U.S. patent application number 12/202005 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for slider for slide fastener.
This patent application is currently assigned to YKK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Masashi Doi, Keiichi Keyaki, Masahiro Ujihara.
Application Number | 20090056086 12/202005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40405208 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090056086 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ujihara; Masahiro ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
SLIDER FOR SLIDE FASTENER
Abstract
The present invention provides a slider for a slide fastener,
capable of preventing any sound from being generated by reducing
contact sound from a slider body or a pull tab without affecting
operability of the slide fastener. There is provided a slider for a
slide fastener including a slider body, further including: a
gate-shaped pull tab attaching post having right and left leg
portions erected from the upper blade and apart from each other in
a transverse direction of the slider body and a bridge portion
stretched between the top end portions of the right and left leg
portions, the pull tab attaching post being formed integrally with
the slider body; and a pull tab, one end of which is attached to
the bridge portion, the pull tab extending from the bridge
portion.
Inventors: |
Ujihara; Masahiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Keyaki; Keiichi; (Toyama-ken, JP) ; Doi;
Masashi; (Toyama-ken, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P.O. BOX 770, Church Street Station
New York
NY
10008-0770
US
|
Assignee: |
YKK CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
40405208 |
Appl. No.: |
12/202005 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/429 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2586 20150115;
A44B 19/262 20130101; A44B 19/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/429 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/26 20060101
A44B019/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 31, 2007 |
JP |
2007-225369 |
Claims
1. A slider for a slide fastener, comprising: an upper blade and a
lower blade connected by a guiding post at a front end portion on a
shoulder mouth side while a slider body having a rear mouth is
provided at the rear end, further comprising: a gate-shaped pull
tab attaching post having right and left leg portions erected from
the upper blade and apart from each other in a transverse direction
of the slider body; a bridge portion stretched between the top end
portions of the right and left leg portions, the pull tab attaching
post being formed integrally with the slider body; and a pull tab,
one end of which is attached to the bridge portion, the pull tab
extending from the bridge portion.
2. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
the slider body is composed of a synthetic resin.
3. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 1, further
comprising rotation blocking element blocking a post attaching
portion of the pull tab to be attached to the bridge portion from
rotating around the bridge portion.
4. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein
the rotation blocking element comprising a tongue piece projecting
from the bridge portion.
5. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein
the rotation blocking element is constructed by fixing the pull tab
to the bridge portion.
6. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
the pull tab is bendable elastically.
7. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
the pull tab is composed of a hard synthetic resin.
8. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
the pull tab is formed of a narrow thin piece having first and
second pull tab main body portions disposed in the back-forth
direction of the slider and a folding portion which connects the
first and second pull tab main portions, and the first and second
pull tab main body portions have surface fastener engaging elements
disposed on at least part of each of first surfaces which oppose
each other when the pull tab is folded at the folding portion.
9. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein
the first pull tab main body portion is formed longer than the
second pull tab main body portion, and male engaging elements of a
surface fastener are disposed in area of the first surface of the
first pull tab main body portion other than a portion thereof the
second pull tab main body portion overlaps when the first pull tab
main body portion and the second pull tab main body portion are
engaged with each other.
10. The slider for a slide fastener according to claim 9, wherein
the pull tab is attached so that the first surface of the first
pull tab main body portion faces downward when the pull tab is
extended to the shoulder mouth side of the slider body from the
bridge portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a slider for a slide
fastener, capable of reducing sound generated by a contact between
a slider body and a pull tab.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Conventionally, a slide fastener is attached to an opening
in order to easily open/close the opening in clothes, bag or the
like. Generally, the slide fastener is constructed by arranging a
plurality of fastener elements on each of element attaching edge
portions opposing each other of right and left fastener tapes so as
to form a pair of right and left fastener stringers, and then
placing a slider on the right and left element rows composed of the
plurality of fastener elements disposed on the right and left
fastener stringers.
[0005] A slider has a slider body to be placed on the element rows
and a pull tab attached to the slider body. The slider body is
often made of metal and generally, includes upper and lower blades,
a connecting post for connecting the upper and lower blades at a
front end portion of the slider, right and left flanges formed on
right and left side edges of the upper blade and/or the lower
blade, and a pull tab attaching post erected on the surface (top
surface) of the upper blade along the back-forth direction of the
slider.
[0006] Right and left shoulder mouths are formed on the front end
side of the slider body such that they are divided by the
connecting post while a rear mouth is formed at a rear end of the
slider body. Further, a Y-shaped element guide passage which brings
the right and left shoulder mouths and the rear mouth in
communication with each other is disposed between the upper and
lower blades. The pull tab has a connecting portion for connecting
one end thereof to the pull tab attaching post provided on the
slider body and a grip portion disposed on the other end of the
connecting portion.
[0007] An example of the slide fastener having such a configuration
is described in European Patent No. 761117 (patent document 1). In
a slide fastener 71 described in the patent document 1, as shown in
FIG. 14, a slider 74 is placed on element rows 73 of the pair of
right and left fastener stringers 72. The slider 74 in this patent
document 1 includes a slider body 75 and a pull tab 76. The slider
body 75 includes an upper blade, a lower blade, a connecting post,
right and left flanges, and an inverted U-shaped pull tab attaching
post 75a.
[0008] The pull tab 76 has a connecting body 77 and a grip portion
78. The connecting portion 77 includes a first attaching portion
77a which is constituted of a hole portion formed at one end
portion thereof and a second attaching portion 77b which is
composed of a ring-like limb disposed at the other end portion
thereof. In this case, the connecting body 77 is installed onto the
slider body 75 by inserting the first attaching portion 77a into
the inverted U-shaped pull tab attaching post 75a disposed on the
slider body 75 in a cantilevered state such that the attaching post
75a is hooked on the slider body 75, and thereafter deforming the
pull tab attaching post 75a plastically so that the connecting body
77 does not slip out of the pull tab attaching post 75a.
