Fastener element, fastener stringer, and method for manufacturing a fastener stringer

Abstract

To make it easy to form a part where a transfer foil is transferred and coated on an upper surface of an element body of a fastener element and a part where the element body is exposed.SOLUTION: A fastener element 5 comprises a resin element main body 5a, and a transfer foil 5b transferred on the element body. The element body comprises: a trunk 51 fixed to a side edge part of a tape having a vertical direction as a thickness direction; and an engagement part 52 projecting from the trunk and engaging the facing element body. The trunk comprises: a recess 53a recessed on its upper surface; and at least one outer inclined part 53b descending as it goes outward with respect to the recess 53a. The recess is coated with the transfer foil, the outer inclined part 53b is exposed, and the resin is exposed. The transfer foil is transferred to the recess but not to the outer inclined part due to its inclination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fastener element provided with a transfer foil, a fastener stringer including a tape to which the fastener element is fixed and the fastener element, and a method for manufacturing the fastener stringer.

Background Art

[0002] As an example of a method for manufacturing a fastener stringer, there is a method including a fixing step of fixing an element to a tape, a transfer step of transferring a transfer foil over the entire upper surface of the element fixed to the tape, and a non-transfer portion forming step of scraping a part of the transfer foil to form a non-transfer portion (a portion for exposing the element) on the upper surface of the element (Patent Document 1). The non-transfer portion forming step forms, on the upper surface of the element, a non-scraped portion as a transfer portion by scraping a part of the transfer foil, that is, by separating a scraped portion and a non-scraped portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the transfer step of the manufacturing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the transfer foil was transferred to the entire upper surface of the element because the roller was elastically deformed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5 of Patent Document 1, when the transfer film with the transfer foil and the fastener stringer pass between a pair of rollers, the roller is elastically deformed, and the shape of the roller presses the transfer film against the entire upper surface of the element. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1, the upper surface of the element is a slope that descends as the right side portion in the width direction of the tape goes to the right, the left end portion in the width direction of the tape is a curved surface rounded in an arc shape, and the remaining left side portion in the width direction of the tape is horizontal. That is, the upper surface of the element is generally planar, and the roller is elastically deformed following the shape of the upper surface of such an element. For the sake of the following description, the terms are organized as follows. The element with the transfer foil attached will be referred to as the element, and the portion of the element excluding the transfer foil will be referred to as the element body.

[0005] Since the transfer foil is transferred to the entire upper surface of the element body, it can be said that the non-transfer portion can be formed only by scraping the transfer foil of the transfer portion. If a non-transfer portion (a portion where the element body is exposed) can be formed on the upper surface of the element without scraping the transfer foil, the manufacturing method is simplified and easy to manufacture.

[0006] The present invention was created in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to facilitate the formation of a portion where the transfer foil is transferred and coated and a portion where the element body is exposed on the upper surface of the element body of the fastener element.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The fastener element of the present invention includes a resin element body and a transfer foil transferred onto the element body. The element body includes a body portion fixed to a side edge of a tape with the vertical direction being the thickness direction, and an engaging portion that protrudes from the body portion and meshes with an opposing element. The body portion includes a recessed portion recessed on its upper surface and at least one outer inclined portion that descends as it goes outward with respect to the recessed portion. The recessed portion is covered by the transfer foil, and the outer inclined portion is exposed.

[0008] Also, although it does not matter what the inclination angle of the outer inclined portion is, it is desirable to do as follows. That is, the body portion includes a tape insertion groove into which the tape is inserted on the side surface of the body portion opposite to the engaging portion, and the inclination angle θ of the outer inclined portion with respect to a reference plane parallel to the tape insertion groove is in the range of 30 degrees to 70 degrees.

[0009] Also, whether there is another portion between the recessed portion and the outer inclined portion or not does not matter, but it is desirable to do as follows to make it difficult to form a transfer foil on the outer inclined portion. That is, the body portion includes an outer edge portion formed along the outer periphery of the recessed portion between the recessed portion and the outer inclined portion on its upper surface, and the recessed portion and the outer edge portion are covered by a continuous transfer foil.

[0010] Also, although the specific shape of the outer edge portion does not matter, it is desirable to do as follows to make it difficult to form a transfer foil on the outer inclined portion. That is, the outer edge portion is to be annular.

[0011] Also, although the specific shape of the recessed portion does not matter, it is desirable to do as follows to make it difficult to form a transfer foil on the outer inclined portion. That is, the recessed portion includes a recessed slope that descends as it moves away from the outer edge portion, the body portion includes a tape insertion groove into which the tape is inserted on the side surface of the body portion opposite to the engaging portion, and the inclination angle of the outer inclined portion with respect to a reference plane parallel to the tape insertion groove is larger than the inclination angle of the recessed slope.

[0012] Also, regardless of whether the concave portion has a surface other than the above-described concave portion slope, the following is desirable for making it difficult to form a transfer foil on the outwardly inclined portion. That is, the concave portion has a flat concave portion bottom surface at a position adjacent to the concave portion slope.

[0013] Also, regardless of the position where the outwardly inclined portion is disposed on the upper surface of the body portion, for example, the following is done. That is, the body portion has a guide surface for guiding the flange of the slider on the surface of the side thereof on the tape insertion groove side, the guide surface extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape, and the outwardly inclined portion is inclined with respect to the guide surface and is disposed adjacent to each other.

[0014] Further, the present invention is directed not only to the fastener element but also to the fastener stringer. That is, the fastener stringer of the present invention includes the above-described fastener element and a tape to which a plurality of fastener elements are fixed along the side edge portion.

