Stop for slide fastener

Abstract

A stop according to the present invention is fixed to a string member 3. The stop comprises a guide body part 60 that guides a slider 2 back and forth, and a stop body part 50 that stops forward movement of the slider. The guide body part comprises passing grooves 61, 65 on an upper surface or a lower surface. The passing grooves enable a flange 26 of the slider to pass in the width direction when the slider is attached to an element row 4. The stop body part comprises a stopper part 5c that collides with the slider on an upper surface or a lower surface. The stop has, formed on the inside in the width direction, three or more teeth t1 to t3 that mesh with a conveying gear (G) when sewing a fabric S, whereby the front and rear lengths are increased, the stopper part is made to collide easily with the slider on a front surface, and durability is improved. A sewing thread groove 5h passing through in the width direction is provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of a boundary part between the guide body part and the stop body part. The stop can be sewn to the fabric through the sewing thread groove.

Description

Slide fastener stopper

[0001] The present invention relates to a stopper for a slide fastener that restricts the range of movement of a slider relative to an element row.

[0002] A conventional slide fastener stopper is known that includes a fixed portion fixed to a string member extending from an element row, an interlocking portion protruding from the fixed portion toward the other element row, a fin portion protruding from the fixed portion on the opposite side of the interlocking portion, and a stopper portion protruding from the upper surface of the interlocking portion (Patent Document 1). When sewing fabric along the element row, the teeth of a conveying gear interlock with the interlocking portion of the element row and the stopper, and the element row is conveyed. A through hole for sewing is formed in the fin portion. During conveyance, a sewing thread is passed through the through hole, and the fabric is sewn to the fin portion. Patent Document 1 also discloses two types of stoppers with different interlocking portion configurations. The interlocking portion of one type of stopper has one tooth that interlocks with the conveying gear. The interlocking portion of the other type of stopper has two teeth that interlock with the conveying gear.

[0003] A groove is formed in the upper surface of the fixing part of the fastener, penetrating in the width direction. When the flange of the slider is passed through this groove from the inside to the outside in the width direction, the slider is attached to the element row.

[0004] International Publication No. 2023 / 058140

[0005] The slider can be attached to this fastener after sewing the fabric to the element row and fastener. The fastener can be attached to the fabric by sewing the fin portion, but it is desirable to be able to sew the fastener to the fabric even if there is no fin portion.

[0006] The element row and the fastener are connected by a string member. When the slider is moved toward the fastener, even if the element row enters the slider horizontally, the string member is flexible, so the fastener may become tilted relative to the horizontal. If the stopper portion of the fastener collides with the slider while tilted relative to the horizontal, the stopper portion will be damaged, reducing the durability of the fastener.

[0007] The present invention was created in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to enable a fastener to be sewn to a fabric, a slider to be attached to the fastener after sewing, and to improve the durability of the fastener against collision with the slider.

[0008] The slide fastener stopper of the present invention is fixed to a string member extending in the front-rear direction while penetrating the element row, restricts the forward movement of the slider, and when the slider is attached to the element row, can pass from the inside to the outside in the width direction through a pair of flanges facing each other above and below at the widthwise edge of the slider. The slide fastener stopper of the present invention comprises a stopper main body portion and a guide main body portion. The guide main body portion is located forward with respect to the element row and guides the slider so that it can move forward and backward. The guide main body portion has a passage groove on at least one of its upper and lower surfaces that is recessed and penetrates the slider in the width direction, allowing the flange to pass through. The stopper main body portion is located forward with respect to the guide main body portion and stops the slider from moving forward. The stopper main body portion has a stopper portion that protrudes from at least one of its upper and lower surfaces and hits the slider. The stopper main body portion and the guide main body portion are integral, and are fixed to the string member at the outer side in the width direction. The fastener main body and the guide main body cooperate to form three or more teeth on the inside in the width direction that mesh with a conveying gear that conveys the element row when sewing fabric along the element row. A sewing thread groove is provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces at the boundary between the guide main body and the fastener main body. The weft groove is recessed so as to penetrate the boundary in the width direction and allows the sewing thread to pass through.

[0009] In order to firmly attach the fastener to the fabric, it is desirable to provide a sewing groove on both the upper and lower surfaces of the boundary between the guide body and the fastener body.

[0010] In order to make it easier to insert the flange into the passing groove from the inside of the fastener in the width direction and to make it more difficult for the flange to enter the passing groove from the outside of the fastener in the width direction, it is desirable to do the following. The passing groove has front and rear wall surfaces that face each other in the front and rear directions, and a bottom wall surface connecting the front and rear wall surfaces. The front wall surface has a positive slope that inclines relative to the width direction, facing rearward as it moves from the inside of the width direction to the outside of the width direction. The rear wall surface inclines relative to the width direction, facing rearward as it moves from the inside of the width direction to the outside of the width direction. The distance in the front-to-rear direction between the positive slope and the rear wall surface narrows as it moves from the inside of the width direction to the outside of the width direction. The acute angle formed between a reference line parallel to the width direction and the rear wall surface is smaller than the acute angle formed between the reference line and the positive slope and is smaller than 45 degrees.

[0011] The acute angle formed between the reference line and the positive slope may or may not be the same at any position on the positive slope. However, to make it easier to insert the flange into the passage groove from the inside in the width direction of the fastener, it is desirable to do as follows: The positive slope has a first slope located on the inside in the width direction and a second slope located on the outside in the width direction relative to the first slope. The acute angle formed between the reference line and the first slope is larger than the acute angle formed between the reference line and the second slope.

[0012] The front wall surface may or may not be formed only with a positive slope. However, to make it difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside in the width direction of the fastener, it is preferable that the front wall surface has, in addition to the positive slope, a reverse slope that slopes forward in the width direction as it moves from the positive slope to the outside in the width direction.

[0013] The reverse slope may be linear or not, but to make it difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside in the width direction of the fastener, it is desirable to make the following: The inside part of the reverse slope in the width direction is recessed in an arc shape.

