Opening tools and slide fasteners

Abstract

This invention provides an opening mechanism that enables the creation of a double-opening type slide fastener with improved operability. [Solution] The opening device 1 comprises a box body 3 that forms a storage space RS and an opening RA, a butterfly rod 2 inserted into the storage space RS through the opening RA, and a box rod 4 provided on the box body 3 so as to face the butterfly rod 2 in the width direction. The box body 3 comprises a base portion 33 provided on one side in the width direction relative to the storage space RS and on which the box rod 4 is provided, and a side wall portion 34 provided on the other side in the width direction relative to the storage space RS. The side wall portion 34 has a first slit SL1 that communicates with the storage space RS and the opening RA, and an engaging piece 342 adjacent to the first slit SL1 in the insertion direction and engaging with the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 in the width direction. When a tensile force F1 is applied to the butterfly rod 2 in a direction away from the box rod 4, the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 overcomes the engaging piece 342, causing the butterfly rod 2 to detach from the box body 3 through the first slit SL1.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener and a slide fastener using the fastener.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a slide fastener, a two-way type slide fastener is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The two-way type slide fastener includes a pair of fastener strings that mesh with each other and two sliders attached to the pair of fastener strings. In this slide fastener, due to the presence of the two sliders, the meshing and disengagement of the pair of fastener strings can be performed from each of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional two-way type slide fastener, when operating one slider, the other slider may interfere, resulting in a decrease in operability.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a two-way type slide fastener with improved operability and a fastener capable of realizing the slide fastener.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] [1] An opening device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a box body forming a storage space and an opening, a butterfly rod inserted into the storage space through the opening, and a box rod provided on the box body so as to face the butterfly rod in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the butterfly rod, wherein the box body comprises a first wall portion and a second wall portion sandwiching the storage space between them in front-back directions perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction, respectively, a base portion disposed on one side of the width direction relative to the storage space and on which the box rod is provided, and a side wall portion disposed on the other side of the width direction relative to the storage space, wherein the side wall portion has a first slit communicating with the storage space and the opening, and an engaging piece adjacent to the first slit in the insertion direction and engaging with the insertion tip of the butterfly rod in the width direction, wherein when a tensile force is applied to the butterfly rod in a direction away from the box rod, the insertion tip of the butterfly rod overcomes the engaging piece, causing the butterfly rod to detach from the box body through the first slit.

[0007] [2] In the above [1], when the tensile force is applied to the butterfly rod, the butterfly rod may elastically deform the engaging piece.

[0008] [3] In the above [1] or [2], the side wall portion further has a second slit that communicates with the first slit and is formed to be smaller than the first slit in the front-to-back direction, and the engaging piece preferably has a first piece portion and a second piece portion that are arranged to sandwich the second slit in the front-to-back direction.

[0009] [4] In any of the above [1] to [3], the butterfly rod comprises a butterfly rod body having the insertion tip and an interlocking projection protruding from the butterfly rod body and facing the box rod in the insertion direction, and preferably the range in the insertion direction in which the engaging piece faces the insertion tip of the butterfly rod is smaller than the maximum dimension of the interlocking projection in the insertion direction.

[0010] [5] In the above [4], when the tensile force is applied to the butterfly rod, the butterfly rod may rotate with the interlocking projection as a pivot point, causing the insertion tip to move over the engaging piece.

[0011] [6] In any of the above [1] to [5], the insertion tip of the butterfly bar has a flat portion that abuts against the engaging piece and an R-shaped corner portion located further forward in the insertion direction than the flat portion, and it is preferable that the first range in which the engaging piece abuts against the flat portion is less than or equal to the second range in which the engaging piece faces the corner portion.

[0012] [7] In any of the above [1] to [6], the width dimension of the first slit in the box body in the front-to-back direction may be greater than the width dimension of the hinge in the front-to-back direction.

