Zipper and method for manufacturing a zipper carrier

Abstract

In a zipper of the present invention, a row of elements 5L, with which a tab tip 21 of a stop tab 12 comes into contact, is classified among a pair of rows of elements 5L into: an adjacent class C1, which consists of several types of elements 5 and is a group of elements adjacent to an opener 6, up to and including an nth element (where n is an integer of 1 or greater) from the opener 6; and a distant class C2, which is a group of elements from an n+1th element and further from the opener. With regard to an impact exerted on the elements and the stop tab when a pull-out force is exerted on a row of elements by a slider 3, the elements forming the distant class include a strong element 8 that amplifies the impact compared to the elements forming the proximal class.All elements of the adjacent class are weak elements 9, which reduce the impact compared to the strong element. If the withdrawal force is applied in a state where the slider is not fully pulled down, the shock acting on the weak elements and the stop tab is weaker than the shock acting on the strong element and the stop tab.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a slide fastener having a pair of carriers and a slider capable of opening and closing the pair of carriers and stopping at a position relative to the pair of carriers, and a method of manufacturing the carrier. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Patent Literature 1 discloses a slide fastener including a pair of tapes extending in a front-to-back direction and facing each other in a left-to-right direction; a pair of element rows each including a plurality of elements fixed along a corresponding one of the facing side edge portions of the pair of tapes; and a slider for engaging and separating the pair of element rows. The slider further includes a stopper claw that contacts the elements to stop at a position relative to the pair of element rows.

[0003] Patent Literature 2 discloses a slide fastener comprising a pair of tapes, a pair of element rows, a slider, and an opener called a separator. A combination of the element row, the opener, and the tape is called a stringer. Opening (separating) the pair of element rows by moving the slider toward the opener is called slider pulling down, and closing (interlocking) the pair of element rows by moving the slider toward a side opposite the opener is called slider pulling up.

[0004] Further, the separator insert as the opener disclosed in Patent Literature 2 includes a left opener part called a separable pin and a right opener part in which a holding pin and a holding box are integrated. CITATION LISTPATENT LITERATURE Patent Document 1: JP2016-202761A Patent literature 2: WO2013 / 051149A1 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0005] After the slide fastener moves from a state where the pair of element rows are engaged to a situation where the slider is fully pulled down, in other words, a situation where the slider comes into contact with the opener, when a force (hereinafter referred to as "pull-out force") for pulling one of the element rows out from the slider is applied to one of the element rows, one of the opener parts detaches from the slider together with the one element row, and the pair of element rows are completely separated.

[0006] When the zipper moves from the state where the two rows of elements are meshed to a situation where the slider is half-pulled down, in other words, where the slider and the opener are separated, the slider is stopped in a position with respect to the two rows of elements by the stopper claw coming into contact with the elements.

[0007] However, the pull-out force can also be applied in a situation where the slider and the opener are separated. A typical example of the application of the pull-out force is described by a case where the zipper is attached to a coat. The typical example of applying the pull-out force is when a wearer of the coat tries to take off the coat while thinking that the slider has been pulled down completely, although in reality the slider and the opener are separate, and actuates the pair of element rows extending from the slider in a bifurcated manner to widen a space between the pair of element rows.

[0008] In the slide fasteners disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, all elements constituting the pair of element rows are of the same type, and all elements have the same shape. When the slider is pulled halfway down and the slider and opener are separated, the locking claw contacts each of the elements in the same state regardless of the position of the slider.

[0009] In the slide fasteners disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, when the pull-out force is applied as in the typical example described above, a force is applied to the slider, moving the slider toward the opener, and the elements and the stopper claw collide with each other inside the slider. When the pull-out force is large, the impact between the elements and the stopper claw within the slider is strong (large), the stopper claw rides over the elements, and the elements or the stopper claw may be damaged, or not only the element or the stopper claw may be damaged, but also the elements may detach from the tape.

[0010] In addition, the situation where the pull-out force can be applied is not limited to the typical example and is assumed to be a situation where the pair of element rows are interlocked halfway, in other words, a situation where the slider is pulled down to a certain extent with respect to the pair of element rows in a fully interlocked state. In the situation where the pull-out force can be applied, it is desirable to mitigate (reduce) the impact between the elements and the stopper claw colliding inside the slider as much as possible. This impact can be referred to as "slider locking force" hereinafter. This is because the slider is stopped (locked) in one position with respect to the element pair by the stopper claw.

[0011] Meanwhile, it can be said that in a situation where the two rows of elements are fully engaged, there is usually no way to apply the pull-out force, and that in this situation it is desirable that the locking force of the slider is stronger (greater) than in the situation where the pull-out force can be applied.

[0012] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to weaken (reduce) a slider locking strength as much as possible when applying a pull-out force in a situation where a slider is pulled halfway in a state where a pair of element rows are engaged (a situation where the slider and an opener are separated). Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to damage the element and the like as little as possible by reducing the slider locking strength. SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

[0013] A slide fastener of the present invention includes a pair of carriers; and a slider configured to open and close the pair of carriers and configured to stop in one position with respect to the pair of carriers. The pair of carriers includes a pair of bands extending in a front-to-back direction and facing each other in a left-to-right direction; a pair of element rows each including a plurality of elements attached along a corresponding one of the facing side edge portions of the pair of bands; and an opener including a pair of opener pieces separately attached to one end portion of the pair of bands in the front-to-back direction, the opener allowing one of the opener pieces to be inserted into and removed from the slider together with one of the element rows.The slider includes a slider body configured to engage and separate the pair of element rows, a stopper claw configured to stop at a position relative to the pair of element rows, and a claw tip, which is an end portion of the stopper claw, is configured to be lowered within the slider body and configured to come into contact with the elements. At least one element row among the element rows with which the claw tip is to come into contact includes the elements of a plurality of types. Further, the element row is classified into an adjacent class, which is a set of the elements in the neighborhood of the opener and up to an nth element from the opener, and a distant (remote) class, which is a set of the elements from an (n+1)th element from the opener. n is an integer of 1 or more.With respect to an impact exerted on the elements and the stop claw that collide within the slider when a force is applied to one of the element rows to pull one of the element rows out of the slider, the elements forming the removed class comprise strong elements of a type configured to amplify the impact more than the elements forming the adjacent class. All elements forming the adjacent class are weak elements of a type configured to attenuate the impact more than the strong elements.

[0014] The elements forming the remote class can contain only the strong elements or both the strong and the weak elements. For this reason, the elements forming the remote class are set to contain the strong elements. Meanwhile, all elements forming the adjacent class are the weak elements. Accordingly, for example, in a case where all elements forming the element series are configured such that the elements up to an nth element from the opener are the weak elements, an (n+1)th element is the strong element, several elements starting at an (n+2)th element are the weak elements, and the subsequent elements are the strong elements, a set of the elements up to the nth element from the opener is the adjacent class, and a set of the elements starting from the (n+1)th element is the remote class.

[0015] The “at least one element row among the element rows with which the claw tip is to come into contact” includes (1) a case where the element rows with which the claw tip comes into contact are the pair of element rows and all (the pair of) element rows, (2) a case where the element rows with which the claw tip comes into contact are the pair of element rows and are only one of the pair of element rows, and (3) a case where the element rows with which the claw tip comes into contact are only one of the pair of element rows and are one element row.

