US2170421A - Coupling link for separable fasteners - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 22, 1939. H. MORIN ET AL COUPLING LINK FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed July 16, 1937 S m T IN E ppa/s a /N 4405 flZQBl/VJ/KY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. :2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I COUPLING mm roa sarsaanna FASTENERS Application July 16, l937, Serial No. 153,962

9 Claims.

This invention relates to separable fasteners employing stringers with coupling links or scoops arranged on adjacent, preferably beaded. edges of stringer tapes, each link or scoop having male and female coupling portions whereby the links of opposed stringers may be interlocked in coupling the stringers together; and the object of the invention is to provide a stringer for fasteners of the class described wherein the links or scoops applied to each stringer are made of two different forms of construction arranged alternately on the stringer, one of the groups of links having the female socket portion formed initially in closed boundary walls and the others with an open boundary wall; a further object being to provide a new method of forming the two different series of links on each stringer which consists in die casting, in one die casting operation. one link of each group so that a pair of links are cast simultaneously on the stringer tape in. spaced relation to each other in a single casting operation; a further object being to provide a method as set forth wherein the core forming the female socket of one link is pulled vertically or transversely with respect to the longitudinal plane of the die parts and the core of the other companion link is pulled horizontally or longitudinally with respect to the die parts, the latter forming the socket normally opening outwardly, through one side edge of the resulting link or scoop; a further object being to provide means in the form of dies and cores for producing simultaneously,

-or in one die casting operation, two castings in spaced impressions or mold cavities between adjacent surfaces of die parts or in pairs of die parts, in which latter event independent pressures may be applied to the respective pairs of die parts to simplify the production of substantially flare-proof castings: a still furtherobject being to provide a mum: having a normally open socket which link is so formed as to close the opening of the socketthroughone'side wall of 'thelink; and with these and other objects in view,'th'e lnventionconsists in a device of the class and for the purpose specified; constructed in"ac'-" cordance 'with the "method and by the dies em-' ployed as more i'ully hereinafter described and 1 ,The .inventiona-is fuliy'disclosed ingthe following specification; rofgwhich :the; accompanying draw= ing forms a partsin-qwhicnithe. separ te parts .of

. Y .ie t rfastener. diagrammatically illustrating the arrangement of stringers, and the manner of coupling the same.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the separate stringers of a fastener, showing said stringers detached.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one part of a die employed in forming a device as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a partial section on the line 44 of Fig. 3, taken through the adjacent surfaces of both die parts which are employed.

' Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of one of the links shown in Fig. 2.

' Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the step in completing the formation of the link shown in Fig. 5; and,

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modification wherein the die parts are formed of two pairs of parts rather than the single parts as in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the manufacture of die cast separable fasteners made from suitable die cast metals and/or thermoplastic materials, it has been the practice to die cast individual links in a successive series of casting operations on spaced intervals of a separable fastener stringer. This is taught, for example, in Patents 1,975,966 and 2,041,848. It is the purpose of our present invention to increase the speed of production of die cast separable fasteners by providing dies of novel construction wherein two different types of castings are formed in a single casting operation. upon spaced sections or parts of a tape disposed between ad- :jacent surfaces of the dies; or in other words.

on the parting line thereof. This is accomplished by forming one cast link with a socket or female coupling portion, the 'side walls of which are completely closed; and by the use of a core which is pulled perpendicularly with respect to said socket. whereas the other'adjacent link is formed with a'socket or female coupling portion which opens through oneside surface of a link and the core formingsaid socket is pulled -hori'-' ,Zontally or laterally through said side wall of the blink. With this construction. it will be seen that when the links of opposedstringers-are coupled togethe'rythe stringers will be 'held' against separation in allg' directions as in the "conventional type of? fasteners in whichall of the links have;

whatmaybe terrned; the closed socket or female coupling porti'on; 'whi ch result is assured by at rangingsith'e links of opposed "stringersiwith the openings through" the sides bf the-lihlts arranged 1 separable, imoppositedirections as clearly illustrated"in-Fig I provided with enlarged or beaded edges IOa, Iia,

