Patent Publication Number: US-7219402-B2

Title: Slider for slide fastener

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-418168 filed on Dec. 16, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
   BACKGROUND 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to a slide fastener to be attached to an opening formed in an article such as clothing or bags, and particularly to a slider for such a slide fastener wherein a decorative-button type pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slide fastener has gone or has been shipped from a factory in case that an aesthetic effect must be respected. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Heretofore, there has been known a decorative slide fastener slider equipped with a pull tab having a decorative gripping portion. For example, a decorative slider  100  of this type is shown in French Patent No. 2248801 and reproduced in  FIG. 10  of the drawings appended hereto for convenience&#39;s sake. The decorative slider  100  is comprised of a slider body  102  and a pull tab  104  attached to the slider body  102 . The pull tab  104  includes a pull tab base  106  and a declarative plate  108  attached to the upper surface of the pull tab base  106 . The pull tab base  106  has a pair of opposed leg portions  110  formed on the lower surface thereof. The opposed leg portions  110  have two engaging portions  112  provided on the respective lower ends so as to project inwards therefrom. The slider body  102  has a pull-tab attaching lug  114  provided on the upper surface thereof. The pull tab base  106  is pressed against the pull-tab attaching lug  114  with their opposed leg portions  110  clamping the lug  114 , so that the engaging portions  112  of the pull tab base  106  come into snapping engagement with the attaching lug  114 . 
   There has been known in this field an automatic locking slide fastener slider equipped with a pull tab having a decorative gripping portion. “Automatic locking slider” means a slider having an automatic locking mechanism. One example of an automatic locking type slide fastener slider  200  with a decorative pull tab is shown in German Utility Model Registration No. 20119606 and also reproduced in  FIG. 11  of the drawings appended hereto. The automatic locking type slider  200  is assembled as follows: A plate spring  202  and then a locking member  204  is inserted into a cap  206 . Then, a rectangular retaining link  208  clamps the thus connected cap  206  and locking member  204  with the upper crossbeam  209  of the rectangular retaining link  208  lying on the upper surface of the cap  206 . Then, the cap  206  is mounted to the upper surface of the slider body  210 . Then, a grip portion  220  covers the cap  206 , with a retaining groove  222  formed in the inner surfaces of the housing portion  224  of the grip portion  220  fit into the upper crossbeam  209  of the rectangular retaining link  208 , so that the grip portion  220  is joined with the slider body  210 . 
   In the decorative slider  100  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , it is a mere snap-engaging mechanism that functions to attach the pull tab base  106  to the slider body  102 . 
   Therefore, if stresses are exerted tending to pull the pull tab base  106  upwardly, the pull tab base  106  is liable to be dislodged from the attaching lug  114  of the slider body  102  very easily. This disadvantageously prevents the user from freely operating the pull tab base  106 . 
   In the decorative slider  200  with an automatic locking mechanism illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the grip portion  220  and the rectangular retaining link  208  must be formed as separate parts since this is so required by the construction of the slider. This renders the assemblage of the slider  200  as a whole tedious and increases the manufacturing cost. Once the automatic locking type slider  200  has been assembled, it is impossible to replace the grip portion  220  even if the user desires to replace it. 
   In view of the problems mentioned above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic locking type slider or a locking-mechanism-free slider (hereinafter referred to “free slider”), wherein a pull tab can be attached to the slider body even after the slide fastener has gone or been shipped from a factory, a pull tab body in the form of a decorative button can be attached to a slider body at great ease, and wherein furthermore, if the wearer desires to replace the pull tab body, the pull tab body can be replaced freely. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener slider wherein a pull tab body can be installed on the slider body in a well-guided stable manner; and particularly, in case of an automatic locking slider, the pull tab body can be firmly held down on the slider body by a locking member, so that the pull tab can be retained on the slider body in stable manner. 
