Patent Publication Number: US-10765179-B2

Title: Slide fastener

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a slide fastener having a separable stop. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, a slide fastener has been known, which has a separable stop constituted of a separable pin, a retainer pin and a retainer box, and also has a projection formed on a top end of the separable pin (e.g., see Patent Document 1). When right and left fastener elements are engaged with each other, the projection is engaged with a fastener element on the opposing side. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4176052 B2 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by Invention 
     However, in the conventional slide fastener as described above, there is a possibility that even when a slider is pulled down until coming in contact with the retainer box, the projection of the separable pin and the fastener element are not disengaged from each other and thus the separable pin cannot be removed from the retainer box. 
     The present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a slide fastener, in which when a slider is pulled down until coming in contact with a retainer box, a projection of a separable pin and a fastener element are disengaged from each other, thereby ensuring that the separable pin can be reliably removed from the retainer box. 
     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 tapes; a pair of fastener element rows respectively attached to opposing side edge portions of the pair of fastener tapes; a slider for engaging and disengaging the pair of fastener element rows with and from each other; and a separable stop provided on one end side of the pair of fastener element rows, wherein the separable stop includes a retainer pin provided on one of the fastener tapes; and a separable pin provided on the other of the fastener tapes, wherein the separable pin has a projection configured to be engaged with a fastener element at one end of one of the fastener element row on the one of the fastener tapes, wherein the slider includes: an upper plate and a lower plate which are arranged to be spaced from each other in an upper and lower direction and to be parallel to each other; a guide post connecting the upper plate with the lower plate at front end portions thereof; and a raised portion configured in such a manner that the raised portion extends on a lower surface of the upper plate rearward from a periphery of the guide post and is raised from the lower surface of the upper plate toward the lower plate, or that the raised portion extends on an upper surface of the lower plate rearward from the periphery of the guide post and is raised from the upper surface of the lower plate toward the upper plate, wherein the raised portion of the slider and the separable pin have respective contact portions configured to come in contact with each other in a moving direction of the slider, and wherein at least one of the contact portion of the raised portion of the slider and the contact portion of the separable pin is provided with an intersecting portion obliquely intersecting with the moving direction of the slider. 
     (2) The slide fastener according to the above (1), wherein the separable pin has a main body portion, wherein the main body portion includes a side surface facing the retainer pin; a base protruding toward a front side of the main body portion and protruding from the side surface toward the retainer pin; the projection protruding forward from a front surface of the base; and the contact portion located at the rear of the projection and above the base and included in the side surface, wherein the intersecting portion is provided on the contact portion of the separable pin and the intersecting portion has an apex at a site on the intersecting portion, which is located closest to the retainer pin, and a starting point at a site on the intersecting portion, which is located at a frontmost portion of the separable pin, wherein the contact portion of the raised portion of the slider is a distal end portion configured to come in contact with the contact portion of the separable pin, and wherein in a state where the projection of the separable pin is engaged with the fastener element, the apex of the intersecting portion is positioned closer to the retainer pin relative to an apex of the distal end portion of the raised portion of the slider, and the starting point of the intersecting portion is positioned away from the retainer pin relative to the apex of the distal end portion of the raised portion of the slider. 
     (3) The slide fastener according to the above (2), wherein a width of the separable pin as measured at the apex of the intersecting portion is smaller than a width of a separable pin guide groove of the slider for guiding insertion of the separable pin. 
     (4) The slide fastener according to the above (2) or (3), wherein a width of the separable pin as measured at the rear of the intersecting portion is smaller than a width of the separable pin as measured at the apex (A) of the intersecting portion. 
     (5) The slide fastener according to any one of the above (1) to (4), wherein the intersecting portion is an inclined surface. 
     (6) The slide fastener according to the above (5), wherein the inclined surface extends rearward from a corner portion of the separable pin toward the retainer pin. 
     (7) The slide fastener according to the above (5) or (6), wherein a dimension H 1  of the separable pin in the upper and lower direction, a dimension H 2  between the lower surface of the upper plate of the slider and the upper surface of the lower plate of the slider in the upper and lower direction, and a dimension H 3  of the contact portion of the raised portion of the slider in the upper and lower direction have a relationship of H 3 &gt;(H 2 -H 1 ). 
     (8) The slide fastener according to any one of the above (1) to (7), wherein when the slide fastener is a slide fastener in which the fastener element rows are arranged on lower surfaces of the fastener tapes, the raised portion of the slider is provided on the upper plate of the slider and the contact portion of the separable pin is provided on an upper surface side of the fastener tapes. 
