U.S. patent application number 12/402070 was filed with the patent office on 2009-09-17 for slide fastener and a top stop for a slide fastener.
This patent application is currently assigned to Riri, S.A.. Invention is credited to Livio Cossutti, Roberto Peano.
Application Number | 20090229090 12/402070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39638844 |
Filed Date | 2009-09-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090229090 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cossutti; Livio ; et
al. |
September 17, 2009 |
Slide Fastener and a Top Stop for a Slide Fastener
Abstract
A slide fastener (1) comprising a slider (5) with a pull-tab
(6), and a top stop (4) with a retaining element (20) disposed to
act against a contact face (30) of the puller (6), when said
pull-tab (6) is in a suitable locking position, to prevent the
slider (5) from sliding away and keep the fastener (1) closed.
Inventors: |
Cossutti; Livio; (Mendrisio,
CH) ; Peano; Roberto; (Malnate (VA), IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
AKERMAN SENTERFITT
P.O. BOX 3188
WEST PALM BEACH
FL
33402-3188
US
|
Assignee: |
Riri, S.A.
Mendriso
CH
|
Family ID: |
39638844 |
Appl. No.: |
12/402070 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/388 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20130101;
Y10T 24/2513 20150115; A44B 19/301 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/388 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/30 20060101
A44B019/30 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 13, 2008 |
EP |
08004703.8 |
Claims
1. A slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, carrying respective
teeth, a top stop and a slider comprising a puller, the slider
being movable up to a closing position of the fastener where said
slider is in contact with said top stop, wherein the top stop
comprises at least one retaining element adapted to retain the
slider in said closing position.
2. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one retaining element is integrally formed with the top stop.
3. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one retaining element is disposed to act as a stop means for the
slider when said puller is fitted on the top stop in a determined
locking position.
4. The slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein said determined
locking position of the puller is a position where the puller is
lying on the top stop, substantially parallel to the sliding
direction of the slider along the fastener.
5. The slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein said retaining
element has a surface adapted to act as a stop means against a
contact face of said puller.
6. The slide fastener according to claim 3, wherein the top stop
further comprises at least one locking element, adapted to a snap
engagement with a suitable seat or portion of the puller, to retain
the puller in said locking position.
7. The slide fastener according to claim 6, wherein said at least
one locking element is formed as a toothed element adapted to snap
on a ring connecting the puller to the slider.
8. The slide fastener according to claim 7, wherein said at least
one toothed element is formed with an elastically deformable stem
portion and a head portion, said head portion projecting from top
of the stem portion and defining an undercut recess for receiving
the ring of the puller.
9. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one retaining element of the top stop is formed as a front wall of
the top stop, comprising a base part with a surface adapted to act
as a stop means against a contact face of the puller, and two
elastically deformable toothed elements for locking the puller in a
locking position, said elements projecting upwards from said base
part and each defining an undercut recess for receiving the ring of
the puller.
10. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said top stop
comprises at least one pin adapted to engage a corresponding hole
of the puller.
11. The slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein said at least
one retaining element of the top stop is adapted to cooperate with
a corresponding locking element of the slider, the locking element
of the slider being engaged with said retaining element of the top
stop when the slider reaches the top stop.
12. The slide fastener according to claim 1, the fastener being
fluid-tight.
13. An item such as a sports suit or the like, comprising a slide
fastener according to claim 1.
14. A top stop for a slide fastener, the slide fastener comprising
a slider with a puller, said top stop being characterized by at
least one retaining element adapted to retain the slider in said
closing position.
15. The top stop for a slide fastener according to claim 14,
wherein said at least one retaining element is formed as a wall of
the top stop, the top stop being adapted to receive the puller in a
locking position, said wall comprising a surface adapted to act as
a stop means against a contact face of the puller when the puller
is fitted on the top stop in said locking position.
Description
FIELD OF APPLIATION
[0001] The present invention refers to a slide fastener and to a
top stop of a slide fastener. The invention relates in particular
to fluid-tight slide fasteners and top stops of fluid-tight slide
fasteners.
PRIOR ART
[0002] A slide fastener, in essential terms, comprises a pair of
tapes bearing respective rows of teeth, top and bottom stops, and a
slider for opening and closing the fastener by engaging and
disengaging the teeth. The slider is operated by a puller (or
pull-tab) which is usually connected to the slider by a ring or a
ring shaped end portion of the same puller.
[0003] The top and bottom stops are at opposite ends of the slide
fastener, which is completely closed when the slider reaches the
top stop.
