener where the upper blade of the upper slider is cut away; 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which a lateral pulling force is applied to the slide fastener shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements of the separation-side fastener stringer shown in  FIG. 7  start getting out of the slider; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements shown in  FIG. 8  further get out of the slider; 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements shown in  FIG. 9  completely get out of the slider; 
         FIG. 11A  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state in which an element of the separation-side fastener stringer comes into contact with the flanges of the slider, and  FIG. 11B  is a partial side view showing this state; 
         FIG. 12A  is a partial cross-sectional view showing the state in which the element shown in  FIG. 11  is getting out of the slider while bending the upper blade and the lower blade, and  FIG. 12B  is a partial side view showing this state; 
         FIG. 13  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the top end stop is inserted into the upper slider; 
         FIG. 14  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which a lateral pulling force is applied to the slide fastener shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIG. 15  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements shown in  FIG. 14  start getting out of the upper slider; 
         FIG. 16  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements shown in  FIG. 15  further get out of the upper slider; 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged front view showing the state in which the elements shown in  FIG. 16  completely get out of the upper slider; 
         FIG. 18  is an enlarged side view of the rear portion of a slider according to a first modified embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 19  is an enlarged side view showing the rear portion of a slider according to a second modified embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  is front view showing a slide fastener according to a third modified embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, as for the fastener tapes, a front side refers to a near side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a back side refers to a far side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , an upper side refers to an upper side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a lower side refers to a lower side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a left side refers to a left side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , and a right side refers to a right side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 . As for the slider, an upper side refers to a near side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a lower side refers to a far side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a front side refers to an upper side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a rear side refers to a lower side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , a left side refers to a left side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 , and a right side refers to a right side with respect to the paper surface of  FIG. 1 . In addition, the left-right direction of the fastener tapes and the slider is also referred to as a width direction. In addition, the up-down direction of the fastener tapes is also referred to as a longitudinal direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 6 , the slide fastener  10  according to this embodiment includes a pair of left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R, upper and lower sliders  40  and  90 , top end stops  12  and a reverse separable end stop  13 . The left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R have fastener element rows  30  including a plurality of fastener elements  31  which are arranged along opposing tape side edges  20   a  of a pair of left and right fastener tapes  20 . The upper and lower sliders  40  and  90  are slidably attached along the fastener element rows  30  to engage and disengage the fastener elements  31  with and from each other. The top end stops  12  are respectively formed on the upper end portions of the tape side edges  20   a  of the pair of left and right fastener tapes  20 . The reverse separable end stop  13  is formed on the lower end portions of the tape side edges  20   a  of the pair of left and right fastener tapes  20 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 5 , the reverse separable end stop  13  includes a box pin  14  which is formed on the lower end portion of the tape side edge  20   a  of the right fastener tape  20  and an insert pin  16  which is formed on the lower end portion of the tape side edge  20   a  of the left fastener tape  20 , the insert pin  16  being insertable into the upper and lower sliders  40  and  90 . As for the slide fastener  10  having the reverse separable end stop  13 , when the upper slider  40  is moved upward (in the direction away from the lower slider  90 ), the pair of left and right fastener element rows  30  in the disengaged state engage with each other. When the upper slider  40  is moved downward (in the direction toward the lower slider  90 ), the pair of left and right fastener element rows  30  in the engaged state disengage from each other. In addition, when the lower slider  90  is moved upward (in the direction toward the upper slider  40 ), the pair of left and right fastener element rows  30  in the engaged state disengage from each other. When the lower slider  90  is moved downward (in the direction away from the upper slider  40 ), the pair of fastener element rows  30  in the disengaged state engage with each other. In addition, in this embodiment, the left fastener stringer  11 L which has the insert pin  16  is a separation-side fastener stringer which can be separated from the sliders  40  and  90 . The right fastener stringer  11 R which has the box pin  14  is a stationary-side fastener stringer which cannot be separated from the sliders  40  and  90 . 