   SUMMARY 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a slider for a slide fastener comprising: a slider body including an upper wing and a pull tab having a pintle; the slider body comprising: a pull tab-attaching yoke mounted in the upper wing in cantilevered manner, having an indentation formed therein for receiving the pintle directly or indirectly, and defining with the upper wing a gap; and a closing member movably mounted on the slider body so as to close and open the gap. The pull tab further includes a pull tab body and a pair of opposed protuberant walls provided on the lower side of the pull tab body. The pintle extends between the opposed protuberant walls to connect them. At lease one of the ends of the opposed protuberant walls is open to provide an open space. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of an automatic locking slider, according to the first embodiment of this invention, of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slide fastener has been shipped from a factory. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the slider of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a free slider, according to the second embodiment of this invention, of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slide fastener has been shipped from a factory 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the slider of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the lower side of a pull tab. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the lower side of a modification of the pull tab. 
       FIG. 7  is a partly cross-sectional side view showing the automatic locking slider when the rear end of the pull tab is lifted. 
       FIG. 8  is a partly cross-sectional side view showing the automatic locking slider when the front end of the pull tab is lifted. 
       FIG. 9  is a partly cross-sectional side view showing an automatic locking slider equipped with a decorative pull tab. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional free slider equipped with a decorative pull tab. 
       FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of a conventional automatic locking slider equipped with a decorative pull tab. 
   

   The following provides a list of the reference characters used in the drawings:
       1  Slider body     2  Pull tab     4  Pull tab body     5  Protuberant wall     6  Pintle     7  Open space     8  Recess     9  Corner     10  Outer edge portion     15  Upper wing     17  Guidepost     18  Pull-tab-attaching yoke     19  Locking member     20  Closing member     46  Indentation     47  Gap   

   The invention can apply to both automatic-locking slider and free slider of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slide fastener has gone or has been shipped from a factory. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a slide fastener slider according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an automatic locking slider of type wherein the slider is of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slider has been shipped from the factory. The slider is comprised of the slider body  1  and a pull tab  2  attached to the slider body  1 . The slider body  1  comprises an upper wing  15  and a lower wing  16  joined at their front ends by a guidepost  17 , to thus define therebetween the element-guiding channel  55  through which fastener elements (not shown) pass when the slider reciprocate along the fastener element rows. A pair of opposed attaching lugs  21  are mounted on the upper wing  15  above the guidepost  17 . A prong hole  22  is formed through the upper wing  15  so as to extend from the proximal end of the attaching lugs  21  towards a rear end  28  of the slider body  1 . The prong hole  22  is adapted to freely receive a locking member  19 . A sliding channel  23  is formed in the upper wing  15  so as to extend from the prong hole  22  to the rear end  28  and is adapted to slidably receive a closing member  20 . The sliding channel  23  is substantially as great in width as a pull-tab-attaching yoke  18 . The opposed side walls partly defining the sliding channel  23  have their respective opposed guide grooves  24  formed throughout their length. The closing member  20  has ridges  31  formed on the opposite sides thereof as closely described hereinbelow. The opposed ridges  31  of the closing member  30  are adapted for sliding engagement with the opposed guide grooves  24  of the sliding channel  23 . A spring groove  25  is formed alongside one of the guide grooves  24  (left one as viewed in  FIG. 1  here). A coiled spring  32  is inserted into the spring groove  25  and has its one end abutted against the closing member  20  so as to normally urge the closing member  20  rearwardly or in the direction to close a gap  47  mentioned hereinbelow. 
   The opposed attaching lugs  21  have a pair of aligned pin holes  26  formed therethrough to let a pin  53  pass therethrough. The pin  53  is inserted through a pin hole  37  formed though the locking member  19  and pin holes  45  formed through the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18 . A pair of attaching grooves  27  are formed in the upper wing  15  alongside the outer sides of the opposed attaching lugs  21 . The proximal end  43  of the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  firmly fits into the attaching groove  27  of the upper wing  15  so that the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  can be fixed to the slider body  1 . A small projection  30  is provided beside the rear end  28  of the sliding channel  23 . After the closing member  20  is inserted into the sliding channel  23 , the small projection  30  is turned over or clinched against the sliding channel  23  to thereby retain the closing member  20  in the sliding channel  23  against dislodgment therefrom. 
