U.S. patent application number 13/394950 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-05 for reverse opening slide fastener.
This patent application is currently assigned to YKK Corporation. Invention is credited to Keiichi Keyaki, Takanori Ozawa.
Application Number | 20120167354 13/394950 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43732133 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120167354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Keyaki; Keiichi ; et
al. |
July 5, 2012 |
Reverse Opening Slide Fastener
Abstract
In the reverse opening slide fastener, an insert pin includes a
side edge arranged at a box pin side and a side edge arranged at a
tape inner side. A first sloped section sloped in a direction to be
apart from the box pin side toward the insert pin top end is formed
at the side edge arranged at a box pin side. The first sloped
section is formed as being intersected with an extension line
obtained by extending a planar section of the side edge arranged at
a tape inner side to the insert pin top end side and has a shape
sloped at an angle to be contacted to a guide column of the lower
slider or to be apart from the guide column when the insert pin is
inserted to upper and lower sliders. Accordingly, in the reverse
opening slide fastener, insertion operation of the insert pin can
be smoothly performed.
Inventors: |
Keyaki; Keiichi; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Ozawa; Takanori; (Toyama, JP) |
Assignee: |
YKK Corporation
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
43732133 |
Appl. No.: |
13/394950 |
Filed: |
September 11, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
September 11, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2009/065943 |
371 Date: |
March 8, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/388 20130101;
Y10T 24/2509 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/386 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/26 20060101
A44B019/26 |
Claims
1. A reverse opening slide fastener in which upper and lower
sliders are arranged having rear openings mutually opposed and in
which the top end of an insert pin can be inserted beyond a rear
opening side tip of a guide column of a lower slider when the
insert pin is inserted into the upper and lower sliders from a
shoulder opening of the upper slider, comprising: a right-and-left
pair of first and second fastener stringers; the insert pin and a
box pin which are arranged respectively at a lower end of inner
side edge sections of the first and second fastener stringers; and
the upper slider and the lower slider which open and close the
first and second fastener stringers; wherein the insert pin
includes a side edge at the box pin side and a side edge at a tape
inner side being arranged opposite to the side edge at the box pin
side; a first sloped section sloped in a direction to be apart from
the box pin toward the top end of the insert pin is formed at the
side edge at the box pin side; and the first sloped section is
formed as being intersected with an extension line obtained by
extending a planar section of the side edge at a tape inner side to
the top end side of the insert pin and has a shape sloped at an
angle to be contacted to the guide column of the lower slider or to
be apart from the guide column when the insert pin is inserted to
the upper and lower sliders.
2. The reverse opening slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
a side face of the first sloped section of the side edge at the box
pin side is formed into a continuously curved shape.
3. The reverse opening slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
a second sloped section sloped in a direction to be apart from the
box pin toward the top end of the insert pin is formed at the side
edge at a tape inner side being at the opposite side to the first
sloped section; and a width dimension between the first sloped
section at the side edge at the box pin side and the second sloped
section at the side edge at a tape inner side is decreased toward
the top end of the insert pin.
4. The reverse opening slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein
the lower slider includes top and back blades which are connected
by the guide column and a stopper pawl which is arranged at one of
the top and back blades; a pawl guide sloped face which is sloped
to gradually decrease thickness of the insert pin toward the insert
pin top end is formed at a surface of the top end part of the
insert pin at the stopper pawl side; and the pawl guide sloped face
is formed as crossing over the extension line.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a reverse opening slide fastener
capable of performing upper opening and reverse opening and capable
of separating and fitting by insertion.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A separable bottom end stop type slide fastener having a box
pin and an insert pin at lower ends of zip tooth rows has been
utilized as a slide fastener for performing opening and closing of
right front and left front bodies of clothing.
[0003] In a general slide fastener with a separable bottom end
stop, an insert pin is serially arranged at the lower end of one
zip tooth row and a box pin to which the insert pin is to be
inserted is serially arranged at the lower end of the other zip
tooth row. The slide fastener with a separable bottom end stop has
a structure that the insert pin is capable of being to and removed
from the box pin and a slider in a state that the slider is lowered
to the lowermost end to be contacted to the box pin enabling to
separate right and left fastener stringers.
[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-245859
(Patent Document 1) proposes an separable bottom end stop for a
reverse slide fastener enabling bidirectional opening from both
directions as the upward and downward directions by arranging two
sliders of which rear openings are mutually opposed.
[0005] The reverse opening slide fastener disclosed in Patent
Document 1 includes an upper slider and lower slider which enable
opening and closing from both directions as the upward and downward
directions. An insert pin capable of being inserted to and removed
from the upper slider and the lower slider in a state that the
upper slider and the lower slider are lowered to the lowermost end
of the reverse opening slide fastener and rear portions thereof are
mutually contacted is disposed at the lower end of a zip tooth row
of one fastener stringer. Further, a box pin having a retaining
stopper to engage the lower slider at the lowermost end is disposed
at the lower end of a zip tooth row of the opposing fastener
stringer.
CITATION LIST
Patent Document
[0006] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
2005-245859
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0007] When the reverse opening slide fastener with a separable
bottom end stop described in Patent Document 1 is used for opening
and closing of right front and left front bodies of clothing, right
and left fastener stringers can be separated by removing the insert
pin which is attached to the lower end of the zip tooth row from
the upper slider and the lower slider after the upper slider is
slid to the lowermost end. Then, the right and left fastener
stringers can be re-coupled by inserting the insert pin to the
upper slider and the lower slider. Problems possibly occurring at
the time of coupling the right and left fastener stringers will be
described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
[0008] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of an insert pin of a
separable bottom end stop and a fastener stringer around a place
where the insert pin is attached in FIG. 6 of Patent document 1.
FIG. 12 is a planar sectional view illustrating an intermediate
state of re-inserting an insert pin 930 which is once removed from
the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 to the upper slider 50
and the lower slider 60.
[0009] Here, regarding the coordinate system of fastener stringers
916, 17 illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the direction toward places
where the insert pin 930 and the box pin 40 are attached is defined
as a downward direction (D-direction) in the longitudinal direction
of the fastener stringers 916, 17. Further, the direction opposite
to the downward direction (D-direction) is defined as an upward
direction (U-direction). Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and
12, direction rightward and leftward orienting in the upward
direction (U-direction) as being in parallel to faces of the
fastener stringers 916, 17 are defined respectively as R-direction
and L-direction.
[0010] First, the structure of the conventional first fastener
stringer 916 to which the insert pin 930 is attached will be
described with reference to FIG. 11. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the
first fastener stringer 916 is provided with a fastener tape 11
having a core portion 14 formed at an opposing end edge, a row of
first zip teeth 12 attached at regular intervals at the core
portion 14, the insert pin 930 which is serially arranged in the
downward direction (D-direction) of the first zip teeth 12 row, and
a reinforcing film 24 which improves stiffness and strength at the
vicinity of the insert pin 930.
[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 11, a flange slidingly-contacting
side edge 930F is formed at the right side edge (i.e., the side
edge at R-direction) of the insert pin 930 and an opposing side
edge 930C is formed at the left side edge (i.e., the side edge at
L-direction) of the insert pin 930. A top end wall 930D having a
flat section at a right angle against the longitudinal direction of
the first fastener stringer 916 is formed at the top end part of
the opposing side edge 930C. Regarding the insert pin 930 described
in Patent Document 1, an extension line EL extending the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 930F in the downward direction
(D-direction) is intersected with the top end wall 930D
approximately orthogonally. Here, the intersection point between
the extension line EL and the top end wall 930D is defined as an
intersection point ND.
[0012] Next, the structure of a conventional reverse opening slide
fastener 910 in the related art will be described with reference to
FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an intermediate state that
the insert pin 930 removed for opening the reverse opening slide
fastener 910 is being re-inserted from the shoulder opening at the
right side (R-direction) of the upper slider 50 after lowering the
upper slider to the lowermost end where the rear opening of the
upper slider 50 and the rear opening of the lower slider 60 are
contacted. Further, FIG. 12 is a planar sectional view illustrating
the inside of zip tooth guide passages 50T, 60T sectioned at a
sectional face being approximately in parallel to the fastener tape
11 between top blades of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider
60 and the first and second fastener stringers 916, 17 as
sectioning the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60.