[0014] The thickness of the passage groove of the guide body in the vertical direction may or may not be constant over the entire width, but in order to make it easier to insert the flange into the passage groove from the inside of the stopper in the width direction and to make it difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside of the stopper in the width direction, it is desirable to do the following: The thickness of the guide body in the vertical direction increases from the inside of the width direction to the outside of the width direction within the range of the passage groove.

[0015] The bottom wall surface may be flat or not, but in order to make it difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside in the width direction of the fastener, it is desirable to provide the bottom wall surface with a raised portion at the outer end in the width direction.

[0016] The slide fastener stopper of the present invention can be sewn to fabric by passing a sewing thread through the sewing thread groove. Furthermore, the passage groove allows the slider to be attached to the stopper after sewing the fabric to the stopper. Furthermore, since the stopper has three or more teeth formed on its inner side in the width direction, the overall length in the front-to-rear direction is longer than, for example, a stopper with two teeth. As a result, the stopper of the present invention collides with the slider in a state where the stopper is nearly horizontal, compared to a stopper with two teeth, thereby improving the durability of the stopper.

[0017] The fastener of the present invention has sewing grooves on both the upper and lower surfaces at the boundary between the guide body and the fastener body, so that it can be sewn firmly to the fabric.

[0018] In the fastener of the present invention, when the distance in the front-to-rear direction between the positive slope and the rear wall surface narrows from the inside to the outside in the width direction, the flange can be easily inserted into the passing groove from the inside in the width direction and is difficult to enter from the outside in the width direction. As a result, the slider is easily attached to the element row and is unlikely to be accidentally detached. Moreover, in the fastener of the present invention, when the acute angle formed between the reference line and the rear wall surface is smaller than the acute angle formed between the reference line and the positive slope and is smaller than 45 degrees, the distance in the front-to-rear direction between the positive slope and the rear wall surface becomes wider, making it easier to insert the flange into the passing groove from the inside in the width direction of the fastener and easier to attach the slider, compared to, for example, a fastener in which the acute angle formed between the reference line and the rear wall surface is 45 degrees or more.

[0019] In the fastener of the present invention, when the acute angle formed between the reference line and the first inclined surface is larger than the acute angle formed between the reference line and the second inclined surface, it becomes easier to insert the flange into the passage groove from the inside in the width direction of the fastener, making it easier to attach the slider.

[0020] In the stopper of the present invention, when the front wall surface has a reverse slope in addition to the normal slope, even if the front end of the flange faces toward the passing groove when the slider is moved forward from the element row, the flange will be guided by the reverse slope, making it difficult for the flange to enter the passing groove from the outside in the width direction of the stopper.

[0021] In the fastener of the present invention, when the inner portion of the reverse slope in the width direction is concave in an arc shape, it is more difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside of the fastener in the width direction than when the inner portion is linear, for example.

[0022] In the stopper of the present invention, when the thickness of the guide main body portion in the vertical direction increases from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction within the range of the passing groove, the flange can be more easily inserted into the passing groove from the inside in the width direction and less easily penetrated from the outside in the width direction compared to, for example, a stopper in which the thickness of the guide main body portion in the vertical direction is the same over the entire width direction range within the range of the passing groove.

[0023] When the stopper of the present invention has a bottom wall surface provided with a raised portion at the outer end in the width direction, it becomes more difficult for the flange to enter the passage groove from the outside in the width direction of the stopper compared to, for example, a stopper without a raised portion.

[0024] 1 is a plan view showing a slide fastener of a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stopper as seen obliquely from above. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stopper as seen obliquely from below. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stopper. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the stopper. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 4. FIGs. (A) to (C) are a plan view, a front view, and a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. (B). FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the slider has collided with the stopper. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the slider has collided with the reverse-opening device. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a fabric is attached to a fastener stringer. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a conveying gear conveys the fastener stringer. FIGs. (A) and (B) are explanatory views showing a procedure for attaching a rear slider to an element row. FIGs. (A) and (B) are explanatory views showing a procedure for attaching a front slider to an element row. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing that the front slider is difficult to come off from the stopper.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1 , the slide fastener of the first embodiment includes a pair of opposing fastener stringers 1 and a pair of sliders 2 that open and close the pair of fastener stringers 1 and are movable along the pair of fastener stringers 1 .

[0026] Hereinafter, directions are defined as follows. The "left-right direction" refers to the direction in which a pair of fastener stringers 1 face each other. The "left direction" refers to the left direction in FIG. 1. The "right direction" refers to the right direction in FIG. 1. The "left-right direction" is also referred to as the "width direction." The "inner side in the width direction," when describing a pair of fastener stringers 1, refers to the side of one fastener stringer 1 relative to a portion of the other fastener stringer 1. The "outer side in the width direction," when describing a pair of fastener stringers 1, refers to the side opposite to a portion of one fastener stringer 1 relative to the other fastener stringer 1. The "front-rear direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the left-right direction and the direction in which the fastener stringer 1 extends, and is also referred to as the "longitudinal direction." Although the fastener stringer 1 is shown bent in FIG. 1, the "front-rear direction" refers to the direction in which the fastener stringer 1 extends when it is straight (linear direction). The "front direction" refers to the direction in which the front slider 2 closes the pair of fastener stringers 1. The "rear direction" is the direction in which the front slider 2 opens the pair of fastener stringers 1. In FIG. 1, the "front direction" is the upward direction, and the "rear direction" is the downward direction. The "up-down direction" is the direction perpendicular 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 paper surface of FIG. 1, i.e., the direction facing the front side among the directions perpendicular 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 paper surface of FIG. 1.

[0027] The pair of fastener stringers 1 are composed of a pair of string members 3 extending in the front-to-rear direction and aligned laterally, and a plurality of parts fixed by injection molding to the pair of string members 3. In detail, the right fastener stringer 1 is composed of the right string member 3, the right element row 4, a stopper 5 positioned in front of the right element row 4, and a box pin 7 positioned in the rear of the right element row 4. The left fastener stringer 1 is composed of the left string member 3, the left element row 4, a plurality of dummy elements 8 positioned in front of the left element row 4, and an insert pin 9 positioned in the rear of the left element row 4. The insert pin 9 and the box pin 7 form one reverse opening device.

