U.S. patent application number 13/824434 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-11 for fastener stringer provided with knit tape.
This patent application is currently assigned to YKK Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Takahiro Asami, Tutomu Hamatani, Norinaka Hirokawa, Takashi Mori, Hideki Sato. Invention is credited to Takahiro Asami, Tutomu Hamatani, Norinaka Hirokawa, Takashi Mori, Hideki Sato.
Application Number | 20130174767 13/824434 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45892120 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130174767 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hirokawa; Norinaka ; et
al. |
July 11, 2013 |
Fastener Stringer Provided with Knit Tape
Abstract
The present invention provides a fastener stringer comprising a
knit fastener tape of a warp knit structure having an element
mounting portion and a tape main portion, and a coiled plastic
element row sewed on the element mounting portion wherein, two
needle yarns for sewing the element row on the element-mounting
portion are so arranged that they interpose a wale whereby two
sewing lines, are formed, and any one of knitting yarns that
straddle an inside sewing line of the two sewing lines has a
fineness of 72-330 dTex and substantially all of the other knitting
yarns have a fineness of 56-167 dTex, provided that the one of the
knitting yarns that straddle the inside sewing line of the two
sewing lines is thicker than substantially all of the other
knitting yarns. The fastener stringer has both a light weight and a
high strength.
Inventors: |
Hirokawa; Norinaka; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Asami; Takahiro; (Tokyo, JP) ; Mori;
Takashi; (Tokyo, JP) ; Hamatani; Tutomu;
(Tokyo, JP) ; Sato; Hideki; (Tokyo, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hirokawa; Norinaka
Asami; Takahiro
Mori; Takashi
Hamatani; Tutomu
Sato; Hideki |
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo |
|
JP
JP
JP
JP
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
YKK Corporation
Chiyoda-ku
JP
|
Family ID: |
45892120 |
Appl. No.: |
13/824434 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
September 29, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP10/66992 |
371 Date: |
March 18, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
112/400 ;
24/381 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D10B 2501/0631 20130101;
A44B 19/346 20130101; D05B 23/00 20130101; Y10T 24/25 20150115;
D04B 21/16 20130101; A44B 19/343 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
112/400 ;
24/381 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/34 20060101
A44B019/34; D05B 23/00 20060101 D05B023/00 |
Claims
1. A fastener stringer comprising a knit fastener tape of a
warp-knit structure having an element-mounting portion and a tape
main portion, and a coiled plastic element row sewed on the
element-mounting portion wherein: two needle yarns for sewing the
element row on the element-mounting portion are so arranged that
they interpose a single wale, whereby two sewing lines are formed,
and any one of knitting yarns that straddle an inside sewing line
of the two sewing lines has a fineness of 72-330 dTex, and
substantially all of the other knitting yarns have a fineness
56-167 dTex, provided that the one of knitting yarns that straddle
the inside sewing line of the two sewing lines is thicker than
substantially all of the other knitting yarns.
2. A fastener stringer comprising a knit fastener tape of a
warp-knit structure having an element-mounting portion and a tape
main portion, and a coiled plastic element row sewed on the
element-mounting portion, wherein: two needle yarns for sewing the
element row on the element-mounting portion are so arranged that
they interpose a single wale, whereby two sewing lines are formed,
any one of knitting yarns that straddle an inside sewing line of
the two sewing lines has a fineness of 72-330 dTex, and
substantially all of the other knitting yarns have a fineness
56-167 dTex, and the outermost knitting yarn in the
element-mounting portion has a fineness of 66-275 dTex, provided
that the one of knitting yarns that straddle the inside sewing line
of the two sewing lines as well as the outermost knitting yarn in
the element-mounting portion are thicker than substantially all of
the other knitting yarns.
3. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein the number
of stitches where three knitting yarns are interlooping in one
stitch account for at least 50% of the total number of
stitches.
4. The fastener stringer according claim 1, wherein the tape is
knitted with three types of yarns in total, namely, chain knitting
yarn, tricot knitting yarn and one of satin knitting yarn and
modified two-needle stitch yarn.
5. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein the one of
knitting yarns that straddle the inside sewing line of the two
sewing lines is selected from the group consisting of tricot
knitting yarn, satin knitting yarn and modified two-needle stitch
yarn.
6. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein the wale
which is interposed by the two needle yarns for sewing on the
element row is the second wale as counted from the outermost side
of the element-mounting portion.
7. The fastener stringer according to claim 1, wherein the needle
yarn has a fineness of 100-350 dTex.
8. A slide fastener provided with the fastener stringer according
to claim 1.
9. An article on which the slide fastener according to claim 8 is
sewed.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener stringer
provided with a knit tape. Further, the present invention relates
to a slide fastener chain and a slide fastener using the fastener
stringer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Slide fasteners are opening-closing tools widely used not
only in articles of daily use such as garments, bags, shoes and
sundry goods, but also in articles of industry such as water
storage tanks, fishing nets and space suits.
[0003] In general, a slide fastener is comprised of three main
parts, namely, a pair of long tapes, a number of elements sewed on
along with a side edge of each tape and functioning as engaging
parts of the fastener, and a slider for controlling the opening and
closing of the fastener by engaging and disengaging the
elements.
[0004] The tape for the slide fastener (hereinafter called
"fastener tape") comprises a tape main portion which is to be sewed
on the body of an article and an element-mounting portion on which
the elements are mounted. The elements are mounted on the
element-mounting portion with sewing yarns. Selvage yarn may be
provided to the end of the tape main portion to prevent the tape
main portion from fray. The tape on which the elements have been
mounted is called "a fastener stringer".
[0005] Heretofore, woven tapes have been used as materials for
fastener tapes, but recently knit tapes formed with a warp-knit
structure have become widely used for the reason of its superior
softness and shape stability as compared to the woven tapes.
[0006] Various techniques have been proposed for improvement of the
properties of the knit tapes. Among them, there is a technique in
which an improvement is made by partly thickening yarns that
constitute a warp-knit structure.
[0007] For example, Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No.
S59-29525 (Patent document 1) proposed an improvement of a slide
fastener comprised of a tape and continual zigzag elements which
clamp opposite surfaces of the tape and are fixed to the tape with
a sewing yarn, wherein there is no fear the elements might slip out
of the tape and a stable meshing is attained.
[0008] According to Patent document 1, the wales on which the
elements are mounted are formed in a higher position with a broader
width than the other wales, whereby the elements can be mounted
more strongly. As an example, the document discloses that, at the
side edge on which the continual clamping-type elements are
mounted, the tricot knitting yarn stretched between the first and
second needle arrays and the chain knitting yarn provided on the
second and third needle arrays are both thicker than the other
yarns.
[0009] Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. S52-18616 (Patent
document 2) is related to a textile band for producing slide
fasteners. It discloses that in order to strengthen a band edge
portion when uniting a pair of support bands to form a single
broader textile band, the chain knitting yarn defining the band
edge portion, the two-needle fringe stitch yarn and the inlaid yarn
are thicker than the other yarns. It discloses that this will
improve the strength and the resilience of the support bands.
[0010] Japanese Patent Un-examined Publication No. H9-318 (Patent
document 3) proposes a narrow warp-knit tape for a slide fastener
having a plurality of parallel longitudinal wales, characterized in
that a fastener element-mounting portion has a longitudinally
non-stretchable knit structure (Example section describes a knit
structure of interlooping chain knitting yarns with other knitting
yarns), the knitting yarn for the outer wale of said knit structure
being thick while the tape main portion has a longitudinally
stretchable structure (Example describes a knit structure of
interlooping textured yarns of single cord knitting with other
knitting yarns made of multifilament yarn), the outer edge of said
knit structure being formed by interlooping two kinds of thick
knitting yarns. According to this proposal, since the fastener
element-mounting portion has a longitudinally non-stretchable knit
structure and its edge is reinforced, the fastener elements can be
mounted in a stable condition and the meshing operation can be
carried out accurately and smoothly.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Documents
[0011] 1: Japanese Utility Model Examined Publication No. S59-29525
[0012] 2: Japanese Patent Examined Publication No. S52-18616 [0013]
3: Japanese Patent Un-examined Publication No. H9-318
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0014] These prior arts do not intend to achieve weight reduction
of slide fasteners, or to provide any suggestion to the solution.