[0016] In the cases of (2) and (3) above, as long as one of the element series is classified into the neighboring class and the distant class, it does not matter whether another of the element series is classified into the neighboring class and the distant class. Therefore, in the cases of (2) and (3) above, the other of the element series may contain elements of a variety of types, or it may contain elements that are all of the same type, or more precisely, it may contain only strong elements, for example.

[0017] With respect to the nth element from the opener, n corresponds to the number of weak element rows in the neighboring class. In the case of (1), it does not matter whether n (the number of weak element rows in the neighboring class) with respect to one of the element rows is equal to n (the number of weak element rows in the neighboring class) with respect to the other of the element rows.

[0018] It is desirable that n be set as follows.

[0019] That is, n is equal to or less than an integer that is half the total number of elements that make up each of the series of elements, or equal to or less than an integer that is closest to half.

[0020] It is desirable that n be set as follows.

[0021] That is, n is 10 or less.

[0022] Specific examples for each of the weak elements and each of the strong elements are as follows.

[0023] That is, in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider moves away from the opener is defined as the forward direction, and a trajectory in which the claw tip of the stop claw passes above the pair of element rows is defined as the claw trajectory. Furthermore, a surface of the corner area between an upper surface and a front surface of each of the elements, which is located directly below the claw trajectory, is a lower corner surface, which is lower than a surface of the corner area of ​​each of the strong elements.

[0024] It is desirable that a width of the lower corner surface in the left-right direction is equal to or larger than a length of a portion where the claw tip comes into contact with the weak member, that is, equal to or larger than a width of the claw tip in the left-right direction.

[0025] It is desirable that a specific example of the lower corner surface looks like this.

[0026] This means that the lower corner surface is lowered in the forward direction.

[0027] A more specific example for the bottom corner surface is as follows.

[0028] This means that the lower corner surface is lowered towards the front and is a curved surface that is arched.

[0029] Specific examples of the weak and strong elements are as follows.

[0030] That is, in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider moves away from the opener is defined as the forward direction, and a trajectory in which the claw tip of the stop claw passes over the pair of element rows is defined as the claw trajectory. Furthermore, at a front portion of an upper surface of each of the elements located directly below the claw trajectory, each of the weak elements is a forward-inclined surface that is depressed in the forward direction.

[0031] It is desirable that the width of the forward inclined surface in the left-right direction is equal to or greater than the length of the section where the claw tip comes into contact with the weak element, that is, equal to or greater than the width of the claw tip in the left-right direction.

[0032] Other specific examples of the weak and strong element are the following.

[0033] That is, in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider moves away from the opener is defined as the forward direction, and a path in which the claw tip of the stop claw passes over the pair of element rows is defined as the claw path. Furthermore, in an entire area directly below the claw path on an upper surface of each of the elements, an upper surface of each of the weak elements is lower than an upper surface of each of the strong elements.

[0034] A more concrete example of the top of the weak element looks like this.

[0035] That is, not only is the top surface of the weak element lower than the top surface of the strong element in the entire region directly below the claw track on the top surface of each of the elements, but the top surface of the weak element in an entire region from directly below the claw track to a direction opposite to a corresponding one of the bands is a tip-facing inclined surface that is depressed toward a side opposite to the band.

[0036] A method for manufacturing a slide fastener carrier of the present invention is used for the slide fastener described above, and includes a first injection molding step for injection molding the strong elements on each of the tapes; a step for removing the strong elements from a part of the tape to form a removed portion on the tape; and a second injection molding step for injection molding the opener pieces and the weak elements on the tape in a region including the removed portion.

[0037] As an example of the second injection molding step, the following two processes are described.

[0038] That is, in an example of the second injection molding step, the opener parts are injection molded after the weak elements are injection molded.

[0039] In another example of the second injection molding step, the weak elements and the opener parts are injected simultaneously. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0040] In the slide fastener of the present invention, with respect to an impact (slider locking strength) to be applied to the elements and the stopper claw colliding within the slider, when a force for pulling one of the element rows out of the slider is applied to the one element row, since all the elements constituting the adjacent class are the weak elements of a type that weakens the impact (slider locking strength) more than the strong elements, the impact to be applied to the weak elements and the stopper claw in a situation where the slider is arranged in the adjacent class is weaker than the impact to be applied to the strong elements and the stopper claw in a situation where the slider is arranged in the distant class. As a result, the elements or the like are less likely to be damaged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [ Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an entire slide fastener of a first embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a claw tip and elements inside a slider of the slide fastener of the first embodiment, viewed from a plane direction. [ Fig. 3] (A) and (B) of Fig. 3 are front views showing the relationship between the claw tip and the elements in the slide fastener of the first embodiment, (A) of Fig. 3 shows a relationship between the claw tip and weak elements, and (B) of Fig. 3 shows a relationship between the claw tip and strong elements. [ Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the slider of the slide fastener of the first embodiment, taken along a top-down direction. [ Fig. 5] (A) to (E) of Fig. 5 are a front view, a plan view, a bottom view, a left side view and a right side view of the weak element of the first embodiment, and (S) to (W) of Fig. 5 are a front view, a top view, a bottom view, a left side view and a right side view of the strong member of the first embodiment, respectively. [ Fig. 6] (A) to (E) of Fig. 6 are a front view, a plan view, a bottom view, a left side view and a right side view of a weak element of a second embodiment, and (S) to (W) of Fig. 6 are a front view, a top view, a bottom view, a left side view and a right side view of a strong member of the second embodiment, respectively. [ Fig. 7] (A) to (D) of Fig. 7 are a front view, a plan view, a left side view and a right side view of a weak element of a third embodiment, and (S) to (V) of Fig. 7 are a front view, a plan view, a left side view and a right side view of a strong member of the third embodiment, respectively. [ Fig. 8] (A) to (D) of Fig. 8 are a front view, a plan view, a bottom view, a left side view and a right side view of a weak element of a fourth embodiment, and (S) to (V) of Fig. 8 are a front view, a plan view, a left side view and a right side view of a strong member of the fourth embodiment, respectively. [ Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a plan view showing an entire slide fastener of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [ Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a view showing a method of manufacturing the slide fastener according to the first embodiment of the present invention in the order of steps. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0041] As in Fig. 1, a slide fastener 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of beams 2 extending in a front-to-back direction and facing each other in a left-to-right direction, and a slider 3 movable in the front-to-back direction at facing side edge portions of the pair of beams 2, which opens and closes the pair of beams 2. The "facing side edge portion" is a right edge portion in the case of the left side beam 2 and a left edge portion in the case of the right side beam 2.

[0042] In the zipper 1, the pair of cheeks 2 can be opened and closed by moving the slider 3 in the front-to-back direction. In a state where the zipper 1 is on a plane, the direction is determined as follows.

[0043] A “forward direction” is a direction in which the two carriers 2 are closed and is in Fig. 1 an upward direction.

[0044] A “reverse direction” is a direction in which the two beams 2 are open and is in Fig. 1 a downward direction. The left-right direction is a direction in which the two supports 2 are arranged and is orthogonal to the front-back direction in Fig. 1.

[0045] A “left turn” is in Fig. 1 a direction to the left. A “right-facing direction” is in Fig. 1 a right direction.

