U.S. patent application number 10/987661 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-19 for slide fastener slider.
Invention is credited to Matsushima, Hideyuki, Wen, Tseng Fa, Yokoyama, Yutaka.
Application Number | 20050102803 10/987661 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34437000 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050102803 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wen, Tseng Fa ; et
al. |
May 19, 2005 |
Slide fastener slider
Abstract
A slider (1) for a slide fastener comprises a slider body (2)
having a mounting hole (13) formed therethrough; an attaching pole
(4) having a pin hole (21) formed at the upper end to extend
laterally therethrough. The attaching pole (4) is upwardly inserted
through the mounting hole (13) with its pin hole (21) lying beyond
the upper surface of the slider body (2). A pull tab (3) has two
attachment lugs (25) formed at its proximal end and provided with
their respective pin apertures (26). A pin (5) is inserted into the
pin hole (21) of the attaching pole (4) and the pin apertures (26)
of the pull tab (3), so that the pull tab (3) is pivotally mounted
on the attaching pole (4). The slider (1) may have a
shock-absorbing member (50) made of soft materials and mounted on
the pull tab (3) at the region where the pull tab (3) contacts the
slider body (2) in order to prevent the pull tab (3) from causing
rattling noises.
Inventors: |
Wen, Tseng Fa; (Sinwu
Township, TW) ; Matsushima, Hideyuki; (Taipei City,
TW) ; Yokoyama, Yutaka; (Taipei City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael S. Leonard
Everest Intellectual Property Law Group
P.O. Box 708
Northbrook
IL
60065
US
|
Family ID: |
34437000 |
Appl. No.: |
10/987661 |
Filed: |
November 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/415 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/262 20130101;
Y10T 24/2561 20150115; A44B 19/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/415 |
International
Class: |
A44B 019/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 19, 2003 |
JP |
2003-388723 |
Nov 20, 2003 |
JP |
2003-390739 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A slider reciprocally mounted on a slide fastener chain,
comprising: a slider body including a guidepost having a mounting
hole formed therethrough; an attaching pole having a
large-diametered portion formed at its one end and having a pin
hole formed at the other end so as to extend laterally
therethrough; the attaching pole inserted upwardly through the
mounting hole and rotatably mounted on the slider body with the pin
hole lying beyond the upper surface of the slider body; a pull tab
including a grip portion and two attachment lugs formed by
bifurcating the proximal end of the pull tab, the attaching lugs
having their respective pin apertures formed in alignment with each
other; and a pin inserted into the pin hole of the attaching pole
and the pin apertures of the pull tab, so that the pull tab is
pivotally mounted on the attaching pole.
2. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole has a
countersink formed on its lower end.
3. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole has
countersinks formed on the upper and lower end, respectively
thereof.
4. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein a raised rim is formed
around the mounting hole on each of the upper and lower surface of
the slider body.
5. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the pin is cylindrical and
has a slit formed axially throughout its length, and the pin hole
has a narrowed portion formed at its middle in the shape of an
inner projection projecting inward from its inner surface so as to
fasten pin through its own resiliency.
6. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the slider body has a flat
lower surface, and the large-diametered portion being in the shape
of a thin disk which is flat at its inner and outer surfaces so
that the large-diamtered portion is adapted to intimately contact
the lower surface of the slider body.
7. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole is in the
shape of a truncated cone, and the attaching pole is
complementarily in the shape of a truncated cone.
8. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein, as viewed in the profile,
the pull tab is bent obtusely at a bent portion which is adjacent
to the attachment lugs.
9. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein an additional slider is
reciprocally mounted on the fastener chain, so that the two sliders
are disposed reversely to each other on the fastener chain, the
pull tab of one slider being bent obtusely at a bent portion which
is adjacent to the attachment lugs in reverse direction relative to
the pull tab of the other slider, each pull tab having a through
hole formed therethrough adjacent to its distal end, so that when
both sliders come into abutting engagement to each other to close
the slide fastener chain, said one pull tab can be turned over flat
against said other pull tab, with their respective through holes in
registry with each other.
10. A slider recited in claim 1, wherein the slider body and pull
tab are made of hard material; the slider further including a
shock-absorbing member made of soft, material and mounted on the
pull tab at its region where the pull tab contacts the slider body,
so as to bulge on both upper and lower surfaces of the pull
tab.
11. A slider recited in claim 10, wherein the shock-absorbing
member is mounted on the grip portion of the pull tab.
12. A slider for a slide fastener recited in claim 10, wherein the
grip portion has a recess formed therein adjacent to the attachment
lugs, and a plurality of small through holes formed through the
grip portion within the recess; the shock-absorbing member being
mounted in the recess.
