Slider and slide fastener comprising same

Abstract

A slider (9) includes a slider main part (4) and first and second guide parts (6, 7). The first and second guide parts (6, 7) respectively include first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) facing each other in the width direction of the slider main part (4), and the first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) have a shape conforming to a guide of a monofilament reference fastener element. A second wing plate (42) of the slider main part (4) has an offset edge (21) offset toward a center line (CL) in the width direction of the slider main part (4) as compared to a farthest position (11f) of a first side edge (11) farthest from the center line (CL) in the width direction of the slider main part (4). An introduction port (35) of a first insertion part (52) of a first stopper part (18a) included in a separable stopper (18) is defined between the offset edge (21) and the first guide part (6).

Description

Slider and slide fastener including same

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a slider and a slide fastener including the same.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a slide fastener having a pair of fastener parts that can be magnetically attached to each other, and during the magnetic attachment process of the pair of fastener parts, an insertion portion of one of the fastener parts is inserted into a slider from the side (see Figure 7 of the same document). Although a coil-shaped element in which a monofilament is spirally wound is also mentioned (see paragraph 0024 of the same document), a fastener element in the form of a resin mass fixed to the side edge of a fastener tape is illustrated (see Figure 1 of the same document). Patent Document 2 discloses omitting one side of the slider flange to allow smooth insertion of the insertion portion of the fastener part into the slider (see Figure 3 of the same document).

[0003] Patent Document 3 discloses forming a notch in the lower blade to facilitate the escape of the fastener element. Patent Document 4 discloses a slider structure that can eliminate the pinching of fabric inside the slider, in particular, the lower blade is shaped to be narrow.

[0004] International Publication No. 2022 / 137471 Chinese Utility Model No. 211154102 Chinese Patent No. 109198809 Chinese Utility Model No. 219742019

[0005] As can be seen from the illustrated examples of Patent Documents 1 and 2, when a separable resin fastener is used, the fastener element also generally takes the form of a resin mass fixed to the side edge of the fastener tape. The resin mass fastener element has relatively high rigidity and a large volume, and can be properly held between the upper and lower blades of the slider. Therefore, even if the flange on one side is omitted as shown in Patent Document 2, it is expected that there is little risk that the attachment strength of the slider to the fastener element row will exceed the allowable range.

[0006] On the other hand, when a fastener element row in the form of a coil-shaped member in which a monofilament is wound spirally and an engaging head is formed at a predetermined pitch is used, each fastener element (corresponding to one turn of the monofilament spiral) has higher flexibility and a larger curved profile compared to fastener elements made of a resin block. In order to more stably hold and / or guide such fastener elements within the slider, or to satisfy one or more basic characteristics required of a slide fastener (for example, lateral pull strength), it is assumed that the guide portion (also called a flange) of the slider has an element guide surface adapted to guide fastener elements based on the monofilament. However, in this case, when used with a separable fastener having an insertion portion inserted into the slider from the side, the lateral insertion of the insertion portion into the slider becomes increasingly difficult, and as a result, it becomes difficult to realize the combination (a combination of a separable fastener having an insertion portion inserted into the slider from the side and a fastener element row in the form of a coil-shaped member).

[0007] As can be seen from the above non-limiting description, the inventors of the present application have discovered a new problem of removing or relaxing the constraints on variations in slide fasteners (for example, the combination of a separable stopper having an insertion portion inserted laterally into the slider and a fastener element row in the form of a coil-shaped member).

