EP2322050A1

EP2322050A1 - Slider for a slide fastener and process for making a slide fastener or an item comprising the slide fastener

Info

Publication number: EP2322050A1
Application number: EP09175843A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Alessandro Ostinelli
Original assignee: Riri SA
Current assignee: Riri SA
Priority date: 2009-11-12
Filing date: 2009-11-12
Publication date: 2011-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-12
Also published as: DK2322050T3; EP2322050B1

Abstract

A protective cap (20) is applied on a front portion of the resilient member (15) of the slider (10) of a slide fastener, in order to facilitate the insertion of a puller (30); the protective cap (20) has a contact surface (24) for insertion of the puller (30) into the slider; said cap may further unlock a locking device of the slider. The puller (30) is inserted by pushing a connection part (31) against said contact surface of the protective cap, and after the insertion of the puller, the protective cap is removed from the resilient member.

Description

Field of application

The present invention refers to slide fasteners and to a process for manufacturing a slide fastener, or any item comprising the slide fastener. In particular the invention relates to the mounting of the puller into the slider of a slide fastener.

Prior Art

A slide fastener comprises a pair of tapes bearing respective rows of teeth, top and bottom stops, and a slider for opening and closing the fastener by engaging and disengaging the teeth. The slider is operated by a puller (or pull-tab) which is usually connected to the slider by a ring or equivalent connection portion.
EP-A-1 827 159 discloses a slider comprising a base, a back part, and a resilient engaging member projecting upward from the back part. The engaging member may provide a locking of the slide fastener, by a portion of said engaging member that is wedged between the teeth of the slide fastener. The insertion of a puller is made by pushing the puller against a front part of said engaging member. In other known embodiments, the puller may not be disengageable, i.e. it is coupled permanently to the slider, during the manufacturing process.
For example, in the known art, a puller is mounted on a slider by pushing the ring of the puller against a hook-shaped portion of a resilient engaging member, which is secured to the back part of the slider. Insertion of the ring is made possible by the elastic deformation of said resilient engaging member, providing a suitable passage for the puller. The hook-shaped portion may have an end which is adapted to prevent the sliding of the slider, and lock the slide fastener, by abutting against the teeth of the fastener. Said lock is released by the action of the user on the puller, and in particular by the ring of the puller, causing a slight flexing of the engaging member and raising the locking end to an extent sufficient to free the slider. This locking/unlocking feature is well known and further described in the cited EP-A- 1 827 159 .
In some instances, the manufacturing process of the slide fastener, or of any item comprising the slide fastener, involves process steps that may damage the puller. More in general, it may be desirable to perform intermediate steps of said manufacturing process without the puller, and to insert the puller only at a final stage. The puller may be a delicate piece and it may desirable to insert it only when the slide fastener or the item comprising the slide fastener is finished. For example, it may be desirable to protect an expensive metal puller from any manufacturing step that may cause a damage of the puller. It should be noted that the item comprising the slide fastener may be any item such as a garment, a bag, or another, and the process steps may include sewing, finishing, etc.
However, the puller may be indispensable when the slider has a locking device such as above described, and the manufacturing process requires to open and/or close the slide fastener, for example while the slide fastener is being sewn to a garment. In fact, it is the puller, and namely the ring of the puller, that releases the locking device. Forcing the slider without the puller, in the presence of a locking device, can damage the slide fastener.
Another problem is that the friction of the puller against the resilient member, during insertion of the puller, may cause a surface damage of any of said puller and resilient member. Usually, both the puller and the resilient member are metal parts and they may easily damage each other during the insertion. A surface damage is unpleasant and may be a starting point for corrosion.
This problem is presently solved by mounting a disposable plastic puller during the manufacturing process. The plastic puller allows to open and close the slide fastener also in the presence of a locking device and is removed before the final puller, for example a metal puller, is inserted. The plastic puller needs to be cut or broken and hence is used only once.
This solution allows to protect the metal puller from the intermediate manufacturing process steps, but has some drawbacks, including the need of the disposable plastic puller, which means a certain cost, the further process step of cutting or breaking the plastic puller, and the fact that in any case the slider and the metal puller are not protected from the risks of surface damage, during the insertion of the metal puller.