13. A slider recited in claim 9, the slider body and pull tab of
each slider are made of hard material each slider further including
a shock-absorbing member made of soft material and mounted on the
pull tab at the region where the pull tab contacts the slider body,
so as to bulge on both upper and lower surfaces of the pull tab.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The entire disclosure of Japanese patent application number
2003-388723 filed on Nov. 19, 2003 and Japanese patent application
number 2003-390739 filed on Nov. 20, 2003 are incorporated herein
by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a slider for a slide fastener, and
particularly to a slider for a slide fastener wherein a pull tab
can be pivotally and rotatably moved on the upper wing of its
slider body and the pull tab can be replaced at ease, and which is
provided with a simple mechanism to prevent or decrease rattling
noises caused by the pull tab striking on the slider body when one
jogs in a sport wear bearing the slider.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] Heretofore, there have been sliders of the
pull-tab-rotatable type wherein the pull tab can be pivotally and
rotatably moved on an upper wing of a slider body. One example is
shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-46168 and also
reproduced in FIG. 18 of the drawings appended hereto for
convenience sake. The slider body 100 of this slider has a mounting
hole 108 formed vertically through the diamond or guidepost 106.
The mounting hole 108 terminates at its lower end in a flared
recess (not shown) formed in the lower wing 104 of the slider body
100 and terminates at its upper end in a stepped countersink 110,
which includes a large-diametered upper bore 110a and a
small-diametered lower bore 110b. The large-diametered upper bore
110a is adapted to receive part of a circular disk 116 and the
small-diametered lower bore 110b is adapted to receive part of a
retaining member 120. The circular disk 116 has a through hole 117
formed centrally therethrough. The retaining member 120 has an
enlarged head 122, a circular body 124 and a cylindrical leg 126
stacked concentrically one beneath another so as to extend
downwardly in a stepped manner. A pull tab 130 has a proximal end
bifurcated to provide a pair of attachment lugs 132, which has
respective pintles 134 formed in alignment with each other. The
pintles 134 of the pull tab 130 are pivotally attached to the
diametrically opposite recesses 118 formed on the opposed sides of
the circular disk 116. Then, the circular disk 116 is rotatably
mounted on the slider body 100 in the large-diametered upper bore
110a. Then, the cylindrical leg 126 of the retaining member 120 is
inserted through the mounting hole 108 and is clinched to the
slider body 100 by flattening the end of the cylindrical leg 126 in
the flared recess, so that the retaining member 120 clamp the
slider body 100 between its circular body 124 and its flattened end
of the leg 126 with the circular disk 116 interposed between the
slider body 100 and the enlarged head 122 of the retaining member
120. Consequently, the pull tab 130 can be moved pivotally and
rotatably relative to the slider body 100.
[0006] The slider shown in FIG. 18 is of the type that the pull tab
130 is movable both pivotally and rotatably relative to the slider
body 100, indeed. However, in case that the pull tab 130 is broken
or the wearer desires to replace the pull tab for any other
reasons, he or she cannot replace it. There is a great difficulty
to replace the pull tab 130, since the leg 126 of the retaining
member 120 has its lower end clinched in the flared recess formed
in the lower wing 104 of the slider body 100. If the wearer wishes
to replace the pull tab 130, then, the slider as a whole must be
replaced. In order to remove the slider from the slide fastener
chain used in an article, first, an upper end stop must be removed
and then the slider must be pulled off the slide fastener chain.
Thereafter a new slider must be inserted in to the fastener chain
and an upper end stop must be attached thereto. The replacing
operation is thus tedious and time-consuming.
[0007] Furthermore, since in this type of sliders, a pull tab can
be both pivotally and rotatably moved on the slider body; when one
do an exercise, such as jogging in a sport wear bearing the slide
fastener, the more the pull tab of the slider jolts and strikes
against the slider body, disadvantageously causing rattling noises.
Such rattling noises give much offence to the ear of the wearer.
Moreover, when one walks with a bag along, the pull tab also
strikes on the slider body, causing annoying rattling noises. Some
methods of preventing or decreasing such rattling noises were
adopted before.
[0008] One of the conventional methods is shown in U.S. Pat. No.
5,101,538 and is conveniently re-produced in FIG. 19. As shown in
FIG. 19, a cylindrical fixing section 202 is provided on one end of
a rectangular coupling 201 which is pivotally mounted on a locking
arm 204 of a slider body 206. An annular resilient member 210 is
molded to the cylindrical fixing section 202 through injecting
molding, thus to provide a pull tab 200. The free end 209 of the
annular resilient member 210 is normally biased by the resiliency
of the annular resilient member 210 itself against fastener
elements 208 or fabric strips of the sport wear to which the slide
fastener is attached. This prevents the pull tab 200 from jolting
and causing rattling noises.
