GB1566965A

GB1566965A - Sliding clasp fastener chain

Info

Publication number: GB1566965A
Application number: GB3195377A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Yoshida Kogyo KK
Current assignee: YKK Corp
Priority date: 1977-07-29
Filing date: 1977-07-29
Publication date: 1980-05-08

Description

(54) SLIDING CLASP FASTENER CHAIN (71) We, YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K., a corporation duly organized under the laws of Japan and existing at No. 1, Kanda Izumicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a sliding clasp fastener and more particularly to a pair of sliding clasp fastener stringers of substantially continuous or endless length.

It is the usual practice of sliding clasp fastener manufacturers to conjoin a multiplicity of predetermined individual unit lengths of fastener stringers to form extended, continuous lengths of such stringers which are conveniently referred to herein as "sliding clasp fastener chain" as contrasted to individual sliding clasp fastener products, the resulting sliding clasp fastener chain being subsequently subjected to dying, parts assembling and other finishing operations.

One conventional way of conjoining or interconnecting discrete, adjoining lengths of stringers was to superpose their respective end portions one on the other and staple them together. Another alternative way known in the art was to lay adjoining stringers in the same plane with their respective ends held in confronting relation and sew or otherwise secure them together with use of an adhesive film. Such known conjoining procedures were disadvantageous in that the joints of unit stringers connected in a continuous row would often present an obstacle to the running of a slider along the stringers when tested for the opening and closing performance of the fastener chain.

Therefore, it was necessary to discontinue the operation of the testing machine every so often in order to disconnect the joints of adjoining unit stringers to mount the slider.

Further, the sliding clasp fastener chain to be used for fishing nets, which is manufactured by conjoining individual fastener lengths has a further drawback in that the rows of fastener elements which have been coupled together on the respective stringer tapes are prone to become uncoupled or disengaged at and from where the joints are located when stresses are applied tending to spilt the stringers apart.

According to the invention, there is provided a sliding clasp fastener chain, comprising: a multiplicity of pairs of sliding clasp fastener stringers, each stringer being of a predetermined length and including a support tape and a row of interlocking fastener elements secured to an inner longitudinal edge of said tape, each of said elements having a coupling head and connecting portions, said stringers being disposed in the same plane with their respective adjoining ends confronting with each other; and jointing means conjoining said stringers said means comprising a thermoplastic slug generally conforming in cross-sectional profile to the contour of said fastener elements and a reinforcing strip integral with said slug and extending substantially transversely of said tape.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a length of sliding clasp fastener chain showing a jointing means connecting adjoining stringers end to end; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the lines II-II of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the lines III - III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan view of a fragment of sliding clasp fastener chain showing two identical opposed stringers partly in disengaged disposition and partly interengaged by a slider; Figure 5 is a plan view on enlarged scale of a fragment of one of a pair of fastener stringers showing one way of attaching a jointing means thereto; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another way of attaching the jointing means; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures 5 and 6 but showing still another way of attaching the jointing means; Figure 8 is a plan view on enlarged scale of a fragment of sliding clasp fastener chain showing a slider passing through the jointing means; Figure 9 is a sectional view of a sliding clasp fastener chain showing a modified form of jointing means;; Figure 10 is a sectional view of a sliding clasp fastener chain showing still another modification of jointing means; Figure 11 is a plan view of a fragment of sliding clasp fastener chain showing another embodiment; Figure 12 is a sectional view taken on the lines XII - XII of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a plan view on enlarged scale of the sliding clasp fastener chain of Figure 11 showing the same attached to a garment fabric; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 11 but showing the fastener chain carrying thereon a reinforcing strip; and Figure 15 is a sectional view of jointing means showing the same applied to a sliding clasp fastener ehain-having a meandering form of fastener elements.

Like reference characters refers to like parts throughout these various views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and Figure 1 in particular, there is shown a pair of sliding clasp fastener strin gers 10, 11 each of which comprises a support tape 12, (13) and a row of interlock- ing fastener elements 14 which is shown for purposes of illustration to be in the form of a continuous helical structure. The row of fastener elements 14 is secured, as by sewn stitches 15, to a longitudinal marginal edge 16 of each support tape 12 (13). The two oppositely disposed stringers 10, 11 are shown in Figure 1 as in coupled or interen- gaged condition.

Longitudinally adjoining stringers 10, 10' or 11, 11' of a predetermined length are conjoined or interconnected by jointing means 17, in a manner hereinafter described, to form a continuous sliding clasp fastener chain F.