[0009] On the other hand, the grip portion 78 has a first main body
portion (surface half portion) 78a, a second main body portion
(rear surface half portion) 78b, and a neck portion 78c for
connecting the first and second main body portions 78a, 78b. The
first surface (inner side face) of the first main body portion 78a
of the grip portion 78 has a plurality of loops 78d which
constitute a surface fastener, and the first surface (inner side
face) of the second main body portion 78b has a plurality of hooks
78e which constitute a surface fastener.
[0010] The grip portion 78 having the plurality of loops 78d and
the plurality of hooks 78e is installed onto the connecting body 77
by overlapping the first main body portion 78a and the second main
body portion 78b after the first main body portion 78a or the
second main body portion 78e is inserted into the second attaching
portion (limb) 77b of the connecting body 77 so as to engage the
hooks 78e of the second main body portion 78b with the loops 78d of
the first main body portion 78a.
[0011] The slide fastener 71 of the patent document 1 can be
manufactured at a lower cost than, for example, a slide fastener
using a rivet for attaching the grip portion 78. The grip portion
78 can be formed into a desired shape by, for example, cutting out
the surface fastener into a predetermined shape. Thus, the grip
portion 78 can have ample variations, and further various patterns
or logo marks, etc. can be provided on the front surface or the
rear surface (second surface of the first main body portion and the
second main body portion) of the grip portion 78.
[0012] Generally, the slide fasteners have been used at an opening
of clothes or bags, etc., and in recent years, they have been often
used in seat covers of passenger seats of vehicles or the like. For
example, Japanese Patent No. 3380150 (patent document 2) has
disclosed a seat in which a slide fastener is used at a seat cover
of a seat back.
[0013] A seat 81 described in this patent document 2 is comprised
of a seat cushion 82 and a seat back 83 as shown in FIG. 16. These
components 82, 83 have a seat frame (not shown), a pad (not shown)
having a predetermined shape to be fixed to the seat frame, and
skins 86, 87 for covering the pad. The pad is formed of
polyurethane or the like, having cushion performance.
[0014] According to the patent document 2, the skin 87 of the seat
back 83 has a cutout 88 extending upward from the bottom edge of
the seat rear face, and a skin rear face portion 87a is so formed
to be separable to its right and left sections with the cutout 88
interposed therebetween. A slide fastener 89 is sewed along the
cutout 88 formed on the skin rear face portion 87a. When the slider
92 of the slide fastener 89 is slid downward, right and left
elements 91 are coupled with each other so as to close the cutout
88.
[0015] One end portion of the slide fastener 89 is extended
downward longer than a bottom edge 87b of the skin rear face
portion 87a. One of the right and left fastener stringers is sewed
to the skin 87 so that the stringer is hidden invisibly from
outside by folding the skin 87 extending from the skin bottom edge
87b to the back side.
[0016] In the seat 81 described in the patent document 2, the skin
87 is applied to the pad of the seat back 83 in a state that the
skin rear face portion 87a is separated to the right and left
sections by opening the slide fastener 89, and thereafter, the
slider 92 is slid to close the slide fastener 89, so that the skin
87 can be fitted to the pad in a good appearance.
[0017] Particularly in the seat 81 of the patent document 2, one of
the fastener stringers of the slide fastener 89 is sewed such that
the portion extending downward form the skin bottom edge 87b is
hidden on the skin back side. Thus, when the slide fastener 89 is
closed, the extending portion of the other fastener stringer is
folded to the skin back side and hidden there. Consequently, when
the slide fastener 89 is closed, the end portion on the extending
portion side of the slide fastener 89 is held at a predetermined
position on the skin back side.
[0018] For the reason, in the skin 87 applied to the pad of the
seat 81, the extending portion of the slide fastener 89 is
difficult to peel from the skin back side even if, for example, the
fingers of a passenger seated on the seat 81 are hooked on the
slide fastener 89 by a mistake. Thus, the closing state of the
slide fastener 89 can be maintained in a stable state.
[0019] In the conventional slide fastener of the patent document 1,
the grip portion of the slider is constructed of a belt-like body
such as fabric having a surface fastener to facilitate gripping of
the pull tab and is also disposed such that the front and rear
faces of the grip portion are oriented in a lateral direction with
respect to the sliding direction of the slider. The connecting
portion of the slider is supported on the slider body rotatably
along the sliding direction of the slider with respect to the first
attaching portion on the slider body side so that a user can slide
the slider smoothly along the element rows by gripping the grip
portion. Further, this connecting portion is formed of a metal
member which hardly cracks in order to securely connect the slider
body with the pull tab in a long period.
[0020] Although in the conventional slide fastener, the pull tab of
the slider is attached considering the operability and the like of
the slider, there is such a problem that when the slider is not
operated, the metal slider body comes into contact with the
connecting portion of the pull tab so as to produce a metallic
clank offensive to the ears. If the slide fastener is used in, for
example, a seat cover of vehicle seats as disclosed in the patent
document 2, the slider body frequently comes into contact with the
pull tab due to vibration during traveling of the vehicle and
further when the slider swings, the slider body and the pull tab
come into contact with other members such as a seat frame, thereby
producing contact sound.
[0021] Generation of such contact sound due to a contact between
the slider body and the pull tab or a contact thereof with other
members can be reduced to some extent by forming the slider body
and the connecting portion of the pull tab with a synthetic resin
molded product. However, it is demanded to prevent the generation
of the contact sound effectively in order to improve the quality of
the slide fastener further.