[0009] Another method is shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open
application No. 2001-204514 and is also conveniently reproduced in
FIG. 20. A cover 300 made of metal or plastics is fit to a pull tab
302 of a slider 304 reciprocally mounted along the slide fastener
306. The cover 300 has a locking member 308 in the form of a
circular hole formed on the free end thereof. The sport wear has a
locking plate 310 mounted on the fabric piece of its front part.
The locking plate 310 has a locking projection 312 formed thereon.
When the slide fastener 306 is closed, the locking member 308 of
the cover 300 is adapted to come into locking engagement with the
locking projection 312 of the locking plate 310, which prevent the
pull tab 302 from jolting and hence causing rattling noises.
[0010] The slider 206 of the slide fastener shown in FIG. 19 is
complex in construction and requires a special pull tab 200.
Therefore, the manufacturing cost is very high. It is difficult to
supply this slider 206 at a lower price.
[0011] In the slider 304 of the slide fastener shown in FIG. 20, in
order to prevent rattling noises of the pull tab 302, it is
necessary to slide the slider 304 all the way up to the end of the
slide fastener and to bring the locking member 308 of the cover 300
into locking engagement with the locking projection 312 of the
locking plate 310, while staring the locking member 308 and the
locking projection 312 very attentively, which is very tedious.
When the pull tab 302 is not locked to the locking projection 312
of the locking plate 310, or when pull tab 302 stops in the middle
of the slide fastener chain 306, the attachment link 307 of the
pull tab 302 which remains uncovered tends to strike against the
slider body 305, causing rattling noises. So, as mentioned above,
it is absolutely necessary to slide the slider 304 all the way up
to the end of the slide fastener 306 and to bring the locking
member 308 of the cover 300 into locking engagement with the
locking projection 312 of the locking plate 310, which is very
tedious.
[0012] In view of the drawbacks set forth above, the present
invention has a its object to provide a slider for a slide fastener
of the type that a pull tab is pivotably and rotatably connected to
the slider body, which has a simple mechanism whereby only the pull
tab can be replaced at great ease, even when the slider is used in
the slide fastener attached to an article; if the pull tab is
broken or the wearer wishes to replace the pull tab.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide double
sliders for a slide fastener wherein a pair of sliders are
reciprocally mounted on a single fastener chain and disposed
reversely to each other, the pull tabs of the two sliders can be
locked by a locking means reliably and easily.
[0014] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a slider for a slide fastener which has a pull tab pivotably and
rotatably connected to the slider body and which has means for
preventing or decreasing rattling noises caused by the pull tab
striking against the slider body, thus accomplishing muffling
effects simply and less costly.
[0015] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
double sliders for slide fasteners wherein a pair of sliders are
reciprocally mounted on a single fastener chain and disposed
reversely to each other, the pull tabs of the two sliders can be
locked by a locking means reliably and easily and each slider has
means for preventing or decreasing rattling noises caused by the
pull tabs striking each other or each pull tab striking against the
respective slider body, thus accomplishing muffling effects simply
and less costly.
[0016] Further objects and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing
description.
SUMMARY
[0017] According to the present invention, there is provided A
slider reciprocally mounted on a slide fastener chain, comprising:
a slider body including a guidepost having a mounting hole formed
therethrough; an attaching pole having a large-diametered portion
formed at its one end and having a pin hole formed at the other end
so as to extend laterally therethrough; the attaching pole inserted
upwardly through the mounting hole and rotatably mounted on the
slider body with the pin hole lying beyond the upper surface of the
slider body; a pull tab including a grip portion and two attachment
lugs formed by bifurcating the proximal end of the pull tab, the
attaching lugs having their respective pin apertures formed in
alignment with each other; and a pin inserted into the pin hole of
the attaching pole and the pin apertures of the pull tab, so that
the pull tab is pivotally mounted on the attaching pole.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, an additional
slider is reciprocally mounted on the fastener chain, so that the
two sliders are disposed reversely to each other on the fastener
chain. The pull tab of one slider 1 is bent obtusely at a bent
portion which is adjacent to the attachment lugs in reverse
direction relative to the pull tab of the other slider and each
pull tab has a through hole formed therethrough adjacent to its
distal end, so that when both sliders 1 come into abutting
engagement to each other to close the slide fastener chain, said
one pull tab can be turned over flat against said other pull tab,
with their respective through holes in registry with each
other.