[0015] Also, regardless of the color of the element body or the transfer foil, the following is desirable for making the concave portion prominent. That is, the element body is made of a transparent color or the same color as the tape, and the transfer foil is made of a color different from that of the element body.

[0016] Further, the present invention is directed not only to the fastener element and the fastener stringer but also to the method for manufacturing the fastener stringer. That is, the method for manufacturing a fastener stringer of the present invention is a fastener stringer including the above-described fastener element and a tape to which a plurality of fastener elements are fixed along the side edge portion, and is premised on a fastener stringer composed of a single fastener stringer or a pair of fastener stringers in which the fastener elements are in a meshed state. Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the fastener stringer of the present invention includes a stringer forming step of fixing the element body to the tape by injection molding to form a fastener stringer, and a step of passing between a pair of transfer rollers with a single fastener stringer and a transfer film being conveyed to each other, or a pair of the fastener stringers in a meshed state and the transfer film being conveyed to each other, being sandwiched in the thickness direction of the tape, so that the transfer rollers are elastically deformed, the transfer film is pressed against the concave portion of the body portion while floating with respect to the outer inclined portion, the transfer foil of the transfer film is transferred to the concave portion, and the outer inclined portion is maintained in a state of being exposed as it is.

Effect of the Invention

[0017] The fastener element of the present invention includes not only a concave portion on the upper surface of the body portion of the element body but also an outer inclined portion. Since the outer inclined portion descends as it goes outward with respect to the concave portion, for example, compared with a fastener element in which the portion corresponding to the outer inclined portion is a plane at the same height as the upper end of the concave portion, it is difficult for the transfer foil to be transferred to the outer inclined portion. As a result, it becomes easier to form the portion where the transfer foil is transferred and the portion where the resin of the element body is exposed on the upper surface of the body portion. Further, the fastener element of the present invention exhibits a design property that the portion where the transfer foil is transferred and the portion where the resin of the element body is exposed can be more clearly distinguished due to the synergistic effect of not only the difference in the presence or absence of the transfer foil but also the difference in the shape between the concave portion and the outer inclined portion.

[0018] Also, when the fastener element of the present invention includes an outer edge portion formed along the outer periphery of the concave portion between the concave portion and the outer inclined portion, the outer edge portion is disposed outside the region where the transfer foil is transferred. For example, compared with a fastener element without an outer edge portion, it is difficult for the transfer foil to be transferred to the outer inclined portion. As a result, it becomes easier to form the portion where the transfer foil is transferred and the portion where the element body is exposed on the upper surface of the body portion.

[0019] Further, when the outer edge portion of the fastener element of the present invention is annular, for example, compared with a fastener element having a non-annular outer edge portion, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil to be formed on the outer inclined portion.

[0020] Further, when the fastener element of the present invention is provided with a concave slope in the concave portion and the inclination angle of the outer inclined portion is made larger than the inclination angle of the concave slope with respect to a reference plane parallel to the tape insertion groove, for example, compared with a fastener element in which the inclination angle of the outer inclined portion with respect to the reference plane is equal to or less than the inclination angle of the concave slope, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil to be transferred to the outer inclined portion.

[0021] Further, when the fastener element of the present invention is provided with a flat concave bottom surface in the concave portion at a position adjacent to the concave slope, for example, compared with a fastener element having no concave bottom surface, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil to be transferred to the outer inclined portion.

[0022] Further, when the fastener element of the present invention is provided with a guide surface on the body portion, and the outer inclined portion is inclined with respect to the guide surface and arranged adjacent to each other, the outer inclined portion is arranged as a distinct portion different from the guide surface, so that a unique design property is exhibited.

[0023] Further, the fastener stringer of the present invention exhibits the same effect as the fastener element.

[0024] When the fastener stringer of the present invention has the element body in a transparent color or the same color as the tape and the transfer foil in a color different from the element body, the outer inclined portion has an appearance that is integrated with the tape, and as a result, the transfer foil stands out, exhibiting a unique design property.

[0025] In addition, in the method for manufacturing the fastener stringer of the present invention, due to the shape of the upper surface of the body portion in which the element body includes a concave portion and an outer inclined portion, when a single fastener stringer and a transfer film are sandwiched between a pair of transfer rollers, or when a pair of fastener stringers in which the fastener elements are engaged and the transfer film are sandwiched, the transfer film is pressed against the concave portion, and the transfer film is floated from the outer inclined portion. Therefore, the transfer foil of the transfer film is transferred to the concave portion, and the outer inclined portion is maintained in an exposed state as it is.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the slide fastener 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of fastener stringers 2 that extend linearly and in parallel in a planar state, and a slider 3 that opens and closes along the opposing side edges of the pair of fastener stringers 2.

[0028] By moving the slider 3 in one direction of the longitudinal direction, which is the extending direction of the pair of fastener stringers 2, the pair of fastener stringers 2 can be opened, and by moving it in the other direction of the longitudinal direction, the pair of fastener stringers 2 can be closed.

[0029] For the following description, the directions are defined as follows. The "front - rear direction" refers to the longitudinal direction of the fastener stringer 2. The "front direction" is the upward direction in FIG. 1 and is the direction in which the slider 3 closes the pair of fastener stringers 2. The "rear direction" is the downward direction in FIG. 1 and is the direction in which the slider 3 opens the pair of fastener stringers 2. The "left - right direction" refers to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (front - rear direction) and in which the pair of fastener stringers 2 are arranged, and is also called the width direction. The "left direction" is the left direction in FIG. 1. The "right direction" is the right direction in FIG. 1. The "up - down direction" refers to the direction orthogonal to the front - rear direction and the left - right direction, and is also called the thickness direction. The "upward direction" is the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1, that is, the direction facing the front side among the directions orthogonal to the front - rear direction and the left - right direction. The "downward direction" is the direction facing the back side among the directions perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1.