It will be advantageous if a light weight slide fastener is
provided while retaining the strength in goods such as portable
wind breakers used in running, cycling, trekking or other outdoor
sports, laces for women, cardigans for infants, or other goods
which place great importance on lightness.
[0015] On the other hand, the elements to be mounted on the
fastener tape include a single piece element as represented by a
metal element and a plastic element molded on a tape by injection,
and a continuous element represented by a coiled plastic element.
Among them, the coiled plastic element is light in weight and
highly flexible. Since it is desirable for the above-mentioned
portable goods to be folded and easily housed in a pocket or the
like, it will be advantageous to pursue the improvement of the
fastener tapes, taking the type of element into consideration when
realizing the lightness of slide fasteners.
[0016] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a slide fastener stringer of light weight and high strength, using
a knit tape having a warp-knit structure and a coiled plastic
element. Another object of the invention is to provide a slide
fastener chain provided with such fastener stringer. Yet another
object of the present invention is to provide a slide fastener
provided with such slide fastener chain.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0017] The present inventors considered to make the knitting yarns
thinner but found that, when the overall yarns were made thinner,
the necessary strength (particularly, crosswise tensile strength)
could not be obtained. However, after extensive studies, the
inventors have found that when two needle yarns for sewing on the
elements are so arranged that they interpose a single wale, whereby
two sewing lines are formed, and when any one of knitting yarns
that straddle an inside sewing line of the two sewing lines is made
sufficiently thick, a practical strength can be obtained even if
the other yarns are thin.
[0018] Based on the above-mentioned findings, the present invention
provides, in one aspect, a fastener stringer (102) comprising a
knit fastener tape (100, 200) of a warp-knit structure having an
element-mounting portion (A) and a tape main portion (B), and a
coiled plastic element row (101) sewed on the element-mounting
portion (A), wherein:
[0019] two needle yarns (106) for sewing the element row (101) on
the element-mounting portion (A) are so arranged that they
interpose a single wale (W2), whereby two sewing lines are formed,
and
[0020] any one (104', 105'' or 112') of knitting yarns that
straddle an inside sewing line of the two sewing lines has a
fineness of 72-330 dTex, and substantially all of the other
knitting yarns have a fineness 56-167 dTex,
[0021] provided that the one (104',105'' or 112') of knitting yarns
that straddle the inside sewing line of the two sewing lines is
thicker than substantially all of the other knitting yarns.
[0022] In another aspect of the present invention, the present
invention provides a fastener stringer (102) comprising a knit
fastener tape (100, 200) of a warp-knit structure having an
element-mounting portion (A) and a tape main portion (B), and a
coiled plastic element row (101) sewed on the element-mounting
portion (A), wherein:
[0023] two needle yarns (106) for sewing the element row (101) on
the element-mounting portion (A) are so arranged that they
interpose a single wale (W2), whereby two sewing lines are
formed,
[0024] any one (104',105'' or 112') of knitting yarns that straddle
an inside sewing line of the two sewing lines has a fineness of
72-330 dTex, and substantially all of the other knitting yarns have
a fineness 56-167 dTex, and
[0025] the outermost knitting yarn (103') in the element-mounting
portion (A) has a fineness of 66-275 dTex,
[0026] provided that the one (104',105'' or 112') of knitting yarns
that straddle the inside sewing line of the two sewing lines as
well as the outermost knitting yarn (103') in the element-mounting
portion (A) are thicker than substantially all of the other
knitting yarns.
[0027] In one embodiment of the fastener stringer according to the
present invention, the number of stitches where three knitting
yarns are interlooping in one stitch account for at least 50% of
the total number of stitches.