[0022] Preventing the generation of the contact sound in the slider
body and the pull tab without reduction of the operability of the
slider has been demanded on a slide fastener for use in baby
clothes, infant clothes, nursing care clothes and the like in which
the contact sound is offensive to the ears as well as the slider
fastener for use in the seat cover of the above-mentioned vehicle
seats.
[0023] When the slide fastener 89 is used in the skin (seat cover)
87 or the like of the vehicle seat 81 as described in the patent
document 2, the slider 92 may be hidden on the skin back side by
closing the slide fastener 89. Even in such a case, if the portion
hidden by the slide fastener 89 (portion extending form the skin
bottom edge 87b) is short, the pull tab of the slider 89 rotates
around the slider body, so that part of the pull tab sometimes
might project out so that the part of the pull tab droops from the
bottom edge 87b. If the pull tab of the slider 89 is exposed, the
appearance of the slider is bad and the pull tab is easily hooked
by other members, thereby causing a fear that the slider may be
operated by a mistake.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The present invention has been achieved in views of the
above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the
invention is to provide a slider for a slide fastener capable of
preventing generation of sound even when, for example, it is used
in a seat cover of a vehicle seat by reducing contact sound
generated from a slider body or a pull tab. Another object of the
present invention is to provide a slider for a slide fastener which
can be securely hidden on the back side of a seat cover when a
slide fastener is used in the seat cover or the like.
[0025] To achieve the above-described object, the present invention
provides a slider for a slide fastener in which an upper blade and
a lower blade are connected by a guiding post at a front end
portion on a shoulder mouth side while a slider body having a rear
mouth is provided at the rear end, being characterized by further
including: a gate-shaped pull tab attaching post having right and
left leg portions erected from the upper blade and apart from each
other in a transverse direction of the slider body and a bridge
portion stretched between the top end portions of the right and
left leg portions, the pull tab attaching post being formed
integrally with the slider body; and a pull tab, one end of which
is attached to the bridge portion, the pull tab extending from the
bridge portion.
[0026] In the slider for a slide fastener of the present invention,
the slider body is preferably composed of a synthetic resin.
[0027] Preferably, the slider of the present invention further
includes rotation blocking means for blocking a post attaching
portion for the pull tab to be attached to the bridge portion from
rotating around the bridge portion. In this case, it is preferable
that the rotation blocking means is constituted of a tongue piece
projecting from the bridge portion. The rotation blocking means may
be constructed by fixing the pull tab to the bridge portion.
[0028] In the slider of the present invention, the pull tab is
preferably bendable elastically. Alternatively, the pull tab may be
composed of a hard synthetic resin.
[0029] It is preferable that the pull tab is formed of a narrow
thin piece having first and second pull tab main body portions
disposed in the back-forth direction of the slider and a folding
portion which connects the first and second pull tab main body
portions, and that the first and second pull tab main body portions
have surface fastener engaging elements disposed on at least part
of each of first surfaces which oppose each other when the pull tab
is folded at the folding portion.
[0030] In this case, preferably, the first pull tab main body
portion is formed longer than the second pull tab main body
portion, and male engaging elements of a surface fastener are
disposed in area of the first surface of the first pull tab main
body portion other than a portion thereof the second pull tab main
body portion overlaps when the first and second pull tab main body
portions are engaged with each other. Particularly, it is
preferable that the pull tab is attached such that the first
surface of the first pull tab main body portion faces downward when
the pull tab is extended to the shoulder mouth side of the slider
body from the bridge portion.
[0031] The slider for a slide fastener of the present invention
includes a slider body, a gate-shaped pull tab attaching post
formed integrally on an upper blade of the slider body in a
symmetrical configuration, and a pull tab made of a belt-like body
one end of which is attached to a bridge portion of the pull tab
attaching post. The pull tab attaching post includes right and left
leg portions erected from the upper blade and apart from each other
in the transverse direction of the slider body, and the bridge
portion which is stretched between the top end portions of the
right and left leg portions.
[0032] In the slider of the present invention having such a
configuration, the pull tab is extended in the back-forth direction
of the slider from the bridge portion of the gate-shaped pull tab
attaching post disposed in the right-left direction, and the front
and rear faces of the pull tab are oriented in a lateral direction
with respect to the sliding direction of the slider. Consequently,
the pull tab of the slider is easy to grip and the slider can be
operated easily, thereby securing an excellent operability.
[0033] In the slider of the present invention, one end of the pull
tab is attached directly to the pull tab attaching post without use
of any metallic connecting member like a conventional example.
Thus, generation of contact sound can be prevented effectively even
if the pull tab comes into contact with the slider body or other
member. Particularly, if the slider body is made of a synthetic
resin or the pull tab is made of a belt-like body in the present
invention, generation of the sound due to a contact between the
slider body and the pull tab can be prevented securely. Even if the
slider body comes into contact with other members, generation of
the contact sound can be prevented effectively.
[0034] In the slider of the present invention, the post attaching
portion for the pull tab to be attached to the bridge portion has
the rotation blocking means for blocking the rotation around the
bridge portion. Consequently, the direction of the pull tab when
the slider is not operated can be limited to a certain direction.
Thus, the pull tab can be prevented from dangling and the pull tab
can be prevented from coming into contact with the slider body or
other members.
[0035] By limiting the direction of the pull tab to a certain
direction, the direction of the pull tab when the slide fastener is
closed can be specified to a predetermined one, for example, if the
slide fastener is used in a seat cover of a vehicle seat.
Consequently, when the slider is hidden on the back side of the
seat cover, the pull tab does not jump out from the back side of
the seat cover even if the slider receives a vibration or the like
of the vehicle, whereby the pull tab can be hidden securely.
