Patent Description:
A slider used for a slide fastener can couple or separate element rows by sliding along right and left element rows provided on a fastener tape. Such a slider generally includes a slider body and a tab rotatably held with respect to the slider body, and a substantially Y-shaped element guide path that guides the right and left element rows is formed between upper and lower wing plates of the slider body.

As one of the sliders, an automatic stop mechanism is known, which can hold a stopped state of the slider (in other words, hold the slider at a stop position of the element row) by automatically projecting a part of a stop tab body into the element guide path of the slider body to engage the stop tab body with fastener elements of the element row when the slider is stopped at an arbitrary position on the element row.

Instead of the tab as described above, a slider including a rotation body that is rotatably provided with respect to the slider body is described in a specification of <CIT> (Patent Document <NUM>) and a specification of <CIT> (Patent Document <NUM>). The slider including the rotation body described in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> is formed to be capable of switching a locked state in which a part of a stop tab or a stop tab body is projected into an element guide path of a slider body to hold a stopped state of the slider, and an unlocked state (lock release state) in which a part of the stop tab or the stop tab body is retreated from the element guide path to release the locked state by rotating a rotation body with respect to the slider body.

Here, when the slider is switched to the locked state, a part of the stop tab or the stop tab body is projected to one of the right and left element rows and a part of the stop tab or the stop tab body is inserted into a gap between the fastener elements adjacent to each other of the corresponding element row (gap between coupling heads of the fastener element). Accordingly, a part of the stop tab or the stop tab body is engaged with the fastener elements and the slider can be held so as not to move at a stop position of the element row.

Additionally, <CIT> discloses a slider with the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>. This document discloses a lock device for use on slide fasteners to open and close the same. The lock device is essentially constructed with a slider body comprising upper and lower wings, a lock prong disposed movably on the upper wing and between a position to engage with the coupling elements of the slide fastener and a dial lock mechanism mounted fixedly or movably on the upper wing to thereby allow the lock prong to move in the locked and unlocked positions.

The sliders described in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> include a stop mechanism capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state by rotating the rotation body as described above, but the stop mechanism is formed in a complicated structure. As a result, for example, in a case of Patent Document <NUM>, since the number of components of the slider increases and a slider assembly work becomes complicated, an increase in manufacturing cost and a decrease in productivity are caused. In a case of Patent Document <NUM>, since the components itself of the slider are formed in a complicated and fine shape, the manufacturing and management of the components are complicated, and the manufacturing cost is increased.

Further, in the sliders described in Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>, a portion configuring the stop mechanism including the rotation body is formed to be large relative to the entire slider, and significantly affects the appearance of the slider. Therefore, an appearance quality of the slider was decreased, and a design of the slider was restricted in some case.

In a case of the sliders of Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>, a user is required to perform an operation of switching the state of the slider from the unlocked state to the locked state by rotating the rotation body after the user stops the slider. Since such a switching operation of the rotation body makes the user feel troublesomeness, it has been required to improve operability of the slider.

The invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems in the related art, and a specific object of the invention is to provide a slider of which the stop mechanism capable of switching the state from the locked state to the unlocked state by the rotation operation is formed in a relatively simple structure, which can be easily assembled, and which can include the appearance quality and a design which are completely different from the slider including the rotation body of the related art. Solution to Problem.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a slider for a slide fastener with the features of claim <NUM>.

In the slider according to the invention, it is preferable that the pressing projecting part is formed in a an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part; the base part includes a housing recessed groove that is formed in an arc shape in a plan view of the base part and houses the pressing projecting part; the stop tab body is disposed to overlap with at least a part of the housing recessed groove; and the pressing projecting part includes a projecting part for release, which presses the stop tab body and holds the unlocked state, and a projecting part for lock, of which a projecting dimension from the top plate part is smaller than that of the projecting part for release.

In this case, it is preferable that the pressing projecting part includes a connecting projecting part that is continuously formed between the projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock, and a top end surface of the connecting projecting part is formed as an inclined surface smoothly inclined from the projecting part for release toward the projecting part for lock.

It is particularly preferable that the projecting part for release includes a first projecting part for release and a second projecting part for release, which are disposed in opposite ends of the pressing projecting part having an arc shape respectively; the projecting part for lock is disposed in a center part of the pressing projecting part having an arc shape; and the connecting projecting part includes a first connecting projecting part formed between the first projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock, and a second connecting projecting part formed between the second projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock.

Further, it is preferable that the housing recessed groove of the base part includes a regulating end surface that regulates a rotation of the operation cover part at a predetermined rotation angle of <NUM>° or less each in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction from a reference position in which the slider is in the locked state.

In the slider according to the invention, it is preferable that the operation cover part includes at least one guide projecting part that projects from an inner surface of the top plate part, and is formed in an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part; the base part includes a guide recessed groove that is formed in an arc shape in a plan view of the base part and houses the guide projecting part, and at least one spring housing part connected to the guide recessed groove; at least one guiding elastic member, which biases the guide projecting part, is housed in the spring housing part; and the guide projecting part of the operation cover part is held in the guide recessed groove when the operation cover part is in a reference position in which the slider is in the locked state, and advances into the spring housing part to be disposed in a position in which the guide projecting part is biased by the guiding elastic member when the operation cover part is rotated from the reference position.

In this case, it is preferable that the guide projecting part includes a pair of first guide projecting part and second guide projecting part, which has shapes symmetric to each other and is disposed in positions symmetric to each other in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part; and one guiding elastic member is disposed in a center part of the slider in a width direction, and biases the first guide projecting part or the second guide projecting part when the operation cover part is rotated from the reference position.

In the invention, it may be that, in a plan view of the base part, the guiding elastic member includes a pair of first guiding elastic member and second guiding elastic member, which is housed in positions symmetric to each other, of the base part; and the one guide projecting part is disposed in a center part of the slider in a width direction and is biased by the first guiding elastic member or the second guiding elastic member when the operation cover part is rotated from the reference position.

Further, in the slider according to the invention, it is preferable that the base part includes a tab body housing recessed part that houses the stop tab body; the operation cover part includes a projecting part for a tab, which projects from an inner surface of the top plate part and presses a part of the stop tab body housed in the tab body housing recessed part; and the projecting part for a tab is formed in an inner side from the pressing projecting part and formed in an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part.

In the invention, the base part may include a tab body housing recessed part that houses the stop tab body, and a pair of tab body holding parts that rotatably holds a swing shaft part of the stop tab body.

The slider according to the invention includes a slider body part that includes an upper wing plate, an lower wing plate and a connection column, a stop tab body that is swingably held in the slider body part, a base part that includes a tab elastic member biasing the stop tab body, integrally formed with the upper wing plate of the slider body part, and having a circular shape in a plan view of the slider body part, and an operation cover part that is brought into sliding contact with an outer peripheral side surface of the base part and rotatably attached to the base part. The operation cover part includes a thin plate-like top plate part that is disposed opposite to an upper surface of the base part, a pressing projecting part that projects from an inner surface of the top plate part and presses the stop tab body against a biasing force of the tab elastic member; and the pressing projecting part has a structure in which by rotating the operation cover part, a locked state in which a part of the stop tab body is projected into an element guide path by biasing the stop tab body and an unlocked state (lock release state) in which the stop tab body is pressed by the pressing projecting part, whereby a part of the stop tab body is retreated from the element guide path can be switched therebetween.