[0008] A slide fastener according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first fastener stringer including a first coiled member in which a monofilament is wound spirally and in which engaging heads are formed at a predetermined pitch, a first fastener tape supporting the first coiled member, a second fastener stringer including a second coiled member in which a monofilament is wound spirally and in which engaging heads are formed at a predetermined pitch, a second fastener tape supporting the second coiled member, and a fastener stringer including a second fastener tape supporting the second coiled member, and a fastener element stringer for alternately engaging fastener elements included in the first coiled member and fastener elements included in the second coiled member. The fastener assembly includes a slider that moves forward to engage the first fastener element and moves backward to release the engagement between the two fastener elements, a first fastener part that is fixed to the first fastener tape in a manner adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the first coiled member, the first fastener part having a first insertion part that is inserted into the slider from the side, and a second fastener part that is fixed to the second fastener tape in a manner adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the second coiled member and that is detachably combineable with the first fastener part, the second fastener part having a second insertion part that is inserted into the slider from the rear. The slider comprises a slider main portion including a first vane, a second vane, and a connecting post connecting the first and second vanes, wherein an element passage branched by the connecting post is defined in the slider main portion, and first and second guide portions spaced apart in the width direction of the slider main portion so that the element passage has a portion whose width gradually decreases toward the rear, the first guide portion connecting to the first vane along a first side edge of the first vane, and the second guide portion connecting to the first vane along a second side edge of the first vane. The first and second guide portions include first and second element guide surfaces facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion, the first and second element guide surfaces having shapes suitable for guiding the first and second coiled members, respectively. The second vane has an offset edge that is offset toward the center line in the width direction of the slider main portion compared to the farthest position of the first side edge that is farthest in the width direction of the slider main portion from the center line that extends linearly in the front-to-back direction at the center of the width direction of the connecting column.

[0009] A slider according to another aspect of the present disclosure comprises a slider main portion including a first vane, a second vane, and a connecting post connecting the first and second vanes, wherein an element passage branched by the connecting post is defined in the slider main portion, and first and second guide portions spaced apart in the width direction of the slider main portion so that the element passage has a portion whose width gradually decreases toward the rear, the first guide portion connecting to the first vane along a first side edge of the first vane, and the second guide portion connecting to the first vane along a second side edge of the first vane. The first and second guide portions include first and second element guide surfaces facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion, the first and second element guide surfaces having shapes suitable for guiding a monofilament-based fastener element. The second vane has an offset edge that is offset toward the center line in the width direction of the slider main part compared to the farthest position of the first side edge that is farthest in the width direction of the slider main part from the center line that extends linearly in the front-to-back direction at the width center of the connecting column, and an inlet for the first insertion part of the first fastener part included in the separable fastener is defined between the offset edge and the first guide part.

[0010] The features recited in the claims of this application can be applied independently or in any combination to the slide fastener and slider according to each of the above-mentioned aspects.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is facilitated to remove or relax restrictions on variations in slide fasteners.

[0012]

[0023] FIG. 1 is a top view of a slide fastener according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a slider according to one embodiment of the present disclosure as seen from the left front, particularly depicting the inner surfaces of the first and second guide portions connected to the first blade.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a front view of the slider.

[0026] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the slider.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of the slider.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a schematic bottom view of the slider.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the slider, showing the first blade and the first and second guide portions protruding from the inner surface of the first blade.

[0029] FIG. 7 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the slider, showing the second blade and the third guide portion protruding from the inner surface of the second blade.

[0029] FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the slider, showing the left and right coiled members joining at a position behind the connecting post, drawn from the perspective of the first blade.

[0029] 7A , which is a schematic view similar to FIG. 7A and is drawn from the first vane to the second vane. The left and right fastener tapes are omitted from the illustration. FIG. 15 is a top view of a first fastener component. FIG. 16 is a left side view of the first fastener component. FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the second fastener component. FIG. 18 is a right side view of the first fastener component. FIG. 19 is a schematic view showing that an insert portion of the first fastener component is automatically inserted into a slider in accordance with magnetic attraction between the first and second fastener components. FIG. 20 is an end view showing that an insert portion of the first fastener component is automatically inserted into a slider in accordance with magnetic attraction between the first and second fastener components. FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of a fastener according to a modified example. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a slider according to another embodiment of the present disclosure as seen from the left front, particularly depicting the inner surfaces of the first and second guide portions connected to the first vane. FIG. 23 is a front view of the slider shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 24 is a right side view of the slider shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 25 is a schematic top view of the slider shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 26 is a schematic bottom view of the slider. 1 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a slider, showing a first blade and first and second guide portions protruding from the inner surface of the first blade; 2 is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of a slider, showing a second blade and a third guide portion protruding from the inner surface of the second blade; 3 is a virtual mirror image line of the opposite edge relative to the center line of the slider; 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the left and right coil-shaped members join at a position behind the connecting post, drawn from the second blade as seen from the first blade;It is a schematic diagram similar to FIG. 20, drawn when looking at the second wing plate from the first wing plate. Therefore, the left and right fastener tapes are also shown. It is a schematic diagram showing the left and right coiled members disengaged without operating the slider. It is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a slide fastener, showing the rear surface of the slider. It is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a slide fastener, taken along the dashed-dotted line X24-X24 in FIG. 18A. For reference, the partial contour line of the first guide portion in FIG. 12 is shown by a dotted line. It is a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a slide fastener, taken along the dashed-dotted line X25-X25 in FIG. 18A, which is located in front of FIG. 24. For reference, it schematically shows that the right fastener stringer escapes from the slider.

