CN110833239B - Reverse opening type slide fastener - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a reverse opening type slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop, including an insert pin, a box pin, a first slider and a second slider, and a stop. The insert pin has a first surface, a second surface parallel to the first surface, and an inner side surface connecting the first surface and the second surface. The first engagement guide portion projects laterally from the box pin toward the insertion pin, providing an upward facing lateral face. A second engagement portion projects laterally from the insert pin toward the box pin, and engages the upwardly facing lateral face of the box pin when the box pin and insert pin are inserted into the second slider. A groove extends transversely in the insert pin adjacent the second engagement portion for receiving the first engagement guide of the box pin when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider. The groove extends from the first surface to the second surface of the insert pin and opens on the first surface and the second surface.

Description

Reverse opening type slide fastener

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a reverse opening type slide fastener.

Background

Zippers are typically constructed of a pair of tapes that lay flat, each tape having an inner edge that is the edge of each tape that is closest to the equivalent edge of the other tape. On these respective inner edges, the elements are connected in such a way as to ensure that, when the edges are brought close to each other by the action of the slider on each element, these elements are forced to cross each other. That is, elements from a first tape will be releasably forced into the space between two interfitting adjacent elements on a second tape.

Although the present invention is not specifically envisaged for use with a jacket, the following description relates to a jacket in order to better understand the prior art and the problems associated therewith.

The slide fastener according to the present invention includes two sliders, i.e., a first upper slider and a second lower slider. Both sliders are movable along the zipper in the same direction of motion, referred to herein as "longitudinal". The first slider and the second slider face in opposite directions such that when one of the sliders is moved towards one of the two opposite ends of the slide fastener, it will force the elements to engage or cross each other, thereby closing the slide fastener. When the other slider is moved towards the same end of the zipper, it will cause the elements to loosen or disengage, thereby opening the zipper. In this case, the terms "front" or "forward" should be interpreted with reference to each slider, which means that when either slider is pulled along the element in the "front" or "forward" direction, the zipper is closed. Conversely, when either slider is pulled in the "reverse" or "rearward" direction along the element, the zipper opens. The forward direction of movement of one slider corresponds to the rearward direction of the other slider. In view of the condition of a zipper on a garment such as a jacket on a wearer, the opposite ends of the zipper are typically defined as a "top" end and a "bottom" end. In addition, a direction crossing the front and rear surfaces of the fastener stringer and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is defined as a "transverse" direction or a "width" direction. The third direction, perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions, is defined as the "thickness" direction or "height" direction. The terms "upper" and "lower" are to be construed herein as referring to the height direction.

The zipper in front of the jacket needs to be completely separated into two different stringers when opened so that the wearer's body can pass through the gap between the stringers. However, unless the slider has a permanently attached locking mechanism, the slider will fall off the fastener stringer to which it is attached. Therefore, a stop mechanism is required to prevent the slider from moving beyond the end of the tooth row. Such a mechanism is required for the top and bottom of the zipper.

In addition, if the slide fastener does not have any stopper mechanism, the teeth cannot be prevented from being disengaged if a separating force is applied by grasping the end portions of each fastener tape and pulling them apart in the opposite direction when the slide fastener is in the closed position.

In order to prevent the teeth from disengaging, one option is to provide a so-called box pin arrangement, in which a first of the two chain belts has a pin-shaped protrusion extending along the chain belt away from the teeth portions. Such a projection is designed to pass through one side of the Y-shaped channel provided by the slider. On the other hand, the second stringer is provided with a similar pin shape to initially extend along the stringer, but attached to the second stringer is a container ("box") for the pin of the first stringer, which is inserted into the container and thus holds the engaging link in place once the slider is moved along it. This type of zipper is called an "open end" because the bottom end can be opened in this manner.

EP2050349B1 discloses a reverse opening type slide fastener having an opened bottom end according to the preamble of claim 1.