     Each of the fastener element rows  30  has a plurality of fastener elements  31 . The plurality of fastener elements  31  are formed on the tape side edge  20   a  of the fastener tape  20  by injection molding using synthetic resin, such as polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene, polybutyleneterephthalate, or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the upper slider  40  is a slider with an automatic stop function, and includes a body  50 , a pull-tab  75 , a stopper claw body  70  and a pull-tab holding cover  80 . 
     The body  50  has an upper blade  51 , a lower blade  52 , a guide post  53 , upper flanges  54 L and  54 R and lower flanges  55 L and  55 R. The upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  are disposed in parallel while being spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction. The guide post  53  connects the upper blade  51  to the lower blade  52  at the front ends thereof and the central portions thereof in the width direction. The upper flanges  54 L and  54 R are provided along both left and right side edges of the upper blade  51 , and protrude downward. The lower flanges  55 L and  55 R are provided along both left and right side edges of the lower blade  52 , and protrude upward. Due to this configuration, left and right shoulder mouths  56  are formed in the front portion of the body  50 , and are separated by the guide post  53 . A rear mouth  57  is also formed in the rear portion of the body  50 . In addition, an element guide path  58  having substantially the Y shape is formed between the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52 , and allows the left and right shoulder mouths  56  and the rear mouth  57  to communicate with each other. The pair of left and right fastener element rows  30  are inserted into the element guide path  58 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , tape insertion paths  59  are respectively formed between the upper flange  54 L and the lower flange  55 L at the left side of the body  50  and between the upper flange  55 R and the lower flange  55 R at the right side of the body  50 . As will be described in detail later, the gap of the left tape insertion path  59  is set to be greater than the gap of the right tape insertion path  59 , such that the left fastener stringer  11 L is separable from the slider  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 , at the right side with respect to the central line CL of the guide post  53  in the width direction on the upper surface of the upper blade  51  (the side of the stationary-side fastener stringer  11 R), a front attachment post  60 F and a rear attachment post  60 R to which the pull-tab holding cover  80  is attached are erected and arranged in the front-rear direction. In addition, a link portion  76  of the pull-tab  75  and the stopper claw body  70  are accommodated between the front attachment post  60 F and the rear attachment post  60 R. The front attachment post  60 F and the rear attachment post  60 R are covered with the pull-tab holding cover  80  and fixed to the pull-tab holding cover  80  by meshing claw portions (not shown) which are formed in the front and rear ends of the pull-tab holding cover  80  with the front and rear attachment posts  60 F and  60 R. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the upper blade  51  has a claw insertion-hole  51   b  into which the stopper claw  71  of the stopper claw body  70  is inserted. The claw insertion-hole  51   b  extends through the element guide path  58  from the upper surface of the upper blade  51 . In the meantime, in this embodiment, the front attachment post  60 F, the rear attachment post  60 R, the stopper claw body  70  and the pull-tab holding cover  80  constitute a pull-tab attachment portion. 
     In this way, since the front attachment post  60 F and the rear attachment post  60 R are formed at the right side of the upper blade  51  with respect to the central line CL of the guide post  53  in the width direction, the rigidity of the upper blade  51  at the left side with respect to the guide post  53  is slightly reduced, so that the left side of the upper blade  51  is likely to be bent. In addition, since the stopper claw body  70  is disposed at the right side with respect to the central line CL of the guide post  53  in the width direction as well as the front attachment post  60 F and the rear attachment post  60 R, the stopper claw  71  of the stopper claw body  70  is inserted between the fastener elements  31  on the stationary-side fastener stringer  11 R, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Consequently, when the fastener elements  31  on the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L get out of the element guide path  58  through the tape insertion path  59 , the stopper claw  71  does not come into contact with the fastener elements  31 . It is therefore possible to prevent the stopper claw  71  from causing damage to the fastener elements  31 . 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , cutaway portions  51   a  and  52   a  are respectively formed in the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52 . The cutaway portions  51   a  and  52   a  extend outward in the width direction (toward the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L) from the front lateral surface  53   a  at the left side of the guide post  53 . The cutaway portions  51   a  and  52   a  extend outward in the width direction and rearward in an oblique manner from the boundary of the front lateral surface  53   a  and the rear lateral surface  53   b  at the left side of the guide post  53 . Also in this configuration, since the length of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side of the body  50  in the front-rear direction is made shorter than that of the upper and lower flanges  54 R and  55 R at the right side of the body, the rigidity of the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  at the left side with respect to the guide post  53  is slightly reduced, so that the upper blade  51  and the lower blade at the left side likely to be bent. 