     (9) The slide fastener according to any one of the above (1) to (7), wherein when the slide fastener is a slide fastener in which the fastener element rows are arranged on upper surfaces of the fastener tapes, the raised portion of the slider is provided on the lower plate of the slider and the contact portion of the separable pin is provided on a lower surface side of the fastener tapes. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the present invention, the raised portion of the slider and the separable pin have respective contact portions configured to come in contact with each other in a moving direction of the slider. Also, at least one of the contact portion of the raised portion of the slider and the contact portion of the separable pin is provided with an intersecting portion obliquely intersecting with the moving direction of the slider. As a result, when the slider is pulled down until coming in contact with the retainer box, the contact portion of the slider comes in contact with the contact portion of the separable pin and thus the separable pin moves in a direction opposite to the retainer pin, i.e., in a direction away from the retainer pin. Therefore, the projection of the separable pin and the fastener element are disengaged from each other, thereby ensuring that the separable pin can be reliably removed from the retainer box. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top view explaining one embodiment of a slide fastener according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a partially broken top view showing a periphery of a slider and separable stop shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the slider taken along a line A-A in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4A  is a top view of a separable pin. 
         FIG. 4B  is a right view of the separable pin. 
         FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of the separable pin as viewed from the right. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged top view showing a relationship between a raised portion of the slider and an inclined surface of a contact portion of the separable pin. 
         FIG. 6A  is a partially broken top view showing a state where the raised portion of the slider is in contact with the inclined surface of the contact portion of the separable pin. 
         FIG. 6B  is a partially broken top view showing a state where the slider is moved toward a retainer box relative to the state in  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 6C  is a partially broken top view showing a state where the slider is in contact with the retainer box. 
         FIG. 7  is a partially broken top view explaining a case where the present invention is applied to a reversible separable stop. 
         FIG. 8  is a partially broken top view explaining a case where an inclined surface as an intersecting portion is provided on the raised portion of the slider. 
     
    
    
     EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, one embodiment of a slide fastener according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, 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 . A right and left direction is also referred to as a widthwise direction. In addition, a front and rear direction is also referred to as a lengthwise direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment includes a pair of right and left woven knitted fastener tapes  20 ; a pair of right and left fastener element rows  30  respectively attached to opposing tape side edge portions  20   a  of the right and left fastener tapes  20 ; a slider  40  for engaging and disengaging the right and left fastener element rows  30  with and from each other; a top stop  11  provided respectively on front end sides of the right and left fastener element rows  30 ; and a separable stop  50  provided on rear end sides of the right and left fastener element rows  30 . In addition, the slide fastener  10  is a for-back-side slide fastener with the fastener element rows  30  arranged on lower surfaces of the fastener tapes  20 . 
     Each of the fastener element rows  30  is a coil-shaped fastener element row formed by winding synthetic resin monofilament in a predetermined direction and has a plurality of fastener elements  31 . Then, the fastener element rows  30  are sewn on a lower surface (back surface) of the tape side edge portion  20   a  of the respective fastener tapes  20  with a sewing yarn (not shown). In addition, a synthetic resin material for the monofilament may include polyester, nylon or the like. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the slider  40  includes a slider body D and a pull P attached to an upper surface of the slider body D. Then, the right and left fastener element rows  30  are engaged with each other by moving the slider  40  toward the top stops  11 , whereas the right and left fastener element rows  30  are disengaged from each other by moving the slider  40  toward the separable stop  50 . Meanwhile, the slider  40  in the present embodiment is a slider having an automatic stop function. Alternatively, a slider having no automatic stop function may be employed. 
     The slider body D includes an upper plate  41  and a lower plate  42  which are arranged to be spaced from each other in an upper and lower direction and to be parallel to each other; a guide post  43  connecting the upper plate  41  with the lower plate  42  at front end portions thereof; flanges  44   a  protruding downward from left and right side edges of the upper plate  41 ; flanges  44   b  protruding upward from left and right side edges of the lower plate  42 ; a raised portion  45  formed on a lower surface of the upper plate  41  and configured to guide the right and left fastener element rows  30 . Also, a generally Y-shaped element guide passage  46  allowing the right and left fastener element rows  30  to be inserted therethrough is formed between the upper plate  41  and the lower plate  42 . Further, tape grooves allowing the respective fastener tapes  20  to be inserted therethrough are respectively formed between upper and lower flanges  44   a ,  44   b.    