[0013] [8] A slide fastener according to another aspect of the present invention comprises an opening tool as described in [1] to [7] above, a first fastener stringer to which the butterfly bar is attached, a second fastener stringer to which the box body and the box bar are attached, and a slider for engaging or disengaging the first fastener stringer and the second fastener stringer with each other, wherein when the tensile force is applied to the butterfly bar and the butterfly bar detaches from the box body through the first slit, the first fastener stringer and the second fastener stringer separate from each other in order from the opening tool side, and the first fastener stringer is pulled out from the slider in the width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] A plan view showing a slide fastener relating to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] A side view partially showing the slider of the above embodiment. [Figure 3] A plan view showing the opening mechanism of the above embodiment. [Figure 4] An exploded perspective view showing the opening mechanism of the above embodiment. [Figure 5]Side view showing the opener of the above embodiment. [Figure 6] Side view showing the opener of the above embodiment from a direction different from that in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view taken along the arrow VII-VII in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] Partial enlarged view showing an enlarged range surrounded by VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] Diagram for explaining the operation of the butterfly rod in the opener of the above embodiment. [Figure 10] Diagram for explaining the operation of the butterfly rod in the opener of the above embodiment. [Figure 11] Diagram for explaining the opening operation in the slide fastener of the above embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] One embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the opener 1 of the present embodiment is a component constituting the slide fastener 10 and has a function related to the opening and closing operation of the slide fastener 10.

[0016] (Slide fastener) First, the slide fastener 10 of the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the slide fastener 10 includes a first fastener stringer 11A, a second fastener stringer 11B, a slider 12 that is movably connected in the length direction with respect to the first fastener stringer 11A and the second fastener stringer 11B, and an opener 1 attached to the first fastener stringer 11A and the second fastener stringer 11B.

[0017] In the following, the first fastener stringer 11A and the second fastener stringer 11B may be collectively referred to as the fastener stringers 11A, 11B. Further, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the X-direction, Y-direction, and Z-direction that are orthogonal to each other are used. In the present embodiment, the X-direction is the longitudinal direction of the slide fastener 10 and corresponds to the moving direction of the slider 12 with respect to the fastener stringers 11A and 11B. The Y-direction is the width direction of the slide fastener 10 and corresponds to the parallel direction of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B. The Z-direction corresponds to the front-back direction (or thickness direction) of the slide fastener 10.

[0018] Each of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B has a tape portion 111 extending in the X-direction, an element row 112 attached to a side edge portion of the tape portion 111, and a stopper 113 attached to the side edge portion of the tape portion 111 on the +X side of the element row 112. The element row 112 is composed of a plurality of elements 114 arranged along the X-direction. The element rows 112 of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B face each other in the Y-direction and are engageable with each other.

[0019] The slider 12 includes a slider body 121 that engages with each element row 112 of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B and is movable in the X-direction, and a pull tab 122 connected to the slider body 121.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the slider body 121 includes an upper wing plate 123 and a lower wing plate 124 that face each other in the Z-direction, a connecting column 125 that connects the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124 to each other, and a pair of flanges 126A and 126B provided on each of the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124. Further, the slider body 121 has a space formed between the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124, and the space is partitioned by the connecting column 125 into a first insertion passage C1 for inserting the first fastener stringer 11A and a second insertion passage C2 for inserting the second fastener stringer 11B.

[0021] The flanges 126A of the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124 protrude opposite each other, forming a gap H1 that communicates with the first insertion passage C1 in the Y direction. Similarly, the flanges 126B of the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124 protrude opposite each other, forming a gap H2 that communicates with the second insertion passage C2 in the Y direction. Here, the gap H1 is formed to be larger than the gap H2. Note that the configuration of the slider 12 shown in Figure 2 is just one example; for a more detailed explanation of the slider 12, see, for example, International Publication No. 2010 / 113275.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the opening tool 1 comprises a butterfly pin 2, a box body 3, and a box bar 4. The butterfly pin 2 is positioned -X side of the element row 112 of the first fastener stringer 11A and is attached to the side edge of the tape portion 111 of the first fastener stringer 11A. The box bar 4 is positioned -X side of the element row 112 of the second fastener stringer 11B and is attached together with the box body 3 to the side edge of the tape portion 111 of the second fastener stringer 11B. The opening tool 1 is configured so that the butterfly pin 2 can be inserted into and removed from the box body 3.

[0023] In this embodiment, the materials of the element 114, slider 12, hinge rod 2, box body 3, and box rod 4 are not particularly limited, and resin materials such as polyacetal, polyamide, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, nylon, and polycarbonate can be used.