[0019] According to still another aspect of the invention, the
slider body and pull tab are made of hard material. The slider
further includes a shock-absorbing member made of soft material and
mounted on the pull tab at its region where the pull tab contacts
the slider body, so as to bulge on both upper and lower surfaces of
the pull tab. This means that the shock-absorbing member is softer
than the slider body.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a slide fastener
slider according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
showing a slide fastener chain partly cut-away.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slider of FIG. 1,
showing the parts in assembled disposition.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the slider of FIG.
2.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the slider of FIG. 2,
with its pull tab stand upright.
[0024] FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the essential
part of the slider of FIG. 2 showing how the pull tab is attached
to an attaching pole.
[0025] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a slide fastener slider
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a slide fastener slider
according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a slide fastener slider
according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a slide fastener slider
according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing double sliders
arranged reversely to each other according to the sixth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a front view showing the double sliders of FIG.
10 in use on a slide fastener chain.
[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a slide fastener slider
according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 13 is a partially sectional view of a slide fastener
slider of FIG. 12, showing how the pull tab is pivoted.
[0033] FIG. 14 is a front view of the slider of FIG. 12, showing
how the pull tab is rotated.
[0034] FIG. 15 is a front view of the pull tab of the slider of
FIG. 12.
[0035] FIG. 16 is a partly cross-sectional side view of the pull
tab of the slider of FIG. 12.
[0036] FIG. 17 is a front view of double sliders according to the
eighth embodiment of the present invention, showing how the pull
tabs of the two sliders are locked.
[0037] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
slide fastener slider.
[0038] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of another conventional slider
wherein a pull tab is prevented from being pivoted.
[0039] FIG. 20 is a front view of still another conventional slide
fastener slider wherein a pull tab is also prevented from being
pivoted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The following provides a list of the primary reference
characters used in the drawings:
[0041] 1 Slider
[0042] 2 Slider body
[0043] 3 Pull tab
[0044] 4 Attaching pole
[0045] 5 Pin
[0046] 6 Slide fastener chain
[0047] 7 Fastener elements
[0048] 8 Fastener tape
[0049] 9 Sewn stitches
[0050] 10 Upper wing
[0051] 11 Lower wing
[0052] 12 Guide post
[0053] 13 Mounting hole
[0054] 14 Countersink
[0055] 15 Rim
[0056] 16 Guide channel
[0057] 17 Side flange
[0058] 20 Large-diametered portion flared end portion
[0059] 21 Pin hole
[0060] 22 Narrowed portion Inner peripheral projection
[0061] 25 Attachment lug
[0062] 26 Pin aperture
[0063] 27 Bent portion
[0064] 28 Through hole
[0065] 29 Grip portion
[0066] 31 Groove
[0067] 34 Padlock
[0068] 35 Shackle
[0069] 60 Shock-absorbing member
[0070] 52 Recess
[0071] 53 Small through hole
[0072] 59 Groove
[0073] Description is now made on a slider 1 for a slide fastener
according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in
FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawings appended hereto.
[0074] According to the present invention, broadly, a slider 1 is
comprised of four parts, that is, a slider body 2, a pull tab 3, an
attaching pole 4 and a pin 5. These parts are all made of metal.
The slider body 2 comprises an upper wing 10 and a lower wing 11
joined at their fronts by a guidepost 12. A mounting hole 13 is
formed vertically through the guidepost 12 to receive the attaching
pole 4 therethrough. An upper and a lower countersink 14 are formed
at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the mounting hole 13.
A raised rim 15 is formed around the countersink 14 on each of the
outer surfaces of the upper and lower wing 10, 11. Consequently,
the pull tab 3 attached to the attaching pole 4 contacts the slider
body 2 on only the raised rim 15 or a little contacting surface and
hence incurs a little frictional resistance, so that the pull tab 3
can be moved pivotally and rotatably relative to the slider body 2
smoothly.
[0075] The pull tab 3 includes a grip portion 29 as a major portion
and a pair of opposed attachment lugs 25 formed by bifurcating the
proximal end of the pull tab 3 and adapted to be attached to the
attaching pole 4. A pair of pin apertures 26 are formed through the
respective attaching lugs 25 and disposed in alignment with each
other. The pin apertures 26 are slightly greater in diameter than
the pin 5 in order to let the pin 5 threthrough. As viewed in the
profile, the pull tab 3 is bent obtusely at a bent portion 27 which
is adjacent to the attachment lugs 25. As a result, the pull tab 3
attached to the attaching pole 4 can either contact on or stay
float above the front surface of the article such as clothing or
bags to which the slide fastener is attached, so that the pull tab
3 can be advantageously arranged on the article in stably and
sightly, and further the pull tab 3 can be griped very easily.
