U.S. patent application number 14/730702 was filed with the patent office on 2015-12-10 for slider for a slide fastener.
The applicant listed for this patent is RIRI SA. Invention is credited to Dario Giovanni Battista Zana.
Application Number | 20150351501 14/730702 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50976452 |
Filed Date | 2015-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150351501 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zana; Dario Giovanni
Battista |
December 10, 2015 |
SLIDER FOR A SLIDE FASTENER
Abstract
A slider for a slide fastener is provided with an openable
bridge suitable to remove or replace a pull tab, wherein a base of
the bridge is connected to the slider body by a connection allowing
a combination of linear displacement and pivoting relative to the
slider body, a linear displacement of the bridge causes the
lock/unlock of the bridge to/from a retaining member of the slider
body, and a pivoting of the bridge causes the opening/closing of a
front passage for removal or insertion of a pull tab. The bridge
portion may also include a locking member associated with the
bridge.
Inventors: |
Zana; Dario Giovanni Battista;
(Mendrisio, CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
RIRI SA |
Mendrisio |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
50976452 |
Appl. No.: |
14/730702 |
Filed: |
June 4, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/429 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/2586 20150115;
A44B 19/308 20130101; A44B 19/26 20130101; A44B 19/262
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A44B 19/26 20060101
A44B019/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 4, 2014 |
EP |
14171059.0 |
Claims
1. A slider for a slide fastener, comprising: a slider body
including a diamond, an upper blade, a lower blade and a bridge,
wherein the bridge is connected to the slider body by a connection
allowing a combination of linear displacement and pivoting of the
bridge relative to the slider body, and wherein the linear
displacement and pivoting of the bridge takes place between: i) a
first position wherein the bridge is engaged with a retaining
member of the slider body, and ii) a second position wherein the
bridge is disengaged from the retaining member and is rotated
relative to the slider body.
2. The slider according to claim 1, wherein the linear displacement
of the bridge relative to the slider body causes the engagement or
disengagement of the bridge to/from the retaining member.
3. The slider according to claim 1, wherein the rotation of the
bridge relative to the slider body causes opening or closing of a
front passage between the bridge and the slider body, the front
passage being suitable for insertion or removal of a pull tab.
4. The slider according to claim 1, wherein the bridge has a base
associated to the slider body by the connection, and a distal end
opposite to the base, the distal end being engaged with the
retaining member when the bridge is in the first position, and
disengaged therefrom when the bridge is in the second position.
5. The slider according to claim 3, wherein a linear displacement
of the bridge relative to the slider body causes a lock/unlock of
the distal end to/from the retaining member, and a pivoting of the
bridge portion causes the opening/closing of the front passage.
6. The slider according to claim 1, wherein the connection includes
a rotation pin inserted in at least one slot.
7. The slider according to claim 6, wherein the rotation pin is
fixed to the slider body, and wherein the at least one slot is
formed in a portion of the bridge.
8. The slider according to claim 1, wherein the linear displacement
is in a substantially longitudinal direction of the slider.
9. The slider according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic
member configured to urge the bridge in the first position.
10. The slider according to claim 9, wherein the elastic member is
housed in the bridge.
11. The slider according to claim 1, further comprising a locking
member to prevent sliding, the locking member being in a locked
condition when the bridge is in the first position, and being in a
released condition when the bridge is in the second position.
12. The slider according to claim 11, wherein the locking member is
associated with the bridge, both the locking member and the bridge
being pivotable together around a same pin fixed to the slider
body.
13. The slider according to claim 12, wherein the locking member
comprises one degree of freedom of pivoting around the pin, while
the bridge is slidable relative to the pin.
14. The slider according to claim 11, further comprising an elastic
member configured to urge the bridge in the first position, wherein
the elastic member acts between a surface of the bridge and a
surface of the locking member, and wherein the bridge and the
locking member are urged one against the other by the elastic
member, so that they form a substantially rigid assembly when
rotating around the pin.