Summary of the invention

The invention is aimed at a solution to the above problems. One aim of the invention is to provide free movement of the slider of a slide fastener, during the manufacturing process of the slide fastener or a related item, in particular when the slider has a locking mechanism. Another aim of the invention is to protect the slider and the puller from surface damage, that may occur when the puller is inserted into the slider.
The basic idea of the invention is to put a protective cap on the resilient member of the slide fastener. The protective cap allows easier insertion of a puller and, where appropriate, may serve to release a locking device of the slider, thus allowing to open and close the slider without the puller.
Hence, the problem is solved with a process for making a slide fastener, or an item comprising a slide fastener, said slide fastener comprising a slider with a diamond, an upper blade, a slower blade, a bridge portion and a resilient member associated to said bridge portion, the process comprising the step of inserting a puller into the slider between said bridge portion and said upper blade, the process being characterized in that:

before the insertion of said puller, a protective cap is applied on the front portion of said resilient member of the slider, said protective cap providing a contact surface for insertion of said puller;
the puller is inserted by pushing a connection part of the puller against said contact surface of the protective cap, obtaining a deformation of said resilient member to sallow the passage of said connection part between the resilient member and the upper blade, and
after the insertion of the puller, the protective cap is removed from the resilient member.

The protective cap may be mechanically coupled to the resilient member and/or slightly forced and/or temporarily glued into the same. For example the cap may have a hook portion and/or inclined surfaces to provide a wedge coupling with a front seat of the resilient member.
The slider may optionally comprise a locking device for preventing the movement of the slider itself. According to an aspect of the invention, said protective cap is configured to unlock said locking device when the cap is fitted on the resilient member. Hence, an aspect of the process according to the invention is that fitting the protective cap on the resilient member causes the unlock of a locking device of the slider.
A further aspect of the invention is a slider for a slide fastener, comprising a diamond, an upper blade, a slower blade, a bridge portion and a resilient member associated to said bridge portion, characterized by comprising a protective cap applicable on a front portion of said resilient member, the protective cap having a contact surface for insertion of a puller into the slider.
In a preferred embodiment, the protective cap comprises a body with a contact face for contact with the puller, and a stem carrying a tooth for engagement with the resilient member.
The contact face is arranged in such a way that when the puller is inserted by pushing a connection part of the puller against said contact surface, a deformation of said resilient member is obtained, to sallow the passage of said connection part between the resilient member and the upper blade of the slider. The contact face is preferably inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stem. Preferably, the protective cap has a rounded slower portion that may facilitate the insertion of the puller.
In a further aspect of the invention, the slider comprises a locking device to prevent the opening and closing of the fastener, and said protective cap is configured to unlock said locking device, when the cap is fitted on the resilient member. According to one embodiment, the resilient member of the slider has a locking means that abuts against the teeth of the slide fastener when the resilient member is in a rest (undeformed) condition, hence locking the slide fastener. The protective cap, when fitted on the resilient member, provide a slight deformation of the resilient member, that is sufficient to free the teeth from said locking means. Hence, when the protective cap is present, the slider is free and the fastener can be opened and closed.
For example, the resilient member comprises a distal end with locking protrusions to lock the slide fastener when the resilient member is at rest, and the cap has a body part sized to abut on the upper blade and maintain the resilient member slightly raised from the rest position, thus releasing said locking end from the teeth of the slide fastener.
In some embodiments of the invention, the protective cap is made of a plastic material. The protective cap can be made by injection molding. The resilient member is made of a suitable resilient material, preferably metal. In some embodiments of the invention, the slider is made of a plastic material and the resilient member is made of metal; in other embodiments also the slider is made of metal.
An object of the invention is also a protective cap for the slider of a slide fastener, for use in the manufacturing of a slide fastener or of an item comprising the slide fastener. Another object of the invention is an intermediate (semi-finished) product in the manufacturing process of a slide fastener, or an item comprising the slide fastener, said intermediate product comprising at least the slide fastener, the slider, and said protective cap.
A first advantage of the invention is that a locking device of the slider is released by the presence of said protective cap. Hence, the slider can be moved and the fastener can be opened or closed, according to the needs. For example, the slider can be freely opened or closed while sewing the slide fastener onto a garment. Another advantage, in comparison with the prior art, is that there is no need of a disposable plastic puller. The known disposable pullers are cut or broken before the insertion of a metal puller, hence they cannot be used anymore. The protective cap of the invention is less expensive and reusable.
