US3694868A

US3694868A - Slide fastener stringer

Info

Publication number: US3694868A
Application number: US4708A
Authority: US
Inventors: Siegfried W Spindler
Original assignee: KARL F NAGELE FEINMASCHINENBAU
Current assignee: KARL F NAGELE FEINMASCHINENBAU
Priority date: 1969-01-23
Filing date: 1970-01-21
Publication date: 1972-10-03
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-03
Also published as: IE34327B1; IE34327L; BE744797A; DE1903339B1; FR2028954A1; NL7000769A; CH509052A

Abstract

The interlocking elements of a slide fastener stringer consisting of consecutive sections of a plastic wire have elongated leg portions parallel to each other, transverse to the sequence of elements, and linked by connecting portions common to two adjacent elements. The fastener elements are secured to a carrier tape by two rows of thread loops offset from the connecting portions in opposite directions longitudinally of the leg portions.

Description

L United States Patent H 1 3,694,868 Spindler 1 1 Oct. 3, 1972 [54] SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER 3,249,976 5/1966 Burbank ..24/205. 16 C Inventor: w Spindler, Munich 3,290,747 12/1966 Blll'bdl'lk l6 C many 3,412,438 11/1968 Sim ..24/205.16 C 3,484,906 12/1969 Yoshida..; ..24/205.13 C [73] Assigneez Karl F. Nagele Feinmaschinenbau,

Stuttgart-Hohenheim, Germany FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] Filed: Jan. 21, 1970 680,296 2/1964 Canada ..24/205.13 C

[21] Appl' 4708 Primary Examiner-*Bernard A. Gclak Attorney-Kelman and Herman [30] Foreign Application Priority Data .Ian. 23, 1969 Germany P 19 03 339.7 1571 ABSTRACT The interlocking elements of a slide fastener stringer CL-24/205-1 24/205153 C, 24/205-16 C consisting of consecutive sections of a plastic wire [51] ll!!- CLW; ..A44b 19/10,A44b 19/34 have elongated leg portions parallel to each other, [58] held of Search'24/205'16 20513 205 C transverse to the sequence of elements, and linked by connecting portions common to two adjacent ele- [56] References cued ments. The fastener elements are secured to a carrier UNTTED STATES PATENTS tape by two rows of thread loops offset from the connecting portions in opposite directions longitudihally 3,015,868 1/1962 Ruhrmann ..24/205.13 C v of the leg ponions 3,189,964 6/1965 Galonska ..-...24/205.16 C 3,199,162 8/ 1965 Sohr ..24/205.16 C 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHBIB I912 SHEET 2 0F 3 Fig.4

INVENTORI WW u d M J PATENTEI] N 3 I97? SHEET 3 BF 3 AGE/V75 SLIDE FASTENER STRINGER This invention relates to slide fasteners, and particularly to a slide fastener stringer essentially consisting of a carrier member such as a tape, a sequence of interlocking fastener elements constituted by respective sections of a suitably shaped plastic wire, and fastening means securing the elements to the carrier member. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with the fastening means and with the configuration of the elements which makes the fastening means effective.

All continuous plastic slide fastener elements in present commercial use are derived from two basic shapes, a helix and a folded meander. The basic shapes are deformed in each element to provide a locking head and two leg portions connected by the head, the head and leg portions being preferably arranged in a common plane approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the sequence of elements extends. Connecting portions of the plastic wire extend in that direction to connect leg portions of two adjacent elements.

Provisions should be made for preventing two engaged stringers from moving in a direction toward each other until the locking heads are disengaged and slide along the leg portions of the other stringer. Provisions should also be made for securing each element on the associated carrier member against movement away from the other stringer which might result in only partial engagement of the fastener elements of the two stringers during pull-up. The known slide fasteners of the continuous, plastic-wire type are either complex in their structure and correspondingly difficult to manufacture, or they do not meet the aforementioned two requirements for securing the proper locking engagement of their locking heads.

The primary object of the instant invention is the provision of a very simple slide fastener stringer in which the relative movement of the engaged locking heads is limited to any desired minimal range, and in which the elements cannot move relative to the associated carrier tapes.

Another object is the provision of a slide fastener stringer which does not require a cord for fixedly securing the interlocking elements in the desired location and position on the carrier tape.