[0004] Fluid-tight slide fasteners, in particular, are used in
sports and outdoor activity items, diving or sailing suits, camping
tents and the like, and are required to securely prevent the
passage of a liquid and/or gas, e.g. water and/or air. In some
cases, a fluid-tight fastener must ensure fluid-tightness even
under a significant pressure difference between the interior and
the exterior, for example up to about 2 bars.
[0005] Fluid-tight slide fasteners are realized for example with
layered tapes made of a textile core with a waterproof coating
layer, and injection-molded teeth.
[0006] The slider of a slide fastener, more in detail, comprises
upper and lower blades, lateral flanges and a central portion,
called diamond, connecting the upper and lower blades. In known
slide fasteners, especially fluid-tight slide fasteners, the top
stop is a substantially U-shaped element with leg portions defining
a front opening for the diamond of the slider, and a seat for
receiving said diamond when the slide fastener is fully closed. It
is known technique to provide a suitable shape of the lateral
flanges of the slider so that they act on the sides of said leg
portions of the U-shaped top stop, in order to close said front
opening in a fluid-tight manner when the slider reaches the
full-closed position.
[0007] It can be understood that, in order to guarantee the
fluid-tightness of the closed slide fastener, during the use, the
slider should be kept in position and prevented from moving away
from the top stop. In fact, an accidental displacement of the
slider, even of few tenths of a millimeter, may compromise the
fluid-tightness of the fastener at the region of the top stop
and/or between the teeth.
[0008] Nevertheless, the user must always be able to open the slide
fastener quickly, also for safety reasons. These needs are felt, in
particular, in the field of fluid-tight slide fasteners for
waterproof items such as diving suits, military or fireman suits,
and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The technical problem underlying the invention is to provide
a reliable and safe closure of a slide fastener as defined above,
avoiding the slider from leaving the position where the fastener is
fully closed, allowing at the same time a quick and easy opening of
the fastener itself.
[0010] This problem is solved by a slide fastener comprising a pair
of tapes, carrying respective teeth, a top stop and a slider
comprising a puller, the slider being movable up to a closing
position of the fastener where said slider is in contact with said
top stop, characterized in that the top stop comprises at least one
retaining element adapted to retain the slider in said closing
position.
[0011] According to a further aspect of the invention, said at
least one retaining element is integrally formed with the top
stop.
[0012] According to another aspect of the invention, said retaining
element is disposed to act as a stop means for the slider when the
puller is fitted on the top stop in a determined locking position.
Preferably, said locking position is a position where the puller is
lying on the top stop, substantially parallel to the sliding
direction of the slider.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, a retaining element is integrally
formed with the top stop, having a surface disposed to act as a
stop means against a contact face of the puller, when the puller is
fitted on the top stop in said locking position.
[0014] According to further aspects of the invention, the top stop
further comprises at least one locking element, adapted to a snap
engagement with a suitable seat or portion of the puller, to retain
the puller in said locking position. Preferably, said seat or
portion of the puller is a ring or a ring portion connecting the
puller to the slider.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, said at least one locking element
is an elastically deformable element adapted to snap on the ring
connecting the puller to the slider. Preferably, said locking
element has an elastically deformable stem portion and a head
portion projected from top of the stem portion, defining an
undercut recess for receiving the ring of the puller.
[0016] Said locking element(s), according to the invention, are
able to engage/disengage the ring of the slider by elastic
deformation induced by contact with the ring itself when the puller
is locked or unlocked on the top stop. Preferably, the head portion
of the locking elements has a suitably profiled surface to allow
deformation of the element by contact with the ring of the slider,
while the puller is pressed down to the locking position, or lifted
from that position. Thanks to said profiled surface, contact with
the ring of the puller results in a force directed to deform the
locking element(s) in such a way to receive or, respectively, to
free the ring of the puller, as will be clearer hereinbelow with
the help of an example.
[0017] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, said at
least one retaining element of the top stop is formed as a wall of
the top stop, comprising a base part with a surface adapted to act
as a stop means against a contact face of the puller, and two
locking elements formed as elastically deformable toothed elements
projecting upwards from said base part and each defining an
undercut recess for receiving the ring of the puller.
[0018] More in detail, the base part of the wall integrally formed
with the top stop has a front surface facing the slider and a rear
surface adapted to act as a stop means against a bottom face of the
puller, to retain the slider when the puller is in the locking
position.
[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, the top stop
comprises at least one pin adapted to engage a corresponding hole
of the puller, to retain the puller from lateral movement.