[0013] The reverse opening slide fastener 910 illustrated in FIG.
12 is an opening and closing device enabling to perform opening and
closing between a left front body and a right front body of a long
coat, for example. The reverse opening slide fastener 910 includes
a right-and-left pair of fastener tape 11, core portions 14 formed
respectively along opposing end edges of the fastener tapes 11, and
a number of first and second zip teeth 12, 13 formed in an aligned
manner at regular intervals as nipping the core portions 14
respectively.
[0014] Further, the reverse opening slide fastener 910 includes the
upper slider 50 capable of performing upper opening and the lower
slider 60 capable of performing reverse opening to which the first
and second zip teeth 12, 13 are inserted. Here, the rear opening of
the upper slider 50 and the rear opening of the lower slider 60 are
arranged to be opposed. As illustrated in FIG. 12, a reinforcement
film 24 formed of a resin-made film and the like is stuck
respectively to both faces at the lower end part (i.e., the end
part in D-direction) of the first and second fastener stringers
916, 17. The insert pin 930 and the box pin 40 are serially
arranged to the first and second zip teeth 12, 13 rows as nipping
both the reinforcement film 24 and the core portion 14.
[0015] A hook-shaped stopper 46 is formed at the lower end (i.e.,
the end part in D-direction) of the box pin 40. The stopper 46
prevents the lower slider 60 from dropping from the lower side by
being contacted to the shoulder part of the lower slider 60 or the
end part of a flange 60F of the lower slider 60 in a state that the
lower slider 60 is lowered to the lowermost end. FIG. 12
illustrates an embodiment in which the stopper 46 is engaged with
the lower end of the flange 60F of the lower slider 60 by
protruding the stopper 46 to the left direction (L-direction) from
the lower end of the box pin 40.
[0016] A top blade (not illustrated) and a back blade 53 of the
upper slider 50 of FIG. 12 are mutually fixed with a guide column
50D at an upper part (i.e., a part in U-direction) of the center
part in the right-left direction (i.e., the center part in R-L
direction) of the upper slider 50. A flange 50F is extended in an
opposing manner respectively from the both side edges at right and
left of the top blade and back blade 53 of the upper slider 50.
[0017] The zip tooth guide passage 50T to which the right-and-left
pair of the first zip teeth 12 row and the second zip teeth 13 row
are inserted is formed at the inside of the upper slider 50
surrounded by the top blade, the back blade 53 and the flanges 50F
as being a Y-shaped space in a planar view. Here, a tab support
member (not illustrated) which swingably supports a tab of the
upper slider 50 is formed at the top face side (i.e., the near side
of the paper face of FIG. 12) of the top blade of the upper slider
50.
[0018] Shoulder openings of the zip tooth guide passage 50T are
opened respectively at both sides at right and left (R-L direction)
of the guide column 50D of the upper slider 50. The rear opening of
the zip tooth guide passage 50T is opened at the lower end part
(i.e., the end part in D-direction) of the upper slider 50. A tape
insertion passage (not illustrated) is formed at the end edge
section of the flange 50F along the end edge of the flange 50F. The
tape insertion passage is a section on which the fastener tape 11
slides at the time of sliding the upper slider 50 as being a gap
through which the fastener tape 11 attached with the first zip
teeth 12 row and the second zip teeth 13 row having the zip tooth
guide passage 50T inserted passes.
[0019] Similarly to the above-mentioned upper slider 50, the lower
slider 60 of FIG. 12 is also formed with a top blade (not
illustrated), a back blade 63, a guide column 60D, flanges 60F, a
zip tooth guide passage 60T, shoulder openings, a rear opening, and
a tape insertion passage. Further, a tab support member (not
illustrated) which swingably supports a tab of the lower slider 60
is formed at the top face of the top blade of the lower slider
60.
[0020] As illustrated in FIG. 12, to re-couple the first fastener
stringer 916 and the second fastener stringer 17 from a state of
being once separated, the removed insert pin 930 is inserted from
the shoulder opening (i.e., the shoulder opening at the right side
(R-direction) in the example of FIG. 12) of the upper slider 50. At
that time, after the insert pin 930 is inserted from the shoulder
opening of the upper slider 50, the insert pin 930 is inserted into
the zip tooth guide passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and
the lower slider 60 in the downward direction (D-direction) while
the vicinity of the reinforcement film 24 at the lower part of the
first fastener stringer 916 is held by a user and is rotated
counterclockwise as illustrated in FIG. 12 so that the insert pin
930 is to be in parallel to the box pin 40.
[0021] Here, in a case that the insert pin 930 is carelessly
advanced straightly from the shoulder opening of the upper slider
50 without being rotated counterclockwise in the vicinity of the
reinforcement film 24 at the lower part of the first fastener
stringer 916, the top end wall 930D formed as being approximately
orthogonal to the extension line EL collides with the guide column
60D of the lower slider 60 (in particular, at the vicinity of the
tip of the guide column 60D) head on when one side edge of the
insert pin 930 is slidingly contacted to the flange 50F of the
upper slider 50 and the other side edge is slidingly contacted to
the box pin 40, as illustrated in FIG. 12 for example.
[0022] In a general reverse opening slide fastener 910, the
collision occurs with the guide column 60D at the vicinity of the
intersection point ND where the top end wall 930D and the extension
line EL are intersected. Here, since the top end wall 930D of the
insert pin 930 collides with the surface of the guide column 60D
approximately in the normal direction, the insert pin 930 cannot be
further lowered in the downward direction (D-direction).
Accordingly, the insert pin 930 is stopped at the position
colliding with the guide column 60D (i.e., the position where the
insert pin does not reach the lowermost end).
[0023] At that time, the user may acknowledge stopping of the
insert pin 930 inserted from the shoulder opening of the upper
slider 50 with feeling and misunderstand that the insert pin 930 is
inserted to a predetermined position. When the user decide that the
insert pin 930 has been inserted to the predetermined position, the
user subsequently performs sliding operation of the upper slider 50
in the upward direction (U-direction) to close the reverse opening
fastener 910.
[0024] However, in a state that the top end wall 930D of the insert
pin 930 is contacted to the upper part (i.e., the tip in
U-direction) of the guide column 60D as illustrated in FIG. 12, the
first zip tooth 12 being a counterpart to be coupled with the
second zip tooth 13 which is attached right above the box pin 40 is
not lowered to a predetermined position. Accordingly, even if the
upper slider 50 is being moved in the upward direction
(U-direction) from the state of FIG. 12, the second zip tooth 13
attached right above the box pin 40 collides with the upper part of
the insert pin 930 and the second zip tooth 13 and the insert pin
930 cannot be coupled. Therefore, the insert pin 930 gets stuck
with an inner face of the flange 50F of the upper slider 50. In
this case, the upper slider 50 cannot be slid in the upward
direction (U-direction).
[0025] Here, when the user tries to forcibly slide the upper slider
50 in the upward direction (U-direction), there is a fear that the
reverse opening slide fastener may be broken. Further, the user
feels insufficient operability of the reverse opening slide
fastener 910 owing to incapability of sliding the upper slider
50.
[0026] To address the above issues, the invention provides a
reverse opening slide fastener for performing separating and
coupling between right and left fastener stringers in which an
insert pin can be smoothly inserted to a predetermined position
even in a case that the insert pin is carelessly inserted froma
shoulder opening of an upper slider as being advanced straightly
when the right and left fastener stringers once separated are to be
re-coupled.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0027] To achieve the above object, the invention provides a
reverse opening slide fastener in which upper and lower sliders are
arranged having rear openings mutually opposed and in which the top
end of an insert pin can be inserted beyond a rear opening side tip
of a guide column of a lower slider when the insert pin is inserted
into the upper and lower sliders from a shoulder opening of the
upper slider, including a right-and-left pair of first and second
fastener stringers, the insert pin and a box pin which are arranged
respectively at a lower end of inner side edge sections of the
first and second fastener stringers, and the upper slider and the
lower slider which open and close the first and second fastener
stringers. The reverse opening slide fastener is characterized in
that the insert pin includes a box pin slidingly-contacting side
edge at the box pin side and a flange slidingly-contacting side
edge at a tape inner side being arranged opposite to the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge; a first sloped section sloped in a
direction to be apart from the box pin toward the top end of the
insert pin is formed at the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge;
and the first sloped section is formed as being intersected with an
extension line obtained by extending a planar section of the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge to the top end side of the insert
pin and has a shape sloped at an angle to be contacted to the guide
column of the lower slider or to be apart from the guide column
when the insert pin is inserted to the upper and lower sliders.