to which are attached the die cast links l2, |2a, l3, l3a. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the links l2, l2a, are of the conventional closed type; that is to say, are provided with female coupling recesses or. sockets M which open only through one surface of the links, said links having projections IE on the opposite surfaces for entering the sockets of the links of opposed stringers. The links I3, |3a have recesses or sockets .|6 which open not only through one surface of the link, but also through one side wall thereof as clearly seen at Ilia, in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Solely for the sake of convenience in defining the invention, it will be assumed that the recesses are in the tops of the links and that the projections are on the bottoms thereof, while the surfaces of the links which extend parallel to the plane of the stringer willbe termed the sides of the links. It will be seen that each recess M in a link is defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the topv surface of that link, whereas each recess IS in another link opens through one side of that link, or in other words is .defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the linkv and below the top surface thereof. The links having one form 'of recess will be referred to as in aseries, and it will be noted that the projections l5 are concoupling elements may be modified within such degrees as will permit of the formation thereof in accordance with the teachings herein defined.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing, we have shown at H, a modified form of link, I3,. l3a, wherein one side wall l8 of the link, the side wall through which the socket l9 opens,-is fashioned to provide a pair of projecting members 20, adjacent surfaces of which are. continuous with opposed side walls of the socket IS. The members 20 may be turned inwardly to close the-:opening of the socket l9, through thewall l8, as indicated at.- 2011, in Fig.- 6 of the drawing. At this time, itwill be well to note that if the link is made of thermoplastic material, the members 20 -may be cemented together where they abut as at 20a in Fig. 6 of thedrawing;

In forming fasteners of the kind under consideration, one of the links |2|2a, and one of the links |3-|3a, are formed simultaneously upon the stringer tape. or the beaded edge thereof, by

the use of a novel type of die construction, end portion of one part 2| of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 3 of the drawingywhereas the end portion of the other part 22 is indicated in section in Fig. 4 of the drawing. Adjacent surfaces of the die parts are provided with mold cavities 23 and 24 of a contour defining the contour of the links, |2, |3, respectively, to be formed when the dies are brought into abutting relation with each other with the tape therebetween, the beaded edge being disposed in recesses 25, formed in adjacent surfaces of the die parts. A recess 1 26 is also formed between the die parts'and opens into the cavity 23 through the upper surface of the die parts to receive a core pin 21, the lower end 28 of which forms the recess or socket I4, in

the links |2--|2a. The cavity 24 differs from the cavity 23 in that the recess 26 is omitted but substituted therefor the die part 2|, in the construction shown, is provided with an inwardly projecting core pin portion 29 which forms the recess IS in the links |3-|3a.

Opening through one side surface of the dies on the parting line thereof is an admission passage or gate 30 into which suitable die casting material from a heated nozzle or cylinder 3|, partially shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, may be injected under pressure into the cavities 23. 24 through diverging branches 30a of the opening or gate 30. The branches 30a are also arranged on the parting line of the die parts so that after the castings have been formed in the cavities or impressions 23, 24, the dies may be separated and the two resulting castings, including the gate portions 32 thereon, may be collectively moved downwardly and theuppermost casting stripped from the core 21 after which this core is returned to its raised position and then moved between the dies in again closing the same in the next successive casting operation in which another pair of castings, |2--|3, |2a --|3a, are formed. At-this time, it will be understood that the gates 32 may be trimmed-from the castings in the usual or known manners. The dies are provided with water circulating passages, which extend topoints adjacent the impressions in the die parts, to cool the castings in order to insure a high rate of production of the fastener stringers in question.

In Fig. '7 of the drawing, we have shown a slight modification of the structure shown in Fig. 5, to illustrate that the die parts may be severed longitudinally to divide the same into independent sections or pairs of die parts as is indicated by theline 34 in. Fig. 7 of the drawing, which will divide the die part, for example, the part 2|, into independent sections or members 2|a, 2|b; the section 2|a containing the cavity or impression 23a, equivalent to the impression 23, whereas the section 2|b has the cavity or impression 24a,

similar to the impression 24. While only one die part is shown, it will be understood that both dieparts will be similarlyformed.

The purpose of this construction is to permit the application of independent. pressures on the separate sections 2|, am, so that if. any slight variation should prevail in the structure of the stringer tape .or the beaded edge thereof, this slight or minute variation-,will be "compensated for by the independent pressures applied to the sections 2| a, 21b, in the operation of moving the dies into closed position. 'I'his'will insure a more perfect seal of the dies around the tape and avoid the possibility of flare, of the casting material, not only around the tape but at the other parting line edges of the resulting casting.'

It will, of course, be unde'rstood that at no time i would there be any appreciable differential between the two die sections 2 a, 222), which would cause anydimculty with respect to the admission of the casting material through the nozzle 3|a.

