U.S. patent application number 13/038008 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-01 for bottom end stop for a slide fastener.
This patent application is currently assigned to RIRI SA. Invention is credited to Luca Liut, Alessandro Ostinelli.
Application Number | 20110209308 13/038008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42357441 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110209308 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ostinelli; Alessandro ; et
al. |
September 1, 2011 |
Bottom End Stop for a Slide Fastener
Abstract
A bottom end stop (1) for a slide fastener, comprising a plate
member (2) and deformable arm portions (4a, 4b, 4c; 5a, 5b, 5c),
arranged to form accommodating portions (3) for side edges of
fastener tapes of a slide fastener; the arm portions have a
proximal end (18) connected to the plate member (2), and a distal
end facing a side part (2a, 2b) of the plate member; a plurality of
left arm portions (4a, 4b, 4c) and a plurality of right arm
portions (5a, 5b, 5c) are arranged along the left and right sides
of the bottom end stop (1).
Inventors: |
Ostinelli; Alessandro;
(Castel S. Pietro, CH) ; Liut; Luca; (Venegono
Inferiore (VA), IT) |
Assignee: |
RIRI SA
Mendrisio
CH
|
Family ID: |
42357441 |
Appl. No.: |
13/038008 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/436 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2598 20150115;
A44B 19/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/436 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/24 20060101
A44B019/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2010 |
EP |
10155076.2 |
Claims
1. A bottom end stop for a slide fastener, comprising: a plate
member and deformable arm portions, arranged to form a left and
right accommodating portions for side edges of fastener tapes of a
slide fastener, wherein said arm portions extend from said plate
member, each of the arm portions having a proximal end connected to
the plate member, and a distal end facing a side part of the plate
member; and wherein the end stop comprises a plurality of left arm
portions and a plurality of right arm portions, arranged along the
left and right sides of the bottom end stop respectively, and
spaced from each other.
2. The end stop according to claim 1, the arm portions having
proximal ends joined to a longitudinal relief of the rear face of
the plate member.
3. The end stop according to claim 1, each arm portion having a
base part connecting the proximal end of the arm portion to the
rear face of the plate member, said base part being larger than the
proximal end of the arm portion.
4. The end stop according to claim 3, said larger base part being
substantially formed as a pyramid, with inclined surfaces joining
the proximal end of the arm portion to the rear face of the plate
member.
5. The end stop according to claim 1, the distal ends of the left
arm portions and the distal ends of the right arm portions being
connected by respective bridge portions, left and right windows
being formed by two adjacent arm portions and said bridge
portions.
6. The end stop according to claim 1, the plate member comprising
left and right end flanges, and opposite flanges being associated
to the arm portions.
7. The end stop according to claim 5, the flanges of the arm
portions being integrally formed with said bridge portions.
8. The end stop according to claim 1, the plate member having an
upper flat surface.
9. The end stop according to claim 1, the end stop being non
symmetrical with respect to a vertical axis, to allow automatic
recognition of front/rear of the stop.
10. The end stop according to claim 9, the position of front arm
portions and rear arm portions being non symmetrical with respect
to a vertical axis of said plate member, thus forming a rear step
adapted to allow said automatic recognition.
11. The end stop according to claim 1, the end stop being made of
metal.
12. A slide fastener comprising a bottom end stop, having a plate
member and deformable arm portions, arranged to form a left and
right accommodating portions for side edges of fastener tapes of a
slide fastener, wherein said arm portions extend from said plate
member, each of the arm portions having a proximal end connected to
the plate member, and a distal end facing a side part of the plate
member; and wherein the end stop comprises a plurality of left arm
portions and a plurality of right arm portions, arranged along the
left and right sides of the bottom end stop respectively, and
spaced from each other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to European Patent
Application No. 10155076.2, filed Mar. 1, 2010, the entirety of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF APPLICATION
[0002] The invention refers to a bottom end stop for a slide
fastener. The invention discloses an improvement to bottom end
stops that enable a decoration such as letters or marks.
PRIOR ART
[0003] A description of the related art can be found in FR-A-2 908
610. Conventional bottom end stops are substantially X-shaped with
a core portion and four leg portions departing obliquely from the
core portion. The bottom end stop is clamped on side edges of the
fastener tapes, or reinforcing side cords thereof, by pressing and
deforming the aforesaid leg portions. A projection is formed on the
inner side of the leg portions, to form an accommodating portion
for the side edge of the fastener tape. Drawbacks of such end stops
are that cracks may often occur when the bottom end stop is
pressed, and the lack of any plane surface for a decoration such as
letters or marks.