15. A slide fastener, comprising a slider according to claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention refers to a slider for a slide
fastener. More in detail, the invention relates to a slider with a
bridge that can be shifted between a first position and a second
position, for example to remove or replace a pull tab.
BACKGROUND OF RELATED ART
[0002] A slide fastener basically comprises a pair of tapes bearing
respective rows of teeth, top and bottom stops, and a slider with a
pull tab. The slider basically comprises an upper blade, a lower
blade, a central portion between the upper and lower blade, which
is called diamond, and a bridge extending over the upper blade. The
pull tab is inserted between the bridge and the upper blade and is
held in position by the bridge.
[0003] A technical problem encountered in the current technique of
manufacturing slide fasteners is the need of a removable pull
tab.
[0004] A removable pull tab may be desired for example to avoid
damage of the pull tab caused by the manufacturing process of the
slide fastener, or of the item (e.g. suit, bag, etc.) comprising
the slide fastener. For example, it may be desirable to protect an
expensive metal puller from manufacturing steps such as sewing and
finishing. Especially in the field of luxury goods, the pull tab
may be a delicate and expensive item. It should also be considered
that a damage of the pull tab is likely to be visible and
disappointing for the customer.
[0005] The above problem could be avoided by adding the pull tab at
a final stage of the manufacturing process. However, it is often
desirable to open and close the slide fastener during the process,
which is much easier if the pull tab is mounted. In some
embodiments of slide fasteners, the pull tab is indispensable to
release a locking device and open the slide fastener. Another
reason to provide a removable pull tab is customization of the
slide fastener.
[0006] A known solution is the use of a disposable plastic pull tab
during the manufacturing process, which however has some
disadvantages including the need of ab additional disposable pull
tab and the step of cutting or breaking the plastic pull tab at the
end of the process, for insertion of the true pull tab intended for
the product.
[0007] EP 2 322 050 discloses a process for making a slide fastener
wherein a protective cap is applied on the front portion of a
resilient member of the slider. The protective cap allows easy
insertion of a puller and, where appropriate, releases a locking
device of the slider, thus allowing the opening and closing of the
slider without the puller. This system is satisfactory but still
has the drawback of requiring an additional item, that is the
protective cap.
[0008] Other prior art solutions of sliders with interchangeable
pull tab involve a complicated design of the slider body, including
for example a slidable pull tab carrier, see e.g. EP 1 987 730.
SUMMARY
[0009] The purpose of the invention is to avoid the above drawbacks
of the prior art. The aims of the invention include the provision
of a simple and cost-effective slider with a removable and
interchangeable pull tab, as well as a releasable locking
system.
[0010] The aims are reached with a slider for a slide fastener
according to the independent claim 1. Preferred features are stated
in the dependent claims.
[0011] The slider body includes a diamond, an upper blade, a lower
blade and a bridge. Said bridge is connected to the slider body by
connection means allowing a combination of linear displacement and
pivoting relative to the slider body between two end positions.
Said two positions include: i) a first position wherein the bridge
is engaged with a retaining member of the slider body, and ii) a
second position wherein the bridge is disengaged from said
retaining member and is rotated relative to the slider body.
[0012] The first position can be termed "closed" and the second
position can be termed "open". The bridge in the second position
may define a front passage suitable for insertion or removal of a
pull tab. Said passage is closed when the slider is in the first
position, thus holding the pull tab in place.
[0013] Said linear displacement is preferably in a longitudinal
direction of the slider. Said term of longitudinal direction
denotes a direction which is parallel to the sliding direction of
the slider. In some embodiments, it is substantially parallel to
the upper and lower blades.
[0014] Preferably, the bridge is connected to the slider body via a
rotation pin inserted in at least one slot. Hence, the rotation pin
provides the pivoting feature while the slot provides the linear
displacement feature. In a preferred embodiment a rotation pin is
fixed to the slider body and the bridge comprises one or more slot
to engage said pin. A preferred embodiment has a fixed pin and
sliding slot(s); alternative embodiments may be realized with a
sliding pin.
