US2076501A - Top stop for separable fasteners - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 137. J. L. LARROQUE TOP STOP FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed NOV. 27, 1955 INVEN TOR.

Jaseplz'L; Larroque A ORNEYS.

Patented Apr. .6, 1937' I 2,076,501 7 TOP s'zror FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS -Joseph Leon Larroqu e, Rouen, France, assignor UNITED TSTATESQ' to Hookless' Fastener C of Pennsylvania ompany, corporation Application November 27,1935, Serial No. 51,870 In Great Britain November 21, 1934 Claims.

This invention relates to sliding clasp fasteners of the kind comprising two flexible-stringers having fastener members mounted thereon and adapted to be interlocked anddisengaged bythe 5 action of a slider. The inventionrelates in particular to-means for binding the ends of the said flexible stringers. The invention relates moreover to garments or articles incorporating fas: teners of the kind described in which elastic insertions are provided in the flexiblestringer whereby the ends of the fastener stringers are bound in a neat and effective manner and whereby the frayed edges of the mounting tape are completely concealed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end binding for fastener stringers which are elastic in thecross-wisedirection wherein the binding is also stretchable in the crosswise dimotion According to the present invention, in sliding clasp fasteners of the kind described, the flexible stringers are provided with a smooth and coherentend binding or border of non-metallic plastic material, for example -rubber, which is molded,-'

stuck or otherwise afiixed in position on the end of the said stringers. The arrangement ispreferably such that part of the bindingmaterial' forms the end stop of the fastener and-this portion, may, if desired, be hardened or toughened while the remainder of the material is made substantially flexible. V I

The invention may be applied, if desired, not only to the separable ends of the fastener? but 5 also to the remote ends which are not adapted to be separated in the normal use of the fastener or the article to which it is attached.

The plastic material which forms .the end binding of the present invention is preferably a rubber composition but may also comprise a synthetic resin preferably of the thermoplastic type. Thermo hardening resins may also be em;-

ployed provided that the hardening operation is so conductedthat the tape is not thereby "damaged.

The invention will now be describedbyway I of illustration with reference to the aecompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a shoe fitted with a fastener constructed in accOrdancewith -1 the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view on an enlarged scale of the top end of the fastener constructed in accordance with my invention,--,the upper end of the fastener being shown in a stretched condition; Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the end of one of the tape stringers; i Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sections on lines 4-4 and 5 5 respectively of Fig. 3; and w Fig. 6 is a. perspective view of a modified form 15 of the invention. x In these figures, a shoe I is fitted with a'slid ing. clasp fastener l comprising two flexible stringers 3, on the edges of which are mounted series of interlocking fastener members 4. In

order to ensure that the front of the shoe will 2 fit closely to the foot with a maximum degree of comfort,jthe fastener tapes are providedwithinsertions of elastic material 5 which are woven into the non-stretching portions 6 of the'tapes..g- By this means a'certain amount of cross-wise stretching of the front portion of the shoe is provided when the fastener is in the closed tion.

Each upper or separable end of the fastener is.

provided with -'"an endbinding consisting of a piece of rubber or like material I, which is molded inposition as shown. The rubber molding which completely embraces the end of the tape including the elastic portion 5,'firmly holds the cotton and elastic threads of the insert together and permits the end of: the fastener stringer to be finished off squarely and smoothly without any rough edges. Part of the border 8 adjacent to the corded edge of the tape is adapted to act as the top end stop of the fastener, to prevent the removal of the operating slider 9. This portion is suitably thickened as shown, and is preferably toughened or hardened to. resist wear. Preferably also the piece of rubber has a rib l0 extending across the tape so' as to reinforce the same and provide-a secure stop for the slider. The binding is preferably made'thin as indicated at 'H at the edge; of the stringer opposite the fa'stener members, in order that it may more easily stretch. In the central portion the binding material need not. cover the elastic insert 5. The fastener is attached to the front portion of the shoe by means of rows 01' stitches I in the manner'shown in Figure 1. It will be observed 55 modate the foot of the wearer as in a shoe.

thatv the ends of the fastener stringers are sewn directly to the leather without having to fold over the ends of the tapes as is the usual practice. By this means the difficulty of concealing the folded over ends of the tapes is overcome and the bulky appearance due to this folded con- 'struction is avoided. Moreover, since the usual {unsightly metal end stops are eliminated, a

fastener of much neater appearance than hitherto is produced.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 consists of a piece of elastic tape l2 folded over the end of the tape stringer 3 and secured in place in any suitable manner such as by stitching or cement. In this instance a metal stop member I3 is preferably used.

It will readily be seen that with either of the constructions shown the upper end of the fastener while securely bound to provide the proper kind of end finish, may yet readily stretch to accomscribed, the combination with a pair of flexible stringers each of which is elastic in the crosswise direction, a series of fastener members secured to one edge of each of said stringers, and v a slider on said fastener members for engaging The and disengaging the same, of an end binding covering one end of the stringer, said end binding also being elastic in the cross-wise direction of the fastener.

2. In a separable fastener of the class described, the combination defined in claim 1, wherein said end binding comprises a piece of elastic fabric folded over the end of the stringer and firmly. attached in position thereon.

3. A separable fastener of the class described comprising the combination with a pair of fabric -tape stringers, cooperating series of fastener members secured along adjacent edges of the stringers, and a molded rubber stop member secured to and extending transversely of one of the stringers at one end thereof.

4. A separable fastener of the class described comprising the combination with a pair of fabric tape stringers, cooperating series of fastener members secured along the adjacent edges of the stringers, and molded rubber top stop members intimately bonded with and extending across the upper end ofthe stringers.

5. A separable fastener of the class described, comprising in combination with a pair of fabric tape stringers, cooperating series of fastener members secured along adjacent edges of the stringers, and molded rubber top stop members one on the upper end of each stringer, each of the top stop members comprising a rubber mass having a border portion adapted to enter the slider, a transversely'extending portion adjacent thereto of lesser thickness, and a transversely extending rib portion extending across the top of the member to reinforce the same.

JOSEPH LEON LARROQUE.

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