[0024] (Configuration of opening device 1) The specific configuration of the opening mechanism 1 in this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. Note that Figures 3 to 8 omit illustrations of components of the slide fastener 10 other than the opening mechanism 1.

[0025] As described above, the opening mechanism 1 comprises a butterfly rod 2, a box body 3 into which the butterfly rod 2 is inserted, and a box rod 4 provided on the box body 3 and facing the butterfly rod 2 in the Y direction. In the following description, the arrangement of the opening mechanism 1 in the slide fastener 10 will be used as the basis. Furthermore, in the following description, the arrangement of the opening mechanism 1 when the slide fastener 10 is in the closed state will be described in principle.

[0026] The butterfly bar 2 comprises a butterfly bar body portion 21 and an interlocking projection portion 22 that protrudes from the butterfly bar body portion 21 toward the box bar 4 side. The butterfly rod body 21 is a rod inserted into the box body 3. This butterfly rod body 21 has a predetermined length in the X direction and a substantially constant thickness in both the Y and Z directions. Specifically, the butterfly rod body 21 has a front surface 211 and a back surface 212 facing opposite sides in the Z direction, a first side surface 213 facing the box rod 4 side in the Y direction, a second side surface 214 facing the opposite side of the box rod 4 in the Y direction, an upper surface 215 facing the +X direction, and a lower surface 216 facing the -X direction.

[0027] Here, the -X side end of the butterfly rod 2 is referred to as the insertion tip 2T. The second side surface 214 has a flat portion 217 perpendicular to the Y direction near the insertion tip 2T. A corner portion 218 is formed between the flat portion 217 and the lower surface 216 of the second side surface 214. This corner portion 218 has an R shape when viewed in the Z direction.

[0028] Furthermore, the butterfly bar body portion 21 includes a lower rod portion 21A that is inserted into the box body 3, and an upper rod portion 21B that is positioned +X side of the lower rod portion 21A and faces the box rod 4 in the Y direction. A portion of the upper rod portion 21B of the butterfly bar body portion 21 abuts against the box rod 4 in the Y direction.

[0029] The interlocking projection 22 protrudes from the +X side end of the first side surface 213 of the butterfly bar body 21 toward the box bar 4 in the Y direction. This interlocking projection 22 is positioned on the +X side relative to the box bar 4 and faces the box bar 4 in the X direction. The interlocking projection 22 in the slide fastener 10 is fitted between the element 114 located on the -X side of the second fastener stringer 11B and the box bar 4, and can interlock with the element 114 (see Figure 1).

[0030] Furthermore, the butterfly bar 2 includes a recess 23 formed on the surface of the butterfly bar 2 facing the box bar 4, extending from the interlocking projection 22 to the upper rod portion 21B of the butterfly bar body 21. This recess 23 is formed in the center of the butterfly bar 2 in the Z direction and accommodates the projection 42 of the box bar 4, which will be described later.

[0031] The box body 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The box body 3 comprises a first wall portion 31 and a second wall portion 32 that sandwich the storage space RS between them in the Z direction, a base portion 33 which is located on one side in the Y direction relative to the storage space RS (e.g., the +Y side) and on which the box bar 4 is provided, a side wall portion 34 which is located on the other side in the Y direction relative to the storage space RS (e.g., the -Y side), and a bottom wall portion 35 which is located on the -X side relative to the storage space RS.

[0032] Each of the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 has a plate shape arranged perpendicular to the Z direction. Furthermore, the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 form a storage space RS between them in the Z direction, and also form an opening RA of the storage space RS that opens in the +X direction.

[0033] The base portion 33 connects the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 at the +Y side end of the box body 3. This base portion 33 faces the lower rod portion 21A of the butterfly rod 2 in the Y direction.