Accordingly, the closing state of the slider fastener can be
maintained stably.
[0036] In this case, the rotation blocking means can be easily
constructed of the tongue piece projecting from the bridge portion,
or can be easily constructed by fixing the pull tab to the bridge
portion. If the tongue piece is formed as the rotation blocking
means, the direction of the pull tab when the slider is not
operated can be oriented in its predetermined direction easily by
projecting the tongue piece in a predetermined direction from the
bridge portion, for example, to the shoulder mouth side or rear
mouth side in parallel to the upper blade.
[0037] In the slider of the present invention, the pull tab is
constructed to be bendable elastically. Consequently, the direction
of the pull tab can be oriented easily to the sliding direction of
the slider when the slider is slid along element rows, so that the
slider can be operated smoothly. If the slider has the rotation
blocking means, the pull tab can be oriented to a predetermined
direction which is limited by the rotation blocking means when the
pull tab is released from the fingers. The pull tab may be composed
of a hard synthetic resin. Consequently, the pull tab can be
constructed to be easy to grip, whereby the sliding operation of
the slider can be carried out easily.
[0038] The pull tab of the slider of the present invention is
constructed of a narrow thin piece comprised of the first and
second pull tab main body portions disposed in the back-forth
direction of the slider and the folding portion which connects
these. Further, the first and second pull tab main body portions
have engaging elements of a surface fastener which can engage each
other on at least part of each of the first faces. As a result, the
pull tab can be manufactured at a low cost and the pull tab can be
easily attached to the pull tab attaching post.
[0039] In this case, the first pull tab main body portion in the
present invention is formed longer than the second pull tab main
body portion, and male engaging elements of a surface fastener are
disposed in area of the first surface of the first pull tab main
body portion other than a portion thereof the second pull tab main
body portion overlaps when the first and second pull tab main body
portions are engaged with each other. As a result, for example, in
case where the slide fastener is used in the seat cover of the
vehicle seat and the slider is hidden on the back side of the seat
cover, the slider can be fixed at a predetermined position by
engaging the male engaging elements disposed on the first face of
the first pull tab main body portion with the back side of the seat
cover. Therefore, the slider can be prevented from dangling freely,
so that the slider can be prevented from coming into contact with
the seat frame or the like of the vehicle seat, thereby blocking
generation of a contact sound securely. Even if the slider receives
a vibration or the like of the vehicle, it never slides freely
along the element rows, whereby the closing state of the slide
fastener can be maintained stably.
[0040] Particularly when the pull tab is extended to the shoulder
mouth of the slider body from the bridge portion of the pull tab
attaching post, the pull tab is preferably attached such that the
first face of the first pull tab main body portion faces downward
(upper blade side). Consequently, when the slider is hidden on the
back side of the seat cover, the male engaging elements of the
first pull tab main body portion can be easily engaged with the
seat cover back side, whereby the slider can be fixed at a
predetermined position securely.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a slider body of a
slider for a slide fastener according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pull tab of the
slider;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the section in the
back-forth direction of the slider;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a slide fastener constructed
with the slider;
[0045] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the slider when the slider of the
slide fastener is seen from the rear mouth side of the slider;
[0046] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat;
[0047] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a section of part of the
seat cover to be attached to the vehicle seat;
[0048] FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state in which an
extending portion of the slide fastener is hidden;
[0049] FIG. 9 is a schematic view schematically showing a slider
for a slide fastener according to a second embodiment of the
present invention;
[0050] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing a slider for a
slide fastener according to a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0051] FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing a slider
for a slide fastener according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention;
[0052] FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the section
of the slider body;
[0053] FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically
showing a slider for a slide fastener according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention;
[0054] FIG. 14 is a front view showing a conventional slide
fastener;
[0055] FIG. 15 is an explanatory view for explaining a pull tab for
use in the slider fastener; and
[0056] FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a vehicle seat using a
conventional slide fastener.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0057] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
First Embodiment
[0058] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a slider for a slide fastener according to
a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a
perspective view showing a slider body of the slider, and FIG. 2 is
a perspective view showing a pull tab of the slider. FIG. 3 is a
sectional view showing the section in the back-forth direction of
the slider.
[0059] In the description of each embodiment, the back-forth
direction of the slider is a direction parallel to the sliding
direction of the slider. In the slide fastener, a direction in
which the slider is slid to couple right and left elements is
assumed to be forward while a direction in which the slider is slid
to separate the right and left elements is assumed to be backward.
The right and left direction of the slider is a direction at right
angle to the back-forth direction of the slider and parallel to the
fastener tape plane when the slide fastener is constructed, and the
up-down direction of the slider is the same direction as the front
surface to rear surface of the fastener tape when the slider
fastener is constructed.
[0060] The slider 1 for a slide fastener according to the first
embodiment has a slider body 10 shown in FIG. 1 and a pull tab 20
shown in FIG. 2.
[0061] The slider body 10 is constituted of a molded product formed
integrally by injection molding using a thermoplastic synthetic
resin material such as polyamide, polypropylene, polyacetal and
polybutylene terephthalate or a thermoplastic synthetic resin
supplied containing an abrasion resistant reinforcing material
added thereto.
[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, this slider body 10 includes an upper
blade 11, a lower blade 12 disposed in parallel to and apart from
the upper blade 11, a guiding post 13 which connects the front end
portions of the upper and lower blades 11, 12, a gate-shaped pull
tab attaching post 14 formed integrally on the surface (top face)
of the upper blade 11, and right and left flanges 15 erected from
both the right and left side edges on the rear portion side of the
lower blade 12 toward the upper blade 11.