[0028] In a further embodiment of the fastener stringer according
to the present invention, the tape (100, 200) is knitted with three
types of yarns in total, namely, chain knitting yarn (103,103'),
tricot knitting yarn (104, 104') and one of satin knitting yarn
(105, 105', 105'') and modified two-needle stitch yarn (112,
112').
[0029] In a further embodiment of the fastener stringer according
to the present invention, the one (104', 105'' or 112') of knitting
yarns that straddle the inside sewing line of the two sewing lines
is selected from the group consisting of tricot knitting yarn
(104'), satin knitting yarn (105'') and modified two-needle stitch
yarn (112').
[0030] In a further embodiment of the fastener stringer according
to the present invention, the wale (W2) which is interposed by the
two needle yarns (106) for sewing on the element row (101) is the
second wale as counted from the outermost side of the
element-mounting portion.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the fastener stringer according
to the present invention, the needle yarn (106) has a fineness of
100-350 dTex.
[0032] In a further aspect of the present invention, the present
invention provides a slide fastener provided with the fastener
stringer (102) according to the present invention.
[0033] In a further aspect of the fastener stringer according to
the present invention, the present invention provides an article on
which the slide fastener according to the present invention is
sewed.
Effect of the Invention
[0034] According to the present invention, a fastener stringer of a
light weight and a high strength is provided. Also, softness of the
fastener stringer is increased by using thinner yarns as compared
to the prior art fastener stringer.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] FIG. 1 shows a knit structure of the fastener tape according
to the first example of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 2 shows structures of respective knitting yarns used in
the first example of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a fastener stringer
formed by sewing the elements on the fastener tape.
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a modified embodiment of the satin knitting
yarn (open loop) capable of being used in the first example.
[0039] FIG. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the first example
wherein the thick knitting yarn which straddles the inside sewing
line is a satin knitting yarn.
[0040] FIG. 6 shows a knit structure of the fastener tape according
to the second example of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 7 shows structures of respective knitting yarns used in
the second example of the present invention.
[0042] FIG. 8 is a modified embodiment of the second example
wherein the thick knitting yarn which straddles the inside sewing
line is a modified two-needle stitch yarn.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0043] The fastener stringer according to the present invention
includes, as the essential components, a knit fastener tape of a
warp-knit structure having a tape main portion and an
element-mounting portion, and a coiled plastic element row sewed on
the element-mounting portion. The coiled plastic element row is
adopted because it is best suited for the purpose of the present
invention in view of its light weight, flexibility and an
easy-housed nature. As plastics for the material of the element
row, polyester, nylon, polypropylene and acrylic may be cited but
polyester is preferred because it has a good sewing property as
well as a high strength, etc.
[0044] To establish a high strength capable of withstanding the
practical use as a slide fastener while knitting yarns constituting
the warp-knit structure are generally made thin, it is preferred
that the outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting portion be
sufficiently thick. This is because, by doing so, the elongation of
the fastener tape is suppressed and the width of the tape is
stabilized, thereby enhancing the sewing property of the elements.
A knitting yarn having a fineness of typically 66-275 dTex,
preferably 78-167 dTex may be used. As the knit structure used
here, chain knitting is preferred because the chain knitting
strengthens the edge of the element-mounting portion and the
elongation of the warp-knitted tape is also suppressed, whereby the
work of mounting the fastener element becomes easier.
[0045] Further, in the present invention, two needle yarns for
sewing the element row on the element-mounting portion are so
arranged that they interpose a single wale, whereby two sewing
lines are formed. These sewing lines, which interpose the single
wale, are made up of a first sewing line arranged in the outside of
the wale in the element-mounting portion, and a second sewing line
arranged in the inside of the first sewing line in the
element-mounting portion. The first sewing line is an outside
sewing line which will be explained later, and the second sewing
line is an inside sewing line which will be also explained later.
By performing the mounting of the element row in such a way, it is
possible to compensate for the otherwise lowering the mounting
strength and stability of the elements incurred by the thinned
yarns. In order to stabilize the dimension of the gap formed
between the opposing edges of the fastener tapes when the elements
of the right and left fastener stringers are meshed, the wale
interposed by the two needle yarns for sewing on the element row is
typically the second wale as counted from the outermost side of the
element-mounting portion.