[0028] Here, it is preferable that a side face of the first sloped
section of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge is formed
into a continuously curved shape.
[0029] Further, it is preferable that a second sloped section
sloped in a direction to be apart from the box pin toward the top
end of the insert pin is formed at the flange slidingly-contacting
side edge being at the opposite side to the first sloped section,
and a width dimension between the first sloped section at the box
pin slidingly-contacting side edge and the second sloped section at
the flange slidingly-contacting side edge is decreased toward the
top end of the insert pin.
[0030] Furthermore, it is preferable that the lower slider includes
top and back blades which are connected by the guide column and a
stopper pawl which is arranged at one of the top and back blades, a
pawl guide sloped face which is sloped to gradually decrease
thickness of the insert pin toward the insert pin top end is formed
at a surface of the top end part of the insert pin at the stopper
pawl side, and the pawl guide sloped face is formed as crossing
over the extension line.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0031] In the reverse opening slide fastener according to the
invention, the insert pin includes the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge arranged at the box pin side and the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge arranged at the tape inner side.
Further, the first sloped section sloped in the direction to be
apart from the box pin side toward the top end of the insert pin is
formed at the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge. The first
sloped section formed at the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge
is formed as being intersected with the extension line obtained by
extending the planar section of the flange slidingly-contacting
side edge to the top end side of the insert pin. Further, the first
sloped section has a shape sloped at the angle to be contacted to
the guide column of the lower slider or to be apart from the guide
column when the insert pin is inserted to the upper and lower
sliders. In particular, it is preferable that the first sloped
section of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge has a shape
sloped at an angle to be contacted to a side face at the insert pin
side of the guide column of the lower slider or to be apart from
the side face at the insert pin side.
[0032] According to the reverse opening slide fastener of the
invention having the above structure, the insert pin can be
smoothly inserted to a position of the lowermost end even in a case
that the insert pin is carelessly inserted from the shoulder
opening of the upper slider as being advanced straightly when the
right and left fastener stringers once separated are to be
re-coupled.
[0033] Describing more specifically, there has been a problem that
insertion operation of the insert pin is disturbed in the related
art owing to collision of the top end wall (i.e., the top end face)
of the insert pin with the guide column of the lower slider as
described above in a case that the base end part side of the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge of the insert pin is slidingly
contacted to the flange of the upper slider and top end part side
of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge is slidingly
contacted to the box pin, for example, when the insert pin is
inserted into the upper and lower sliders from the shoulder opening
of the upper slider.
[0034] In contrast, according to the invention, even in a case that
the base end part side of the flange slidingly-contacting side edge
of the insert pin is slidingly contacted to the flange of the upper
slider and the top end part side of the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge is slidingly contacted to the box
pin, the top end of insert pin is inserted beyond the rear opening
side tip of the guide column while the first sloped section of the
insert pin is contacted to the guide column (in particular, the
side face of the guide column) of the lower slider and the top end
of the insert pin is guided in a direction to be apart from the box
pin owing to the slope of the first sloped section. Alternatively,
the top end of the insert pin is inserted beyond the rear end side
tip of the guide column without collision of the first sloped
section of the insert pin with the guide column. Accordingly, the
insert pin can be smoothly inserted to the lowermost end position
without being stopped by collision with the guide column of the
lower slider. Here, the lowermost end position of the insert pin
refers to a position where the top end of the insert pin reaches
the shoulder opening side beyond the rear opening side tip of the
guide column of the lower slider and the insert pin becomes
approximately in parallel to the box pin. Further, the side face of
the guide column refers to a wall face of the guide column of which
gradient (when the face is a curved face, gradient of a tangential
line) against the longitudinal direction of the slider is 45
degrees of smaller.
[0035] Further, in the invention, the side face of the first sloped
section (in particular, the opposing side face of the first sloped
section opposing to the guide column of the lower slider) of the
box pin slidingly-contacting side edge can be formed into a
continuously curved shape. With the above, collision of the top end
part of the insert pin with the guide column of the lower slider
can be reliably prevented when the insert pin is inserted from the
shoulder opening of the upper slider, so that the insert pin can be
inserted to the lowermost end position more smoothly. Further,
since the side face of the first sloped section is a curved face,
the length of the insert pin can be shortened. Accordingly, the
insert pin can be accommodated in the zip tooth guide passages of
the upper and lower sliders in a state that the lower slider is
lowered to the lowermost position, so that the insert pin can be
concealed from the outside.
[0036] Further, the reverse opening slide fastener of the invention
can be structured such that the second sloped section sloped in the
direction to be apart from the box pin toward the top end part of
the insert pin is formed at the flange slidingly-contacting side
edge of the insert pin and the width dimension between the first
sloped section of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge and
the second sloped section of the flange slidingly-contacting side
edge is decreased toward the top end of the insert pin. With the
above, the first sloped section can be reliably formed while
maintaining strength of the insert pin top end part and the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge can be prevented from being
interfered with the flange and the like of the lower slider at the
time of inserting the insert pin. Accordingly, insertion operation
of the insert pin can be performed more smoothly and stably.
[0037] Further, in the invention, the pawl guide sloped face sloped
to gradually decrease thickness of the insert pin toward the top
end of the insert pin is formed at the surface of the top end part
of the insert pin as crossing over the extension line. Thus, since
the pawl guide sloped face is formed to cross over the extension
line as being intersected with the extension line, the surface at
the top end part of the insert pin is shaped spherical in
combination with the pawl guide sloped face and the sloped face
(i.e., the curved face) of the first sloped section. Accordingly,
even if the top end of the insert pin is moved linearly or along
with rotation when the insert pin is inserted, the stopper pawl of
the lower slider can be guided along the pawl guide sloped face as
being slidingly contacted to the pawl guide sloped face reliably.
Therefore, the stopper pawl can be stably retracted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] FIG. 1 is a plane view of a reverse opening slide fastener
according to the invention.
[0039] FIG. 2 is a planar sectional view at the vicinity of a lower
slider in a state that the lower slider is lowered to the lowermost
end in the reverse opening fastener of FIG. 1.
[0040] FIG. 3 is an explanatory plane view of an insert pin and a
box pin in a state that right and left fastener stringers are
separated.
[0041] FIG. 4 is a side view of the insert pin viewing from the box
pin side in FIG. 3 being a view on arrow IV-IV.
[0042] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the insert pin of FIG.
3.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a planar sectional view illustrating an
intermediate state that the once-removed insert pin is re-inserted
to upper and lower sliders after the upper and lower sliders are
lowered to the lowermost end.
[0044] FIG. 7 is a side view of the state of FIG. 6 viewing from
the box pin side being a view on arrow VII-VII.
[0045] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state that the vicinity of
the top end part of the insert pin is faced to a guide column of
the lower slider with further inserting of the insert pin from the
state of FIG. 6.
[0046] FIG. 9 is a planar sectional view illustrating as enlarging
the vicinity of the top end part of the insert pin and a section of
the guide column of FIG. 8.
[0047] FIG. 10 is a planar sectional view illustrating a state that
the insert pin is inserted to the lowermost end.
[0048] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of an insert pin of a
conventional separable bottom end stop and a fastener stringer
around a place where the insert pin is attached in Patent Document
1.
[0049] FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state that the top end part
of the insert pin is contacted to a guide column of a lower slider
when the conventional insert pin of FIG. 11 is inserted to an upper
slider and the lower slider.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0050] In the following, exemplary embodiments of a reverse opening
slide fastener according to the invention will be specifically
described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plane view of
a reverse opening slide fastener 10 according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a planar sectional view at the vicinity of a lower slide
in a state that the lower slide is lowered to the lowermost end in
the reverse opening fastener of FIG. 1.