[0034] The side wall portion 34 connects the first wall portion 31 and the second wall portion 32 at the -Y side end of the box body 3. This side wall portion 34 has a first slit SL1 that communicates with the storage space RS and the opening RA, and a second slit SL2 that is located on the -X side of the first slit SL1 and communicates with the first slit SL1 and the storage space RS. In other words, in the side wall portion 34, the first slit SL1 has a shape that is cut out from the opening RA along the X direction, and the second slit SL2 has a shape that is cut out from the first slit SL1 along the X direction. The first slit SL1 and the second slit SL2 penetrate the side wall portion 34 in the Y direction. Although not shown in Figures 3 to 8, the tape portion 111 (see Figure 1) of the first fastener stringer 11A attached to the butterfly rod 2 passes through the first slit SL1 and the second slit SL2 of the side wall portion 34.

[0035] In this embodiment, the width dimensions W1 and W2 of the first slit SL1 and the second slit SL2 in the Z direction are substantially constant along the X direction. The width dimension W2 of the second slit SL2 is smaller than the width dimension W1 of the first slit SL1. Also, the width dimension W3 of the butterfly bar 2 in the Z direction is smaller than the width dimension W1 of the first slit SL1 and larger than the width dimension W2 of the second slit SL2 (see Figure 5).

[0036] Furthermore, the side wall portion 34 has a first rib portion 341A and a second rib portion 341B arranged on either side of the first slit SL1 in the Z direction, and a first piece portion 342A and a second piece portion 342B arranged on either side of the second slit SL2 in the Z direction. The first piece portion 342A and the second piece portion 342B constitute an engaging piece 342 adjacent to the first slit SL1 in the X direction.

[0037] The engaging pieces 342 (i.e., the first piece portion 342A and the second piece portion 342B) engage with the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 in the Y direction. This prevents the butterfly rod 2 from falling out of the box body 3 on the -Y side. Preferably, the engaging pieces 342 abut against the flat portion 217 of the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2.

[0038] Here, the range in the X direction in which the engaging piece 342 faces the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly bar 2 is referred to as the butterfly bar facing range Rx. This butterfly bar facing range Rx is preferably smaller than the maximum dimension Lx of the interlocking projection 22 in the X direction, and more preferably less than or equal to half of the maximum dimension Lx (see Figure 7).

[0039] Furthermore, the butterfly rod opposing range Rx includes a first range Rx1 in which the engaging piece 342 faces the flat portion 217 of the butterfly rod 2, and a second range Rx2 in which the engaging piece 342 faces the corner portion 218 of the butterfly rod 2. The first range Rx1 is preferably less than or equal to the second range Rx2 (see Figure 8).

[0040] Furthermore, it is preferable that the sum of the range in the Z direction in which the engaging piece 342 (i.e., the first piece portion 342A and the second piece portion 342B) faces the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 (butterfly rod facing range Rz1, Rz2) is less than or equal to half the width dimension W3 of the butterfly rod 2 (see Figure 5).

[0041] The engaging piece 342 of this embodiment has the dimensions described above, and is configured to be elastically deformable in the Y direction when subjected to the user's operating force on the butterfly rod 2. The thickness dimension D1 of the side wall portion 34 in the Y direction is about the same as in the conventional design, and is, for example, 1 / 3 or less of the dimension D2 of the housing space RS in the Y direction (see Figure 7).

[0042] The bottom wall 35 connects the first wall 31 and the second wall 32 at the -X side end of the box body 3. A pair of bottom blocks 351 are provided on this bottom wall 35. The pair of bottom blocks 351 are arranged with a gap in the X direction between them so as not to overlap in the Y direction with respect to the second slit SL2. The bottom blocks 351 also have a contact surface 352 that abuts against the lower surface 216 of the hinge rod 2 in the X direction. The contact surface 352 of the bottom block 351 defines the insertion amount of the hinge rod 2 in the X direction within the box body 3.

[0043] The lengths of the first slit SL1 and the second slit SL2 in the X direction are not particularly limited, and should be such that the arrangement between the butterfly rod 2 and the engaging piece 342 described above can be realized. For example, it is preferable that the length of the first slit SL1 is greater than the length of the second slit SL2. Also, it is preferable that the length of the second slit SL2 is greater than the butterfly rod facing range Rx.