[0046] In light of weight reduction of the slide fastener, which is
the object of the present invention, thin yarns are desirably
adopted as the needle yarn. Thin yarns also contribute to the
improvement of softness of the slide fastener. If, however, they
are excessively thin, practical mounting strength and stability
cannot be attained. Accordingly, it is preferable to use yarns
having a fineness of 100-350 dTex, it is more preferable to use
yarns having a fineness of 110-250 Tex. The same can be applied to
the fineness of looper yarns used in combination with the needle
yarn.
[0047] According to the present invention, the fineness of any one
of the knitting yarns which straddle the inside sewing line of the
two sewing lines thus formed is made thick. Although there may be
plural sewing yarns in the tape which straddle the inside sewing
line, only one of them should have a large fineness. Specifically,
the knitting yarn having a fineness of 72-330 dTex, preferably
78-235 dTex, more preferably 78-167 dTex is used. By thickening the
knitting yarn straddling the inside sewing line, the fastener tape
is prevented from tearing apart along the sewing line when a
crosswise tensile force is applied to the fastener tape. The
knitting yarn to be thickened may include a tricot knitting yarn, a
satin knitting yarn and a modified two-needle stitch yarn. The term
"a modified two-needle stitch yarn" herein means a knitting yarn
arranged in a zigzag pattern while forming a loop around two
adjacent wales in each course.
[0048] Thus, by sufficiently thickening any one of the knitting
yarns which straddle the inside sewing line and preferably also the
outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting portion, a slide
fastener having a sufficient strength (particularly, crosswise
tensile strength) can be obtained, even though the fineness of
substantially all of the other knitting yarns are made smaller than
these knitting yarns within the range of 56-167 dTex, typically
66-110 dTex, more typically 66-84 dTex. In a typical embodiment,
the outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting portion and the
thick single knitting yarn straddling the inside sewing line have a
different fineness from substantially all of the other knitting
yarns by at least 10 dTex, more typically by at least 20 dTex, for
example, by 10-40 dTex.
[0049] The reason why the term "substantially" is used in the
preceding paragraph is as follows. In knitted fastener tapes, there
is a case where the tape main portion is centered and the right and
left sides have a warp-knit structure capable of functioning as the
element-mounting portion in order to prevent users from mistaking
the tape main portion for the element-mounting portion and
consequently mounting the elements on the tape main portion. In
such a case, in spite of the presence of unused element-mounting
portion, it should be understood that such embodiment belongs to
the scope of the present invention. In addition, even if one or two
thick yarns are used in a place where the present invention does
not stipulate for form's sake with an intension of avoiding the
technical scope of the present invention, it should be understood
that such embodiment also belongs to the present invention.
[0050] The width of the tape for the foregoing slide fastener is
11-13 mm. Slide fasteners have element rows and tapes in different
sizes depending on their use. Specifically, the wire diameter,
width and thickness of the coiled element row, the size of meshing
heads by which element rows are mutually engaged, and the width and
thickness of the tape are different. This is because as the sizes
of the element row and the tape become larger, the crosswise
tensile strength can be enhanced. Accordingly, when the tape size
is made larger, and its width is set at 14-17 mm, it is preferred
that the fineness of any one of the knitting yarns straddling the
inside sewing line of the two sewing lines be set at 235-330 dTex,
the fineness of the substantially all of the other knitting yarns
except for the outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting
portion be preferably set at 110-167 dTex. Also, the fineness of
the outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting portion is
preferably set at 167-275 dTex, and the fineness of the needle yarn
and the looper yarn is preferably set at 250-350 dTex.
[0051] The element-mounting portion and the tape main portion may
be made of knitting yarns of the same fineness and material.
Alternatively, knitting yarns for the element-mounting portion and
the tape main portion may be different from each other. Also,
regardless of whether it is the element-mounting portion or the
tape main portion, the fineness and the material of each knitting
yarn may be changed.