In the slider of the invention, a stop mechanism for switching between the locked state and the unlocked state of the slider by rotating the operation cover part can be formed by the pressing projecting part having a relatively simple and characteristic shape. The slider of the invention that includes the stop mechanism can be easily assembled by causing the operation cover part to be opposite to the upper surface of the base part and rotatably attaching the operation cover part to the base part in a state in which the stop tab body and the tab elastic member are set (housed or held) in a predetermined position of the slider.

Further, in the slider of the invention, since the slider body part is covered by the operation cover part from above, the slider body part can be made invisible or difficult to be seen from the upper surface side of the slider. Therefore, in the invention, it is possible to form a slider with an appearance quality completely different from that of the sliders described in the Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM> described above, and with a new design which the slider in the related art does not have.

In the slider of the invention, the pressing projecting part of the operation cover part is formed in an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part. The base part includes a housing recessed groove that is formed in an arc shape in a plan view of the base part and houses the pressing projecting part, and the stop tab body is disposed to overlap with at least a part of the housing recessed groove of the base part, preferably disposed across the housing recessed groove. Further, the pressing projecting part includes a projecting part for release and a projecting part for lock, of which projecting dimensions from the top plate part are different from each other. Since the base part and the operation cover part are formed in this way, the locked state and the unlocked state of the slider can easily be switched by rotating the operation cover part.

In this case, the pressing projecting part includes a connecting projecting part that is continuously formed between the projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock, and the connecting projecting part is formed such that a projecting dimension from the top plate part gradually decreases from the projecting part for release toward the projecting part for lock. Further, a top end surface (projecting end surface) disposed to be apart from the top plate part of the connecting projecting part is formed as an inclined surface that is smoothly inclined from the projecting part for release toward the projecting part for lock. Since the connecting projecting part is provided in the pressing projecting part, the pressing projecting part is difficult to be caught by the stop tab body when the operation cover part is rotated. Therefore, the unlocked state in which the stop tab body is pressed by the projecting part for release of the pressing projecting part and the locked state in which the stop tab body is held by the projecting part for lock of the pressing projecting part can be smoothly switched.

In this case, the pressing projecting part includes a first projecting part for release and a second projecting part for release, which are disposed in opposite ends of the pressing projecting part, a projecting part for lock, which is disposed in a center part of the pressing projecting part, a first connecting projecting part that is formed between the first projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock, and a second connecting projecting part that is formed between the second projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock. Therefore, the switching from the locked state to the unlocked state can be performed even when the operation cover part is rotated in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction from a reference position in which the slider is in the locked state in a plan view of the slider.

Further, the housing recessed groove of the base part can regulate the rotation of the operation cover part at a predetermined rotation angle of <NUM>° or less in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction from the reference position. Accordingly, since the slider can be stably switched from the locked state to the unlocked state by rotating the operation cover part up to a predetermined angle of <NUM>° or less, the switching to the unlocked state can be easily and reliably performed and operability of the slider can be improved.

In the slider of the invention, the operation cover part includes at least one guide projecting part that projects from the inner surface of the top plate part and is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part. The base part includes a guide recessed groove that is formed in an arc shape in a plan view of the base part and houses the guide projecting part, and at least one spring housing part that is connected to the guide recessed groove. At least one guiding elastic member that biases the guide projecting part is housed in the spring housing part. Further, the guide projecting part of the operation cover part is held in the guide recessed groove when the operation cover part is in the reference position in which the slider is in the locked state, and advances into the spring housing part to be disposed in a position in which the guide projecting part is biased by the guiding elastic member in a direction in which the rotation of the operation cover part is returned when the operation cover part is rotated from the reference position.

Accordingly, for example, when a user finishes the sliding operation of the slider and releases fingers from the operation cover part, the operation cover part can be returned to the above-described reference position by the biasing force of the guiding elastic member. Therefore, an automatic stop mechanism that automatically switches the slider from the unlocked state to the locked state can be formed. With the automatic stop mechanism, the slider can be automatically switched from the unlocked state to the locked state in a slidable manner even when the user does not intend. Therefore, the operability of the slider can be significantly improved.

In this case, the guide projecting part includes a pair of first guide projecting part and second guide projecting part, which is symmetric to each other, and one guiding elastic member is disposed in the center part of the slider in a width direction. Accordingly, when the operation cover part is rotated in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction from the reference position, one of the first guide projecting part and the second guide projecting part can be stably biased by the guiding elastic member. Therefore, the above-described automatic stop mechanism can be stably implemented even when the operation cover part is rotated in any direction from the reference position.

In the invention, the guiding elastic member includes a pair of first guiding elastic member and second guiding elastic member, which is housed in positions symmetric to each other, of the base part in a plan view of the base part, and one guide projecting part may be disposed in the center part of the slider in the width direction. Accordingly, when the operation cover part is rotated in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction from the reference position, one guide projecting part can be stably biased by any one of the first guiding elastic member and the second guiding elastic member. Therefore, the above-described automatic stop mechanism can be stably implemented even when the operation cover part is rotated in any direction from the reference position.

Further, in the slider of the invention, the base part includes a tab body housing recessed part that houses the stop tab body, and the operation cover part includes a projecting part for a tab, which projects from the inner surface of the top plate part and presses a part of the stop tab body housed in the tab body housing recessed part. Further, the projecting part for a tab is formed inside from the pressing projecting part, and formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part. Accordingly, the stop tab body can be easily and stably attached to the upper wing plate so as to be swingable.

In the invention, instead of the projecting part for a tab described above included in the operation cover part, the base part may include a pair of tab body holding parts that rotatably holds the swing shaft part of the stop tab body. Accordingly, also in this case, the stop tab body can be easily and stably attached to the upper wing plate so as to be swingable.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail by using examples with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various modifications can be made as long as an invention has substantially the same configuration as the invention and exhibits the same effects.

For example, a slider described in the following embodiment is a slider used for a slide fastener including an element row in which a plurality of fastener elements are continuous in a coil shape. However, the invention is not limited to this, for example, the invention can also be applied to a slider used for a slide fastener including a plurality of independent fastener elements made of a synthetic resin, or a slider used for a slide fastener including a plurality of metal fastener elements.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a slider according to Example <NUM>, and <FIG> is an exploded perspective view schematically illustrating a state in which the slider is disassembled.