   The locking member  19  is in the shape of substantially V-shaped plate and bifurcated to provide a pair of upper and lower leg portions  19   a ,  19   b  joined by the vertical portion  19   c . A lower leg  19   b  is bent downwardly to provide a locking prong  38 . A pin hole  37  is formed through the vertical portion  19   c  of the locking member  19 . The V-shaped locking member  19  has a recess  39  defined between the upper and lower leg portions  19   a  and  19   b  for receiving the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . The locking member  19  further has an abutting portion  40  provided below the vertical portion  19   c . A spring  41  is arranged between the abutting portion  40  of the locking member  19  and the slider body  1  and normally urges the abutting portion  40  upwardly and hence the locking prong  38  downwardly to thus cause the locking prong  38  project into the element-guide channel  55 , thereby locking the slider to the element rows. 
   The closing member  20  is substantially U-shaped as viewed from above in  FIG. 1  and comprises a pair of side arms  20   a  and a raised closing crossbar  34  joining the side arms at their rear ends to thus provide an opening  33  therebetween. The opening  33  functions to prevent the closing member  20  from interfering the operation of the locking member  19 . A pair of opposed projections  35  are provided on the front or distal ends of the side arms  20   a  of the closing member  20  and adapted to prevent a pintle  6  of a pull tab  2  from passing therebeyond and being dislodged from the slider body  1 , in cooperation with the projections  50  of the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18 . Furthermore, the side arms  20   a  of the locking member  20  are recessed in their upper parts in the middle to provide notches  36  so as to tentatively receive the pintle  6 . A pair of guide ridges  31  are provided on the outer sides of the side arms  20   a  of the closing members  20  and adapted to fit into the guide grooves  24  formed in the side walls of the sliding channel  23 . 
   The pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  is like a hood having a hollow  44  formed inside; as viewed in profile, is substantially C-shaped; and has its proximal end portion bent downwards. The proximal end portion  43  of the yoke  18  is put onto the attaching lugs  21  of the slider body  1  with its lower rim fit into the attaching groove  27  of the slider body  1 , so that the yoke  18  is mounted on the slider body  1  in cantilevered manner. The yoke  18  extends along the length of the slider body  1  and the distal end  49  of the yoke  18  is bent downwardly and terminates short of the rear end  28  of the slider body  1 , thereby defining the gap  47  with the rear end  28  of the slider body  1 . The yoke  18  has a pair of opposed arcuate indentations  46  formed in the lower side thereof and adapted to receive the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . A pair of shunting recesses  48  are also formed in the yoke  18  between the indentations  46  and the distal end  49  for tentatively receiving the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . Furthermore, the yoke  18  has a pair of projections  50  formed between the indentations  46  and the corresponding shunting recesses  48  to thus prevent the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  from dislodgment, in cooperation of the projections  35  of the closing member  20 . Instead of being C-shaped, the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  may be of any other suitable shape. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pull tab  2  includes a disk-like pull tab body  4  and a pair of rectangular protuberant walls  5  mounted on the lower side thereof and disposed in spaced parallel relation with each other. The pintle  6  is mounted between the protuberant walls  5  at their middle to connect them. When the pull tab  2  is attached to the slider body  1 , the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  is adapted to pass through the gap  47  formed between yoke  18  and the rear end  28  of the slider body  1  and to be inserted into the recess  39  of the locking member  19 . A recess  8  is formed in the lower side of the pull tab  2  between the parallel protuberant walls  5  and is adapted to loosely receive the upper part of the yoke  18 . Since the depth of the recess  8  formed in the pull tab body  4  can be compensated by decreasing height of the protuberant walls  5 , the pull tab body  2  as a whole can be made advantageously compact. A pair of open spaces  7  are provided one at each of the front and rear ends of the protuberant walls  5  to thus facilitate installation of the pull tab body  4  on the yoke  18 . After the pull tab  2  has been mounted on the slider body  1 , the corners  9  of both ends of the protuberant walls  5  function as a fulcrum on which the pull tab  2  pivots longitudinally of the slider body  1 . Furthermore, the outer edges of the opposed protuberant walls  5  also function as a fulcrum on which the pull tab  2  pivots laterally of the slider body  1 . The pull tab body  4 , the protuberant walls  5  and pintle  6  are integrally formed through die-casting process from metals such as zinc alloy, aluminum alloy. Therefore, the pull tab  2  can be made stout and the pull tab  2  can be attached to the slider body  1  at ease. Each protuberant wall  5  of the pull tab  2  is substantially as great in length as the side of the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18 . 
