EP2181617A1

EP2181617A1 - Locking stop mechanism for a slide fastener

Info

Publication number: EP2181617A1
Application number: EP09252498A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark Davies; Alicia Hitchen
Original assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Current assignee: YKK Europe Ltd
Priority date: 2008-10-30
Filing date: 2009-10-28
Publication date: 2010-05-05
Also published as: GB0819923D0; GB2464766A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking stop suitable for use with a slide fastener and a slide fastener comprising same which comprises a first member and a second member, wherein the first and second members are mounted to one end of a pair of first and second opposing stringers respectively, the stringers comprising connecting elements, and wherein the first and second members comprise complimentary shaped male and female portions such that when the first and second members pass through a slider of the slide fastener the first and second members cooperatively engage and wherein a protruding member on at least one of the first or second member is split to allow flexibility upon engagement with a receiving portion of at least once of the first or second member

Description

The present invention relates to an improved locking stop mechanism, more specifically an improved locking stop mechanism for a slide fastener. The present locking stop invention is particularly useful but not limited to use with slide fasteners in which the fastener ideally remains in the closed or locked position.
The use of slide fasteners is well known and the list of applications to which slide fasteners may be applied continues to increase. Likewise, the demand for high quality fasteners to meet the requirements for particular industries also continues to increase.
Conventional slide fasteners comprise a pair of stringers, wherein, each stringer is comprised of a tape and coupling elements, and a slider that moves along the coupling elements of the stringers and in so doing engages or disengages the coupling elements depending on the direction of movement of the slider. An end stop is usually placed at the one end of one or both stringers to prevent the slider from moving beyond the coupling elements on one or both stringers, which would otherwise allow 'unpeeling' or disengagement of the coupling elements and separation of the stringers. In certain manufacturing industries for example the motor vehicle trade, and soft furnishing market it is often required to secure large pieces of heavy duty material together. In order to provide an acceptable appearance to a finished article made from heavy duty material there may also be a requirement that the visibility of any join between the pieces of material be minimised. To this end, once a conventional slide fastener has been used to join two pieces of material together the manufacturer is faced with the problem of how to minimise the appearance of the slide fastener itself. However, if the slider is simply removed, there is an inherent problem that the fastener may re-open. Unfortunately, without the presence of the slider, it is generally no longer possible for the manufacturer or indeed an end user of the product to re-close the fastener.
There therefore remains a need for a slide fastener which is suitable for use in various applications in which the slider may be removed from the fastener to achieve a superior and sleek appearance for the final product but which is also strong enough to remain in the closed position once the slider has been removed.
Conventionally, when slide fasteners are used as attachment mechanisms for example for materials for seat covers or connections for artificial turfs and the like, the sliders remain in position on opposed coupling element rows located on opposed tapes, following the closure of the slide fastener. As a consequence, the joined materials have an unsightly appearance at the location of the slider. In addition, if left attached to the coupling elements, in certain applications such as carpets and artificial turfs the sliders are prone to breakage and therefore pose a potential hazard to end users. Furthermore, once the slider is damaged, the fastener is prone to open as the product experiences wear.
Improvements in one type of locking mechanisms for the stops of slide fasteners have previously been described for example, in US 5,653,002 . In this document there is disclosed a split arrester or top stop for a slide fastener, for preventing a pair of interengaged fastener stringers from accidentally opening when a slider on the fastener is removed. The split arrester comprises interlocking male and female members mounted on a pair of fastener stringers. However, in US 5,653,002 the split arrester is limited in strength by the form of the locking mechanism such that sufficient externally applied force may still cause the fastener elements to become detached once the slider is removed.
In US 7,334,302 B2 and CN 2361130 Y there is described a bottom end stop for a slide fastener in which opposing male and female cooperating parts are located on opposing stringers respectively. Whilst the bottom end stop is attractive in appearance, once the fastener is closed the bottom end stop is not able for example to maintain the slider fastener elements in a closed position for the full length of the fastener.
In US 4, 667,377 there is disclosed a slide fastener with a pair of intermeshable top end stops comprising a pair of mating stepped portions complimentary in shape for engagement. However, the slide fastener top stop is not lockable such that if the slider were removed from the fastener, a small force applied to the connecting elements of the stringers would cause the fastener to open.
Finally, in parent and corresponding divisional patents US 5,400,482 and US 5,443,535 respectively there is disclosed a slide fastener with a terminal latch and a method of manufacturing same comprising a pair of stringer tapes formed from opposing interdigitating fastener elements and with the latch member secured at one end of the fastener. Whilst the latch member comprises co-operating male and female interconnecting parts, the connection between the connecting male and female parts is weakened as a result of the shape of the members.
It has now been realised that a key feature of the locking stop of the present invention is the shape of the interconnecting members forming the locking stop mechanism for the slide fastener.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a slide fastener having a split locking stop for preventing a pair of interengaged coupling element rows from splitting open after the slider has been removed from the interengaged coupling element rows. The fastener locking stop mechanism comprises first and second members that include male and female interlocking portions that are securely mounted on opposing stringers of the fastener. The strength of the engagement of the first and second members of the locking stop is superior such that the fastener is able to withstand external forces which might otherwise encourage a fastener to open once the slider is removed.
Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking stop suitable for use with a slide fastener comprising:

a first member; and
a second member, wherein

Preferably the first member comprises at least two receiving portions and the second member comprises at least one receiving portion. It is also preferred that the split protruding member is located on the second member.
It is also preferred that the first and second members of the locking stop according to the present invention are comprised of but not limited to plastics material for example polyethylene or polypropylene or derivatives thereof, or polyamides, or derivatives thereof, for example nylon.
It is more preferred however that the first and second members of the locking stop according to the present invention are comprised of nylon. The first and second members are also preferably moulded onto the tapes of the slide fastener.
In addition, it may be preferred to treat the first and second members of the locking stop. Consequently, for certain applications for example the motor vehicle industry the locking stop members are treated with a fire retardant. The locking stop members may further comprise other additives for example but not limited to perfumes, lubricants, antimicrobial agents as well as flame retardents.
The coil members of the slide fastener are preferably comprised of nylon monofilaments, for example nylon 6, and the tapes of the slide fastener and preferably comprised of polyester.
It is also preferred that in the locking stop according to the present invention the first and second members comprise indentations. These indentations are preferably located on opposing sides of the first and second members respectively.
Preferably, the locking stop is a locking top stop.
It is preferred that the locking stop according to the first aspect of the present is comprised of coiled elements, and that each of the first and second members further comprise at least one element. In this way, the preferably at least one coiled element are secured to the first and second members by moulding. Although additional forms of attachment may be employed.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a slide fastener, comprising a locking stop as described in relation to the first aspect of the present invention.
According to a further, third aspect of the present invention there is described the use of a locking stop or a slide fastener as described in relation to the first or second aspects of the present invention respectively, as a closure mechanism in, for example but not limited to clothing, luggage, sports equipment, home and commercial furnishings, transportation vehicles and floor coverings.
The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like features are denoted by the same reference numerals and wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a stop for a slide fastener according to the present invention wherein complementary member parts of the stop are illustrated in a connected or locked relationship.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a first member of the locking stop according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a plan view of a second member of the locking stop according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is an expanded plan view of a section of a slide fastener with a locking stop according to the present invention in a closed and locked position.
Figure 5 is a plan view of a slide fastener with a locking stop of the present invention in a partly closed position.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a slide fastener with a locking stop of the present invention in a completely closed position.
Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated a fragmentary plan view of a stop 10 for a fastener 12 comprising a first member 14 and a second member 16. The first member 14 and the second member 16 are illustrated in a connected or locked relationship. In Figure 2 there is illustrated a plan view of the separated first member 14 of the locking stop and in Figure 3 there is illustrated a plan view of the separated second member 16 of the locking stop according to the present invention.