In the following description, a sliding direction of the slider is defined as a front and rear direction or a longitudinal direction of the slider, and in particular, a direction in which the slider moves to couple the element rows of the slide fastener is set to a front direction, and a direction in which the slider moves to separate the element rows is set to a rear direction. A height direction of the slider is defined as a vertical direction, in particular, a direction from a lower wing plate to an upper wing plate of the slider or a direction in a side in which an operation cover part is attached to a base part of the slider is set to an upper direction, and a direction opposite to the upper direction is set to a lower direction. Further, a width direction orthogonal to the sliding direction and height direction of the slider is defined as a right and left direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a slider <NUM> for a slide fastener of Example <NUM> includes a slider body part <NUM>, a stop tab body <NUM> which is housed in the slider body part <NUM> and held swingably, one coil spring <NUM> for a tab (tab elastic member) and two guiding coil springs <NUM>(guiding elastic member) which are held in a predetermined position of the slider body part <NUM>, and an operation cover part <NUM> which are rotatably engaged with the slider body part <NUM>. Here, as the coil spring <NUM> for a tab and the coil springs <NUM> for guide, a general compression coil spring, which is made of a steel material and formed in a spiral shape, is used.

In the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, the slider body part <NUM> and the operation cover part <NUM> are manufactured by die-casting a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a zinc alloy. The stop tab body <NUM> is manufactured by press-molding or die-casting a metal such as stainless steel or a copper alloy. In the invention, a material of the slider and the manufacturing method of each component are not particularly limited, for example, each of the slider body part <NUM> and the operation cover part <NUM> can be manufactured by injection-molding a thermoplastic resin such as polyamide and polyacetal instead of the metal described above.

The slider body part <NUM> of the Example <NUM> includes an upper wing plate <NUM>, a lower wing plate <NUM> disposed in parallel with the upper wing plate <NUM>, a connection column <NUM> that connects front end parts (end parts on a shoulder opening side) of the upper wing plate <NUM> and the lower wing plate <NUM>, and a base part <NUM> that is integrally formed with the upper wing plate <NUM> on an upper surface side of the upper wing plate <NUM>. Right and left shoulder openings are formed in a front end part of the slider body part <NUM> with the connection column <NUM> interposed between the right and left shoulder openings, and one rear opening is formed in a rear end part of the slider body part <NUM>. Further, between the upper wing plate <NUM> and the lower wing plate <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>, a substantially Y-shaped element guide path <NUM> that communicates with the right and left shoulder openings and the rear opening is formed.

Further, right and left flange parts <NUM> extending toward the lower wing plate <NUM> are provided on the right and left sides of the upper wing plate <NUM>, and right and left rib parts <NUM> projecting toward the upper wing plate <NUM> are provided on the right and left sides of the lower wing plate <NUM>. In this case, between the right and left flange parts <NUM> and the right and left rib parts <NUM>, a tape insertion gap for inserting a fastener tape is continuously formed from the shoulder opening to the rear opening of the slider body part <NUM> when the slide fastener is formed.

The base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM> is integrally formed with the upper wing plate <NUM> in a disk-like shape of which an appearance of a cross section orthogonal to a height direction is circular. In the case of Example <NUM>, a portion forming an upper wall surface of the element guide path <NUM> is the upper wing plate <NUM>, and the disk-shaped portion is the base part <NUM>, but if necessary, the upper wing plate <NUM> and the base part <NUM> may be collectively referred to as a base part (or upper wing plate).

The base part <NUM> includes a flat upper surface 20a disposed to be orthogonal to the height direction, a cylindrical outer peripheral side surface, and a lower surface disposed on the opposite side of the upper surface 20a, and the outer peripheral side surface formed to have a ridge part with respect to the upper surface 20a and the lower surface has a predetermined height dimension (dimension in a vertical direction) over the whole peripheral direction of the base part <NUM> and is formed to have a flat and smooth curved surface.

As illustrated in <FIG>, for example, a diameter of the base part <NUM> of Example <NUM> is set to be larger than a maximum value of a width dimension (dimension in a right and left direction) of the lower wing plate <NUM>, and is set to be smaller than a maximum value of a longitudinal dimension (dimension in a front and rear direction) of the lower wing plate <NUM>. Since the base part <NUM> has the diameter as described above, the operation cover part <NUM> can be easily attached to the base part <NUM> in the manufacturing process of the slider <NUM>. When the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated with respect to the base part <NUM>, a rotation operation of the operation cover part <NUM> can be easily performed.

At least a part of right and left attaching piece parts <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM>, which will be described later, is inserted into the outer peripheral edge part of the lower surface side of the base part <NUM>, and the sliding contact part (sliding contact recessed part) 20b for bringing the right and left attaching piece parts <NUM> into slide contact is provided. For example, in a bottom surface view (<FIG>) of the slider body part <NUM>, the sliding contact part 20b is disposed in a region that does not overlap with the lower wing plate <NUM> of the base part <NUM>, and is disposed in a position in which a thickness dimension of the base part <NUM> is reduced to have a level difference with respect to a lower surface of the center side of the base part <NUM> (position close to the upper surface 20a of the base part <NUM>).

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a bottomed housing hole <NUM> housing and holding the coil spring <NUM> for a tab is formed along the height direction in the front end part of the slider body part <NUM>. In a plan view of the slider body part <NUM>, the bottomed housing hole <NUM> is provided in a region in which the connection column <NUM> is formed, and is opened to the upper surface 20a of the base part <NUM>. A size of the bottomed housing hole <NUM> can be arbitrarily changed according to a size of the coil spring <NUM> for a tab which is held in the bottomed housing hole <NUM>.

A tab body housing recessed part <NUM> in which the stop tab body <NUM> is inserted to be housed is formed to be opened to the upper surface 20a of the base part <NUM> in the slider body part <NUM>. The tab body housing recessed part <NUM> includes a body housing recessed part 18a that is formed along a longitudinal direction of the slider <NUM> and houses a tab body part of the stop tab body <NUM> which will be described later, right and left shaft housing recessed part 18b that is formed along a width direction from the body housing recessed part 18a and houses a swing shaft part <NUM>, which will be described later, of the stop tab body <NUM>, and a tab hole part 18c that is formed in a rear end part of the body housing recessed part 18a and communicates with the element guide path <NUM>.

The body housing recessed part 18a of the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> communicates with the bottomed housing hole <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in order to allow a swing operation of the stop tab body <NUM>, a bottom surface of the body housing recessed part 18a includes an upward inclination part that inclines upward such that a depth dimension of the body housing recessed part 18a gradually deceases toward the front from the tab hole, and a downward inclination part that inclines downward such that a depth dimension of the body housing recessed part 18a gradually increases toward the bottomed housing hole <NUM> (toward the front).

Further, the base part <NUM> of Example <NUM> includes a housing recessed groove <NUM> formed in an arc shape in a front half part of the base part <NUM>, a central housing recessed part <NUM> recessed in a semicircular shape inside in a radial direction from the housing recessed groove <NUM>, a guide recessed groove <NUM> formed in an arc shape in a rear end part of the base part <NUM>, and a pair of right and left spring housing parts <NUM> recessed linearly in right and left sides of the guide recessed groove <NUM>.

In this case, the arc-shaped housing recessed groove <NUM>, an arc-shaped front inner wall surface forming the central housing recessed part <NUM>, and the arc-shaped guide recessed groove <NUM> are formed in a concentrically circular shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM> in a plan view of the base part <NUM>. The bottom surface of each of the housing recessed groove <NUM>, the central housing recessed part <NUM>, the guide recessed groove <NUM>, and the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> is disposed in a position shallower than the bottom surface of the body housing recessed part 18a described above (height position close to the upper surface 20a of the base part <NUM>) in the height direction of the slider body part <NUM>.