[0030] The pair of fastener stringers 2 includes a pair of tapes 4 extending in the front - rear direction and a pair of element rows 5L fixed along the opposing side edges of the pair of tapes 4.

[0031] The tape 4 is strip - shaped. Similar to the fastener stringer 2, the tape 4 has the front - rear direction as the longitudinal direction, the left - right direction as the width direction, and the up - down direction as the thickness direction. Also, one end of the tape 4 in the width direction is the core part 4a, and the other end side in the width direction with respect to the core part 4a is the tape main body part 4b. And the thickness of the core part 4a is formed thicker than that of the tape main body part 4b. Also, the tape main body part 4b is parallel to the plane orthogonal to the up - down direction.

[0032] The element row 5L is formed by a plurality of fastener elements 5 that are fixed at intervals along the side edge portion of the tape 4. When the slider 3 is moved forward to close the pair of fastener stringers 2, the fastener elements 5 of the pair of element rows 5L mesh with each other. When the slider 3 is moved backward to open the pair of fastener stringers 2, the fastener elements 5 of the pair of element rows 5L separate from each other left and right. The fastener element 5 will be described in detail later.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5, the slider 3 includes a slider body 31 that is attached to the pair of element rows 5L and is movable back and forth along the pair of element rows 5L, and a handle 32 that is connected to the slider body 31.

[0034] The slider body 31 includes upper and lower wing plates 33 that face each other with a space therebetween in the vertical direction, a connecting column (not shown) that connects the front portions of the upper and lower wing plates 33 to each other at their intermediate portions in the left - right direction and is sandwiched between the pair of element rows 5L, a flange 34 that protrudes from at least one (both in the illustrated example) of the left and right end portions of the upper and lower wing plates 33 in a direction to narrow the opposing space between the upper and lower wing plates 33, and a handle attachment portion 35 that protrudes on the upper surface side of the upper wing plate 33. A through - hole (not shown) that penetrates in the left - right direction is formed in the handle attachment portion 35. By inserting a part of the handle 32 into this through - hole, the handle 32 is connected to the slider body 31.

[0035] The slider body 31 has, as its internal space, an element passage 36 that penetrates in the front - rear direction and branches into two at the front side, and a tape passage 37 that communicates with the element passage 36 and opens to the left and right. A pair of element rows 5L are passed through the element passage 36, and the tape 4 on the corresponding side is passed through each tape passage 37.

[0036] The fastener element 5 includes an element body 5a that is fixed to the opposing side edge portions of the tape 4, and a transfer foil 5b that is transferred (fixed) onto the upper surface of the element body 5a.

[0037] The element body 5a is formed by injection molding, is made of resin, and is transparent or the same color as the tape 4. Incidentally, the tape 4 is an opaque color. The element body 5a includes a body portion 51 fixed to one side edge of the tape 4, and an engaging portion 52 that engages with the opposing element body 5a and protrudes from the body portion 51 toward the opposing tape 4 side.

[0038] The body portion 51 includes a body main body 53 fixed to one side edge of the tape 4, and a body extension portion 54 extending from the upper part of the surface on the same side as the engaging portion 52 among the left and right side surfaces of the body main body 53.

[0039] The body main body 53 is block-shaped, and the body extension portion 54 is plate-shaped. The upper part of the body portion 51 composed of the upper part of the body main body 53 and the body extension portion 54 is rectangular in a plan view with the longitudinal direction and the width direction of the tape 4 as the four-side directions.

[0040] Also, the body main body 53 sandwiches one side edge of the tape 4 from above and below on one side (the side opposite to the engaging portion 52) in its width direction, and is continuous vertically on the other end side (the engaging portion 52 side) in the width direction of the body main body 53 itself. Therefore, a tape insertion groove 53s into which the tape 4 is inserted (embedded) is formed on the surface of the left and right side surfaces of the body main body 53 that is opposite to the engaging portion 52.

[0041] The tape insertion groove 53s penetrates in the front-rear direction and is open toward one side (the side opposite to the engaging portion 52) in the width direction. Also, the tape insertion groove 53s has a shape corresponding to the portion of the tape 4 that is inserted (embedded). And in the following description, a plane parallel to the tape insertion groove 53s is referred to as a reference plane L. More specifically, the reference plane L is a plane parallel to the portion of the tape insertion groove 53s into which the tape main body portion 4b is inserted.

[0042] Of the side surfaces of the body main body 53, the surface on the side of the tape insertion groove 53s (the surface on the side opposite to the engagement portion 52) is provided with a guide surface 53G for guiding the upper flange 34 of the slider 3 above the tape insertion groove 53s as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The guide surface 53G extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape 4. The guide surface 53G is a flat surface, which is substantially perpendicular to the reference plane L. More specifically, it is an inclined surface that descends as it goes toward the side opposite to the engagement portion 52. The inclination angle θ1 of the guide surface 53G with respect to the reference plane L is such that 75 degrees ≤ θ < 90 degrees. Incidentally, this inclination angle θ1 is the angle of the inner corner formed by the tape insertion groove 53s and the guide surface 53G. Note that the surface on the side of the tape insertion groove 53s (the surface on the side opposite to the engagement portion 52) of the side surface of the body main body 53 is provided with a guide surface (reference numeral omitted) for guiding the lower flange 34 of the slider 3 below the tape insertion groove 53s.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the upper surface of the engagement portion 52 is disposed below the body extension portion 54. The engagement portion 52 is for engaging the fastener elements 5 of the pair of fastener stringers 2 with each other. The engagement portion 52 includes a neck portion 52a that protrudes from the central portion in the front-rear direction of the body main body 53 toward the opposing tape 4 side, and a head portion 52b that protrudes from the neck portion 52a toward the opposing tape 4 side.