However, it is also possible to construct the upper section Ila to include, as an integral part thereof, the portion designated at Me which would abut the part 2lb on the dot-dash line Ild; in which event the admission opening or gate passage 30b would be formed only in the part 2la and its associated or opposed part, and not in the part 2") or its associated and opposed part.

Aside from the structural differences above outlined, the method of forming dual castings with the structure shown in Fig. 7 will be the same as in the steps of the method as disclosed in conjunction with the dies shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing. With respect to the structure shownin Figs. 5 and 6, it will be understood that the step of turning the member 20 inwardly from the position shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, will be performed either in a suitable press when metallic castings are formed or by softening the material and then reshaping the same in the event that the links are formed from thermoplastic or similar material.

In forming thermoplastic die castings, it will be understood that the stringer tapes, or at least the beaded edge. portions thereof, may be first treated with a suitable material, such for example as acetone, to more securely attach the thermoplastic links to the stringers or beaded edge portions thereof; especially when the links are constructed of cellulose acetate.

While our invention has been specifically illustrated in the formation of die castings of predetermined type and kind and used for a specific purpose, it will be apparent that the fundamental principles of our invention may be utilized in the simultaneous formation of different die castings on a single mounting member, especially wherein different types of cores are employed and moved in different directions as in the present disclosure. As a matter of fact, it is within the spirit of our invention to form within relatively movable dies or pairs of dies, two or more independent and complete die castings in a single injection of casting material under pressure into the cavities or impressions of the dies. It will also be understood that any arrangement of the different links may be provided on the mounting member.

Having fully described our invention, what we claim as new and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A separable fastener employing stringers having coupling links arranged and spaced longitudinally on one edge thereof, and a slider movable along the stringers to couple and uncouple said links, one of the stringers having links provided with male and female coupling portions, the latter being in the form of sockets opening through one surface only of the links,

and other links on the stringer intermediate the first named links having male and female coupling portions, and the female coupling portions of the latter links opening through one surface and one side only of said links.

2. A separable fastener employing stringers.

having coupling links arranged and spaced longitudinally on one edge thereof, and a slider movable along the stringers to couple and uncouple said links, one of the stringers having links provided with male and female coupling portions,

the latter being in the form of sockets opening through one surface only of the links, and other links on the stringer intermediate the first named links having male and female coupling portions, the female coupling portions of the latter links opening through one surface and one. side only of said links, and the links of the companion string-' er being similarly formed and the socket portions of the second mentioned links opening through the opposite side of the stringers when said stringers are coupled together.

3. A separable fastener of the type comprising tion on the bottom thereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of thelink and below the top surface of the link.

4. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series having diffcrent forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of .the other, the recess in each link of one series beingdefined by sides whose'entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link and below the top surface of the link, the projections on all links being constructed and arranged to engage in a recess in a. link of either series.

5. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link and below the top surface of the link, and a projection, extending outwardly from said side of the link adjacent said recess and adapted to be bent across the opening of, said recess in said side.

6. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on one stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one .of the sidesof the link and below the top surface of the link, and projections extending outwardly from said side of the link, said projections being disposed on opposite sides of said recess and adapted to be bent across the opening of said recess in said side.

'7. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced lon- 1 gitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link and below the top surface of the link, said recesses in said other series on one tape opening through sides of the links on one side of the fastener and on the other tape opening through sides of the links on the other side of the fastener.

8. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the'surface of the top of the link, the recess in each link ofthe other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link and below the top surface of the link, and the links in each series on one tape being staggered relative to the links in the corresponding series on the other tape.

9. A separable fastener of the type comprising two stringers having coupling links spaced longitudinally thereof and cast thereon, each link having a. recess in the top thereof and a projection on the bottom thereof, the links on each stringer being divided into two series having different forms of recesses, with the links of one series alternating with those of the other, the recess in each link of one series being defined by sides whose entire upper edges are within the surface of the top of the link, and the recess in each link of the other series opening laterally through one of the sides of the link and being defined by sides at least one of whose edges is in one of the sides of the link and below the top surface of the link, said recesses in said other series on one tape opening through sides of the links on one side of the fastener and on the other tape opening through sides of the links on the other side of the fastener, and the links in each series on one tape being staggered relative to the links in the corresponding series on the other tape.

LOUIS H. MORIN. DAVIS MARINSKY.

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