US2699588A

US2699588A - Automatic releasable slider

Info

Publication number: US2699588A
Application number: US363710A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred E Carlile
Original assignee: Talon Inc
Current assignee: Talon Inc
Priority date: 1953-06-24
Filing date: 1953-06-24
Publication date: 1955-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1972-01-18
Also published as: GB755056A; DE1054395B; BE529778A; CH326844A; FR66896E

Description

A. E. CARLLE AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Jan. 18, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 24, 1955 Jan.` 18, 1955 A. E. cARLrLE 2,699,588

AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Filed June 24, 1953 y 2 Sheets-Shee't/Z i E. 7 fi .5. 7 zz? *'20* 5 Mg@ gti 75.5

United States Patenti() M AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE SLIDER Alfred E. Carlile, Meadville, Pa., assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application `lune 24, 1953, Serial No. 363,710

9 Claims. (Cl. 24-205.14)

This invention relates to sliders for slide fasteners of the so-called releasable type having means incorporated therewith for permitting selective spacing of the slider wings relative to one another, and particularly, to an improvement in or modification of the invention described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 349,914, filed April 20, 1953.

The present invention consists in an improved construction of the slider shown in the above identified application so as to provide an automatic locking arrangement on the slider for locking the slider at any point along the fastener elements as well as a releasable arrangement for the wings of the slider so that the slider wings may be selectively spaced a predetermined spaced distance apart in order to facilitate the freeing of the sliders from clothing or other foreign materials when accidentally caught therein, which sometimes happens upon longitudinal movement of the slider along` the fastener elements to engage and disengage the same.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide an automatic lock slider for slide fasteners of the releasable type which is strong, rugged and compact in its construction, with the parts being so constructed and arranged that they can be conveniently fabricated and assembled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved releasable automatic lock slider and having means arranged therewith to permit the slider wings to be spaced a predetermined distance apart and, at the same time, having means to lock automatically and effectively the slider at any point along the fastener.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved releasable slider having a latch member arranged therewith which is actuated manually against the action of a biasing means to effect automatic spreading of the slider wings to a predetermined desired relative spacing so as to loosen the slider upon the fastener elements and having also a locking member pivotally attached thereto which is urged to its locked position by the latch member which engages therewith and the biasing means when the latch member is disposed in its normal position.

It is another object of this invention to provide a slider having a locking member arranged therewith for locking the slider against unintentional movement and manual means such as a latch member for permitting relative planar separation of the wings so as to define at least two positive spread positions or spacings, which positions or spacings are assumed automatically upon manual operation of the aforesaid latch member and which latch member is automatically returned to its normal position together with said wings by a biasing means which also functions to urge the locking member to its locked position.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a slider having a locking member arranged therewith, and a latch member for permitting the slider wings to be spaced apart in at least two predetermined selected positions with biasing means arranged with the latch member tending to urge and maintain the latch member in its normal position and to urge the locking member toward its locked position with a pull member attached to the locking member for actuating the same when the slider is manipulated to open and close the fastener and to actuate the latch member to permit the wings to be 2,699,588 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 spaced apart when disposed in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to the slider wings.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent in the course of the following specification, and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown for the purpose of illustration, an embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a slide fastener having the improved slider of my invention incorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fastener as shown in 7, partly in section and partly broken away to facilitate illustration, 4showing the locking member in its locked position;

Fig. 3 is a side view similar to Fig. 2 showing the locking member in its unlocked position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side view, partly broken away, of the improved slider of the present invention showing the slider wings and parts in their normal operating positions;

Fig. 6 is a side View, similar to Fig. 5, showing the slider parts in position to effect spreading of the wings to a predetermined spaced position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the slider body with both latch and locking members removed therefrom;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the latch member; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking member.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved slider of my invention is shown incorporated with a conventional type slide fastener which consists of a pair of Stringer tapes 50 having a series of spaced-apart interlocking fastener elements 51 arranged along their opposed edges with the slider arranged thereon for longitudinal movement therealong for engaging and disengaging the fastener elements in a well-known manner.

The slider, in accordance with the present invention, consists generally of overlying spaced-apart upper and lower wings 2 and 3, respectively, having inwardly extending guide flange portions 4 along their marginal edges and connected at one end thereof by a neck portion 5 so as to provide substantially a Y-shaped channel between the wings into and through which the fastener elements 51 of the slide fastener pass when the slider is moved therealong for engaging and disengaging the same.