With these objects and others in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, the invention provides a slide fastener stringer of the afore-described type in which the several interlocking elements are secured to the carrier member by two rows of thread loops extending in the direction of the element sequence. The loops are locked in respective positions relative to the carrier member and the leg portions of the interlocking elements in which the loops engage the leg portions to secure the same to the carrier member, and the two rows of loops are offset from the connecting portions of the elements in opposite directions longitudinally of the leg portions, thereby preventing or limiting movement of each element on the carrier member longitudinally of its leg portions.

Other features, additional objects, and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will readily become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when considered in connection with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sequence of fastener elements for a stringer of the invention in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 illustrates other fastener elements of the invention in a view corresponding to that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sequence of elements closely similar to those seen in FIG. 1 in bottom plan view;

FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3 in top plan view;

FIG. 5 shows the device of FIG. 3 in section on the line V-V; and

FIG. 6 shows one half of a slide fastener chain of the invention embodying the elements of FIG. 1 or FIG. 4 in fragmentary, perspective top view.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and initially to FIG. 1, there is seen a length of nylon wire 1 of basically circular cross section bent in such a manner that its consecutive longitudinal sections constitute a sequence of identical interlocking fastener elements, only three elements of the sequence being illustrated, but the sequence normally being elongated. The longitudinal spacing of the elements and other dimensional relationships have been exaggerated in FIG. 1 as well as in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawing for the convenience of pictorial representation.

Each fastener element has three

leg portions

3a, 3b, 30 which are elongated parts of the wire 1 extending practically in a common plane perpendicular to the length of the element sequence and are parallel to each other. The bight portion 6 which connects the

leg portions

3a and 3c into an approximate U-shape is flattened and thereby laterally enlarged to form a locking head 5. An otherwise undistorted bight portion 7 of the wire 1 connects the

leg portions

3b and 3c. The two

leg portions

3a, 3b are approximately aligned in a longitudinal direction and are each approximately half as long as the leg portion 30 which connects the two bight portions 6, 7.

Each connecting portion 2a integrally connects the leg portion 3a of one interlocking element to the leg portion 3b of an adjacent element. Two connecting portions 2a are thus associated with each element and common to a pair of adjacent elements. The connecting portions 2a are elongated approximately longitudinally of the sequence of elements.

The

leg portions

3a, 3b are joined to the associated connecting portion 2a by respective bends 8, and extend from the associated bends in opposite directions in the fastener partly illustrated in FIG. 1 whose elements are of the modified helix type.

The interlocking elements of the stringer partly shown in FIG. 2 are of the folded meander type. The connecting portion 22b connects the two leg portions 23a of two adjacent elements which are associated with the locking heads, and the leg portions 23a therefore extend from the connecting portion 22b in a common direction. The next connecting portion 220 connects two leg portions 23b which extend from the connecting portion 220 in a direction opposite to that of the leg portions 23a.

In the modified interlocking elements shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the

leg portions

33a, 33b, 33c and the

bight portions

36,37 including the head 35 therebetween do not differ significantly from the corresponding portions shown in FIG. 1. The connecting portions 32d each extend between a leg portion 33a and a leg portion 33b as described with reference to FIG. 1. They are joined to the leg portions in a bend 38 whose concave face is recessed for receiving and holding a sewing thread as will presently be described with reference to FIG. 6. The convex faces of the two bends 38 in each element abuttingly engage each other.

FIG. 6 shows as much of a slide fastener stringer of the invention as is needed for an understanding of the invention. The sequence of fastener elements formed from a round plastic wire 1 in the stringer has been distorted as discussed above.

The elements are of the type shown in FIG. 1. Their connecting portions 2a are in contact with the top face of a carrier tape 12, and the elements are secured to the tape by a seam 10 of double-needle lock stitches. The two

needle threads

10a, 10b and the locking underthread 10c of the seam 10 are shown loosened for greater clarity. The thread loops formed in a row by the needle thread 10a pass through the tape 12 and engage the legs of each element between the connecting portions 2a and the undistorted bight portions 7. The row of thread loops formed by the needle thread 1012 engage the legs of each element between the connecting portion 2a and the locking head. The underthread 10c holds the loops of the

needle threads

10a, 10b in respective positions relative to the carrier tape 12 and the leg portions of the several interlocking elements in which the loops firmly engage the leg portions to secure the elements to the tape when the threads are tightened to form knots 15. The two rows of knots formed by the tightened threads are offset from the connecting portions 2a in opposite directions longitudinally of the leg portions of the fastener elements.

