US2371309A

US2371309A - Slide fastener

Info

Publication number: US2371309A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1945-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1962-03-13

Description

March 13,1945. NORTON 2,371,309

I I SLIDE FASTENER Filed June 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR a ATTORNEYS March 13,1945. 5. H. NORTON SLIDE FASTENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1945 INVENTOR BYM fia ATTORNEY s Patented Mar. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to separable fasteners and more particularly to the type known as slide fasteners.

Heretofore, it has been the practice in pro ducing slide fasteners comprising interlocking members arranged along the edges of the elements to be fastened together, to fix these members with relation to the support on which they are carried. It will be seen, therefore, that such constructions could not be employed to releasably fasten together two rigid side members. In the former practice the side members to which separable slide fasteners have been applied have been limited to flexible material such as fabric or flexible sheet or mesh since in operating the slide to interlock the respective opposing fastening devices these devices approach the slide at decreasing angles until they are engaged and interlocked. Since these fasteners were fixed to their support, the support must be flexible to permit this changing angular disposition of the fasteners.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a separable slide fastener which may be applied to releasably secure together rigid members as well as non-rigid members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a separable, slide fastener in which the interlocking fasteners are pivotally or rotatably secured to their respective supporting members.

Another object consists in providing a slide fastener of the type disclosed which is particularly useful in fastening together rigid members on which they are supported whereby to afford desirable means for quickly and easily connecting parts of objects which may be of considerable weight or which may be placed under heavy strains and stresses in use.

A further object consists in providing a separable slide fastener which is provided with means at each end thereof to limit the motion of the slide and to prevent the same from be coming detached from the fastener and also to provide means at one end of the slide fastener for detaching the respective side members of the device without removing the slide from the fastener while at the same time permitting the side members to be reassembled in proper rela-' tion to each other to insure proper actuation of the slide and interlocking of the fastening members.

A further object of the invention consists in providing a separable slide fastener in which the interlocking fastening devices are pivotally or rotatably mounted on side supports. and providing a slide with means for progressively engaging portions of the interlocking members as the slide is operated to interlock or to disengage the fastening devices as the slide is moved therelong.

A still further object of the invention consists in providing a plurality of similar interlocking members along adjacent edges or parallel supports and adapted to interlock with adjacent fastening devices of the respective supports when a slide member engageable with the interlocking members is moved along said supports in one direction and adapted to be disengaged by said slide when the slide is moved in the opposite direction, said fastening devices of each support being so formed that when they are released from engagement with adjacent fastening devices or other supports, that they will be interlocked with adjacent fastening devices on the one support to maintain them in locked position with respect to each other but unlocked with respect to the adjacent dwices of the opposite support.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a slide fastener of the type described a slide member having a plurality of cams engageable with portions of the interlocking devices which it operates to rotate them in one direction for interlocking engagement with one another and in an opposite direction for disengaging said devices.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following description of two embodiments thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my invention showing portions of the slide broken away for purposes of clearness. In this figure the interlocking members are rotatably supported on rigid side members.

Figure 2 is a bottom end view of the device shown in Figure 1.

' fastener of the type shown in Figure 1, but shows the same carried by a semi-flexible support such as a fabric of fiber or a wire fabric.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the interlocking members or fastening devices.

Figure 5 is a front perspective view of one of the slide member sections showing the cam surfaces for engagement with the interlocking members.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the slide grip carrying member which also serves to secure the slide sections together.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that in Figure 5 showing the other or complementary section of the slide, likewise having cam surfaces engageable with the interlocking members.

Figure 8 is a view of the lower stop member and one of therigid side members shown detached.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of a second .embodiment of my invention which is similar in many respects to that form shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, but illustrates a modified form of the interlocking members and slide by which the locking members are interlocked and disengaged.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detailed side elevation of the upper end of one of the side members shown in Figure 9 showing the upturned flange which acts as a stop for the slide when the slide approaches that end of the device.

Figure 11 illustrates the manner of forming the interlocking members from a stamping and shows the blank in full lines and the formed member in broken lines.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the slide and adjacent side supporting members and illustrates the manner in which the slide engages and disengages the interlocking members. a

Figure 13 is a section taken on line 13-13 of Figure 12.

I will first describe the construction and operation of that embodiment of my invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 8. inclusive.

In Figures 1 and 2 I have shown the interlocking members as being mounted on rigid side supporting members I and 2, these members being arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart to permit rotation of the interlocking members or fastening devices 3 carried by the respective side members.

Each of the fastening devices is of a fdrm shown more clearly in Figure 4 and can be made inexpensively from stampings and the arms bent toward each other to form a substantially U-shaped cross section. Each member comprises the parallel arms 4 and 5 and a head or end portion 6, each of the arms being apertured in alignment at I whereby the unit may be pivotally mounted to swing or rotate on the side members I and 2 by means of a pin 8.

