WO2024116224A1

WO2024116224A1 - Slide fastener

Info

Publication number: WO2024116224A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/043726
Authority: WO
Inventors: 良夫平; 勇治桐田; 恭一幸; 茂土田
Original assignee: Ykk株式会社
Priority date: 2022-11-28
Filing date: 2022-11-28
Publication date: 2024-06-06

Abstract

The present invention provides a slider of a slide fastener for reducing sliding resistance of a slider.　The slide fastener of the present invention comprises first sliders 3b-3e. The first slider comprises a connecting post 34 that connects the upper wing plate 32 and the lower wing plate 33 on an engagement direction C side, flanges 35 each provided along each of left and right edges of each of the upper wing plate and the lower wing plate, and an element passage 36. The element passage comprises: an engagement passage 361 through which left and right elements 5, 5a pass in an engaged state; an engagement start passage 362 which is wider in the left-right direction than the engagement passage on the engagement direction side with respect to the engagement passage and where the right and left elements start to engage while colliding with each other; and a pair of branch passages 363 branching to left and right sides of the connecting post on the engagement direction side with respect to the engagement start passage. At least one of the flanges comprises a protrusion 352 that protrudes into the engagement start passage to locally narrow a spacing formed to the left or right opposing flange and reduces frictional resistance between the elements during the start of the engagement.

Description

Slide fastener

The present invention relates to a slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes extending in the front-rear direction and facing each other in the left-right direction, a pair of element rows made up of a plurality of elements fixed along the facing side edges of the pair of tapes, and at least one slider for engaging and separating the pair of element rows, and in particular to the configuration of the slider.

As is well known, in a slide fastener, multiple elements engage and separate when the slider is moved. When engaging and separating, the elements collide with each other inside the slider, generating friction. This friction creates resistance when the slider is moved. Hereinafter, this resistance will be referred to as the sliding resistance of the slider.

The element called the teeth disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been improved to reduce the sliding resistance of the slider. More specifically, it is as follows. The slide fastener in Patent Document 1 is a pair of sliders attached to a pair of stringers extending forward and backward, with the opening and closing directions opposite to each other. The sliders are attached to the slide fastener assuming the normal opening and closing direction of the slide fastener with respect to the forward and backward direction in which the slide fastener extends, taking into consideration the sliding resistance of the sliders. In Patent Document 1, one slider is attached normally with respect to the forward and backward direction, and the other slider is attached in the opposite direction to the normal direction with respect to the forward and backward direction. The teeth disclosed in Patent Document 1 reduce (reduce) the sliding resistance of the slider attached in the opposite direction to the normal direction. Hereinafter, the normally attached slider is referred to as a normal opening slider because the way the slide fastener opens is normal, and the slider attached in the opposite direction is referred to as a reverse opening slider.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-22505

As mentioned above, the sliding resistance of the slider is caused by the frictional resistance between elements inside the slider. The technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 reduces the sliding resistance of the slider by improving the shape of the elements. However, it is thought that it is also possible to reduce the sliding resistance of the slider by improving not only the elements but also the shape of the slider.

In addition, the sliding resistance of the slider is not only generated in reverse-opening sliders, but also in forward-opening sliders. If the sliding resistance of the slider can be reduced, designers will be able to design slide fasteners more freely than before.

The present invention was created in consideration of the above situation, and its purpose is to provide a slider that reduces the sliding resistance of the slider.

The slide fastener of the present invention comprises a pair of tapes extending forward and backward and facing each other laterally, a pair of element rows composed of a plurality of elements fixed along the facing side edges of the pair of tapes, and at least one slider for engaging and separating the pair of element rows. The total number of sliders comprises at least one first slider. The first slider comprises upper and lower opposing blades, a connecting post connecting the upper and lower blades on the engaging direction side along which the first slider is moved when engaging the pair of element rows, flanges protruding from the upper and lower blades in a direction narrowing the gap formed between them and formed along the left and right edges of the upper and lower blades, and an element path through which the pair of element rows pass, the element path being formed between the left and right flanges and the upper and lower blades. The element path also includes an interlocking path through which the left and right elements pass in an interlocked state, an interlocking start path that is wider in the left-right direction than the interlocking path on the interlocking direction side of the interlocking path and where the left and right elements start interlocking as they collide, and a pair of branch paths that branch off to the left and right of the connecting pole on the interlocking direction side of the interlocking start path. The slide fastener of the present invention is based on the above.

The slide fastener of the first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that at least one flange has a protrusion that protrudes in a state that locally narrows the gap formed between the flange facing left or right in the engagement start path, thereby reducing the frictional resistance between the elements when engagement starts.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the first slider, it is preferable to do the following.
That is, at least two flanges, which are opposed to each other on the left and right, each have a protrusion.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the first slider, it is more preferable to do the following.
That is, all the flanges each have a protrusion.