[0051] FIG. 3 is an explanatory plane view of an insert pin and a
box pin in a state that right and left fastener stringers are
separated.
[0052] FIG. 4 is a side view of the insert pin viewing from the box
pin side in FIG. 3 being a view on arrow IV-IV. FIG. 5 is a
perspective view of the insert pin of FIG. 3.
[0053] The reverse opening slide fastener 10 illustrated in FIG. 1
is an opening and closing device capable of opening and closing a
left front body and a right front body of a jacket and a long coat,
for example. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reverse opening slide
fastener 10 includes a right-and-left pair of first and second
fastener stringers 16, 17, and an upper slider 50 and a lower
slider 60 which have a first zip teeth 12 row and a second zip
teeth 13 row attached to opposing end edges of the first and second
fastener stringers 16, 17 inserted respectively thereto and which
perform coupling and separating of the first zip teeth 12 row and
the second zip teeth 13 row. The first and second zip teeth 12, 13
capable of being mutually coupled are coupled with entering of an
engaging convex portion of one side into an engaging concave
portion of the other side.
[0054] The first fastener stringer 16 includes a fastener tape 11
having a core portion 14 formed at an opposing side edge (i.e., an
inner side edge), the row of a number of the first zip teeth 12
formed in an aligned manner at regular intervals being evenly
spaced apart as nipping the core portion 14, and an upper stopper
18 disposed at one end part of the first zip teeth 12 row. The
upper stopper 18 is a member to prevent the upper slider 50 from
dropping from the first zip teeth 12 row. Further, a reinforcement
film 24 formed of a resin-made film and the like is stuck
respectively to both faces of the fastener tape 11 at the other end
part of the first zip teeth 12 row. An insert pin 30 is serially
arranged as nipping both the reinforcement film 24 and the core
portion 14.
[0055] The second fastener stringer 17 includes a fastener tape 11
having a core portion 14 formed at an opposing side edge (i.e., an
inner side edge), the row of a number of the second zip teeth 13
formed in an aligned manner at regular intervals being evenly
spaced apart as nipping the core portion 14, and an upper stopper
18 disposed at one end part of the second zip teeth 13 row. The
upper stopper 18 is a member to prevent the upper slider 50 from
dropping from the second zip teeth 13 row. Further, a reinforcement
film 24 formed of a resin-made film and the like is stuck
respectively to both faces of the fastener tape 11 at the other end
part of the second zip teeth 13 row. A box pin 40 for holding as
positioning the lower slider 60 at the lowermost end is serially
arranged as nipping both the reinforcement film 24 and the core
portion 14. A separable bottom end stop 22 is constituted with the
insert pin 30, the box pin 40 and the lower slider 60.
[0056] Here, regarding a coordinate system of the reverse opening
slide fastener 10, the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape
11 is defined as the upper-lower direction. Regarding the rows of
the first and second zip teeth 12, 13, a direction toward a
position where the upper stopper 18 is located is defined as the
upward direction (i.e., U-direction) of the reverse opening slide
fastener 10 and a direction toward a position where the insert pin
30 and the box pin 40 are arranged is defined as the downward
direction (i.e., D-direction). Further, regarding the top-back
direction of the fastener tape 11 of FIG. 1, the near side against
the paper face is defined as the top face (indicated as T-direction
in FIG. 4) of the reverse opening slide fastener 10 and the
opposite side is defined as the back face (indicated as B-direction
in FIG. 4). Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the tape
width direction of the fastener tape 11 is defined as the
right-left direction. The right side as observing the top face of
the reverse opening slide fastener 10 (i.e., in T-direction) is
defined as R-direction and the left side is defined as L-direction.
Here, U-direction, T-direction and R-direction are opposite
respectively to D-direction, B-direction and L-direction.
[0057] Next, a structure of each part of the box pin 40 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. The box pin 40 arranged
below the second zip teeth 13 row at the lower end part of the
opposing end edge of the second fastener stringer 17 is formed into
an elongated bar-like shape along the core portion 14 of the
fastener tape 11. The box pin 40 is capable of positioning the
insert pin 30 which is inserted to zip teeth guide passages of the
upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 at the lowermost end of the
second fastener stringer 17 while performing positioning of the
lower slider 60 at the lowermost end. Here, the lower slider 60 is
arranged closer to the insert pin 30 and the box pin 40 than the
upper slider 50. Further, the upper slider 50 and the lower slider
60 are arranged as being oriented so that rear openings thereof are
mutually faced.
[0058] Here, the right side edge (i.e., the side edge in
R-direction) of the bar-shaped box pin 40 is defined as a flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 40F which is arranged at the tape
inner side and the left side edge (i.e., the side edge in
L-direction) is defined as an opposing side edge 40C which is
arranged at the insert pin 30 side. The flange slidingly-contacting
side edge 40F is a section to which flanges 50F, 60F of the upper
and lower sliders 50, 60 are slidingly contacted. That is, when the
lower slider 60 and the upper slider 50 are slid respectively to
the lowermost end position being the end position at the box pin 40
side, the flanges 50F, 60F are slidingly contacted to the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 40F in the zip tooth guide passages
50T, 60T of the lower slider 60 and the upper slider 50 (see FIG. 2
and FIGS. 6 to 10 to be described later).
[0059] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a hook-like stopper 46
shaped as being protruded rightward (in R-direction) is formed at
the lower end part of the box pin 40 at the second fastener
stringer 17. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a shoulder portion of the
lower slider 60 which is lowered to the lowermost end is to be
contacted to the stopper 46. With this structure, the stopper 46
prevents the lower slider 60 from dropping downward (i.e., in
D-direction).
[0060] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the stopper
46 is shaped as being protruded rightward (i.e., in R-direction)
from the lower end of the box pin 40. With the above, the flange
60F at the shoulder portion of the lower slider 60 can be engaged
with the stopper 46 when the lower slider 60 is slid to the
lowermost end position. Here, the shape of the stopper 46 according
to the invention is not limited to the shape of the stopper 46
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is also possible to prevent the
lower slider from dropping downward (i.e., D-direction) with a
structure that the stopper is shaped as being protruded to the top
direction (T-direction) or the back direction (B-direction) of the
slide fastener from the lower end part of the box pin and the
protruded portion is contacted to a top blade 62 or a back blade 63
(see FIG. 7 to be described later) of the lower slider 60.
[0061] An opposing side edge 40C of the box pin 40 is arranged at
the opposite side to the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 40F
and is an opposing face which opposes to the insert pin 30. As
illustrated in a plane view of FIG. 3, a second engaging guide
piece 42 shaped like a triangular piece which forms a second
engaging portion 44 and a guide face 43 is formed at an upper part
(i.e., a part in U-direction) of the opposing side edge 40C of the
box pin 40 as being protruded from the opposing side edge 40C. The
second engaging portion 44 is formed in a planar shape at the upper
side (i.e., U-direction) where the second zip teeth 13 row exists.
The guide face 43 has a shape of which dimension in the width
direction is gradually increased toward the upper side (i.e.,
U-direction). The guide face 43 is structured as a sloped guide
face which opens the lower end part of the box pin 40 in the right
direction (R-direction) as slidingly-contacting on a guide column
60D of the lower slider 60 when the lower slider 60 is slid in the
upward direction (U-direction) from the lowermost end. The guide
face 43 is formed as a guide face to perform smooth transition to a
coupled state between the first zip teeth 12 row and the second zip
teeth 13 row and to a released state from the coupled state.
[0062] In the present embodiment, each guide column 50D, 60D of the
upper and lower slider 50, 60 has a tip at the rear opening side.
Each guide column 50D, 60D has a sloped face of which thickness in
the width direction is gradually increased from the tip toward the
shoulder opening and a sloped face of which thickness in the width
direction is gradually decreased at the shoulder opening side via
an inflection point. Further, the sloped face at the shoulder
opening side has a larger slope angle than that of the sloped face
of which thickness is gradually increased at the rear opening side.
