Patent Publication Number: US-2004045140-A1

Title: Slide fastener

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a slide fastener, in particular a slide fastener in which the fastener tapes are joined one above the other.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Slide fasteners are broadly divided into two types: those that use rows of teeth and those that use coils for the engagement part. While it is known that the former type has been widely used, the use of the latter type has also been increasing recently. Embodiments of the latter type include JP-47-29135B, U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,793B and JP-2000-197508A.  
       [0003] Whether rows of teeth or coils are used, conventional slide fasteners consist of a pair of fastener tapes that are joined on the same plane. According to this method, it is difficult to attach fastener tapes at locations other than the edges of fabrics. If fastener tapes T are attached at locations other than the edges of fabrics F, as shown in FIG. 8, tapes T rise perpendicularly to the fabrics F, resulting in a thick and clumsy fastener.  
       [0004] If fastener tapes can be attached elegantly at locations other than the edges of fabrics, it is possible to incorporate a fastener at a location previously inconceivable. Such a fastener has a variety of applications, for embodiment, a garment of an extraordinary design.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] In order to attach fastener tapes at locations other than the edges of fabrics and not make them unnatural, the fastener tapes need to be joined one above the other. The object of the present invention is to provide such a slide fastener and fastener tapes and a slider that can be used in such a fastener.  
       [0006] The present invention is a slide fastener comprising a pair of fastener tapes each having a fastener element for engagement and a slider for closing and opening said fastener tapes. The fastener elements, which function as the engagement part, protrude from the respective tapes. A protrusion on one tape engages with a complementary protrusion on the other tape thereby joining the pair of fastener tapes one above the other.  
       [0007] The slide fastener tapes used in the present invention can have a fastener element established at the edge of each fastener tape or at a location other than the edge. Establishing a fastener element at a location other than the edge has the advantage of making the engagement part invisible from the outside.  
       [0008] The fastener element can be made of a coil or a row of teeth. Generally, however, a coil is preferable because it is easier to make a coil protrude from the tape than a row of teeth.  
       [0009] As a method for securing a coil or a row of teeth to the tape, any of known methods can be used. For embodiment, in order to secure a coil to the tape, the following steps cani be taken as disclosed in any of the publications cited above:  
       [0010] (1) having a core string run through a coil made of thermoplastic synthetic resin;  
       [0011] (2) stitching the coil to the edge of the tape with a synthetic fiber thread; and  
       [0012] (3) thermally welding the synthetic fiber thread to the tape.  
       [0013] The slider used in the present invention has a guide column and a top plate and a bottom plate provided above and below said guide column. One end of the top plate extends downward, forming a left side part, while the other end extends to an open space. One end of the bottom plate extends upward, forming a right side part, while the other end extends to an open space. Left and right fastener-element housings are formed between the guide column and the left and right side parts.  
       [0014] The slider preferably has a pull that is attached in the form of a projection established on a side of the slider body. If it is difficult to grip the pull, a string can be provided so as to connect the hole of the pull with a hole established at the tip of the slider body. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015] Embodiments of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0016]FIG. 1 is a front view of a part of a slider fastener according to the first embodiment of the present invention showing the engagement part and the slider;  
     [0017]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. (a) shows a disengaged condition; (b) shows an engaged condition;  
     [0018]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an engaged condition of the left and right fastener elements;  
     [0019]FIG. 4 shows (a) a front view, (b) a plan view and (c) a side view of the slider of the present invention;  
     [0020]FIG. 5 shows an engaged condition of the fastener elements  10  and the slider  20 . (a) is a cross sectional view and (b) is a plan view in which the tapes are partially held apart;  
     [0021]FIG. 6 is a front view of a part of a slider fastener according to the second embodiment of the present invention showing the engagement part and the slider,  
     [0022]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6. (a) shows a disengaged condition, and (b) shows an engaged condition; and  
     [0023]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of a conventional slide fastener used at a location other than the edges of fabrics. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0024] &lt;First Embodiment&gt; 
     [0025]FIG. 1 is front view showing the engagement part and a slider of a slide faster according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows cross sectional views taken along line II-II of FIG. 1. (a) shows a disengaged condition while (b) shows an engaged condition. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a condition in which the left and right fastener elements are engaged.  
     [0026] As evident from these drawings, the engagement part in this embodiment comprises coil fastener elements  10 . As shown in FIG. 1, these coils  10  are longitudinally established at an approximate center of each tape  12  rather than at edges of the tapes.  