[0044] The box bar 4 comprises a box bar body portion 41 and a projection portion 42 that protrudes from the box bar body portion 41. The box bar body portion 41 is a rod that protrudes from the base portion 33 of the box body 3 in the +X direction, and has a length slightly shorter than the upper rod portion 21B of the butterfly bar 2 in the X direction. Also, like the butterfly bar 2, the box bar body portion 41 has a substantially constant thickness in both the Y and Z directions. The projection 42 protrudes from the center of the box bar body 41 in the Z direction toward the hinge bar 2 side (-Y side) in the Y direction and is housed in the recess 23 of the hinge bar 2.

[0045] In the opening mechanism 1, the butterfly rod 2 is positioned in the Y direction by being sandwiched between the engaging piece 342 of the box body 3 and the box rod 4. Furthermore, the butterfly rod 2 is positioned in the Z direction by the recess 23 of the butterfly rod 2 accommodating the projection 42 of the box rod 4. However, there is a gap space S in the X direction between the inner surface of the recess 23 of the butterfly rod 2 and the projection 42 of the box rod 4, which allows the butterfly rod 2 to move in the +X direction.

[0046] (Operation of slide fastener 10) First, the basic opening and closing operation of the slide fastener 10 in this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figure 1. For example, when opening the slide fastener 10 from the closed state, the user moves the slide fastener 10 in the -X direction, which releases the engagement of the element rows 112 of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B. At this time, with the slider 12 adjacent to the opening tool 1, the user removes the butterfly pin 2 from the box body 3 and the slider 12, which separates the fastener stringers 11A and 11B from each other. This causes the slide fastener 10 to open.

[0047] When closing the slide fastener 10 from the open position, the user positions the slider 12 adjacent to the box body 3 and inserts the butterfly pin 2 into the slider 12 and the box body 3. Then, the user moves the slider 12 in the +X direction, causing the element rows 112 of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B to interlock. This closes the slide fastener 10. At this time, the stopper 113 prevents the slider 12 from falling off the +X side of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B.

[0048] The opening device 1 of this embodiment enables a simple release operation of the slide fastener 10, in addition to the basic opening and closing operations of the slide fastener 10 described above. An example of this release operation will be described below with reference to Figures 1 and 9-11. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate the operation from the state shown in Figure 7, while Figure 11 illustrates the operation from the state shown in Figure 1.

[0049] First, the user grasps the -X side end of the closed slide fastener 10 as shown in Figure 1 and applies a tensile force F1 to the first fastener stringer 11A. This tensile force F1 is transmitted to the butterfly pin 2 of the opening tool 1. Furthermore, the user may apply a tensile force F2 to the second fastener stringer 11B simultaneously with a tensile force F1 to the first fastener stringer 11A. The tensile force F1 includes at least a component in the -Y direction and may further include a component in the +X direction. Similarly, the tensile force F2 includes at least a component in the +Y direction and may further include a component in the +X direction.

[0050] When a tensile force F1 is applied to the butterfly bar 2, the butterfly bar 2 rotates as shown in Figure 9. Specifically, the butterfly bar 2 rotates with the interlocking projection 22 that abuts against the box bar 4 as a fulcrum, so that the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly bar 2 faces in the -Y direction and the +X direction. As a result, the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly bar 2 overcomes the engaging piece 342. At this time, the movement of the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly bar 2 is guided by the corner portion 218. Also, at this time, the engaging piece 342 may elastically deform so as to bend toward the -Y side. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 10, the butterfly bar 2 detaches from the box body 3 through the first slit SL1, starting from the insertion tip 2T side. That is, the butterfly bar 2 detaches from the box body 3 in the order from the insertion tip 2T, which is the -X side end, toward the +X side end.

[0051] After the butterfly rod 2 detaches from the box body 3, if the user continues to apply a tensile force F1, the fastener stringers 11A and 11B separate from each other in order from the opening 1 side, as shown in Figure 11. At this time, the element row 112 of the first fastener stringer 11A presses against the flange 126A from within the first insertion passage C1 of the slider 12 shown in Figure 2, causing at least one of the upper wing plate 123 and the lower wing plate 124 to bend. As a result, the first fastener stringer 11A is pulled out of the slider 12 in the -Y direction through the gap H1.

[0052] Following the above release operation, the fastener stringers 11A and 11B separate from each other, and the slide fastener 10 opens. After that, the basic closing operation of the slide fastener 10 described above can be performed.