[0046] The "top-bottom direction" is a direction orthogonal to the front-back direction and the left-right direction and is also called the thickness direction. The "upward direction" is a direction opposite a front side in a direction orthogonal to a paper surface (a direction orthogonal to the front-back direction and the left-right direction) in Fig. 1.

[0047] The “downward direction” is a direction toward a back side in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in Fig. 1.

[0048] The pair of carriers 2 includes a pair of belts 4 extending in the front-backward direction and facing each other in the left-right direction, a pair of element rows 5L each including a plurality of elements 5 fixed along a corresponding one of the facing side edge portions of the pair of belts 4, an opener 6 fixed to rear end portions of the pair of belts 4 in the front-backward direction, and a pair of stoppers 7 separately fixed to front end portions of the pair of belts 4 on a side opposite to the opener 6. In the front-backward direction, a direction in which the slider 3 is moved away from the opener 6 is the forward direction.

[0049] Each of the bands 4 has a band shape extending in the front-back direction, and the thickness direction is the top-bottom direction.

[0050] The stoppers 7 and the opener 6 determine a movement range of the slider 3 in the forward-backward direction with respect to the pair of element rows 5L by colliding with the slider 3 during movement. The stoppers 7 are attached to the front end portions of the belts 4 in the forward-backward direction so as to abut a front side of the element rows 5L.

[0051] The opener 6 includes a pair of opening parts 61, 62 separately attached to the rear end portions of the pair of belts 4 in the front-to-rear direction so as to abut the element rows 5L on a rear side thereof. In the present embodiment, one opening part 61 is a separable pin 61 attached to the opposite side edge portion of one of the belts 4, and another opening part 62 is a retaining box 62 attached to the opposite side edge portion of another of the belts 4.

[0052] The separable pin 61 is fixed to the belt 4 and covers three surfaces including a top surface and a bottom surface of the belt 4 and a side surface on a side of the belt 4 facing the separable pin 61. The separable pin 61 can be inserted into and removed from the slider 3 and the holding box 62 together with one of the element rows 5L in a state where the slider 3 is pulled down to come into contact with the holding box 62, that is, in a state where the slider 3 and the holding box 62 are brought into contact with each other (in a state where the slider 3 and the holding box 62 are adjacent to each other in the front-back direction).

[0053] The retaining box 62 determines a retraction limit position of the slider 3 with respect to another element row 5L to prevent the slider 3 from detaching from the other element row 5L. The retaining case 62 includes a retaining pin 63 adjacent to a front portion of the separable pin 61 in a state where the retaining pin 63 is connected to the separable pin 61, in parallel, and a retaining case 64 in which a separable pin hole (not shown) is formed into which a rear portion of the separable pin 61 can be inserted and removed.

[0054] Similar to the separable pin 61, the retaining pin 63 is attached to the band 4 and covers three surfaces, including the upper surface, the lower surface of the band 4 and a side surface on one side of the band 4 facing the retaining pin 63.

[0055] The retaining box 64 includes a portion attached to the band 4 and a portion projecting toward the opposite band 4. The retaining pin 63 extends forward from the front of the portion attached to the band 4. The hole for the detachable pin (not shown) is formed in a front surface of the portion projecting toward the opposite band 4.

[0056] The slider 3 has a so-called automatic stop function and comprises a slider body 11 which engages and separates the pair of element rows 5L, as shown in Fig. 4; a stopper claw 12 that stops at a position relative to the pair of element rows 5L, the stopper claw 12 having a claw tip 21, an end portion of which is lowered within the slider body 11 and comes into contact with the elements 5; and a pull tab 13 that is connected to the stopper claw 12 and the slider body 11 and that is actuated when the slider body 11 is moved. Furthermore, the slider 3 in the present embodiment includes a disc spring 14 that serves as an elastic member for pressing the stopper claw 12 downward, the disc spring 14 serving as a separate component from the stopper claw 12. and a cover 15 covering the disc spring 14 and the stopper claw 12 and serving as a connecting member for connecting the pull tab 13 and the stopper claw 12 to the slider body 11, the cover 15 serving as a separate component from the slider body 11.When the pull tab 13 is pulled up, the claw tip 21 of the slider 3 is moved over the element rows 5L, whereby the slider body 11 becomes movable with respect to the pair of element rows 5L, and when the pull tab 13 is released, the claw tip 21 is lowered and comes into contact with the elements 5, whereby the slider body 11 is stopped with respect to the pair of element rows 5L.

[0057] The pull tab 13 is rotatable forward and backward. Rotation refers to a movement for operating and rotating the pull tab 13 forward and backward when the pair of brackets 2 is opened and closed by the slider 3. The pull tab 13 includes a gripping portion 13a that is gripped when the pull tab 13 is operated, and a pull tab connecting portion 13b that extends from the gripping portion 13a and is connected to the slider body 11. The pull tab connecting portion 13b has an annular shape, and a part of the annular shape serves as a shaft portion that serves as a center when the pull tab 13 is rotated.

[0058] The slider body 11 includes an upper vane 31 and a lower vane 32 that oppose each other with a distance therebetween in the upper-lower direction; a connecting column 33 that connects opposite front portions of the upper vane 31 and the lower vane 32 and that is sandwiched between the pair of element rows 5L; and flanges 34 that protrude from left and right end portions of at least one (both in the illustrated example) of the upper vane 31 and the lower vane 32 in a direction in which an opposing distance between the upper vane 31 and the lower vane 32 is reduced.

[0059] As in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the slider body 11 includes, as an internal space, an element passage 36 extending in the front-to-rear direction, and band grooves 37 communicating with the element passage 36 and open to the left and right. The two element rows 5L pass through the element passage 36, and the band 4 on a corresponding side passes through each of the band grooves 37. Further, a front portion of the element passage 36 branches into two parts in the left-right direction with respect to the connecting column 33, and a rear portion of the element passage 36 extends in a straight line rearward with respect to the connecting column 33.

[0060] The upper blade 31 includes an upper blade main body portion 31a that divides an upper surface of the element passage 36, and a front column portion 31b and a rear column portion 31c that protrude from an upper surface of the upper blade main body portion 31a at intervals in the front-to-rear direction. The shaft portion of the pull tab 13, the stopper claw 12, the leaf spring 14, and the cover 15 are attached in this order to the upper surface of the upper blade main body portion 31a. A claw support recess 31d for supporting an end portion of the stopper claw 12 is recessed in the upper surface of the front column portion 31b. Further, in the upper blade main body portion 31a, a claw hole 31h that allows the claw tip 21 as the tip portion of the stopper claw 12 to be inserted into the element passage 36 is formed rearward with respect to the connecting column 33.The claw hole 31h is a through hole penetrating the upper blade 31 in the top-down direction.

[0061] The mounting recess portions 15a, into which the front pillar portion 31b and the rear pillar portion 31c are fitted, are formed on a lower surface of the cover 15 so as to be recessed upward. The front pillar portion 31b and the rear pillar portion 31c are attached to the lower portions of the mounting recess 15a. Spring support portions 15b for supporting the front and rear end portions of the leaf spring 14 are provided on an upper portion of an inner surface of the mounting recess portion 15a. Each of the spring support portions 15b is, for example, a recess. The leaf spring 14 supported by the spring support portions 15b can be bent toward a bottom surface (top surface) of the inner surface of the mounting recess portion 15a.In addition, in the left and right side surfaces of the cover 15, shaft passage recess portions 15c through which the shaft part of the pull tab 13 passes are formed in a state where they are opened downward while penetrating in the left-right direction.