[0013] Hereinafter, various embodiments and features will be described while referring to the drawings. A person skilled in the art can combine each embodiment and / or each feature without excessive explanation and can also understand the synergistic effect of this combination. Duplicate explanations between embodiments are omitted in principle. The reference drawings are mainly for the purpose of describing the invention and are simplified for the convenience of drawing. Each feature is not only effective for the slider and slide fastener illustrated in the present application, but is understood as a universal feature that also applies to various other sliders and slide fasteners not illustrated in this specification.

[0014] In this specification, regarding the width direction, length direction, and thickness direction of the slide fastener, the left-right direction, front-back direction, and up-down direction may be respectively associated and described. The same applies to the width direction, length direction, and thickness direction of the slider (or the main part of the slider). The up-down direction does not necessarily coincide with the vertical direction (gravity direction) and is independent of it.

[0015] In this specification, a center line CL is set for the slider. The center line CL linearly extends in the front-back direction at the center in the width direction of the connecting column of the slider. The center line CL typically also coincides with or is included in the center line of the slide fastener. Incidentally, the center line of the slide fastener extends in the front-back direction at the center in the width direction of the slide fastener.

[0016] The structure and function of the slide fastener 150 and the slider 9 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7B. Figure 1 is a top view of the slide fastener 150. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the slider 9 from the left front, particularly depicting the inner surfaces of the first and second guide members 6 and 7 connected to the first blade 41. Figure 3 is a front view of the slider 9. Figure 4 is a right side view of the slider 9. Figure 5A is a schematic top view of the slider 9. Figure 5B is a schematic bottom view of the slider 9. Figure 6A is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the slider 9, showing the first blade 41 and the first and second guide members 6 and 7 protruding from the inner surface of the first blade 41. Figure 6B is a schematic horizontal cross-sectional view of the slider 9, showing the second blade 42 and the third guide member 8 protruding from the inner surface of the second blade 42. A virtual mirror image line of the opposite edge relative to the center line CL is also shown. Fig. 7A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the left and right coil-shaped members 11a, 12a join together at a position behind the connecting post 43, and is drawn as viewed from the second vane 42 toward the first vane 41. Fig. 7B is a schematic diagram similar to Fig. 7A, and is drawn as viewed from the first vane 41 toward the second vane 42, with the left and right fastener tapes omitted from the illustration.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 1, the slide fastener 150 has a pair of left and right fastener stringers 11s, 12s and a slider 9. The pair of left and right fastener stringers 11s, 12s each includes a coil-shaped member 11a, 12a and fastener tapes 11b, 12b that support the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a (typically, the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a are sewn together). When the slider 9 moves forward, the pair of left and right fastener stringers 11s, 12s is closed (the fastener elements of the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a are alternately engaged). When the slider 9 moves backward, the pair of left and right fastener stringers 11s, 12s is opened (similarly, the fastener elements of the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a are disengaged).

[0018] Each coil-shaped member 11a, 12a is formed by helically winding a monofilament, with engaging heads formed at a predetermined pitch. Each coil-shaped member 11a, 12a includes an array of fastener elements, each corresponding to one turn of the monofilament spiral. Specifically, the fastener elements have an engaging head 2a, an inverted portion 2b, an upper leg 2c, and a lower leg 2d (see FIGS. 1 and 25). The engaging head 2a is located outside the tape surface of the fastener tape, and is positioned protruding from the opposing edges of the fastener tapes 11b, 12b. The engaging head 2a is formed by molding a predetermined portion of the monofilament to be wider in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape 11b. The inverted portion 2b is located on the tape surface of the fastener tape. The tape surface of the fastener tape is the upper or lower surface that defines its thickness. The upper leg 2c is located farther from the tape surface of the fastener tape than the lower leg 2d. The upper leg 2c and the lower leg 2d may alternatively be referred to as the first and second legs.