The jointing means 17 which constitutes an important aspect of the present invention comprises a thermoplastic slug 18 generally conforming in cross-sectional profile to the contour of a coiled element 14 on each stringer 10, (11) as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

and a reinforcing strip or film 19 integral with the slug 18 and extending substantially transversely of the support tape 12, 13). The thermoplastic slug 18 is generally bananashaped or arcuate with its outwardly curved central periphery 18a extending in the same direction as and substantially flush with the coupling head 14a lying substantially in registry with the connecting portions or U-turns 14b of the fastener element 14. The reinforcing strip 19 covers over the full width of the pair of sliding clasp fastener stringers 10, 11 and 10', 11'. The jointing means 17 thus constructed provides for smooth reception therethrough and movement therealong of a slider S in a manner hereinafter described.

The jointing means 17 may be secured to the support tape 12, (13) by any known techniques, a preferred one of which is to injection-mould a thermoplastic material such as nylon or similar polymers to shape directly onto a portion 20 of the respective tape which is devoid of fastener elements 14. Alternatively, strip or film 19 may be adhesive. The jointing means 17 is thus secured in place spanning between adjoining stringers 10, 10' or 11, 11' which are disposed in the same plane with their respective ends confronting with each other.

If desired, a gap space 21 may be provided between the respective confronting ends of the adjoining stringer 10, 10' or 11, 11'.

Figure 5 illustrates the jointing means 17 secured to the element-free portions 20 of adjoining stringers 11, 11' with its tapered ends 18b positioned adjacent terminal elements 14 on the respective tape.

Figure 6 illustrates the jointing means 17 secured in place in a manner similar to Figure 5 but with its tapered ends 18b fused together with a portion of the fastener element 14.

Figure 7 illustrates the jointing means 17 secured in place in a manner similar to Figure 6 but with greater gap space 21 resulting from the cutting away of defective portions of either of adjoining stringers 11, 11'.

When mounting sliders S on the sliding clasp fastener chain F consisting of a multiplicity of unit lengths of stringers 10, 10' and 11, 11' which have been conjoined in the manner above described, they are moved along the rows of fastener elements 14 in a direction to take the latter into coupling engagement in the well known manner as shown in Figure 4. The slider S, upon approaching and passing the jointing means 17, brings the arcuate slug 18 on one joined stringer 10,10' resiliently into abutting engagement with that on the other or companion stringer 11, 11' as flanged rails S' of the slider S guide the slugs 18 through channel S" in very much the same fashion as they guide the rows of fastener elements 14 as shown in Figure 8, the opposed arcuate slugs 18 being flared in this position to avoid impinging contact with the diamond S' of the slider S.

There is shown in Figure 9 a modification of jointing means 17 in which the slug 18 on one stringer is provided at its central periphery 18a with a projection 22 for engagement in a recess 23 formed in the corresponding peripheral portion of another slug 18 on the matmg stringer, whereby the two cooperating slugs are securely coupled against separation when transverse stresses are applied to split apart the fastener chain.

Figure 10 shows another modification of jointing means 17 wherein an elongate recess 24 is formed in the upper surface of the slug 18 with a view to imparting increased resiliency to the mass of the slug 18 and hence improving the passage of the slider therethrough.

Figures 11 through 13, inclusive, illustrate still another modification in which the jointing means 17 has an adhesive strip 19 integral with the arcuate slug 18, the strip 19 being reduced in width to about half the full width of the support tape 12, (13) with a view to facilitating sewing of the fastener chain F onto a garment G in the manner shown in Figure 13. Another feature of this modification resides in the provision of a bay or notch 26 at the sides of the junction of adjoining stringers 10, 10' and 11, 11' which is formed by tapering off the ends of the respective tapes as by means of a hot cutter.

In the event that lateral pull is applied to the garment G, it will be directed, away from the jointing means 17, towards the rows of fastener elements 14 because the bay 26 extending in the region of jointing means 17 remains unsewn and hence free from the influence of lateral stresses. The embodiment described in connection with Figures 11, 12 and 13 may be further modified to eliminate the tendency of the fastener chain F to split open or undergo separation of interlocked elements rows by providing an elongated reinforcing strip 27 which is sewn or otherwise secured to the support tapes 12, 13 to overlie the bay 26 closely adjacent the adhesive reinforcing film 19 of the jointing means 17, as shown in Figure 14.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the reinforcing strip 17 is secured to the support tapes 12, 13 only at their portions outside of the jointing means 17.