The invention is not limited to application to a slider comprising a locking device. Also in a non-locking slider, the invention has the advantage that insertion of the slider is facilitated, and the puller and slider are protected from any surface damage during the insertion itself. Protecting the puller and slider is important for aesthetic reasons and also to avoid for example that a scratch creates a starting point for corrosion.
These and further advantages of the invention will be more evident from the detailed description provided here below, given as indicative and not limiting example.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a view of a slider comprising a protective cap for insertion of a puller, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 shows the process step of fitting the protective cap to the slider of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cutaway view of the slider of Fig. 1 comprising the cap.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the protective cap of the slider of Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the cap of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 shows, in a perspective view, the step of inserting a puller into the slider of Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 show, in a side view, the insertion of the puller into the slider.
Fig. 8 shows the removal of the cap from the slider.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Fig. 1 shows a slider 10 for a slide fastener. The slider 10 has a diamond 11, an upper blade 12, a slower blade 13, a bridge portion 14 and a resilient member 15 associated to the bridge portion 14. For example, the slider is made of a plastic material by injection molding, forming the diamond 11, blades 12, 13 and bridge portion 14, and a metal resilient member 15 is fixed to the bridge portion 14. Other materials and/or processes however may be used.
The resilient member 15 has a distal end 15a, opposite to the diamond 11, that can be raised from the blade 12, with elastic deformation of the member 15 itself.
In the example, the slider 10 has a locking device adapted to prevent the sliding of the slider 10 when the resilient member 15 is in a rest position. Locking protrusions 16 of the resilient member 15 can abut against the teeth of the slide fastener (not shown), passing through passages 17 of the upper blade 12. Raising the end 15a of the resilient member 15 away from the upper blade 12 causes the disengagement of said locking protrusions 16 from the teeth and, hence, allows the free sliding of the slider 10.
According to the invention, a protective cap 20 is fitted on the front portion of the resilient member 15, during the manufacturing process of a slide fastener comprising the slider 10, or the manufacturing of an item, such as for example a garment, comprising said slide fastener.
Fig. 2 shows the process step of inserting the protective cap 20 in a front seat 18 of the resilient member 15. The protective cap 20 has an engagement portion, for example a stem 23 with a tooth 21, adapted to secure the cap 20 to the resilient member 15. When the protective cap 20 is fitted on the resilient member 15, as in Fig. 1, the locking device is unlocked, i.e. the resilient member 15 is spaced away from the blade 12 to such an extent that the locking protrusions 16 cannot engage the teeth of the slide fastener.
A preferred embodiment of the protective cap 20 is now described. The cap 20 comprises a body 22 and a stem 23 carrying the tooth 21 for a snap-on engagement with an internal seat 19 of the resilient member 15 (Figs. 3, 4). The cap may further have inclined faces such as faces 22a, 23a (Fig. 4) to provide a wedge-like coupling with the seat 18.
The body 22 of the cap 20 has a front plate 24a with a contact face 24 for contact with a puller, during the insertion of said puller. The contact face 24 is preferably inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stem 23, and towards the direction of introduction of the puller, by a positive angle α as indicated in Fig. 5. More preferably, the front surface of said body 22 has a rounded slower portion 25, under the contact face 24, to further facilitate the insertion of a puller. Opposite to said contact face 24, the body 22 has an inner face 26. The cap 20 further comprises a tongue 27 for easy removal from the member 15, preferably located over the front plate 24a.
The body 22 is shaped and sized in such a way that the cap 20 is able to release the locking protrusions 16 from their locking position, as can be appreciated from Fig. 1. The whole cap 20 act as a wedge element, flexing the resilient member 15 and keeping the distal end 15a of said resilient member sufficiently distanced from the upper blade 12. Hence, the protrusions 17 cannot enter the passages 17 and engage the underlying teeth of the slide fastener.
Figs. 6 to 8 show the insertion of a puller 30 having a connection portion in the form of a ring 31 around a window 32. The ring 31 is pushed against the surfaces 24 and 25, with an insertion direction L which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the slider 10. Pushing the ring 31 against the surfaces 24, 25 creates a force F that raises the member 15 and opens a passage for the ring 31. The member 15 and puller 30 are protected by friction one against the other, by means of the protective cap 20. This is an advantage especially when the member 15 and puller 30, or at least the ring 31 of said puller, are made of metal. When the puller 30 is inserted, the cap 20 is removed by acting on the tongue 27.