[0019] The fastener stringers 11s, 12s are provided with front stops 16, 17 adjacent to the front ends of the coiled members 11a, 12a. A separable fastener 18 is provided adjacent to the rear ends of the coiled members 11a, 12a. The separable fastener 18 has a first fastener part 18a and a second fastener part 18b. The first fastener part 18a is fixed to the fastener tape 11b adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the coiled member 11a. The first fastener part 18a has a first insertion part 52 that is inserted into the slider 9 from the side (through an introduction port 35 between the first guide part 6 and the offset edge 21, which will be described later). The second fastener part 18b is fixed to the fastener tape 12b adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the coiled member 12a. The second fastener part 18b is detachably combineable with the first fastener part 18a (for example, magnetically attachable), and has a second insertion part 92 that is inserted into the slider 9 from the rear (through a rear opening 5r, which will be described later). The first and second fastener parts 18a and 18b will be described in detail later.

[0020] The slider 9 is made of resin or metal and is manufactured by injection molding or die-casting. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the slider 9 includes a slider main portion 4, a first guide portion 6, a second guide portion 7, a third guide portion 8, and a pull tab attachment portion 19. The slider main portion 4 includes a first blade 41, a second blade 42, and a connecting post 43 connecting the first and second blades 41, 42. In some embodiments, the first and second guide portions 6, 7 are integral with the slider main portion 4. In other cases, the first and second guide portions 6, 7 are separate from the slider main portion 4 and attached thereto. The first and second blades 41, 42 may alternatively be referred to as upper and lower blades.

[0021] The first and second blades 41, 42 face each other in the vertical direction (the height direction of the slider 9 or the extension direction of the connecting post 43). The first and second blades 41, 42 are flat plates, similar to the blades of a general slider, and each has an inner surface and an outer surface in the thickness direction. The inner surfaces of the first and second blades 41, 42 are arranged opposite to each other, and the outer surfaces of the first and second blades 41, 42 face in opposite directions.

[0022] A pull tab attachment portion 19 is disposed on the outer surface of the first blade 41. A pull tab (not shown) is attached to the pull tab attachment portion 19. Operating the pull tab disengages the locking pawl (not shown) from the fastener element, allowing the slider 9 to move forward or backward. For this purpose, a slot SL1 is formed through the first blade 41 at a position rearward of the connecting post 43 (see FIG. 2).

[0023] An element passage 5 is defined in the slider main section 4 by a connecting column 43, branching off from the connecting column 43. The element passage 5 includes left and right front openings 5m, 5n located on either side of the connecting column 43, and a rear opening 5r located behind the connecting column 43 and spatially communicating with the left and right front openings 5m, 5n (see FIG. 5A). The element passage 5 has passage widths W5a, W5b limited by the first and second guide sections 6, 7 in the width direction of the slider main section 4 (see FIG. 6A), resulting in a substantially Y-shaped passage. The element passage 5 has a passage width that increases with increasing distance from the first blade 41 (W5a<W5b). This may be a result of the curvature of the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75, described below.

[0024] 5A and 5B, the first and second blades 41 and 42 have different profiles (when viewed from the front). Unlike the blades of a typical slider, the second blade 42 is asymmetrical about the center line CL (see 5B). The first blade 41 is symmetrical about the center line CL (see 5A), similar to the blades of a typical slider.

[0025] The first blade 41 has first and second side edges 11, 12, a leading edge 13, and a trailing edge 14 (see FIG. 5A ). The first and second side edges 11, 12 are formed symmetrically with respect to the center line CL and are respectively one and the other of the left and right edges in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. The first and second side edges 11, 12 have a rear portion extending parallel to the center line CL and a front portion inclined away from the center line CL as they extend forward (preferably with an increasing inclination with respect to an imaginary line parallel to the center line CL). The leading edge 13 extends so as to connect the front ends of both the first and second side edges 11, 12 to the front end of the connecting column 43 and is formed symmetrically with respect to the center line CL. The trailing edge 14 extends in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 so as to connect the rear ends of both the first and second side edges 11, 12.