[0015] Preferably, the slider comprises elastic means disposed to
urge the bridge in the first position. More preferably, said
elastic means are configured to oppose the linear displacement of
the bridge relative to the slider body. In a preferred embodiment,
said elastic means are housed in the bridge. The elastic means may
be for example a coil spring. Preferably the elastic means are
energized (for example a spring is slightly compressed) when the
bridge is in the first position.
[0016] In some embodiments of the invention, the slider comprises
also locking member to prevent undesired sliding.
[0017] The locking member, for example, may be configured to
protrude through an opening of the upper blade, in such a way that
when the slider is fitted on a slide fastener, the locking member
is able to engage the teeth in the region between the upper and
lower blades, thus locking the slider itself.
[0018] One of the preferred aspects of the invention is the
integration between the bridge and the locking member. Preferably,
the locking member is engaged when the bridge is in the first
position, and is released when the bridge is in the second
position.
[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment, said locking member
is associated to the bridge, for example it is at least partially
inserted in a recess of the bridge. Both the locking member and the
bridge are pivotable together around a pin; the locking member
however has only the degree of freedom of pivoting around said pin,
while the bridge is also longitudinally slidable relative to said
pin. More preferably, said elastic means act between the bridge and
the locking member.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the locking member comprises a
cam which copies a profile of the bridge, suitable to provide at
least a partial disengagement of the locking member upon
displacement of the bridge.
[0021] A pull-tab can be easily removed or replaced by opening and
closing the bridge. Hence, for example, a temporary pull-tab can be
inserted whenever necessary during the manufacturing process of the
slide fastener, or of an item comprising the same. Then the
temporary pull tab can be removed and a final pull tab inserted.
Opening the bridge portion of the slider is easy but, at the same
time, the closure is safe and reliable thanks to the combined
pivoting and displacement.
[0022] Another advantage is the simple construction of the slider
body. The invention eliminates the need of expensive design of the
slider body, including moving parts such as slidable pull tab
carrier and/or elastic members mounted directly in the slider
body.
[0023] The bridge in the open position can be used as a puller,
which means that the slide fastener can be operated (e.g. during
the manufacturing of an item) even without a pull tab.
[0024] Another advantage of the invention is the full integration
with a locking system when provided. Since the locking member is
associated with the bridge, the locking of the slider is
automatically released by opening the bridge, even without a pull
tab.
[0025] These and further advantages of the invention will be more
evident from the detailed description provided here below, given as
indicative and not limiting example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] FIG. 1 is a side view of a slider according to an embodiment
of the invention, in a first closed/locked position.
[0027] FIG. 2 is a cross section of the slider of FIG. 1, according
to a median vertical plane.
[0028] FIG. 3 is a side view of the slider of FIG. 1 with the
bridge in an intermediate unlocked position.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the slider in the position of
FIG. 3 according to a median vertical plane.
[0030] FIG. 5 is another cross section of the slider of FIG. 3,
according to a vertical plane passing through one of the slots of
the bridge.
[0031] FIG. 6 is a side view of the slider of FIG. 1 with the
bridge in a second and open position.
[0032] FIG. 7 is a cross section of the slider of FIG. 6 according
to a median vertical plane.
[0033] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the slider of FIGS. 1 to
7.
[0034] FIG. 9 shows the insertion or removal of a pull tab to/from
a slider according to the invention.
[0035] FIGS. 10 and 11 are sectional views of a slider according to
another embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] The figures show a slider 1 for a slide fastener, which
basically includes a slider body 10 with a diamond 11, an upper
blade 12, a lower blade 13 and a bridge 14.
[0037] The bridge 14 is shiftable between a first position of FIG.
1, and a second position of FIG. 6.
[0038] The second position of FIG. 6 is also termed open position,
since the rotated bridge 14 defines a front passage 33, which is
suitable for insertion or removal of a pull tab 40 (see also FIG.
9).
[0039] The first position of FIG. 1 is also termed closed position,
since the front passage 33 is closed and a pull tab can be held in
place between the bridge 14 and the upper blade 12.