[0004] Another bottom end stop is disclosed, which is constituted
of an upper plate and a lower plate connected by a base portion;
the upper plate is formed of a flat plate and a flange is provided
on each of both side ends thereof by bending each side end; the
lower plate comprises a circular groove portion formed in a center
of a rear face thereof. More in detail, the lower plate and the
upper plate face each other in the vertical direction, and arm
portions are formed so as to extend from a central side of the
lower plate toward each of the right and left sides of the lower
plate. The core portion of the right and left fastener tapes is
sandwiched between the upper plate and the lower plate. This kind
of a bottom end stop makes available a flat surface on the upper
plate, which is not deformed while the stop is pressed on the
fastener tapes and, then, is adapted to receive a decoration or
mark, prior to attachment to the fastener tapes. In addition, the
circular groove is thought to reduce the risk of cracks.
[0005] The above solution however is not yet satisfying. The
applicant has found that under intense use, the attachment to the
edges of the fastener tapes is not resistant enough, especially in
the longitudinal direction, i.e. the sliding direction of the
slider of the fastener, and slipping of the end stop may occur. The
bottom end stop must be able to absorb the impact with the slider,
for example when the slide fastener is opened quickly. Any
misalignment of the bottom end stop, that may be caused by intense
use and slipping of the end stop relative to fastener tapes, can
compromise the correct function and appearance of the slide
fastener. The bottom end stop is required to maintain the
engagement between the teeth, in particular to form a support for
the bottom end tooth of the slide fastener. In case of a failure of
the attachment of the end stop, a disengagement of the bottom teeth
may occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The problem faced by the invention is to improve the
attachment to fastener tape edges of a bottom end stop, the stop
allowing an upper flat surface for decorations, marks or the
like.
[0007] The problem is solved with a bottom end stop for a slide
fastener, comprising a plate member and deformable arm portions
arranged to form a left and right accommodating portions for side
edges of fastener tapes of a slide fastener, characterized in that
said arm portions extend from said plate member, each of the arm
portions having a proximal end connected to the plate member, and a
distal end facing a side part of the plate member, and in that the
end stop comprises a plurality of left arm portions and a plurality
of right arm portions, arranged along the left and right sides of
the bottom end stop respectively, and spaced from each other.
[0008] The number of left and right arm portions is variable.
Preferably, the arms are curved towards the left/right ends of the
stop; more preferably the arms are formed substantially as arcs of
a circumference.
[0009] Due to the provision of two or more arm portions spaced
along sides of the stop, there is at least a free space or a window
between two adjacent arm portions, on each side of the plate. This
allows a free expansion of the fastener edges under deformation, as
will be explained hereinbelow.
[0010] The distal ends of the arm portions, distanced from the
plate member, may be connected by bridge portions. Bridged arm
portions form respective windows, between two consecutive arm
portions. Hence, the distal ends of the two (or more) left arm
portions and the distal ends of the two (or more) right arm
portions are connected by a left bridge portion and a right bridge
portion, so that clamping deformable elements are formed on each
side of the end stop, each clamping element having one (or more)
window between consecutive arm portions.
[0011] The plate member and the ends of the arm portions may be
provided with flanges to securely hold the edges of the fastener
tapes. Flanges can also be formed integrally with the bridge
portions.
[0012] According to some embodiments of the invention, the proximal
ends of the arm portions are joined to a longitudinal relief
projecting from the rear face of the plate member. A left and right
relief may be provided, supporting the left and right arm portions,
respectively. Each arm portion may have a base part larger than
said proximal end. For example, each arm portion may have a base
part substantially formed as a pyramid, with inclined faces that
gradually join the proximal end of the arm portion to the rear face
of the plate member.
[0013] The plate member has an upper flat surface that is suitable
to receive a trademark, logo or any decoration, prior to attachment
of the stop to the fastener tapes.
[0014] The bottom end stop is preferably made of metal or a metal
alloy. More preferably the material of the stop is a Zinc alloy.
The end stop can be manufactured for example by die casting.