[0062] The stopper claw 12 includes a claw main body portion 22 extending in the front-backward direction above the shaft portion of the pull tab 13; a claw insertion portion 23 extending downward in the front-backward direction from one end portion (front end portion) of the claw main body portion 22 and inserted into the claw support recess portion 31d; and the claw tip 21 extending downward in the front-backward direction from another end portion (rear end portion) of the claw main body portion 22.

[0063] The claw main body portion 22 is pressed from an upper side by the disc spring 14. When the pull tab 13 is pulled upward, the claw main body portion 22 is lifted, the claw tip 21 is lifted accordingly, the claw tip 21 is pulled up over the elements 5, and the slider 3 is movable along the pair of element rows 5L.

[0064] In the present embodiment, the claw tip 21 of the stopper claw 12 stops the slider body 11 when the left and right element rows 5L enter a section to be engaged and separated within the slider body 11. Furthermore, the stopper claw 12 is supported above the claw tip 21 so that the position of a lower end of the claw tip 21 is constant within the slider body 11. In the present embodiment, the claw tip 21 extends downward from a rear portion with respect to a lower surface 22a of the other end portion of the claw main body portion 22. Accordingly, a front portion of the other end portion of the claw main body portion 22 projects forward with respect to the claw tip 21 and is supported on an upper surface of the upper blade 31 in front of the claw hole 31h.

[0065] The pair of element rows 5L has a left-right symmetrical configuration. The element row 5L includes a plurality of elements 5 fixed along each of the mutually facing side edge portions of the pair of bands 4. In the left-right direction, as shown in (S) to (W) of Fig. 5, the element 5 comprises a fastening portion 51 which is fastened to the band 4 in a state in which the band 4 is enclosed from both sides in the thickness direction, and an engagement portion 52 which projects from the fastening portion 51 to a side opposite the band 4 (hereinafter referred to as "band-facing side") and which engages with other elements 5. The band 4 is in Fig. 5 is not shown. A side opposite to the band-opposite side in the left-right direction is referred to as a "band side." Further, in the upper-lower direction, the member 5 includes an upper half portion 53 fixed to a surface side of the band 4 and extending toward the band-opposite side, and a lower half portion 54 fixed to a bottom surface side of the band 4 and extending toward the band-opposite side. The upper half portion 53 and the lower half portion 54 are integrated at one side of the engaging portion 52.

[0066] In the element 5 of the first embodiment, the upper half section 53 and the lower half section 54 are vertically asymmetric.

[0067] The upper half portion 53 includes an upper fastening portion 53a fixed to the upper side of the band 4 and an upper engaging portion 53b extending from the upper fastening portion 53a toward the side opposite the band.

[0068] The lower half portion 54 includes a lower fastening portion 54a attached to the underside of the band 4, and a lower engagement portion 54b extending from the lower fastening portion 54a toward the side opposite the band. The upper engagement portion 53b and the lower engagement portion 54b are connected to each other and integrated on the side opposite the band, and are vertically asymmetrical.

[0069] The lower engaging portion 54b includes a lower neck portion 54c that extends from the lower fastening portion 54a toward the band-opposite side and that is narrowed in the front-to-back direction with respect to the lower fastening portion 54a; and a lower head portion 54d that extends from the lower neck portion 54c toward the band-opposite side and that bulges in the front-to-back direction with respect to the lower neck portion 54c.

[0070] The upper engagement portion 53b includes an upper shoulder portion 53c that extends from the upper attachment portion 53a toward the band-opposite side and that protrudes in the front-to-back direction with respect to the lower neck portion 54c; and an upper head portion 53d that extends from the upper shoulder portion 53c toward the band-opposite side and that is recessed in the front-to-back direction with respect to the lower head portion 54d.

[0071] The upper shoulder portion 53c has a tapered shape in which the width tapers from front to back in both directions toward the side opposite the belt. A surface of the upper shoulder portion 53c facing the side opposite the belt is formed substantially parallel to the front-to-back direction of the belt 4.

[0072] The upper head portion 53d protrudes toward the belt-opposite side from a front-to-rear intermediate portion of the surface of the upper shoulder portion 53c facing the belt-opposite side. The upper head portion 53d also has a tapered shape in which its width narrows from front to rear in both directions in the front-to-rear direction toward the belt-opposite side.

[0073] The fastening portion 51 includes an upper fastening portion 53a and a lower fastening portion 54a. The engaging portion 52 includes an upper engaging portion 53b and a lower engaging portion 54b. In a state where the pair of element rows 5L are meshed with each other, two elements 5 that are adjacent to each other in the front-back direction are meshed with each other in a state where the upper shoulder portion 53c of one element 5 and the lower head portion 54d of another element 5 overlap with each other in the upper-lower direction, the lower neck portion 54c of one element 5 and the lower head portion 54d of the other element 5 are adjacent to each other in the front-back direction, and the lower head portion 54d of one element 5 and the lower head portion 54d of the other element 5 are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction.

[0074] In the present embodiment, the element rows 5L with which the claw tip 21 of the stopper claw 12 is in contact are the pair of element rows 5L as shown in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. When the slider 3 moves in the forward-backward direction, the claw tip 21 of the stop claw 12 moves over the pair of element rows 5L. In Fig. 2, the claw tip 21 is shown as a rectangle in plan view. A path along which the claw tip 21 runs over the pair of element rows 5L is defined as the claw trajectory t. The claw trajectory t is parallel to the forward-backward direction, i.e., the direction in which the belt 4 extends. For simplicity, the claw path t is Fig. 1 is represented by a line. In Fig. 2, the claw path t is represented by a band with a constant width in the left-right direction. The claw path t in the present embodiment is a path along which the claw tip 21 extends over the engaging portion 52, more specifically, over the upper shoulder portion 53c (lower neck portion 54c) of the right element row 5L and over the upper head portion 53d of the left element row 5L.

[0075] The element array 5L includes a plurality of element types 5, two element types 5 in the present embodiment. The element array 5L is classified into a plurality of classes corresponding to a set of elements 5. The element array 5L is divided into a neighbor class C1, which is a set of elements 5 in the neighborhood of the opener 6 and up to an nth element 5 from the opener 6, and a far class C2, which is a set of elements 5 from the (n+1)th element 5 from the opener 6. That is, n is the total number of elements in the neighbor class C1. In the present embodiment, the elements 5 constituting the neighbor class C1 and the elements 5 constituting the far class C2 are of different types.To distinguish the elements in the figure, the elements forming the neighboring class C1 are designated by 8 in addition to the reference numeral 5, and the elements forming the distant class C2 are designated by 9 in addition to the reference numeral 5; these elements are simply written as 8, 9 in the text.

[0076] The total number Z of elements 5 that form a series 5L is n + 1 or more. n is an integer of 1 or more. That is, a minimum value of n is 1.

[0077] It is desirable that a maximum value of n be equal to or less than an integer that is half of the total number Z of elements 5, or equal to or less than an integer that is closest to half.