[0028] The pair of string members 3 each extend in the front-rear direction. The right string member 3 penetrates the stopper 5, the right element row 4, and the box pin 7 in the front-rear direction. The left string member 3 penetrates the multiple dummy elements 8, the left element row 4, and the insert pin 9 in the front-rear direction. The pair of string members 3 have the same configuration. The string members 3 are flexible. Therefore, the string members 3 deform in the unfixed portions. The string member 3 is, for example, a monofilament, a twisted yarn, or a string body. The string body is formed by wrapping a core yarn made of multiple pulled and aligned multifilaments in a bag knitted with multiple knitting yarns.

[0029] The element row 4 is composed of a plurality of elements 40 lined up in a row in the front-rear direction. In a pair of element rows 4, the plurality of elements 40 lined up in a row in the front-rear direction are lined up in two rows in the width direction. The plurality of elements 40 lined up in a row in the front-rear direction are fixed to the string member 3 with a gap between them in the front and rear. In the element row 4, the gap between adjacent elements 40 in the front and rear is the same. As shown in Figures 11 and 12, when sewing the fabric S to the fastener stringer 1, the fastener stringer 1 is transported by a transport gear G. The teeth G1 of the transport gear G mesh with the inner side of the fastener stringer 1 in the width direction. The portion of the inner side of the fastener stringer 1 in the width direction that meshes with the transport gear G is called a tooth. The inner side of the element 40 in the width direction is called a meshing portion 45 and also functions as a tooth.

[0030] 2 to 5, the element 40 includes a trunk portion 41 through which the string member 3 passes in the front-rear direction, and an interlocking portion 45 that interlocks with the element 40 of the opposing element row 4. When the pair of element rows 4 is closed, the interlocking portions 45 of the opposing element rows 4 interlock with each other, making the pair of element rows 4 inseparable in the width direction and the up-down direction.

[0031] The interlocking portion 45 protrudes inward in the width direction relative to the body portion 41. In this embodiment, the shape of the interlocking portion 45 is symmetrical from front to back, with an upper portion 46 of the interlocking portion 45 and a lower portion 47 of the interlocking portion 45 being different. The upper portion 46 of the interlocking portion 45 is plate-shaped with its thickness in the up-down direction and has a triangular shape when viewed from above. The front surface of the upper portion 46 of the interlocking portion 45 is inclined in the left-right direction, pointing rearward as it moves inward in the width direction. The rear surface of the upper portion 46 of the interlocking portion 45 is inclined in the left-right direction, pointing forward as it moves inward in the width direction.

[0032] The lower portion 47 of the interlocking portion 45 includes a neck portion 48 that protrudes inward in the width direction from the body portion 41, and a head portion 49 that protrudes inward in the width direction relative to the neck portion 48 and protrudes forward and backward. When viewed from above, the neck portion 48 is hidden by the upper portion of the interlocking portion 45 and cannot be seen. When viewed from above, the head portion 49 protrudes forward and backward relative to the upper portion of the interlocking portion 45. When viewed from below, the front and rear surfaces of the neck portion 48 are symmetrically concave in semicircular shapes, and the front and rear surfaces of the head portion 49 are symmetrically bulging in semicircular shapes.

[0033] The string member 3 passes through the center of the front and rear surfaces of the body 41. The top and bottom surfaces of the body 41 guide upper blades 22 and lower blades 23 of the slider 2, which will be described later, and the outer side surfaces in the width direction of the body 41 guide flanges 26 of the slider 2, which will be described later. A groove 41s for accommodating the edge of the fabric S is formed on the outer side surfaces in the width direction of the body 41, penetrating in the front-to-rear direction. The groove 41s is formed in the middle part of the body 41 in the up-down direction.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1 , the pair of sliders 2 have the same configuration except for their orientation. The opening directions of the pair of fastener stringers 1 are opposite for the front slider 2 and the rear slider 2. When the pair of sliders 2 are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction and the insert pin 9 and box pin 7 are housed, the insert pin 9 can be removed from the pair of sliders 2. In other words, the insert pin 9 is the rod member that can be inserted and removed from the pair of sliders 2. When the insert pin 9 can be inserted and removed, the front and rear sliders 2 are positioned at the rear limit positions of their movement ranges. Hereinafter, the front slider 2 will be described, and a description of the rear slider 2 will be omitted. The front slider 2 includes a slider body 21 that opens and closes the pair of element rows 4 and can move back and forth along the pair of element rows 4, and a pull tab 29 connected to the slider body 21.

[0035] 8, the slider body 21 includes an upper blade 22 and a lower blade 23 that face each other and are spaced apart in the vertical direction, a connecting post 24 that connects the opposing front portions of the upper blade 22 and the lower blade 23 at their left-right intermediate portions and is sandwiched between a pair of element rows 4, a pull-tab attachment portion 25 for attaching a pull tab 29, and flanges 26 that protrude from the left and right edges of the upper blade 22 and the lower blade 23 in a direction narrowing the opposing vertical gap between the upper blade 22 and the lower blade 23. In the drawing, the pull-tab attachment portion 25 protrudes from above the upper blade 22.

[0036] The lower surface of the upper blade 22 and the upper surface of the lower blade 23 face each other vertically. A pair of grooves 23a are recessed into the upper surface of the lower blade 23. The pair of grooves 23a are formed on the left and right sides of the connecting post 24. The grooves 23a are formed in the front portion of the upper surface of the lower blade 23 and extend rearward from the front end of the lower blade 23. The rear portion of the upper surface of the lower blade 23 is stepped higher than the grooves 23a. The width of the grooves 23a narrows toward the rear. The grooves 23a of the front slider 2 facilitate the rear portion of the stopper 5 entering the interior of the slider 2. One of the grooves 23a of the rear slider 2 guides a protrusion 77 (described later) of the box pin 7 (see FIG. 10). The protrusion 77 collides with the front surface of one of the grooves 23a. The other groove 23a does not guide the protrusion 77.