     The raised portion  45  is a portion extending on the lower surface of the upper plate  41  rearward from the periphery of the guide post  43  and raised from the lower surface of the upper plate  41  toward the lower plate  42 . Also, a rear distal end portion of the raised portion  45  forms a distal end portion (contact portion of the raised portion  45 )  45   a  configured to come in contact with a contact portion  55  of the separable pin  53  as described below. Meanwhile, in the present embodiment, the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  has a circular arc shape, and a region within the circular arc range is referred to as the distal end portion  45   a . A site, which is located on the rearmost side of the distal end portion  45   a , is referred to as an apex of the distal end portion  45   a . Also, an element guide surface  45   b  for guiding the left fastener element row  30  is formed on a left surface of the raised portion  45 . The element guide surface  45   b  is formed in such a shape that an extent of protrusion of a front portion thereof into the element guide passage  46  is large and an extent of protrusion of a rear portion thereof into the element guide passage  46  is small. Due to the element guide surface  45   b , the separable pin  53  can be smoothly removed without interfering with the guide post  43  of the slider  40  when the separable pin  53  is removed from the retainer box  52  and then the slider  40 . 
     The separable stop  50  includes a retainer pin  51  and a retainer box  52 , which are formed on a rear end portion of the tape side edge portion  20   a  of the right fastener tape  20 , and a separable pin  53 , which is formed on a rear end portion of the tape side edge portion  20   a  of the left fastener tape  20  and is capable of being inserted into the retainer box  52 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the separable pin  53  has a prism-shaped main body portion  53 A. The main body portion  53 A has a side surface  53 C facing the retainer pin  51 , and a base  53 B protruding toward a front side of the main body portion  53 A and protruding from the side surface  53 C toward the retainer pin  51 . The base  53 B is continuous to the side surface  53 C. Also, the base  53 B has a projection  54  formed to be engaged with a fastener element  31  at the rearmost end of the right fastener element row  30 . The projection  54  is formed in such a shape that the projection  54  protrudes forward relative to a front surface  55   a  of the main body portion  53 A as described below. Also, a protrusion  58  is formed to protrude forward from a site on the front surface  55   a  of the main body portion  53 A, which is located at a distance from the retainer pin  51 . Further, a receiving portion  53 D is provided between the projection  54  and the protrusion  58  to receive a rear half of an engaging head of the fastener element  31  therein. 
     Also, a contact portion  55  is formed at a location on the side surface  53 C of the separable pin  53 , which is located in the rear of the projection  54  and above the base  53 B. The contact portion  55  has an inclined surface (intersecting portion obliquely intersecting with a moving direction of the slider  40 )  55  configured to come in contact with the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40 . Is addition, the contact portion  55  is provided on the upper surface side of the fastener tape  20 . Therefore, the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45 , which is the contact portion of the slider  40 , and the contact portion  55  of the separable pin  53  are configured to come in contact with each other in the moving direction of the slider  40  (front and rear direction). 
     The inclined surface  56  is formed to extend rearward from a right end portion of the front surface  55   a  extending in a widthwise direction of the main body portion  53 A and has an apex A on a rear end thereof and a starting point B on a front end thereof. The apex A is a site on the inclined surface  56 , which is located closest to the retainer pin  51 . The starting point B is a site on the inclined surface  56 , which is located at a frontmost portion of the separable pin  53 . Also, as shown in  FIG. 5 , in a state where the projection  54  of the separable pin  53  is engaged with the right fastener element  31 , the apex A of the inclined surface  56  is positioned closer to the retainer pin  51  relative to the apex of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40 , and the starting point B of the inclined surface  56  is positioned away from the retainer pin  51  relative to the apex of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40 . As a result, the apex of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  is positioned between the apex A and the starting point B of the inclined surface  56 . Therefore, when the slider  40  is pulled down toward the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  comes in contact with the inclined surface  56 . In addition, a portion of the inclined surface  56 , which is located away from the retainer pin  51  relative to the contact point of the raised portion  45 , functions to guide movement of the slider  40  in the front and rear direction, and a portion of the inclined surface  56 , which is located closer to the retainer pin  51  relative to the contact point of the raised portion  45 , functions to move the separable pin  53  outward in the widthwise direction (toward the left side in  FIG. 5 ). 