An example of a specific configuration of the first slider is as follows.
In other words, the flange divides the element path into left and right sections and the outside, and the thickness formed between the inner surface facing the element path and the outer surface facing the outside is made the thickest at the position of the convex portion and is constant at least at the end of the meshing path on the meshing start path side.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the first slider, it is preferable to do the following.
At least one flange is provided with a recess on the meshing direction side of the protrusion, which recesses in a state that locally widens the gap formed between the flange facing left or right, thereby reducing the frictional resistance between the elements when meshing begins.

The second aspect of the slide fastener of the present invention is characterized in that at least one flange has a recess that is recessed in a state that locally widens the gap formed between the flange facing left or right in the engagement start path, thereby reducing the frictional resistance between the elements when engagement starts.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the first slider, it is preferable to do the following.
That is, at least two flanges, which are opposed to each other on the left and right sides, each have a recess.

In order to reduce the sliding resistance of the first slider, it is more preferable to do the following.
That is, all the flanges each have a recess.

An example of a specific configuration of the first slider is as follows.
The flange divides the element path into left and right sides and the outside, and the thickness formed between the inner surface facing the element path and the outer surface facing the outside is constant at least at the end of the meshing path on the meshing start path side, and is thinner at the recess than the end of the meshing path on the meshing start path side.

Although the shape of the elements of a slide fastener does not matter, when a forward-opening slider and a reverse-opening slider of the same configuration are attached to a pair of element rows, a difference in the sliding resistance of the sliders may occur, for example, the sliding resistance of the reverse-opening slider may be greater than that of the forward-opening slider. In such a case, it is effective to apply the slide fastener of the first or second aspect of the present invention in order to reduce the sliding resistance. An example of a slide fastener that causes a difference in sliding resistance is as follows.
That is, the slide fastener has elements with an asymmetrical shape in the front and rear directions.

The specific configuration of the element is not important as long as it has an asymmetric shape in the front and rear. Also, the slide fastener needs to have at least one slider. And when the slider uses an element with an asymmetric shape in the front and rear and has a pair of sliders, it is preferable to reduce the sliding resistance of the reverse-opening slider as follows.
That is, the slide fastener comprises a pair of sliders. The element comprises a fixed portion fixed to the tape, an interlocking main body portion extending from the fixed portion toward the opposite side of the tape, an interlocking protruding portion protruding from the front surface of the interlocking main body portion, and an interlocking recessed portion recessed in the rear surface of the interlocking main body portion. One of the pair of sliders is a second slider or a first slider different from the first slider, and is attached to the pair of element rows with its interlocking direction coinciding with the direction in which the interlocking protruding portion protrudes. The other of the pair of sliders is a first slider, and is attached to the pair of element rows with its interlocking direction being opposite to the direction in which the interlocking protruding portion protrudes.

In the slide fastener of the present invention, when the flange has a convex portion at the engagement start path, by moving the first slider in the engagement direction, when an element moving along the flange reaches the convex portion, the element moves toward the opposing element, making it easier for the elements to engage with each other compared to a slider without a convex portion, and reducing the sliding resistance of the first slider.

In addition, in the slide fastener of the present invention, when the flange has a recess in the meshing start path, by moving the first slider in the meshing direction, when an element moving along the flange reaches the recess, the element moves toward the recess and away from the opposing element, so that in addition to reducing contact between the elements at the position of the recess, when the element moves toward the meshing path side of the recess, it moves toward the opposing element, so that the elements mesh more easily than with a slider without a recess, and the sliding resistance of the first slider can be reduced.

1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a slide fastener according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the state of an element within a slider in the slide fastener of the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first slider of a slide fastener according to a first embodiment; A cross-sectional view showing the state of an element within a slider in a slide fastener of a second embodiment of the present invention. 13A to 13C are cross-sectional views showing sliders used in the slide fasteners according to the third to fifth embodiments of the present invention, in order.

As shown in FIG. 1, the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a pair of stringers 2 that extend forward and backward and face each other laterally, and a pair of sliders 3, 3 that can move forward and backward at the facing side edges of the pair of stringers 2 and open and close the pair of stringers 2. The pair of sliders 3 open and close the pair of stringers 2 in opposite directions. In this embodiment, the pair of sliders 3 have the same basic configuration, but have some different configurations. Hereinafter, when describing the pair of sliders 3 that are related to differences in configuration, one slider 3 will be referred to as the first slider 3b and the other slider 3 will be referred to as the second slider 3a. In other words, the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a have different configurations. Note that "facing side edges" refers to the right edge in the case of the left stringer 2, and the left edge in the case of the right stringer 2.