[0037] The flange 26 includes a parallel piece portion 26a that is parallel in the front-to-rear direction, and an inclined piece portion 26b that continues forward from the parallel piece portion 26a and is inclined relative to the front-to-rear direction. The inclined piece portion 26b is located outward in the width direction relative to the connecting post 24 and is inclined relative to the front-to-rear direction, moving more outward in the width direction as it moves forward. The left and right flanges 26 engage the element 40 on the insert pin 9 side with the element 40 on the box pin 7 side between the left and right parallel piece portions 26a, and separate the element 40 on the insert pin 9 side from the element 40 on the box pin 7 side between the left and right inclined piece portions 26b and the connecting post 24.

[0038] A pair of element rows 4 is passed through the inside of the slider body 21. The fabric S is passed between the upper and lower flanges 26. When the front slider 2 collides with the stopper 5, it has reached the front limit position of its movement range.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1 and 10, the insert pin 9 comprises a rod body 90 fixed to the string member 3, a plurality of teeth 91 to 94 extending inward in the width direction from the rod body 90, and a fin 95 extending outward in the width direction from the rod body 90.

[0040] Like the insert pin 9, the box pin 7 also comprises a rod body 70 fixed to the string member 3, a fin 75 extending outward in the width direction from the rod body 70, and a plurality of teeth 71 to 73 extending inward in the width direction from the rod body 70. The box pin 7 also comprises a protrusion 77 protruding from the underside of the rod body 70.

[0041] The protrusion 77 protrudes from the underside of the rod body 70 rearward of the fin 75. As shown in Figure 10, the protrusion 77 is guided by the recessed groove 23a of the rear slider 2 and collides with the front surface of the recessed groove 23a.

[0042] The rod body 90 of the insert pin 9 and the rod body 70 of the box pin 7 both extend in the front-to-rear direction. The string member 3 passes through the front and rear surfaces of the rod body 90 of the insert pin 9 and the front and rear surfaces of the rod body 70 of the box pin 7, respectively. The upper and lower surfaces of the rod body 90 of the insert pin 9 and the upper and lower surfaces of the rod body 70 of the box pin 7 guide the lower surfaces of the upper wing plates 22 and the upper surfaces of the lower wing plates 23, respectively. The outer side surfaces in the width direction of the rod body 90 of the insert pin 9 and the outer side surfaces in the width direction of the rod body 70 of the box pin 7 guide the flanges 26, respectively.

[0043] The fin 95 of the insert pin 9 protrudes from the vertical middle of the rod body 90. A through hole 95a is formed in the fin 95, penetrating vertically, at a position spaced apart on the outside in the width direction relative to the rod body 90. Fabric S is placed on the fin 95, and in this state, sewing thread is passed through the through hole 95a from above the fabric S, and the fabric S is sewn to the fin 95. The fin 75 of the box pin 7 also protrudes from the vertical middle of the rod body 70. A through hole 75a is also formed in the fin 75 of the box pin 7.

[0044] When the pair of element rows 4 is closed, the insert pin 9 and the box pin 7 overlap each other vertically at their respective teeth 71 to 73 and 91 to 94. The foremost tooth 91 of the insert pin 9 meshes with the rearmost element 40 on the box pin 7 side and also overlaps the foremost tooth 71 on the box pin 7 side.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the dummy element 8 includes a dummy body portion 81 fixed to the string member 3, and teeth 85 projecting inward in the width direction from the dummy body portion 81.

[0046] The simulated trunk portion 81 is penetrated by the string member 3 in the front-rear direction and forms the outer portion of the simulated element 8 .

[0047] The teeth 85 form the inner portion of the simulative element 8. The shapes of the upper portion 85a and the lower portion 85b of the teeth 85 are different. The lower portion 85b of the teeth 85 protrudes more inward in the width direction than the upper portion 85a of the teeth 85. The upper portion 85a of the teeth 85 is triangular when viewed from above. The front surface of the upper portion 85a of the teeth 85 is inclined with respect to the left and right direction, tilting rearward as it moves inward in the width direction. The rear surface of the upper portion 85a of the teeth 85 is inclined with respect to the left and right direction, tilting forward as it moves inward in the width direction. The amount by which the upper portion 85a of the teeth 85 protrudes inward in the width direction is shorter than the amount by which the upper portion 46 of the meshing portion 45 protrudes inward in the width direction. The upper portion 85a of the teeth 85 has a shape that is obtained by shrinking the upper portion 46 of the meshing portion 45 in the width direction.

[0048] 2 to 7 and 9, the stopper 5 comprises a stopper main body 50 which forms the front part of the stopper 5 and stops the front slider 2 from moving forward, and a guide main body 60 which forms the rear part of the stopper 5 and guides the front slider 2 so that it can move back and forth. The stopper main body 50 and the guide main body 60 are integrally formed in the stopper 5. Because the stopper main body 50 and the guide main body 60 are molded integrally, the string member 3 is not exposed between the stopper main body 50 and the guide main body 60 on the upper and lower surfaces of the stopper 5, and the stopper main body 50 and the guide main body 60 are connected to each other.

[0049] The guide body 60 is located in front of the element row 4. The upper and lower surfaces of the guide body 60 guide the lower surfaces of the upper blades 22 and the upper surfaces of the lower blades 23. The outer side surfaces of the guide body 60 in the width direction guide the flange 26. The upper and lower surfaces of the guide body 60 are recessed with passage grooves 61, 65 that penetrate the width direction to allow the flange 26 to pass through.

[0050] The upper passage groove 61 has a front wall surface 62 and a rear wall surface 63 that face each other in the front-rear direction, and a bottom wall surface 64 that connects the front wall surface 62 and the rear wall surface 63 .

[0051] The front wall surface 62 includes a forward slope 62a that slopes rearward in the width direction from the inside in the width direction toward the outside in the width direction, and a reverse slope 62b that slopes forward in the width direction from the forward slope 62a toward the outside in the width direction. The forward slope 62a and the reverse slope 62b intersect at a position spaced apart on the outside in the width direction relative to the string member 3. Hereinafter, the position where the forward slope 62a and the reverse slope 62b intersect is referred to as a change point P1 because the direction of inclination changes. The change point P1 is located at the foremost point on the rear wall surface 63, i.e., forward of the foremost point P0.