     Also, the main body portion  53 A has a corner portion  57  between the front surface  55   a  and the inclined surface  56 . In addition, the inclined surface  56  is provided to be positioned rearward relative to the corner portion  57  of the main body portion  53 A and closer to the retainer pin  51 . Further, the inclined surface  56  is formed to gradually approach the retainer pin  51  as it goes from the corner portion  57  of the main body portion  53 A toward the retainer pin  51  and toward the retainer box  52  (in the right and rear direction in  FIG. 5 ). As a result, when the slider  40  is pulled down until coming in contact with the retainer box  52  while the projection  54  of the separable pin  53  is engaged with the fastener element  31 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  and the inclined surface  56  of the separable pin  53  are aligned on a straight line along the front and rear direction, and the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  and the inclined surface  56  of the separable pin  53  come in contact with each other. 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a width L 1  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the apex A of the inclined surface  56  is set to be smaller than a width W of a separable pin guide groove  48  of the slider  40  for guiding insertion of the separable pin  53 . As a result, the separable pin  53  is allowed to move in the widthwise direction within the separable pin guide groove  48 . Meanwhile, the separable pin guide groove  48  is formed between an inner surface of the left flange  44   a  of the slider  40  and the element guide surface  45   b  of the raised portion  45 . 
     Further, a width L 2  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the rear of the inclined surface  56  is set to be smaller than the width L 1  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the apex A of the inclined surface  56 . That is, the side surface  53 C of the separable pin  53  at the rear of the inclined surface  56  is recessed toward the left direction relative to the apex A of the inclined surface  56  so as to be spaced from the retainer pin  51 . As a result, it is possible to enhance insertability of the separable pin  53  into the retainer box  52 . 
     Further, a dimension H 1  of the separable pin  53  in the upper and lower direction (see  FIG. 4B ), a dimension H 2  between the lower surface of the upper plate  41  of the slider  40  and the upper surface of the lower plate  42  of the slider  40  in the upper and lower direction (see  FIG. 3 ), and a dimension H 3  of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  in the upper and lower direction (see  FIG. 3 ) have a relationship of H 3 &gt;(H 2 -H 1 ). Therefore, when the slider  40  is pulled down toward the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  comes in contact with the inclined surface  56 . 
     In the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment as configured as described above, as shown in  FIGS. 6A to 6C , by pulling down the slider  40  until coming in contact with the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  comes in contact with the inclined surface  56  of the separable pin  53  and thus presses the inclined surface  56  outward in the widthwise direction. As a result, the projection  54  of the separable pin  53  and the right fastener element row  30  are disengaged from each other and thus the separable pin  53  is moved outward in the widthwise direction. Therefore, it is possible to reliably remove the separable pin  53  from the retainer box  52 . 
     As described above, according to the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment, by pulling down the slider  40  until coming in contact with the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  comes in contact with the inclined surface  56  of the separable pin  53  and thus the separable pin  53  moves in a direction opposite to the retainer pin  51 , i.e., in a direction away from the retainer pin  51 . Therefore, the projection  54  of the separable pin  53  and the fastener element  31  are disengaged from each other, ensuring that the separable pin  53  can be reliably removed from the retainer box  52 . 
     Also, according to the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment, the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  is positioned between the apex A and the starting point B of the inclined surface  56 . Therefore, when the slider  40  is pulled down toward the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  can come in contact with the inclined surface  56 . 
     Further, according to the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment, the width L 1  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the apex A of the inclined surface  56  is set to be smaller than the width W of the separable pin guide groove  48  of the slider  40 . Therefore, the separable pin  53  is allowed to move in the widthwise direction within the slider  40 . 
     Further, according to the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment, the width L 2  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the rear of the inclined surface  56  is set to be smaller than the width L 1  of the separable pin  53  as measured at the apex A of the inclined surface  56 . Therefore, it is possible to enhance insertability of the separable pin  53  into the retainer box  52 . 
     Further, according to the slide fastener  10  of the present embodiment, the dimension H 1  of the separable pin  53  in the upper and lower direction, the dimension H 2  between the lower surface of the upper plate  41  of the slider  40  and the upper surface of the lower plate  42  of the slider  40  in the upper and lower direction, and the dimension H 3  of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  in the upper and lower direction have the relationship of H 3 &gt;(H 2 -H 1 ). Therefore, when the slider  40  is pulled down toward the retainer box  52 , the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  of the slider  40  can come in contact with the inclined surface  56 . The dimension H 3  of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  in the upper and lower direction is a dimension between the lower surface of the upper plate  41  of the slider  40  and a lower surface of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  in the upper and lower direction when the raised portion  45  is raised from the lower surface of the upper plate  41  of the slider  40 , and on the other hand, is a dimension between the upper surface of the lower plate  42  and an upper surface of the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45  in the upper and lower direction when the raised portion  45  is raised from the upper surface of the lower plate  42  of the slider  40 . 