In an attempt to manufacture zippers of smaller size having the design of EP2050349B1, it has been found that the pins, gates and cavities of the pins are so small that the molten metal does not flow as intended. In some cases, the projection on the insert pin may not be properly received in the groove of the box pin. Alternatively, the protrusion may remain locked in the groove under other circumstances, particularly if one of the pins is rotated relative to the other. The protrusions also prove to be rather weak when the zipper is manufactured in smaller proportions.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a reverse opening type slide fastener, particularly having an opened bottom end.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a zipper stop. The reverse opening type slide fastener includes a box pin, an insert pin, a first slider and a second slider. The insert pin is continuously provided from a bottom end of the first element row provided on a side edge of the first fastener stringer. The box pin is continuously provided from a bottom end of the second element row provided on a side edge of the second fastener stringer. The insert pin has a first surface, a second surface parallel to the first surface, and a side surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. The first slider may cause the zipper to open upwardly, and the second slider may cause the zipper to open in the opposite direction. A stop projecting from the end of the box pin prevents the drop head from slipping off. The first engagement guide portion projects laterally from the box pin toward the insertion pin and has an upward-facing lateral face. A second engaging portion projects laterally from the insert pin toward the box pin and has a downwardly facing engagement face that engages or abuts an upwardly facing lateral face of the box pin when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider. A groove is formed extending laterally within the insert pin adjacent the second engagement formation. The groove is used for accommodating the first engagement guide portion of the box pin when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider. The groove extends from the first surface to the second surface of the insert pin and opens on the first surface and the second surface.

Due to the above arrangement, the groove holds the pin in only one direction, i.e. in the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener. However, this ensures that the box pin has the greater strength required to resist lateral forces, while the vertical forces that can be applied to the slide fastener are lower due to the closer presence of the slider. Due to the design, the defects of the projection and the groove of the small and medium-sized zippers in the prior art are overcome.

Preferably, the first engagement guide may have a vertical thickness that is substantially the same size as the vertical thickness of the box pin.

According to another aspect, the second engaging portion may have a vertical thickness that is substantially the same size as the vertical thickness of the insert pin.

Still preferably, the side face has a slope extending from a lower end of the groove to a lower free end of the insert pin.

According to yet another aspect, the insert pin is connected to the respective core wire of the fastener stringer by two notches, wherein the notch near the free end of the insert pin is smaller than the other notch.

Preferably, the lower free end of the insert pin is inside or higher than the lower edge of the fastener stringer. Because the insert pin may be small and more sharp, it is preferable for safety reasons that the insert pin be shorter than the box pin and that the insert pin not extend beyond the tape end or beyond the slider end when the pin is locked inside the slider to prevent damage or injury to the article or user of the slide fastener to which it is attached.

Further, the groove may form a through hole extending from a lower surface to an upper surface of the insert pin.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a reverse opening type slide fastener with a middle portion omitted.

Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view of a bottom end of the fastener stringer with the box pin.

Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of a bottom end of the fastener stringer with an insert pin.

Fig. 4A is a rear view of the bottom end of the fastener stringer with the box pin of fig. 2.

Fig. 4B is a side view of the bottom end of the fastener stringer with the box pin of fig. 2.

Fig. 4C is a front view of a bottom end of the fastener stringer with the box pin of fig. 2.

Fig. 5A is a front view of a bottom end of the fastener stringer with the insert pin of fig. 3.

Fig. 5B is a side view of the bottom end of the fastener stringer with the insert pin of fig. 3.

Fig. 5C is a rear view of the bottom end of the fastener stringer with the insert pin of fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 5C.

FIG. 7 is a view of the lower portion of the zipper of FIG. 1, with the second slider in cross-section at its lowest position.

Detailed Description

The following description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided for illustrative purposes, and other advantages and effects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure.

Referring first to fig. 1, a reverse opening type slide fastener 10 is an opening/closing device which can open or close a first side panel or right side panel and a second side panel or left side panel of, for example, a jacket or a jacket. The slide fastener 10 includes a first or right fastener stringer 16, a second or left fastener stringer 17, first and second core wires 14 respectively disposed along opposite side edges of the first and second fastener stringers 16 and 17, and first and second fastener element rows 12 and 13 along the first and second fastener stringers 16 and 17. The plurality of elements 12a, 13a are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval so as to sandwich each core wire 14.

The slide fastener 10 includes a first slider 50 and a second slider 60.

The first slider 50 allows the first element row 12 and the second element row 13 to pass therethrough so that the slide fastener is opened in the backward direction, downward in fig. 1. The second slider 60 causes the zipper to be opened in the opposite direction, upward in fig. 1.

Alternatively, the first slider 50 may be referred to as an upper slider and the second slider 60 may be referred to as a lower slider.

The sliders 50, 60 may be of conventional design. Each slider 50, 60 may comprise an upper wing and a lower wing (not shown), preferably of the same size and positioned so that the upper wing covers the entire lower wing, the upper and lower wings being connected by an attachment post to the front and centre of each of the lower surface of the upper wing and the upper surface of the lower wing, thereby connecting the upper and lower wings together. Along at least a portion of the lateral edge of at least one of the upper or lower wings of each slider is a flange, also referred to as a guide rail, which projects towards the opposite wing. When both wings of the slider include flanges, the gap between them is greater than the thickness of the tape, whereas when only one wing of the slider includes a flange, the gap between the opposing wing and each flange will be greater than the thickness of the tape in the height direction.