[0052] The reverse slope 62b is formed between the outer end in the width direction and the change point P1. When viewed from above, an inner side 62b1 of the reverse slope 62b in the width direction is recessed in an arc shape, and an outer side 62b2 of the reverse slope 62b in the width direction is bulged in an arc shape. When recessed in an arc shape, a line segment connecting both end points of the arc is located on the passing groove 61. When bulged in an arc shape, a line segment connecting both end points of the arc is located outside the passing groove 61.

[0053] The positive slope 62a is formed between the inner edge in the width direction and the change point P1. The positive slope 62a includes a first slope 62a1 located on the inner side in the width direction and a second slope 62a2 located on the outer side in the width direction relative to the first slope 62a1. The first slope 62a1 and the second slope 62a2 intersect within the width of the string member 3 when viewed from the top-bottom direction. A straight line parallel to the width direction is defined as a reference line L. The acute angle θ1 formed between the reference line L and the first slope 62a1 is larger than the acute angle θ2 formed between the reference line L and the second slope 62a2. Both the acute angle θ1 and the acute angle θ2 are 45 degrees or greater.

[0054] The rear wall surface 63 is inclined relative to the width direction, tilting rearward from the inner side toward the outer side in the width direction. The acute angle θ3 formed between the reference line L and the rear wall surface 63 is smaller than 45 degrees and smaller than the acute angles θ1 and θ2 formed between the reference line L and the positive slope 62a. Specifically, when viewed from above, the inner side 63a of the rear wall surface 63 in the width direction is arc-shaped, expanding to narrow the groove width of the passage groove 61, while the outer side 63b of the rear wall surface 63 in the width direction is linear. The acute angle θ3 formed between the reference line L and the inner side 63a is an acute angle formed between a tangent to the arc and the reference line L. The acute angle θ3 formed between the reference line L and the inner side 63a varies depending on the point on the arc, but is smaller at all points than the acute angle θ3 formed between the reference line L and the outer side 63b. In other words, the acute angle θ3 formed between the outer side 63b and the reference line L is larger than the acute angle θ3 formed between the inner side 63a and the reference line L. In other words, the acute angle θ3 formed between the outer portion 63b and the reference line L is the maximum value of the acute angle formed between the rear wall surface 63 and the reference line L, and is smaller than the acute angle θ2 formed between the reference line L and the second inclined surface 62a2.

[0055] The distance 61W in the front-to-rear direction between the front wall surface 62 and the rear wall surface 63 is the groove width 61W of the passage groove 61. The groove width 61W narrows from the inside to the outside in the width direction within the range of the positive slope 62a. The groove width 61W reaches its minimum value at the change point P1. The minimum value of the groove width 61W is greater than the width of the flange 26. The groove width 61W widens from the inside to the outside in the width direction within the range of the reverse slope 62b.

[0056] The bottom wall surface 64 includes an ascending surface 64a that ascends from the inside in the width direction toward the outside in the width direction, and a raised portion 64b that rises from the ascending surface 64a at a position adjacent to the outside in the width direction relative to the ascending surface 64a. The raised portion 64b rises at an angle greater than the angle at which the ascending surface 64a ascends relative to the left-right direction (horizontal direction). The raised portion 64b rises in a stepped manner relative to the ascending surface 64a. The raised portion 64b is located at the outer end of the bottom wall surface 64 in the width direction. The lower passage groove 65 will be described later.

[0057] The stopper main body 50 and the guide main body 60 cooperate to form a fixed portion 5a that is fixed to the string member 3, a tooth row 5b that protrudes inward in the width direction from the fixed portion 5a, and a stopper portion 5c that hits the slider 2. The fixed portion 5a is located on the outer side in the width direction of the stopper 5. The tooth row 5b is located on the inner side in the width direction of the stopper 5. The tooth row 5b is made up of a plurality of teeth t1 to t3 that are arranged at intervals in the front-to-rear direction. Details are as follows.

[0058] The fastener main body 50 includes a first fastening portion 5a1 located at the front of the fastening portion 5a, a first tooth t1 that protrudes inward in the width direction from the front of the first fastening portion 5a1, and a stopper portion 5c. The stopper portion 5c protrudes from the upper surface of the first tooth t1. The upper surface of the first fastening portion 5a1 is exposed outward in the width direction from the stopper portion 5c. This exposed portion is the portion that is pressed down by the sewing machine foot when sewing the fabric S. The first fastening portion 5a1 forms the outer side in the width direction of the fastener main body 50. The first tooth t1 and the stopper portion 5c cooperate to form the inner side in the width direction of the fastener main body 50.

[0059] The guide body 60 includes a second fixed portion 5a2 located rearward of the first fixed portion 5a1, and second and third teeth t2 and t3 extending inward in the width direction from the second fixed portion 5a2 at a distance in the front-to-rear direction. The second fixed portion 5a2 forms the outer side of the guide body 60 in the width direction, and the second and third teeth t2 and t3 form the inner side of the guide body 60 in the width direction.

[0060] The first fixed portion 5a1 and the second fixed portion 5a2 cooperate to form the fixed portion 5a. A groove 5s for accommodating the edge of the fabric S is formed on the outer side surface of the fixed portion 5a in the width direction, penetrating in the front-to-rear direction. The groove 5s is formed in the vertical middle portion of the fixed portion 5a. The string member 3 penetrates the first fixed portion 5a1 and the second fixed portion 5a2 in the front-to-rear direction. The first fixed portion 5a1 and the second fixed portion 5a2 are joined at the front and rear. This joint is the boundary between the first fixed portion 5a1 and the second fixed portion 5a2, and also the boundary between the fastener main body portion 50 and the guide main body portion 60. Sewing thread grooves 5h for passing a sewing thread for sewing the fabric S are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the boundary portion. The upper and lower sewing thread grooves 5h are recessed and penetrate parallel to each other in the width direction. The upper sewing thread groove 5h is located directly above the lower sewing thread groove 5h. As shown in FIG. 11, the sewing thread 11 is not only sewn to the fabric S before and after the fastener 5, but also sewn to the fabric S in a state in which the sewing thread passes through the sewing thread groove 5h in the width direction.