     The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, but may be appropriately modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     For example, although the case where the present invention is applied to the separable stop  50  is illustrated in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be applied to a reversible separable stop  60  shown in  FIG. 7 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the reversible separable stop  60  includes a retainer pin  61 , which is formed on a rear end portion of the tape side edge portion  20   a  of the right fastener tape  20 , and a separable pin  62 , which is formed on a rear end portion of the tape side edge portion  20   a  of the left fastener tape  20  and is capable of being inserted into a front slider  40 A and a rear slider  40 B. The contact portion  55  having the inclined surface  56  as described above is formed on the separable pin  62 . Also, in this case, the raised portion  45  as described above is formed on the front slider  40 A. Herein, it can be said that the rear slider  40 B is one of components constituting the reversible separable stop  60 . While the rear slider  40 B is positioned on a bottom end of the retainer pin  61 , the separable pin  62  can be inserted into the rear slider  40 B. 
     Further, although the case where the present invention is applied to a for-back-side slide fastener with fastener element rows arranged on lower surfaces of fastener tapes is illustrated in the foregoing embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be applied to a for-front-side slide fastener with fastener element rows arranged on upper surfaces of fastener tapes. In this case, the raised portion of the slider is provided on the upper surface of the lower plate of the slider, and the contact portion of the separable pin is provided on the lower surface side of the fastener tape. Also, the raised portion in this case extends on the upper surface of the lower plate rearward from the periphery of the guide post and is raised from the upper surface of the lower plate toward the upper plate. 
     Further, although in the forgoing embodiment, the inclined surface  56 , which is the intersecting portion, is provided on the contact portion  55  of the separable pin  53 , the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the inclined surface  56 , which is the intersecting portion, may be provided on the raised portion  45  of the slider  40 . In this case, the inclined surface  56  is provided on the distal end portion  45   a  of the raised portion  45 . When the slider  40  is moved to abut against the retainer box  52 , the inclined surface  56  of the raised portion  45  abuts against a corner portion  57 B of the contact portion  55  of the separable pin  53 , thereby move the separable pin  53  outward in the widthwise direction. Further, the inclined surface  56 , which is the intersecting portion, may be provided on both the contact portion  55  of the separable pin  53  and the raised portion  45  of the slider  40 . In addition, the intersecting portion is not limited to the inclined surface, but is sufficient so long as the intersecting portion has a surface which descends from the starting point B thereof toward the apex A. For example, the intersecting portion may be a curved surface. 
     DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
       10 : Slide Fastener 
       11 : Top Stop 
       20 : Fastener Tape 
       20   a : Tape Side Edge Portion 
       30 : Fastener Element Row 
       31 : Fastener Element 
       40 : Slider 
       41 : Upper Plate 
       42 : Lower Plate 
       43 : Guide Post 
       45 : Raised Portion 
       45   a : Distal End Portion (Contact Portion of Raised Portion) 
       45   b : Element Guide Surface 
       48 : Separable Pin Guide Groove 
       50 : Separable Stop 
       51 : Retainer Pin 
       52 : Retainer Box 
       53 : Separable Pin 
       54 : Projection 
       55 : Contact Portion 
       56 : Inclined Surface (Intersecting Portion Obliquely Intersecting with Moving Direction of Slider) 
       57 : Corner Portion 
     A: Apex of Inclined Surface 
     B: Starting Point of Inclined Surface 
     L 1 : Width of Separable Pin as Measured at Apex of Inclined Surface 
     L 2 : Width of Separable Pin as Measured at Rear of Inclined Surface 
     W: Width of Separable Pin Guide Groove 
     H 1 : Dimension of Separable Pin in Upper and Lower Direction 
     H 2 : Dimension between Lower Surface of Upper Plate of Slider and Upper Surface of Lower Plate of Slider in Upper and Lower Direction 
     H 3 : Dimension of Distal End Portion of Raised Portion of Slider in Upper and Lower Direction