[0078] For example, if the total number Z of elements 5 is an even number, the value of half of the total number Z, or a value ±1 of half, is three. If the total number Z of elements 5 is 40, the half value is 20, and the integers closest to half the value are 19 and 21. If the total number Z of elements 5 is 40, n can be any of the numbers 19, 20, and 21 or less, and since 21 is the largest integer closest to half the value, n is equal to or less than 21.

[0079] If the total number Z of elements 5 is an odd number, the value of half the total number is an integer + 0.5. There are two integers that are closest to half the total value. If the total number Z of elements 5 is 41, the half value is 20.5, and the integers closest to half the value are 20 and 21. If the total number Z of elements 5 is 41, n can be any of the numbers 20 and 21 or less, and since 21 is the largest integer closest to half the total number, n is equal to or less than 21. In other words, the maximum value of n is a minimum integer greater than the value of half the total number of elements 5.

[0080] It is desirable that the maximum value of n be 10 or less. In the example of Fig. 1, the total number of elements 5 forming each of the two element series 5L is equal, and the total number n of elements 5 in the neighboring class C1 is 5.

[0081] With regard to an impact (slider locking strength) exerted on the elements 5 and the stopper claw 12 that collide with each other inside the slider 3, when a force for pulling one of the element rows 5L out of the slider 3 is exerted on the one element row 5L, the elements 5 constituting the distant class C2 include strong elements 8 of a type that intensifies the impact more than the elements 5 constituting the adjacent class C1. In the present embodiment, all the elements 5 constituting the distant class C2 are the strong elements 8. Meanwhile, all the elements 5 constituting the adjacent class C1 are weak elements 9 of a type that attenuates the impact more than the strong elements 8. The terms "intensify the impact" and "attenuate the impact" are relative terms.In other words, an increase in impact strength means that the impact load is greater than that of a comparison object. In other words, a decrease in impact strength means that the impact load is less than that of the comparison object.

[0082] The weak element 9 and the strong element 8 have different impact forces (slider locking strength) against the claw tip 21 of the stopper claw 12. Factors that cause the difference in impact include a difference in the hardness of a material and a difference in shape. When there is a difference in hardness, a material with a relatively high hardness is strong against the impact, and a material with a relatively low hardness is weak against the impact. In the present embodiment, one factor that causes the difference in impact is the difference in shape.

[0083] The lower half sections 54 of the weak element 9 and the strong element 8 have the same shape. The upper half sections 53 of the weak element 9 and the strong element 8, however, have different shapes. Both the weak element 9 and the strong element 8 are symmetrical in the front-to-back direction.

[0084] As shown in (A), (B), (S) and (T) of Fig. 5, an upper surface 90 of the weak element 9 is lower than an upper surface 80 of the strong element 8 with respect to an entire region directly below the claw track t on an upper surface of the element 5. A relationship between the elements 5 in the right element row 5L and the claw track t will be described. Specifically, the upper surface 90 of the weak element 9 includes a highest upper surface 90a in a band-side portion thereof and includes a tip-facing inclined surface 91 that is depressed toward the band-reverse side in a band-opposite portion thereof. Meanwhile, the upper surface 80 of the strong element 8 has the same height as the upper surface 90a of the weak element 9 and is a plane orthogonal to the top-bottom direction within a range extending to both the left and right directly below the claw track t.

[0085] There, as in Fig. 3, the upper surface (tip-facing inclined surface 91) of the weak element 9 is lower than the upper surface 80 of the strong element 8 within the entire area directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the element 5, as shown in Fig. 5, with respect to a corner portion between the upper surface and a front surface of the member 5, which is located directly below the claw track t, a surface of the corner portion of the weak member 9 is a lower corner surface 92, which is lower than a surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8.

[0086] Both the surface (lower corner surface 92) of the corner part of the weak member 9 and the surface of the corner part of the strong member 8 are curved surfaces, which, in a bulge state, are curved in a round, chamfered shape, and an arc shape. In the present embodiment, the surface (lower corner surface 92 (curved surface)) of the corner part of the weak member 9 has an arc shape with the same radius as the surface (curved surface) of the corner part of the strong member 8. Since the surface is curved in an arc shape in a bulge state, a position of a center of the arc is located below the upper surface of the member 5 and behind the front surface of the member 5.Since the surface is curved in an arc shape in a bulge state, the curved surface, which is the surface of the corner portion of both the strong member 8 and the weak member 9, is lowered toward the forward direction. Since both the weak member 9 and the strong member 8 have a symmetrical shape in the front-back direction, a surface of the corner portion of the weak member 9 is also the lower corner surface 92, which is lower than an upper surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8, with respect to a corner portion between the upper surface and a rear surface of the member 5, which is directly below the claw track t.

[0087] In the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, since all the elements 5 constituting the adjacent class C1 are the weak elements 9 that attenuate the impact more than the strong elements 8, when a force for pulling out one of the element rows 5L from the slider 3 is applied to one element row 5L in a situation where the slider 3 is pulled down halfway in a state where the pair of element rows 5L are engaged with each other (a situation where the slider 3 and the opener 6 are separated), an impact (slider closure strength) to be applied to the weak elements 9 and the locking claw 12 in a situation where the slider 3 is arranged in the adjacent class C1 is weaker than an impact to be applied to the strong elements 8 and the locking claw 12 in a situation where the slider 3 is arranged in the distant class C2.Since the slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment weakens the impact in this way, for example, compared to a slide fastener in which all the elements 5 are the strong elements 8, the locking claw 12 easily slides over the elements 5, and the elements 5 and the locking claw 12 are unlikely to be damaged.

[0088] Specifically, in a situation where the pair of element rows 5L are engaged with each other and the slider 3 is stopped at a position relative to the pair of element rows 5L, a case where the claw tip 22a is disposed in a non-contact state between the elements 5 that are adjacent to each other in the front-to-back direction (a case where the claw main body portion 22 is supported on the upper surface of the upper blade 31 in front of the claw hole 31h) is adopted as a reference state. In the reference state, the pull-out force is not applied to both element rows 5L. In the reference state, the height of the lowermost end of the claw tip 21 is the same at each position of the pair of element rows 5L. When the pull-out force is applied to one of the element rows 5L, the slider 3 moves slightly toward the opener 6, and the claw tip 21 collides with the front surface of the element 5. As shown in (A) of Fig. 3, in a situation where the slider 3 is arranged in the adjacent class C1, when the claw tip 21 collides with the front surface of the member 5, a position on the upper surface (the tip-facing inclined surface 91) of the weak member 9 is lower with respect to a position of a lower end of the claw tip 21 than a position on the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8, as shown in (B) of Fig. 3. 3, in the entire area directly below the claw track t is lower than a position on the upper side 80 of the strong element 8, so that the claw tip 21 slides more easily over the upper side of the weak element 9 than over the strong element 8. The impact acting on the weak elements 9 and the stop claw 12 is weaker than the impact acting on the strong elements 8 and the stop claw 12.

[0089] In addition, since the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment includes the weak elements 9 of the adjacent class C1 in the pair of element rows 5L, the impact to be applied to the weak elements 9 and the stopper claw 12 is weaker than the impact to be applied to the strong elements 8 and the stopper claw 12 when the claw tip 21 passes over the upper surfaces of the weak elements 9 in both element rows 5L.Specifically, since the claw tip 21 is arranged to be biased to one side in the left-right direction with respect to the connecting column 33, a height with respect to the lower end of the claw tip 21 on the tip-facing inclined surface 91 of the weak member 9 on an opposite side is lower with respect to the tip-facing inclined surface 91 of the weak member 9 on the biased side, and the claw tip 21 rides over the weak member 9 on the opposite side more easily than over the weak member 9 on the biased side.