   The shape of the pull tab body  4  and the shape and pattern of a decorative portion of the pull tab  2  can be selected optionally. For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 , dovetail grooves or truncated conical through holes  54  with its larger-diamtered opening in the lower side of the pull tab body  4  may be formed through the pull tab body  4 . The decorative portion  11  is molded from soft or hard plastics upon the upper surface of the pull tab body  4 , to thus provide the decorative pull tab  2 . A pull tab  2  shown in  FIG. 6  is a modification of the pull tab  2  shown in  FIG. 5 . Instead of two continuous protuberant walls  5 , in this modified pull tab  2 , two parallel rows of interrupted walls  5  (three on each row here) are mounted on the lower side of the pull tab body  4 . A pintle  6  is mounted between the opposed middle walls  5   b  to connect them. The terminal walls  5   a ,  5   c  on each row are intended to prevent the pull tab  2  from excessively pivoting on the slider body  1 . 
   In order to assemble the slider body  1 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , first, the coil spring  32  is inserted into the spring groove  25  and the closing member  20  are inserted into the sliding channel  23  of the slider body  1  with the coil spring  32  interposed between the closing member  20  and the slider body  1 , and the closing member  20  is forced forwardly. After the closing member  20  advance beyond the small projections  30  provided on the opposite sides of the inlet of the sliding channel  23 , the small projections  30  are turned over and clinched against the sliding channel  23 , to thus retain the closing member  20  in the sliding channel  23  of the slider body  1  against dislodgment therefrom. Then, the locking member  19  is inserted between the attaching lugs  21 . Then, the coil spring  41  is arranged between the abutting portion  40  of the locking member  19  and the slider body  1 . Then, the yoke  18  is placed over the locking member  19  with the proximal end portion  43  of the yoke  18  fitted into the attaching groove  27 , so that the locking member  19  is housed in the yoke  18 . Then, the pin holes  26  of the attaching lugs  21 , the pin hole  37  of the locking member  19  and the pin holes  45  of the yoke  18  are brought into registry with each other, and thereafter the pin  53  is inserted into the pin holes  26  of the attaching lugs  21 , the pin hole  37  of the locking member  19  and the pin holes  45  of the yoke  18 . Then, the pin  53  is clinched to the yoke  18  so that the slider body  1  is assembled. 
   In order to attach the pull tab  2  to the thus assembled slider body  1 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the pair of protuberant walls  5  of the pull tab body  4  are slid on the upper wing  15  of the slider body  1  forwardly from the gap  47 , with the recess  8  of the pull tab body  4  in alignment with the attaching yoke  18  of the slider body  1 . As a result, the pintle  6  of the pull tab body  4  comes into contact with the closing crossbar  34  of the closing member  20 . The closing member  20  is moved forwards against the bias of the coil spring  32  by simply pushing the closing member  20  by the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . 
   The closing member  20  is moved forwards until the pintle  6  is tentatively received within the notches  36  of the closing member  20 . Continued thrust of the pintle  6  forwardly brings the closing member  20  to a stop and cause the pintle  6  climb up along the opposed projections  35  of the closing member  20 . As soon as the pintle  6  received in the notches  36  of the closing member  20  climbs over the opposed projections  35 , the pintle  6  pushes up the upper leg portion  19   a  of the locking member  19  and comes into the recess  39  of the locking member  19 , so that the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  is received in the indentations  46  of the yoke  18 ; in other words, the indentations  46  of the yoke  18  receive the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  indirectly through the locking member  19 . The closing member  20  restores into the original position through the bias of the coil spring  32 . The spring  41  urges the recess  39  of the locking member  19  downwards and thus urges the pintle  6  received in the recess  39  against the upper wing  15  of the slider body  1 , so that the protuberant walls  5  are pressed against the upper wing  15 . Since the protuberant walls  5  of the pull tab body  4  are pressed against the upper wing  15 , the pull tab body  4  will not swing excessively on the slider body  1 . 