[0052] As material for the knitting yarns, polyester, nylon,
polypropylene, acrylic and the like which have been conventionally
used in the field of the slide fasteners may be used. However,
polyester is preferable in order to use the same material as the
element for minimizing the color difference between them after
dyeing. The knitting yarn may be formed with a monofilament or with
a multifilament made by bundling a plurality of monofilaments. For
example, a single yarn having a fineness of 250 dTex is formed with
a multifilament bundling 50 monofilaments of 5 dTex.
[0053] As for the knitting yarn itself for knitting the fastener
tape, any known knit structures may be adopted such as, but not
limited to, chain knitting yarn, tricot knitting yarn, satin
knitting yarn, and modified two-needle stitch yarn. However, in
consideration of reduction of the load on a knitting machine while
maintaining the fastener tape bulky, it is preferred the fastener
tape be knitted with three types of yarns, namely, chain knitting
yarn, tricot knitting yarn and one of satin knitting yarn and
modified two-needle stitch yarn. Closed stitch and open stitch may
be arbitrary selected depending on the necessary strength of the
tape.
[0054] In a preferred embodiment of the fastener stringer according
to the present invention, it is preferable that the number of
stitches where three knitting yarns are interlooping in one stitch
(a three-loop knit structure) account for at least 50%, more
preferably at least 60% of the total number of stitches. By
increasing the amount of three-loop knit structure, the advantages
of increased strength, texture and bulkiness can be obtained. Too
many two-loop structures will fail to obtain sufficient strength,
texture and bulkiness. Too many four-loop structures will fail to
sufficiently achieve weight reduction of slide fasteners, which is
the original object of the present invention. Furthermore, too many
three-loop knit structures will also fail to sufficiently achieve
weight reduction of slide fasteners, which is the original object
of the present invention, due to an increase of the number of
knitting yarns for forming the loop. Accordingly, it is preferable
that the number of stitches where three knitting yarns are
interlooping in one stitch (a three-loop knit structure) account
for less than 80% of the total number of stitches.
[0055] A slide fastener is completed by meshing a pair of fastener
stringers together to form a fastener chain, and then attaching a
slider and top and bottom end stops to it. The slide fastener
according to the present invention can be sewed on various articles
and used as an opening/closing tool. Particularly, it can be
suitably used with articles such as laces, cardigans, window
breakers, etc. for which lightness is required.
EXAMPLES
[0056] In the following, examples of the present invention will be
explained in details. It should be understood that the present
invention is not restricted to the following examples but various
modifications may be possible within the scope of the present
invention.
First Example
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a knit structure diagram of a fastener tape
(100) according to the first example of the present invention. The
knit structure was produced by using a crochet knitting machine.
The material for the knitting yarns was polyester. This fastener
tape (100) is configured with the 1st wale (W1) to the 12th wale
(W12) which are aligned in sequence from the left. The 1st wale
(W1) to the 3th wale (W3) form the element-mounting portion (A) and
the 4th wale (W4) to the 12th wale (W12) form the tape main portion
(B).
<Knit Structure>
[0058] The knit structure of the fastener tape (100) will now be
explained. The element-mounting portion (A) and the tape main
portion (B) are, as illustrated in FIG. 2, knitted with chain
knitting yarns (103, 103') of 1-0/0-1 with open loop, tricot
knitting yarns (104, 104') of 1-0/1-2 with closed loop, and satin
knitting yarns (105) of 3-4/1-0 with closed loop. In FIG. 2,
individual knit structures in the knit structure diagram are
illustrated. Beginning from the left in the drawing, a thick chain
knitting yarn (103'), a chain knitting yarn (103), a tricot
knitting yarn (104), a thick tricot knitting yarn (104') and a
satin knitting yarn (modified tricot knitting yarn) (105) are
shown.