The directions are determined as follows when the slide fastener 1 is placed on a flat surface.
The "left-right direction" refers to the direction in which a pair of stringers 2 are arranged. The "left direction" refers to the left direction in Figures 1 and 2. The "right direction" refers to the right direction in Figures 1 and 2.
The "front-rear direction" refers to a direction that extends in a direction that intersects with the direction in which the pair of stringers 2 face each other in a plan view, and is a straight line direction in Figures 1 and 2, and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The "front direction" refers to the upward direction in Figures 1 and 2, and is denoted by the symbol F in Figure 2. The "rear direction" refers to the downward direction in Figures 1 and 2, and is denoted by the symbol B in Figure 2.
The "meshing direction" refers to the direction in which the slider 3 is moved when a pair of element rows 5L are meshed, which is the rear direction in the first slider 3b in Figures 1 and 2, and the front direction in the second slider 3a in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 2, the meshing direction of the second slider 3a is given the symbol C, and the meshing direction of the first slider 3b is given the symbol C1. Note that when explaining the basic configuration of the element rows 5L and the slider 3, the meshing direction of the slider 3 is represented by the symbol C used for the meshing direction of the second slider 3a.
The "separation direction" refers to the direction in which the slider 3 is moved when separating a pair of element rows 5L, and is the forward direction in the first slider 3b in Figures 1 and 2, and is the rearward direction in the second slider 3a in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 2, the separation direction of the second slider 3a is marked with S, and the separation direction of the first slider 3b is marked with S1. Note that the separation direction will be represented by the symbol S when explaining the basic configuration of the element rows 5L and the slider 3.
The "up-down direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The "upward direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (directions perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction) in Figures 1 and 2 that faces the front side. The "downward direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in Figures 1 and 2 that faces the back side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pair of stringers 2 includes a pair of tapes 4 extending in the front-rear direction and facing each other in the left-right direction, a pair of element rows 5L each composed of a plurality of elements 5 fixed along the facing side edges of the pair of tapes 4, an opening device 6 fixed to the rear end portions in the front-rear direction of the pair of tapes 4, and a pair of stoppers 7 separately fixed to the front end portions of the pair of tapes 4 on the side opposite the opening device 6. Note that the stoppers 7 may be provided instead of the opening device 6 at the rear end portions in the front-rear direction of the pair of tapes 4.

The tape 4 is a long strip from front to back, and its thickness direction is the up-down direction.

The pair of element rows 5L have a symmetrical shape, shifted in the front-rear direction by the amount of one element 5. In the left-right direction, the element 5 has a fixing portion 51 that is fixed to the tape 4 while sandwiching the tape 4 from both sides in the thickness direction, and an interlocking portion 52 that protrudes from the fixing portion 51 to the side opposite the tape 4 (hereinafter referred to as the "anti-tape side") and interlocks with another element 5. The side opposite the anti-tape side in the left-right direction is referred to as the "tape side".

2, the interlocking portion 52 has an asymmetric shape in the front-rear direction (the interlocking direction C and the separation direction S of the slider 3), and includes an interlocking main body portion 53 extending from the fixed portion 51 toward the opposite side of the tape, an interlocking protrusion portion 54 protruding from the front surface of the interlocking main body portion 53, and an interlocking recess portion 55 recessed in the rear surface of the interlocking main body portion 53. The interlocking protrusion portion 54 of an element 5 fits into the interlocking recess portion 55 of another element 5, and the interlocking recess portion 55 of an element 5 fits into the interlocking protrusion portion 54 of another element 5. In this embodiment, the slider 3 in which the direction in which the interlocking protrusion portion 54 protrudes (forward direction) coincides with the moving direction of the slider 3 when closing a pair of stringers 2 is the second slider 3a, which is also called the forward opening slider. The other slider 3 is the first slider 3b, which is also called the reverse opening slider. In other words, in this embodiment, the second slider 3a is attached to the pair of element rows 5L with its own meshing direction C coinciding with the direction in which the meshing protrusions 54 protrude, and the first slider 3b is attached to the pair of element rows 5L with its own meshing direction C1 opposite to the direction in which the meshing protrusions 54 protrude.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the slider 3 includes a slider body 30 that engages and separates a pair of element rows 5L, and a pull handle (not shown) that is connected to the slider body 30 and is used to move the slider body 30.

The slider body 30 includes an upper wing 32 and a lower wing 33 that face each other with a gap in the vertical direction, a connecting post 34 that connects the upper wing 32 and the lower wing 33 between the opposing wing plates in the meshing direction C and is sandwiched between a pair of element rows 5L, and a flange 35 that protrudes from the upper wing 32 and the lower wing 33 in a direction that narrows the gap formed between them and is formed along the left and right edges of the upper wing 32 and the lower wing 33. In this embodiment, the slider body 30 includes a pull tab attachment portion 31 that protrudes from the top surface of the upper wing 32. The pull tab attachment portion 31 and the upper wing 32 cooperate to form a through hole (not shown) that penetrates in the left and right direction, and one end of the pull tab is connected to the through hole.

The slider body 30 also has an internal space including an element passage 36 formed between the left and right flanges 35 and the upper and

lower blades

32 and 33, through which a pair of element rows 5L pass, and a pair of tape grooves 37 formed between the upper and lower opposing flanges 35 and opening to the left or right while communicating with the element passage 36. The pair of element rows 5L pass through the element passage 36, and the tape 4 on the corresponding side is passed through each tape groove 37.