[0026] The second blade 42 has an offset edge 21, an opposite edge 22, a leading edge 23, and a trailing edge 24 (see FIG. 5B ). The offset edge 21 and the opposite edge 22 are, respectively, one and the other of the left and right edges in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. The offset edge 21 and the opposite edge 22 are formed asymmetrically with respect to the centerline CL. The offset edge 21 extends longer in the front-to-rear direction than the opposite edge 22. In the illustrated example, the offset edge 21 extends parallel to the centerline CL, but it may be inclined obliquely with respect to the centerline CL or may extend in a wavy manner in the front-to-rear direction. The opposite edge 22 is formed symmetrically with the second side edge 12 and has rear and front portions similar to those of the second side edge 12. The leading edge 23 is formed symmetrically with the leading edge 13 except for the difference that it is narrowed by the offset edge 21. The trailing edge 24 is formed symmetrically with the trailing edge 14 except for the difference that it is narrowed by the offset edge 21.

[0027] The first and second guide portions 6, 7 are spaced apart in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 so that the element passage 5 has a portion whose width gradually decreases toward the rear (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 6A). The first guide portion 6 is connected to the first blade 41 along the first side edge 11 of the first blade 41 on one of the left and right sides, and is preferably a rail portion extending along the first side edge 11 and protruding toward the second blade 42. The second guide portion 7 is connected to the first blade 41 along the second side edge 12 of the first blade 41 on the other of the left and right sides, and is preferably a rail portion extending along the second side edge 12 and protruding toward the second blade 42. Note that the first and second guide portions 6, 7 may also be divided into multiple portions in the front-rear direction as long as their guiding performance is maintained.

[0028] The first guide portion 6 has a front portion 61 extending diagonally forward away from the center line CL and a rear portion 62 located rearward of the front portion 61 and extending parallel to the center line CL (see FIG. 6A ). Similarly, the second guide portion 7 has a front portion 71 extending diagonally forward away from the center line CL and a rear portion 72 located rearward of the front portion 71 and extending parallel to the center line CL. Similarly, the third guide portion 8 has a front portion 81 extending diagonally forward away from the center line CL and a rear portion 82 located rearward of the front portion 81 and extending parallel to the center line CL (see FIG. 6B ).

[0029] The first guide portion 6 has a front surface 6a, a rear surface 6e, an inner surface 6b, an outer surface 6c, and an end surface 6d connecting the inner surface 6b and the outer surface 6c at a position spaced from the first blade 41 (see FIG. 6A ). The end surface 6d extends forward at a constant height in the vertical direction, and the first guide portion 6 has a constant thickness (height) in the vertical direction. The inner surface 6b and the outer surface 6c run parallel to each other forward and define the width of the first guide portion 6. Note that the width and thickness of the first guide portion 6 can be understood without regard to the chamfer formed on the first guide portion 6. For example, although there is a R-chamfer between the front surface 6a and the end surface 6d, the first guide portion 6 is understood to have a constant thickness excluding the resulting reduction in thickness of the first guide portion 6.

[0030] The second guide portion 7 has a front surface 7a, a rear surface 7e, an inner surface 7b, an outer surface 7c, and an end surface 7d connecting the inner surface 7b and the outer surface 7c at a position spaced from the first blade 41 (see FIG. 6A ). The end surface 7d extends forward at a constant height in the vertical direction, and the second guide portion 7 has a constant thickness (height) in the vertical direction. The inner surface 7b and the outer surface 7c run parallel to each other forward and define the width of the second guide portion 7. Note that the width and thickness of the second guide portion 7 can be understood without regard to the chamfer formed on the second guide portion 7. For example, although there is a R-chamfer between the front surface 7a and the end surface 7d, the second guide portion 7 is understood to have a constant thickness excluding the resulting reduction in thickness of the second guide portion 7.

[0031] The third guide portion 8 forms a tape insertion groove G1 between itself and the second guide portion 7 (see FIG. 3 ) and is typically shorter than the second guide portion 7. The third guide portion 8 narrows the gap between the second blade 42 and the second guide portion 7 to prevent the coiled member 12 a from escaping from the slider 9. Unlike the second guide portion 7, the third guide portion 8 does not directly contact the coiled member 12 a but directly contacts the fastener tape 12 b. The third guide portion 8 has a configuration similar to that of the second guide portion 7, and in short, has a front surface 8 a, a rear surface 8 e, an inner surface 8 b, an outer surface 8 c, and an end surface 8 d that connects the inner surface 8 b and the outer surface 8 c at a position spaced apart from the second blade 42 (see FIG. 6B ).