   The method of operating the pull tab  2  thus attached to the slider body  1  is shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Either the front end or the rear end of the pull tab body  4  are gripped and the pull tab body  4  is pulled up and to thus raise the locking member  19  disposed within the yoke  18  and bring the locking prong  38  of the locking member  19  out of locking engagement with the fastener elements, so that the slider can move reciprocally along the fastener elements. If the user desires to replace the pull tab  2 , the closing member  20  is thrust forwards with a pointed device. Then, the rear end of the pull tab body  4  is raised and the pintle  6  of the pull tab body  4  is moved into the notches  36  of the closing member  20 . Then, the closing member  20  is restored into the original position. Then, the pintle  6  of the pull tab body  4  is moved into the shunting recess  48  of the yoke  18 . Then, the closing member  20  is moved forwards beyond the pintle received in the shunting recess  48 , with the rear end of the pull tab body  4  raised, so that the pintle  6  can be released from the slider body  1  through the gap  47  and then the pull tab can be replaced. 
   A slide fastener slider according to the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 3  is so-called a free slider, and further the slider is of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slider has been shipped from the factory. The slider body  1  is comprised of an upper wing  15  and a lower wing  16  joined at their front ends by a guidepost  17 . As viewed in profile, a pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  is substantially C shaped and has its proximal end mounted on the upper surface of the upper wing  15  above the guidepost  17  in cantilevered manner. The distal end of the yoke  18  is bent downwardly towards the upper wing  15  and terminates short of the upper wing  15 , thereby defining with the upper wing  15 , a gap  47  through which the pintle  6  of the pull tab body  4  can pass. The upper wing  15  has a sliding channel  23  formed in its upper surface in such a way to extend from below the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18  to the rear end of the upper wing  15 . Along the sliding channel  23 , a closing member  20  is adapted to be reciprocally mounted in order to close the space  47 . The opposed inner side walls partly defining the sliding channel  23  have their respective opposed guide grooves  24  formed throughout their length in order to guide the closing member  20 . A spring groove  25  is formed centrally along the sliding channel  23  to receive a coil spring  32  therein. An insertion cavity  29  is formed as an extension of the sliding channel  23  within the upper wing  15 , and communicates with the sliding channel  23  and the spring groove  25  in order to receive both side arms  52  of the closing member  20 . The hind end of the insertion cavity  29  constitutes a stop portion  42  to check the advance of the closing member  20 . A pair of small projections  30  are provided on the opposite sides of the sliding channel  23  adjacent to the rear end of the slider body  1 . After the closing member  20  is reciprocally mounted in the sliding channel  23 , the small projections  30  are clinched against the sliding channel  23  to thus prevent the closing member  20  from being dislodged from the sliding channel  23 . 
   The closing member  20  is in the shape of a U-shaped flat base plate  51  and has its front end bifurcated to provide a pair of opposed side arms  52 . A spring  32  is disposed longitudinally in the opening  33  defined between the side arms  52  of the closing member  20 . Then, the spring  32  is inserted through the spring groove  25  of the sliding channel  23  and into the insertion cavity  29  formed transversely of the upper wing  15 , to thus normally urge the closing member  20  rearwardly. A projection  35  is mounted on the upper surface of the base plate  51  of the closing member  20  to close the gap  47  between the distal end  49  of the yoke  18  and the upper wing  15 . 
   A pull tab  2  of the same shape as the one according to the first embodiment can be used in the second embodiment as well. If possible, the protuberant walls  5  should be formed shorter, so that, when the pull tab  2  is swung, the corners  9  of the protuberant walls  5  can contact the upper surface of the upper wing  15 . Alternatively, the receiving indentations  46  of the yoke  18  adapted for receiving the pull tab  2  should be made compact so that the corners  9  of the protuberant walls  5  can not contact the slide fastener chain. 