The left and right outer sides of the element path 36 are divided by left and right flanges 35. The element path 36 is bifurcated left and right by the connecting pillar 34 and extends as a single line from the connecting pillar 34 in the separation direction S. More specifically, the element path 36 includes an interlocking path 361 through which the left and right elements 5 pass in an interlocked state in the portion on the separation direction S side, an interlocking start path 362 that is wider left and right than the interlocking path 361 on the interlocking direction C side of the interlocking path 361 and through which the left and right elements 5 start interlocking while colliding with each other when the slider 3 is moved in the interlocking direction C, and a pair of branch paths 363 that branch off to the left and right of the connecting pillar 34 on the interlocking direction C side (front side) of the interlocking start path 362.

The above is the basic configuration of the slider 3, and is a common configuration between the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a. The second slider 3a is a standard slider, and the first slider 3b is a special slider that reduces sliding resistance compared to the standard slider. In this embodiment, the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a are both vertically symmetrical with respect to the shape of the internal space of the slider body 30. Hereinafter, we will explain the flange 35, which is a different configuration between the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a, and the element path 36 based on the shape of the flange 35.

With regard to the second slider 3a, the flange 35 is a flange body 351 that extends along the left or right edge of the upper blade 32 or lower blade 33. The flange 35 has a constant thickness formed between the inner surface 355 and the outer surface 356, except for the end in the engagement direction C. The end of the flange 35 in the engagement direction C has a chamfered shape, in other words, a tapered shape that becomes thinner as it goes beyond the constant thickness. More details are as follows.

Regardless of whether it is the first slider 3b or the second slider 3a, the flange 35 divides the element passage 36 into left and right sections and the outside. The flange 35 has an inner surface 355 facing the element passage 36 and an outer surface 356 facing the outside. Incidentally, in Figure 2, the lower portion of the slider body 30 is shown including the flange 35.

With regard to the second slider 3a, the outer surfaces 356 of the pair of opposing flanges 35 are parallel in the front-to-rear direction at the portion corresponding to the meshing path 361, and the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362 gradually widens in the left-right direction toward the meshing direction C except at the ends of the separation direction S. More specifically, the outer surfaces 356 of the pair of opposing flanges 35 are concave in an arc shape at the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362 except at the ends of the meshing direction C. With regard to the first slider 3b as well, the outer surfaces 356 of the pair of opposing flanges 35 are the same as those of the second slider 3a.

With regard to the second slider 3a, the inner surfaces 355 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right are parallel in the front-rear direction in the portion corresponding to the meshing path 361, and the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362 is gradually wider in the left-right direction toward the meshing direction C, except at the end in the separation direction S. More specifically, the inner surfaces 355 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right are shaped to bulge in an arc more gently than the outer surfaces 356 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right of the second slider 3a, except at the end in the meshing direction C, in the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362. Note that the fact that the inner surfaces 355 of the flanges 35 are said to be bulging in an arc and the outer surfaces 356 of the flanges 35 are said to be recessed in an arc is due to differences in perspective, but they are curved in the same way.

With respect to the second slider 3a, the meshing path 361 is parallel to the front-rear direction and has a constant width from left to right. In the illustrated example, the width of the meshing path 361 is constant over the entire length in the direction in which the pair of element rows 5L pass (front-rear direction), but the end on the separation direction S side may have a shape that widens toward the separation direction S. Also, the meshing start path 362 widens on both the left and right sides toward the meshing direction C (widening of the width from left to right). Therefore, the boundary between the meshing path 361 and the meshing start path 362 is determined by the left and right width of the element path 36 (see FIG. 3). Also, the pair of branch paths 363 are portions located on the left and right of the connecting column 34. In the illustrated example, the flange 35 has a constant thickness formed between the inner surface 355 and the outer surface 356, except for the end in the meshing direction C.

With regard to the first slider 3b, the flange 35 has a flange body 351 extending along the left or right edge of the upper blade 32 or lower blade 33, and a convex portion 352 protruding from the inner surface 355 of the flange body 351, or a concave portion 353 recessed into the inner surface 355 of the flange body 351. Both the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 reduce the frictional resistance between the elements 5 when they start to mesh.

The protrusion 352 protrudes in a state that locally narrows the gap formed between the flange 35 facing to the left or right in the meshing start path 362 .
The recess 353 is recessed in such a manner that the gap formed between the flange 35 facing to the left or right in the meshing start path 362 is locally widened.
The term "local" refers to a specific portion only. Therefore, the projection 352 and the recess 353 are formed only in a portion of the meshing start path 362 of the flange 35, and are not formed over the entirety.
2 shows the lower portion of the first slider 3b, with the left flange 35 having a protrusion 352 and the right flange 35 having a recess 353. Since the first slider 3b is symmetrical from top to bottom, the left flange 35 also has a protrusion 352 and the right flange 35 has a recess 353 on the upper side of the first slider 3b.