When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM> in a predetermined direction, the housing recessed groove <NUM> is formed in a position and a size in which a pressing projecting part <NUM>, which will be described later, of the operation cover part <NUM> can be housed at the time of inserting the pressing projecting part <NUM> and a housing state of the pressing projecting part <NUM> can be maintained even when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated. The housing recessed groove <NUM> is also formed so as to cross the body housing recessed part 18a of the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> described above substantially in the width direction. Therefore, when the stop tab body <NUM> is housed in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM>, the stop tab body <NUM> is held in a state in which the stop tab body <NUM> intersects the housing recessed groove <NUM> along the longitudinal direction.

A depth dimension of the housing recessed groove <NUM>, that is, a dimension in the vertical direction from the position of the upper surface 20a of the base part <NUM> to the bottom surface of the housing recessed groove <NUM> (hereinafter, the dimension to such a bottom surface is abbreviated as a depth dimension) is constant in a region excluding a portion of the housing recessed groove <NUM> that crosses the body housing recessed part 18a.

The housing recessed groove <NUM> includes right and left side end surfaces 21a formed of surfaces orthogonal to a peripheral direction of the base part <NUM> and parallel to the vertical direction in opposite right and left end parts of the housing recessed groove <NUM>, and the right and left side end surfaces 21a are used as right and left regulating end surfaces that regulate an angle at which the operation cover part <NUM> can be rotated. That is, the right and left side end surfaces (regulating end surfaces) 21a formed in the housing recessed groove <NUM> can regulate an angle at which the operation cover part <NUM> can be rotated by bring the pressing projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> into contact with the right and left side end surfaces (regulating end surfaces) 21a when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated in a case in which the pressing projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is inserted and housed in the housing recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM>.

In Example <NUM>, the right and left side end surfaces (regulating end surfaces) 21a of the housing recessed groove <NUM> is disposed in a position in which the operation cover part <NUM> can be rotated up to <NUM>° both in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise directions respectively from a reference position in which the slider <NUM> can be held in a locked state as will be described later in a plan view of the slider <NUM>. That is, a rotatable range of the operation cover part <NUM> from the reference position in Example <NUM> is set to <NUM>° or less both in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction. In other words, a rotation limit angle of the operation cover part <NUM> from the reference position is <NUM>° both in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction.

In the invention, the rotatable range of the operation cover part <NUM> in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction is set to <NUM>° or less from the reference position, preferably <NUM>° or less by the right and left side end surfaces (regulating end surfaces) 21a of the housing recessed groove <NUM> in consideration of a structure of the base part <NUM>. Since the guide recessed groove <NUM> and the spring housing parts <NUM> can be stably formed in the base part <NUM> by setting the rotatable range to <NUM>° or less, the slider <NUM> can have a function that automatically returns the operation cover part <NUM> rotated as will described later to the reference position. Operability of the slider <NUM> when the slider <NUM> is slid in the unlocked state (that is, a state in which the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated to the rotation limit angle) can be improved.

Further, since the rotatable range is set to <NUM>° or less such that a user can easily rotate the operation cover part <NUM> to the rotation limit angle by twisting a wrist or a finger, the operability in the unlocked state of the slider <NUM> described above can be further improved. In addition, for example, a problem that switching to the unlocked state cannot be properly performed due to an insufficient rotation of the operation cover part <NUM> can be prevented and operability of the switching operation by the operation cover part <NUM> can be improved.

An extent that the stop tab body <NUM> is pressed down by the pressing projecting part <NUM>, which will be described later, of the operation cover part <NUM> can be smoothly changed by setting the rotation limit angle of the operation cover part <NUM> to <NUM>° or more, preferably <NUM>° or more, and according to this, switching from the locked state to the unlocked state of the slider <NUM> can be stably performed. In particular, in comprehensive consideration of operability in the unlocked state of the slider <NUM> as described above, operability of the switching operation, and smoothness and stability of switching to the unlocked state, the rotation limit angle of the operation cover part <NUM> is preferably set to <NUM>° as in Example <NUM>.

When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM> in a predetermined direction, the central housing recessed part <NUM> having a semicircular shape and recessed in the base part <NUM> is formed in a position and a size in which a projecting part <NUM> for a tab, which will be described later, of the operation cover part <NUM> can be housed at the time of inserting the projecting part <NUM> for a tab and a housing state of the projecting part <NUM> for a tab can be maintained even when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated. The central housing recessed part <NUM> may be formed in an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM> as long as the projecting part <NUM> for a tab of the operation cover part <NUM> can be housed.

The arc-shaped guide recessed groove <NUM> is recessed in a central region in the width direction in the rear end part of the base part <NUM>, and when the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM> in a predetermined direction, a guide projecting part <NUM>, which will be described later, of the operation cover part <NUM> can be inserted and housed. The guide recessed groove <NUM> communicates with a pair of right and left spring housing parts <NUM>. In this case, the bottom surface of the guide recessed groove <NUM> and the bottom surface of each of the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> are formed as a continuous single flat surface, and a depth dimension of the guide recessed groove <NUM> and a depth dimension of the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> are equal to each other.

The right and left spring housing parts <NUM> are formed to have a rectangular shape in a plan view of the slider body part <NUM>. In this case, the spring housing parts <NUM> are formed corresponding to the size of a guiding coil spring <NUM>, and when one guiding coil spring <NUM> is housed in each of the spring housing parts <NUM>, the guiding coil spring <NUM> can be held so as not to rattle. The right and left spring housing parts <NUM> are formed to have a size in which the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> does not interfere with the base part <NUM> even when the operation cover part <NUM> attached to the base part <NUM> is rotated within a predetermined rotation angle range described above.

The stop tab body <NUM> includes a flat plate-shaped substrate part <NUM>, a tab part <NUM> that is bent downward and extends from a rear end part of the substrate part <NUM>, and a pair of right and left cylindrical swing shaft parts <NUM> that extend in a width direction from substantially a center part of the substrate part <NUM> in a longitudinal direction. A dimension of the substrate part <NUM> in the longitudinal direction (that is, dimension from a front end edge of the substrate part <NUM> to a boundary part (bending part) with the tab part <NUM>) is set to be larger than a half of a maximum longitudinal dimension of the lower wing plate <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>. Accordingly, in the slider <NUM>, when a front end part of the substrate part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is pressed down, the tab part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> can be stably retracted from the element guide path <NUM>.

A tip of the tab part <NUM> is formed to have a width dimension smaller than that of a base end part of the tab part <NUM>, which is connected to the substrate part <NUM>, and is provided to be displaced to a right side or a left side with respect to the base end part. Since the tip of the tab part <NUM> is displaced in the right and left direction in this way, the tip of the tab part <NUM> can be stably inserted to and engaged with one of the coupled right and left element rows.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state before the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM>, the operation cover part <NUM> includes a disk-shaped top plate part <NUM>, a ring-shaped sliding contact wall <NUM> that projects in a direction orthogonal to an inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> from an outer periphery edge part of the top plate part <NUM>, a pair of arc-shaped right and left projection parts <NUM> that projects further from a tip surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM>, the pressing projecting part <NUM> and the projecting part <NUM> for a tab that project from the inner surface 31a in a front half part of the top plate part <NUM>, and the guide projecting part <NUM> that projects from the inner surface 31a in a rear end part of the top plate part <NUM>.