In a first embodiment of the present invention as seen in Figures 2 and 3 the first and second members 14, 16 are seen to comprise an undulating profile where the two members interconnect. As seen in Figure 2, the first member comprises two concave or receiving portions, 18, 20 otherwise known as female connecting portions and a protruding or male connecting part 24 located between the first and second receiving portions 18, 20. In addition, the first member comprises a first (lower) shoulder 30 and a second (upper) shoulder 32 which are shaped to engage upper and lower surfaces 50 and 52 respectively of the second member.
As seen in Figure 3, the second member 16 also comprises two receiving portions, 25 and 31. The first receiving portion 25 on the second member is complimentary in shape and therefore able to cooperatively engage with protruding portion 24 on the first member. Likewise, receiving portion 31 on the second member is cooperatively shaped to engage with shoulder portion 32 on the first member.
The second member 16 further comprises a first protruding or male portion 19 that is shaped to engage with receiving or concave portion 18 on the first member. Preferably, the second member 16 also further comprises a second protruding or male portion 21 that is shaped to co-operatively engage with receiving portion 20 on the first member. A key feature of portion 21 is that the portion comprises a split 15 thereby resulting in segments 21 a and 21b. When the second member 16 is comprised of suitable material, the split 15 ensures that portion 21 and hence segments 21 a and 21 b have sufficient flexibility to enable the segments 21 a and 21 b of portion 21 to be compressed together and thereby connect with receiving portion 20 on the first member 14. The intricate shape of the first and second members ensures a strong locking connection when the first and second members are engaged. However, once the first and second members are caused to engage, the intricate and undulating form of the mating portions of the first and second members combined with the resilient deformation of the segments 21a and 21 b ensures that the first and second members are not readily parted.
In Figure 1, the mating relationship and multiple connection points of the first and second members 14, 16 is illustrated as the two members are shown locked together. The first and second members are shown co-joined and attached atop the opposing elements 60, 62 of a slide fastener (slider not shown). The pair opposing elements are mounted on tapes (not shown).
In Figure 1, the stop fastener of the present invention comprised of the first and second members is illustrated in use with coiled fastener elements 70. However, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that this form of stop may be equally applied to other forms of fastener element.
In Figure 4 there is illustrated an expanded plan view of a section of a slide fastener with a locking top according to the present invention in a closed and locked position as in Figure 1, in which the tapes 80, 82 carrying the coiled fastener elements 70 are visible.
In Figure 4 as in Figure 1 the close interconnecting relationship between the first and second members 14 and 16 is clearly visible as the outer profiles of the inner surfaces of the first and second members interrelate. Importantly, the only points where the interconnecting parts of the first and second members do not intimately connect are in relation to the protruding portion 21 comprised of segments 21 a and 21 b on the second member and the receiving portion 20 on the first member. When the protruding portion 21 and the receiving portion 20 are in the locked position, there exists two gaps, region 90 and region 92. These gaps are created to allow the protruding portion 21 on member 16 to fit into receiving portion 20 on member 14. However, once portions 20 and 21 are locked into position, an extending portion 94 on the first member 14 assists in preventing the disconnection of the two portions 20 and 21.
In addition, in the coil fastener illustrated in Figure 4 (and Figure 3) it can be seen that the first and second members 14, 16 further each comprise at one end at least one element 71 and 72. The presence of the elements 71 and 72 further increases the strength of the attachment of the first and second members to the tapes 80 and 82 and hence stringers forming the slide fastener. Furthermore, the presence of the elements 71, 72 on the first and second members enables a smooth transference of the slider from the coiled elements to the locking top stop mechanism. Without these elements 71, 72 attached to the first and second members the slider would have a tendency to become lodged at the point where the locking stop mechanism begins and the coiled elements finish and thereby avoids potential 'jumping' or sticking' of the slider as it passes along the elements and over the locking stop mechanism.
In Figures 5 and 6 there are illustrated plan views of a slide fastener with a locking stop according to the present invention in a partly closed position and in a completely closed position respectively.
Whilst Figures 5 and 6 illustrate slide fasteners with a locking stop in a horizontal orientation, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the slide fastener itself may be used in any orientation.
As can be seen in Figure 5, in operation, a slider 100 moves along tapes 80 and 82 of the slide fastener, comprising toothed fastener elements 84, 86. As the slider 100 approaches the locking stop members 14, 16, it can be seen that the members 14, 16 are of a suitable size to pass inside and through the slider 100.
As the slider passes over the locking stop members 14, 16 the members are resiliently compressed or deformed to allow the members to engage and form a locked relationship. The passage of the members 14, 16 through the slider is encouraged and assisted by the presence of grooves or indentations 66, 68 on the outer edges of the members 14, 16. The grooves or indentations, 66, 68 in combination with the resilient flexibility of the members, ensures that the members are brought into a locked relationship. Once the fastener is completely closed and hence locked, the slider maybe removed as seen in Figure 6 thereby ensuring a smooth closure of the fastening elements and hence superior aesthetic appearance.
The locking stop mechanism of the present invention therefore ensures a stronger and more secure lock than the usual interdigitation that exists between the fastening elements in a slide fastener.
After removal of the slider 100, the interlocking engagement of the male and female portions of the first and second members will not be released despite lateral pulling forces acting on the fastener tapes or thrusting forces acting on the rows of coupling elements.
The required resilient flexibility of the first and second members of the locking stop of the present invention is enabled as a result of the members being comprised of a suitable material. Suitable materials for the locking stop members of the present invention are selected from the group comprising for example but not limited to polymeric materials and derivatives thereof.
More preferably the first and second members of the locking stop of the present invention are preferably comprised of for example polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamides, for example nylon and derivatives thereof. Most preferably, the members are comprised of nylon. In addition, the nylon may further comprise a flame retardant material.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the nylon first and second members are moulded to the tapes of the slide fastener. However, it will be appreciated that additional attachment means may be employed.
The resilient deformability and hence flexibility of the plastic or nylon material enables the first and second members 14, 16 to be compressed as the first and second members pass through the slider. However, once the first and second have passed through the sliders and are in a locked interrelationship, the members again return to their original shape and formation ensuring maximum interaction between the locking portions of the first and second members and hence closure of the slide fastener.
Whilst it is envisaged that the locking stop of the present invention will be utilised in situations where the slide fastener is fitted and then closed and is not then reopened, there remains the possibility that if a slider is again attached to the coupling elements or alternatively a slider tool applied to the coupling elements, as the slide fastener is still fully functioning the fastener could again be operated.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, a slide fastener may be prepared which comprises two sliders such that for example, one end of the slide fastener is fitted with a further second slider, operating in a reverse direction to the first slider and further comprising a locking stop mechanism at each end of the slide fastener.