With regard to the first slider 3b, the flange 35 has a constant thickness formed between the inner surface 355 and the outer surface 356, except for the end in the meshing direction C1 and the portions of the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353. In the illustrated example, the range in which the flange 35 has a constant thickness is the entire length on the separation direction S1 side of the convex portion 352, but it is desirable that the range in the element path 36, at least at the end of the meshing path 361 on the meshing start path 362 side, be equal to or greater than the length of the range corresponding to at least the convex portion 352. The end of the flange 35 in the meshing direction C1 has the same configuration as the second slider 3a. More details are as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3, the convex portion 352 is disposed in the meshing start path 362 with a gap on the meshing direction C1 side of the boundary with the meshing path 361. The concave portion 353 is disposed on the meshing direction C1 side of the convex portion 352 in the meshing start path 362. The concave portion 353 is also disposed on the separation direction S1 side of the tip of the flange 35 on the meshing start path 362 side. The convex portion 352 has an arc-like bulging shape, and the concave portion 353 has an arc-like recessed shape. The convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 are formed such that when the elements 5 mesh with each other, the fixing portions 51 of the two meshing elements 5 are simultaneously positioned at the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353.

With regard to the first slider 3b, the inner surfaces 355 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right are parallel in the front-rear direction in the portion corresponding to the meshing path 361, and the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362 is gradually wider in the left-right direction toward the meshing direction C1, except for the end in the separation direction S1, the convex portion 352, and the concave portion 353. More specifically, the inner surfaces 355 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right are arc-shaped in the portion corresponding to the meshing start path 362, except for the end in the separation direction S1, the convex portion 352, and the concave portion 353, and are shaped to bulge in an arc more gently than the outer surfaces 356 of the pair of flanges 35 facing left and right of the second slider 3a. Therefore, the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 protrude or recess with respect to the imaginary inner surface 355 of the flange 35 that bulges in an arc shape.

The opening member 6 and the stopper 7 determine the range of movement of the pair of sliders 3 in the front-rear direction.
As shown in Fig. 1, the opening device 6 is composed of a pair of

opening device pieces

61, 62 that are separately fixed adjacent to the rear side of the element row 5L at the rear end of the pair of tapes 4 in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, one opening device piece 61 is an insert pin 61 fixed to the opposing side edge of one tape 4, and the other opening device piece 62 is a box pin 62 fixed to the opposing side edge of the other tape 4. The box pin 62 is configured to collide with the first slider 3b so that the first slider 3b does not come off. On the other hand, when the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a are arranged at the rear end of one element row 5L adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, the insert pin 61 can be inserted and removed on either the left or right side of the element path 36 of the second slider 3a and the first slider 3b.
The stopper 7 is configured to collide with the second slider 3a so as to prevent it from slipping off.

In the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the left flange 35 of the first slider 3b has a convex portion 352 in the engagement start path 362. When the element 5 moving along the right flange 35 reaches the convex portion 352 by moving the first slider 3b in its own engagement direction C1, the element 5 moves toward the opposing element 5. This makes it easier for the elements 5 to engage with each other compared to a slider without the convex portion 352, and reduces the frictional resistance between the elements 5 when they start to engage, thereby reducing the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b.

In addition, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the right flange 35 of the first slider 3b has a recess 353 in the meshing start path 362. When the element 5 moving along the left flange 35 reaches the recess 353 by moving the first slider 3b in its own meshing direction C1, the element 5 moves toward the recess 353 so as to move away from the opposing element 5. This not only alleviates contact between the elements 5 at the position of the recess 353, but also moves closer to the opposing element 5 when the element 5 reaches the meshing path 361 side of the recess 353. This makes it easier for the elements 5 to mesh with each other compared to a slider without the recess 353, and reduces the frictional resistance between the elements 5 when meshing starts, thereby reducing the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b.

In addition, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 are both arc-shaped, so that when the element 5 reaches the concave portion 353 or the convex portion 352 by moving the first slider 3b in its own meshing direction C1, the element 5 moves smoothly along the arc to approach or move away from the opposing element 5, thereby reducing the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b.

In addition, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the first slider 3b has a recess 353 on the side of its own meshing direction C1 relative to the convex portion 352, so that the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b can be reduced compared to a slider having only the convex portion 352, and by moving the first slider 3b in its own meshing direction C1, when the element 5 located at the recess 353 reaches the meshing path 361 side of the recess 353, it moves toward the opposing element 5, so that the elements 5 mesh with each other more easily compared to a slider without the recess 353, and the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b can be reduced. In particular, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the positional relationship between the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 is such that when the elements 5 of a pair of element rows 5L are engaged, the fixing portions 51 of the two engaging elements 5 are simultaneously positioned in the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353. Therefore, compared to a slider in which the positional relationship between the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 is formed such that the fixing portions 51 of the two engaging elements 5 are positioned in the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 at different times, the elements 5 are more easily engaged with each other, and the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b can be reduced.

In addition, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the flange 35 of the first slider 3b has a constant thickness formed between the inner surface 355 facing the element path 36 and the outer surface 356 facing the outside at least at the end of the meshing path 361 on the meshing start path 362 side, so that the meshing of the elements 5 is maintained when the first slider 3b is moved in its own meshing direction C1. Moreover, since the thickness of the flange 35 is made the thickest at the position of the convex portion 352, the rigidity of the first slider 3b is improved, for example, even at the position of the convex portion 352, compared to a slider having a flange 35 of the same thickness as the end of the meshing path 361 on the meshing start path 362. In addition, the thickness of the flange 35 at the position of the recess 353 is thinner than at least the end of the meshing path 361 on the meshing start path 362 side. This weakens the rigidity of the first slider 3b compared to a slider with a flange 35 (flange 35 without recess 353) that has the same thickness as the end of the meshing path 361 at the position of the recess 353. However, since the element 5 is less likely to collide at the recess 353 compared to a slider with a flange 35 without recess 353, the reduction in rigidity of the first slider 3b can be minimized.