The connecting neck portion 5 comprises an inwardly extending stud-like portion 6 arranged integrally with and centrally of the upper or top wing 2 at the upper end thereof. At the upper end of the opposed or lower Wing 3, there is arranged integrally therewith and centrally thereof, a larger inwardly extending portion 7 having a socket or recess 8 therein conforming substantially to the stud-like portion 6 of the wing 2 and in which it is telescopically disposed for a purpose hereinafter to be described. Both the stud-like portion 6 and the socket 8 with which it co-operates are preferably polygonal-shaped so as to provide a key-like arrangement for preventing rotative movement of the two wings Z and 3 relative to one another.

In the socket portion 7 of the wing 3, there is arranged in a recess 9 therein, a movable latch member 10 having its inner end pivotally attached to the lower wing 3, as at 12. This latch member 10 extends up through an aperture 13 in the upper wing 2 and on the extreme outer end thereof there is arranged a transversely extending enlarged head portion 14 which is disposed beyond the outer surface of the upper wing 2.

This enlarged head portion 14 preferably has side portions extending transversely to either side of the aperture 13 on the outer side of the wing 2. On the lower side of each of these side portions there is arranged a cam-like portion 15 which co-operates with a pair of recesses or

grooves

16 and 17 arranged in side-by-side relation in the upper surface of the wing 2 to either side of the grooves 16 are shallower than, the outer grooves 17. The inner side of the head portion 14 has preferably an inclined. r beveled. cam, surfaseas at 18.l

In a yslot 19 arranged continuously around the outer edges and bottoml of the latch` member 10,v there is arranged ak biasingy member in theA form of a substantially lll-shaped springmember 2.0` having its inner end staked therein, as at 21, as more clearly shown in Figs. and 6. The opposite end ofrthisspring member 20bearsagainst the inner rear wall off the aperture 13` inthe wing 2, as at 22.

On the outer side of the upper wing 2, centrally there of, andat a spacedydistance from the aperture 13 therein, there is arrangedA a lug portionZS'to which Vthere is pivotally attached, as at 26, an elongated cap-like locking member 27, whiclrisk Vshown in detail in Fig. 9. This locking member has a top wall side, walls 28 and a rear and front,V walls 29'- and 30, respectively. vThere is also provided a rearwardly extending beveled or tapered portion 31 which normally rests on and cooperates with the inclined or beveled surface 1'8'of the latchmember 10 for av purpose hereinafter to be described. There is integrally arranged with one of the side walls 28 of the locking member 27 forwardly thereof, a locking prong portion 32 which extends into and through an aperture 33 in the lower end of the slider and into the channel of the slider for engagement with andV between the fastener elements to lock the slider in a well known manner. The forward wall 30 of this locking member 27 terminates in an inturned portion 34 which is adapted to engage a shoulder 35 arranged on a lug 36 which is positioned adjacent the lower end` of the wing'v 2 for limiting the outward movement ofthe locking member when the slider is manipulated to open and close the fastener, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3.

There is provided a pull member 37 having a trunnion portion 38 which is disposed in the space between the lugs'25- and 36 and under the locking member 27 and extends out through openings 39 in the side walls28 thereofn so as to be pivotally attached tothe slider body. At a spaced distance from this trunnion portion 38 in the pull' member 37, there is arrangedtherein preferably a rectangular-shaped recess 40,l so as to provide an inner camming wall portion 41 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

It will be understood that when the wings 2 andl 3 are intheir normal spaced-apart operating positions that` the cam portionsvlS ofthe enlarged head portion 14 of the latch member are seated in the shallow or inner grooves 16 on the outersurface of the wing 2, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and-5 ofthe drawings. In such position, it will be seen thatthe rearwardly extending'tapered or beveled portion 31 of the locking member 27 rests, as at 45, on the inclined or beveled portion' 18 of the enlargedfhead portion 14.0f the latch member 10. Inl other words, this beveled portion l8-of the latch member extends inunder the rear wall 29v of the locking member 27 and engages with the rearwardly extending-tapered portion 31 thereof.

When the latch member ism itsnormalposition, it willk be understood that it is urged'to and maintained insuch position by the spring member and in turn the lockingmember 27, due to its engagement with the latch .member, isurged toward its locked position with the locking prong 32 thereof projecting into the channel of the slider into engagement with the fastener elements 51 therein so as to lock the slider against unintentional movement, as more clearly shown .in Figs. ,2 and 4 of the drawings.