[0032] The first and second guide portions 6, 7 (particularly, their inner surfaces 6b, 7b) include first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5B, and 6A). The first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 each have a shape adapted to guide a monofilament-based fastener element (specifically, a coil-shaped member 11a, 12a) (for example, a shape adapted to or curved to adapt to the contour of the inverted portion of the fastener element). Typically, the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 include curved surfaces that curve so as to move away from each other as they extend toward the second blade 42. The distance between the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 gradually increases as they move away from the first blade 41 (see W5a, W5b in FIG. 6A).

[0033] In detail, the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 are curved and shaped to fit the individual contours of the inversion portions 2b of a plurality of fastener elements in the slider 9 among the many fastener elements included in the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a formed by spirally winding monofilament, and can contact or press them (see FIG. 7A). Exemplarily, the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 are formed rearward of the connecting pillar 43. The first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 can have a height that is approximately half the height of the inversion portions 2b in a direction parallel to the height direction of the slider main portion 4 (for example, the up-and-down direction). By providing the above-mentioned first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 on the first and second guide portions 6, 7, the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a can be more accurately held in the slider 9.

[0034] In some cases, the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75 are positioned offset from the inner surface of the first blade 41 toward the second blade 42. This prevents the coiled members 11a, 12a from sliding on the inner surface of the first blade 41, thereby reducing wear. When the slider 9 moves forward or backward, the coiled members 11a, 12a do not need to be in constant contact with the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75; depending on how the slider 9 is pulled, the coiled members may be partially or entirely out of contact with each other. In the illustrated example, the inner surface 6b includes a portion extending substantially vertically (parallel to the height direction of the slider 9) between the first element guide surface 65 and the inner surface of the first blade 41. Similarly, the inner surface 7b includes a portion extending substantially vertically (parallel to the height direction of the slider 9) between the second element guide surface 75 and the inner surface of the first blade 41.

[0035] The first element guide surfaces 65 are formed on both sides of at least the boundary between the front portion 61 and the rear portion 62 of the first guide portion 6, and preferably are formed over the entire length or substantially the entire length of the first guide portion 6 in the front-to-rear direction. Similarly, the second element guide surfaces 75 are formed on both sides of at least the boundary between the front portion 71 and the rear portion 72 of the second guide portion 7, and preferably are formed over the entire length or substantially the entire length of the second guide portion 7 in the front-to-rear direction. Of course, it is also possible to selectively form the first element guide surface 65 on the rear portion 62 and not form it on the front portion 61. The same applies to the second element guide surfaces 75.

[0036] The third guide portion 8 does not contact the coil-shaped member 12a and therefore does not have an element guide surface. The inner surface 8b of the third guide portion 8 may be formed substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the second blade 42.

[0037] The inner surface of the second blade 42 may have a forward inclined surface 31 that moves away from the first blade 41 as it extends forward and reaches its leading edge 23, and a rearward inclined surface 32 that moves away from the first blade 41 as it extends rearward and reaches its trailing edge 24 (see FIGS. 4 and 7B ). This facilitates the sliding of the slider 9 along the coiled members 11 a, 12 a, and promotes, for example, a reduction in sliding resistance. Similar to the second blade 42, the inner surface of the first blade 41 may have a forward inclined surface that moves away from the second blade 42 as it extends forward and reaches its leading edge 13, and a rearward inclined surface that moves away from the second blade 42 as it extends rearward and reaches its trailing edge 14, which provides a similar effect.

[0038] In this embodiment, the second vane 42 has an offset edge 21 (see FIG. 5B) that is offset toward the center line CL in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 compared to the farthest position 11f (see FIG. 5A) of the first side edge 11 that is farthest in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 from the center line CL that extends linearly in the front-to-rear direction at the width center of the connecting post 43. An introduction opening 35 for the first insertion portion 52 of the first fastener component 18a described above is defined between the offset edge 21 and the first guide portion 6. This eliminates or alleviates restrictions on variations in slide fasteners. Without intending to be limiting, even if the first guide portion 6 is provided, a larger introduction opening 35 is formed thanks to the offset edge 21, which facilitates the realization of a combination of a separable fastener 18 having a first insertion portion 52 that is inserted laterally into the slider 9 and a fastener element row in the form of the coil-shaped members 11a, 12a. The second blade 42 has a contour (FIG. 5B) that is cut away by an offset edge 21 on one side of the centerline CL, compared to the contour of the first blade 41 (FIG. 5A).