In addition, in the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, the element 5 has an asymmetric shape in the front and rear (in the engagement direction C and separation direction S), so even if the pair of sliders 3 (forward-opening slider and reverse-opening slider) have the same configuration, a difference occurs between the sliding resistance of one slider 3 and the sliding resistance of the other slider 3. When the forward-opening slider and reverse-opening slider have the same configuration, it is known that the reverse-opening slider has a larger sliding resistance than the forward-opening slider. The cause of this is presumed to be as follows. When the slider 3 is closed, the element 5 moves along the inner surface 355 of the engagement start path 362. When the slider 3 is closed, in the case of the reverse-opening slider, the engagement protrusion 54 of the element 5 enters the engagement path 361 of the reverse-opening slider before the engagement main body 53. On the other hand, when the slider 3 is closed, in the case of a forward-opening slider, the interlocking main body 53 of the element 5 will enter the interlocking path 361 of the forward-opening slider before the interlocking protrusion 54. In this case, the reverse-opening slider will enter the interlocking path 361 earlier than the forward-opening slider by the amount of the interlocking protrusion 54, making it easier for multiple elements 5 to approach each other in the interlocking start path 362, increasing the number of elements 5 in contact, and making stronger contact when the interlocking protrusion 54 of one element 5 passes over the edge of the interlocking recess 55 of the other element 5.

The slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment uses the first slider 3b with the recess 353 and the protrusion 352 for the reverse-opening slider, so the sliding resistance of the reverse-opening slider can be made smaller than, for example, when the second slider 3a is used for the reverse-opening slider. In addition, in the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, the element 5 has an asymmetric shape in front and behind the slider 3, so that, for example, in the case of a slide fastener using sliders 3 with the same configuration for the forward-opening slider and the reverse-opening slider, there is a difference in the sliding resistance between the forward-opening slider and the reverse-opening slider. However, the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment uses the second slider 3a without the recess 353 and the protrusion 352 for the forward-opening slider, and the first slider 3b with the recess 353 and the protrusion 352 for the reverse-opening slider, so the difference in sliding resistance is smaller than, for example, when the second slider 3a is used for both the forward-opening slider and the reverse-opening slider.

In addition, in the first embodiment of the slide fastener 1, the outer surfaces 356 of the flanges 35 of the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a, and more specifically the external appearances of the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a, are the same, so that the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b can be reduced while preventing the user from noticing the difference in configuration between the first slider 3b and the second slider 3a.

As shown in Fig. 4, the slide fastener 1a of the second embodiment of the present invention has an element 5a that is different from the element 5 in the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment. The element 5a has a symmetrical shape in the front-rear direction (the meshing direction C1 and the separation direction S1 of the first slider 3b). More details are as follows.
The element 5a is the same as the element 5 in the first embodiment in that it has a fixed portion 51 and an interlocking portion 52a that interlocks with another element 5a in the left-right direction. However, the interlocking portion 52a has a neck portion 56 that extends from the fixed portion 51 toward the opposite side of the tape and is narrowed in the front-rear direction, a head portion 57 that extends toward the opposite side of the tape from the neck portion 56 and bulges in the front-rear direction, a pair of shoulder portions 58 that extend from the fixed portion 51 toward the front and rear of the neck portion 56, and shoulder groove portions (not shown) formed in the head portion 57 to accommodate the shoulder portions 58. The shoulder groove portions are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the head portion 57.

In the second embodiment of the slide fastener 1a, the element 5a has a symmetrical shape in the front-rear direction, but even when a first slider 3b having a convex portion 352 and a concave portion 353 is used for such an element 5a, the sliding resistance of the first slider 3b can be reduced by the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353. Furthermore, since the element 5a has a symmetrical shape in the front-rear direction, even if the same slider is used for the forward-opening slider and the reverse-opening slider, the sliding resistance of the forward-opening slider and the reverse-opening slider is the same.

As shown in FIG. 5(A), the slide fastener of the third embodiment of the present invention differs from the first slider 3b in the slide fastener of the first embodiment in that a pair of flanges 35 facing the left and right of the first slider 3c each have a protrusion 352 in the engagement start path 362, and that the protrusions 352 are provided symmetrically on the left and right. Incidentally, in the third embodiment, the pair of flanges 35 facing the left and right on the upper side of the first slider 3c and the pair of flanges 35 facing the left and right on the lower side have protrusions 352 of the same size formed at the same positions in the front-rear and left-right directions. In other words, the first slider 3c is symmetrical up and down.