The top plate part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> has a circular shape in a plan view of the slider <NUM>, and includes a flat outer surface (upper surface) and an inner surface (lower surface) 31a. According to the invention, a diameter of the circular top plate part <NUM> is larger than a diameter of the base part <NUM>, and is larger than the maximum longitudinal dimension of the lower wing plate <NUM>. Accordingly, since the slider body part <NUM> can be covered by the top plate part <NUM> from above when the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM>, for example, when the assembled slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> is seen from above, the slider body part <NUM> is hidden in a rear surface side of the top plate part <NUM> and only circular top plate part <NUM> can be visually recognized.

As a result, the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> can have a simple and refined appearance that cannot be obtained by the slider in the related art, and for example, can be easily differentiated from other sliders. In Example <NUM>, characters and logos can be printed or engraved and various decorations can be applied on the outer surface (upper surface) of the top plate part <NUM>. According to this, it is possible to improve an appearance quality of the slider <NUM> and increase originality and rarity of the slider <NUM>.

When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM>, the sliding contact wall <NUM> is formed such that the inner peripheral wall surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM> is in contact with the entire outer peripheral side surface of the base part <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operation cover part <NUM> attached to the slider body part <NUM> from rattling. When the operation cover part <NUM> attached to the slider body part <NUM> is rotated, the inner peripheral wall surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM> can be brought into sliding contact with the outer peripheral side surface of the base part <NUM>. Accordingly, the operation cover part <NUM> can be stably rotated around a constant rotation axis with respect to the slider body part <NUM>.

In the sliding contact wall <NUM> of Example <NUM>, the outer peripheral side surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM> is formed in a smooth cylindrical shape. Therefore, a good touch of the slider <NUM> can be obtained and a refined appearance of the slider <NUM> is maintained. On the other hand, the outer peripheral side surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is a portion that the user holds with fingers when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated, which will be described later. Therefore, in the invention, in order to improve the operability of the operation of rotating the operation cover part <NUM>, an anti-slipping fine unevenness, a recessed part corresponding to a thickness of a finger, a protrusion that hooks a finger, and the like can be formed in the outer peripheral side surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM>, and an anti-slipping rubber material, and the like can be attached to the outer peripheral side surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM>.

In Example <NUM>, the right and left projection parts <NUM> provided on the operation cover part <NUM> can be plastically deformed into right and left thin plate-like attaching piece parts <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> by being pressed down toward a center part which is a rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM>, or by being pressed and crushed toward the sliding contact wall <NUM> after the base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM> is covered by the operation cover part <NUM>.

By plastically deforming the projection parts <NUM> into the attaching piece parts <NUM> in this way, the operation cover part <NUM> can be rotatably and stably attached to the base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>, and the attached operation cover part <NUM> can be prevented from being removed from the slider body part <NUM>. In the invention, means or a method for rotatably attaching the operation cover part <NUM> to the base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM> is not particularly limited, and other attachment means or attachment methods can also be adopted.

The pressing projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is provided corresponding to a forming position of the housing recessed groove <NUM> so as to be inserted into the housing recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM> when the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM>. The pressing projecting part <NUM> is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM> in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part <NUM>. Therefore, the pressing projecting part <NUM> can smoothly move without being caught in the arc-shaped housing recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM> when the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM> and rotated.

The pressing projecting part <NUM> includes a left first projecting part 34a for release and a right second projecting part 34e for release which are arranged in opposite right and left end parts of the pressing projecting part <NUM> and of which a projecting dimension (dimension in a vertical direction) from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is largest, a projecting part 34c for lock which is arranged in a center part of the pressing projecting part <NUM> and of which a projecting dimension from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is smallest, a first connecting projecting part 34b which is continuously formed between the first projecting part 34a for release and the projecting part 34c for lock, and a second connecting projecting part 34d which is continuously formed between the second projecting part 34e for release and the projecting part 34c for lock.

In this case, the first connecting projecting part 34b and the second connecting projecting part 34d are formed such that the projecting dimension from the top plate part <NUM> gradually decreases from the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release toward the projecting part 34c for lock. A top end surface of the first connecting projecting part 34b and a top end surface of the second connecting projecting part 34d are formed as an inclined surface continuously inclined from the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release toward the projecting part 34c for lock, and each of the top end surfaces inclined toward one side is formed as a smoothly continuous surface without steps. Here, the top end surface of the first connecting projecting part 34b and the top end surface of the second connecting projecting part 34d are surfaces (projecting end surfaces) formed to be apart from the top plate part <NUM> in the vertical direction in a projecting distal end part of the first connecting projecting part 34b and the second connecting projecting part 34d, which project from the top plate part <NUM>.

In the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, by forming the pressing projecting part <NUM> as described above, for example, in a state in which the operation cover part <NUM> is held in the reference position in which the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> is positioned immediately above the stop tab body <NUM>, the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> is slightly separated from the stop tab body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> (or contacts the stop tab body <NUM> to the extent that the stop tab body <NUM> is not pressed downward). Therefore, a front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> is biased upward by the coil spring <NUM> for a tab, and a state in which the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> is held in the highest position is maintained. Accordingly, since the tab part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is projected into the element guide path <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>, the slider <NUM> can be held in a locked state in which the slider <NUM> cannot slide on the element row.

On the other hand, for example, by rotating the operation cover part <NUM> in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction, the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> can be moved immediately above the stop tab body <NUM>. Accordingly, by bringing the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release into contact with the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM>, the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> can be pressed downward against the biasing force of the coil spring <NUM> for a tab to be pressed down. As a result, since the tab part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is retreated from the element guide path <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>, the slider <NUM> can be held in an unlocked state in which the slider <NUM> can slide on the element row.

Further, since the pressing projecting part <NUM> of Example <NUM> is provided with the first connecting projecting part 34b and the second connecting projecting part 34d including the smoothly inclined top end surface without steps as described above, the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> can be brought into sliding contact with the first connecting projecting part 34b or the second connecting projecting part 34d, whereby the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> is gradually pressed down when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated from the reference position (locked state of the slider <NUM>) to move the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> to the position immediately above the stop tab body <NUM>. As a result, the slider <NUM> can be smoothly and stably switched from the locked state to the unlocked state.

Similarly, when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated from the unlocked state of the slider <NUM> to move the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> to the position immediately above the stop tab body <NUM>, the front end part of the stop tab body <NUM> can be brought into sliding contact with the first connecting projecting part 34b or the second connecting projecting part 34d, thereby being gradually raised by the biasing force of the coil spring <NUM> for a tab. As a result, the slider <NUM> can be smoothly and stably switched from the unlocked state to the locked state.

