Patent Publication Number: US-7591051-B2

Title: Waterproof top end stop of slide fastener

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener for use in an opening/closing mouth of wet suit, waterproof trousers, waterproof shoes for use under water, and the like. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A conventionally known waterproof top end stop  101  for a slide fastener disclosed by a Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 4-36659 and shown in  FIG. 11  includes: an accommodation hole  110  capable of accommodating a diamond  121  in a slider  102  provided in its center; passage portions  114  in which the diamond  121  can be inserted and which can be closed firmly, the passage portions  114  leading to the accommodation hole  110 ; an inner sealing portion  111 ,  113  having a large thickness capable of surrounding the accommodation hole  110  and the passage portions  114  and a rib-like seal  112  which is projected from a surface of the inner sealing portion  111 ,  113  throughout the accommodation hole  110  and the passage portions  114 , the rib-like seal  112  being entirely formed in a racket-like shape and capable of making a firm contact with inner faces of upper and lower blades  120  of the slider  102 . 
   In the waterproof top end stop  101  for a slide fastener shown in  FIG. 11 , its inner sealing portion  111 ,  113  having a large thickness capable of burying an inside of a body of the slider  102  is formed entirely to be long longitudinally. A rib-like seal  112  which makes a contact with upper and lower blades  120  of the slider  102  formed on the inner sealing portion  111 ,  113  needs to be projected in a form of a racket into both the accommodation hole  110  and the passage portions  114 . Accordingly, this structure is not so preferable from view points of waterproof and airproof because the rib-like seal  112  is provided for a long distance. Further, in this top end stop  101  , flanges  122  of the slider  102  are brought into a firm contact with the passage portions  114  including a diamond  121  when the slider  102  is pulled up in order to seal the passage portions  114  formed within the inner sealing portion  111 ,  113 . According to this structure, side faces of the passage portions  114  are just brought into contact with each other by the flanges  122  of the slider  102 . Thus, there is such a problem that water may penetrate or invade through the passage portions  114  because side faces of the passage portions  114  are only joined together. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been achieved in view of the above-described problem, and a first object of the invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, in which a protrusion which makes contact with an inner face of each of upper and lower blades of a slider, namely, rib-like seal is formed as short as possible to raise waterproof and airproof properties, and pressing portions for positively pressing an outer side face of the top end stop are formed so as to bring contact faces of insertion leg portions, namely, contact portions of a diamond passage portions into a firm contact with each other by forming the contact portions as short as possible, thereby securing waterproof and airproof effects. 
   In addition to the first object, a second object of the invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, in which the pressing portions are provided on outer edge portions of insertion leg portions corresponding to the passage portions to close the passage portions accurately and smoothly, thereby raising waterproof and airproof effects. 
   In addition to the first object, a third object of the invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, in which a relation among the pressing portions installed on the insertion leg portions of the top end stop, the outer edge portions located inside the pressing portions and a slider which accommodates these pressing portions and outer edge portions is specified so as to raise waterproof and airproof effects effectively and accurately. 
   In addition to the first object, fourth and fifth objects of the invention are to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, in which a configuration of the pressing portions which are formed on both outer sides of the insertion leg portions of the top end stop and make contact with flanges of the slider is specified so as to bring the contact portions of the insertion leg portions into an aggressive contact with each other effectively and accurately, thereby raising the waterproof and airproof effects. 
   In addition to the fourth object, a sixth object of the invention is to provide a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, in which the insertion leg portions are brought into a partial contact with the blades of the slider through the protrusion and pressing portions, thereby achieving smooth and light sliding of the slider. 
   In order to achieve the above-described object, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener having elasticity, which is fixed adjacent to fastener elements provided along opposing side edges of a pair of fastener tapes in a slide fastener and which is connected to the fastener tapes, wherein an accommodating portion capable of accommodating a diamond of a sliding slider is provided in a center thereof such that the accommodating portion is surrounded by insertion leg portions; protrusions which make contact with upper and lower blades of the slider are provided projectingly along an inner peripheral edge portion  11  provided on an inner edge of the accommodating portion; passage portions which allow the diamond of the slider to pass through is provided at end portions on inner sides of the insertion leg portions; and pressing portions projecting with respect to a contact faces of leg portions in the fastener elements adjacent to the top end stop or a faces making a sliding contact with the slider are provided on both outer sides of the top end stop, namely, outside the insertion leg portions. The pressing portions can be pressed inward when the slider is slid. Due to contact between the pressing portion and the slider, the passage portions are closed firmly. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed in the top end stop are formed at positions corresponding to the passage portions which allow the diamond of the slider to pass through, that is, on outer edge portions of the insertion leg portions. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed in the top end stop are provided on the outer edge portions on a side of an entrance of the insertion leg portions, and the outer edge portions provided inside of the top end stop from the pressing portions are formed narrower than an interval between right and left flanges of the slider to avoid making contact with the flanges. 
