Slider for a slide fastener

Abstract

A slider is provided for use in a slide fastener including a pair of stringer tapes of a warp-knitted fabric each carrying a row of interlocking fastener elements on one surface thereof and having wales formed longitudinally on the other surface in parallel spaced relationship. The slider includes at least a pair of guide ridges formed on the inside surface of one of the wings of its body, the guide ridges being arranged along the respective guide channels of the slider body so as to be slidably received in the spacings between the wales of the stringer tapes. Hence, as the slider is moved along the rows of fastener elements, the element supporting portions of the stringer tapes are guided through the slider by the guide ridges sliding through the spacings between their wales.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to slide fasteners, and more particularly to the improved construction of a slider for a slide fastener having a pair of stringer tapes formed of a warp-knitted fabric.

As is well known, warp-knitted fabric tapes have ridges, generally known as wales in the art, which extend longitudinally thereon in parallel spaced relationship to each other. Conventional sliders used in combination with stringers utilizing such warp-knitted fabric tapes have been equipped with no means for guiding the wales through their guide channels. The spacings between the wales of these stringer tapes are therefore left unfilled in the guide channels of the slider, so that the inside edge portions of the stringer tapes carrying rows of fastener elements or scoops thereon are highly susceptible to deformation as the slider is moved therealong. This defect of the prior art becomes all the more pronounced because the warp-knitted fabric tapes are significantly more pliable than usual woven fabric tapes. As a consequence, the rows of fastener elements tend to become displaced out of their proper relative positions in the guide channels of the slider moving therealong.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved slider adapted for use in a slide fastener having a pair of stringer tapes fabricated of a warp-knitted fabric, such that those portions of the stringer tapes carrying rows of interlocking fastener elements thereon can be guided properly through the guide channels of the slider thereby assuring the correct coupling and uncoupling of the fastener elements.

Briefly summarized, the invention contemplates the provision of a fastener slider having guide ridges formed on the inside surface of its body along guide channels formed therethrough, such that the guide ridges will be received in the spacings between the wales on one surface of each stringer tape of a warp-knitted fabric carrying a row of fastener elements on the other surface thereof. Since the elements supporting portions of the stringer tapes can thus be guided correctly through the respective guide channels of the slider moving therealong, there is practically no possibility of the fastener elements becoming displaced out of their proper relative positions during their coupling or uncoupling.

The features which are believed to be novel and characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and mode of operation, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of some preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts of the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary rear plan view of a slide fastener incorporating a slider constructed according to the concepts of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line II -- II in FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the bottom wing of the slider illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing another preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 5 is also a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the slider of this invention as adapted for a slide fastener of the concealed type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The nature and utility of this invention will become apparent from a consideration of FIG. 1 which is the fragmentary rear plan view of a slide fastener incorporating a slider according to the invention. The illustrated slide fastener 10 includes a pair of stringer tapes 11 of a warp-knitted fabric carrying longitudinal rows of interlocking fastener elements or scoops 12 of any known or suitable type along the opposed inside edges thereof. It will be noted from the drawing, however, that the fastener elements 12 are supported only on one surface of each stringer tape 11. On the other surface of each stringer tape 11 there are longitudinally extending parallel wales 13, with spacings 14 therebetween, that are formed as a result of the warp knitting of the fabric tape.

The reference numeral 15 generally designates the slider according to the invention which is so constructed as to make possible the smooth coupling and uncoupling of the rows of fastener elements 12 carried on the opposed inside edge portions of the respective stringer tapes 11, as hereinafter set forth in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The slider 15 has a body 16 including top and bottom wings 17 and 18 which are interconnected through a web 19 at their flared ends so as to define a pair of guide channels 20 adapted to receive the respective rows of fastener elements 12 therethrough for their engagement or disengagement. According to the novel concepts of this invention, guide ridges 21 are formed on the inside surface of the bottom wing 18 of the slider body 16 so as to extend along the guide channels 20. It will be noted from the showing of FIG. 3 that the guide ridges 21 are arranged symmetrically on both sides of a central ridge or partition 22 extending along the central longitudinal axis of the bottom wing 18. These guide ridges 21 on each side of the partition 22 are adapted to be received in the respective spacings 14 between the wales 13 of each stringer tape.

FIG. 4 illustrates a slight modification of the preceding embodiment, wherein only one guide ridge 21 is formed on each side of the partition 22 on the inside surface of the bottom wing 18 of the slider body 16. The number of the guide ridges 21 can of course be determined arbitrarily depending upon the width or spacing of the wales 13 of the stringer tapes 11 or upon the crosswise dimension of the slider body 16. It is necessary, however, that at least a pair of such guide ridges formed on the inside surface of the bottom wing 18 or of its essentially equivalent part.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the concepts of this invention are applicable to slide fasteners of the concealed type wherein, when the pair of stringers is in a closed disposition, the fastener elements are completely hidden or concealed behind the stringer tapes. In the illustrated example of such concealed slide fasteners, the guide ridges 21 according to the invention are formed symmetrically on the inside surfaces of the inwardly projecting portions 23 of a slider body 16a. These guide ridges 21 are likewise adapted to be received in the spacings between the wales 13 on the folded portions 24 of stringer tapes 11a. Other details of configuration will be apparent from the foregoing description of FIGS. 1 to 4.

The fastener slider according to the invention being constructed as hereinbefore described, if the slider 15 is moved along the rows of fastener elements 12, the element supporting edge portions 25 of the stringer tapes 11 (or the folded portions 24 of the stringer tapes 11a) can be guided correctly through the respective guide channels 20 as the guide ridges 21 slide through the spacings between the wales 13. The rows of fastener elements 12 can therefore be coupled and uncoupled without any undesirable displacement within the slider 15.

While some preferred forms of the fastener slider according to this invention have been shown and described hereinbefore, it is of course understood that the invention itself is not to be restricted by the exact showing of the drawings or the description thereof but is inclusive of various modifications within the usual knowledge of those skilled in the art. It is therefore appropriate that the invention be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the fair meaning or proper scope of the following claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. In a slide fastener having a pair of stringer tapes, rows of interlockable fastener elements each connected to a corresponding stringer tape, and a slider having guide channels therethrough for receiving said rows of fastener elements and respective adjoining portions of said stringer tapes, said slider being moveable along said rows of fastener elements and stringer tape portions to selectively couple and uncouple the fastener elements, the improvement which comprises a plurality of alternate ridges and grooves in each of said stringer tapes; and at least a pair of guide ridges disposed within said slider to extend along respective guide channels thereof, said guide ridges being positioned for sliding contact with corresponding grooves of the stringer tapes to maintain a given spacing of said tapes and fastener element rows assuring correct coupling and uncoupling of said rows of fastener elements as the slider is moved therealong.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said stringer tapes are made of a warp-knitted fabric each having an upper flat surface and a lower surface, said lower surface having a plurality of wales extending longitudinally in parallel spaced relation to one another, said wales defining the ridges of the stringer tapes and the spacings between adjacent wales defining the grooves of the stringer tapes.

3. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said guide ridges are disposed on the inner surface of a bottom wing of the slider.

4. The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said slider has a single slot opening through which both of said stringer tapes extend to define a concealed type slide fastener, said slot being defined by inwardly projecting portions of the slider bearing said guide ridges.