[0063] Consequently, right and left shoulder mouths are formed on
the front portion of the slider body 10 such that the shoulder
mouths are separated by the guiding post 13, and a rear mouth is
formed at the rear end of the slider body 10. A Y-shaped element
guide passage which brings the right and left shoulder mouths and
the rear mouth into communication with each other is provided
between the upper and lower blades 11, 12. This element guide
passage serves as a passage for allowing the right and left
elements 3 to pass therethrough when the slide fastener 7 described
later is constructed.
[0064] The pull tab attaching post 14 includes right and left leg
portions 14a, 14b and a bridge portion 14c. The right and left leg
portions 14a, 14b are erected upward from both the right and left
side ends of the upper blade 11 from a substantially central
portion in the back-forth direction of the slider. The bridge
portion 14c is stretched between top ends of the right and left leg
portions 14a, 14b along the right and left direction of the slider.
Thus, the pull tab attaching post 14 is formed into a symmetrical
shape. The bridge portion 14c is disposed in parallel to the top
face of the upper blade 11, and one end of the pull tab 20 is
attached to the bridge portion 14c. In the present invention, the
right and left leg portions 14a, 14b may be provided at positions
inside of the both right and left side ends of the upper blade 11
as long as they are disposed apart from each other in a transverse
direction of the slider body 10. The positions at which the right
and left leg portions are erected can be changed easily
corresponding to the width dimension or the like of the pull tab
20.
[0065] The pull tab 20 is formed of a woven narrow thin belt-like
body and bendable elastically. The pull tab 20 is comprised of a
first pull tab main body portion 21 disposed in the back-forth
direction of the slider as a grip portion, a second pull tab main
body portion 22 formed shorter in the back-forth direction than the
first pull tab main body portion 21, and a folding portion 23 which
connects the first and second pull tab main body portions 21,
22.
[0066] The first pull tab main body 21 is formed relatively wide in
the right-left direction in order for a user to be able to grip
easily. The first pull tab main body portion 21 has a plurality of
hooks 24 on one surface (first surface 21a), thereby forming a
surface fastener.
[0067] The second pull tab main body portion 22 has the same width
in the right-left direction as the first pull tab main body portion
21. Further, the second pull tab main body portion 22 has a
plurality of loops 25 on the surface on the same side as a face on
which the hooks 24 of the first pull tab main body portion 21 are
disposed, thereby constructing a surface fastener which allows
engagement/disengagement with/from the hooks 24 of the first pull
tab main body portion 21.
[0068] The folding portion 23 is formed narrower than the first and
second pull tab main body portions 21, 22 and no hooks 24 or loops
25 may be disposed on both the front and rear surfaces thereof.
[0069] In the meantime, the pull tab of the present invention is
not limited to this example, but the first and second pull tab main
body portions 21, 22 can construct the surface fastener by
disposing the hooks 24 and the loops 25 mixedly on each first
plane.
[0070] The pull 20 of the first embodiment can be manufactured
easily by punching out, for example, a surface fastener tape in
which the hooks and the loops are disposed in parallel at
predetermined intervals into a shape shown in FIG. 2. The
manufactured pull tab 20 is installed on the bridge portion 14c of
the slider body 10 as follows.
[0071] First, the second pull tab main body portion 22 of the pull
tab 20 is inserted in between the upper blade 11 of the slider body
10 and the bridge portion 14c of the pull tab attaching post 14, so
as to align the folding portion 23 of the pull tab 20 with a
position of the bridge portion 14c of the pull tab attaching post
14. Thereafter, the second pull tab main body portion 22 is folded
to the first pull tab main body portion 21 side, and the first pull
tab main body portion 21 and the second pull tab main body portion
22 are engaged with each other through the hooks 24 and the loops
25. Consequently, the pull tab 20 can be easily attached to the
bridge portion 14c of the slider body 10 such that the pull tab 20
is wound around the bridge portion 14c.
[0072] In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the first pull tab main
body portion 21 of the pull tab 20 is engaged with a partial area
on the folding portion 23 side on which the second pull tab main
body portion 22 is overlaid. Thus, in a portion on which no second
pull tab main body portion 22 is overlaid, the hooks 24 disposed on
the first surface 21a side are exposed.
[0073] In the first embodiment, the pull tab 20 is installed
rotatably around the bridge portion 14c such that, in a state that
the pull tab 20 is extended to the rear mouth side of the slider
body 10 from the bridge portion 14c of the pull tab attaching post
14, the first surface 21a of the first pull tab main body portion
21 faces upward, in other words, in a state that the pull tab is
extended to the shoulder mouth side of the slider body 10 from the
bridge portion 14c of the pull tab attaching post 14, the first
face 21a of the first pull tab main body portion 21 faces downward
(to the upper blade 11).
[0074] The slide fastener 7 is constructed by placing the slider 1
of the first embodiment on the right and left elements 3 of the
pair of right and left fastener stringers 2 as shown in FIGS. 4 and
5. In this case, the pair of right and left fastener stringers 2
are sewed to opposing tape side edge portions of the right and left
fastener tapes 4 with a core thread 6 passed through the coil-like
continuous elements 3.
[0075] In the slide fastener 7 having the slider 1 of the first
embodiment, the pull tab 20 of the slider 1 is formed of an
elastically bendable belt-like body, and the pull tab folding
portion 23 (post attaching portion) is attached rotatably in the
sliding direction of the slider 1 around the pull tab attaching
post 14 of the slider body 10. Thus, the slide fastener 7 of the
first embodiment is excellent in operability of the slider 1
because the pull tab 20 of the slider 1 is easy to grip to allow
the slider 1 to be operated smoothly.
[0076] Further, in the slider 1 of the first embodiment, the pull
tab 20 is attached directly to the pull tab attaching post 14
without use of any metal member. With this configuration, even if
the pull tab 20 comes into contact with the slider body 10 made of
a synthetic resin or other members, generation of contact sound can
be prevented effectively, so that the slider fastener 7 from which
no sound is produced can be constructed.