[0090] In the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, the total number n of elements 5 in the neighboring class C1 is 5, in other words, the total number n is half or less of the total number Z of elements 5 constituting the element row 5L, and n is 10 or less. Then, when a user moves the slider 3 to position it in the neighboring class C1 and then separates the slider 3 from the opener 6, the pulling force can be applied to one of the element rows 5L, so that in such a case, the claw tip 21 slides more easily over the upper surface of the weak element 9 than over that of the strong element 8.

[0091] In the element 5 attached to a slide fastener of a second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in (S) to (W) of Fig. 6, the shape of the strong member 8 is the same as that of the strong member 8 of the first embodiment, and as shown in (A) to (E) of Fig. 6, a shape of a weak element 9a is slightly different from that of the weak element 9 of the first embodiment.

[0092] The upper surface 90 of the weak member 9a is lower than the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8 with respect to a front portion and a rear portion, except for an intermediate portion in an entire region directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the member 5, and is formed at the same height as the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8 with respect to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction in the entire region. Accordingly, in the weak member 9a of the second embodiment, with respect to a corner portion between an upper surface and a front surface of the member 5, which is located directly below the claw track t, an upper surface of the corner portion of the weak member 9a also has a lower corner surface 92a that is lower than an upper surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8.Since both the weak element 9a and the strong element 8 have a symmetrical shape in the front-back direction, a surface of the corner portion of the weak element 9a is also the lower corner surface 92a, which is lower than an upper surface of the corner portion of the strong element 8, which is a corner portion between the upper surface and a rear surface of the element 5, which is directly below the claw movement path t.

[0093] Specifically, the upper surface 90 of the weak member 9a is configured such that an intermediate portion in the front-back direction is an upper surface 90b, a front portion relative to the intermediate portion is a forward-inclined surface 93 that slopes downward in the front direction, and a rear portion relative to the intermediate portion is a rearward-inclined surface 94 that slopes downward in the rear direction. Meanwhile, the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8 is a plane orthogonal to the upper-lower direction over an entire range in the front-back direction. Moreover, an upper surface (lower corner surface 92a) of the corner portion between the upper surface 90 and the front surface of the weak member 9a has an arc shape with a larger radius than an upper surface (curved surface) of the corner portion of the strong member 8.

[0094] In the slide fastener of the second embodiment, when the pulling-out force is applied to one of the element rows 5L, since the front part of the upper surface 90 of the weak element 9a is the forward inclined surface 93, the claw tip 21 slides more easily over the upper surface of the weak element 9a than over that of the strong element 8 compared to the strong element 8, and an impact (slider closure strength) to be applied to the weak elements 9a and the stopper claw 12 is weaker than an impact to be applied to the strong elements 8 and the stopper claw 12.

[0095] An element 5b attached to a zipper of a third embodiment of the present invention differs in shape from the element 5 of the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7 shown.

[0096] Element 5b corresponds to element 5 of the first embodiment in that element 5b includes the fastening portion 51 and the engagement portion 52 in the left-right direction. However, element 5b differs significantly from element 5 of the first embodiment in that the upper half portion 55 and the lower half portion 56 have a symmetrical shape in the top-down direction.

[0097] The engaging portion 52 includes a neck portion 52a that extends from the fixing portion 51 toward the band-opposite side and that is narrowed in the front-to-back direction with respect to the fixing portion 51; a head portion 52b that extends from the neck portion 52a toward the band-opposite side and that bulges in the front-to-back direction with respect to the neck portion 52a; and a pair of shoulder portions 52c that protrude in the front-to-back direction from one side of a fixing portion 51 of the neck portion 52a, the pair of shoulder portions 52c engaging with depressed groove portions 52d formed in the head portions 52b of other members 5b.The recessed groove portion 52d is opened toward the tape opposite side at an intermediate height portion in the upper-lower direction of the head portion 52b and penetrates in the front-back direction.

[0098] The claw path t in the present embodiment is a path in which the claw tip 21 is positioned above the pair of shoulder portions 52c in the element row 5L on one side (right side in Fig. 7) and above the head section 52b in the element row 5L on another side (left side in Fig. 7). The following, as in Fig. 7, a relationship between the element 5b of the right element row 5L and the claw track t is described.

[0099] The upper surface 90 of the weak member 9b includes an inclined interface surface 96 that is depressed toward the band-opposite side at a boundary portion between the fastening portion 51 and the engaging portion 52. Further, the upper surface of the weak member 9b is configured such that a portion on the band side with respect to the inclined interface surface is an upper surface 90c that is an upper surface of the fixing portion 51, and a portion on the band-opposite side with respect to the inclined interface surface 96 is a lower step surface 95 that is lower than the upper surface 90c of the fixing portion in a stepped manner and that has a planar shape orthogonal to the upper-lower direction. That is, the upper surface 90 of the weak member 9b includes the upper surface 90c, which is the upper surface of the fixing portion 51, the lower step surface 95, which is depressed in a step-like manner, and the inclined boundary surface 96.The inclined boundary surface 96 and a part (band-side portion) of the lower step surface 95 are arranged in an entire area directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the element 5b.

[0100] Meanwhile, the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8 at the attachment portion 51 and the engaging portion 52 are formed at the same height as the upper surface (upper surface 90c) of the attachment portion 51 of the weak member 9b. Therefore, the upper surface 90 of the weak member 9 is lower than the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8 in the entire area directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the member 5b.

[0101] Since the upper surface 90 (boundary bevel surface 96 and a part of the lower step surface 95) of the weak element 9b is lower than the upper surface 80 of a strong element 8b in the entire area directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the element 5b, with respect to a corner portion between the upper surface and a front surface of the element 5b, which is directly below the claw track t, a surface of the corner portion of the weak element 9b is a lower corner surface 92b, which is lower than a surface of the corner portion of the strong element 8b.

[0102] Both the surface (lower corner surface 92b) of the corner portion of the weak member 9b and the surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8b are curved surfaces that are arcuately curved in a bulging state. In the present embodiment, the surface (lower corner surface 92b) of the corner portion of the weak member 9b has an arc shape with the same radius as the surface (curved surface) of the corner portion of the strong member 8b. Since the curved surface is curved in an arc shape in a bulging state, the curved surface, which is the surface of the corner portion of both the weak member 9b and the strong member 8b, is depressed toward the forward direction.

[0103] Since both the weak element 9b and the strong element 8b have a symmetrical shape in the front-to-back direction, a surface of the corner portion between the upper surface and a rear surface of the element 5, which is located directly under the claw track t, is the lower corner surface 92b of the weak element 9b, which is lower than an upper surface of the corner portion of the strong element 8b.

[0104] In the slide fastener of the third embodiment, when the pulling-out force is applied to one of the element rows 5L, the claw tip 21 slides more easily over the upper surface of the weak element 9b than over that of the strong element 8b because a position of the upper surface 90 (boundary bevel surface 96) of the weak element 9b is lower than a position of the upper surface 80 of the strong element 8b in the entire area directly below the claw track t.