In the slide fastener of the third embodiment, all flanges 35 of the first slider 3c each have a convex portion 352, so that the elements 5 can be more easily interlocked with each other compared to a slider without the convex portion 352, regardless of the left element row 5L and the right element row 5L. Moreover, the flanges 35 facing the left and right of the first slider 3c have convex portions 352 symmetrically on the left and right, so that the sliding resistance applied to the first slider 3c is equal on the left and right, and the first slider 3c can be moved without any discomfort. In addition, the first slider 3c has convex portions 352 of the same size at the same positions in the front-rear and left-right directions on its upper and lower sides, so that the first slider 3c collides with the elements 5 in the same way on its upper and lower sides, and the first slider 3c can be moved without any discomfort.

As shown in FIG. 5(B), the slide fastener of the fourth embodiment of the present invention differs from the first slider 3b in the slide fastener of the first embodiment in that a pair of flanges 35 facing each other on the left and right of the first slider 3d each have a recess 353 in the engagement start path 362, and that the recesses 353 are provided symmetrically on the left and right. Incidentally, the first slider 3d in the fourth embodiment is also vertically symmetrical.

In the slide fastener of the fourth embodiment, all flanges 35 of the first slider 3d are provided with recesses 353, so that the elements 5 can be more easily interlocked with each other, regardless of the left element row 5L and the right element row 5L, compared to sliders without recesses 353. Moreover, the flanges 35 facing the left and right of the first slider 3d are provided with recesses 353 symmetrically, so that the sliding resistance applied to the first slider 3d is uniform on the left and right, and the first slider 3d can be moved without any discomfort. Furthermore, the first slider 3d is vertically symmetrical, and has recesses 353 of the same size at the same positions in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions on its upper and lower sides, so that the first slider 3d collides with the elements 5 on its upper and lower sides in the same way, and the first slider 3d can be moved without any discomfort.

As shown in FIG. 5(C), the slide fastener of the fifth embodiment of the present invention differs from the first slider 3b in the slide fastener of the first embodiment in that a pair of flanges 35 facing each other on the left and right of the first slider 3e each have a convex portion 352 and a concave portion 353 in the engagement start path 362, the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 are arranged adjacent to each other in this order in the engagement direction C1, and the convex portions 352 and the concave portions 353 are provided symmetrically on the left and right. Incidentally, the first slider 3e in the fifth embodiment is also vertically symmetric. In addition, the first slider 3e is configured such that the positional relationship between the convex portion 352 on one side of the pair of flanges 35 facing each other on the left and the concave portion 353 on the other side is such that when the elements 5 of the pair of element rows 5L engage with each other, the fixing portions 51 of the two elements 5 that engage with each other are simultaneously positioned at the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353, just like the first slider 3b in the first embodiment.

The slide fastener of the fifth embodiment is configured so that the positional relationship between the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353 of the first slider 3e is such that the fixing portions 51 of the two interlocking elements 5 are simultaneously located in the convex portion 352 and the concave portion 353, and the first slider 3e is symmetrical both left to right and up to down, so that the first slider 3e can be moved without any discomfort.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the second slider 3a is configured without a recess 353 or a protrusion 352, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be configured with a recess 353 or a protrusion 352 as long as it has a different configuration from the first slider 3b.
In the above embodiment, the slide fastener has two sliders 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may have one or three or more sliders. When the slide fastener has one slider 3, the slider 3 is a forward-opening slider and is the first slider. When the slide fastener has two (a pair) sliders 3, both of the pair of sliders 3 may be first sliders, or one may be the first slider as a reverse-opening slider and the other may be the second slider as a forward-opening slider. When the slide fastener has three or more sliders 3, at least one of the total number of sliders may be the first slider.

Description of the Reference Signs 1, 1a Slide fastener 2 Stringer 3 Slider 3a Second slider 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e First slider 30 Slider body 31 Pull tab attachment portion 32 Upper wing 33 Lower wing 34 Connecting post 35 Flange 351 Flange body 352 Convex portion 353 Concave portion 355 Inner surface 356 Outer surface 36 Element path 361 Interlocking path 362 Interlocking start path 363 Branch path 37 Tape groove 4 Tape

5L Element row

5, 5a Element 51

Fixing portion

52, 52a Interlocking portion 53 Interlocking body portion 54 Interlocking convex portion 55 Interlocking concave portion 56 Neck portion 57 Head portion 58 Shoulder portion 6 Opening tool 61 Opening tool piece (inserted pin)
62 Opening tool (box bar)
7 Stopper C, C1 Engagement direction S, S1 Separation direction F Forward direction B Backward direction