[0015] It has been noted that the arrangement with two or more arm
portions on each side allows a more secure and stronger attachment
to the fastener tapes, thanks to the free space or window which
remain between the arm portions. It has been noted that, since the
material of the side edges of the fastener tape is allowed to
expand through said free space or windows, a deeper penetration of
the arm portion into the side edges is possible. In other words,
the presence of two or more arm portions on each sides, and related
one or more intermediate free spaces or windows, allows expansion
of the deformable material of the side edges of fastener tapes,
thus compensating for the deformation induced by the rigid metal
portions on the material of the fastener tape edges. This ability
is not found in the conventional bottom end stops, with only one
and relatively large arm portions on each side, leaving no room for
such expansion. It can be stated that the inventive bottom end stop
is more adaptive to the actual deformation of the fastener tape
edges, upon pressing of the stop onto the tape edges, this
resulting in a stronger attachment.
[0016] Another advantage of the invention is that the arm portions,
departing from the plate member, rather than being associated to a
further lower plate, are longer and are more easily deformed, thus
reducing the risk of cracking also without the need of a circular
groove.
[0017] The plate member is substantially unaffected by the clamping
action and related deformation of the arm portions. Then, a
decoration, a logo or a mark can be expressed on the visible outer
surface of the plate member.
[0018] These and further advantages of the invention will be more
evident from the detailed description provided here below, given as
indicative and not limiting example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view of a bottom end stop for a slide fastener,
according to one of the embodiments of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the stop of FIG.
1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the end stop of FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the bottom end stop of FIG. 1,
showing the edges of fastener tapes of a slide fastener.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the bottom end stop of FIG. 1
attached to edges of the fastener tapes.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cut-out view of the bottom end stop and fastener
tapes of FIG. 5.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a view of a bottom end stop according to a second
embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIGS. 8 to 10 are views of a bottom end stop according to a
third embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] A bottom end stop 1 for a slide fastener comprises a plate
member 2 and deformable arm portions departing from said plate
member 2. The arm portions are arranged on a plurality of left arm
portions 4a to 4c, and a plurality of right arm portions 5a to 5c.
The figures show embodiments with two arm portions 4a, 4b and 5a,
5b on each side, or three arm portions 4a to 4c and 5a to 5c each
side. Each of said arm portions extends from a proximal end 18
connected to a rear face 11 of said plate member 2 (FIG. 2), to a
distal end facing a left side part 2a or right side part 2b of the
plate member 2. Accommodating portions 3 for the side edges of
fastener tapes of a slide fastener are formed between said parts
2a, 2b of the plate 2 and the arm portions.
[0028] The upper plate 2 is formed with a flat surface 2c, covering
at least a portion of the outer face of said plate 2.
[0029] The distal ends of left and right arm portions, distanced
from the plate 2, can be connected each other by a respective left
and right bridge portion 6. A window 7 is then formed between two
adjacent left or right bridged arm portions.
[0030] The distal ends of the arm portions are preferably provided
with flanges 12 and, more preferably, corresponding flanges 13 are
provided at the side ends of the upper plate 2. As shown in FIGS. 1
to 5, flanges 12 may be integral with the bridge portions 6
connecting the distal ends of the arm portions. Said flanges 12 and
13 are arranged to surround the side edges 21 of fastener tapes 20,
when the bottom end stop 1 is clamped on said tapes 20 as seen in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0031] The arm portions preferably depart from a central region 8
of the plate member 2. Said central region 8 may be formed thicker
than other parts of the plate member 2. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the proximal ends 18 of the arm portions may be joined to a left
and right relief 10, distancing the proximal ends 18 from the rear
face 11 of the plate member 2. A groove 9 may optionally be
provided between the reliefs 10. Said groove 9 however is not
essential. In another embodiment (not shown), a single relief 10 is
provided at the center of the rear face 11 of the plate member 2,
all the left and right arm portions being joined to said single
relief.
[0032] A further embodiment is depicted in FIG. 7: each of the arm
portions, such as for example the arm portion 4b, has a base part
15 larger than the proximal end 18. Preferably, said base part 15
is substantially formed as a pyramid, with inclined side surfaces
16, that gradually join the proximal end 18 of the arm portion to
the rear face 11 of the plate member 2 or to the aforesaid relief
or reliefs 10.
[0033] The advantage achieved with said larger base part 15 is that
the starting point of deformation of the arm portions is distanced
from the plate 2, the larger base part 15 being more rigid than the
rest of the arm portion. Hence, the larger base part 15 helps to
maintain a constant deformation of the arm portion during the
pressing action that secures the end stop 1 to the tapes 20, and
the deformed arm portion, as seen for example in FIG. 5, can more
efficiently embrace the tape edge 21. Moreover, excessive stress of
the base part of the arm portion, with the related risk of cracks,
is avoided.