[0044] The neck portion 52a is formed with a shorter front-rear width than the body main body 53. The head portion 52b has a shorter front-rear width than the body main body 53 and longer than the neck portion 52a, and is formed in a shape that protrudes in both the front and rear directions with respect to the neck portion 52a. And between the engagement portions 52 adjacent to each other in the front and rear directions in each fastener stringer 2, a space portion for accommodating the engagement portion 52 of the opposing fastener stringer 2 is formed. By this space portion, the engagement portions 52 of the fastener elements 5 in the pair of fastener stringers 2 can engage with each other.

[0045] The upper surface of the body main body 53 includes a recessed concave portion 53a, an outer inclined portion 53b that descends as it goes outward with respect to the concave portion 53a, and an outer edge portion 53c formed along the outer periphery of the concave portion 53a between the concave portion 53a and the outer inclined portion 53b. More specifically, the upper surface of the body main body 53 includes a concave portion 53a located at the central portion thereof, an annular outer edge portion 53c that surrounds the concave portion 53a along its outer periphery, and outer inclined portions 53b arranged at intervals along the outer periphery of the outer edge portion 53c. Also, the upper surface of the body 51 is rectangular, and more specifically, it is rectangular and consists of two sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape 4 and two sides parallel to the width direction of the tape 4. And the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c are arranged at portions other than the four corners of the rectangular shape of the body main body 53, and the outer inclined portions 53b are arranged at the four corners of the rectangular shape that is the upper surface of the body 51.

[0046] In this embodiment, the outer shape of the concave portion 53a is a polygon in which all interior angles are smaller than 180 degrees, that is, a convex polygon, and more specifically, it is a regular polygon or a shape approximating a regular polygon. In the illustrated example, the outer shape of the concave portion 53a is a shape approximating a regular octagon. Also, the concave portion 53a includes a concave bottom surface 53e that is the lowest surface located at the central portion thereof, and a plurality of concave slopes 53f that are arranged in a shape surrounding the outer periphery of the concave bottom surface 53e and descend from the outer periphery toward the concave bottom surface 53e (as they move away from the outer edge portion 53c).

[0047] The concave bottom surface 53e is a flat surface and is formed parallel to the tape insertion groove 53s. Also, the concave bottom surface 53e is a shape that reduces the outer shape of the concave portion 53a or a shape approximating the reduced shape. In the illustrated example, the outer shape of the concave bottom surface 53e is a regular octagon. The outside of the concave bottom surface 53e is surrounded by a plurality of concave slopes 53f. And each side of the outer periphery of the concave bottom surface 53e and each side of the outer periphery of the concave portion 53a are parallel. More specifically, each side of the outer periphery of the concave bottom surface 53e and each side of the outer periphery of the concave portion 53a are parallel in a state of facing each other in the radial direction centered on the concave bottom surface 53e. The depth of the concave bottom surface 53e (the dimension in the direction orthogonal to the reference plane L) is 1 mm or less, preferably 0.3 mm or less.

[0048] The concave slope 53f and the concave bottom surface 53e are arranged at adjacent positions. More specifically, the concave slope 53f is arranged at a position adjacent in the radial direction with the concave bottom surface 53e as the center. Further, a plurality of concave slopes 53f arranged in the circumferential direction of the concave portion 53a are annular as a whole. The annularly arranged concave slopes 53f have the same shape every other one in the circumferential direction, and two adjacent concave slopes 53f in the circumferential direction have different shapes. That is, there are two types of shapes for the concave slope 53f.

[0049] Regardless of the type of shape of the concave slope 53f, it is formed in a state of extending radially from each side of the regular octagon forming the outer shape of the concave bottom surface 53e with the concave bottom surface 53e as the center. Further, the concave slope 53f has a shape symmetrical with respect to the circumferential direction of the concave portion 53a. And the boundary line of the concave slopes 53f adjacent in the circumferential direction of the concave portion 53a extends radially from the vertex of the polygon forming the outer shape of the concave bottom surface 53e with the concave bottom surface 53e as the center and reaches the side of the polygon forming the outer shape of the concave portion 53a.

[0050] One type of concave slope 53f is a trapezoid, more specifically, an isosceles trapezoid composed of a pair of parallel sides facing each other in the radial direction centered on the concave portion 53a and a pair of sides symmetrical with respect to the circumferential direction of the concave portion 53a. The shorter side of the pair of parallel sides of the isosceles trapezoid is made to coincide with the total length of one side of the polygon forming the outer circumference of the concave bottom surface 53e, the longer side of the pair of sides is made shorter than the total length of one side of the polygon forming the outer circumference of the concave portion 53a, and both ends of the longer side are positioned closer to the center side than both ends of the corresponding side of the polygon of the concave portion 53a.