[0039] If the slider 9 is provided with an offset edge 21, there is a risk that the holding force of the slider 9 relative to the coil-shaped member 11a (or the attachment strength of the slider 9 relative to the coil-shaped member 11a) may decrease when the slide fastener 150 is closed. In this regard, the first guide portion 6 is formed with a first element guide surface 65, which ensures a sufficient degree of engagement or contact over a sufficiently wide area between the coil-shaped member 11a and the slider 9, thereby preventing an extreme decrease in the holding force of the slider 9. Furthermore, even if the coil-shaped member 11a comes off the slider 9 when the slide fastener 150 is closed, the first and second fastener components 18a, 18b are separable to begin with, so that it is easy to restore the original state.

[0040] In some cases, the second vane 42 does not have an offset edge similar to the offset edge 21 on the side opposite the offset edge 21. This strengthens the engagement between the slider 9 and the second coiled member 12a, and consequently also strengthens the engagement between the slider 9 and the coiled member 11a.

[0041] The second blade 42 may advantageously have an inner surface on which an inclined surface 29 is formed adjacent to the offset edge 21. The inclined surface 29 slopes away from the first blade 41 as it extends toward the offset edge 21 in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. This promotes smoother insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the slider 9. Typically, the inclined surface 29 is formed on the inner surface of the second blade 42 so that the thickness of the second blade 42 gradually decreases toward the offset edge 21. Regarding the inclination of the inclined surface 29, the angle between the inclined surface 29 and a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4 may advantageously be within a range of 40 to 85 degrees (see FIG. 3). The inclined surface 29 may be formed over the entire length between the front inclined surface 31 and the rear inclined surface 32 (preferably with a predetermined width or substantially a predetermined width).

[0042] A flat surface 42j may also be formed on the inner surface of the second blade 42, and the flat surface 42j is located closer to the center line CL than the inclined surface 29 in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. In contrast to the inclined surface 29, the flat surface 42j is formed in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The offset edge 21 may include a side surface that is located in a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4, thereby ensuring sufficient mechanical strength of the second blade 42. The ratio of the minimum thickness to the maximum thickness of the half of the second blade 42 on the same side as the offset edge 21 (in short, the right half) may be within a range of 0.6 to 0.95.

[0043] The inclined surface 29 has an inclination start point or line (hereinafter simply referred to as the inclination start line) N1 on the opposite side of the offset edge 21 in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. The inclination start line N1 is advantageously located closer to the first guide portion 6 between the first guide portion 6 and the center line CL in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 , the second plane PL2 is located closer to the first guide portion 6 than the third plane PL3. By positioning the inclination start line N1 in this manner, the degree to which the first guide portion 6 interferes with the insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the slider 9 is reduced. The extent of the second plane PL2 and the third plane PL3 will be described later.

[0044] In some cases, as can be seen from Fig. 5B, the inclined surface 29 may at least partially overlap the first guide portion 6 when the outer surface of the second blade 42 is viewed from the front. In Fig. 5B, the inclined surface 29 is formed between the offset edge 21 and the inclination start line N1, and this inclined surface 29 overlaps the first guide portion 6 in the vertical direction. When the outer surface of the second blade 42 is viewed from the front, the offset edge 21 intersects with and crosses the first element guide surface 65 and extends parallel to the rear portion 62 of the first guide portion 6.

[0045] Typically, both the offset edge 21 and the inclined surface 29 extend parallel to the center line CL, but may extend obliquely inclined relative to the center line CL. Typically, the inclination start line N1 is a straight line extending parallel to the center line CL, but may extend obliquely inclined relative to the center line CL. A rounded surface may be formed between the inclined surface 29 and the flat surface 42j, and / or a rounded surface may be formed between the inclined surface 29 and the offset edge 21.

[0046] In some cases, as can be seen from FIG. 3 , the distance D between the first plane PL and the second plane PL is equal to or greater than 1 / 5 of the distance D between the first plane PL and the third plane PL. Additionally, the distance D may be equal to or less than 2 / 3 of the distance D. Satisfying this condition facilitates forming the inclined surface 29 with an appropriate width. The first plane PL is a plane that is perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4 and is located at the offset edge 21 in the same direction. The second plane PL is a plane that is perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4 and is located at the inclination starting point or line N1 of the inclined surface 29 in the same direction. The third plane PL is a plane that is perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4 and is located at the center line CL in the same direction.