[0034] A logo, trademark or other decoration can be made on the
surface 2c, before the end stop 1 is attached to the fastener tapes
20. Preferably, the upper stop 1 is non symmetrical with respect to
a vertical axis, to allow automatic recognition of front/rear of
the stop 1 and, then, to allow correct orientation of said logo,
trademark of decoration when the stop 1 is attached to the fastener
tapes. To this purpose, the position of front arm portions 4a, 5a
and rear arm portions 4b, 5b or 4c, 5c can be non symmetrical with
respect to a vertical axis, thus forming a rear step 14. Said rear
step 14 allows a machine to automatically recognize the orientation
of the upper stop 1.
[0035] Referring now with greater detail to FIGS. 1 to 6, a first
embodiment is shown where a bottom end stop 1 comprises two arm
portions each side, namely a left pair comprising front left arm
portion 4a and rear left arm portion 4b, and a right pair
comprising front right arm portion 5a and rear right arm portion
5b.
[0036] The distal ends of left arm portions 4a, 4b and the distal
ends of right arm portions 5a, 5b, away from the plate 2, are
connected by bridge portions 6. Hence, each side of the stop 1 has
a deformable clamping element comprised of arm portions 4a and 4b
or 5a and 5b, and the distal bridge portion 6, leaving a central
window 7.
[0037] The arm portions are formed as substantially circular
arc-shaped elements, departing from two reliefs 10 formed in a
central region 8 of the plate member 2 and curved towards the
left/right ends of the stop 1, where the distal ends of the arm
portions are bridged by said bridge portions 6.
[0038] Flanges 12 are integrally formed in the bridge portions 6
and the left and right ends of the plate member 2 are formed with
corresponding end flanges 13. The flanges 12 and 13 are arranged to
surround the side edges 21 of fastener tapes 20, when the bottom
end stop 1 is clamped on said tapes 20 as seen in FIGS. 5 and
6.
[0039] The front arm portions 4a and 5a are substantially aligned
with the front of upper plate 2, while the rear arm portions 4b and
5b are shifted with respect to rear of upper plate 2, thus forming
the rear step 14 for automated recognition of the position of the
stop 1.
[0040] FIG. 4 shows the bottom end stop 1 before attachment to
fastener tapes 20. The ends 21 of the fastener tapes are
accommodated in the left and right accommodating portions 3, formed
between the parts 2a, 2b of the plate member 2 and the left/right
clamping elements formed by said arm portions 4a, 4b, 5a, 5d and
related bridge portions 6. Then, the clamping elements are pressed,
reaching the configuration of FIG. 5, where deformed arm portions
hold the edges 21 of the fastener tapes. It can be noted that the
material of the edges 21 of the tapes 20 can expand through the
windows 7, as shown by the dotted line 23 in FIG. 5. Hence, a
deeper penetration and closer contact are possible between the arm
portions of the stop 1 and the tape edges 21, resulting in a more
secure attachment. The surface 2c is unaffected by the deformation
and, hence, is suitable to carry a logo, trademark or the like.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows another view of a slide fastener comprising
tapes 20, teeth 22 made for example of metal, and the bottom end 1
attached to tape edges 21.
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment with two separate arm
portions 4a, 4b and 5a, 5b each side, i.e. without the bridge
portions. FIGS. 8 to 10 show an embodiment with three separate arm
portions 4a to 4c and 5a to 5c each side. The accomodating portions
3 for the tape edges 21 are then formed between the plate 2 and the
left or right plurality of separate arm portions; the material of
tape edges 21 can expand in free spaces 27 between any of two
adjacent arm portions, said free spaces 27 acting substantially as
the aforesaid windows 7 of the bridged arm elements. Each of the
arm portions is formed with an end flange 12, to hold the tape
edges 21 in cooperation with the flange 13 of the plate member
2.
[0043] The arm portions join gradually with the surface 11 of the
plate member 2, by means of inclined surfaces 16, forming a
pyramid-like base part 15 of the arm portion, larger than the
proximal end 18 of the arm portion itself. This embodiment with
larger pyramid-like base parts 15 is applicable also to bridged-arm
embodiments, such as those depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3.
* * * * *