[0053] In this embodiment, the opening tool 1 and the slide fastener 10 are configured to anticipate the magnitude of the tensile force F1 when a user strongly pulls the fastener stringer 11A. This tensile force F1 causes the butterfly pin 2 to detach from the box body 3, or the fastener stringers 11A and 11B to separate from each other. That is, during normal use, the engaging piece 342 engages with the butterfly pin 2 to prevent it from detaching from the box body 3. However, when a user applies a strong tensile force F1 intending to open the box, the butterfly pin 2 overcomes the engaging piece 342 and detaches from the box body 3. Furthermore, in the opening device 1 of this embodiment, the dimensions of the box body 3 (for example, the width dimensions W1 of the first slit SL1 and the second slit SL2, and the range of butterfly rod opposition Rx) may be changed depending on the magnitude of the assumed tensile force F1.

[0054] [Effects of this embodiment] As described above, the opening device 1 of this embodiment comprises a box body 3 that forms a storage space RS and an opening RA, a hinge rod 2 inserted into the storage space RS through the opening RA, and a box rod 4 provided on the box body 3 so as to face the hinge rod 2 in the width direction (Y direction) perpendicular to the insertion direction (-X direction) of the hinge rod 2. The box body 3 has a first wall portion 31 and a second wall portion 32 that sandwich the storage space RS between them in the front-back direction (Z direction) perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction, respectively, and the box rod 4 is provided on one side (+Y side) in the width direction relative to the storage space RS. The box body 3 comprises a base portion 33 and a side wall portion 34 positioned on the other side (-Y side) in the width direction relative to the storage space RS. The side wall portion 34 has a first slit SL1 that communicates with the storage space RS and the opening RA, and an engaging piece 342 that is adjacent to the first slit SL1 in the insertion direction and engages in the width direction with the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2. When a tensile force F1 is applied to the butterfly rod 2 in a direction that separates it from the box rod 4, the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 overcomes the engaging piece 342, causing the butterfly rod 2 to detach from the box body 3 via the first slit SL1.

[0055] Such an opening device 1 enables not only the basic opening and closing operations of the slide fastener 10, but also a simple opening operation to open the closed slide fastener 10 from the opening device 1 side. Specifically, with a slide fastener 10 using the opening device 1, the butterfly pin 2 detaches from the box body 3 sequentially from the insertion tip 2T side, thereby allowing the closed slide fastener 10 to be opened sequentially from the opening device 1 side. Therefore, even if the slide fastener 10 has one slider 12, the engagement of the fastener stringers 11A and 11B can be released from both ends in the X direction of the slide fastener 10, similar to a double-opening type slide fastener. In other words, according to this embodiment, an opening device 1 is provided that enables a double-opening type slide fastener 10 with improved operability.

[0056] In this embodiment, when a tensile force F1 is applied to the butterfly bar 2, it is preferable that the butterfly bar 2 elastically deforms the engaging piece 342. In this configuration, it is easy for the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly rod 2 to overcome the engaging piece 342 while ensuring the range of the engaging piece 342 that engages with the butterfly rod 2.

[0057] The side wall portion 34 of this embodiment further has a second slit SL2 that communicates with the first slit SL1 and is formed to be smaller than the first slit SL1 in the front-back direction, and the engaging piece 342 has a first piece portion 342A and a second piece portion 342B that are arranged to sandwich the second slit SL2 in the front-back direction. In this configuration, when a tensile force F2 is applied to the butterfly rod 2, the first piece 342A and the second piece 342B can be suitably elastically deformed.

[0058] The butterfly rod 2 of this embodiment comprises a butterfly rod body portion 21 having an insertion tip portion 2T, and an interlocking projection portion 22 protruding from the butterfly rod body portion 21 and facing the box rod 4 in the insertion direction. The range in the insertion direction in which the engaging piece 342 faces the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 (butterfly rod facing range Rx) is smaller than the maximum dimension Lx of the interlocking projection portion 22 in the insertion direction. In this configuration, the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly rod 2 is preferably able to move over the engaging piece 342.