     In addition, the opposing surfaces of the upper flange  54 L and the lower flange  55 L which form the left tape insertion path  59  respectively have protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  at rear end portions thereof and have straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  which are parallel with each other, except for positions in the front rear direction at which the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are formed. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the dimension G 1  of the gap of the left tape insertion path  59  in the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  in the up-down direction and the dimension G 2  of the gap of the left tape insertion path  59  in the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  in the up-down direction are respectively set to be greater than the dimension g of the gap of the right tape insertion path  59  in the up-down direction. In addition, the dimension G 2  of the gap of the left tape insertion path  59  in the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  in the up-down direction is set to be smaller than the dimension G 1  of the gap of the left tape insertion path  59  in the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  in the up-down direction. 
     In addition, the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  protrude so as to have inclined surfaces such that the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are smoothly connected to the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a . The dimension, in the up-down direction, of the gap G 2  of the left tape insertion path  59  at the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  and the lengths of the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  in the front-rear direction are set in such a fashion that they do not obstruct the fastener elements  31  of the left fastener stringer  11 L from being separated from the slider  40 . In detail, according to this embodiment, in the state shown in  FIG. 7  in which a lateral pulling force directed outward in the width direction is applied to the pair of left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R, the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  extend further toward the rear mouth side in the front-rear direction than a body corner portion  31   b   1  which is the rear end of a second fastener element  31   b  which will be described later in the front-rear direction. Therefore, in the state shown in  FIG. 7 , the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are positioned at the rear mouth side in the front-rear direction with respect to the body corner portion  31   b   1  of the second fastener element  31   b.    
     In the meantime, according to this embodiment, the fastener elements  31  positioned inside the upper and lower sliders  40  and  90  are referred to as first to third fastener elements  31   a ,  31   b  and  31   c  in their sequence from the shoulder mouth side to the rear mouth side. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the inner surfaces of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side of the body  50  in the width direction respectively are formed as inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  in which the thickness of the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  gradually increases as the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  extend from the inside to the outside in the width direction. Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , upper and lower corner portions of the fastener elements  31  of the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L to which the lateral pulling force is applied respectively abut to the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, and thus the lateral pulling force is efficiently transmitted to the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  through the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b . Consequently, as shown in  FIGS. 12A and 12B , it becomes possible to easily widen the tape insertion path  59  between the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L. 
     In addition, according to this embodiment, the rear ends of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side are positioned forward with respect to the rear ends of the slider  40  at the rear mouth side, and cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  which flush with the inner surfaces of the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  are formed at the rear portions of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L. That is, the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  are respectively defined by the rear ends of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side and the inner surfaces of the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  which are positioned at the rear portions of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L. The lengths of the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  in the front-rear direction are set such that the fastener elements  31  do not come into contact with the cutaway portions when the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L is separated from the upper slider  40 . In detail, first, after the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L is separated from the lower slider  90 , a lateral pulling force directed outward in the width direction is continuously applied to the pair of left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R, so that the upper slider  40  moves upward. In addition, when the lateral pulling force is further applied, as shown in  FIG. 14 , in the state in which the upper slider  40  is positioned by the top end stop  12 , the third fastener element  31   c  is pulled to the left while rotating using the second fastener element  31   b , which have collided into the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, as a fulcrum. Here, the lengths of the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  in the front-rear direction are set such that the body of the third fastener element  31   c  does not come into contact with the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L. 