[0076] The attaching pole 4 is cylindrical and is provided at its
lower end with a large-diametered portion 20 which is adapted to
fit into the lower countersink 14. A pin aperture 21 is formed
laterally through the attaching pole 4 adjacent its upper end and
is adapted to have the pull tab 3 pivotally mounted thereon. The
pin hole 21 is narrowed at its middle to provide a narrowed portion
22 in the form of an inner peripheral projection projecting
inwardly in order to firmly fasten the pin 15 therein. The pin 6 is
cylindrical but has a wave-like slit 31 formed longitudinally
throughout its length so as to impart resiliency to the pin 5. Such
a pin 5 is commonly called as a spring pin.
[0077] In order to assemble the slider 1, first, the attaching pole
4 is inserted through the mounting hole 13 formed through the
guidepost 12 of the slider body 2 from its lower end, until the
large-dimatered portion 20 of the attaching pole 4 fits into the
countersink 14 and the pin hole 21 of the attaching pole 4 comes up
beyond the upper surface of the slider body 2. Then, the pin hole
21 of the attaching pole 4 and the pin apertures 26 of the opposed
attachment lugs 25 of the pull tab 3 are brought into alignment
with each other. With the pin hole 21 and the pin apertures 26 kept
in alignment, the pin 5 is forced into the pin aperture 26 of the
attachment lugs 25 of the pull tab 3 and then the pin hole 21 of
the attaching pole 4 against the resiliency of the pin 5, so that
the pin 5 is secured to the narrowed portion 22 of the pin hole 21
by its own resiliency and the assemblage of the slider 1 has been
carried out.
[0078] In order to replace the pull tab 3 when the pull tab 3 is
broken or the wearer desires to replace it for other reasons, the
pin 5 is pulled off the pin apertures 26 of the attachment lugs 25
of the pull tab 3 and the narrowed portion 22 of the pin hole 21 of
the attaching pole 4 against resiliency of the pin 5. Then, the
pull tab 3 is removed from the slider body 2. Lastly, a new pull
tab is attached to the attaching pole 4 in the way mentioned
earlier.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 1, as mentioned earlier, the slider 1 is
comprised of four parts, that is, the slider body 2, the pull tab
3, the attaching pole 4 and the pin 5. The slider body 3, the pull
tab 4 and the attaching pole 4 are made of hard materials. They are
die-casted from metals such as zinc alloy, aluminum alloy, or are
injection molded from hard plastics such as polyacetal, polyamide,
polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate. The slider body 2 is
comprised of an upper and lower wings 10, 11 joined at their front
ends by the guidepost 12. A pair of guide flanges 17 are provided
one on each side edge of the upper wing 10 to define with the guide
post 12 a Y-shaped guide channel 16 to guide fastener elements 7
therethrogh. The attaching hole 13 of a circular cross-section is
formed vertically through the guidepost 4. The mounting pole 4 is
inserted through the attaching hole 13 As shown in FIG. 3, the
upper and lower countersinks 14 are formed in the upper and lower
ends of the attaching hole 13, respectively. As shown in FIG. 4, as
mentioned above, the raised rims 15 are formed on the outer
surfaces of the upper and lower wing 10, 11 around the countersinks
14. The raised rim 15 is adapted to come into sliding contact with
the tips of the attachment lugs 25 of the pull tab 3, when the pull
tab 3 is pivoted or rotated on the slider body.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 1, The pull tab 3 includes a grip portion
29 as a major portion and a pair of opposed attachment lugs 25
formed by bifurcating the proximal end of the pull tab 3. The two
attaching lugs 24 have the respective pin apertures 26 formed
therethrough, which pin apertures 26 are in alignment with each
other. The pin apertures 26 are greater in diameter than the pin 5
in order to let the pin 5 threthrough. Furthermore, the pin
apertures 26 are formed greater in diameter than the pin hole 21
formed through the attaching pole 4. As view in the profile, the
grip portion 29 of the pull tab 3 is bent obtusely at a bent
portion 27 adjacent to the attachment lugs 25. A circular through
hole 28 is formed through the grip portion 29 adjacent to the
distal end.
[0081] As further shown in FIG. 1, the attaching pole 4 designed to
attach the pull tab 3 thereto is cylindrical as a whole and has a
large-diametered portion 20 formed at its lower end so as to spread
radially therefrom. The large-diametered portion 20 is adapted to
fit to the countersink 14 of the slider body 2. The attaching pole
4 has the pin hole 21 formed through its upper end and designed to
pivotally mount the pull tab 3 thereon. The pin hole 21 has a
narrowed portion 22 formed at its middle in the shape of an inner
projection 22 projecting inward from its inner surface, so as to
fasten the inserted pin 15 through its resiliency The narrowed
portion 22 may be in the form of a U-cross-sectioned projection or
a convex cross-sectioned projection as shown in FIG. 5. The
narrowed portion 22 may be of any cross-sectional form as far as it
can function to fasten the pin 5 thereto.