In this case, regarding the sloped face formed at the tip side of
the guide column 50D, 60D, a wall face of which gradient of a
tangential line against the longitudinal direction of the slider is
large than 45 degrees is to be a rear face at the vicinity of the
tip of the guide column 50D, 60D and right and left wall faces of
which gradient of a tangential line against the longitudinal
direction of the slider is 45 degrees or smaller are to be side
faces of the guide column 50D, 60D.
[0063] Next, a structure of each part of the insert pin 30 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. The insert pin 30
arranged below the first zip teeth 12 row at the lower end part of
the opposing end of the first fastener stringer 16 is formed into
an elongated bar-like shape along the core portion 14 of the
fastener tape 11. The top end part of the insert pin 30 is curved
to the left direction (L-direction) to facilitate insertion of the
once-removed insert pin 30 from an oblique upper side into the zip
tooth guide passages of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider
60.
[0064] Here, the left side edge (i.e., the side edge in
L-direction) of the bar-shaped insert pin 30 is defined as a flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F which is arranged at the tape
inner side and the right side edge (i.e., the side edge in
R-direction) is defined as a box pin slidingly-contacting side edge
(i.e., an opposing side edge) 30C which is arranged at the box pin
40 side. The flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the
insert pin 30 is a section to which the flanges 50F, 60F of the
upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 are slidingly contacted
(see FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6 to 10 to be described later) when the
once-removed insert pin 30 is inserted to the zip tooth guide
passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60
(see FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6 to 10 to be described later).
[0065] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the top side edge (i.e.,
the side edge in T-direction) of the insert pin 30 is defined as a
top wall 30T and the back side edge (i.e., the side edge in
B-direction) is defined as a back wall 30B. The top wall 30T and
the back wall 30B of the insert pin 30 are sections to which inner
walls of the top blade 62 and the back blade 53 of the upper slider
50 and the lower slider 60 (see FIG. 7 to be described later) are
slidingly contacted when the insert pin 30 is inserted into the zip
tooth guide passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the lower
slider 60 (see FIG. 2 and FIGS. 6 to 10 to be described later).
[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge 30C of the insert pin 30 is an opposing face which
opposes to the box pin 40 as being arranged at the opposite side to
the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F. The box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge 30C includes a planar section being
in parallel to the tape length direction and a first sloped section
30E formed into a shape sloped in a direction to be apart from the
box pin 40 side toward the top end part of the insert pin 30 as
being arranged at the insert pin top end side than the planar
section. As described later, the first sloped section 30E has a
shape sloped at an angle so as to be contacted to an
insert-pin-side side face of the guide column 60D of the lower
slider 60 (or so as to be apart from the insert-pin-side side face
of the guide column 60D) in a case that the insert pin 30 is
inserted to the upper and lower sliders 50, 60 and that the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the insert pin 30 is
slidingly contacted to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50 and
the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30
is slidingly contacted to the opposing side edge 40C of the box pin
40.
[0067] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F has a planar section which is
arranged at the first zip teeth 12 row side in parallel to the tape
length direction to be contacted to the flange 50F of the upper
slider 50 when the insert pin 30 is inserted thereto and a second
sloped section 30G sloped in a direction to be apart from the box
pin 40 side toward the top end part of the insert pin 30. In this
case, the second sloped section 30G is formed at the opposite side
to the first sloped section 30E at the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge 30C side. Further, the width dimension (i.e., the
dimension in R-L direction) between the second sloped section 30G
and the first sloped section 30E at the box pin
slidingly-contacting edge 30C side is gradually decreased toward
the top end of the insert pin 30. That is, the second sloped
section 30G at the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F side
is formed with angle variation being more gradual than that of the
first sloped section 30E at the box pin slidingly-contacting side
edge 30C side. With this structure, the first sloped section 30E
can be reliably formed while maintaining strength of the insert pin
top end part and the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F can
be prevented from being interfered with the flange 60F of the lower
slider 60 and the like during insertion of the insert pin 30.
[0068] Here, an extension line EL denotes a line extending the
planar section of the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F
which contacts to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50 at the time
of insertion of the insert pin 30 toward the top end part of the
insert pin 30. The first sloped section 30E sloped at the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge 30C is formed to have a large degree
of slope to be intersected with the extension line EL.
Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the extension line EL is
the extension line of the planar section which contacts to the
flange 50F of the upper slider 50 when the insert pin 30 is
inserted from the shoulder opening of the upper slider 50 and the
box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30
contacts to the box pin 40. Here, the intersecting position between
the sloped box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C and the
extension line EL is defined as an intersection point ND.
[0069] When the insert pin 30 is inserted to the zip tooth guide
passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60, a
section of the insert pin 30 at the vicinity of the intersection
point ND becomes to a facing area which faces to the guide column
60D of the lower slider 60. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the
side face of the first sloped section 30E, especially the side face
at the facing area (when viewing the slide fastener 10 from
T-direction), is formed into a curved face shape continuously
curved to be gradually apart from the box pin 40 toward the insert
pin top end. Here, for example, it is also possible that the side
face of the first sloped section 30E is formed into a flat face
shape inflected at a predetermined angle or larger against the
planar section of box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C or a
face shape inflected in a multistep manner at a plurality of
inflection parts, instead of being formed into the curved
shape.
[0070] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, a plate-shaped first
engaging portion 34 of which engaging face is oriented to the
downward direction (D-direction) is formed at an upper part (i.e.,
a part at U-direction) of the box pin slidingly-contacting side
edge 30C of the insert pin 30. The first engaging portion 34 is a
section to stop the insert pin 30 at the lowermost end as being
engaged with the above-mentioned second engaging portion 44 of the
box pin 40 when the insert pin 30 once removed is inserted into the
zip tooth guide passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the
lower slider 60 located at the lowermost end.
[0071] A first engaging guide piece 32 obtained by extending the
top wall 30T to be a triangle in a planar view along the first
engaging portion 34 is formed at the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge 30C of the insert pin 30. A guide face 33 connecting the
first engaging portion 34 with the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge 30C is formed at the end edge of the first engaging guide
piece 32 at the box pin 40 side. The guide face 33 has a shape of
which dimension in the width direction is gradually increased
toward the upward direction (U-direction). The guide face 33 is
formed as a guide face which opens the lower end part of the insert
pin 30 in the left direction (L-direction) as slidingly-contacting
on the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60 when the lower
slider 60 is slid in the upward direction (U-direction) from the
lowermost end.
[0072] Here, since the first engaging guide piece 32 is a section
formed as extending the top wall 30T, the second engaging guide
piece 42 of the box pin 40 is accommodated at the back face side
(i.e., in B-direction) of the first engaging guide piece 32 when
the insert pin 30 and the box pin 40 are inserted into the zip
tooth guide passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the lower
slider 60.
[0073] Further, to avoid interference between the tip part of the
second engaging guide piece 42 protruding toward the insert pin 30
side and the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C at the
insert pin 30 side, a clearance groove 36 is formed at a section of
the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30
surrounded by the first engaging guide piece 32 and the first
engaging portion 34. Here, the first engaging guide piece 32 also
has a function to reinforce the first engaging portion 34 extending
from the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert
pin 30. Further, a coupling protrusion 38 to be coupled with an
engaging concave portion formed at a coupling head of the second
zip tooth 13 at the lowermost end of the second zip teeth 13 row is
formed on an upper face of the first engaging portion 34 of the
insert pin 30 at the first zip teeth 12 row side.
[0074] In the insert pin 30 of the embodiment illustrated in the
side view of FIG. 4, a pawl guide sloped face 39 is formed by
sloping the top wall 30T to the back wall 30B side gradually toward
the top end part of the insert pin 30. As described later with
reference to FIG. 7, the pawl guide sloped face 39 is a sloped face
formed for performing smooth insertion operation as pushing off the
locking pawl 64 (see FIG. 2) of the lower slider 60 which functions
as a slider with an automatic stop device to the top face side
(i.e., in T-direction) when the insert pin 30 once removed is to be
inserted into the zip tooth guide passage 60T of the lower slider
60.