[0077] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the slide fastener 7 of the first
embodiment can be used preferably in a seat cover or the like of a
vehicle seat 31. In this case, the vehicle seat 31 has a seat
cushion 32 and a seat back 33. The seat cushion 32 and the seat
back 33 include a seat frame (not shown), a pad (not shown) fixed
to the seat frame and having cushion performance, and seat covers
34, 35 for covering the pad.
[0078] The seat cover 35 for use in the seat back 33 has a skin
portion 35a composed of synthetic leather disposed on the outer
face side and a sponge portion 35b disposed on the inner side and
having cushion performance. Two parallel cut-ins 36 are formed on
the seat rear face side of the seat cover 35 in the up-down
direction of the seat, and the slide fasteners 7 of the first
embodiment are sewed along these cut-ins 36 (see FIG. 7).
[0079] In this case, the slide fastener 7 is disposed throughout
the entire length of the cut-ins 36 of the seat cover rear face
portion and is also extended so as to project by a predetermined
length downward from a rear face portion bottom edge 37 of the seat
cover 35. The slide fastener 7 is attached so that end stops are
disposed at both top and bottom end portions of the elements 3.
When the slider 1 is slid downward of the seat 31 along the
elements 3, the slide fastener 7 is closed.
[0080] When the slide fastener 7 of the first embodiment is used in
the seat cover 35 of the vehicle seat 31, the seat cover 35 is
applied to the seat back 33 such that each slide fastener 7 is
opened, and thereafter, the slider 1 is slid downward to close the
slide fastener 7, so that the seat cover 35 can be attached easily
to the seat back 33 with a good appearance.
[0081] Thereafter, an extending portion 7a of the slide fastener 7
extending from the rear face portion bottom edge 37 of the seat
cover 35 is folded to the back side (sponge portion 35b) of the
seat cover rear face portion as shown in FIG. 8 and then inserted
in between the seat cover 35 and the pad. By doing so, the
extending portion 7a can be hidden invisibly from the surface of
the seat 31.
[0082] Particularly in the slider 1 of the first embodiment, the
hooks 24 are exposed from the portion on which no second pull tab
main body portion 22 is overlaid of the first surface 21a of the
first pull tab main body portion 21 of the pull tab 20. Thus, when
the extending portion 7a of the slide fastener 7 is hidden on the
cover back side, the hooks 24 of the first pull tab main body
portion 21 are engaged with the sponge portion 35b of the seat
cover 35 so as to fix the position of the slider 1. Consequently,
even if, for example, the vehicle vibrates during its traveling, it
is possible to prevent deviation of the position of the slider 1
and dangling of the slider 1 between the seat cover 35 and the pad
portion.
[0083] In addition to an effect of preventing generation of the
contact sound between the pull tab 20 and the slider body 10, etc.,
the position of the slider 1 is fixed to prevent the slider 1 from
coming into contact with other members such as the seat frame of
the seat 31. This blocks generation of the contact sound between
the slider 1 and the seat frame, etc.
[0084] Further, because the position of the slider 1 is fixed, the
extending portion 7a of the slider fastener 7 hidden on the cover
back side can be prevented from drooping from the rear face portion
bottom edge 37 of the seat cover due to vibration or the like of
the vehicle so that the extending portion 7a is exposed.
Consequently, a good appearance can be secured stably.
[0085] In the meantime, the slide fastener 7 of the first
embodiment can be applied to, for example, nursing care clothes,
baby clothes and infant clothes as well as the seat cover 35 of the
vehicle seat 31 from viewpoints of operability of the slider 1 and
preventing generation of sound. Particularly the slide fastener 7
of the first embodiment, the position of the slider 1 can be fixed
by the hooks 24 disposed on the pull tab of the slider 1. With this
configuration, the slider 1 can be prevented from being operated by
a child by a mistake effectively when the slide fastener is used
in, for example, baby clothes or infant clothes.
Second Embodiment
[0086] Next, a slider for a slide fastener according to a second
embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a
side view schematically showing the slider for a slide fastener
according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment and
third to fifth embodiments described later, like reference numerals
are attached to components and member having the same structure as
the first embodiment, and description thereof is omitted.
[0087] A slider 41 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 9 has a
slider body 10 and a pull tab 42. The slider body 10 has the same
configuration as the first embodiment. On the other hand, the pull
tab 42 of the second embodiment is formed of a woven narrow thin
belt-like body. The pull tab 42 has first and second pull tab main
body portions 43, 44 each having the same length disposed in the
back-forth direction of the slider and a folding portion 45 for
connecting the pull tab main body portions 43 and 44.
[0088] The first and second pull tab main body portions 43, 44 are
formed relatively large in the width in the right and left
direction in order for a user to grip easily. In the meantime, the
first and second pull tab main body portions 43, 44 have no
engaging elements such as hooks and loops constituting a surface
fastener like the first embodiment. The folding portion 45 is
formed narrower than the first and second pull tab main body
portions 43, 44.
[0089] The pull tab 42 of the second embodiment is attached to the
bridge portion 14c of the slider body 10 in the following manner.
The second pull tab main body portion 44 is inserted in between the
upper blade 11 of the slider body 10 and the pull tab attaching
post 14 so as to align the folding portion 45 of the pull tab 42
with a position of the pull tab attaching post 14. Further, the
second pull tab main body portion 44 is folded to the first pull
tab main body portion 43 side to be overlaid on the first pull tab
main body portion 43. Thereafter, the first pull tab main body
portion 43 and the second pull tab main body portion 44 are sewed
together.