[0082] The pin 5 may be of any shape that permits the pin 5 to be
inserted into the pin hole 21 and firmly clamped by the narrowed
portion 22 thereof. So, the pin 5 may be either solid or hollow
like a pipe. The most preferred construction of the pin 5 is a
hollow cylinder or pipe which has a wave-like groove formed axially
thereof in order to impart resiliency to the pin 5, so that the pin
5 can be readily inserted through the narrowed portion 22 of the
pin hole 21 and thereafter the pin 5 can be firmly clamped in the
narrowed portion 22 through resiliency of the pin 5.
[0083] For assemblage of this slider 1, first, the cylindrical
attaching pole 4 is inserted upwardly through the circular mounting
hole 13 formed through the guidepost 12 of the slider body 2 until
the large-diametered portion 20 of the attaching pole 4 fit into
the countersink 14, whereupon the attaching pole 4 is rotatably
mounted on the slider body 2. Then, the pin apertures 26 formed
through the attaching lugs 25 are brought into registry with the
pin hole 21 of the attaching pole 4 lying beyond the upper surface
of the slider body 2. Then, the pin 5 is forced through the pin
apertures 26 and the pin hole 21 so that the pin 5 passes through
the narrowed portion 22 of the pin hole 21 by contracting its
diameter against its resiliency and then get clamped by the
narrowed portion 22 through resiliency of the pin 5. Consequently,
the pin 5 itself is fastened to the mounting pole 4, but the pull
tab 3 is pivoted back and forth on the pin 5. In addition, since
the attaching pole 4 is rotatably mounted on the slider body 2),
the pull tab 3 can be rotate horizontally on the slider body 2 in
free manner with the tips of the attaching lugs 25 sliding on the
raised rim 15.
[0084] As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 1 according to the invention
is assembled with a slide fastener chain 6 to provide a slide
fastener. The thus assembled slide fastener is then sewn to an
article, such as clothing or bags. When the pull tab 3 is broken or
the wearer wishes to replace the pull tab 3 in the slide fastener
incorporated in the article, the wearer can dismantle the pull tab
3 by merely removing the pin 5 from the pin aperture 26 of the pull
tab 3 and pin hole 21 of the attaching pole 4. Then, a new pull tab
3 can be attached to the attaching pole 4.
[0085] A slide fastener slider according to the second embodiment
of the present invention shown in FIG. 6 is designed for use with a
slide fastener chain of the type wherein fastener element rows are
sewn to the rear surface of its fastener tapes. Unlike the slider 1
according to the first embodiment, this slider 1 has a pair of
guide flanges 17 formed on a lower wing 11 of its slider body 2 to
guide the fastener elements 7. The mounting hole 13 has the same
shape in its upper part and its lower part, as in the case of the
first embodiment. As well seen from comparison of FIGS. 3 and 6,
the assemblage of the slider 1 according to the second embodiment
is identical with that according to the first embodiment with the
only exception that the slider body 2 has been placed upside down.
The attaching pole 4 is first inserted upwardly through the
mounting hole 13. The pin apertures 26 of the attaching lugs 25 are
brought into registry with the pin hole 21 of the attaching pole 4.
Then, the pin 5 is forced through the pin apertures 216 and the pin
hole 21 so that the pin 5 is releasably attacked to the attaching
pole 4.
[0086] FIG. 7 shows a slide fastener slider 1 according to the
third embodiment of the present invention. In this slider 1, the
mounting hole 13 is of the shape of a truncated cone with a
larger-diametered portion disposed at its bottom. A raised rim 15
is formed around the mounting hole 13 on only the upper surface of
the slider body 2. The attaching pole 4 is also of the shape of a
truncated cone as a whole. Since the mounting hole 13 is of a
truncated cone, and the attaching pole 4 is of a complementarily
truncated cone, the attaching pole 4 can be mounted on the slider
body 9 in very stable manner so that the attaching pole 4 can be
rotated on the slider body 2 very smoothly. The attaching pole 4
has a pin hole 21 formed laterally therethrough at its upper end
for housing a pin 5 therethrough. As viewed in profile, the pull
tab 3 as a whole (including the attachment lugs 25) is formed
straight, unlike the one according to the preceding embodiments.