Claims

A locking stop suitable for use with a slide fastener comprising:
a first member; and

a second member, wherein
the first and second members are mounted to one end of a pair of first and second opposing stringers respectively, the stringers comprising connecting elements, wherein
the first and second members comprise complimentary shaped male and female portions such that when the first and second members pass through a slider of the slide fastener the first and second members cooperatively engage and wherein a protruding member on at least one of the first or second member is split to allow resilient flexibility upon engagement with a receiving portion of at least one of the first or second member.
A locking stop according to claim 1 wherein the first member comprises at least two receiving portions.
A locking stop according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the second member comprises at least one receiving portion.
A locking stop according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the split protruding member is located on the second member.
A locking stop according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members are comprised of polyamide material or derivatives thereof.
A locking stop according to claim 5 wherein the first and second members are comprised of nylon.
A locking stop according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first and second members comprise indentations.
A locking stop according to claim 7 wherein the indentions are located on opposing sides of the first and second members respectively.
A locking stop according to any of the preceding claims wherein the locking stop is a locking top stop.
A locking stop according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the slide fastener is comprised of coiled elements.
A locking stop according to claim 10 wherein each of the first and second members further comprise at least one element.
A locking stop according to claim 11 wherein the at least one element on each of the first and second members are secured by moulding.
A slide fastener comprising a locking stop as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9.
Use of a locking stop according to any of claims 1 to 9 or a slide fastener as claimed in claim 10 as a closure mechanism in clothing, luggage, sports equipment, home and commercial furnishing, transportation vehicles and floor coverings.
A locking top stop as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.