   According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed in the top end stop are formed to project in up and down directions from the insertion leg portions. 
   According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the first aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, wherein the pressing portions installed in the top end stop are formed to project in an outward direction from the insertion leg portions. 
   According to a sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the fourth aspect, there is provided a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener, wherein the protrusions and pressing portions provided on the insertion leg portions of the top end stop project in up and down directions while a portion between the protrusions and pressing portions is recessed. 
   Advantages of the present invention will be described below. 
   According to the first aspect of the invention, even when the passage portions which allow the diamond of the slider to pass through are formed with short small contact faces, the pressing portions provided on both outer sides of the top end stop press the insertion leg portions inward aggressively so as to block water from penetrating or invading. Further, even if the protrusions making contact with the inner faces of blades of the slider is formed in a short length along the inner peripheral edge portion of the accommodating portion, waterproof and airproof properties can be exerted effectively, and moreover, the top end stop can be formed easily. 
   According to the second aspect of the invention, the passage portions provided inside the insertion leg portions is pressed and closed accurately to block penetration and invasion of water through the passage portions, thereby enhancing waterproof and airproof properties. 
   According to the third aspect of the invention, the pressing portions provided on the side of an entrance of the insertion leg portions are pressed inward by a sliding operation while inside portions, that is, deep sides relative to the pressing portions do not make contact with the flanges. Consequently, the sliding operation of the slider can be carried out lightly. 
   According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the invention, the pressing portions provided on the insertion leg portions can be brought into a sliding contact with the flanges of the slider securely, so that the passage portions provided inside the insertion leg portions can be pressed and closed securely. Consequently, extremely favorable waterproof and airproof effects are achieved. 
   According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the insertion leg portions make a partial contact with the inner faces of the upper and lower blades of the slider, so that the slider can be slid smoothly and lightly. Therefore, the advantages realized by the present invention are remarkable. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a waterproof top end stop for a slider fastener; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially broken front view of a slider, showing a use condition of the waterproof top end stop; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged front view of the top end stop of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the top end stop taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front view showing the use condition of the top end stop; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of major portions indicating a relation between a pressing portion of the top end stop and a fastener element; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a modification of the top end stop; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the modification of the top end stop taken along a line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view showing a state in which a slider is brought into a sliding contact with the top end stop; 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another top end stop; and 
       FIG. 11  is a front view showing a use condition of a known top end stop. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   As regards a waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener of the present invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 , surfaces of a pair of fastener tapes  5  are coated with a waterproof material  6  such as thermoplastic elastomer composed of vinyl chloride or polyethylene or synthetic rubber to form base fabrics  4 . Fastener elements  7  composed of thermoplastic resin such as polyamide or polyacetal are formed on side edges of the base fabrics  4  by injection molding. A top end stop  1  is formed at an end portion having the fastener elements  7  attached, the top end stop being composed of the same material as the aforementioned waterproof material  6  and having elasticity in order to stop a slider  2 . 
   The top end stop  1  has one end closed. The top end stop  1  includes an accommodating portion  10  capable of accommodating a diamond  21  of the slider  2  provided in a center thereof, and insertion leg portions  13  formed on right and left sides of the other end such that they are adjacent to the fastener elements  7 . Passage portions  14  which allow the diamond  21  of the slider  2  to pass through are formed at sides of entrance end portions of the insertion leg portions  13 , namely, on sides of the insertion leg portions  13  adjacent to the fastener elements  7 . The passage portions  14  are constructed such that right and left passage portions  14  join together to secure waterproof property when a fastener chain is closed with the slider  2 . 
