GB1574079A

GB1574079A - Slide fastener slider

Info

Publication number: GB1574079A
Application number: GB4528677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HORLACHER H
Current assignee: HORLACHER H
Priority date: 1976-10-29
Filing date: 1977-10-31
Publication date: 1980-09-03
Also published as: CH598780A5; DE2746501A1; IT1088605B; FR2368912A1; FR2368912B1

Description

(54) SLIDE FASTENER SLIDER (71) I, HANS HORLACHER, of Swiss nationality and trading in the name of HANS HORLACHER, of Webereistrasse 51/55, 8134 Adliswil, Switzerland, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described, in and by the following statement: The invention relates to a slide fastener slider with a slider member and locking studs, resiliently coupled thereto which are adapted to engage between adjacent teeth of the slide fastener and can be lifted from their engaged position by means of a puller.

The locking studs in a known slide fastener slider of this kind are formed at one end of a slider cap of plastics material hinged in the manner of a two-armed lever on the slider member. A spring which bears on the slider member or is formed thereon urges the locking studs to remain in the engaged position. The puller grips beneath the slider cap at a position between the locking studs and the pivoting point of the slider cap and this region of the slider cap and/or on the slider member is provided with sloping surfaces which pivot the slider cap against the action of the spring when pull is applied to the puller in one or the other direction, so that the locking studs are lifted out of the engaged position.

This known slide fastener slider suffers from different disadvantages which occur on the one hand during manufacture or assembly and on the other hand in use.

On the one hand, the fact that the slider cap is hinged calls for a pivoting pin, which extends transversely to the running direction of the slider, to be provided either on the slider member or on the slider cap and a bore for receiving such a pivoting pin must accordingly be provided in the other part. If the pivoting part is not to be constructed as a separately and specially instalIed component in accordance with present trends, it must be integrally formed on the slider cap-as in the known slide fastener slider-or on the slider cap. On the other hand, these components are usually produced by injection moulding and the injection moulds required to this end are very complex and - expensivey a feature which again affects the output and the reject rate.Using the known slide fastener slider-with the slider-cap hinged to the slider member--on the other hand always gives rise to the risk of breakage of the pivoting pin, so that the entire slide fastener is in practice rendered unusable.

According to the invention, there;is provided a slide fastener slider comprising a slider member with a separating wedge, a plastics leaf spring member carrying locking studs at one end thereof, said studs being adapted to engage between adjacent teeth of the slide fastener, and a puller arranged beneath the middle region of said leaf spring member for lifting the leaf spring member to lift the studs from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member engaging over an end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge, and carrying a retaining strip directed in the opposite direction to the locking studs and adapted to engage in a niche in the slider member when the locking studs are lifted from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member also having a stop adapted to Co- operate with a further stop formed at said end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge for preventing the locking studs from being urged out of their engaged position when the slider member is urged in the opening direction of the fastener without lifting the leaf spring member by means of the puller, the leaf spring member being formed in one piece with a pin at its other end, which pin extends perpendicularly to the leaf spring and engages in a bore which extends through the separating wedge of the slider member to secure the leaf spring member to the slider member.

An advantage of this construction is that the need for a pivot pin is eliminated, and simple injection moulds can-therefore-be used for producing the component parts of the slider.

The appended subsidiary claims set forth various preferable features of the invention.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a slider constructed completely of plastics, and in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view, partially sectioned, of a slide fastener slider in which the horizontal and vertical hatching areas do not represent sectional surfaces, but are merely intended to differentiate the component parts of the slide fastener slider.

FIGURE 2 shows side views to a smaller scale and in exploded form of the three essential components of the slide fastener slider.

FIGURE 3 is a view in the direction of the arrow III of FIGURE 2 showing the top part of the slider member, FIGURE 4 is a plan view in the direction of the arrow IV of FIGURE 2 showing the bottom part of the slider member, FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a puller, and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the leaf spring as seen in the direction of the arrow VI of FIGURE 2.