The combination of the guide rails forms a rear mouth at the trailing end of each slider, opposite the head end of the fixed connecting post, and two toe mouths at the head end, each formed between the connecting post and a respective flange. The ports are the entry and exit end points of the Y-shaped space in the slider, which provide access for the elements at the edge of each tape. When the slider is pulled along the coupling element in the forward direction, the separated right and left coupling elements are introduced into the leg opening and are forced to cross to be connected to each other, and are discharged from the rear opening in the coupled state. On the contrary, when the slider is moved backward or reversely, the coupled right and left coupling elements are introduced into the rear opening and are paid out in a separated state, and the slide fastener is opened. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the rear mouths of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 are disposed such that the rear mouths are opposed to each other.

The top end stopper 18 is fixed to each of the respective core wires 14 above the first element row 12 and the second element row 13 to prevent the first slider 50 from slipping out of the first element row 12 and the second element row 13.

A reinforcing film 24 made of a resin film or the like may be bonded to the front and rear sides of the bottom end of one or both of the fastener stringers 16, 17.

The box pin 40 is continuously provided on the side edge of the second fastener stringer 17 from the bottom end of the second element row 13. The box pin 40 is preformed by a die casting process. The box pin 40 is made of metal. The box pin 40, which is preferably preformed by die-casting, is fixed by clamping in order to clamp the core 14 and, in this example, also the reinforcing membrane 24.

A hook-shaped stop 46 projects laterally from the bottom end of the box pin 40. When the second slider 60 is lowered to the lowest position, the hook-shaped stoppers 46 come into contact with the jaw opening portions of the second slider 60, for example, on the flanges, to prevent the second slider 60 from sliding further beyond its lowest position.

According to the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the stopper 46 projects laterally from the bottom end of the box pin 40 in an outward direction, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so as to engage the mouth of the coupling of the second slider 60.

The shape of the stopper 46 according to the present invention is not limited to the shape of the stopper 46 shown in the drawings. Alternatively, a stopper protrudes from the bottom end of the box pin in a direction toward the front or rear surface of the slide fastener, so that the stopper can be brought into contact with the end surface of the front or rear wing of the lower slider 60, thereby preventing the lower slider from slipping out downward.

The box pin 40 includes a top surface 40a and a bottom surface 40b disposed opposite the top surface 40a, and an inner side surface 40c and an outer side surface 40d connecting the top surface 40a and the bottom surface 40b of the box pin 40.

The second fastener stringer 17 clamped by the box pin 40 extends from a groove formed on a part of the outer side surface of the box pin 40.

The inner side surface 40c of the box pin 40 is disposed opposite the outer side surface 40d of the box pin 40, and provides a laterally projecting first engagement guide 42 (fig. 2). In other words, the first engagement guide portion 42 protrudes outward from the inner side surface 40c of the box pin 40.

The first engagement guide 42 is formed in a wedge shape. The first engagement guide portion 42 includes an upper surface 42a located on the same plane as the top surface 40a of the box pin 40, a lower surface 42b located on the same plane as the bottom surface 40b of the box pin 40, a lateral surface 44 facing the slider and connecting the upper surface 42a and the lower surface 42b of the first engagement guide portion 42, and an inclined guide surface 43 connecting the upper surface 42a, the lower surface 42b, and the lateral surface 44.

The box pin 40 is provided at the end of a row of elements on the second fastener tape, and the lateral face 44 faces the final element 13b of the row. The inclined guide surface 43 is a slope surface formed so that the size of the first engagement guide portion 42 gradually decreases toward the end of the box pin 40 and guides a coupling post 66 (fig. 7) formed inside the second slider 60 so as to facilitate disengagement between the first element row 12 and the second element row 13. The first engagement guide 42 engages with the second engagement portion 34 of the insertion pin 30 described later.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 4B, the wedge-shaped first engagement guide 42 has a vertical thickness a having a size at its thickest point substantially the same as the vertical thickness B of the box pin 40.

The insert pin 30 is continuously provided on a side edge of the first fastener stringer 16 from the bottom end of the first element row 12. The insert pin 30 is made of metal. Preferably, the insert pin 30 is preformed by a die-casting process. The insert pin 30 is fixed by clamping to clamp the core wire 14 and, in this example, also the reinforcing film 24.

The insert pin 30 includes a top surface 31 and a bottom surface 35 disposed opposite the top surface 31, and an inner side surface 33 and an outer side surface 33d disposed opposite the inner side surface 33.