   Pressing portions  15  are provided by projecting right and left outer sides of the insertion leg portions  13  slightly outward with respect to outside edges of the fastener elements  7 , so that the pressing portions  15  are projected in up and down directions while making contact with flanges  22  of the slider  2 . Protrusions  12  are provided so as to be projected toward inner faces of upper and lower blades  20  of the slider  2  to make contact therewith along an inner peripheral edge portion  11  of the accommodating portion  10  which accommodates the diamond  21 . Entrance end portions of the protrusions  12  face the passage portions  14  of the insertion leg portions  13 , and end portions of the protrusions are cut out obliquely to form inclined faces  16 , thereby reducing an impact on the upper and lower blades  20  to facilitate passage of the diamond  21  when it is inserted. Stoppers  17  are provided protrudedly on both closed end faces of the top end stop  1  so that head portions  23  of the blades  20  of the slider  2  can make contact with, thereby accommodating the slider  2  accurately in the accommodating portion  10 . 
   In the meantime, back faces of the base fabrics  4  outside the closed stoppers  17  of the top end stop  1  are lined with a seal material  8  to integrate the right and left fastener tapes  5 . 
   As regards a relation between the top end stop  1  and the slider  2 , waterproof and airproof properties are exerted in such a manner that the diamond  21  is accommodated in the accommodating portion  10  of the top end stop  1  by sliding the slider  2 , so that the top end stop  1  is used as a waterproof top end stop. At this time, when the top end stop  1  accommodates the diamond  21  of the slider  2  in the accommodating portion  10 , the protrusions  12  provided along the inner peripheral edge portion  11  of the accommodating portion  10  make a pressure contact with inner faces of the blades  20  as shown in  FIG. 4 , so that upper and lower faces of the top end stop  1  are closed firmly with inner faces of the slider  2 . Regarding a sealing function of the passage portions  14  which allow the diamond  21  to pass through, the passage portion  14  being formed in the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the pressing portions  15  formed in the right and left insertion leg portions  13  are pressed inward by the flanges  22  so as to bring the passage portions  14  into a firm contact with each other from right and left. Therefore, the waterproof and airproof effects of the top end stop  1  are exerted by bringing the protrusions  12  and the blades  20  into a pressure contact and pressing the pressing portions  15  inward by the flanges  22 , so as to seal the passage portions  14 . 
   First Embodiment 
   In a waterproof top end stop according to a first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 9 , front and rear surfaces of a pair of fastener tapes  5  are coated with a waterproof material  6  of thermoplastic elastomer such as vinyl chloride or polyethylene or synthetic rubber so as to form a base fabrics  4 . Then, fastener elements  7  are formed on opposing side edges of the base fabrics  4  by injection-molding using thermoplastic resin such as polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene and polybutylene terephthalate. Each of the fastener elements  7  is formed of mainly a coupling head  28  and a leg portion  29 . The leg portion  29  is formed of a square body while a contact face  31  is formed at an outer end of the leg portion  29  such that flanges  22  of a slider  2  makes a sliding contact therewith. Fin portions  30  in a flat shape are provided on the contact face  31  at a side of one of the fastener tapes  5 , and the flanges  22  of the slider  2  makes contact with the fin portions  30  and the contact face  31  when the slider slides. 
   The coupling head  28  is projected from the leg portion  29  in a form of a number  8 , and engaging pieces  32  which are in a flat shape and flush with the edge of the fastener tape  5  are provided on the leg portion  29  at a side of the head portion  28  and fitted to a concave groove  33  provided in the coupling head  28  of a mating fastener element. Therefore, the concave groove  33  is formed in a front end of the coupling head  28 , so that the engaging pieces  32  projected from both sides of the fastener element  7  of the mating fastener element are accommodated to engage the right and left fastener elements  7  with each other. 
   The upper and lower blades  20  of the slider  2  are joined with the diamond  21 , and the flanges  22  for guiding the fastener elements  7  are provided curvedly on both outer sides of the blades  20 . By sliding this slider  2  in back and forth directions, the fastener elements  7  molded on the side edges of the base fabrics  4  are brought into firm contact with each other both in back and forth directions and in right and left directions so as to provide the right and left base fabric  4  with waterproof property. 