[0061] An inward recess 5d recessed inward in the width direction is formed on the lower surface of the tooth row 5b. The inward recess 5d is formed around the second tooth t2, extending from the rear of the first tooth t1 to the front of the third tooth t3. When a pair of element rows 4 are engaged with the pair of fastener stringers 1 with the slider 2 removed, the teeth 85 of the two simulated elements 8 are accommodated in the inward recess 5d, and the inner sides of the stopper 5 in the width direction and the teeth 85 of the simulated elements 8 overlap vertically. Incidentally, a pair of fastener stringers 1 engaged with the element row 4, with the simulated elements 8 and the stopper 5 overlapping vertically at their inner sides in the width direction, is referred to as a chain member. The slider 2 is not attached to the chain member. The front-to-rear spacing 5dW of the inward recess 5d widens toward the inside in the width direction. Therefore, when the simulated element 8 and the stopper 5 are brought relatively close to each other in the width direction, the simulated element 8 can be easily inserted into the inward recess 5d.

[0062] The rear portion of the underside of the first tooth t1 is a recess t11 that is recessed in a step shape relative to the front portion of the underside of the first tooth t1. The recess t11 is also recessed in a step shape relative to the first fixing portion 5a1. A front surface t12 of the recess t11 is inclined in the width direction, gradually increasing forward as it moves inward in the width direction.

[0063] The second tooth t2 protrudes from the front portion of the second fixing portion 5a2 toward the inner side in the width direction. The lower surface of the second tooth t2 is recessed in a step-like manner relative to the lower surface of the second fixing portion 5a2. The first tooth t1 and the second tooth t2 are rectangular when viewed from above. Two sides of the rectangular shape are substantially parallel to the front-to-rear direction, and the other two sides are the front side and the rear side. The front side is inclined relative to the width direction, leaning rearward as it moves inward in the width direction, and the rear side is inclined relative to the width direction, leaning forward as it moves inward in the width direction.

[0064] The third tooth t3 protrudes inward in the width direction from the rear portion of the second fixed portion 5a2. The rear portion of the third tooth t3 is a half-meshing portion t35 that meshes with the front portion of the meshing portion 45 of the element 40. The half-meshing portion t35 has substantially the same configuration as the rear portion of the element 40. In detail, when viewed from above, the rear surface of the upper part of the half-meshing portion t35 is inclined forward as it moves inward in the width direction. When viewed from above, the inner portion in the width direction of the rear surface of the lower part of the third tooth t3 protrudes in an arc-like shape toward the rear relative to the upper part of the third tooth t3. When viewed from below, the outer portion in the width direction of the rear surface of the lower part of the half-meshing portion t35 is recessed in an arc-like shape toward the front relative to the upper part of the half-meshing portion t35.

[0065] The front portion of the lower surface of the third tooth t3 is a recess t31 that is recessed in a step shape from the rear portion of the lower surface of the third tooth t3. The rear surface t32 of the recess t31 is inclined with respect to the width direction, gradually becoming rearward as it moves inward in the width direction.

[0066] The lower surface of the second tooth t2 and the lower surface of the recess t31 of the third tooth t3 are recessed in a stepped shape from the lower passage groove 65.

[0067] The lower passing groove 65 differs from the upper passing groove 61 in the portions of the lower surface of the second tooth t2 and the lower surface of the recess t31 of the third tooth t3, but is otherwise the same as the upper passing groove 61. The lower passing groove 65 will be briefly described using the same terms for the portions that are the same as the upper passing groove 61, and the differences will be described in detail.

[0068] The lower passage groove 65 has a front wall surface 66, a rear wall surface 67, and a bottom wall surface 68. The front wall surface 66 has a forward slope 66a and a reverse slope 66b. The forward slope 66a has a first slope 66a1 and a second slope 66a2. The acute angle θ1 formed between the reference line L and the first slope 66a1 is larger than the acute angle θ2 formed between the reference line L and the second slope 66a2. Both the acute angles θ1 and θ2 are 45 degrees or greater. An inner portion 66b1 of the reverse slope 66b in the width direction is recessed in an arc shape, and an outer portion 66b2 of the reverse slope 66b in the width direction is bulged in an arc shape.

[0069] The rear wall surface 67 includes a facing portion 67a facing the front wall surface 66 and a non-facing portion 67b not facing the front wall surface 66. The non-facing portion 67b is located on the inner side of the rear wall surface 67 in the width direction, and is located on the inner side of the front wall surface 66 in the width direction. The non-facing portion 67b has a shape that slopes forward from both ends in the width direction toward the center in the width direction, essentially a V-shape. The facing portion 67a is located on the outer side of the rear wall surface 67 in the width direction, and is inclined relative to the width direction, sloped rearward from the inner side in the width direction toward the outer side in the width direction. The facing portion 67a has the same shape as the outer side portion 63b in the width direction of the upper rear wall surface 63. The acute angle θ3 formed between the facing portion 67a and the reference line L is smaller than 45 degrees and smaller than the acute angles θ1 and θ2 formed between the reference line L and the positive slope 66a.

[0070] The lower groove width 65W narrows from the inside to the outside in the width direction within the range of the positive slope 66a. The groove width 65W reaches a minimum value at the change point P1. The minimum value of the groove width 65W is greater than the thickness of the flange 26. The groove width 65W widens from the inside to the outside in the width direction within the range of the reverse slope 66b.

[0071] The lower bottom wall surface 68 includes a descending surface 68a that descends from the inside in the width direction toward the outside in the width direction, and a raised portion 68b that rises from the descending surface 68a at a position adjacent to the outside in the width direction from the descending surface 68a. The raised portion 68b rises at an angle greater than the angle at which the descending surface 68a descends relative to the left-right direction (horizontal direction). The raised portion 68b rises in a stepped manner relative to the descending surface 68a. The lower raised portion 68b is located directly below the upper raised portion 64b.