Having described the construction ofV my improved slider, it functions in the .following manner:

When the slider is manipulated to open and close the fastener by means vof, the pull member 37 it will be seen that the locking member 27 is moved about itsV pivotalv connection 26 whereby the locking projection 32, on the opposite Vend is moved out of the sliderchannel and out of engagement with the fastener elements 51 therein so as` to permit the slider to move freelyv alongthe fastenerelements, as clearly shown. in Fig. 3. In such pivotal movement of the locking member, it willbe seen that the inclined rearwardly extending` portion. 31 thereof which bears against the inclined cam surfaceA 18V ofthe latch member andmoves the same slightly about the pivotal connection 1,2 againstthe actionof the spring member 20. Whenlthe pullmember 37 is ,relea,se d, it will be understcodthat the locking member 27 is moved automatically about the pivotal connection 26 due to the action of the spring member 20 and the latch member 10 so as to again position the locking projection 32 in the slider channel and in engagement with the fastener elements 51 therein.

When it is desired to release the slider wings, that is, spread the same in case any material or other foreign objects are caught between the wings and the fastener elements, the slider parts function in the following manner.

It will be assumedthat thewings- 2- and 3 are lin their normal spaced-apart operating positions with the cam portions 15 of the enlarged head portion 14 of the latch member 10 positioned' andV seated inthe shallow or inner grooves 16. on the outer surface of theA wing 2as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5 of the drawings, so as to prevent normally the wings fromI moving apart. To release the wings, the pull member 37 is moved to its uppermost position about its pivotal connection with the lug 13 so that the inner edge, of the wall portion 41 formed by the recess 40 in the pull member rests on the inclined' or beveled surface 1,8 of the enlargedheadv portion 14` of the latch member 10. The pull member is then moved'further toward parallelism with the slider wings, as shown in Fig.- 6, andv in so doing, the latch member 10is moved about its pivotal connection 12A dueto the camming action of the wall portion 41 on the inclined or beveled surface 18V of the enlarged' head portion 14. In such movement it will be seen that the enlarged head portion 14'y willl be moved upwardly with the cam-like portion 15 carried thereby positioned and seated in the other grooves 17 so as to permit the slider wings 2 and 3 tomove a slight distance apart, as shown in Fig; 6 of the drawings. Also, in such movement it will1be: seenY that4 thelatch member 10 is moved againstthe action` of the spring member 20. The caught material or other foreignA Objectis then removedfromv between the wings. Upon such removal the wings will be movedautomatically to theirnormal spaced relation due to the action .of this spring-member 20. That is, the latchA memberVA 1-0 will bemovedaboutitspivotal connec'tion` at 1-2,l so as'toagain position the Vcam-like portions 15v ofthe enlarged heady portion 14 -in the innery grooves 16,' therebyforcingtogether and positioning'the wingsv in theirl normal spacedVV relation, as more clearly shown in Figs. l, 2 and 5, without the necessity of actuating the latch member manually.-

It will be understood that the respective depths ofthe grooves16 and 17 are such that the wings are permitted to move apart only afew thousandths of an inch and not enough to permit -the slider to beremoved or displaced from the fastener chain. In-other words, the wings are permitted to be moved apart-only sufficiently to free the caught material andV if the wings are not fully closed whentheslider isV free the slider willstill function toopen and closeA the fastener without danger of the fastener elements opening up behindrthe slider.

As a-result of` my invention, it will be seen that there is provided anew and'novel slider. havingia latch member forfreleasing the-wings. anda locking member with a common biasing means. which automatically and constantly urges andmantains the latch memberin position so as to position the wings in their proper distance apart and normally urges the locking member to itslockedposition. lt-will also be seen that the slider cannot becomeaccidentally displaced'from the'fastener chain in that theV movement of. thewings-relative to one anotherv isV limited to a predetermined distance and that the slider will function to close the fastener, not only when the wings are in their normal spaced relation butalso when the wings are released or slightly spread thereby'eliminating any dangerv said wings in a direction'substantially normal thereto com.