The pin apertures 26 of the attaching lugs 25 are brought into
registry with the pin hole 21 of the attaching pole 4 lying beyond
the upper surface of the slider body 2. Then, the pin 5 is forced
through the pin apertures 26 and the pin hole 21. It is readily
seen that, unlike the slider body 2 according to the preceding
embodiments, the slider body 2 according to the third embodiment is
unidirectional, that is, the slider body 2 can allow the attaching
pole 4 to fit into its mounting hole 13 when disposed in only one
direction, in other words, the attaching pole 4 cannot fit into the
mounting hole 13, if the slider body 2 is disposed upside down.
[0087] FIG. 8 shows a slide fastener slider according to the fourth
embodiment of this invention. The slider according to the fourth
embodiment is substantially identical with the slider according to
the first embodiment except that the attaching hole 13 has a
countersink 14 formed at its lower end alone.
[0088] FIG. 9 shows a slide fastener slider 1 according to the
fifth embodiment of this invention. This slider 1 has a simple
cylindrical mounting hole 13 with a uniform diameter throughout its
length formed through the guidepost 12 of the slider body 2. The
attaching pole 4 is substantially of a simple cylindrical shape and
has a large-diametered portion 20 in the shape of a thin disk
integrally formed at the lower end thereof. The large-diametered
portion 20 is flat at its inner and outer surfaces. The
large-diametered portion 20 is adapted to intimately contact the
lower surface of the slider body 2. Instead of the large-diametered
portion 20 integrally formed with the attaching pole 4, the pole
body of the attaching pole 4 and the large diametered portion 20
may be formed as separate parts. For example, the lower end of the
pole body of the cylindrical attaching pole 4 is provided with an
internal thread and the large-diametered portion 20 has a
correspondingly threaded shank formed centrally of the upper
surface thereof. The threaded shank of the large diametered portion
20 is screwed with the internal thread of the pole body of the
cylindrical attaching pole 4, thus provide the attaching pole
4.
[0089] FIGS. 10 and 11 show double sliders 1 for a slide fastener
according to the sixth embodiment of this invention. In this
embodiment, the two sliders 1 are reciprocally mounted on a single
slide fastener chain 6 and disposed reversely to each other. One of
the two sliders 1 according to this embodiment (the left one as
viewed in FIG. 10) is identical with the slider 1 according to the
first embodiment but the right one differs therefrom in that the
pull tab 3 is bent at the bent portion 27 reversely to the pull tab
3 of the slider 1 according to the first embodiment. Since one pull
tab 3 is bent reversely to the other pull tab 3; when both sliders
3 are brought into abutting engagement with their respective front
ends contacted with each other to close the slide fastener chain 6
as shown in FIG. 11 and one pull tab 3 is turned over against the
other, one pull tab 3 can be laid flatly over the other. As shown
in FIG. 11, after one pull tab 3 is laid flatly over the other with
their respective circular through holes 28 in registry with each
other, a shackle 35 of a padlock 34 is inserted through the
circular through holes 28 of the pull tabs 3 of both sliders 1 and
locked. Both pull tabs 3 being reversely bent at the bent portion
27 permits one pull tab 3 to be laid flatly the other pull tab 3
when the former is turned against the latter. This facilitates the
insertion of the locking of the shackle 35 of the padlock 34.
[0090] FIGS. 12 through 16 shows a slide fastener slider 1
according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The
slider 1 according to the seventh embodiment is substantially
identical with the slider 1 according to the first embodiment
except that the pull tab 3 has a shock-absorbing member 50 mounted
in its region where the grip portion 20 of the pull tab 3 contacts
the slider body 3, when the pull tab 3 is pivoted or rotated on the
slider body 2. The shock-absorbing member 50 is made of soft
materials, such as polyurethane, silicon rubber, thermoplastic
elastomer, and other soft plastics, which are softer than the
materials of the slider body 2 and the pull tab 3, so that the
shock absorbing member 50 functions to absorb the shock caused by
collision of the pull tab 3 and the slider body 2, thus prevent
rattling noises from getting caused.
[0091] In order to mount the shock-absorbing member 50 on the pull
tab 3; as shown in FIG. 15, first, a pair of recesses 52 of a
certain area are formed one on each side of the grip portion 29 of
the pull tab 3 at the region where the pull tab 3 is likely to
contact the slider body 2. A plurality of small through holes 53
are formed through the grip portion 29 of the pull tab 4 within the
recesses 52. Then, the shock-absorbing member 50 is
injection-molded from soft plastic within the recesses 52 so as to
fill up the recesses 52 and swell or bulge on both upper and lower
surfaces of the pull tab 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower
parts of the shock-absorbing member 50 are joined through the small
through holes 53. Since the shock-absorbing member 50 is embedded
in the recesses 52 and will never get caught by extraneous things
and the upper and lower parts of the shock-absorbing member 50 are
joined through the small through holes 53; the shock-absorbing
member 50 will never be dislodged from the pull tab 3. Therefore,
the shock-absorbing member 50 endures a long use and enjoys
excellent muffling effects.
