Patent ID: 8359717

Claim:
A plurality of coupling elements for use with a slide fastener, each of said coupling elements comprising: a first base portion disposed adjacent a first surface of a stringer tape and a second base portion disposed adjacent a second surface of said stringer tape, said second surface of said stringer tape being opposite said first surface of said stringer tape, and said first base portion and said second base portion defining a channel therebetween for receiving a longitudinal edge of said stringer tape; an engaging portion extending outwardly from said first and said second base portions, said engaging portion comprising a first surface and a second surface, said first surface of said engaging portion being opposite and spaced apart from said second surface of said engaging portion, and said first surface of said engaging portion having a first shape and said second surface of said engaging portion having a second shape, wherein a portion of said second surface of said engaging portion adjacent a distal end of said engaging portion has a width dimension that is greater than a width dimension of a portion of said first surface of said engaging portion adjacent said distal end, each of said width dimensions being measured in a direction substantially parallel with said longitudinal edge of said stringer tape; and wherein: said first shape comprises a substantially trapezoidal shaped distal end portion and a substantially trapezoidal shaped intermediate portion, said distal end portion being disposed adjacent said distal end of said engaging portion and said intermediate portion being disposed between said distal end portion and said first base portion, and a width of a base of said intermediate portion is greater than a width of a base of said distal end portion and the intermediate portion includes (1) a first surface disposed on a first side of said distal end portion and extending in a direction substantially parallel with the stringer tape and (2) a second surface disposed on a second side of said distal end portion and extending in a direction substantially parallel with the stringer tape.