[0075] FIG. 2 illustrates a state that the lower slider 60 is
lowered to the lowermost end as performing coupling between the
first zip teeth 12 row and the second zip teeth 12 row by sliding
the lower slider 60 to the downward direction (D-direction) from a
state illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
top end of the insert pin 30 and the top end of the box pin 40 of
the reverse opening slide fastener 10 are capable of being inserted
to the shoulder opening side from the rear opening side tip portion
of the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60 and are to be
approximately at the same position in the longitudinal direction of
the reverse opening slide fastener 10.
[0076] With the above structure, appearance can be corrected to be
bilaterally symmetric by aligning height of the right and left
(i.e., R-L direction) of the first fastener stringer 16 and the
second fastener stringer 17. Further, since the guide column 60D of
the lower slider 60 is introduced without having interference
against the insert pin 30 and the box pin 40 when sliding the lower
slider 60 in the upward direction (U-direction), the lower slider
60 can be smoothly slid.
[0077] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, when the insert pin 30
and the box pin 40 are set to be appropriately short, the top end
part of the insert pin 30 and the top end part of the box pin 40
can be concealed as being accommodated in the zip tooth guide
passage 60T of the lower slider 60 in a state that the lower slider
60 is lowered to the lowermost end in the downward direction
(D-direction). Accordingly, appearance of the reverse opening slide
fastener 10 can be tidied in a state that the lower slider 60 is
lowered to the lowermost end.
[0078] Next, states of procedure to re-insert the insert pin 30
once removed to the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. FIG. 6 is a planar
sectional view illustrating a state that the insert pin 30 once
removed is inserted through the shoulder opening of the left side
(L-side) of the upper slider 50 and that the top end part of the
insert pin 30 is slid toward the downward direction (D-direction)
in the zip tooth guide passage 60T of the lower slider 60. FIG. 7
is a side view of the state illustrated in FIG. 6 viewing from the
box pin 40 side being a view on arrow VII-VII of FIG. 6.
[0079] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state that the vicinity of
the top end part of the insert pin 30 is faced to the guide column
60D of the lower slider 60 with further inserting of the insert pin
30 from the state of FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a planar sectional view
illustrating as enlarging the vicinity of the top end part of the
insert pin 30 and the section of the guide column 60D of FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a planar sectional view illustrating a state that the
insert pin 30 is inserted to the lowermost end. Here, the same
reference numeral is given to the same section as that described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5 and description thereof is
omitted.
[0080] First, the structure of the upper slider 50 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. As illustrated in FIGS. 6
to 9, the guide column 50D is arranged to as standing from the
center part in the right-left direction (R-L direction) of an upper
part (i.e., a part in U-direction) at the back blade 53 which forms
a bottom portion of the upper slider 50. The guide column 50D has a
tip at the rear opening side thereof. Further, the guide column 50D
has a sloped face of which thickness in the width direction is
gradually increased from the tip toward the shoulder opening and a
sloped face of which thickness in the width direction is gradually
decreased at the shoulder opening side via an inflection point. In
addition, a top blade (not illustrated) is formed at the top face
side (in T-direction) of the guide column 50D. A tab (not
illustrated) to be operated by a user is swingably arranged at the
top face (in T-direction) of the top blade.
[0081] Right and left flanges 50F are formed toward the opposing
blades from both right and left (R-L direction) side edge sections
of the top blade and back blade 53 of the upper slider 50. The zip
tooth guide passage 50T to which a right-and-left pair of the first
zip teeth 12 row and the second zip teeth 12 row are inserted is
formed at the inside of the slider surrounded by the top blade, the
back blade 53 and the flanges 50F as being a Y-shaped space in a
planar view.
[0082] A locking pawl 54 (see FIGS. 6 and 8) functioning for a
slider with an automatic stop device is protruded from the top
blade into the zip tooth guide passage 50T as being capable of
advancing and retreating. The locking pawl 54 fixes the position of
the upper slider 50 by being inserted to a gap of the first zip
teeth 12 row or the second zip teeth 12 row which are in a coupled
state with automatic advancing into the zip guide passage 50T owing
to an action of biasing means (not illustrated), for example, when
the tab is released by the user. Further, when the tab is pulled
with user's operation, the locking pawl 54 is pulled up from the
zip tooth guide passage 50T against urging force of the biasing
means. Then, the locking pawl 54 comes out from the gap of the
first zip teeth 12 row or the second zip teeth 12 row, so that the
upper slider 50 which is fixed becomes into a slidable state.
[0083] The shoulder opening of the zip tooth guide passage 50T is
opened respectively at both sides of right and left (R-L direction)
of the guide column 50D of the upper slider 50. The rear opening of
the zip tooth guide passage 50T is opened at a lower part (i.e., a
part in D-direction) of the upper slider 50. A tape insertion
passage is formed at the end edge section of the flange 50F along
the end edge of the flange 50F. The tape insertion passage is a
section on which the fastener tape 11 slides at the time of sliding
the upper slider 50 as being a gap through which the fastener tape
11 attached with the first zip teeth 12 row and the second zip
teeth 12 row having the zip tooth guide passage 50T inserted
passes.
[0084] When the upper slider 50 is slid in the upward direction
(U-direction) in FIG. 1 in a state that the first zip teeth 12 row
and the second zip teeth 12 row at right and left are inserted into
the zip tooth guide passage 50T, the first zip teeth 12 row and the
second zip teeth 12 row which are in a separated state are
introduced from the shoulder openings at right and left (R-L
direction) of the upper slider 50. The introduced first and second
zip teeth 12, 13 rows are ejected from the rear opening at the
downward direction (D-direction) of FIG. 1 in a coupled state as
being merged by being guided along the inner wall of the flange 50F
of the zip tooth guide passage 50T.
[0085] Further, when the upper slider 50 is slid in the downward
direction (D-direction) in FIG. 1, the first zip teeth 12 row and
the second zip teeth 12 row in a coupled state are introduced from
the rear opening. The introduced first and second zip teeth 12, 13
rows in a coupled state are separated in the right and left
direction (R-L direction) along the guide column 50D and ejected
from the both shoulder openings in the upward direction
(U-direction) in FIG. 1.
[0086] Next, the structure of the lower slider 60 will be described
with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10,
the guide column 60D is arranged as standing from the center part
in the right-left direction (R-L direction) of a lower part (i.e.,
a part in D-direction) at the back blade 63 which forms a bottom
portion of the lower slider 60. The guide column 60D has a tip at
the rear opening side thereof. Further, the guide column 60D has a
sloped face of which thickness in the width direction is gradually
increased from the tip toward the shoulder opening and a sloped
face of which thickness in the width direction is gradually
decreased at the shoulder opening side via an inflection point. In
addition, a top blade 62 (see FIG. 7) is formed at the top face
side (in T-direction) of the guide column 60D. A tab (not
illustrated) to be operated by a user is swingably arranged at the
top face (in T-direction) of the top blade 62.
[0087] Right and left flanges 60F are formed extending toward the
opposing blades from both right and left (R-L direction) side edge
sections of the top blade 62 and the back blade 63 of the lower
slider 60. The zip tooth guide passage 60T to which the
right-and-left pair of the first zip teeth 12 row and the second
zip teeth 12 row are inserted is formed at the inside of the slider
surrounded by the top blade 62, the back blade 63 and the flanges
60F as being a Y-shaped space in a planar view.
[0088] A locking pawl 64 (see FIGS. 6 to 10) functioning for a
slider with an automatic stop device is protruded from the top
blade 62 into the zip tooth guide passage 60T as being capable of
advancing and retreating. The locking pawl 64 fixes the position of
the lower slider 60 by being inserted to a gap of the first zip
teeth 12 row or the second zip teeth 12 row which are in a coupled
state with automatic advancing into the zip guide passage 60T owing
to an action of biasing means (not illustrated), for example, when
the tab is released by the user. Further, when the tab is pulled
with user's operation, the locking pawl 64 is pulled up from the
zip tooth guide passage 60T against biasing force of the biasing
means. Then, the locking pawl 64 comes out from the gap of the
first zip teeth 12 row or the second zip teeth 12 row, so that the
lower slider 60 which is fixed becomes into a slidable state.