[0051] The other type of concave slope 53f is located between two concave slopes 53f of the previous type arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction and is a distorted hexagon. More specifically, it is a hexagon composed of a pair of parallel sides facing each other in the radial direction centered on the concave portion 53a, a pair of sides facing each other and symmetrical with respect to the circumferential direction of the concave portion 53a, and a pair of sides located on both sides of the longer side of the pair of parallel sides and extending along the outer circumference of the concave portion 53a in a bent shape with respect to the longer side.

[0052] The concave slope 53f is a plane inclined in the vertical direction with respect to the reference plane L. The inclination angle θ2 of the concave slope 53f with respect to the reference plane L is in the range of 0° < θ2 < 30°. The inclination angle θ2 is the acute angle formed by the reference plane L and the concave slope 53f. Incidentally, the inclination angle θ2 corresponds to the angle obtained by rotating, about an axis which is one side of the concave slope 53f and forms one side of a polygon that shapes the outer periphery of the recess 53a, a plane extending parallel to the reference plane L from this axis.

[0053] The outer inclined portion 53b is a plane inclined in the vertical direction with respect to the reference plane L. Also, the inclination angle θ3 of the outer inclined portion 53b with respect to the reference plane L is formed to be larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the concave slope 53f. Specifically, the inclination angle θ3 of the outer inclined portion 53b is in the range of 30° to 70°. The inclination angle θ3 is the acute angle formed by the reference plane L and the outer inclined portion 53b. Note that the inclination angle θ3 also corresponds to the angle obtained by rotating, about an axis which is one side of the outer inclined portion 53b and forms one side of a polygon that shapes the outer periphery of the outer edge portion 53c, a plane extending parallel to the reference plane L from this axis. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the outer inclined portion 53b is inclined with respect to the guide surface 53G and is arranged adjacent to each other. Since the outer inclined portion 53b is a part of the element body 5a portion, the surface roughness of the outer inclined portion 53b is the same as the portion of the element body 5a that is not covered by the transfer foil 5b, that is, the same as the surface roughness of the front and rear surfaces and the left and right side surfaces.

[0054] The outer edge portion 53c is formed over the entire outer periphery of the recess 53a, that is, it is annular. More specifically, it is a convex polygon having the same outer shape as the recess 53a. Also, the outer edge portion 53c is a curved surface that smoothly connects the concave slope 53f and the outer inclined portion 53b, and is a curved surface in which a shape that bulges in an arc shape is continuous in the circumferential direction. More specifically, assuming that the outer edge portion 53c is cut in the vertical direction orthogonally to its circumferential direction at an arbitrary point in the entire circumference, on the premise of the state of the fastener element 5 in plan view, the cross-sectional shape of the outer edge portion 53c (curved surface) is a shape that bulges in an arc shape, and the outer inclined portion 53b and the concave slope 53f are arranged in the tangential directions at both ends of the arc.

[0055] The color of the transfer foil 5b is different from that of the element body 5a. As described above, the element body 5a is transparent or the same color as the tape 4. The transfer foil 5b has a structure in which a metal film, a resin film, or a laminated structure of a metal film and a resin film, and as a specific example, it is a hologram foil. The hologram foil has a structure in which an adhesive layer, a metal layer, and a colored layer are laminated in this order. Incidentally, the transfer foil 5b originally constitutes a part of the transfer film. An example of the transfer film has a structure in which an adhesive layer, a metal layer, a colored layer, a release layer, and a base layer are laminated in this order. By using the transfer film and the fastener stringer 2 in a transfer device, a hologram foil (transfer foil 5b) is formed on the element body 5a. The thickness of the transfer foil 5b is 1 μm (0.001 mm) to 30 μm (0.03 mm).

[0056] The fastener chain of the first embodiment is in a closed state where the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment described above is engaged with the fastener elements 5 with each other. The manufacturing method of the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment of the present invention includes a stringer forming step of fixing the element body 5a to the tape 4 by injection molding to form a fastener stringer 2 (more specifically, a semi-finished fastener stringer 2), a chain forming step of engaging a pair of fastener stringers 2 with each other's fastener elements 5 to form a fastener chain (more specifically, a semi-finished fastener chain), and a transfer step of transferring the transfer foil 5b of the transfer film F to the element body 5a of the fastener chain. By transferring the transfer foil 5b to the element body 5a in the transfer step, the fastener element 5 is completed, and thus the fastener stringer 2 and the fastener chain are completed. Thus, the manufacturing method of the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment is also a manufacturing method of the fastener chain.

[0057] The stringer forming step and the chain forming step are well-known steps and will be omitted from the description.

[0058] As shown in Fig. 6, in the transfer process, the transfer rollers 93 are elastically deformed by passing between a pair of transfer rollers 93 with the fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) and the transfer film F being conveyed relative to each other sandwiched in the thickness direction of the tape 4. The transfer film F is pressed against the concave portion 53a of the body portion 51 while floating with respect to the outer inclined portion 53b. The transfer foil 5b of the transfer film F is transferred to the concave portion 53a, and the outer inclined portion 53b is maintained in an exposed state. And through the transfer process, the fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) is completed.

[0059] In the transfer process, a transfer device is used. An example of the transfer device 9 is shown in Fig. 6. This transfer device 9 is used for a transfer film roll R1 around which a transfer film F is wound around a winding roller 91 and a stringer roll R2 around which a fastener chain (a pair of meshing fastener stringers 2) in the previous stage of transferring the transfer foil 5b is wound around a winding roller 92.

[0060] The transfer film roll R1 is a roll of the transfer film F. The transfer film F is long and strip-shaped, and a transfer foil 5b (hologram foil) wider than the element body 5a is laminated along its longitudinal direction on one side thereof. And as described above, an adhesive layer is provided on the surface of the transfer foil 5b. The adhesive layer does not exhibit an adhesive function at normal temperature and exhibits an adhesive function in a predetermined temperature range sufficiently higher than normal temperature.