In the construction shown, the head portion 5 of each fastener is flat across the top and is provided with laterally extending lugs or interlocking projections 9 and 9'. Each of the arm portions of the unit is provided with notches on one side as indicated at Ill-l and ll-I l, the notches l0 and It) being nearer the head portion 6 while the notches H and II are located closer to the axis of rotation as defined by the apperture I.

As will be seen from the drawings, the interlocking or fastening members 3 are pivotally or rotatably mounted along the inner edge of each of the rigid side members I and 2 so that the head portions of the respective units 3 project toward each other, the arms 4 and of each unit overlying the inner edge of the respective rigid members I and 2. The inner ends of the arms 4 and 5 terminate in a tooth or abutment l2 and I3- respectively for sliding engagement with the cam surfaces formed internally of a slide member 14 as will be fully described hereinafter. In the illustration the tooth I3 projects longitudinally of the arm 5 while the tooth l2 extends transversely of the arm 5'. It will be noted that the notches i0 and III are formed on opposite sides of each of the arms 4 and 5 to receive the respective lugs or projections 9 and 8' of the adjacent and oppositely disposed fastening members when the slide is moved to interlock such members.

One of the supporting members I carries an end stop l5 which is shown in detail in Figure 8 and which comprises a body grooved along one edge as at I6 to receive the inner edge of the supporting member I. Rivets I! may be employed to permanently fix the stop member to this support. The opposite side of the stop member is also grooved as at l8 to removably receive the inner edge of the corresponding supporting member 2. A locating pin is extends through the body portion of the stop l5 and through the groove and provides a means for properly locating and assembling the side supporting side member 2 therein, the latter being notched at 20 to receive the pin is when the parts are assembled together.

In Figure 3 I have illustrated the invention as applied to a semi-rigid object such as a wire fabric which is indicated at 2|. In this application of the invention th fastening members 3 are rotatably or pivotally supported in a loop 22 formed in the fabric itself.

In order that the fastening device 3 carried by the respective members I and 2 may be interlocked with one another to secure the two opposed members together I have provided a slide which envelopes or telescopes a number of the fastening devices as it is moved in either direction. The slide l4 comprises a hollow body through which the fastening devices pass when the slide is operated, the internal side walls of the slide being formed with oppositely disposed

track surfaces

23 and 24 and being inclined or cammed at 23' and 24, respectively so that when the two sections of the slide illustrated in Figures 5 and 'I are assembled together the cam surfaces 23' will lie on opposite sides of the slide and along the upper portion thereof, while the cam surfaces 24' will lie on opposite sides and along the lower portion thereof. The

track surfaces

23 and 24 of each slide section lie in substantially the same plane while the

track surfaces

23 and 24 of the other complementary section of the slide lie in the same plane with respect to each other but in planes parallel to the planes of the respective tracks of the first mentioned section.

In the arrangement of the parts as shown in Figure 1, it will be seen that the arms 4 of the fastening devices lie under the support 2 while the arms 5 overlie the top surface thereof, and with respect to support I the relation of arms 4 and 5 is reversed. In this manner the tooth projections l2 which extend laterally of the arms 4 respectively will engage and slide upon the track and cam surfaces 24 and 24' of the slide while the tooth projections l3 of the arms 5 respectively will engage and slide upon the track and cam surfaces 23 and 23' of the slide. Thus as the slide is moved upwardly in Figure 1 the fastening devices 3 on member I- will rotate in a clockwise direction while the devices 3 on the support 2 will rotate in a counter clockwise direction to interlock with each other in staggered series relation. the lugs 9 and 9' entering the respective notches I0 and III of the respective adjacent fastening members. As these members are rotated the teeth I 2 ride up along the cam surfaces 24' while the teeth l3 ride down the reversed cam surfaces 23', thus imparting positive rotative moeerie tion shown in the upper part of Figure 9. This tion to the devices 3 without the danger 'of binding.

Conversely, as the slide I4 is moved downwardly in Figure 1 the action and direction of rotation of the members 3 will be reversed to disengage the previously interlocked members 3.

It will be noted that when'the fastening devices 3 of the opposed series are disengaged as illustrated in the upper portion of Figure 1, the lugs 9 and 9' of adjacent devices in each of the series will be engaged in the respective notches H and II, whereby to lock the fastening devices of each series in the released position shown.

.In Figure 6 I haveillustrated a locking key formed with an intermediate section 25 insertible in the aligned slots 26 of the slide sections l4 and H, for clamping the same together, and a pair of binding

members

21 and 28 which outwardly engage the respective slide sections to bind them together. The member 28 is provided with an elongated slot 29 for receiving a finger tab or grip 30 by which the slide is operated. Other suitable means may be provided if desired to secure the slide sections together.

In Figures 9 to 13, inclusive, I have illustrated a modified form of the invention which in principle is similar to the form shown in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive.