The projecting part <NUM> for a tab of the operation cover part <NUM> is formed inside from the pressing projecting part <NUM> in a radial direction, and formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM> in a bottom surface view of the operation cover part <NUM>. The projecting part <NUM> for a tab is formed so that the projecting dimension of the projecting part <NUM> for a tab from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is constant. In this case, the projecting dimension of the projecting part <NUM> for a tab from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is set to be larger than the projecting dimension of the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> and is set to be smaller than the projecting dimension of the first projecting part 34a for release and the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM>.

When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM>, the projecting part <NUM> for a tab is inserted and housed in the central housing recessed part <NUM> of the base part <NUM>, and is brought into contact with the upper surface of the stop tab body <NUM> housed in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> of the base part <NUM>. When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM> and is rotated, the projecting part <NUM> for a tab can be smoothly moved in the central housing recessed part <NUM> of the base part <NUM> without being caught. Further, even when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated within the predetermined rotatable range described above, the projecting part <NUM> for a tab can be held in a state of being in contact with the upper surface of the stop tab body <NUM> housed in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> constantly, whereby the stop tab body <NUM> can be prevented from coming off the tab body housing recessed part <NUM>, and the stop tab body <NUM> can be stably held so as to be swingable in the vertical direction in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM>.

The guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM> in a rear end part of the operation cover part <NUM>, and is formed such that a projecting dimension from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is constant. When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the slider body part <NUM> in the reference position, the guide projecting part <NUM> is inserted and housed in the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM>. Further, by rotating the operation cover part <NUM> in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction within the predetermined rotatable range described above, the guide projecting part <NUM> advances into one of the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> of the base part <NUM>, and a biasing force in a direction in which the guide projecting part <NUM> returns to the guide recessed groove <NUM> (direction in which the rotation returns) is applied by the guiding coil springs <NUM> held in the spring housing parts <NUM>.

In the operation cover part <NUM> of Example <NUM>, right and left avoidance recessed parts <NUM> are provided on right and left sides of the guide projecting part <NUM> to prevent the inner surface 31a of the operation cover part <NUM> from coming into contact with the guiding coil springs <NUM> guide. In this case, the right and left avoidance recessed parts <NUM> are provided in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM>.

Next, a method for assembling the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> by using the slider body part <NUM>, the stop tab body <NUM>, the coil spring <NUM> for a tab, two guiding coil springs <NUM>, and the operation cover part <NUM> as described above is described.

First, as shown by an arrow of a virtual line in <FIG>, the coil spring <NUM> for a tab is inserted into the bottomed housing hole <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM> from above, and then the stop tab body <NUM> is inserted and housed in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>. At this time, a front end part of the substrate part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is placed on the coil spring <NUM> for a tab. Further, two guiding coil springs <NUM> guide are inserted into the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> of the base part <NUM> respectively one by one. Accordingly, the coil spring <NUM> for a tab, the stop tab body <NUM>, and two guiding coil springs <NUM> are assembled to the slider body part <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

Next, the operation cover part <NUM> is attached so as to cover the base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>. At this time, the sliding contact wall <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is brought into contact with the entire outer peripheral side surface of the base part <NUM>, and the operation cover part <NUM> is directed so as to house at least the guide projecting part <NUM> in the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM>. Accordingly, the operation cover part <NUM> can be temporarily held in the reference position in which the locked state of the slider <NUM> is maintained with respect to the base part <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>.

After the operation cover part <NUM> is temporarily held to the slider body part <NUM>, the right and left projection parts <NUM> provided on the operation cover part <NUM> are pressed so as to fall down toward the inside of the operation cover part <NUM> in the width direction, or pressed such that the projection part <NUM> is crushed toward the sliding contact wall <NUM>. Accordingly, the right and left projection parts <NUM> are plastically deformed, as illustrated in <FIG>, the right and left attaching piece parts <NUM> are formed so as to extend toward the center part of the ring-shaped sliding contact wall <NUM>, and each of the formed attaching piece parts <NUM> overlaps with a part of the sliding contact part (sliding contact recessed part) 20b provided on the lower surface side of the base part <NUM>. By forming the right and left attaching piece parts <NUM> in this way, the operation cover part <NUM> is rotatably attached to the slider body part <NUM> both in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction in a plan view of the slider <NUM>. Accordingly, the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is manufactured.

As described above, the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> can be easily manufactured by relatively simple assembly processes.

After that, the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> manufactured as described above is slidably attached to an element row formed of coil shaped fastener elements provided on a pair of right and left fastener stringers, whereby a slide fastener can be manufactured.

In the manufactured slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, when the operation cover part <NUM> is in a non-operation state in which the operation cover part <NUM> is not operated, for example, as illustrated in <FIG>, the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is housed in the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM>, and the guide projecting part <NUM> is interposed between the right and left guiding coil springs <NUM> so as to contact the right and left guiding coil springs <NUM>. Accordingly, the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> can be prevented from freely advancing into the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> in which the guiding coil spring <NUM> guide is housed, and can be held in the guide recessed groove <NUM>.

When the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is held in the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM> as described above, as illustrated in <FIG>, the projecting part 34c for lock disposed in the center part of the pressing projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is disposed immediately above the stop tab body <NUM> in a state in which the projecting part 34c for lock is slightly separated from the stop tab body <NUM>, and the front end part of the substrate part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is held to be in contact with the coil spring <NUM> for a tab. Accordingly, the tab part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> can be projected into the element guide path <NUM> via the tab hole part 18c of the slider body part <NUM>, and the tab part <NUM> can be maintained in a state in which the tab part <NUM> is projected into the element guide path <NUM>. As a result, the slider <NUM> of the slide fastener can be held in the locked state of being locked by the stop tab body <NUM> so as not to move on the element row.

In the invention, the position (rotational position) of the operation cover part <NUM> when the slider <NUM> is held in the locked state as described above is defined as a reference position. In the reference position of the operation cover part <NUM>, the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is held by the right and left guiding coil springs <NUM> so as not to move from the guide recessed groove <NUM> to the spring housing parts <NUM> as described above. Therefore, the operation cover part <NUM> can be stably held so as not to rotate from the reference position.

On the other hand, when the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> is slid along the element row of the slide fastener, the user holds the operation cover part <NUM> of the slider <NUM> (particularly, the outer peripheral surface of the sliding contact wall <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM>) with fingers, and rotates the operation cover part <NUM> from the reference position either in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction in a plan view of the slider <NUM>.

Accordingly, the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> advances into one of the right and left spring housing parts <NUM> against the biasing force of the guiding coil spring <NUM>. The pressing projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> moves in the housing recessed groove <NUM>, which is formed in an arc shape, of the base part <NUM> as the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated. At this time, the pressing projecting part <NUM> brings the first connecting projecting part 34b or the second connecting projecting part 34d of the pressing projecting part <NUM>, and the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release into contact with the substrate part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> in order, whereby the front end part of the substrate part <NUM> can be pressed down against the biasing force of the coil spring <NUM> for a tab.