[0090] In the slide fastener constructed using the slider 41 of the
second embodiment, the pull tab 42 is constituted of an elastically
bendable belt-like body and attached such that the pull tab folding
portion 45 can rotate in a sliding direction of the slider 41
around the pull tab attaching post 14 of the slider body 10. Thus,
the slide fastener of the second embodiment allows the pull tab 42
of the slider 41 to be griped easily and the slider 41 to be
operated smoothly.
[0091] In the slider 41 of the second embodiment, the pull tab 42
is attached directly to the pull tab attaching post 14 without use
of any metallic member. Accordingly, even if the pull tab 42 comes
into contact with the slider body made of a synthetic resin or
other members such as a sheet frame, generation of its contact
sound can be prevented effectively so as to construct a slide
fastener from which any sound is not produced.
[0092] The slide fastener of the second embodiment can be used in
the seat cover 35 of the vehicle seat 31 like the first embodiment
and additionally, may be applied preferably to, for example,
nursing care clothes, baby clothes and infant clothes from
viewpoints of operability of the slider, prevention of any sound,
and excellent tactile feeling.
Third Embodiment
[0093] Subsequently, a slider for a slide fastener according to a
third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG.
10 is a side view schematically showing the slider for a slide
fastener of the third embodiment.
[0094] A slider 46 shown in FIG. 10 includes a slider body 10' and
a pull tab 47. In this slider body 10', the shape of a pull tab
attaching post 14' is changed with respect to the slider body 10 of
the first and second embodiments; a bridge portion 14c' stretched
between right and left leg portions 14a' and 14b' is formed
cylindrically; and a pull tab insertion slit is provided in a
substantially central portion of the bridge portion 14c'. In the
meantime, other configuration than the pull tab attaching post 14'
of the slider body 10' is the same as the slider body 10 of the
first and second embodiments.
[0095] The pull tab 47 is formed by molding a synthetic resin. The
pull tab 47 includes a pull tab main body portion 48 disposed in
the back-forth direction of the slider and a post attaching portion
49 formed at one end of the pull tab main body portion 48. A
plurality of hooks 50 are formed on a first face 48a on one side of
the pull tab main body portion 48.
[0096] In this case, the pull tab main body portion 48 is formed of
a hard synthetic resin such that its width in the right-left
direction is relatively large for a user to grip easily. The post
attaching portion 49 is formed integrally with the pull tab main
body portion 48 and has a donut-like circular section which allows
itself to rotate around the bridge portion 14c' of the slider body
10'.
[0097] When attaching the pull tab 47 to the slider body 10', the
post attaching portion 49 of the pull tab 47 is obliquely inserted
into the slit provided on the bridge portion 14c of the slider body
10, so that the bridge portion 14c' is inserted into a hollow
portion of the post attaching portion 49. Further, by rotating the
pull tab 47 while moving it in the width direction of the slider
body 10', the bridge portion 14c' is fitted to the hollow portion
in the post attaching portion 49 from both the right and left
sides. By doing so, the pull tab 47 is rotatably attached to the
slider body 10'.
[0098] The method of attaching the pull tab 47 to the slider body
10' is not limited to any particular one. For example, the pull tab
47 is constructed separately of a first member in which a portion
having a C-shaped section constituting part of the post attaching
portion 49 and the pull tab main body portion 48 are formed
integrally, and a second member having a circular section
constituting the remaining portion of the post attaching portion
49. Then, both end faces of the second member are fitted to both
the end faces of the C-shaped portion with the bridge portion 14c'
of the slider body 10 inserted into the C-shaped portion of the
first member. Subsequently, the first member and the second member
are fused together or bonded together through their contact
portions, so as to achieve attachment of the pull tab 47 to the
slider body 10.
[0099] Because the pull tab 47 made of a synthetic resin is
attached directly to the pull tab attaching post 14', the slider 46
obtained in this way can suppress generation of any contact sound
when the pull tab 47 comes into contact with the slider body made
of a synthetic resin.
[0100] The slide fastener constructed with this slider 46 may be
used preferably in the seat cover 35 of the vehicle seat 31 like
the first embodiment. The slide fastener 46 of the third embodiment
may be used in the seat cover 35 of the vehicle seat 31. In this
case, when the extending portion from the seat cover 35 of the
slide fastener is hidden on the cover back side like the first
embodiment, the hooks 50 of the pull tab main body portion 48 can
be engaged easily with the sponge portion 35b of the seat cover 35.
This is because the first face 48a of the pull tab main body
portion 48 has a plurality of hooks 50.
[0101] Consequently, substantially the same effect as the first
embodiment can be obtained, for example, deviation of the position
of the slider 46 or dangling of the slider 46 can be prevented even
if, for example, the vehicle is vibrated during its traveling.
Fourth Embodiment
[0102] A slider for a slide fastener according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention will be described. Here, FIG.
11 is a perspective view showing a slider body of the slider and
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a section of the
slider.
[0103] The slider 51 of the fourth embodiment includes a slider
body 52 and a pull tab 20. The slider body 52 includes upper and
lower blades 11, 12, a guiding post 13 which connects the front end
portions of the upper and lower blades 11, 12, a gate-shaped pull
tab attaching post 53 formed integrally on the top face of the
upper blade 11, and right and left flanges 15 disposed on both the
right and left side edges of the lower blade 12.
[0104] The pull tab attaching post 53 includes right and left leg
portions 53a, 53b erected upward from both the right and left side
edge portions of the upper blade 11, a bridge portion 53c which is
stretched between the top end portions of the right and left leg
portions 53a and 53b along the right-left direction of the slider,
and a tongue piece 53d projected forward in parallel to the top
face of the upper blade 11 from the bridge portion 53c.