The illustrated slide fastener slider 10 substantially comprises three functionally separate components: a slider member 13 consisting of a top plate 11 and a bottom plate 12 a plastics leaf spring 14, anchored in the slider member 13 and gripping thereover, and a puller 15 which grips beneath the leaf spring 14. As in all slider members, the top plate 1 and the bottom plate 12 together form two converging guide tracks 21 or 22 which pass by the sides of a separating wedge 16 and are defined by lateral webs 17 and 18 on the top plate 11 and by side webs 19 and 20 on the bottom plate 12. Beyond the end 23 of the separating wedge 16, the guide tracks 21, 22 merge into a guide track 24 which is also defined by the side webs 18, 19 on one side and by the side webs 17 and 20 on the other side, for the meshing rows of teeth of the slide fastener.

The separating wedge 16 in the illustrated slide fastener slider is integrally formed on the bottom plate 12 in the form of a hollow prism whose cavity 25, whose crosssection is substantially triangular and also prism-shaped, is continuous and is provided with a stepped portion 26 on the end which is distal from the top plate 11. A mounting block 27, whose cross-section is complementary to that of the cavity 25, is integrally formed on the top plate 11 and the free end of the said block is provided with a peripheral collar 28 which fits precisely into the stepped portion 26.The top plate 11 as well as the bottom plate 12 are integral plastics injection mouldings, so that the mounting block 27 can be pressed into the cavity 25 of the separating wedge 16 if the circumferential collar 28 is resiliently compressed in the sense of the arrows 29 of FIGURE 2 and the said cavity in turn slightly expands resiliently until the peripheral collar 28 engages with the stepped portion 26. The top plate 11 and the bottom plate 12 are thus positively connected to each other in any direction of movement, since the free endface of the separating wedge bears flush against the flat underside 47 of the top plate 11.

The top plate 11 is provided with an open bore 30 which extends longitudinally through the mounting block 27 and is also provided with a stepped portion 31 in the region of the end of the mounting block 27.

The purpose of the bore 30 is to accommodate a pin 32, the end of which has a conically converging thickened portion 33, and is integrally formed on the end of a plastics leaf spring 14 which appears on the left in FIGURE 2. An abutment shoulder 34, which encloses approximately half the pin 32, is also integrally formed on the same end of the plastics leaf spring 14.

By inserting the pin 32 into the bore 30, the leaf spring 14 can thus be anchored on the top plate 11 (in the direction of the arrows 35 of FIGURE 2) and in the course of insertion the peripheral edge of the thickened portion 33 is resiliently compressed, since both the leaf spring 14 and the top plate 11 are constructed of plastics, until the said peripheral edge engages with the stepped portion 31 of the bore 30. The abutment shoulder 34 will then also bear flush on the flat top side 36 of the top plate 1. The parts 11, 12 and 14 can also be fixed to each other by welding, which can be additional, more particularly by ultrasonics welding in the region of the peripheral collar 28 and of the stepped portion 26 or of the thickened portion 33 and of the stepped portion 41.

A bulge 37 whose side nearest to the leaf spring 14 has a notch 39 defined by two sloping surfaces 38, is integrally formed on the top side 36 of the top plate 11. The entire bulge 37 as well as the notch 39 is covered by the leaf spring when this is installed (see FIGURE 1), the notch 39 together with the leaf spring 14 forming the opening for the web 40 associated with the puller 15.

By means of a member 42 which projects approximately at right-angles from the plane of the leaf spring 41 which appears on the right in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6, the leaf spring 14 also extends over the endface of the bulge 37 which appears on the right in FIGURES 1, 2 and 6 and thus extends through a notch 43 formed on the endface of the top plate 11, as seen at the right of FIGURE 3. A substantially in wardly extending flange 914 which points away from the spring leaf 41-and one retaining strip 46which points to the spring leaf-project from the said flange.

As can be seen by reference to FIGURE 1, the locking studs 45 engage between the teeth of the slide fastener in the illustrated position and thus prevent the slider 10 from being unintentionally displaced.

However, as soon as a pull is applied to the puller 15 in one or the other direction, the web 40 rises on one of the sloping surfaces 38 and thus lifts the leaf spring 14.

Since this is fixedly clamped by means of the pin 32 in the slider member 13, it will flex so that the end with the locking studs 45 is raised. The locking studs 45 are thus disengaged from their meshing position and at the same time the retaining strip 46 penetrates into a recess which extends from the bottom flat side 47 of the top plate as far as the bulge 37 and thus prevents excessive flexing of the spring leaf 41.

The previously-described method of mounting the leaf spring 14 on the top plate 11 may be regarded as impossible by virtue of the presence of the flange 44.