[0072] As shown in FIG. 6 , the vertical distance between the upper bottom wall surface 64 and the lower bottom wall surface 68 is the thickness 60t of the guide main body 60 within the range of the passing grooves 61 and 65. As a result, the thickness 60t of the guide main body 60 increases from the inside to the outside in the width direction within the range of the passing groove 61. The thickness 60t of the guide main body 60 is thickest at the upper and lower protrusions 64b and 68b within the range of the passing grooves 61 and 65, and is slightly shorter than the distance between the upper and lower opposing flanges 26. The thickness 60t of the guide main body 60 is longer than the distance between the upper and lower opposing flanges 26 throughout its entire length in the front-to-rear direction, excluding the range of the passing grooves 61 and 65.

[0073] The rear slider 2 and the front slider 2 are attached in that order to the fastener stringer 1. When attaching the rear slider 2 to the fastener stringer 1, the inclined piece portion 26b and the parallel piece portion 26a of the flange 26 are passed through the upper and lower passing grooves 61 and 65 in that order, as shown in Figures 13(A) and 13(B). For most of the time that the flange 26 is passing through the passing grooves 61 and 65, the element 40 is constantly sandwiched between the connecting post 24 and the flange 26.

[0074] On the other hand, when attaching the front slider 2 to the fastener stringer 1, as shown in Figures 14(A) and (B), the parallel piece portion 26a and the inclined piece portion 26b are passed through the upper and lower passing grooves 61, 65 in that order. When starting to pass the parallel piece portion 26a through the upper and lower passing grooves 61, 65, the element 40 is outside the front slider 2, so it is easy to pass the parallel piece portion 26a through. Moreover, when passing the inclined piece portion 26b through, the element 40 is located behind the connecting post 24, so it is not sandwiched between the connecting post 24 and the flange 26. Therefore, it is easier to pass the flange 26 of the front slider 2 through the passing grooves 61, 65 than the flange 26 of the rear slider 2.

[0075] When sewing the fastener 5 of the first embodiment to the fabric S, the sewing thread is passed through the upper and lower sewing thread grooves 5h, so that the fastener 5 can be firmly sewn to the fabric S. Furthermore, because of the passage groove 61, the slider 2 can be attached from the fastener 5 after sewing the fabric S to the fastener 5. Furthermore, because of the passage groove 61, the slider 2 can also be replaced.

[0076] Furthermore, since the fastener 5 of the first embodiment has three teeth t1 to t3, its overall length in the front-to-rear direction is longer than that of a fastener 5 with two teeth. Therefore, the length of penetration of the fastener 5 into the slider 2 before the stopper portion 5c collides with the front slider 2 is longer for the fastener 5 of the first embodiment than for a fastener with two teeth, for example. Furthermore, the front slider 2 is guided by the guide body portion 60 by the length of two teeth (the length of the second tooth t2 and the third tooth t3) before colliding with the stopper portion 5c, resulting in a nearly horizontal state. As a result, the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, compared to a fastener with two teeth, collides with the stopper portion 5c in a nearly horizontal state, thereby improving the durability of the fastener 5. In particular, since the fastener 5 of the first embodiment has the recessed groove 23a, when the rear portion of the fastener 5 penetrates into the slider 2, it is more likely to tilt relative to the horizontal than, for example, a fastener without the recessed groove 23a. However, since the entire length of the stopper 5 in the front-rear direction of the first embodiment is long, the stopper portion 5c collides with the slider 2 when the stopper 5 is nearly horizontal.

[0077] In the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the groove widths 61W, 65W of the positive slopes 62a, 66a narrow from the inside to the outside in the width direction, making it easier for the flange 26 to enter the passing grooves 61, 65 from the inside in the width direction and more difficult for it to enter from the outside in the width direction. As a result, the slider 2 is easy to attach and less likely to be accidentally removed. Moreover, in the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the acute angle θ3 formed between the reference line L and the rear wall surfaces 63, 67 is smaller than the acute angles θ1, θ2 formed between the reference line L and the positive slopes 62a, 66a and is also smaller than 45 degrees. Therefore, the groove widths 61W, 65W of the positive slopes 62a, 66a are wider than, for example, a fastener in which the acute angle formed between the reference line L and the rear wall surface is 45 degrees or more. As a result, the flange 26 is easy to insert into the passing grooves 61, 65 from the inside in the width direction of the fastener 5, making it easier to attach the slider 2.

[0078] In the first embodiment of the stopper 5, the acute angle θ1 formed between the reference line L and the first inclined surfaces 62a1, 66a1 is larger than the acute angle θ2 formed between the reference line L and the second inclined surfaces 62a2, 66a1, making it easier to insert the flange 26 into the passage groove 61 from the inside in the width direction of the stopper 5 and easier to attach the slider 2.

[0079] In the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the front wall surfaces 62, 66 are provided with the reverse slopes 62b, 66b in addition to the normal slopes 62a, 66a, so that even if the front end of the flange 26 faces toward the passing groove 61 as shown in Fig. 15 when the slider 2 is moved forward from the element row 4, the flange 26 is guided by the reverse slopes 62b, 66b, making it difficult for the flange 26 to enter the passing grooves 61, 65 from the outside in the width direction of the fastener 5. Moreover, in the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the inner portions 62b1, 66b1 in the width direction of the reverse slopes 62b, 66b are recessed in an arc shape, making it difficult for the flange 26 to enter the passing grooves 61, 65 from the outside in the width direction of the fastener 5, compared to when the inner portions are linear, for example.

[0080] In the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the thickness 60t of the guide main body 60 increases from the inside in the width direction toward the outside in the width direction within the range of the passing grooves 61, 65. Therefore, compared to a fastener in which the thickness of the guide main body is constant across the entire width direction in the vertical direction within the range of the passing groove, the flange 26 is easier to insert into the passing grooves 61, 65 from the inside in the width direction and is more difficult to intrude from the outside in the width direction. As a result, the slider 2 is easier to attach and less likely to be accidentally detached. Moreover, in the fastener 5 of the first embodiment, the bottom wall surfaces 64, 68 have raised portions 64b, 68b at the outer ends in the width direction. Therefore, compared to a fastener without raised portions, the flange 26 is more difficult to intrude into the passing grooves 61, 65 from the outside in the width direction of the fastener 5. As a result, the slider 2 is less likely to be accidentally detached.