[0105] In the element 5b attached to a slide fastener of a fourth embodiment of the present invention as shown in (S) to (V) of Fig. 8, the shape of the strong member 8b is the same as that of the strong member 8b of the third embodiment, and as shown in (A) to (D) of Fig. As shown in Figure 8, the shape of a weak element 9c differs slightly from that of the weak element 9b of the third embodiment. A relationship between the elements 5b in the right element row 5L and the claw path t will be described.

[0106] The upper surface 90 of the weak member 9c is lower than the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8b with respect to a front portion and a rear portion, except for an intermediate portion in an entire region directly below the claw track t on the upper surface of the member 5b, and is formed at the same height with respect to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction throughout the entire region. Accordingly, in the weak member 9c of the fourth embodiment, with respect to a corner portion between an upper surface and a front surface of the member 5b, which is directly below the claw track t, a surface of the corner portion of the weak member 9c is also a lower corner surface 92c, which is lower than an upper surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8b.Accordingly, with respect to a corner portion between the upper surface and a rear surface of the member 5b, which is located directly below the claw track t, a surface of the corner portion of the weak member 9c is also the lower corner surface 92c, which is lower than a surface of the corner portion of the strong member 8b.

[0107] Both the surface (lower corner surface 92c) of the corner portion of the weak element 9c and the surface of the corner portion of the strong element 8b are curved surfaces that are arcuately curved in a bulge state. An upper surface (lower corner surface 92c) of the corner portion of the weak element 9c has an arc shape with a larger radius than the upper surface (curved surface) of the corner portion of the strong element 8b.

[0108] Specifically, the upper surface 90 of the weak member 9c includes an upper surface 90d at an intermediate portion thereof in the front-back direction. A front portion relative to the intermediate portion is a forward inclined surface 97 that is depressed in the front direction, and a rear portion relative to the intermediate portion is a rearward inclined surface 98 that is depressed in the rear direction. Meanwhile, the upper surface 80 of the strong member 8b is a plane orthogonal to the upper-lower direction in the entire area in the front-back direction (except for the corner portion between the upper surface and the front surface and the corner portion between the upper surface and the rear surface) and has the same height as the upper surface 90d of the weak member 9c.

[0109] In the slide fastener 1 of the fourth embodiment, when the pulling force is applied to one of the element rows 5L, since the front part of the upper surface 90 of the weak element 9c is the forward inclined surface 97, the claw tip 21 slides more easily over the upper surface of the weak element 9c than over that of the strong element 8b, and an impact to be applied to the weak elements 9c and the stopper claw 12 (slider locking strength) is weaker than an impact to be applied to the strong elements 8b and the stopper claw 12.

[0110] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, a slide fastener 1a of a fifth embodiment of the present invention differs from the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment in that the slide fastener 1a has two sliders 3, 3a and a configuration of an opener 6a. The configurations of the adjacent class C1 and the distant class C2 are the same as those of the slide fastener of the first embodiment.

[0111] One of the two sliders 3, 3a is the first slider 3, which closes the pair of element rows 5L by moving in the forward direction, and the other is the second slider 3a, which closes the pair of element rows 5L by moving in the reverse direction. The first slider 3 has the same configuration as the slider 3 of the first embodiment. The second slider 3a is symmetrical in the forward-backward direction to the first slider 3, except that the stopper claw 12 is absent.

[0112] The opener 6a includes a pair of opener parts 61a, 62a separately attached to rear end portions of the pair of belts 4 in the front-to-rear direction in a state where they abut the element rows 5L on a rear side. In the present embodiment, one opening part 61a is a separable pin 61a attached to the facing side edge portion of one of the belts 4, and another opening part 62a is a retaining pin 62a attached to the facing side edge portion of the other of the belts 4. When positioned at a rear end portion of the retaining pin 62a, the second slider 3a has the same function as the retaining case of the first embodiment.When the second slider 3a and the first slider 3 are arranged at a rear end portion of one element row 5L in a state where they are adjacent to each other in the front-back direction, a rear end portion of the other element row 5L can be inserted into and removed from one side in the left-right direction of the element passages 36 of the first slider 3 and the second slider 3a.

[0113] The zipper 1a of the fifth embodiment has the same effect as the zipper 1 of the first embodiment.

[0114] A method of manufacturing the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment described above is carried out in the order of steps (1) to (9) as shown in Fig. 10 shown. (1) Tape preparation step. The tape preparation step is a step of preparing the pair of tapes 4. To mass-produce a variety of zippers 1, a long tape is used as tape 4. (2) First injection molding step. In the first injection molding step, the strong elements 8 are injected onto the pair of belts 4 facing each other in the left-right direction. The first injection molding step is a step of forming gate portions G in parallel between the pair of belts 4 and forming the strong elements 8 in a state where the strong elements 8 are spaced apart from the gate portions G to the left and right in the front-back direction, and the gate portions G and the belts 4 are connected. (3) Gating part removal step. The gating part removal step is a step in which the gating parts G are removed so that the strong elements 8 remain separately attached to the two belts 4. (4) Intermeshing step. The intermeshing step involves intermeshing the two bands 4 using the strong elements 8. (5) Strong element removal step and band reinforcement step. The strong element removal step is a step of removing a part of the strong elements 8 from the plurality of meshed strong elements 8 from a part of the bands 4 to form removed portions 4b on the pair of bands 4. The band reinforcing step is a step of attaching a reinforcing band 4a to the band 4 in a region including an intermediate portion in the front-to-back direction of each of the removed portions 4b and the left and right edges thereof, and then partially punching the band 4 together with the reinforcing band 4a. (6) Second injection molding step. The second injection molding step is a step of injection molding the pair of opener pieces 61, 62 and the weak elements 9 onto the pair of bands 4 in an area including the removed portions. Specifically, in the second injection molding step, the opener parts 61, 62 may be injection molded after the weak elements 9 are injected, or the weak elements and the opener parts 61, 62 may be injection molded simultaneously. The element rows 5L are completed by the second injection molding step.In the figure, the weak elements 9 are interlocked, and the opener 6 is in a state where the separable pin 61 is inserted into the holding case 62, but in practice, the separable pin 61 is inserted into a hole of the holding case 62 after the second injection molding step, and the interlocking step in which the pair of element rows 5L are interlocked is performed again. (7) Cutting step. During cutting, the two strips 4 are cut to a specific length required for a zipper 1. (8) Slider insertion step. The slider insertion step is a step of inserting the slider 3 into the pair of element rows 5L from a side opposite to the opener 6. When the slider 3 is inserted, parts of the pair of element rows 5L through which the slider 3 passes are separated in the left-right direction. (9) Third injection molding step. The third injection molding step is a step of separately injection molding the stoppers 7 on the tapes 4 on a side opposite the opener 6 with respect to the element rows 5L. Thus, the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment is completed. In the present embodiment, the injection molding means that the element 5, the opener 6, and the stopper 7 are made of plastic.

[0115] The method for manufacturing the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment is a method for efficiently manufacturing a plurality of slide fasteners 1. Since a pair of fastener tapes 2 are manufactured by manufacturing the slide fastener 1, a method for manufacturing the fastener tapes 2 is also described by describing the method for manufacturing the slide fastener 1. Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the slide fastener 1 is not limited to the method for manufacturing the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment, and for example, the pair of fastener tapes 2 may be manufactured separately, and then the slider 3 may be inserted into the pair of element rows 5L.