     The gap G of the tape insertion path  59  in the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  (see  FIG. 3 ) is set to be wider than the thickness H of the fastener elements  31  (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ). This consequently allows smooth rotation when the above-described third fastener element  31   c  is pulled to the left while rotating. 
     In the meantime, the lower slider  90  has a mirror symmetric structure of the upper slider  40  which is laterally inverted with respect to the central line CL of the guide post  53  in the width direction. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in the lower slider  90 , the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L which have the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  and the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  or the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  are positioned at the left as in the upper slider  40 . 
     In addition, in the reverse separable end stop  13 , when the lower slider  90  comes into contact with a stopper  14   a  in the lower end portion of the box pin  14  and the upper slider  40  is in contact with the rear end of the lower slider  90 , the stopper claw  71  of the upper slider  40  is disposed at a position which is spaced apart from the upper surface of the box pin  14 , i.e. a position in which the stopper claw  71  does not come into contact with the box pin  14 . 
     Therefore, in the slider fastener  10  having the reverse separable end stop  13 , in both of the upper and lower sliders  40  and  90 , the fastener elements  31  can be separated from the tape insertion path  59  between the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the side (the side of the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L) into which the insert pin  16  is inserted. 
     In the slide fastener  10  as configured above, in the state shown in  FIG. 6 , when the lateral pulling force directed outward in the width direction is applied to the pair of left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R above the upper slider  40  (see  FIG. 7 ), the first fastener element  31   a  (fastener element  31 ) of the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L, which is positioned closest to the shoulder mouths  56  inside the element guide path  58  and thus is in the disengaged state abuts to each of the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L (see  FIGS. 11A and 11B ), increases the gap between the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L (see  FIGS. 12A and 12B ), and bends the portions of the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  which are at the left side with respect to the guide post  53  (see  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 ). In this way, the first fastener element  31   a  gets out of the slider  40 . Following the first fastener element  31   a , the second fastener element  31   b  also gets out of the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L in the same fashion as the first fastener element  31   a . In addition, the third fastener element  31   c  also gets out of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L without being blocked by the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  (see  FIG. 10 ). Consequently, the snapping operation of separating the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L from the slider  40  is smoothly performed without being stopped on the way. 
     Also, in the upper or lower slide fastener  40  or  90 , even if a twisting operation, such as counterclockwise rotation of the pull-tab  75  on the body  50 , is strongly applied, it is possible to prevent the third fastener element  31   c  from colliding into the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L so that the left tape insertion path  59  is laid over the fastener elements  31  of the left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R. This consequently prevents the sliders  40  and  90  from being inclined and stopping 
     In addition, in this embodiment, after the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L is separated from the lower slider  90 , the outward pulling force in the width direction is continuously applied to the pair of left and right fastener stringers  11 L and  11 R below the upper slider  40 , so that the upper slider  40  moves upward. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 14 , in the state in which the upper slider  40  is positioned by the top end stop  12 , when the lateral pulling is further applied, the third fastener element  31   c  is pulled to the left while rotating using the second fastener element  31   b , which have collided into the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, as a fulcrum. Here, since the corner portions of the body of the third fastener element  31   c  are positioned inside the cutaway portions  63   a  and  63   b  but do not come into contact with the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, the corner portions of the body of the third fastener element  31   c  are not damaged. 
     Afterwards, the second fastener element  31   b  gets out of the upper slider  40  by abutting to each of the inclined surfaces  61   a  and  61   b  of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, increasing the gap between the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L, and bending the portions of the upper blade  51  and the lower blade  52  which are at the left side with respect to the guide post  53  (see  FIG. 15  to  FIG. 17 ). In addition, the first fastener element  31   a  also gets out of the upper slider  40  substantially at the same time that the second fastener element  31   b  gets out of the upper slider  40 . 