To avoid confusion with the top and bottom surfaces of the box pin 40, the top surface 31 of the insert pin 30 will be referred to as the first surface 31 and the bottom surface 35 of the insert pin 30 will be referred to as the second surface 35 hereinafter.

The first surface 31 and the second surface 35 are preferably flat. The second surface 35 is parallel to the first surface 31.

The first surface 31 and the second surface 35 are located on opposite sides of the insert pin 30 in the height or thickness direction.

Preferably, the first surface 31 and the second surface 35 are substantially flat, as they are intended to slide within the element guide channel defined between the upper wing and the lower wing of the second slider 60. In particular, the first surface 31 and the second surface 35 are intended to be in contact with the inner flat and parallel surfaces of the upper wing and the lower wing of the second slider 60.

The first fastener stringer 16 gripped by the insert pin 30 extends from a groove formed on a part of an outer side surface of the insert pin 30.

The inner side face 33 of the insert pin 30 is disposed opposite the outer side face 33d of the insert pin 30, and is opposite the inner side face 40c of the box pin 40 when the insert pin 30 is connected to the box pin 40.

The second engaging portion 34 of the insert pin 30 projects laterally from the region of the insert pin 30 closest to the row of elements on the first fastener stringer toward the box pin 40, and has an engaging face 37 facing away from the slider (fig. 5A, 5C). When the box pin 40 and the insert pin 30 are inserted into the second slider 60, the downward facing engagement face 37 of the second engagement portion 34 engages with the lateral face 44 (fig. 4) of the wedge-shaped first engagement guide portion 42 of the box pin 40.

The inner side face 33 of the insert pin 30 provides a first inclined side surface 33a facing and opposed to the inner side face 40c of the box pin 40. The first inclined side surface 33a comprises a curve 33E from a middle position of the inner side surface 33 towards the lower free end 39 of the insertion pin 30, which curve 33E is curved in a lateral direction away from the insertion pin 30, the first inclined side surface 33a acting as a guide surface for guiding the relative sliding of the connection post 66 (fig. 7) within the second slider 60.

The first surface 31 and the first inclined side surface 33a are connected by a second inclined surface 33 b.

The second surface 35 and the first inclined side surface 33a are connected by a third inclined surface 33 c.

In some embodiments, the first inclined side surface 33a may be a curved surface, in which case the inner side surface 33 will be constituted only by the first inclined surface 33 a.

The present invention includes other embodiments known to the skilled person that do not include the inclined side surfaces 33b and/or 33 c.

In an embodiment where the slider has a locking function with a stopper pawl or the like, the second and third inclined surfaces 33b, 33c are inclined in respective up-down directions away from the first inclined side surface 33a, and the inclined surfaces 33b and 33c serve as guides.

The widths of the second and third inclined surfaces 33b, 33c increase as they approach the free end 39.

Formed in the inner side face 33 of the insert pin 30 adjacent to the second engaging portion 34 is a groove 36 extending toward the fastener stringer. The groove 36 extends laterally in the insert pin 30, the groove 36 being adapted to receive the first engagement guide 42 of the box pin 40 when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider 60.

The groove 36 extends from the second surface 35 to the first surface 31 of the insert pin 30 and opens on the first surface 31 and the second surface 35.

The recess 36 may form a through hole 38. As shown in fig. 3, the core wire 14 is visible through the aperture 38. Preferably, the recess 36 is provided between the second surface 35 and the first surface 31 of the insert pin 30.

According to a preferred embodiment, the groove 36 is formed between the second engagement portion 34 and the first inclined surface 33 a. Preferably, the first, second and third inclined side surfaces 33a, 33b, 33c extend from the bottom end of the recess 36 to the lower free end 39 of the insert pin 30. This angled arrangement facilitates and improves insertion of the insert pin into the slider.

Preferably, as shown in fig. 5B, the second engagement portion 34 has a vertical thickness C that is substantially the same size as the vertical thickness D of the insert pin 30 at its thickest point.

As shown in fig. 4A, 5C and 6, the insert pin 30 and the box pin 40 are each connected to the corresponding core wire 14, 14 of each corresponding fastener stringer through two corresponding notches 51, 52 and 53, 54. Advantageously, the notches 53, 54 are each formed on the second surface 35 having a flat surface in consideration of the curved shape of the inclined surfaces 33a, 33b, 33C (fig. 5C). The recess 54 near the free end 39 of the insert pin 30 may be smaller than the other recess 53 in the insert pin. In particular, the notches 54 close to the free end 39 of the insert pin 30 are formed on the same longitudinal axis VI. The width of the notches 53, 54 may be the same, but the length dimension is preferably different.