The two rows of thread loops and knots confine the connecting portions 2a therebetween, and limit or prevent relative movement of each fastener element and the associated tape 12. As is also evident from FIG. 6, the identical cooperating other stringer, not shown, of the ultimately assembled fastener chain can move toward the illustrated stringer, or to the right, as viewed in FIG. 6, only until the locking heads on the other stringer are stopped by the nearer row of knots 15. identical,

In actual practice, the sewing threads employed are thick enough almost to fill the space on the leg portions between the connecting portions 2a and the locking heads on the other stringer elements 14, thereby limiting further movement of the latter toward the right to a minimum. Because of the relative dimensions of the elements and of the sewing threads, the connecting portions 20 must be approximately equidistant from the two bight portions 6, 7 to provide adequate anchorage for the needle thread 10a between the connecting portion 2a and the bight portion 7.

When the underthread 100 is tightened, as is normal in sewing machine operation, but not seen in FIG. 6, the fastener elements are contracted into the shape better seen in the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 so that adjacent connecting elements 2a abuttingly engage each other by their bends 8 (see FIG. 1), and the sewing threads are cradled in the concave bend faces.

The

threads

10a, 10b, 100 may be used for securing the meander-type elements shown in FIG. 2 to the tape 12 without significant changes in the sewing operation. Substantially the same results are achieved.

It will be appreciated that two rows of thread loops at opposite sides of the row of connecting portions 2a may be set up by sewing methods other than those associated with a two-needle lock-stitch machine, and that the two rows of stitches may be held in the desired position relative to each other and to the fastener elements by locking means other than the illustrated underthread 100. The fabric of the tape 12 contributes to the positioning of the needle thread loops in the illustrated embodiment, and may provide sufficient anchorage in other sewing patterns.

The rows of thread loops firmly attach the fastener elements to the tape and prevent undesired linear or angular movement of the elements relative to the tape in any direction. The sections of the wire 1 which constitute the several sequential fastener elements are held in precisely spaced relationship by the thread loops and knots for matching engagement with the elements of another stringer. The bight portions 7 are free from threads. They engage the rails of a slider employed with the illustrated stringer, and prevent the slider from abrading the sewing threads. A cord is not needed for holding the fastener elements of the invention in a precisely determined position.

What is claimed is:

1. In a slide fastener stringer having a carrier member; a sequence of interlocking fastener elements, said sequence extending in a predetermined direction, said elements being constituted by respective sequential sections of a continuous plastic wire, each element having a plurality of substantially parallel leg portions elongated in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, and two connecting portions in common with two other elements respectively, each connecting portion extending in said predetermined direction and connecting respective leg portions of two adjacent elements; and fastening means engaging said leg portions and securing said elements to said carrier member, the improvement in the fastening means which comprises:

a. two rows of thread loops extending in said predetermined direction; and

b. locking means holding said loops in respective positions relative to said carrier member and said leg portions in which said loops engage said leg portions and secure the same to said carrier member, and said rows of loops are offset from said connecting portions in opposite directions longitudinally of said leg portions.

2. In a stringer as set forth in claim 1, each element having two bight portions spaced in said traverse direction and defining an approximate U-shape with two of said leg portions, said connecting portion being approximately equidistant from said bight portions.

3. In a stringer as set forth in claim 2, the connected leg portions of said two adjacent elements extending from said common connecting portion in opposite directions transverse to said predetermined direction.

4. In a stringer as set forth in claim 2, the connected leg portions of said two adjacent elements constituting a pair of connected leg portions and extending from said common connecting portion in a common direction transverse to said predetermined direction, consecutive pairs of said leg portions extending in opposite transverse directions.

5. in a stringer as set forth in claim 2, said connecting portions being elongated substantially in said predetermined direction.

6. In a stringer as set forth in claim 1, the two connecting portions of each of said elements abuttingly engaging each other.

7. In a stringer as set forth in claim 1, said thread loops abuttingly engaging said connecting portions.

Claims

1. In a slide fastener stringer having a carrier member; a sequence of interlocking fastener elements, said sequence extending in a predetermined direction, said elements being constituted by respective sequential sections of a continuous plastic wire, each element having a plurality of substantially parallel leg portions elongated in a direction transverse to said predetermined direction, and two connecting portions in common with two other elements respectively, each connecting portion extending in said predetermined direction and connecting respective leg portions of two adjacent elements; and fastening means engaging said leg portions and securing said elements to said carrier member, the improvement in the fastening means which comprises: a. two rows of thread loops extending in said predetermined direction; and b. locking means holding said loops in respective positions relative to said carrier member and said leg portions in which said loops engage said leg portions and secure the same to said carrier member, and said rows of loops are offset from said connecting portions in opposite directions longitudinally of said leg portions.