[0061] The stringer roll R2 is a roll of a fastener chain (semi-finished fastener stringer 2) in the previous stage of transferring the transfer foil 5b, that is, a semi-finished product. The semi-finished fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) has a large number of element bodies 5a fixed to the tape 4, and no transfer foil 5b is formed on the element body 5a.

[0062] The transfer device 9 includes a transfer film roll R1 rotatably supported, a stringer roll R2 rotatably supported, a pair of transfer rollers 93 through which the transfer film F and the semi-finished fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) supplied from the transfer film roll R1 and the stringer roll R2 are inserted in a superimposed state, a film take-up roller 94 for taking up the transfer film F that has passed between the pair of transfer rollers 93, and a stringer take-up roller 95 for taking up the fastener chain that has passed between the pair of transfer rollers 93.

[0063] One of the transfer rollers 93, for example, the lower transfer roller 93 shown in the figure, is rotated by a drive device (not shown), that is, it is a drive roller and also has a built-in heater. When the heater is heated, the lower transfer roller 93 is heated to a temperature suitable for transferring the transfer foil 5b. The other transfer roller 93, for example, the upper transfer roller 93 shown in the figure, is assumed to be a driven roller that is rotated by the rotation of the lower transfer roller 93. The transfer roller 93 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, elastomer, or silicon. Also, the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 93 is cylindrical.

[0064] In the example shown in the figure, a guide roller 96 for defining the transfer path of the transfer film F is arranged between the upper transfer roller 93 as a driven roller and the transfer film roll R1, and a guide roller 97 for defining the transfer path of the transfer film F is arranged between the upper transfer roller 93 and the film take-up roller 94.

[0065] In addition, the transfer process using the transfer device 9 includes a step of separately supplying the fastener chain of the semi-finished product and the transfer film F toward between a pair of transfer rollers 93, 93 (supply step), and a step of overlapping the fastener chain and the transfer film F with the surface on the recess 53a side of the fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) facing the transfer foil 5b of the transfer film F and passing them between the pair of transfer rollers 93 to transfer the transfer foil 5b of the transfer film F to the surface (upper surface) on the recess 53a side of the element body 5a (this step), and a step of separately winding up the fastener chain and the transfer film F (winding-up step), which are performed simultaneously.

[0066] In the supply step, first, the film winding roller 94 and the stringer winding roller 95 for the film are driven to rotate them in one direction, and a drive device (not shown) is driven to rotate one of the pair of transfer rollers 93, 93 in one direction and heat it. Then, in the supply step, the transfer film F is drawn out from the transfer film roll R1, and the semi-finished fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) is drawn out from the stringer roll R2 and goes toward the pair of transfer rollers 93. Then, the surface on the recess 53a side (upper surface) of the semi-finished fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) and the surface (the surface of the adhesive layer) of the transfer film F are supplied toward the pair of transfer rollers 93 so as to face each other.

[0067] The details of this process are as follows. The semi-finished fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) and the transfer film F overlap while being sandwiched between a pair of transfer rollers 93, and heat is applied from the heated transfer rollers 93 between the pair of transfer rollers 93, so that the transfer foil 5b is transferred to the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c on the upper surface of the element body 5a. Only the portion of the transfer foil 5b transferred to the element body 5a is removed from the transfer film F. Then, the fastener element 5 is completed by the transfer foil 5b and the element body 5a, and the completion of the fastener element 5 completes the fastener stringer 2, and thus the fastener chain. Incidentally, since the outer peripheral surface of the transfer roller 93 has elasticity, the transfer roller 93 elastically deforms so as to be pressed against the surfaces (upper surfaces) of the outer edge portion 53c and the concave portion 53a via the transfer film F, whereby the transfer foil 5b is transferred to the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c, and the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c are covered with the transfer foil 5b. On the other hand, the transfer film F does not contact the outwardly inclined portion 53b, and the resin of the element body 5a is exposed on the outwardly inclined portion 53b.

[0068] In the winding process, the completed fastener chain (fastener stringer 2) is wound around the stringer winding roller 95, and the remaining transfer film F from which the transferred portion of the transfer foil 5b has disappeared is wound around the film winding roller 94.

[0069] The manufacturing method of the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment described above is such that, due to the shape of the upper surface of the body portion 51 in which the element body 5a includes the concave portion 53a, the outer edge portion 53c, and the outer inclined portion 53b, when the fastener stringer 2 and the transfer film F are sandwiched between the pair of transfer rollers 93, the transfer film F is pressed against the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c, and the transfer film F is made to float from the outer inclined portion 53b. Therefore, the transfer foil 5b of the transfer film F is transferred to the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c, and the outer inclined portion 53b is maintained in an exposed state. And by the manufacturing method of the fastener stringer 2 of the present embodiment, the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment and the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment are formed. Incidentally, the fastener element 5 and the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment are part of the slide fastener 1 of the first embodiment described above.