Next, a state of pulling the second slider 60 to the lowermost position from the state shown in fig. 1 will be described with reference to a sectional view shown in fig. 7. When the second slider 60 is pulled down, the first and second element rows 12, 13 in the separated state are connected to each other and disconnected in the connected state. If the second slider 60 is further pulled downward, the box pin 40 and the insert pin 30 are inserted from the jaw opening of the second slider 60, and the stopper 46 formed at the end of the bottom end of the box pin 40 comes into contact with the jaw opening of the second slider 60, stopping the slider movement. This position is the lowest position of the second slider 60.

In this arrangement, the first element row 12 and the second element row 13 are connected to each other at a portion between the rear mouth of the second slider 60 and the rear mouth of the first slider 50. As shown in fig. 7, in a preferred embodiment, the lower free end 39 of the insert pin is within the lower edge 19 of the first fastener stringer 16 or is a distance "e" above the lower edge 19. This arrangement can prevent the body or fingers of the user from being scratched by the tip of the insertion pin. It also prevents the fabric from being damaged by the insert pins.

In the lowermost position of the second slider 60, the first engagement guide 42 projecting from the box pin 40 is accommodated in the groove 36 formed in the insert pin 30.

It will be appreciated that the above described slide fastener provides a simplified and smoother design with less serrations than those of the prior art, which is particularly suitable for use with a small slide fastener.

Various aspects and embodiments of a reverse opening type zipper have been described. It is to be understood that each aspect and embodiment may be combined with any other aspect or embodiment. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, but may be varied within the scope of the appended patent claims and their legal equivalents. For example, in the embodiment shown in the drawings, at the end of the second slider, there is a bottom end stop only at one end. The present invention should not hinder the possibility of having such stops at both ends of the zipper.

Claims (7)

1. A reverse opening type slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop, comprising:

an insert pin (30) provided continuously from a bottom end of a first element row (12) provided on a side edge of a first fastener stringer (16), the insert pin (30) having a first surface (31), a second surface (35) parallel to the first surface (31), and an inner side surface (33) connecting the first surface (31) and the second surface (35);

a box pin (40) provided continuously from the bottom end of the second element row (13) provided on the side edge of the second fastener stringer (17);

a first slider (50) opening the slide fastener upwards, and a second slider (60) opening the slide fastener in the opposite direction;

a stopper (46) for preventing the second slider (60) from slipping off the second element row (13), the stopper protruding at an end of the box pin (40);

a first engagement guide (42) that protrudes laterally from the box pin (40) toward the insertion pin (30) and has an upward-facing lateral face (44);

a second engaging portion (34) projecting laterally from the insert pin (30) toward the box pin (40) and having a downwardly facing engaging face (37), the engaging face (37) engaging the upwardly facing lateral face (44) of the box pin (40) when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider (60); and

a groove (36) extending laterally in the insert pin (30) adjacent the second engagement portion (34) for receiving the first engagement guide (42) of the box pin (40) when the box pin and the insert pin are inserted into the second slider (60),

said zipper being characterized in that said groove (36) extends from said first surface (31) to said second surface (35) and opens onto said first surface (31) and said second surface (35),

the inner side surface (33) having a first inclined surface (33 a) extending from the lower end of the recess (36) to the free end (39) of the insert pin (30),

the first surface (31) and the first inclined surface (33 a) being connected by a second inclined surface (33 b) extending from a lower end of the recess (36) to the free end (39) of the insertion pin (30),

the width of the second inclined surface (33 b) increases as the second inclined surface (33 b) approaches the free end (39).

2. A zipper according to claim 1, wherein the first engagement guide (42) has a vertical thickness (a) which is substantially the same size at its thickest as the vertical thickness (B) of the box pin (40).

3. A zipper according to claim 1, wherein the second coupling portion (34) has a vertical thickness (C) which is substantially the same size as the vertical thickness (D) of the insert pin (30) at its thickest point.

4. A zipper according to claim 2, wherein the second coupling portion (34) has a vertical thickness (C) having a dimension at its thickest point substantially the same as the vertical thickness (D) of the insert pin (30).

5. A zipper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the insert pin (30) is connected to the respective core wire (14) of the zipper stringer by using two notches (53, 54), wherein the notch (54) near the free end (39) of the insert pin (30) is smaller than the other notch (53).

6. A zipper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the free end (39) of the insert pin is retained within the boundary formed by the lower edge (19) of the first zipper stringer (16) or is higher than said lower edge (19) by a given distance (e).

7. A zipper according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the groove (36) forms one through hole (38), the through hole (38) being provided between the second surface (35) and the first surface (31) of the insert pin (30).

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