[0089] The shoulder opening of the zip tooth guide passage 60T is
opened respectively at both sides of right and left (R-L direction)
of the guide column 60D of the upper slider 60. The rear opening of
the zip tooth guide passage 60T is opened at an upper part (i.e., a
part in U-direction) of the lower slider 60. A tape insertion
passage is formed at the end edge section of the flange 60F along
the end edge of the flange 60F. The tape insertion passage is a
section on which the fastener tape 11 slides at the time of sliding
the lower slider 60 as being a gap through which the fastener tape
11 attached with the first zip teeth 12 row and the second zip
teeth 12 row having the zip tooth guide passage 60T inserted
passes.
[0090] Regarding the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60 of the
reverse opening slide fastener 10, the lower slider 60 is arranged
closer to the insert pin 30 and the box pin 40 than the upper
slider 50 as described above, in a state that the first zip teeth
12 row and the second zip teeth 12 row are inserted respectively
into the zip tooth guide passages 50T, 60T. Further, the rear
opening of the upper slider 50 is faced to the rear opening of the
lower slider 60.
[0091] When the lower slider 60 is slid in the upward direction
(U-direction) in FIG. 1, the first zip teeth 12 row and the second
zip teeth 12 row in a coupled state are introduced from the rear
opening. The introduced first and second zip teeth 12, 13 rows in a
coupled state are separated in the right and left direction (R-L
direction) along the guide column 60D and ejected from the both
shoulder openings in the downward direction (D-direction) in FIG.
1.
[0092] Further, when the lower slider 60 is slid in the downward
direction (D-direction) in FIG. 1 in a state that the first zip
teeth 12 row and the second zip teeth 12 row at right and left are
inserted into the zip tooth guide passage 60T, the first zip teeth
12 row and the second zip teeth 12 row which are in a separated
state are introduced from the shoulder openings at right and left
(R-L direction) of the lower slider 60. The introduced first and
second zip teeth 12, 13 rows are ejected from the rear opening at
the upward direction (U-direction) of FIG. 1 in a coupled state as
being merged by being guided along the inner wall of the flange 50F
of the zip tooth guide passage 60T.
[0093] When the lower slider 60 is further lowered in the downward
direction (D-direction), the box pin 40 and the insert pin 30 are
introduced from the shoulder opening of the lower slider 60, and
then, the lower slider 60 is stopped as the shoulder portion
thereof being contacted to the stopper 46 which is formed at the
lower end of the box pin 40. This is the position for the lower
slider 60 to be the lowermost end.
[0094] To release entire coupling between the first zip teeth 12
row and the second zip teeth 12 row at right and left, lowering of
the upper slider 50 in the downward direction (D-direction) is
further performed to a position where the rear portion of the upper
slider 50 is contacted to the rear portion of the lower slider 60
in a state that the lower slider 60 is moved to the lowermost end.
Then, coupling between the first zip teeth 12 row and the second
zip teeth 12 row is entirely to be released. Subsequently, lifting
of the insert pin 30 in the upward direction (U-direction) is
performed while holding the reinforcement film 24 portion at the
lower end of the first fastener stringer 16 in the above state.
Then, the insert pin 30 can be pulled out from the zip tooth guide
passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50 and the lower slider 60.
Accordingly, the first fastener stringer 16 and the second fastener
stringer 17 at right and left can be separated.
[0095] To re-couple the first fastener stringer 16 and the second
fastener stringer 17 at right and left from a state of being once
separated, inserting of the insert pin 30 is performed from the
shoulder opening in the left direction (L-direction) of the upper
slider 50 while holding the reinforcement film 24 portion at the
lower end of the first fastener stringer 16. FIG. 6 illustrates a
state that the top end part of the insert pin 30 is slid in the
downward direction (D-direction) in the zip tooth guide passage 60T
of the lower slider 60 as the insert pin 30 being inserted from the
shoulder opening of the upper slider 50.
[0096] In a case that the insert pin 30 is to be inserted further
deeply in a state of FIG. 6, the insert pin 30 is moved in the
downward direction (D-direction) while the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the insert pin 30 is
slidingly contacted to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50 and
the guide face 33 of the insert pin 30 is slidingly contacted to
the guide column 50D of the upper slider 50.
[0097] In a case that the insert pin 30 is to be inserted further
deeply from the state of FIG. 6, the locking pawl 64 is contacted
to the top wall 30T at the top end part of the insert pin 30. The
pawl guide sloped face 39 as gradually sloping the top wall 30T
toward the back wall 30B side to gradually decrease thickness of
the insert pin 30 is formed at the top end part of the insert pin
30 and the locking pawl 64 is contacted to the pawl guide sloped
face 39. When the insert pin 30 is further inserted in the downward
direction (D-direction) in a state that the locking pawl 64 is
contacted to the pawl guide sloped face 39, the locking pawl 64 is
retracted toward the top face side (T-direction) while the locking
pawl 64 is slid on the pawl guide face 39 of the insert pin 30 (see
FIG. 7). Accordingly, the top end part of the insert pin 30 can
pass through the section of the lower slider 60 where the locking
pawl 64 is protruded and the insert pin 30 can be inserted further
in the downward direction (D-direction).
[0098] In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the top end of the
insert pin 30 having the pawl guide sloped face 39 is formed as
being deviated to the back wall 30B side against the center line of
the insert pin 30 in the top-back direction. Further, the top end
of the insert pin 30 is located at the back face side (B-direction)
from the protruded end of the locking pawl 64 in a state that the
locking pawl 64 is protruded to the zip tooth guide passage
60T.
[0099] Specifically, the pawl guide sloped face 39 is formed
continuously to a section where the first sloped section 30E is
formed. That is, the pawl guide sloped face 39 is formed to cross
over the extension line EL and is arranged at the top face side of
the first sloped section 30E which crosses over the extension line
EL. Accordingly, the surface at the top end part of the insert pin
30 is shaped spherical in combination with the pawl guide sloped
face 39 and the curved face of the first sloped section 30E. With
the above structure, even if the insertion of the insert pin 30 is
performed linearly or along with rotation when inserting the insert
pin 30, for example, the locking pawl 64 of the lower slider 60 can
be guided to the top face side (T-direction) as being reliably
contacted to the pawl guide sloped face 39 and the locking pawl 64
can be stably retracted.
[0100] In a case that the insert pin 30 is to be further inserted
as being advanced straightly form the state of FIGS. 6 and 7, the
first sloped section 30E at the box pin slidingly-contacting side
edge 30C side of the top end part of the insert pin 30 is faced to
the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60 as illustrated in FIGS.
8 and 9. At that time, the flange slidingly-contacting side edge
30F of the insert pin 30 is contacted to the flange 50F of the
upper slider 50. The box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of
the insert pin 30 is contacted to the opposing side edge 40C of the
box pin 40 and is faced to the guide column 60D of the lower slider
60 as being slightly apart from the guide column 60D. Here, the box
pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30 may be
contacted to the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60.
[0101] A part of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of
the insert pin 30 being closest to the guide column 60D of the
lower slider 60 is defined as a close point CP. The facing area
denotes the curve-shaped area of the box pin slidingly-contacting
side edge 30C of the insert pin 30 to be faced to the guide column
60D of the lower slider 60 when the insert pin 30 is to be inserted
into the zip tooth guide passages 50T, 60T of the upper slider 50
and the lower slider 60.
[0102] Specifically, the facing area denotes an area of the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge 30C from a contact point thereof
with the opposing side edge 40C toward the top end of the insert
pin 30 when the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 300 is in a
state that the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the
insert pin 30 is contacted to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50
and the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C is contacted to
the opposing side edge 40C as the insert pin 30 being inserted as
illustrated in FIG. 8.
[0103] Further, opposing or facing between the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge 30C and the guide column 60D denotes
that the face of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of
the insert pin 30 and the wall face in the top-back direction (T-B
direction) of the guide column 60D are mutually faced not denoting
a case that the faces are at a right angle. Here, the insert pin 30
and the guide column 60D are mutually faced in a state of being
apart. However, the both may be mutually contacted. Further, the
close point CP in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is
located closer to the box pin 40 side than the intersection point
ND.