[0070] The fastener element 5 of the first embodiment includes not only the concave portion 53a but also the outer inclined portion 53b on the upper surface of the body portion 51 of the element body 5a. Since the outer inclined portion 53b descends as it goes outward with respect to the concave portion 53a, for example, compared with a fastener element in which the portion corresponding to the outer inclined portion 53b is a plane at the same height as the upper end of the concave portion 53a, it is difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be transferred to the outer inclined portion 53b. As a result, it becomes easier to form on the upper surface of the body portion 51 the portion where the transfer foil 5b is transferred and the portion where the resin of the element body 5a is exposed. Further, the fastener element 5 exhibits a design property that the portion where the transfer foil 5b is transferred and the portion where the resin of the element body 5a is exposed can be more clearly distinguished due to the synergistic effect of not only the difference in the presence or absence of the transfer foil 5b but also the difference in the shape between the concave portion 53a and the outer inclined portion 53b.

[0071] Moreover, since the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment includes an outer edge portion 53c formed along the outer periphery of the recess 53a between the recess 53a and the outer inclined portion 53b, the outer edge portion 53c is disposed on the outer side of the region where the transfer foil 5b is transferred. For example, compared with a fastener element without the outer edge portion 53c, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be transferred to the outer inclined portion 53b. As a result, it becomes easier to form on the upper surface of the body portion 51 the portion where the transfer foil 5b is transferred and the portion where the element body 5a is exposed. Moreover, since the outer edge portion 53c is at the highest position in the body portion 51 (at a position higher than the recess 53a and the outer inclined portion 53b), the transfer foil 5b is surely transferred to the outer edge portion 53c. Note that since the transfer foil 5b on the recess 53a has a recess in the recess 53a, it becomes difficult to contact the slider 3 and is difficult to peel off.

[0072] Also, since the outer edge portion 53c of the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment is annular, for example, compared with a fastener element having a non-annular outer edge portion 53c, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be formed on the outer inclined portion 53b.

[0073] Further, the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment is provided with a recess slope 53f in the recess 53a, and the inclination angle θ3 of the outer inclined portion 53b is made larger than the inclination angle θ2 of the recess slope 53f with respect to a reference plane L parallel to the tape insertion groove 53s. Therefore, for example, compared with a fastener element in which the inclination angle of the outer inclined portion 53b with respect to the reference plane L is equal to or less than the inclination angle of the recess slope 53f, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be transferred to the outer inclined portion 53b.

[0074] Moreover, since the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment includes a flat recess bottom surface 53e in the recess 53a at a position adjacent to the recess slope 53f, for example, compared with a fastener element without the recess bottom surface 53e, it becomes difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be transferred to the outer inclined portion 53b.

[0075] In addition, the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment includes a guide surface 53G on the body portion 51, and the outwardly inclined portion 53b is inclined with respect to the guide surface 53G and is arranged adjacent to each other. Therefore, the outwardly inclined portion 53b is arranged as a distinct portion different from the guide surface 53G, and thus exhibits a unique design property.

[0076] Also, in the fastener stringer 2 of the first embodiment, the element body 5a is made of a transparent color or the same color as the tape 4, and the transfer foil 5b is made of a color different from the element body 5a. As a result, the outwardly inclined portion 53b has an appearance that blends in with the tape 4, and as a result, the transfer foil 5b stands out, exhibiting a unique design property.

[0077] The fastener element of the present invention is not limited to the fastener element 5 of the first embodiment, and may be as shown in FIGS. 7(A) to 7(E).

[0078] For example, as shown in FIG. 7(A), the fastener element 5 of the second embodiment forms the upper surface of the body portion 51 in a rectangular shape as in the first embodiment, and is different from the first embodiment in that the outwardly inclined portion 53b is formed in a concave curved surface (a concave curved surface with respect to a plane inclined in the vertical direction). Otherwise, it is the same as the first embodiment. Incidentally, the outwardly inclined portion 53b is arranged at the four corners of the upper surface of the rectangular body portion 51 in plan view as in the first embodiment. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 7(A) corresponds to FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

[0079] The curved surface as the outwardly inclined portion 53b is a curved surface in which an arc-shaped concave shape is continuous in the circumferential direction. More specifically, on the premise of viewing the fastener element 5 in plan view, the outwardly inclined portion 53b is in contact with one side of the polygonal shape of the outer edge portion 53c. Assuming that the fastener element 5 is cut by the perpendicular bisector of the one side, the cross-sectional shape of the outwardly inclined portion 53b is an arc-shaped concave shape. In the fastener element 5 of the second embodiment, the outwardly inclined portion 53b is not a slanted plane as in the first embodiment, but a curved surface in the form of an arc-shaped concave shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction. Therefore, compared with the fastener element of the first embodiment, it is more difficult for the transfer foil 5b to be transferred to the outwardly inclined portion 53b.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 7(B), in the fastener element 5 of the third embodiment, the outer edge portion 53c is arranged in a shape that is separated from the center side of the rectangle with respect to the four rectangular sides on the upper surface of the body portion 51. The outwardly inclined portion 53b is formed not only at the four corners of the upper surface of the body portion 51 but also at the middle portions of each side of the rectangular shape of the body portion 51, which is different from the first embodiment. Otherwise, it is the same as the first embodiment. Note that eight outwardly inclined portions 53b are formed on the upper surface of the body portion 51.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 7(C), in the fastener element 5 of the fourth embodiment, the outer shapes of the concave portion 53a and the outer edge portion 53c are formed in a circular shape, and the concave portion 53a is composed only of the concave slope 53f, which is different from the first embodiment. Otherwise, it is the same as the first embodiment.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7(D), the concave portion 53a (concave slope 53f) may be in the shape of a concave surface that is concave like a part of a spherical surface, or as shown in FIG. 7(E), it may be in the shape of a conical surface that is inclined at an inclination angle θ2 with respect to the reference plane L. The cross-sectional views of FIGS. 7(D) and 7(E) correspond to the drawing of FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be appropriately changed within the scope not departing from the gist thereof. For example, although the body portion 51 and the body main body 53 are rectangular in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and they may be a parallelogram, a rectangle, a shape in which at least one side of a rectangle or a parallelogram is arc-shaped, a triangle, a star shape, a heart shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like. Also, the method for manufacturing a fastener stringer includes a stringer forming step, a chain forming step (a step of forming a fastener chain by engaging a pair of fastener stringers 2 with fastener elements 5), and a transfer step (a transfer step for the fastener chain) in the above embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may also include a stringer forming step and a transfer step (a transfer step for a single fastener stringer 2) without a chain forming step.