[0081] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0082] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 fastener stringer 2 slider 21 slider body 22 upper wing 23 lower wing 23a concave groove 24 connecting post 25 pull tab attachment portion 26 flange 26a parallel piece portion 26b inclined piece portion 29 pull tab 3 string member 4 element row 40 element 41 body portion 41s groove 45 meshing portion 46 upper portion 47 lower portion 48 neck portion 49 head portion 5 stopper 5a fixing portion 5a1 first fixing portion 5a2 second fixing portion 5b tooth row t1, t2, t3 tooth t11 recess t12 front surface t31 recess t32 rear surface t35 semi-mesh portion 5c stopper portion 5d inward recess 5dW spacing 5h sewing thread groove 5s groove 50 Stopper main body 60 Guide main body 60t Thickness 61, 65 Passage groove 61W, 65W Groove width 62, 66 Front wall surface 62a, 66a Positive slope 62a1, 66a1 First slope 62a2, 66a2 Second slope 62b, 66b Reverse slope 62b1, 66b1 Inner portion 62b2, 66b2 Outer portion 63, 67 Rear wall surface 63a Inner portion 63b Outer portion 67a Opposing portion 67b Non-opposing portion 64, 68 Bottom wall surface 64a Rising surface 64b, 68b Raised portion 68a Descending surface 7 Box pin 70 Pin body 71, 72, 73 Tooth 75 Fin 75a Through hole 77 Convex portion 8 Dummy element 81 Dummy body 85 Teeth 85a Upper part 85b Lower part 9 Butterfly pin 90 Rod body 91, 92, 93, 94 Teeth 95 Fin 95a Through hole 11 Sewing thread G Conveying gear G1 Teeth L Reference line P0 Foremost point P1 Change point S Fabric θ1, θ2, θ3 Acute angle

Claims

1. A slide fastener stopper (5) that is fixed to a string member (3) that extends in the front-to-rear direction while passing through an element row (4) and that restricts the forward movement of a slider (2), and that, when the slider (2) is attached to the element row (4), can pass from the inside to the outside in the width direction through a pair of flanges (26) that face each other above and below at the width direction edge of the slider (2), comprising: a guide body portion (60) that is located on the front side of the element row (4) and guides the slider (2) so that it can move forward and backward; and a stopper body portion (50) that is located on the front side of the guide body portion (60) and stops the forward movement of the slider (2), and the guide body portion (60) has passage grooves (61, 65) on at least one of its upper and lower surfaces that are recessed and penetrate the slider (2) in the width direction and allow the flanges (26) to pass through; The stopper body (50) is provided with a stopper portion (5c) that protrudes from at least one of the upper and lower surfaces and that hits the slider (2), the stopper body (50) and the guide body (60) are integral and are fixed to the string member (3) at an outer portion in the width direction, the stopper body (50) and the guide body (60) cooperate to form, on the inner side in the width direction, three or more teeth (t1 to t3) that mesh with a conveying gear (G) for conveying the element row (4) when sewing fabric (S) along the element row (4), and a sewing thread groove (5h) that is recessed in a state that penetrates the fabric (S) in the width direction and through which a sewing thread for sewing the fabric (S) passes is provided on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces at the boundary between the guide body (60) and the stopper body (50).

2. A slide fastener stopper (5) as described in claim 1, characterized in that the sewing thread groove (5h) is provided on both the upper and lower surfaces at the boundary between the guide main body portion (60) and the stopper main body portion (50).

3. The passage groove (61, 65) has a front wall surface (62, 66) and a rear wall surface (63, 67) facing each other in the front-rear direction, and a bottom wall surface (64, 68) connecting the front wall surface (62, 66) and the rear wall surface (63, 67), the front wall surface (62, 66) has a positive slope (62a, 66a) that slopes backward in the width direction from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction, the rear wall surface (63, 67) slopes backward in the width direction from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction, the distance (61W, 65W) between the positive slope (62a, 66a) and the rear wall surface (63, 68) in the front-rear direction narrows from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction, The stopper (5) for a slide fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the acute angle (θ3) formed between a reference line (L) parallel to the width direction and the rear wall surface (63, 68) is smaller than the acute angle (θ1, θ2) formed between the reference line (L) and the positive slope (62a, 66a) and is also smaller than 45 degrees.

4. The stopper (5) for a slide fastener according to claim 3, characterized in that the positive slopes (62a, 66a) comprise a first slope (62a1, 66a1) located on the inner side in the width direction and a second slope (62a2, 66a2) located on the outer side in the width direction relative to the first slope (62a1, 66a1), and the acute angle (θ1) formed between the reference line (L) and the first slope (62a1, 66a1) is larger than the acute angle (θ2) formed between the reference line (L) and the second slope (62a2, 66a2).

5. A stopper (5) for a slide fastener as described in claim 3, characterized in that the front wall surface (62, 66) has, in addition to the positive slope (62a, 66a), a reverse slope (62b, 66b) that slopes forward in the width direction as it moves outward from the positive slope (62a, 66a) in the width direction.

6. The stopper (5) for a slide fastener according to claim 5, characterized in that the inner side (62b1, 66b1) in the width direction of the reverse slope (62b, 66b) is recessed in an arc shape.

7. A stopper (5) for a slide fastener as described in claim 1, characterized in that the vertical thickness (60t) of the guide main body portion (60) becomes thicker from the inside in the width direction to the outside in the width direction within the range of the passing groove (61, 65).

8. The stopper (5) for a slide fastener according to claim 7, characterized in that the passage groove (61, 65) has a front wall surface (62, 66) and a rear wall surface (63, 67) facing each other in the front-to-rear direction, and a bottom wall surface (64, 68) connecting the front wall surface (62, 66) and the rear wall surface (63, 67), and the bottom wall surface (64, 68) has a raised portion (64b, 68b) at its outer end in the width direction.

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