[0104] With the reverse opening slide fastener 910 in the related
art (see FIG. 12), it has been required to insert the insert pin
930 while a user intentionally rotates the reinforcing film 24 at
the low end of the first fastener stringer 916 so that the top end
wall 930D of the insert pin 930 is not contacted to the guide
column 60D. In other words, with the conventional reverse opening
slide fastener 910, there has been a problem that insertion of the
insert pin 930 is disturbed owing to collision of the top end wall
930D of the insert pin 930 with the guide column 60D in a case that
the insert pin 930 is inserted so that the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 930F of the insert pin 930 is
contacted to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50 and the opposing
side edge (i.e., the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge) 930C
of the insert pin 30 is contacted to the opposing side edge of the
box pin 40.
[0105] In contrast, according to the invention, as illustrated in
FIGS. 8 and 9, the first sloped section 30E of the box pin
slidingly-contacting side edge 30C at the top end part side of the
insert pin 30 is formed at the sloped face (i.e., the curved face)
sloped in the direction being apart from the box pin 40 side toward
the top end part of the insert pin 30. That is, the top end part of
the insert pin 30 is formed at the sloped face which is gradually
sloped to the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F side toward
the top end part. Then, the sloped face is formed as defining
positional relation against the guide column 60D so that the sloped
face becomes the facing area which is faced to the guide column 60D
of the lower slider 60.
[0106] That is, the sloped face of the first sloped section 30E is
formed to be a shape sloped at an angle being apart from the guide
column 60D of the lower slider 60 in a state that the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the insert pin 30 is
slidingly contacted to the flange 50F of the upper slider 50 and
the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30
is slidingly contacted to the opposing side edge 40C of the box pin
40. Here, the sloped face of the first sloped section 30E may be
formed to be a shape sloped at an angle to be contacted to the side
face of the guide column 60D at the insert pin side. With the above
structure of the insert pin 30 having the first sloped section 30E,
it is possible to prevent the top end of the insert pin 30 from
being contacted to the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60, and
further, to prevent the facing area of the insert pin 30 from being
contacted to the guide column 60D. Accordingly, insert pin
insertion operation can be smoothly performed.
[0107] Further, in this case, the insert pin 30 is structured so
that distance (i.e., length) between the contact point of the box
pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C with the box pin 40 and the
intersection point ND as being intersected with the extension line
EL of the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C is larger than
distance (i.e., length) between the contact point and the tip of
the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60. In addition, the side
face of the first sloped section 30E of the insert pin 30 is formed
into a continuously curved shape. Accordingly, it is possible to
reliably avoid contacting of the insert pin 30 with the guide
column 60D of the lower slider 60 and insert pin insertion
operation can be performed more reliably.
[0108] Further, the second sloped section 30G formed at the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F side of the insert pin 30 is
formed to have more gradual sloped angle variation than that of the
first sloped section 30E as described above. Accordingly, the
second sloped section 30G of the insert pin 30 is not contacted to
the flange 60F of the lower slider 60 when the insert pin 30 is
inserted.
[0109] Here, when the insert pin 30 is inserted as being slightly
rotated at the time of insertion of the insert pin 30 from the
shoulder opening of the upper slider 50, for example, there may be
a case that the box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the
insert pin 30 is not slidingly contacted to the opposing side edge
40C of the box pin 40 even with sliding contact of the flange
slidingly-contacting side edge 30F of the insert pin 30 with the
flange 50F of the upper slider 50. In this case, similarly to the
related art, it is possible to smoothly perform insert pin
insertion operation as avoiding collision of the top end of the
insert pin 30 with the guide column 60D of the lower slider 60.
[0110] Subsequently, when the insert pin 30 is further inserted in
the downward direction (O-direction) from the state of FIGS. 8 and
9, the insert pin 30 can be smoothly inserted to the lowermost end
as illustrated in FIG. 10 with gradual rotation of the insert pin
30 to be parallel to the box pin 40. Here, not illustrated in FIG.
10, positioning of the insert pin 30 at the lowermost end can be
performed owing to contact of the first engaging portion 34 (see
FIG. 3) of the insert pin 30 with the second engaging portion 44
(see FIG. 3) of the box pin 40. Here, the insert pin 30 being
parallel to the box pin 40 denotes that the planar section of the
box pin slidingly-contacting side edge 30C of the insert pin 30 or
the planar section of the flange slidingly-contacting side edge 30F
and the opposing side edge 40C of the box pin 40 are parallel to
each other.
[0111] As described above, with the reverse opening slide fastener
10 of the invention, the insert pin 30 can be stably inserted to
the lowermost end position as reliably avoiding collision of the
top end of the insert pin 30 with the guide column 60D of the lower
slider 60 even when insert pin insertion is performed at an angle
to cause collision of the insert pin top end with the guide column
of the lower slider in the related art.
[0112] In a state of FIG. 10, the top end part of the insert pin 30
and the top end part of the box pin 40 of the reverse opening slide
fastener 10 are to be approximately at the same position in the
longitudinal direction of the reverse opening slide fastener 10.
Here, in the state of FIG. 10, the top end of the insert pin 30 is
located at a position being lower than the tip (i.e., the tip at
the rear opening side) in the upward direction (U-direction) of the
guide column 60D of the lower slider 60 by an amount of dimension
DP to the insert pin lower end position in the downward direction
(D-direction).
[0113] Since the top end of the insert pin 30 is located in the
downward direction (D-direction) below the guide column 60D of the
lower slider 60, it becomes easy to orient the top end part of the
inert pin 30 in a direction toward the shoulder opening of the
lower slider 60 at the time when the lower slider 60 is slid from
the lowermost end toward the upward direction (U-direction).
Accordingly, opening operation can be smoothly performed. Here, in
a state that the lower slider 60 and the insert pin 30 are located
at the lowermost end, the top end part of the insert pin 30 and the
top end part of the box pin 40 are concealed in the zip tooth guide
passage 60T of the lower slider 60.
[0114] Zip teeth made of metal or resin can be used as the first
and second zip teeth 12, 13 of the above mentioned slide fastener
10. Further, it is also possible that coil-shaped zip teeth
obtained by winding a line-shaped monofilament into a coil shape
can be sewn to a fastener tape. Zip teeth which can be usually used
for a slide fastener can be adopted in the invention.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0115] The invention can be applied to a reverse opening slide
fastener capable of performing upper opening and reverse opening
and capable of separating and fitting by insertion. Such a reverse
opening slide fastener can be utilized for right front and left
front bodies of a jacket and a long coat, sportswear and
others.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0116] 10, 910 Reverse opening slide fastener [0117] 11 Fastener
tape [0118] 12 First zip tooth [0119] 13 Second zip tooth [0120] 14
Core portion [0121] 16, 916 First fastener stringer [0122] 17
Second fastener stringer [0123] 18 Top stopper [0124] 22 Separable
bottom end stop [0125] 24 Reinforcement film [0126] 30, 930 Insert
pin [0127] 30C Box pin slidingly-contacting side edge [0128] 30E
First sloped section [0129] 30F, 40F, 930F Flange
slidingly-contacting side edge [0130] 30G Second sloped section
[0131] 30T Top wall [0132] 30B Back wall [0133] 32 First engaging
guide piece [0134] 33, 43 Guide face [0135] 34 First engaging
portion [0136] 36 Clearance groove [0137] 37, 937 Column guide
sloped face [0138] 38 Coupling protrusion [0139] 39 Pawl guide
sloped face [0140] 40 Box pin [0141] 40C, 930C Opposing side edge
[0142] 42 Second engaging guide piece [0143] 44 Second engaging
portion [0144] 46 Stopper [0145] 50 Upper slider [0146] 50D, 60D
Guide column [0147] 50F, 60F Flange [0148] 50T, 60T Zip tooth guide
passage [0149] 53, 63 Back blade [0150] 54, 64 Locking pawl [0151]
60 Lower slider [0152] 62 Top blade [0153] 64 Locking pawl [0154]
930D Top end wall [0155] CP Close point [0156] DP Dimension between
upper tip of guide column to lowermost position of insert pin
[0157] EL Extension line [0158] ND Intersection point
* * * * *