[0105] The pull tab 20 of the fourth embodiment is the same as the
first embodiment, and includes first and second pull tab main body
portions 21, 22 and a folding portion 23 for connecting the first
and second pull tab main body portions 21, 22. The first pull tab
main body portion 21 of the pull tab has a plurality of hooks 24 on
a first surface 21a thereof. The second pull tab main body portion
22 has a plurality of loops 25 capable of engaging the hooks 24 of
the first pull tab main body portion 21 on a first surface 22a
thereof.
[0106] This pull tab 20 is attached such that it is wound around
the bridge portion 53c and the tongue piece 53d of the pull tab
attaching post 53 by inserting the second pull tab main body
portion 22 between the upper blade 11 of the slider body 52, the
bridge portion 53 and the tongue piece 53d of the pull tab
attaching post 53, and then folding back the second pull tab main
body portion 22 to the first pull tab main body portion 21 side to
engage the hooks 24 with the loops 25.
[0107] Particularly in the fourth embodiment, the pull tab 20 is
attached such that the extending direction of the pull tab 20 from
the pull tab attaching post 53 is oriented forward of the slider.
Consequently, the extending direction of the pull tab 20 is limited
to the forward direction by the tongue piece 53d of the pull tab
attaching post 53, and the pull tab 20 is blocked from rotating
around the bridge portion 53c and the tongue piece 53d. This
enables the pull tab 20 to be blocked from dangling freely.
[0108] In the slide fastener constructed with the slider 51 of the
fourth embodiment, the pull tab 20 of the slider 51 is bendable
elastically. With this configuration, the pull tab 20 can be bent
easily by gripping with the fingers when the slider 51 is operated,
although the pull tab 20 cannot be rotated around the pull tab
attaching post 53.
[0109] For example, when the slide fastener is closed, the slider
51 can be slid easily in its closing direction by gripping the pull
tab 20 of the slider 51 and pulling it in an extension direction of
the pull tab 20. Further, when the slide fastener is opened to the
right and left sides, the slider 51 can be slid easily in its
opening direction by gripping the pull tab 20 of the slider 51 and
pulling it in an opposite direction (backward) to the extending
direction while bending it (see two-dot and dash line in FIG. 12).
When the fingers are released from the pull tab 20 after the slider
51 is operated, the pull tab 20 can be reoriented forward of the
slider with respect to the bridge portion 53c by the tongue piece
53d provided on the pull tab attaching post 53 and the elastic
restoration of the pull tab 20.
[0110] In case where the slide fastener of the fourth embodiment is
used in the seat cover 35 of the vehicle seat 31 shown in FIG. 6,
the pull tab 20 can be oriented forward of the slider securely with
respect to the bridge portion 53c when the slide fastener is closed
to cause the extending portion of the slide fastener to be hidden
by the back side of the seat cover rear face portion. Thus, the
hooks 24 exposed on the first face 21a of the first pull tab main
body portion 21 of the pull tab 20 can be securely engaged with the
sponge portion 35b of the seat cover 35, and the position of the
slider can be fixed more securely than the first embodiment. In the
meantime, the tongue piece 53d may be projected backward in
parallel to the top face of the upper blade 11 from the bridge
portion 53c.
Fifth Embodiment
[0111] A slider for a slide fastener according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a
longitudinal sectional view showing the section of the slider.
[0112] A slider 61 of the fifth embodiment includes a slider body
62 and a pull tab 20. The slider body 62 includes upper and lower
blades 11, 12, a guiding post 13 which connects the front end
portions of the upper and lower blades 11, 12, a gate-shaped pull
tab attaching post 63 formed integrally on the top face of the
upper blade 11, and right and left flanges 15 disposed on both the
right and left side edges of the lower blade 12.
[0113] The pull tab attaching post 63 includes right and left leg
portions erected upward from both right and left side edge portions
of the upper blade 11 and a bridge portion 63c which is stretched
between the top end portions of the right and left leg portions.
The bridge portion 63c is formed in a larger thickness than the
slider 1 of the first embodiment.
[0114] On the other hand, the pull tab 20 of the fifth embodiment
is the same as the first and fourth embodiments and includes first
and second pull tab main body portions 21, 22 and a folding portion
23.
[0115] The pull tab 20 of the fifth embodiment is wound around the
bridge portion 63c by inserting the second pull tab main body
portion 22 in between the upper blade 11 of the slider body 62 and
the bridge portion 63c and folding the second pull tab main body
portion 22 to the first pull tab main body portion 21 side so that
the second pull tab main body portion 22 is engaged with the first
pull tab main body portion 21. Thereafter, with the pull tab 20
held such that it is extended forward of the slider from the bridge
portion 63c, the folding portion 23 of the pull tab 20 is fixed to
the bridge portion 63c by ultrasonic welding or the like.
[0116] Consequently, the extending direction of the pull tab 20 is
limited to forward and the folding portion 23 of the pull tab 20 is
blocked from rotating around the bridge portion 63c. Thus, the pull
tab 20 can be prevented from dangling freely around the pull tab
attaching post 63.
[0117] In the slide fastener constructed with the slider 61 of the
fifth embodiment, the pull tab 20 of the slider 61 is bendable
elastically. Thus, in the slide fastener of the fifth embodiment,
the pull tab 20 can be bent by gripping with the fingers when
operating the slider 61 like the fourth embodiment, and when the
slide fastener is closed or opened, the sliding operation of the
slider 61 can be carried out easily. Further, when the fingers are
released from the pull tab 20 after the slider 61 is operated, the
pull tab 20 can be oriented forward of the slider with respect to
the bridge portion 63c, thereby obtaining the same effect as the
slide fastener of the fourth embodiment.
* * * * *