prisingfan inwardly, extending stud-like portion carried by 011e OfISaidewiugSnd afsocketfportion-carried-.bythe other of said wings with which stud-like portion engages, and a, movable latch member positioned in openings in said wings adjacent said stud-like and socket portions, said latch member disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to said wings and having means carried thereby which cooperates with means carried by said wings for maintaining the same normally in spaced parallel operating relation but permitting them to move apart when said latch member is actuated so as to assume another parallel position having a predetermined space therebetween, said latch member having a free end portion extending upwardly beyond the outer surface of one of said wings, biasing means arranged with the said latch member for urging and maintaining said latch member in position so that said wings are in their proper normal operating position, said last-mentioned wing having a locking prong receiving aperture communicating with said channel, a lug projecting outwardly from said last-mentioned wing, a locking member pivotally connected adjacent one end to said lug and having a locking prong extensible through said aperture into and out of said channel upon pivotal movement of said locking member, said locking member having a portion extending beyond said lug to a point adjacent the free end portion of said latch member and engageable therewith, said latch member together with said biasing means acting on the extending portion of said latch member for normally urging the same toward its locked position wherein said locking prong is projected into said channel.

2. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim l, including a pull member operatively connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member to unlocked position against the force exerted by said biasing means.

3. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 2, including means carried by said pull member co-operating with the free portion of said latch member for actuating said latch member when said pull member is disposed in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to said slider wings whereby the wings will be permitted to move apart from one another to said second-mentioned predetermined spaced operating position.

4. A slider for slide fasteners, as dened in claim l, including an inclined cam surface arranged on the free end portion of said latch member which is disposed oppo site the extending portion of said locking member and which is engageable therewith.

5. A slider for slide fasteners, as dened in claim 3, including an inclined cam surface arranged on the free end portion of said latch member which is disposed oppo site the extending portion of said locking member and which is engageable therewith, said means carried by said pull member adapted to engage and cooperate with said cam surface to actuate said latch member when said pull member is disposed in one of its extreme positions substantially parallel to said slider wings.

6. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprising overlying spaced wings, means detachably connecting said wings together at one end thereof, said connecting means including an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wings which co-operates with and engages a corresponding inwardly extending portion carried by the other of said wings so as to provide substan tially a Y-shaped channel between said wings, a movable latch member pivotally attached to one of said wings adjacent said interengaging portions, said latch member arranged in a recess in one of said wings and extending up through a recess in the other of said wings having its free end disposed above the surface of Said last-mentioned wing, said free end of said latch member having means carried thereby co-operating with the outer surface of said last-mentioned wing for maintaining said wings in their proper spaced operating relation and for permitting said wings to be moved apart to another predetermined spaced position, biasing means arranged with said latch member for urging and maintaining said latch member in position so that said wings are in their proper spaced normal operating position, said last-mentioned wing having a locking prong receiving aperture communicating with said channel, a lug projecting outwardly from said last-men tioned wing, a locking member pivotally connected adjacent one end to said lug and having a locking prong extensible through said aperture into and out of said channel upon pivotal movement of said locking member, said locking member having a portion extending beyond said lng to a point adjacent the free end of said latch member and engageable therewith, said latch member together with said biasing means acting on said extending portion of said locking member for normally urging thc same toward its locked position wherein said locking prong is projected into said channel.

7. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 6, including a pull member operatively connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member to unlocked position and for actuating said latch member against the action of said biasing means.

8. A slider for slide fasteners of the class described comprising overlying spaced-apart wings, and means detachably connecting said wings together at one end thereof and providing substantially parallel planar separation of said wings in a direction substantially normal thereto comprising an inwardly extending portion carried by one of said wings which co-operates with and engages a corresponding inwardly projecting portion carried by the other of said wings so as to provide substantially a tf-shaped channel between the wings, a movable latch member disposed in a recess in said lower wing and pivotally attached thereto on a transverse axis, said latch member extending up through an opening in said upper wing and terminating in an enlarged head portion positioned beyond the outer surface of said upper wing, said enlarged head. portion having a cam portion carried thereby which cooperates with at least a pair of spaced-apart grooves arranged in said outer surface, said grooves arranged transversely of said wing and being of different depths, said latch member adapted to be moved so as to position said cam portion in either of said grooves whereby the slider wings are spaced apart in either one of two selected positions, biasing means arranged with said latch member for urging and maintaining said latch member in position so that said wings are in their normal spaced operating position, and a locking member pivotally connected to said upper wing having a portion engageable with said enlarged head portion, and a locking projection carried by said locking member which projects into said channel through an aperture in said upper wing, said latch member through the action of said biasing means acting on said locking member for urging the locking projection into said channel.

9. A slider for slide fasteners, as defined in claim 8, including a pull member operatively connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member to unlocked position and for actuating said latch member against the action of said biasing means.

No references cited.