[0040] In the first position, the bridge 14 is engaged with a
retaining member 19 of the slider body 10 (FIG. 2). A spring 24
housed in a seat 30 of the bridge 14 serves to normally keep the
bridge 14 in the first closed/locked position.
[0041] The bridge 14 can pass from the first position of FIG. 1 to
the second position of FIG. 6 by a linear displacement followed by
a rotation around a pin 17. The linear displacement (FIGS. 3 to 5)
disengages the bridge 14 from the retaining member 19; the rotation
around the pin 17 (FIGS. 6, 7) opens the front passage 33.
[0042] Referring more in detail to the embodiments of the figures,
the bridge 14 comprises a base 15 and a distal end 16 opposite to
said base 15. The rotation pin 17 is fixed to the slider body 10
and is received in a pair of slots 18 of said base 15.
[0043] The slots 18 are formed on lower projections 31 of the base
15. Said slots are denoted by the slotted line of FIG. 1; one of
the slots is visible in the cross section of FIG. 5 and the two
slots are also visible in the exploded view of FIG. 8. The
connection via pin 17 and slots 18 gives the bridge 14 the ability
to linearly slide from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of
FIG. 3, and to rotate to reach the open position of FIG. 6.
[0044] The distal end 16 is suitably configured to engage and
disengage the retaining member 19 upon a linear shift of the bridge
14. For example the front of the distal end 16 has a suitable
recess 20 for engagement with a projecting tooth 21 of said
retaining member 19. The retaining member 19 is integral with the
slider body 10 (FIG. 2).
[0045] The embodiments of the figures also comprise a locking
member 22. According to a preferred embodiment, said locking member
is fitted in the bridge 14.
[0046] Said locking member 22 has a protrusion 23 adapted to engage
the teeth of a sliding fastener (not shown) operated by the slider
1, to prevent undesired opening of the slide fastener.
[0047] In the first position of FIGS. 1 and 2, the protrusion 23 of
the locking member 22 inserts into a passage 32 of the upper blade
12, thus reaching the teeth in the region between the two blades
12, 13. By abutting against the teeth, said protrusion 23 locks the
slide fastener. Hence the position of FIG. 1 is also a locked
position of the slider 1. On the other hand, the second position of
FIGS. 6 and 7 has the locking member 22 raised together with the
bridge 14, which means that the lock is released and the slider 1
is free.
[0048] It should be appreciated that the locking member 22 can
pivot together with the bridge 14 around the same pin 17. However,
the locking member 22 can only rotate around the pin 17, while the
bridge portion 14 has also the additional degree of freedom of a
certain linear translation, thanks to the slots 18.
[0049] The assembly of bridge 14 and locking member 22, in
accordance with the shown embodiment, can be fully appreciated
looking at FIG. 8.
[0050] The pin 17 is inserted through and supported by projections
25 of the upper blade 12 of slider body 10. The locking member 22
is partially received in a seat 26 of the bridge portion 14, in
such a way that a hole 27 of said locking member is aligned to
holes 18 of said projections 25 and faces the slots 18. Hence, the
pin 17 is inserted through the holes 28 of said projections 25, the
hole 27 of the locking member 22, and the slots 18 of the bridge
14.
[0051] The hole 27 of the locking member 22 has substantially the
same diameter of the pin 17, while the slots 18 are larger than
said pin 17 in a direction of sliding of the bridge 14, which is
the longitudinal direction in the figures as denoted by d in FIG.
3.
[0052] The coil spring 24 abuts against the bottom of the seat 30
and against a surface 29 of the locking member 22.
[0053] As already mentioned above, the locking member 22 has only
one degree of freedom and can only pivot around the pin 17, while
the bridge 14 is also allowed to longitudinally slide by the
displacement of the pin 17 in the slots 18.
[0054] Due to the elastic force of spring 24, the bridge 14 and the
locking member 22 can rotate together around the pin 17, during the
opening of the bridge 14, as if they were a rigid body. However,
the bridge 14 can also slide in a linear fashion, relative to the
locking member 22 and slider body 10, compressing or releasing the
spring 24.