   In order to assemble this slider, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the spring  32  is inserted through the spring groove  25  of the sliding channel  23  into the insertion cavity  29 . Then, the base plate  51  of the closing member  20  is inserted into the sliding channel  23  and advanced therealong until the opposed side arms  52  of the closing member  20  hold the spring  32  therebetween. After the closing member  20  advance beyond the small projections  30  provided on the opposite sides of the sliding channel  23 , the small projections  30  are clinched against the sliding channel  23  to thus prevent the closing member  20  from being dislodged from the sliding channel  23 . 
   In order to attach the pull tab  2  on the thus assembled slider body  1 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , the pair of protuberant walls  5  of the pull tab body  4  is slid on the upper wing  15  from the gap  47  forwardly, with recess  8  of the pull tab body  4  in alignment with the pull-tab-attaching yoke  18 , so that the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  contacts and thrusts the closing member  20  forwards. The pintle  6  further advances, pushing the closing member  20  against the bias of the spring  32 , so that the pintle  6  comes into the indentation  46  of the yoke  18  and the indentation  46  of the yoke  18  directly receives the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . The pull tab  2  is now attached to the slider body  1 . The pull tab  2  according to the second embodiment is same in the method of operation as the one according to the first embodiment. But, since the indentation  46  of the yoke  18  is greater in length, the pull tab  2  moves over greater distance to and fro, so that the intermediate parts of the protuberant walls  5  contact the end of the slider body  1  and the corners  9  of the protuberant walls  5  tend to contact the fastener chain. In order to prevent the corners  9  of the protuberant walls  5  from contacting the fastener chain, as mentioned earlier, the protuberant walls  5  should be formed shorter. Alternatively, the corners  9  of the protuberant walls  5  may be firmed arcuate or chamfered Still alternatively, the indentations  46  of the yoke  18  may be formed shorter in order to shorten the distance of the to-and-fro movement of the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2 . In order to replace the pull tab, the closing member  20  is thrust deeply into the indentation  46  of the yoke  18  by a pointed tool to thus open the gap  47 . Then, the pintle  6  of the pull tab  2  is released from the indentation  46  of the yoke  18  through the gap  47 , so that the pull tab  2  can be replaced. 
   The pull tab  2  according to the present invention can be readily applied to various sliders of the type wherein a pull tab is to be attached to the slider body after the slide fastener has been shipped from a factory. For example, it may be also applied to a free slider of the above-mentioned type (although not shown in the drawings) wherein the proximal end of a C-shaped pull-tab-attaching yoke may be mounted on the upper wing at the rear end of the slider body in cantilevered manner and the distal end thereof extends forwardly, unlike the slider body of the preceding embodiments. In this slider, a closing member and a coil spring are mounted one upon the other in a vertical groove formed in a guidepost provided on the front end of the slider body. The closing member is normally urged by the coil spring underlining it upwardly to thus close a gap defined between the distal end of the yoke and the slider body. A pull tab body is inserted from the guidepost end into a indentation of the pull-tab-attaching yoke of the slider body. 
   CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE 
   Accordingly, a pull tab can be attached to a slider body at very ease and various decorative patterns can be applied to an upper surface of a pull tab body at ease, so that aesthetically attractive sliders can be produced, and the pull tabs can be replaced easily even while the slide fastener is in use. 
   Furthermore, the pull tab can be inserted into and attached to the pull-tab-attaching yoke of both types of sliders, that is, an automatic locking slider and free slider in stable manner. Particularly for an automatic locking slider, the spring-loaded locking member can urge the pull tab body against the slider body in stable manner, so that the pull tab body is held stably on the slider body. 
   Furthermore, the pull tab body can be pivot both to and fro, and rightwards and leftwards, so that the pull tab can be pulled in smooth manner. 
   The slide fastener slider according to this invention is used to close the opening formed in such clothing and bags wherein importance is attached to decoration. The slider has a pull tab with aesthetic designs which looks like an ornamental button. The slider is now equipped with a mechanism whereby the decorative fancy pull tabs can be attached and replaced freely while in use in clothing and bags. 
   Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Many other variations are possible. 
   Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.