[0059] Among the knitting yarns constituting the fastener tape of
the first example, the tricot knitting yarn (104') which straddles
the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3) as well as the chain
knitting yarn (103') disposed on the 1st wale (W1) are thick and
these knitting yarns have the same fineness of 110 dTex. As for the
10th wale (10W) to the 12th wale (W12), the tricot knitting yarn
which straddles the 10th wale (W10) and the 11th wale (W11) and the
chain knitting yarn disposed on the wale 12 (W12) are thick and
have a fineness of 110 dTex so that they can be also used as the
element-mounting portion (A). The other knitting yarns are thin and
have a fineness of 78 dTex. It is to be noted that the fineness of
each knitting yarn is not restricted to that used in the example.
For example, the tricot knitting yarn (104') straddling the 2nd
wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3) may have the largest fineness of 78
dTex, and the chain knitting yarn (103') disposed on the 1st wale
(W1) may have 72 dTex, and the other knitting yarns may have the
smallest fineness of 66 dTex. Alternatively, the tricot knitting
yarn (104') straddling the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3) may
have the largest fineness of 72 dTex, and the chain knitting yarn
(103') disposed on the 1st wale (W1) and the other knitting yarns
may both have the same 66 dTex.
[0060] As shown in FIG. 1, in the first example, the number of
stitches where three knitting yarns are interlooping in one stitch
(forming a three-loop knit structure) to the total number of
stitches three-loop knit structure is 2/3.
[0061] In the first example, the satin knitting yarns (105) form a
knit structure such that they straddle four wales. In the fastener
tape illustrated in FIG. 1, the total number of stitches is 72.
Among them, the number of stitches where three knitting yarns are
interlooping in one stitch (forming a three-loop knit structure) is
48. Accordingly, the number of stitches where three knitting yarns
are interlooping in one stitch to the total number of stitches
reaches about 68%. The knit structure formed by the satin knitting
yarns is not restricted to that used in the example. For example,
satin knitting yarns may form a knit structure such that they
straddle adjacent three wales. By doing so, the number of stitches
where three knitting yarns are interlooping in one stitch reaches
54. Accordingly, the number of stitches where three knitting yarns
are interlooping in one stitch to the total number of stitches
reaches about 75%. Further, satin knitting yarns may form a knit
structure such that they straddle adjacent five wales and thus the
number of stitches where three knitting yarns are interlooping in
one stitch reaches 42. Accordingly, the number of stitches where
three knitting yarns are interlooping in one stitch to the total
number of stitches reaches about 58%.
[0062] In the first example, the satin knitting yarn (105) is
knitted with closed loop, but as show in FIG. 4, the satin knitting
yarn (105') of 4-3/0-1 may be knitted with open loop. Also, with
respect to the chain knitting yarn (103, 103') and the tricot
knitting yarn (104,104'), selection of closed loop or open loop may
be arbitrary made.
[0063] In the first example, the tricot knitting yarn straddling
the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3) adopts a thick yarn, but as
shown in FIG. 5, the satin knitting yarn (105'') having stitches
alternately on the 1st wale (W1) and the 4th wale (W4) may be made
thick. Furthermore, though not illustrated, the satin knitting yarn
having stitches alternately on the 2nd wale (W2) and the 5th wale
(W5) may be made thick. This is because all these yarns straddle
the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3).
<Mounting of the Elements>
[0064] FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view illustrating the
configuration in which the element row (101) has been mounted on
the fastener tape (100) to form a fastener stringer (102). Two
needle yarns (106) are arranged to sew on the element row (101). By
this arrangement, the outside sewing line is formed between the 1st
wale (W1) and the 2nd wale (W2), and the inside sewing line is
formed between the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3). In this
case, a coiled polyester element row is used.
[0065] The procedure for mounting the element row (101) will now be
explained. First, a core cord (108) is inserted through the hollow
portion of the element row (101), and the element row (101) is
placed in a given position on the element-mounting portion (A) with
the meshing head (109) of the element row (101) orienting
outwardly. Next, a sewing needle is stuck through a groove (G1)
between the 1st wale (W1) and the 2nd wale (W2) and a groove (G2)
between the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3), whereby two needle
yarns (106) and a single looper yarn (107) functioning as sewing
yarns tighten together the upper leg (110) and the lower leg (111)
of the element row (101), so that the element row (101) and the
core cord (108) are sewn on the fastener tape (100). The fineness
of the needle yarn (106) and the looper yarn (107) was set at 139
dTex.