[0059] When a tensile force F2 is applied to the butterfly bar 2 in this embodiment, the butterfly bar 2 may rotate with the interlocking projection 22 as a pivot point, causing the insertion tip 2T to move over the engaging piece 342. In this configuration, the movement of the insertion tip 2T of the butterfly rod 2 overcoming the engaging piece 342 is more favorably performed.

[0060] In this embodiment, the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 has a flat portion 217 that abuts against the engaging piece 342 and an R-shaped corner portion 218 located further forward (-X side) in the insertion direction than the flat portion 217, and the first range Rx1 in which the engaging piece 342 abuts against the flat portion 217 is less than or equal to the second range Rx2 in which the engaging piece 342 faces the corner portion 218. In this configuration, the corner portion 218 acts as a guide when the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 overcomes the engaging piece 342. Furthermore, because the first range Rx1 in which the engaging piece 342 contacts the flat portion 217 is kept small, it is easy for the insertion tip portion 2T of the butterfly rod 2 to overcome the engaging piece 342.

[0061] In this embodiment, the width dimension W1 of the first slit SL1 in the box body 3 in the front-to-back direction is larger than the width dimension W3 of the hinge rod 2 in the front-to-back direction. In this configuration, the force required to detach the butterfly rod 2 from the box body 3 can be reduced.

[0062] The slide fastener 10 of this embodiment comprises the opening tool 1 described above, a first fastener stringer 11A to which the butterfly bar 2 is attached, a second fastener stringer 11B to which the box body 3 and box bar 4 are attached, and a slider 12 that interlocks or disengages the first fastener stringer 11A and the second fastener stringer 11B with each other. When a tensile force F1 is applied to the butterfly bar 2 and the butterfly bar 2 detaches from the box body 3 through the first slit SL1, the first fastener stringer 11A and the second fastener stringer 11B separate from each other in order from the opening tool 1 side, and the first fastener stringer 11A is pulled out in the width direction from the slider 12. In this configuration, when opening the closed slide fastener 10 from the opener 1 side, the fastener stringers 11A and 11B can be easily separated.

[0063] (modified version) In the opening tool 1 of the above embodiment, the first piece 342A and the second piece 342B are configured to be elastically deformable, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the butterfly rod 2 may detach from the box body 3 by moving in the +X direction by the amount of the gap space S which is the play of the opening tool 1, without elastically deforming the first piece 342A and the second piece 342B, so as to pass the +X side of the engaging piece 342.

[0064] In the opening device 1 of the above embodiment, the butterfly rod 2 detaches from the box body 3 by rotating with the interlocking projection 22 as a pivot point, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the butterfly rod 2 may detach from the box body 3 by moving along the Y direction.

[0065] In the opening tool 1 of the above embodiment, the width dimension W1 of the first slit SL1 may be less than or equal to the width dimension W3 of the hinge rod 2. In this case, when the hinge rod 2 detaches from the box body 3 through the first slit SL1, the hinge rod 2 may elastically deform the first rib portion 341A and the second rib portion 341B of the side wall portion 34. In such a modified example, the hinge rod 2 can be more firmly engaged with the box body 3 and the box rod 4. Furthermore, in the opening tool 1 of the above embodiment, the second slit SL2 in the side wall portion 34 may be omitted. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0066] 1...Opening mechanism, 10...Slide fastener, 111...Tape section, 112...Element row, 113...Fastener, 114...Element, 11A...First fastener stringer, 11B...Second fastener stringer, 12...Slider, 121...Slider body, 122...Pull tab, 123...Upper wing plate, 124...Lower wing plate, 125...Connecting column, 126A,126B...Flange, 2...Butterfly rod, 21...Butterfly rod body, 211...Front surface, 212...Back surface, 213...First side surface, 214...Second side surface, 215...Top surface, 216...Bottom surface, 217...Flat surface, 218...Corner section, 21A...Lower rod section, 21B...Upper rod section, 22...Interlocking projection, 23...Recess, 2 T...Insertion tip, 3...Box body, 31...First wall, 32...Second wall, 33...Base, 34...Side wall, 341A...First rib, 341B...Second rib, 342...Engaging piece, 342A...First piece, 342B...Second piece, 35...Bottom wall, 351...Bottom block, 352...Contact surface, 4...Box rod, 41...Box rod main body, 42...Protrusion, C1...First insertion passage, C2...Second insertion passage, F1...Tensile force, F2...Tensile force, H1, H2...Gap, RA...Opening, RS...Accommodation space, Rx...Hinged rod opposing range, Rx1...First range, Rx2...Second range, Rz1, Rz2...Hinged rod opposing range, S...Gap space, SL1...First slit, SL2...Second slit.