     As described above, according to the slide fastener  10  of this embodiment, the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side of the body  50  have the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  on the rear end portions thereof. Therefore, it is difficult for the third fastener element  31   c  of the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L positioned at the rear mouth side of the sliders  40  and  90  to get out of the tape insertion path  59 . It is therefore possible to prevent the upper or lower slider  40  or  90  from being inclined and stopped with respect to this fastener stringer. In addition, the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side of the body  50  have the straight portions  54   a  and  55   a  which are parallel with each other, except for the positions in the front rear direction at which the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are formed. Thus, even if the snapping operation is slow, the respective fastener elements  31  inside the element guide path  58  can sequentially pass through the tape insertion path  59 , thereby preventing the snapping operation from stopping on the way. Therefore, with use of a relatively simple structure, it is possible to prevent the fastener elements  31  from being damaged and to easily separate the separation-side fastener stringer  11 L from the upper or lower slider  40  or  90 . 
     In addition, the dimension G 2 , in the up-down direction, of the gap of the tape insertion path  59  at the position where the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are formed is wider than the dimension g, in the up-down direction, of the gap of the tape insertion path  59  at the right side of the body  50 . Therefore, in the snapping operation, it is possible to prevent the third fastener element  31   c  from being blocked by the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  when the third fastener element  31   c  passes through the tape insertion path  59 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the above-illustrated embodiments, but may be properly changed without departing from the concept of the present invention. 
     In an example, although the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  are formed on both of the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side of the body  50  according to this embodiment, the protrusions may be formed on at least one of the opposing surfaces of the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L at the left side. That is, as shown in  FIG. 18 , the protrusion  62   b  may be formed only on the rear end portion of the opposing surface of the upper flange  55 L. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 19 , the protrusions  62   a  and  62   b  according to the present invention can be applied to a case in which the upper and lower flanges  54 L and  55 L extent to the rear end at the rear mouth side. 
     In addition, although this embodiment was illustrated with respect to a case in which the present invention is applied to the slider having an automatic stop function, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applied to a slider without the automatic stop function which does not have a stopper claw body. In this case, the pull-tab attachment post to which the pull-tab  75  is attached is configured by integrally connecting the upper end of the front attachment post  60 F to the upper end of the rear attachment post  60 R. 
     Furthermore, although the reverse separable end stop  13  is provided on the lower end portion of the pair of left and right fastener tapes  20  in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto. As shown in  FIG. 20 , the present invention can also be applied to a case in which one slider  40  is formed and a separable end stop  80  is formed instead of the reverse separable end stop  13 . The separable end stop  80  includes a box pin  81  and a box body  82  which are formed on the lower end portion of the tape side edge  20   a  of the right fastener tape  20  and an insert pin  83  which is formed on the lower end portion of the tape side edge  20   a  of the left fastener tape  20 , the insert pin  83  being insertable into the box body  82 . 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               10  Slide Fastener 
               11 L Fastener Stringer (Separation-Side Fastener Stringer) 
               11 R Fastener Stringer (Stationary-Side Fastener Stringer) 
               20  Fastener Tape 
               20   a  Tape Side Edge 
               30  Fastener Element Row 
               31  Fastener Element 
               40  Upper Slider (Slider) 
               50  Body 
               51  Upper Blade 
               51   a  Cutaway Portion 
               52  Lower Blade 
               52   a  Cutaway Portion 
               53  Guide Post 
               54 L,  54 R Upper Flange 
               55 L,  55 R Lower Flange 
               54   a ,  55   a  Straight Portion 
               59  Tape Insertion Path 
               60 F Front Attachment Post (Pull-Tab Attachment Portion) 
               60 R Rear Attachment Post (Pull-Tab Attachment Portion) 
               62   a ,  62   b  Protrusion 
               63   a ,  63   b  Cutaway Portion 
               70  Stopper Claw Body (Pull-Tab Attachment Portion) 
               75  Pull-Tab 
               80  Pull-Tab Holding Cover (Pull-Tab Attachment Portion) 
               90  Lower Slider 
             CL Central Line of Guide Post in Width Direction