[0116] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0117] For example, in the present embodiment, in order to stop the slider body 11, the claw tip 21 of the stop claw 12 enters between the engaging portions 52 adjacent in the front and rear directions in the left and right element rows 5L within the slider body 11, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the claw tip 21 may enter between the fixing portions 51 adjacent in the front and rear directions in either of the element rows 5L.

[0118] Moreover, each of the element rows 5L includes two kinds of elements in the above-described embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more kinds of elements may be used. REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST 1, 1a zipper 2 carriers 3, 3a slider 11 sliders 12 stop claw 13 Pull tab 13a Gripping part 13b Connecting piece with pull tab 14 disc spring 15 Cover 15a matching recess part 15b Spring support part 15c Part of the recess for the shaft passage 21 Claw tip 22 Main part of the claw body 22a Lower surface 23 Claw insertion part t Movement path of the claw 31 upper blade 31a upper part of the blade body 31b front part of the column 31c rear part of the column 31d Recess for the claw support 31h claw hole 32 lower blade 33 Connecting column 34 flange 36 Element passage 37 band groove 4 adhesive tape 4a Reinforcing tape 4b removed part 5, 5b Element 51 Fastening part 52 mesh size 52a Neck section 52b Headboard 52c shoulder part 52d recessed groove section 53 upper part of the half 53a upper fastening part 53b upper part of the stitch 53c Upper shoulder area 53d upper headboard 54 lower part of the half 54a lower fastening part 54b lower part of the stitch 54c lower part of the neck 54d lower headboard 55 upper part of the half 56 lower part of the half 5L element series 6, 6a opener 61, 61a Opener piece (separable pin) 62, 62a opener piece (holding box, holding pin) 63 Retaining pin 64 Retention box 7 stop 8, 8b strong element 80 top 9, 9a, 9b, 9c weak element 90 top 90a, 90b, 90c, 90d top 91 inclined surface directed towards the tip 93, 97 forward-inclined surface 94, 98 backward inclined surface 95 Lower tread 96 inclined interface 92, 92a, 92b, 92c lower corner surface C1 adjacent class C2 removed class G Gate part n Total number of elements in the neighboring class Z Total number of elements QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2016-202761A

[0004] WO 2013 / 051149A1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Zipper, comprehensive a pair of supports (2); and a slider (3) configured to open and close the pair of supports (2) and configured to stop in a position relative to the pair of supports (2), wherein the pair of supports (2) comprises: a pair of bands (4) extending in a forward-backward direction and opposing each other in a left-right direction, a pair of element rows (5L), each containing a plurality of elements (5, 5b) attached along a corresponding one of the facing side edge portions of the pair of bands (4), and an opener (6, 6a) having a pair of opener parts (61, 61a, 62, 62a) separately attached to one end portion of the pair of bands (4) in the forward-backward direction, the opener (6, 6a) allowing one of the opener parts (61, 61a) to be inserted into and removed from the slider (3) together with one of the element rows (5L), the slider (3) comprises a slider body (11) configured to engage and separate the pair of element rows (5L), and a stopper claw (12) configured to stop at a position relative to the pair of element rows (5L), and a claw tip (21), which is an end portion of the stopper claw (12), is configured to be lowered within the slider body (11) and is configured to come into contact with the elements (5, 5b), at least one element row (5L) among the element rows (5L) with which the claw tip (21) is to come into contact, which comprises elements (5, 5b) of a plurality of types and is classified into a neighboring class (C1), which is a set of the elements (5, 5b) in a neighborhood of the opener (6, 6a) and up to an n-th element from the opener (6, 6a) and a distant class (C2), which is a set of the elements (5, 5b) from an (n+1)-th element from the opener (6, 6a), with regard to an impact to be exerted on the elements (5, 5b) and the stop claw (12) colliding within the slider (3), when a force for pulling one of the rows of elements (5L) out of the slider (3) is exerted on said one row of elements (5L), the elements (5, 5b) forming the remote class (C2) comprise strong elements (8, 8b) of a type configured to amplify the impact more than the elements (5, 5b) forming the adjacent class (C1), all elements (5, 5b) forming the adjacent class (C1) are weak elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) of a type configured to attenuate the shock more than the strong elements (8, 8b), and n is an integer of 1 or more. [2] A slide fastener according to claim 1, wherein n is equal to or less than an integer that is half of the total number of elements (5, 5b) constituting each of the element rows (5L), or equal to or less than an integer that is closest to half. [3] A slide fastener according to claim 1 or 2, wherein n is 10 or less. [4] Zipper according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider (3) is moved away from the opener (6, 6a) is defined as a forward direction a path on which the claw tip (21) of the stop claw (12) passes over the pair of element rows (5L) is defined as a claw path (t), and with respect to a corner portion between an upper surface and a front surface of each of the elements (5, 5b) which lies directly below the claw track (t), a surface of the corner portion of each of the weak elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) is a lower corner surface (92, 92a, 92b, 92c) which is lower than a surface of the corner portion of each of the strong elements (8, 8b). [5] A slide fastener according to claim 4, wherein the lower corner surface (92, 92a, 92b, 92c) is lowered in the forward direction. [6] A slide fastener according to claim 5, wherein the lower corner surface (92, 92a, 92b, 92c) is a curved surface which is arcuately curved in a state of bulging. [7] Zipper according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider (3) is moved away from the opener (6, 6a) is defined as a forward direction a path on which the claw tip (21) of the stop claw (12) passes over the pair of element rows (5L) is defined as a claw path (t), and each of the weak elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) is, at a front portion of an upper surface of each of the elements (5) located directly below the claw track (t), a forwardly inclined surface (93, 97) which is depressed in the forward direction. [8] Zipper according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein in the forward-backward direction, a direction in which the slider (3) is moved away from the opener (6, 6a) is defined as a forward direction a path in which the claw tip (21) of the stop claw (12) runs above the element row pair (5L) is defined as claw trajectory (t), and in an entire area located directly below the claw track (t) on an upper surface of each of the elements (5, 5b), an upper surface (90) of each of the weak elements (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) is lower than an upper surface (80) of each of the strong elements (8, 8b). [9] A slide fastener according to claim 8, wherein the upper surface (90) of the weak element (9, 9a, 9b, 9c) is, in an entire range from a portion directly below the claw track (t) to a direction opposite to a corresponding one of the bands (4), a tip-facing inclined surface (91) which is depressed toward a side opposite to the band (4). [10] A method of manufacturing a carrier for use in the slide fastener according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising: a first injection molding step of injection molding the strong elements (8, 8b) on each of the bands (4); a strong element removing step in which the strong elements (8) are removed from a part of the band (4) to form a removed portion (4b) on the band (4); and a second injection molding step of injection molding the opener pieces (61, 62) and the weak elements (9) on the band (4) in an area including the removed portion (4b). [11] A method for producing the carrier to be used for the slide fastener according to claim 10, wherein in the second injection molding step, the opening pieces (61, 62) are injection molded after the injection molding of the weak elements (9). [12] A method for producing the substrate to be used for the slide fastener according to claim 10, wherein in the second injection molding step, the weak elements (9) and the opening pieces (61, 62) are injected simultaneously.

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