<Area Density>
[0066] The fastener stringer according to the first example has an
area density of 150-175 g/m.sup.2, which is only 60% by weight of
the conventional knit fastener tape.
<Strength Test>
[0067] Two fastener stringers were prepared according to the first
example, and they were meshed together to form a fastener chain,
and the crosswise tensile strength was determined according to the
JIS-S3015. The result of 557N was obtained.
[0068] On the other hand, as a comparative example, a fastener
chain (comparative example 1) using a knit fastener tape in which
the outermost knitting yarn in the element-mounting portion has a
fineness of 110 dTex and substantially all of the other knitting
yarns have a fineness of 84 dTex was prepared and the crosswise
tensile strength was determined. The result of 444N was
obtained.
[0069] From this result, it is ascertained that, by increasing the
fineness of only one of the knitting yarns which straddle the
inside sewing line of the two sewing lines, the fastener tape is
not torn apart along the sewing line when a crosswise tensile force
is applied to the fastener chain, and the strength has been
remarkably enhanced as compared to the fastener chain in which
substantially all the knitting yarns are thin, and a strength
comparative to the conventional fastener chain using only thick
knitting yarns can be achieved.
Second Example
[0070] FIG. 6 illustrates a partial knit structure of a fastener
tape (200) according to the second example of the present
invention. The knit structure was produced by using a crochet
knitting machine. This fastener tape (200) is a modification of the
knit structure of the first example in that the satin knitting yarn
was changed to a modified two-needle stitch yarn of 3-4/1-0.
Accordingly, the fastener tape (200) of this second example is
knitted with three types of knitting yarns, namely, chain knitting
yarns (103, 103'), tricot knitting yarns (104, 104') and modified
two-needle stitch yarns (112). In FIG. 7, individual knit
structures in the knit structure diagram are illustrated. Beginning
from the left in the drawing, a thick chain knitting yarn (103'), a
chain knitting yarn (103), a tricot knitting yarn (104), a thick
tricot knitting yarn (104') and a modified two-needle stitch yarn
(112) are shown.
[0071] In the second example, the number of stitches where three
knitting yarns are interlooping in one stitch (forming a three-loop
knit structure) to the total number of stitches is 7/12.
[0072] In the second example, the chain knitting yarns (103, 103')
are knitted with open loop, the tricot knitting yarns (104, 104')
are knitted with closed loop, but selection of closed loop or open
loop may be arbitrary made.
[0073] In the second example, the tricot knitting yarn (104') which
straddles the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3) adopts a thick
yarn. However, as shown in FIG. 8, the modified two-needle stitch
yarn (112') which straddles from the 1st wale (W1) to the 4th wale
(W4) may be made thick. Also, though not illustrated, the modified
two-needle stitch yarn which straddles from the 2nd wale (W2) to
the 5th wale (W5) may be made thick. This is because all these
yarns straddle the 2nd wale (W2) and the 3rd wale (W3).
[0074] When the knitted fastener tape according to the second
example was used, a fastener chain having both a light weight and a
high strength was obtained like the first example.
EXPLANATION OF THE SYMBOLS
[0075] 100 fastener tape [0076] 101 element row [0077] 102 fastener
stringer [0078] 103, 103' chain knitting yarn [0079] 104, 104'
tricot knitting yarn [0080] 105, 105', 105'' satin knitting yarn
[0081] 106 needle yarn [0082] 107 looper yarn [0083] 108 core cord
[0084] 109 meshing head [0085] 110 upper leg [0086] 111 lower leg
[0087] 112, 112' modified two-needle stitch yarn [0088] 200
fastener tape [0089] A element-mounting portion [0090] B tape main
portion [0091] G1,G2 groove [0092] W1-W12 1st wale-12th wale
* * * * *