[0020] In further embodiments of the invention, the retaining
element is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding locking
element of the slider. As an example, the top stop has a suitable
seat or recess for receiving a locking element projecting from the
front of the slider, the locking element of the slider being
engaged in said seat or recess of the top stop when the slider
reaches the top stop. In these further embodiments, a disengagement
system, e.g. by pressing a disengagement button, can also be
provided on the top stop, to unlock the slider.
[0021] An object of the invention is also a top stop for a slide
fastener, the slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, carrying
respective teeth, and a slider comprising a puller, the slider
being movable to a closing position where said teeth are fully
engaged and the slider is in contact with the top stop, the top
stop being characterized by comprising at least one retaining
element(s) as described above.
[0022] In particular, the invention provides a top stop for a slide
fastener wherein said at least one retaining element is formed as a
front wall of the top stop, the top stop being adapted to receive
the puller of the slider in a locking position, said front wall
comprising a surface adapted to act as a stop means against a
contact face of the puller when the puller is fitted in said
locking position.
[0023] The invention has the advantage that the slider is securely
kept in the closing position. It should be noted that the snap-on
engagement between the locking elements and the slider, namely the
puller thereof, provides a quick and simple locking/unlocking
action, so that the slider of the fastener is securely kept in the
closing position and prevented from accidental opening even under
intensive use, but the user can open the fastener rapidly and
easily at any time.
[0024] The invention is particularly useful in a fluid-tight
fastener, where a small deviation of the slider from the
full-closing position may compromise the fluid-tightness. Hence, an
item fitted with a slide fastener according to the invention, such
as a sports garment or the like, gives reliable fluid-tight
performance with easy and safe use.
[0025] Further advantages and characteristics of the slide fastener
according to the invention will be more evident from the detailed
description and examples provided here below, with indicative and
not limiting purpose.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top end of a slide
fastener according to an embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 1, with the
puller of the slider in a different position.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a top view of the fastener, in the position of
FIG. 3.
[0030] FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views according to lines
V-V and VI-VI of FIG. 4.
[0031] FIG. 7 is an enlargement of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0032] FIG. 1 shows a top portion of a slide fastener 1, in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, comprising
a pair of tapes 2, equipped with teeth 3, a top stop 4, and a
slider 5 with a puller 6. The puller 6 is connected to the slider 5
by a ring 7.
[0033] The slider 5 is movable in a sliding direction, parallel to
tapes 2, up to a closing position where the slide fastener 1 is
fully closed, i.e. all teeth 3 are engaged and the slider 5 is in
contact with the top stop 4. Said closing position is shown in FIG.
1.
[0034] Details of tapes 2 an teeth 3 can be according to known art
and are not discussed in detail. For example, in a fluid-tight
sliding fastener, tapes 2 are made of a textile core layer fully
coated on both sides by a suitable waterproof layer and teeth 3 are
injection-molded on tapes 2. The top stop 4, in a fluid-tight slide
fastener, can also be injection-molded on tapes 2.
[0035] The slider 5 (FIG. 2) substantially comprises upper and
lower blades 8, 9 with lateral flanges 10, 11 on both sides, and a
diamond connecting said upper and lower blades 8, 9. Flanges 10 and
11, in use, act on suitable contact faces of teeth 3 in order to
bring the facing teeth of the tapes 2 to reciprocal engagement,
according to known art. When the slide fastener 1 is fully closed,
i.e. the slider 5 is in the position of FIG. 1, the diamond can be
received in a seat between leg portions 12 of the top stop 4.
[0036] The puller 6 can be fitted from the position of normal use,
as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, to a locking position on the top stop 4,
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In said locking position, the puller 6 is
lying on the top stop 4, substantially parallel to the sliding
direction of the slider 5.
[0037] A front wall 20 is integrally formed in the top stop 4,
acting as a stop means against a bottom contact face 30 of the
puller 6. The wall 20 has a rear surface 32 (FIG. 2) acting as a
stop means against the contact face 30 of the puller 6, when in
position of FIGS. 3-4. Opposite to the surface 32, the wall 20 has
a front surface 31 facing the slider; advantageously, there is a
gap between said front surface 31 and the slider 5 for clearance
recovery. The contact face 30 may be slightly curved and, in this
case, the rear surface 32 of wall 20 is curved accordingly (FIG.
4).
[0038] Two toothed elements 22, 23 project upwards from the central
portion of base part 21 of the wall 20, adapted to mechanically
engage the ring 7 in order to "lock" the puller 6 in the position
of FIGS. 3-4. Each of said elements 22 and 23 has an elastically
deformable stem portion projecting upwards from the base 21, and a
head portion defining an undercut recess 22 for receiving the ring
7 when the puller is in the locking position.