Figure 15 shows a further modification wherein the jointing means 17 is attached to the fastener chain F in sandwiched relation; namely, to extend symmetrically over both surfaces of the support tapes 12, 13 in very much the same way as meandering or zig-zag form of fastener elements is attached to the tapes.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A sliding clasp fastener chain comprising a multiplicity of pairs of sliding clasp fastener stringers, each stringer being of predetermined length and including a support tape and a row of interlocking fastener elements secured to an inner longitudinal edge of said tape, each of said elements having a coupling head and connecting portions, said stringers being disposed in the same plane with their respective adjoining ends confronting with each other; and jointing means conjoining said stringers, said means comprising a thermoplastic slug generally conforming in cross sectional profile to the contour of said fastener elements and a reinforcing strip integral with said slug and extending substantially transversely of said tape.

2. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing strip is adhesive.

3. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said thermoplastic slug is arcuately shaped with an outwardly curved central periphery extending in the same direction as and substantially flush with the coupling head of said fastener element.

4. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the ends of the slug are tapered and lie substantially in registry with the connecting portions of said fastener element.

5. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said thermoplastic slug on one stringer is provided at its central periphery with a projection for engagement in a recess formed in the corresponding peripheral portion of another slug on the mating stringer.

6. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said thermoplastic slug has an elongate recess in the upper surface thereof.

7. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 3 or in claim 4, 5 or 6 read as appended to claim 3, wherein the tapered ends of said slug are each fused together with a portion of the fastener element.

8. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing strip is about half the full width of the support tape.

9. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support tapes in each pair of adjoining stringers have their respective ends tapered off to form a bay or notch extending transversely of said jointing means.

10. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 9 wherein said support tapes each have an elongated reinforcing strip overlying said bay.

11. A sliding clasp fastener chain as claimed in claim 1 wherein said jointing means is injection moulded to the fastener

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. slugs 18 being flared in this position to avoid impinging contact with the diamond S' of the slider S. There is shown in Figure 9 a modification of jointing means 17 in which the slug 18 on one stringer is provided at its central periphery 18a with a projection 22 for engagement in a recess 23 formed in the corresponding peripheral portion of another slug 18 on the matmg stringer, whereby the two cooperating slugs are securely coupled against separation when transverse stresses are applied to split apart the fastener chain. Figure 10 shows another modification of jointing means 17 wherein an elongate recess 24 is formed in the upper surface of the slug 18 with a view to imparting increased resiliency to the mass of the slug 18 and hence improving the passage of the slider therethrough. Figures 11 through 13, inclusive, illustrate still another modification in which the jointing means 17 has an adhesive strip 19 integral with the arcuate slug 18, the strip 19 being reduced in width to about half the full width of the support tape 12, (13) with a view to facilitating sewing of the fastener chain F onto a garment G in the manner shown in Figure 13. Another feature of this modification resides in the provision of a bay or notch 26 at the sides of the junction of adjoining stringers 10, 10' and 11, 11' which is formed by tapering off the ends of the respective tapes as by means of a hot cutter. In the event that lateral pull is applied to the garment G, it will be directed, away from the jointing means 17, towards the rows of fastener elements 14 because the bay 26 extending in the region of jointing means 17 remains unsewn and hence free from the influence of lateral stresses. The embodiment described in connection with Figures 11, 12 and 13 may be further modified to eliminate the tendency of the fastener chain F to split open or undergo separation of interlocked elements rows by providing an elongated reinforcing strip 27 which is sewn or otherwise secured to the support tapes 12, 13 to overlie the bay 26 closely adjacent the adhesive reinforcing film 19 of the jointing means 17, as shown in Figure 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, the reinforcing strip 17 is secured to the support tapes 12, 13 only at their portions outside of the jointing means 17. Figure 15 shows a further modification wherein the jointing means 17 is attached to the fastener chain F in sandwiched relation; namely, to extend symmetrically over both surfaces of the support tapes 12, 13 in very much the same way as meandering or zig-zag form of fastener elements is attached to the tapes. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A sliding clasp fastener chain comprising a multiplicity of pairs of sliding clasp fastener stringers, each stringer being of predetermined length and including a support tape and a row of interlocking fastener elements secured to an inner longitudinal edge of said tape, each of said elements having a coupling head and connecting portions, said stringers being disposed in the same plane with their respective adjoining ends confronting with each other; and jointing means conjoining said stringers, said means comprising a thermoplastic slug generally conforming in cross sectional profile to the contour of said fastener elements and a reinforcing strip integral with said slug and extending substantially transversely of said tape.

stringer.

12. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in figures 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 14 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A sliding clasp fastener substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 15 of the accompanying drawings.