[0092] As better shown in FIG. 13, the pull tab 4 has the
shock-absorbing member 50 mounted in its region where the grip
portion 29 of the pull tab 3 contacts the slider body 3 when the
pull tab 3 rotates and pivots the slider body 2. Specifically, as
shown in FIG. 15, the two elliptical recesses 52 are formed one of
each side of the grip portion 29 of the pull tab 3 between the
attachment lugs 25 and the through hole 28 formed at the distal end
of the grip portion 29. A plurality of small through holes 53 (two
circular holes and one oblong hole disposed therebetween shown
here) are formed through the grip portion 29 within the recesses
52. As better shown in FIG. 16, the shock-absorbing member 50 is
injection-molded from soft plastics on the both sides of the grip
portion 29 so as to fill up the recesses 22 and swell or bulge on
both sides of the pull tab 3. The upper and the lower parts of the
shock absorbing member 50 are connected through the small through
holes 53 formed within the recesses 52, so that the shock-absorbing
member 50 is firmly mounted on the pull tab 3 against dislodgment.
The shock-absorbing member 50 has a plurality of grooves 59 formed
in the upper and lower sides thereof so as to extend laterally of
the length of the pull tab 3. These grooves 59 are intended to
facilitate gripping of the shock-absorbing member 50 and hence the
grip portion 29 of the pull tab 3.
[0093] When the pull tab 3 rotates and pivots on the slider body 2,
the fact that the shock-absorbing member 50 exists in the region
where the pull tab 3 contacts the slider body 2 matters. Even if
the pull tab 3 strikes heavily upon the slider body 2, the
shock-absorbing member 50 advantageously prevents rattling noises
from being caused or absorbs the rattling noises, thus achieving
muffling effects.
[0094] FIG. 17 shows double sliders 1 for a slide fastener
according to the eighth embodiment of this invention. The double
sliders 1 according to the eight embodiment are substantially
identical with the double sliders 1 according to the sixth
embodiment except that the two sliders 1 have shock-absorbing
members 50 mounted on their respective pull tabs 3, as better seen
from comparison of FIGS. 11 and 17.
[0095] As shown in FIG. 17, the two sliders 1 are brought into
abutting engagement with each other with their respective front
ends contacted with each other in order to close the slide fastener
chain 6, and one of the pull tabs 3 is turned over against the
other with their respective through holes 28 in registry with each
other. Then, the shackle 35 of the padlock 34 is inserted through
the through holes 28 of the pull tabs 3 and locked. Since the pull
tabs 3 of the two sliders 1 are locked with the respective
shock-absorbing members 50 interposed therebetween, the
shock-absorbing members 50 of both pull tabs 3 prevent the pull
tabs 3 from striking directly against each other and causing
rattling noises, thus accomplishing muffling effects. In addition,
the shock absorbing member 50 of each pull tab 3 prevents the
respective pull tab 3 from directly striking against its respective
slider body 2 and causing rattling noises, as well.
Conclusions, Ramifications, and Scope
[0096] With this construction of the present invention, even after
the slide fastener is incorporated in a certain article such as
clothing or bags, only the pull tab can be advantageously replaced
at great ease without the fastener chain left intact.
[0097] Since the shapes of the mounting hole and the attaching pole
are both very simple in construction, the manufacture and
assemblage of the parts can be made at ease.
[0098] Even if the pull tab 3 contacts the slider body 2 during
operation or by vibration of the slide fastener, the
shock-absorbing member 50 always goes between the pull tab 3 and
the slider body 2, thus absorbing or decreasing rattling noises,
thus accomplishing muffling effects with a simple mechanism.
[0099] A slider according to the present invention is mounted on a
slide fastener used for various kinds of articles such as clothing,
bags, cases. Even when the slide fastener has been incorporated in
such articles, a pull tab can be replaced at great ease. This
slider can be also used in a so-called double-slider type slide
fastener wherein two sliders are reciprocally mounted on a single
fastener chain and disposed reversely to each other. After the
fastener is closed, the pull tabs of both sliders can be locked by
a shackle of a padlock.
[0100] If equipped with a smaller pull tab, a slider according to
the present invention is suitable for use on sport wares, personal
belongings, small bags, small cases or the like. If quipped with a
bigger pull tab, it is suitable for use on a shoulder bag or the
like. Furthermore, a pull tab in rectangular shape can be used on
an auto-locking type slider.
[0101] Although the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Many other
variations are possible.
[0102] Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the
appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the
examples given.
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