   A top end stop  1  is injection-molded with the same material as the thermoplastic elastomer such as vinyl chloride or polyethylene or synthetic rubber applied to the surfaces of the base fabrics  4 . In the top end stop  1 , the accommodating portion  10  capable of accommodating the diamond  21  of the slider  2  is formed in the center with a front end thereof closed such that it is continuous to the fastener elements  7  attached to the side edges of the base fabrics  4 , and insertion leg portions  13  are provided integrally on right and left sides of the accommodating portion  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the top end stop  1  further includes the protrusions  12  which is accommodated within the right and left flanges  22  of the slider  2  and provided projectingly toward a surface along the inner peripheral edge portion  11  of the accommodating portion  10  in the center thereof. The protrusions  12  are constructed to make contact with the inner faces of the upper and lower blades  20  of the slider  2  to ensure waterproof performance. Forming of the protrusions  12  along the inner peripheral edge portion  11  means forming of the protrusions  12  at a predetermined distance from the inner peripheral edge portion  11  along a contour of the inner peripheral edge portion  11  or forming of the protrusions  12  on a same plane as the inner peripheral edge portion  11 . That is, the protrusions  12  are formed so as to surround the diamond  21  together with the accommodating portion  10 . 
   Entrance end portions of the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1  can be brought into a firm contact with each other as shown in  FIG. 3  to form passage portions  14  which allow the diamond  21  to pass through easily. The protrusions  12  are formed so as to end at the passage portions  14 , and the passage portions  14  and the edges of the fastener tapes  5  are formed on an identical plane. Then, inclined faces  16  are formed by cutting portions facing entrances of the protrusions  12 , namely, corners of surfaces on a side adjacent to the fastener elements  7  to provide with slopes. A provision of the inclined faces  16  reduces an impact on the upper and lower blades  20 , thereby making the diamond  21  to pass through smoothly. 
   Pressing portions  15  are provided on part of right and left outer sides of the entrance end portions of the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1  such that the pressing portions  15  are projected outward with respect to outer edges of the insertion leg portions  13  while they are projected toward the blades  20  from upper and bottom surfaces of the insertion leg portions  13 . The pressing portions  15  are projected outward with respect to outer side faces, namely, the contact faces  31  of the leg portion  29  in the fastener element  7  molded as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 6 . When the slider  2  is slid up to a terminal end, there is generated a gap between the flanges  22  of the slider  2  and the contact faces  31  of the leg portion  29 . However, no gap exists between the flanges  22  of the slider  2  and the pressing portions  15  molded on the outer side edges of the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1  so that they make firm contact with each other. Consequently, the pressing portions  15  are pressed inward by the flanges  22 , so that the passage portions  14  are closed firmly. If speaking further, a dimension of a width from the outer sides of the pressing portions  15  to the edge portions of the fastener tapes  5  is larger than a dimension of a width from the contact faces  31  of the leg portion  29  to the end portions of the fastener tapes  5 . Since the pressing portions  15  project toward the blades  20 , contact areas between the pressing portions  15  and flanges  22  can be increased. 
   On an inner side or deep side relative to the pressing portions  15  formed on the insertion leg portions  13 , a width of the top end stop  1  is formed narrower than a gap between the flanges  22  of the slider  2  as shown in  FIG. 3  so that the flanges  22  and the insertion leg portions  13  do contact each other in order to slide the slider  2  smoothly. That is, the insertion leg portions  13  not making contact with the flanges  22  are formed inside outside positions of the top end stop  1  corresponding to the passage portions  14  which keep contact, while the pressing portions  15  are formed at least at each position corresponding to the passage portions  14 . In other words, the pressing portions  15  are formed at least in a same length as those of the protrusions  12  facing the passage portions  14 . Preferably, the pressing portions  15  are formed longer than the protrusions  12  and in a same length as or longer than the passage portions  14 . A recession is provided between the protrusions  12  formed around the accommodating portion  10  and the pressing portions  15  in the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1 . Consequently, the slider  2  can slide smoothly and lightly because of a partial contact by the blades  20  of the slider  2 . In the meantime, although the right and left end portions at the entrances of the insertion leg portions  13  are shifted to each other corresponding to an arrangement of the fastener elements  7 , right and left end portions of the protrusions  12  meet each other. 