Claims

A process for making a slide fastener, or an item comprising a slide fastener, said slide fastener comprising a slider (10) with a diamond (11), an upper blade (12), a slower blade (13), a bridge portion (14) and a resilient member (15) associated to said bridge portion, the process comprising the step of inserting a puller (30) into the slider (10) between said bridge portion (14) and said upper blade (12), the process being characterized in that:
- before the insertion of said puller, a protective cap (20) is applied on the front portion of said resilient member of the slider, said protective cap providing a contact surface (24) for insertion of said puller (30);

- the puller (30) is inserted by pushing a connection part (31) of the puller against said contact surface of the protective cap, obtaining a deformation of said resilient member to sallow the passage of said connection part (31) between the resilient member and the upper blade, and

- after the insertion of the puller, the protective cap (20) is removed from the resilient member.
A process according to claim 1, the slider having a locking device (16) for preventing the movement of the slider itself that opens or closes the slide fastener, the process being characterized in that the application of the protective cap (20) on the resilient member (15) causes the unlock of said locking device.
A slider (10) for a slide fastener, comprising a diamond (11), an upper blade (12), a slower blade (13), a bridge portion (14) and a resilient member (15) associated to said bridge portion, characterized by comprising a protective cap (20) applicable on a front portion of said resilient member (15), the protective cap (20) having a contact surface (24) for insertion of a puller (30) into the slider.
A slider according to claim 3, said contact surface (24) of the protective cap having a rounded slower portion (24a).
A slider according to claim 3 or 4, the slider comprising a locking device (16) to prevent the opening and closing of the fastener, and said protective cap being configured to unlock said locking device of the slider, when the cap is fitted on the resilient member.
A slider according to claim 5, the resilient member having at least a locking portion (16) that abuts against the teeth of the slide fastener when the resilient member is in a rest condition to lock the slide fastener, and the protective cap (20) being configured to provide a slight elastic deformation of the resilient member, when the cap is fitted on the resilient member, said deformation being sufficient to free the teeth from said locking portion.
A slider according to claim 6, the resilient member (15) comprising a distal end with protrusions (16) adapted to lock the slide fastener by abutting against the teeth of the fastener, when the resilient member is at rest, and said cap (20) having a body part (22) sized to slightly raise the resilient member from the rest position, thus releasing said locking of the slide fastener.
A slider according to any of claims 3 to 7, the cap (20) comprising a stem portion (23) with a tooth (21) and/or inclined surfaces (22a, 23a) for engagement with a front seat (18) of the resilient member (15).
A slider according to any of claims 3 to 8, the slider being made of a plastic material and the resilient member and puller being made of metal.
A protective cap (20) for the slider of a slide fastener, for use in the manufacturing of a slide fastener or of an item comprising the slide fastener, said cap being (20) removably applicable on a front portion of a resilient member (15) associated to a bridge (14) of the slider, the protective cap (20) having a contact surface (24) for insertion of a puller (30) into the slider.