Claims

1. A box body (3) that forms the containment space (RS) and the opening (RA), A butterfly rod (2) is inserted into the housing space (RS) through the opening (RA), The box body (3) is provided with a box bar (4) that faces the butterfly bar (2) in a width direction perpendicular to the insertion direction of the butterfly bar (2), The aforementioned box (3) is The first wall portion (31) and the second wall portion (32) sandwich the accommodation space (RS) between them in the front-back direction which is perpendicular to the insertion direction and the width direction, respectively. The base (33) is positioned on one side in the width direction relative to the aforementioned storage space (RS) and is provided with the box bar (4), It comprises a side wall portion (34) located on the other side in the width direction relative to the accommodation space (RS), The aforementioned side wall portion (34) is A first slit (SL1) that communicates with the aforementioned storage space (RS) and the aforementioned opening (RA), The first slit (SL1) has an engaging piece (342) adjacent to it in the insertion direction and engaging with the insertion tip (2T) of the butterfly bar (2) in the width direction, An opening device wherein, when a tensile force (F1) is applied to the butterfly bar (2) in a direction that separates it from the box bar (4), the insertion tip (2T) of the butterfly bar (2) overcomes the engaging piece (342), causing the butterfly bar (2) to detach from the box body (3) through the first slit (SL1).

2. The opening device according to claim 1, wherein when the tensile force (F1) is applied to the butterfly bar (2), the butterfly bar (2) elastically deforms the engaging piece (342).

3. The side wall portion (34) further has a second slit (SL2) that communicates with the first slit (SL1) and is formed to be smaller than the first slit (SL1) in the front-back direction. The opening tool according to claim 1, wherein the engaging piece (342) has a first piece portion (342A) and a second piece portion (342B) that are arranged to sandwich the second slit (SL2) in the front-back direction.

4. The aforementioned butterfly bar (2) is The butterfly rod body portion (21) having the aforementioned insertion tip portion (2T), It comprises a biting projection (22) that protrudes from the main body portion (21) and faces the insertion direction relative to the box rod (4), The opening tool according to claim 1, wherein the range (Rx) in the insertion direction in which the engaging piece (342) faces the insertion tip portion (2T) of the butterfly bar (2) is smaller than the maximum dimension (Lx) of the interlocking projection (22) in the insertion direction.

5. The opening device according to claim 4, wherein when the tensile force (F1) is applied to the butterfly bar (2), the butterfly bar (2) rotates with the interlocking projection (22) as a pivot point, causing the insertion tip (2T) to overcome the engaging piece (342).

6. The insertion tip portion (2T) of the butterfly bar (2) has a flat portion (217) that abuts against the engaging piece (342) and an R-shaped corner portion (218) located further forward in the insertion direction than the flat portion (217), The opening device according to claim 1, wherein the first range (Rx1) in which the engaging piece (342) contacts the flat portion (217) is less than or equal to the second range (Rx2) in which the engaging piece (342) faces the corner portion (218).

7. The opening device according to claim 1, wherein the width dimension (W1) of the first slit (SL1) in the box body (3) in the front-to-back direction is greater than the width dimension (W3) of the hinge bar (2) in the front-to-back direction.

8. An opening tool (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The first fastener stringer (11A) to which the aforementioned butterfly bar (2) is attached, The box body (3) and the box rod (4) are attached to the second fastener stringer (11B), The device comprises a slider (12) that interlocks or disengages the first fastener stringer (11A) and the second fastener stringer (11B), A slide fastener wherein when the tensile force (F1) is applied to the butterfly bar (2), and the butterfly bar (2) detaches from the box body (3) through the first slit (SL1), the first fastener stringer (11A) and the second fastener stringer (11B) separate from each other in order from the opening tool (1) side, and the first fastener stringer (11A) is pulled out from the slider (12) in the width direction.

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