   Stoppers  17  are projected from the front and rear surfaces as shown in  FIG. 9  at the closed front end of the top end stop  1  such that the stoppers  17  meet outer edges of shoulder mouths of head portions  23  of the upper and lower blades  20  of the slider  2  and can make contact therewith, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Consequently, the head portions  23  of the blades  20  of the slider  2  are brought into an aggressive contact with the stoppers  17  to stop the sliding of the slider  2 . The base fabrics  4  outside the stoppers  17  are lined with a seal material  8  made of thermoplastic elastomer in order to secure waterproof property. 
   A use condition of this top end stop  1  will be described hereinafter. When the slider  2  mounted on the right and left base fabrics  4  is slid toward the top end stop  1  as shown in  FIG. 5 , the diamond  21  pushes and opens the passage portions  14  of the top end stop  1  having elasticity, and the head portions  23  of the blades  20  of the slider  2  make contact with the stoppers  17  while the diamond  21  is accommodated in the accommodating portion  10 . Consequently, the flanges  22  of the slider  2  push the right and left pressing portions  15  to bring the passage portions  14  into a pressure contact with each other. In addition, the protrusions  12  of the top end stop  1  make a pressure contact with the inner faces of the blades  20  of the slider  2 , thereby maintaining waterproof and airproof properties at terminals of the base fabrics  4 . 
   To release the waterproof and airproof properties, the slider  2  is slid in a direction of departing from the top end stop  1  to push apart the passage portions  14  of the insertion leg portions  13  by means of the diamond  21 , thereby allowing the slider  2  to slide. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8  show a modification of the waterproof top end stop according to the first embodiment. In a peripheral portion of the top end stop  1 , inclined portions are formed at least at the pressing portions  15  and the insertion leg portions  13  on a side of the fastener elements  7  of the fastener tapes  5 . As shown in a cross sectional view in  FIG. 8 , the inclined portions are formed in a inclined plane shape in which thickness thereof is reduced toward an outside of the top end stop  1 . With this feature, the top end stop  1  is not easily caught even if someone intentionally tries to peel it off, thereby enabling to provide the top end stop  1  enduring a long-term use. 
   Second Embodiment 
   A waterproof top end stop according to a second embodiment shown in  FIG. 10  is different from the first embodiment in that a pressing portions  15  provided on outer edges of insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1  are flat and not projected upward/downward. If speaking in detail, the top end stop  1  formed of thermoplastic elastomer has an accommodating portion  10  for accommodating a diamond  21 , and protrusions  12  projecting upward/downward along an inner peripheral edge portion  11  of the accommodating portion  10  are provided on front and rear faces so that they can make a pressure contact with inner faces of blades  20 . Then, the pressing portions  15  are formed on the outer edges of the right and left insertion leg portions  13  such that they are swollen slightly from outer faces of the insertion leg portions  13 . The pressing portions  15  are formed in a same thickness as the insertion leg portions  13  existing on the front and rear faces of the top end stop  1 , and makes a sliding contact with inner faces of flanges  22  of the slider  2 . 
   When the slider  2  is slid toward the top end stop  1 , the pressing portions  15  formed on the outer edges of the insertion leg portions  13  of the top end stop  1  are pressed by the flanges  22  of the slider  2 , so that the insertion leg portions  13  are pushed inward to bring passage portions  14  into a pressure contact with each other. In this top end stop  1 , the protrusions  12  provided along the inner peripheral portion  11  of the accommodating portion  10  make a pressure contact with the inner faces of the blades  20  of the slider  2 , and the passage portions  14  are brought into a firm contact with each other by the flanges  22  of the slider  2 . Consequently, the top end stop  1  has a waterproof function. 
   The top end stops of the first and second embodiments described above are not restricted to an injection type fastener element but may be applied to a fastener chain having a coil-like fastener element or a zigzag-like fastener element formed of synthetic resin mono-filament. In such a case, contact faces of each leg portion of each fastener element refers to an inverted portion on an opposite side to a coupling head continuous from upper and lower leg portions of the coil-like or zigzag-like fastener element, namely, an outside of a connecting portion, meaning a portion which makes contact with flanges of a sliding slider. 
   The waterproof top end stop for a slide fastener of the present invention is used in an opening portion of a variety of wet suits and waterproof trousers and an opening portion of waterproof shoe for underwater operation, located under water when used, and in an opening portion of a bag, ensuring waterproof and airproof properties.