     [0027] The coils  10  can be secured to the tapes  12  by means of a known technique. For embodiment, as disclosed in any of the publications cited above, such a technique may comprise the following steps:  
     [0028] 1) having a core string  14  run through the coil  10 , which is made of thermoplastic resin;  
     [0029] 2) stitching the coil  10  to the edge of the tape  12  with a synthetic fiber thread  16 ; and  
     [0030] 3) thermally welding the synthetic fiber thread  16 .  
     [0031] If the coil is at the edge of the tape, an ordinary slider can be used to fasten or unfasten the engagement part. In this embodiment, however, the coil is positioned at the center of the tape, so an ordinary slider cannot be used for fastening or unfastening.  
     [0032] This embodiment, therefore, uses a novel slider  20  as shown in FIG. 4. This slider comprises a guide column  22  and a top plate  24  and a bottom plate  26  provided above and below said guide column. The left end of the top plate  24  extends downward, forming a left side part  24   a,  while the right end extends to an open space  24   b.  The right end of the bottom plate  26  extends upward, forming a right side part  26   a,  while the left end extends to an open space  26   b.  Between the guide column  22  and the left and right side parts  24   a,    26   a,  left and right housings  28 ,  30  for fastener elements are formed. The left and right housings  28 ,  30  are shaped so as to become wider as they extend downward.  
     [0033] In an ordinary fastener, a pull is established on a top plate  24 . In this embodiment, two pulls  32 ,  34  are established adjacent the left and right side parts  24   a,    26   a  of the slider body. These pulls  32 ,  34  are plate-shaped projections provided with holes  32   a,    34   a  in the center. If it is not easy to clasp these projections, a string  38  (see FIG. 1) can be provided so as to connect the holes  32   a,    34   a  with a mounting hole  36   a  provided at the tip of the slider body  36 . In this case, the string  38  is clasped by fingers to move the slider  20  up and down. In this embodiment, the pulls  32 ,  34  are established on the left and right sides of the slider  20 . In practice, one pull should be sufficient, but by providing pulls on both sides, either a right-handed or a left-handed person can handle the slider with ease.  
     [0034] The engagement between the coils  10  and the slider  20  is most graphically illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5( a ), the left and right fastener elements (i.e., coils)  10  pass through the left and right housings  28 ,  30 . At this time, the top plate  24  of the slider moves under the upper tape and the bottom plate  26  of the slider moves on the lower tape  10  in such a way that it pushes down the lower tape  10 . FIG. 5( b ) is a partially cut off side view illustrating this condition.  
     [0035] In this way, the two portions of the slider fastener of the present invention are joined one above the other as shown in FIG. 2( b ).  
     [0036] &lt;Second Embodiment&gt; 
     [0037]FIG. 6 is a front view of a part of a slider fastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention showing the engagement part and the slider. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 6. (a) shows a disengaged condition; (b) shows an engaged condition.  
     [0038] The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that in the second embodiment, the coil fastener elements  10 A are attached along the edges of the tapes  12 A as in the case of previously known fasteners. The second embodiment, however, differs from previously known fasteners in that, as shown most graphically in FIG. 7, the edges of the tapes of the second embodiment are not joined on the same plane but are joined one above the other.  
     [0039] In all other aspects, the construction of the second embodiment (including the slider  20 A) is the same as that of the first embodiment. As such, the same codes used in the first embodiment are used to represent the parts of the second embodiment with a character “A” added to each, and detailed explanations are dispensed with.  
     [0040] The first and second embodiments explained above use coils as fastener elements, but it is also possible to use rows of teeth.  
     [0041] Effects of the Invention  
     [0042] According to the present invention, fastener elements  10 ,  10 A are joined one above the other. Therefore, the elements can be attached not only at the edges of the fabrics but at locations other than the edges. As a result, the slide fastener has fewer limitations as to where it can be attached and has much wider applications.  
     [0043] According to the first embodiment, the fastener elements  10  have a special effect of not being visible from outside. Therefore, by choosing an appropriate fabric for the tape, it is possible to provide the fastener with a waterproofing feature.  
     [0044] The second embodiment produces a special effect in that, although the fastener elements  10 A can be seen from outside, the tapes do not overlap one above the other, so it is easier for the slider to move up and down.