Claims

A slide fastener (1, 1a) comprising a pair of tapes (4) extending in the front-rear direction and facing each other in the left-right direction, a pair of element rows (5L) each composed of a plurality of elements (5, 5a) fixed along the facing side edges of the pair of tapes (4), and at least one slider (3) for engaging and separating the pair of element rows (5L),
The total number of said sliders (3) comprises at least one first slider (3b to 3e),
The first slider (3b to 3e) includes upper and lower blades (32) and (33) opposed to each other vertically, a connecting column (34) connecting the upper blade (32) and the lower blade (33) on the side of the engagement direction (C1) in which the first slider (3b to 3e) is moved when the pair of element rows (5L) are engaged, flanges (35) protruding from the upper blade (32) and the lower blade (33) in a direction narrowing the gap formed between them and formed along the left and right edges of the upper blade (32) and the lower blade (33), and an element passage (36) through which the pair of element rows (5L) pass, the element passage (36) being formed between the left and right flanges (35) and the upper blade (32) and the lower blade (33);
The element path (36) includes an engagement path (361) through which the left and right elements (5, 5a) pass in an engaged state, an engagement start path (362) that is wider in the left-right direction than the engagement path (361) on the engagement direction (C1) side of the engagement path (361) and through which the left and right elements (5, 5a) start engaging with each other while colliding with each other, and a pair of branch paths (363) that branch off to the left and right of the connecting post (34) on the engagement direction (C1) side of the engagement start path (362),
A slide fastener characterized in that at least one of the flanges (35) is provided with a convex portion (352) that protrudes in a state that locally narrows the gap formed between the flange (35) facing to the left or right in the engagement start path (362), and the convex portion (352) reduces the frictional resistance between the elements (5, 5a) during the start of engagement.
The slide fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two of the flanges (35) facing each other on the left and right are each provided with the protrusion (352).
The slide fastener according to claim 2, characterized in that all of the flanges (35) are provided with the protrusions (352).
The flange (35) divides the element path (36) into left and right areas and the outside, and the thickness formed between the inner surface (355) facing the element path (36) and the outer surface (356) facing the outside is the thickest at the position of the protrusion (352), and is constant at least at the end of the engagement path (361) on the side of the engagement start path (362). The slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the flanges (35) has a recess (353) that is recessed in a state that locally widens the gap formed between the flange (35) facing the left or right, and the recess (353) reduces the frictional resistance between the elements (5, 5a) that are starting to engage, and is provided on the engaging direction (C1) side of the protrusion (352).
A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes (4) extending in the front-rear direction and facing each other in the left-right direction, a pair of element rows (5L) each composed of a plurality of elements (5, 5a) fixed along the facing side edges of the pair of tapes (4), and at least one slider (3) for engaging and separating the pair of element rows (5L),
The total number of said sliders (3) comprises at least one first slider (3b to 3e),
The first slider (3b to 3e) includes upper blades (32) and lower blades (33) facing each other vertically, a connecting column (34) connecting the upper blades (32) and the lower blades (33) on the side of the engagement direction (C1) in which the first slider (3b to 3e) is moved when the pair of element rows (5L) are engaged, flanges (35) protruding from the upper blades (32) and the lower blades (33) in a direction narrowing a gap formed between them and formed along the left and right edges of the upper blades (32) and the lower blades (33), and an element passage (36) through which the pair of element rows (5L) pass, the element passage (36) being formed between the left and right flanges (35) and the upper blades (32) and the lower blades (33);
The element path (36) includes an engagement path (361) through which the left and right elements (5, 5a) pass in an engaged state, an engagement start path (362) that is wider in the left-right direction than the engagement path (361) on the engagement direction (C1) side of the engagement path (361) and through which the left and right elements (5, 5a) start engaging with each other while colliding with each other, and a pair of branch paths (363) that branch off to the left and right of the connecting post (34) on the engagement direction (C1) side of the engagement start path (362),
A slide fastener characterized in that at least one of the flanges (35) is provided with a recess (353) that is recessed in a state that locally widens the gap formed between the flange (35) facing to the left or right in the engagement start path (362), and the recess (353) reduces the frictional resistance between the elements (5, 5a) during the start of engagement.
The slide fastener according to claim 6, characterized in that at least two of the flanges (35) facing each other on the left and right are each provided with the recess (353).
The slide fastener according to claim 7, characterized in that all of the flanges (35) each have a recess (353).
The flange (35) divides the element path (36) into left and right areas and the outside, and the thickness formed between the inner surface (355) facing the element path (36) and the outer surface (356) facing the outside is constant at least at the end of the meshing path (361) on the meshing start path (362) side, and is thinner in the recess (353) than the end of the meshing path (361) on the meshing start path (362) side. A slide fastener according to any one of claims 6 to 8.
A slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the elements (5, 5a) are asymmetrical in shape from front to back.
The element (5) comprises a fixed portion (51) fixed to the tape (4), an interlocking main body portion (53) extending from the fixed portion (51) toward the opposite side to the tape, an interlocking convex portion (54) protruding from a front surface of the interlocking main body portion (53), and an interlocking concave portion (55) recessed in a rear surface of the interlocking main body portion (53),
The slider (3) is a pair,
one of the pair of sliders (3) is a second slider (3a) different from the first slider (3b to 3e) or the first slider (3b to 3e), and is attached to the pair of element rows (5L) in a state in which its meshing direction (C) coincides with the direction in which the meshing protrusion (54) protrudes;
The slide fastener according to claim 10, characterized in that the other of the pair of sliders (3) is the first slider (3b to 3e) and is attached to the pair of element rows (5L) with its own interlocking direction (C1) opposite to the direction in which the interlocking protrusions (54) protrude.