However, this is not the case. If the pin 32 is inserted into the bore 30, the locking teeth 45 will first bear on the top side of the bulge 37. Progressive thrust applied to the pin 32 causes the spring leaf 41 to be progressively flexed, so that the locking teeth 45 are progressively displaced against the end of the bulge 37 which appears on the right of the drawing. As soon as the flexure of the spring leaf 41 and therefore the sloping position of the member 42 is sufficient to allow the inner end of the flange 44 to slip by the above-mentioned right-hand end of the bulge 37, the flange 44 will snap downwardly and engage in the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Attention must be drawn to two important details. If the two sides of the slide fastener itself which are separated from each other, are pulled away from each other in the lateral direction, the slide fastener slider 10 will be subjected to a force which tends to displace it in the opening direction. The slide fastener slider 10 however bears by means of the locking teeth 45 on the flanks of the teeth of the slide fastener and is therefore prevented from moving. If the sides of the fastener are pulled away from each other sufficiently powerfully, the force which acts on the slider and is supported by the locking teeth can be sufficient to apply a clockwise torque on the end of the spring leaf 41 shown on the right of FIGURES 1 and 2, so that the spring leaf 41 curves upwardly.This is accompanied by a sloping position of the member 42 and therefore by a sloping position of the abutment surfaces 49 which are associated with the locking teeth 45.

Accordingly, these are displaced from their engaged position and the slide fastener will then no longer be secured. To secure the slide fastener slider 10 against displacement even under such extreme stresses, a nose 50 is integrally formed on the free end of the flange 44, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and a recess 51 of approximately the same profile is formed in the opposite wall of the niche 48. Under extreme stresses of the previously-mentioned kind the nose 50 penetrates into the recess 51 and thus prevents the member 42 being lifted, i.e. it retains the locking teeth 45 in the engaged position.

The second detail is a step intended to prolong the service life of the slide fastener slider. It has been found that the portions of the slider 10 which are subject to heaviest wear are the inner flanks of the side webs 17-20 in the regions in which the guide paths 21, 22 merge with the guide path 24. By means of pins 52, for example of hardened steel (FIGURES 2, 3, 4) which are pressed indirectly adjacent to this flank of the side webs, it is possible for wear to be practically completely avoided and for the service life of the slide fastener slider to be increased by a multiple.

An advantage of this construction is that the need for a pivoting pin is eliminated and simple injection moulds can therefore be used for producing the component parts of the slide fastener.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 1. A slide fastener slider comprising a slider member with a separating wedge, a plastics leaf spring member carrying locking studs at one end thereof, said studs being adapted to engage between adjacent teeth of the slide fastener, and a puller arranged beneath the middle region of said leaf spring member for lifting the leaf spring member to lift the studs from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member engaging over an end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge, and carrying a retaining strip directed in the opposite direction to the locking studs and adapted to engage in a niche in the slider member when the locking studs are lifted from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member also having a stop adapted to cooperate with a further stop formed at said end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge for preventing the locking studs from being urged out of their engaged position when the slider member is urged in the opening direction of the fastener

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

Claims

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

extends through a notch 43 formed on the endface of the top plate 11, as seen at the right of FIGURE 3. A substantially in wardly extending flange 914 which points away from the spring leaf 41-and one retaining strip 46which points to the spring leaf-project from the said flange.

As can be seen by reference to FIGURE 1, the locking studs 45 engage between the teeth of the slide fastener in the illustrated position and thus prevent the slider 10 from being unintentionally displaced.

However, as soon as a pull is applied to the puller 15 in one or the other direction, the web 40 rises on one of the sloping surfaces 38 and thus lifts the leaf spring 14.

Since this is fixedly clamped by means of the pin 32 in the slider member 13, it will flex so that the end with the locking studs 45 is raised. The locking studs 45 are thus disengaged from their meshing position and at the same time the retaining strip 46 penetrates into a recess which extends from the bottom flat side 47 of the top plate as far as the bulge 37 and thus prevents excessive flexing of the spring leaf 41.

The previously-described method of mounting the leaf spring 14 on the top plate 11 may be regarded as impossible by virtue of the presence of the flange 44.