However, in the modified form I have shown a type of fastening device or unit in which it is unnecessary to provide the notches lO-Ill' and ll-| I in order to lock the units of one series out of engagement with the units of the other series.

As shown in detail in Figure 11, the modified fastening device or unit 3| comprises a U-shaped member having a head portion 32 and a pair of substantially parallel arms 33 and 34 having aligned openings 35 by which the units are pivotally or rotatably supported on pins 36 in the supporting members I and 2. The arm 33 is formed at its free end with a laterally extending toothed projection 31, while the free end of the arm 34 is of concave formation as shown at 38.

Each of the units 3| is pivotally or rotatably secured to the respective lugs 39 by means of the pins 36 carried by the supports l and 2.

In this modified form of the invention the slide 4! is formed with oppositely disposed spaced

abutments

42 and 43 lying in substantially parallel planes on each side and internally of the slide. As in the form previously described the slide envelopes or telescopes the fastening units as it is moved along the supporting members I and 2. During an upward movement of the slide to interlock the respective opposed units as in Figure 9, the abutments 42 of one side of the slide will engage the toothed projections 31 of the units of each series to rotate toward each other in interlocking engagement while the ends 38 of the arms 34 will enter the clearance at 44. As the units assume an interlocking position the outwardly projecting lugs 4545' extending from the convex head 32 of the adjacent units of both series will overlie and interlock with the adjacent lugs of the adjacent units, respectively.

When the slide is moved downwardly as in Figure 9 the abutments 43 will engage the arms 34 progressively along one edge to rotate the respective units of the series away from each other and out of interlocking engagement as shown in Figures 9 and 12.

It will be noted that the adjacent units 3| of each series are nested and locked in the posi- Ill locking action is possible by virtue of the fact that the curvature of the convex heads 32 is formed about a radius equivalent to that of the curvature of the concave end 38 of the arms 34. Thus in approaching the nested position the convex surface of each unit head will slide into the concave portion of the arm 34. In this manner the units of each series may be locked out of interlocking position with the units of the other series.

The supporting members I and 2 illustrated in the drawings may be secured to the objects to be brought together by rivets, welding, stitching or the like. In the illustration I have shown openings 40 along the outer edges of the supports for receiving rivets or other securing means for this purpose. In Figure 3 the fastening devices 3 are rotatably carried in loops formed in a fabricated object 2|, thus eliminating a separate supporting strip.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a slide fastener, a pair of rigid supporting members, a series of interlocking fasteners rotatably mounted along adjacent sides of the respective supports, movable means for rotating the fasteners of one series progressively into and out of interlocking engagement with the fasteners of the other series, the adjacent fasteners of each series having cooperating engageable portions for retaining the adjacent fasteners of each respective series in alignment with each other when disengaged from the respective fasteners of the other series.

2. A slide fastener comprising a pair of spaced parallel supports, a plurality of interlocking fastening devices pivotally carried along the adjacent edges of each support and adapted to be swung into interlocking engagement, and a slide movable along said fastening devices, said slide having a pair of oppositely disposed cam surfaces along opposite sides thereof each of said devices having projections engageable with the respective cam surfaces of the slide whereby upon movement of the slide in one direction said devices may be interlocked progressively and upon movement of the slide in an opposite direction said de vices may be disengaged progressively and cooperating means on the respective devices carried by each support for maintaining said respective devices on each support in engagement with each other when said slide is moved in said opposite direction.

3. In a slide fastener, a pair of supporting members. a series of interlocking devices pivotally carried by each of said supports, means movable along the supports for progressively rotating the devices of each support into or out of interlocking engagement with each other, and cooperating means on the adjacent devices of each series for maintaining the said devices of one series out of engagement with the devices of the other series when the devices of both series are not in interlocking engagement with each other.

4. In a slide fastener, a pair of substantially parallel rigid supporting members, a plurality of interlocking members pivotally carried by each supporting member, and a slide movable along the support and said members to progressively rotate said members into or out of interlocking engagement with each other, each of said pivoted members being of substantially U-shape and having rearwardiy extending arms overlying both sides of said supports, said arms and said slide being formed with cooperating engageable portions for rotating said interlocking members.

5. In a slide fastener, a pair of supporting members, a series of interlocking devices pivotally carried by each of said supports, means movable along the supports for progressively rotating the devices of each support into or out of interlocking engagement with each other, said movable means comprising a slide having channels therein along opposite sides thereot for receiving the respective series of interlocking devices, the walls of each of said channels being formed to provide a recess intermediate the ends of said channel for rotatably receiving a projecting portion of each device of a respective series as said means is moved therealong, and projecting portions on said devices, engageable with a wall or said recess to impart a rotative movement to the devices upon 10 their movement along said channel.

SAMUEL HARRY NORTON.