Explanation of Signs

[0084] 1 Slide fastener 2 Fastener stringer 3 Slider 31 Slider body 32 Pull tab 33 Wing plate 34 Flange 35 Pull tab attachment part 36 Element passage 37 Tape passage 4 Tape 4a Core part 4b Tape main body part 5L Element row 5 Fastener element 5a Element body 5b Transfer foil 51 Body part 52 Engaging part 52a Head part 52b Head 53 Body part main body 53a Recess 53b Outer inclined part θ3 Inclination angle 53c Outer edge part 53e Recess bottom surface 53f Recess inclined surface θ2 Inclination angle 53G Guide surface θ1 Inclination angle 53s Tape insertion groove 54 Body part extension L Reference plane F Transfer Film R1 Transfer Film Roll R2 Stringer Roll 9 Transfer Device 91, 92 Winding Roller 93 Transfer Roller 94 Film Take-up Roller 95 Stringer Take-up Roller 96, 97 Guide Roller

Claims

1. It includes a resin element body (5a) and a transfer foil (5b) transferred onto the element body (5a). The element body (5a) includes a body portion (51) fixed to the side edge of a tape (4) with the vertical direction as the thickness direction, and an engaging portion (52) that protrudes from the body portion (51) and engages with the opposing element body (5a). On the upper surface of the body portion (51), there are a recessed portion (53a) and at least one outer inclined portion (53b) that descends as it goes outward with respect to the recessed portion (53a). The recessed portion (53a) is covered by the transfer foil (5b). The outer inclined portion (53b) is exposed. The body portion (51) has a tape insertion groove (53s) into which the tape (4) is inserted on the side surface opposite to the engaging portion (52) among its side surfaces. The outer inclined portion (53b) is a plane inclined in the vertical direction with respect to a reference plane (L) parallel to the tape insertion groove (53s), and is characterized by a fastener element (5).

2. The fastener element (5) according to Claim 1, wherein the inclination angle (θ3) of the outer inclined portion (53b) is in the range of 30 degrees to 70 degrees with respect to the reference plane (L).

3. The body portion (51) has an outer edge portion (53c) formed along the outer periphery of the recessed portion (53a) between the recessed portion (53a) and the outer inclined portion (53b) on its upper surface. The fastener element (5) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the recessed portion (53a) and the outer edge portion (53c) are covered by the continuous transfer foil (5b).

4. The fastener element (5) according to Claim 3, wherein the outer edge portion (53c) is annular.

5. The body portion (51) has an outer edge portion (53c) formed along the outer periphery of the recessed portion (53a) between the recessed portion (53a) and the outer inclined portion (53b) on its upper surface. The concave portion (53a) includes a concave slope (53f) that descends as it moves away from the outer edge portion (53c). The fastener element (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inclination angle (θ3) of the outwardly inclined portion (53b) is larger than the inclination angle (θ2) of the concave slope (53f) with respect to the reference plane (L).

6. The fastener element (5) according to claim 5, wherein the concave portion (53a) includes a flat concave bottom surface (53e) at a position adjacent to the concave slope (53f).

7. The body portion (51) includes a guide surface (53G) for guiding the flange (34) of the slider (3) on the surface of the side thereof on the tape insertion groove (53s) side. The guide surface (53G) extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape (4). The fastener element (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the outwardly inclined portion (53b) is inclined with respect to the guide surface (53G) and is arranged adjacent thereto.

8. A fastener stringer (2) comprising a plurality of the fastener elements (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and the tape (4) to which the plurality of the fastener elements (5) are fixed along the side edge portion.

9. The fastener stringer (2) according to claim 8, wherein the element body (5a) is transparent or the same color as the tape (4), and the transfer foil (5b) is a different color from the element body (5a).

10. A fastener stringer (2) comprising the fastener element (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and the tape (4) to which a plurality of said fastener elements (5) are fixed along the side edges, wherein the fastener stringer (2) is a single fastener stringer (2) or a pair of fastener stringers (2) in which the fastener elements (5) are engaged. In the method for manufacturing a fastener stringer (2), A stringer forming step of fixing the element body (5a) to the tape (4) by injection molding to form the fastener stringer (2), A transfer step in which the single fastener stringer (2) and the transfer film (F) being conveyed to each other, or a pair of fastener stringers (2) in an engaged state and the transfer film (F) being conveyed to each other are passed between a pair of transfer rollers (93) while being sandwiched in the thickness direction of the tape (4), whereby the transfer rollers (93) are elastically deformed, the transfer film (F) is in a state of being floated with respect to the outer inclined portion (53b) while being pressed against the concave portion (53a) of the body portion (51), the transfer foil (5b) of the transfer film (F) is transferred to the concave portion (53a), and the outer inclined portion (53b) is maintained in an exposed state. A method for manufacturing a fastener stringer (2), characterized by comprising the above steps.

Images