In particular, in Example <NUM>, since the projecting dimension of the first connecting projecting part 34b and the second connecting projecting part 34d from the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> is changed to gradually increase from the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> toward the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release, the front end part of the substrate part <NUM> can be gradually and significantly pressed down against the biasing force of the coil spring <NUM> for a tab as the rotation angle of the operation cover part <NUM> is lager, and the stop tab body <NUM> can be rotated around the swing shaft part <NUM>.

Then, by bringing the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> into contact with the substrate part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM>, the front end part of the substrate part <NUM> is significantly pressed down by the pressing projecting part <NUM>. Therefore, the slider <NUM> can be held in the unlocked state (lock release state) of being slidable along the element row by retreating the tab part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> from the element guide path <NUM> of the slider body part <NUM>.

In the case of Example <NUM>, when the operation cover part <NUM> is rotated as described above to bring the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> into contact with the stop tab body <NUM>, the pressing projecting part <NUM> is brought into contact with one of the right and left side end surfaces (regulating end surfaces) 21a formed in the housing recessed groove <NUM>. Therefore, the rotation of the operation cover part <NUM> can be limited such that the operation cover part <NUM> does not rotate any more. Accordingly, since a state in which the first projecting part 34a for release or the second projecting part 34e for release of the pressing projecting part <NUM> is in contact with the stop tab body <NUM> is held, the unlocked state of the slider <NUM> can be stably maintained.

After that, when the user releases the fingers from the operation cover part <NUM> of the slider <NUM>, one of the right and left guiding coil springs <NUM> for guide housed in the base part <NUM> biases the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM>, and moves the guide projecting part <NUM> to the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM>. Accordingly, the operation cover part <NUM> can be automatically rotated to the above-described reference position. Further, the guide projecting part <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> is housed in the guide recessed groove <NUM> of the base part <NUM> and the operation cover part <NUM> is held in the reference position. Therefore, the slider <NUM> can be in the locked state since the projecting part 34c for lock of the pressing projecting part <NUM> is disposed immediately above the stop tab body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

As described above, in the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, when the operation cover part <NUM> is in the non-operation state in which the operation cover part <NUM> is not operated, since the operation cover part <NUM> is held so as not to rotate from the reference position, the slider <NUM> can be maintained in the locked state. By rotating the operation cover part <NUM> from the reference position, the slider <NUM> can be easily switched from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the slider <NUM> can be smoothly slid along the element row. Further, after the sliding operation of the slider <NUM>, the user only releases the fingers from the operation cover part <NUM>, and then the switching to the locked state of the slider <NUM> can be automatically performed.

As described above, in the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, the locked state and the unlocked state can be easily and smoothly switched by the rotation of the operation cover part <NUM> as described above, and the automatic stop mechanism that can automatically perform the switching to the locked state with a relatively small number of components or a relatively simple structure can be provided. As a result, since the slider <NUM> of the invention can be easily manufactured by the simple assembly work as described above, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the productivity can be improved.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the slider according to Example <NUM>. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state before an operation cover part is attached. <FIG> is a perspective view of the operation cover part when seen from an inner surface side of the operation cover part.

A slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> has a mechanism for holding an operation cover part <NUM> in a reference position and returning the rotated operation cover part <NUM> to the reference position as a form different from that of the slider <NUM> of the above-described Example <NUM>. However, in the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, the form other than a portion forming the mechanism is formed substantially in the same manner as the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> described above. Therefore, in Example <NUM>, the portion different from the slider <NUM> of the above-described Example <NUM> will be mainly described. Portions having substantially the same form or configuration as the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> will be denoted by the same reference numerals as in Example <NUM> and will not be described.

The slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> includes a slider body part 10a, a stop tab body <NUM>, one coil spring <NUM> for a tab and one guiding coil spring <NUM> held in a predetermined position of the slider body part 10a, and the operation cover part <NUM>. The slider body part 10a includes a disk-shaped base part <NUM> formed integrally with an upper wing plate <NUM>, and in a rear half part of the base part <NUM>, one spring housing part <NUM> housing a guiding coil spring <NUM> for guide, and a pair of right and left arc-shaped guide recessed grooves <NUM> connected to the spring housing part <NUM> are provided.

The spring housing part <NUM> of Example <NUM> is formed in a central region in a width direction in a rear end part of the base part <NUM> so as to have a rectangular shape in a plan view of the slider body part 10a. The right and left guide recessed grooves <NUM> extend in a peripheral direction of the base part <NUM> from opposite end parts of the spring housing part <NUM>, and are formed in an arc shape centered on a rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM>. When the operation cover part <NUM> is attached to the base part <NUM> in the reference position, guide projecting parts <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> can be inserted and housed in the right and left guide recessed grooves <NUM> respectively.

In Example <NUM>, in the rear half part of the operation cover part <NUM>, an avoidance recessed part <NUM> disposed in a center part in the width direction and preventing the operation cover part <NUM> from coming into contact with the guiding coil spring <NUM>, and a pair of right and left guide projecting parts (first guide projecting part and second guide projecting part) <NUM> disposed in right and left end sides of the avoidance recessed part <NUM> and projecting from an inner surface 31a of a top plate part <NUM> are provided. In this case, the avoidance recessed part <NUM> and the right and left guide projecting parts <NUM> are formed in an arc shape centered on the rotation axis of the operation cover part <NUM>.

In the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> having the slider body part 10a and the operation cover part <NUM> as described above, in a case of a non-operation state in which the operation cover part <NUM> is not operated, a pair of the right and left guide projecting parts <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> are housed in the right and left guide recessed grooves <NUM> of the base part <NUM> respectively, and the right and left guide projecting parts <NUM> are held such that one guiding coil spring <NUM> housed in the center part in the width direction is interposed between the guide projecting parts <NUM> and comes into contact with the guide projecting parts <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the right and left guide projecting parts <NUM> of the operation cover part <NUM> from freely moving in the guide recessed grooves <NUM> of the base part <NUM> and freely advancing into the central spring housing part <NUM>. Accordingly, since the operation cover part <NUM> is stably held in the reference position, the locked state of the slider <NUM> can be maintained.

A user holds the operation cover part <NUM> of the slider <NUM> with fingers and rotates the operation cover part <NUM> from the reference position either in a clockwise direction or in a counterclockwise direction in a plan view of the slider <NUM>, whereby one of the right and left guide projecting parts <NUM> can be made to advance into the central spring housing part <NUM> against a biasing force of the guiding coil spring <NUM>, and a front end part of a substrate part <NUM> of a stop tab body <NUM> is pressed down by a pressing projecting part <NUM>. Accordingly, the slider <NUM> can be easily switched from the locked state to the unlocked state. After that, the slider <NUM> can be automatically switched to the locked state by the user releasing the fingers from the operation cover part <NUM>.

Therefore, the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> can obtain the same effect as that of the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> described above.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically illustrating a state before an operation cover part of a slider according to Example <NUM> is attached. <FIG> is a perspective view of the operation cover part when seen from an inner surface side of the operation cover part.

A slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> has a structure for swingably holding a stop tab body <NUM> in a slider body part 10b, which is different from the structure of the slider <NUM> of the above-described Example <NUM>, but in the slider <NUM> of Example <NUM>, a form other than the structure of holding the stop tab body <NUM> is formed substantially in the same manner as the slider <NUM> of the above-described Example <NUM>.

The slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> includes a slider body part 10b, a stop tab body <NUM>, one coil spring <NUM> for a tab and one guiding coil spring <NUM> held in a predetermined position of the slider body part 10b, and an operation cover part <NUM>. The slider body part 10b includes a disk-shaped base part <NUM> integrally formed with an upper wing plate <NUM>.

The base part <NUM> of Example <NUM> includes an arc-shaped housing recessed groove <NUM>, a spring housing part <NUM> housing a guiding coil spring <NUM>, and a pair of right and left arc-shaped guide recessed grooves <NUM> connected to the spring housing part <NUM>. However, the semicircular central housing recessed part <NUM> recessed in the base parts <NUM> and <NUM> of Examples <NUM> and <NUM> described above is not formed.

In the base part <NUM>, a pair of right and left tab body fixing recessed parts <NUM>, which has a rectangular shape, is provided in right and left sides of the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> in a plan view of the slider body part 10b, and as illustrated in <FIG> for example, a tab body holding part <NUM> that rotatably holds a swing shaft part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is provided in each of the tab body fixing recessed parts <NUM>.

In this case, each of the tab body holding parts <NUM> includes a pair of front fixing column 72a and rear fixing column 72b which is raised from a bottom surface of each of the tab body fixing recessed parts <NUM>. The front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b are arranged to be separated from each other so as to form a gap between the front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b. The swing shaft part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> can be inserted into the gap between the front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b. The front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b have a tapered shape of which a longitudinal dimension gradually decrease upward, and also are plane symmetrical with each other.

The operation cover part <NUM> of Example <NUM> is formed in a shape in which the projecting part <NUM> for a tab is removed from the operation cover part <NUM> of Example <NUM> described above. That is, the operation cover part <NUM> is formed in the same manner as the operation cover part <NUM> of Example <NUM> except that the projecting part <NUM> for a tab is removed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in the right and left tab body holding parts <NUM> provided in the slider body part 10b of Example <NUM>, after the swing shaft part <NUM> of the stop tab body <NUM> is inserted between the front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b, an upper end part of the front fixing column 72a and an upper end part of the rear fixing column 72b are pressed in a direction in which the front fixing column 72a and the rear fixing column 72b approaches each other to be plastically deformed, and the upper end part of the front fixing column 72a and the upper end part of the rear fixing column 72b are made to approach each other or come into contact with each other as illustrated in <FIG>. Accordingly, the stop tab body <NUM> can be swingably and stably held in the tab body housing recessed part <NUM> of the slider body part 10b.

The slider <NUM> of Example <NUM> as described above can also obtain the same effect as the sliders <NUM> and <NUM> of Example <NUM> and Example <NUM> described above.

In the sliders <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of Example <NUM> to Example <NUM>, the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are formed of a metal, and the right and left projection parts <NUM> are provided on the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (refer to <FIG>, and the like). When the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are rotatably attached to the slider body parts <NUM>, 10a, and 10b, the right and left projection parts <NUM> provided on the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are pressed to be plastically deformed into the thin plate-like attaching piece parts <NUM>.

However, in the invention, the operation cover part may be formed of a synthetic resin, and may be formed in a form in which right and left thin plate-like attaching piece parts are provided from the beginning instead of the right and left projection parts. In a case of an operation cover part formed of the synthetic resin, the operation cover part is fitted into the base parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> while the operation cover part is slightly and elastically deformed, and the operation cover part can be rotatably attached to the slider body parts <NUM>, 10a, and 10b with a snap-engagement.

In the sliders <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of Example <NUM> to Example <NUM>, the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are attached to the base parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> so as to be rotatable both in a clockwise direction and in a counterclockwise direction in a front view of the sliders <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. However, in the invention, the slider can be formed such that the operation cover part is rotated in only one of the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction with respect to the base part in a front view of the slider. In this case, the pressing projecting part provided on a back surface of the top plate part of the operation cover part is formed in a form different from the pressing projecting part <NUM> including two of the first projecting part 34a for release and the second projecting part 34e for release, which are formed in Example <NUM> to Example <NUM>, that is, in a form including one projecting part for release, which holds the unlocked state, one projecting part for lock, of which a projecting dimension from the top plate part is smaller than that of the projecting part for release, and one connecting projecting part which is continuously formed between the projecting part for release and the projecting part for lock. Further, in this case, the housing recessed groove formed in the base part is formed corresponding to the form of the pressing projecting part described above and for example, is formed to extend along a circumferential direction either in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise direction from a position in which at least a part of the housing recessed groove overlaps with the stop tab body.

Further, in the sliders <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> of Example <NUM> to Example <NUM>, at least one of the spring housing parts <NUM> and <NUM> is provided in the base parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of the slider body parts <NUM>, 10a, and 10b to house the guiding coil spring <NUM>, at least one of the guide recessed grooves <NUM> and <NUM> connected to the spring housing parts <NUM> and <NUM> is provided, and a mechanism for holding the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> in the reference position and returning the rotated operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the reference position is formed in the inner surface 31a of the top plate part <NUM> of the operation cover parts <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> by providing at least one of the guide projecting parts <NUM> and <NUM> housed in the guide recessed grooves <NUM> and <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A slider for a slide fastener (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), the slider comprising:
a slider body part (<NUM>, 10a, 10b) including an upper wing plate (<NUM>), a lower wing plate (<NUM>) that forms an element guide path (<NUM>) with the upper wing plate (<NUM>), and a connection column (<NUM>) that connects the upper wing plate (<NUM>) with the lower wing plate (<NUM>);
a stop tab body (<NUM>) that is swingably held in the slider body part (<NUM>, 10a, 10b); and
a tab elastic member (<NUM>) that projects a part of the stop tab body (<NUM>) into the element guide path (<NUM>) by biasing the stop tab body (<NUM>),
wherein a base part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed integrally on the upper wing plate (<NUM>) and an operation cover part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) rotatably attached to the base part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) are disposed;
the operation cover part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes a top plate part (<NUM>) disposed opposite to an upper surface of the base part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and a pressing projecting part (<NUM>) that projects from an inner surface of the top plate part (<NUM>) and presses the stop tab body (<NUM>) against a biasing force of the tab elastic member (<NUM>);
the pressing projecting part (<NUM>) has a structure in which by rotating the operation cover part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), a locked state in which a part of the stop tab body (<NUM>) is projected into the element guide path (<NUM>) by biasing the stop tab body (<NUM>) and an unlocked state in which the stop tab body (<NUM>) is pressed by the pressing projecting part (<NUM>), whereby a part of the stop tab body (<NUM>) is retreated from the element guide path (<NUM>) can be switched therebetween;
a cross section of the base part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) orthogonal to a height direction is circular,
the top plate part (<NUM>) has a circular shape in a plan view of the slider,
the slider being characterised in that a diameter of the top plate part (<NUM>) is larger than a diameter of the base part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), and is larger than the maximum longitudinal dimension of the lower wing plate (<NUM>),
the slider body part (<NUM>, 10a, 10b) is covered in plan view by the operation cover part (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>).