[0055] The locking member 22 comprises also a cam 34, on the
opposite part of the locking protrusion 23 relative to the pin hole
27. Said cam 34 engages a respective profile 35 made in the base 15
of the bridge 14.
[0056] Another embodiment is illustrated by FIG. 10 (released) and
FIG. 11 (locked). In this embodiment, a different accommodation of
the coil spring 24 is provided. Instead of the seat 30, the locking
member 22 has a step 37 forming a plane surface substantially
parallel to the opposite surface of the bridge 14. Hence, the coil
spring 24 can be received between the locking member 22 and bridge
14 without the need of making a deep hole in the bridge 14. This
embodiment may be preferred to ensure even better and smooth
operation of the coil spring. Another advantage of this embodiment
is that the bridge 14, in particular the base 15, is simpler to
manufacture.
[0057] The slider 1 operates in the following manner.
[0058] In the closed/locked position of FIGS. 1-2, the coil spring
24 is slightly compressed. Due to its position and inclination, the
spring 24 keeps the bridge 14 in the closed position, by urging the
distal end 16 against the retaining member 19 (FIG. 2). At the same
time, the spring 24 tends to rotate clockwise the locking member 22
around the pin 17, so that the locking member 22 is also urged in
its locked position, against a step 36 of the slider body 10, as
shown in FIG. 2. The protrusion 23 is fully extended in the passage
32, for engagement with the teeth of the fastener.
[0059] The locking member 22 can be released by a pull tab during
the normal use, lifting the middle of the locking member around the
pin 17 until the teeth are freed from the protrusion 23. The bridge
14 in this case will remain in its closed position, due to the
engagement of front recess 20 and retainer 19, which is unaffected
by the action on the pull tab.
[0060] FIG. 3 shows how to open the bridge 14. The bridge 14 is
first pushed as denoted by d, relative to the slider body 10 and
locking member 22, against the spring 24 which is further
compressed. By doing so, the distal end 16 is progressively
disengaged from the retaining member 19 as seen in the sectional
view of FIG. 4.
[0061] The pin 17 slides from one end to another end of the slots
18, that is from left end to the right end in the figures. In the
meantime, the locking member 22 is rotated around the pin 17 by the
cam 34 copying the profile 35, thus starting to disengage the
lock.
[0062] When fully released from the retaining member 19, the
assembly of bridge 14 and locking member 22 (hold together by the
action of the spring 24) is free to pivot around the pin 17,
reaching the open position of FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0063] The rotation of the bridge 14 opens the front passage 33
which allows insertion or removal of a pull tab. The locking member
22 is released as well, pivoting together with the bridge 14 and
bringing the protrusion 23 away from the locking position in the
passage 32.
[0064] The skilled person will realize that inserting or replacing
the pull tab is quite easy, as shown by FIG. 9. Further to this,
the same bridge 14, when in the open position of FIG. 6, could be
used to manually open or close the slide fastener. In other words,
when the bridge 14 is opened and the locking member 22 is also
released, the bridge itself can be used as a sort of puller. This
feature may be useful during a manufacturing process of the slide
fastener or of an item comprising the same, because the slide
fastener can be opened or closed even without a pull tab.
[0065] The closing of the bridge is as follows. Starting from the
open position of FIG. 6, the bridge 14 is lowered until it is
substantially horizontal, then it is shifted back to the position
of FIG. 1, slightly compressing the spring 24. When the position of
FIG. 1 is reached, the system is stable thanks to the spring 24
urging the end 16 against the retainer 19 and the locking member 22
against the step 36 of the body 10.
[0066] The figures show also the advantage of a simple
construction, especially of the slider body. The slider body 10 has
no moving parts and the spring 24 is fully received in the slider
bridge 14. No hole or seat for a spring is to be provided in the
body 10. Another advantage is that a single elastic element, such
as the spring 24, keeps both the bridge 14 and the locking member
22 in the closed/locked position. The invention combines the
functionality of an openable bridge, removable pull tab and
releasable locking system, in an efficient and cost-effective
manner.
* * * * *