However, this is not the case. If the pin 32 is inserted into the bore 30, the locking teeth 45 will first bear on the top side of the bulge 37. Progressive thrust applied to the pin 32 causes the spring leaf 41 to be progressively flexed, so that the locking teeth 45 are progressively displaced against the end of the bulge 37 which appears on the right of the drawing. As soon as the flexure of the spring leaf 41 and therefore the sloping position of the member 42 is sufficient to allow the inner end of the flange 44 to slip by the above-mentioned right-hand end of the bulge 37, the flange 44 will snap downwardly and engage in the position shown in FIGURE 1.

Attention must be drawn to two important details. If the two sides of the slide fastener itself which are separated from each other, are pulled away from each other in the lateral direction, the slide fastener slider 10 will be subjected to a force which tends to displace it in the opening direction. The slide fastener slider 10 however bears by means of the locking teeth 45 on the flanks of the teeth of the slide fastener and is therefore prevented from moving. If the sides of the fastener are pulled away from each other sufficiently powerfully, the force which acts on the slider and is supported by the locking teeth can be sufficient to apply a clockwise torque on the end of the spring leaf 41 shown on the right of FIGURES 1 and 2, so that the spring leaf 41 curves upwardly.This is accompanied by a sloping position of the member 42 and therefore by a sloping position of the abutment surfaces 49 which are associated with the locking teeth 45.

Accordingly, these are displaced from their engaged position and the slide fastener will then no longer be secured. To secure the slide fastener slider 10 against displacement even under such extreme stresses, a nose 50 is integrally formed on the free end of the flange 44, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and a recess 51 of approximately the same profile is formed in the opposite wall of the niche 48. Under extreme stresses of the previously-mentioned kind the nose 50 penetrates into the recess 51 and thus prevents the member 42 being lifted, i.e. it retains the locking teeth 45 in the engaged position.

The second detail is a step intended to prolong the service life of the slide fastener slider. It has been found that the portions of the slider 10 which are subject to heaviest wear are the inner flanks of the side webs 17-20 in the regions in which the guide paths 21, 22 merge with the guide path 24. By means of pins 52, for example of hardened steel (FIGURES 2, 3, 4) which are pressed indirectly adjacent to this flank of the side webs, it is possible for wear to be practically completely avoided and for the service life of the slide fastener slider to be increased by a multiple.

An advantage of this construction is that the need for a pivoting pin is eliminated and simple injection moulds can therefore be used for producing the component parts of the slide fastener.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: -

1. A slide fastener slider comprising a slider member with a separating wedge, a plastics leaf spring member carrying locking studs at one end thereof, said studs being adapted to engage between adjacent teeth of the slide fastener, and a puller arranged beneath the middle region of said leaf spring member for lifting the leaf spring member to lift the studs from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member engaging over an end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge, and carrying a retaining strip directed in the opposite direction to the locking studs and adapted to engage in a niche in the slider member when the locking studs are lifted from their engaged position, said one end of the leaf spring member also having a stop adapted to cooperate with a further stop formed at said end of the slider member opposite the separating wedge for preventing the locking studs from being urged out of their engaged position when the slider member is urged in the opening direction of the fastener

without lifting the leaf spring member by means of the puller, the leaf spring member being formed in one piece with a pin at its other end, which pin extends perpendicularly to the leaf spring and engages in a bore which extends through the separating wedge of the slider member to secure the leaf spring member to the slider member.

2. A slide fastener slider as claimed in claim 1, wherein the free end of the pin has a thickened portion formed thereon, the peripheral edge of which engages with a stepped portion situated in that end of the bore which is distal from the leaf spring member.

3. A slide fastener slider as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the slider member comprises a top plate and a bottom plate, the separating wedge being integrally formed with one of these plates and having substantially the configuration of a hollow prism which receives a corresponding prism of matching profile integrally formed with the other of the plates, the bore receiving the pin extending through said corresponding prism.

4. A slide fastener slider as claimed in claim 3, wherein the separating wedge is integrally formed with the bottom plate.

5. A slide fastener slider as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the corresponding prism is provided at its free end with a collar which is engaged with a stepped portion in the cavity of the separating wedge.

6. A slide fastener slider as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the stop at the one end of the leaf spring member is in the shape of a protrusion extending in the direction of the slider member, and is adapted to enter a cavity in said end of the slider member when this slider member is urged in the opening direction of the fastener without lifting the leaf spring member by means of the puller.

9. A slide fastener slider substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

10. A slide fastener having a slider as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.