[0039] As seen in the cross-sectional view of FIGS. 5 and 7, each
of elements 22, 23 has a stem portion 24 projecting upwards from
base part 21 of the wall 20, and carrying a head portion 25
projecting laterally and outward from the top of the stem 24,
defining inclined surfaces 26 and 27 converging to an edge 28, and
the undercut recess 22 below said edge 28 and between the base 21
and the head 25 itself.
[0040] Pressing the ring 7 against faces 26 or 27 has the effect of
bending laterally and inwards the stem portion 24 of the toothed
elements 22 and 23, thus engaging the ring 7 in the recess 22 or
vice-versa disengaging the same ring 7 and puller 6 from the
locking position.
[0041] In the shown embodiment, the top stop 4 also comprises a pin
40 which is received in a corresponding hole 41 of the puller 6,
when the puller 6 is in said locking position. Said pin 40,
received in the hole 41, retains the puller 6 from lateral
movement.
[0042] In the example, the pin 40 is elliptical and frusto-conical,
with a cross section decreasing from base to top. However, the pin
40 may also be cylindrical in simpler embodiments.
[0043] The invention is open to many variants. In other (not shown)
embodiments, for example, the toothed elements 22, 23 or equivalent
locking elements can engage a suitable seat (e.g. a recess) of the
puller, rather than the ring connecting the puller to the slider.
Clearly, the position of said locking elements can be different
according to the needs and/or the design of the top stop.
[0044] The puller 6 may also be shaped in a different manner, for
example with a hole in the bottom part defining a ring portion
connecting the puller with the slider 5.
[0045] The retaining element, rather than wall 20, may be realized
in different ways, including a plastic or metal element not
integrally formed with the top stop itself.
[0046] In a further variant, the slider 5 may be equipped with a
locking element, adapted to cooperate with another engagement
element provided in the top stop 4, so that when the slider 5
reaches the top stop 4, said slider is locked to the top stop and
prevented from sliding away. An unlocking system may be
incorporated in the top stop.
[0047] Referring to said further variant, the slider for example
has a first coupling element protruding from the front of the
slider itself, adapted to snap on a second coupling element or
recess of the top stop when the slider reaches the top stop. Said
second coupling element or recess may be provided e.g. on face 31
or equivalent part of the top stop 4. The top stop has an unlocking
button associated to said second coupling element of the top stop,
so that acting on said button the user can move the second coupling
element to a disengaging position, freeing the slider from the top
stop.
[0048] Referring back to embodiment of the figures, the invention
operates as follows.
[0049] When closing the slide fastener 1, the user pulls the slider
5 up to the position of FIG. 1, where all the teeth 3 are mutually
engaged and the slider 5 reaches the top stop 4.
[0050] To secure the fastener, the user lowers the pull-tab 6 from
the position of use of FIGS. 1-2 to the locked position of FIGS.
3-4. As the ring 7 contacts the upper surfaces 26 of teeth 22, 23
(FIG. 2), and due to inclination of said surfaces 26, the stems 24
are deformed until the ring 7 can overcome the edge 28, and reach
the undercut recesses 22.
[0051] When the ring 7 is received in said undercut recesses 22
(FIG. 5), it is locked by elements 22, 23. The contact between
surfaces 30 and 32 prevents the slider 5 from sliding away from the
top stop 4, thus keeping the fastener 1 closed and ensuring
fluid-tightness at the region of the top stop 4. The puller 6 is
safely prevented from leaving the locking position, by lateral
outward projections of the heads 25 of elements 22 and 23, locking
the ring 7 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. This is sufficient to avoid
undesired unlock due to the use, plying of the fastener, etc. The
pin 40 is a further help to maintain the puller 6 in the correct
locking position, preventing the puller from lateral movement.
[0052] The fastener is unlocked by lifting the puller 6, so that
the ring 7 bends the elements 22, 23 pressing against the contact
surfaces 27, until the ring 7 itself reaches the edge 28 and is
freed to the use position of FIGS. 1-2 again. Then, the user can
open the slide fastener 1 as usual.
[0053] It should be appreciated that the puller 6 is locked and
unlocked manually and in a quick and immediate way by lowering or,
respectively, lifting the puller. Notwithstanding this, when the
puller 6 is locked the slider 5 is firmly secured on the top stop
4, and accidental opening of the fastener and/or loss of the
fluid-tightness is prevented in a reliable way.
[0054] Of course, a person skilled in the art can bring
modifications and variants to the invention in order to satisfy
specific requirements, all of which are in any case covered by the
scope of protection of the following claims.
* * * * *