[0047] In some cases, the offset edge 21 extends between the leading edge 23 and the trailing edge 24 of the second vane 42, and the connection point P1 (see FIG. 5B ) of the offset edge 21 to the leading edge 23 of the second vane 42 is located forward of the front end of the first element guide surface 65 (alternatively, the front end of the first guide section 6, the rear end of the connecting column 43, or the center position of the connecting column 43 in the front-to-rear direction) in the direction parallel to the centerline CL. Forming the offset edge 21 longer in this manner may reduce the ability of the second vane 42 to support the coiled member 11a at the front opening 5m of the element passage 5. However, the coiled member 11a is supported between the first element guide surface 65 and the second vane 42. Furthermore, the position of the coiled member 11a is stabilized by the engagement with the coiled member 12a stably supported between the second element guide surface 75 and the second vane 42. Therefore, even if the offset edge 21 is formed long, the basic performance of the slider 9 (and consequently the basic performance of the slide fastener 150) is not significantly impaired.

[0048] The second blade 42 has an opposite edge 22 located on the opposite side to the offset edge 21 in the width direction of the slider main portion 4. The opposite edge 22 can be formed symmetrically to the second side edge 12 of the first blade 41 (with respect to a plane perpendicular to the connecting post 43). This allows the slider 9 to be more firmly attached to the coil-shaped member 12a, effectively preventing the slider 9 from falling off the coil-shaped member 12a (and vice versa).

[0049] The offset edge 21 preferably extends linearly between the leading edge 23 of the second blade 42 and the trailing edge 24 of the second blade 42. In this case, smoother insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the slider 9 is promoted. The extending direction of the offset edge 21 may be parallel to the extending direction of the rear portion 82 of the third guide portion 8. Of course, this is not limiting, and the offset edge 21 may be formed obliquely or wavy as described above.

[0050] The closer the offset edge 21 is to the center line CL, the smoother the insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the slider 9. However, at the same time, the support performance of the second vane 42 for the first insertion portion 52 and the coil-shaped member 11a is reduced. In some cases, one or more of the following conditions (a) to (d) are satisfied, and a balance between the two is ensured.

[0051] (a) When the outer surface of the second blade 42 is viewed from the front, the offset edge 21 at least partially overlaps the first guide portion 6, and is located directly above or below it (see FIG. 5B).

[0052] (b) When a mirror image line 22m of the opposite edge 22 with respect to the center line CL is virtually set, and the portion of the mirror image line 22m extending in a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main part 4 is set as a predetermined portion 22n, the offset edge 21 is positioned closer to the predetermined portion 22n than the center line CL in the width direction of the slider main part 4 (see Figure 6B).

[0053] (c) The offset edge 21 is located near a virtual axis L9 parallel to the front-to-rear direction and including a virtual line that is mirror-symmetrical to the inner surface of the rear portion 82 of the third guide portion 8 with respect to the center line CL, or is located closer to the virtual axis L9 than the center line CL in the width direction of the slider main portion 4 (see Figure 6B).

[0054] (d) The distance W2 between the center line CL and the offset edge 21 is less than the distance W1 between the center line CL and the portion of the opposite edge 22 extending parallel to the center line CL, and is at least 3 / 5 of that distance. That is, (W1 * 3 / 5) ≦ W2 < W1 is satisfied (see FIG. 6B ).

[0055] 7A and 7B , the coiled member 11a is disposed between the first element guide surface 65 and the connecting column 43 to be held in the left-right direction, and between the first element guide surface 65 and the second blade 42 to be held in the up-down direction. The coiled member 12a is disposed between the second element guide surface 75 and the connecting column 43 to be held in the left-right direction, and between the second element guide surface 75 and the second blade 42 to be held in the up-down direction. The offset edge 21 reduces the contact area between the coiled member 11a and the second blade 42, but the first guide portion 6 has a sufficient height (thickness) in the up-down direction, which effectively prevents the coiled member 11a from escaping through the inlet 35 between the first guide portion 6 and the offset edge 21, and typically prevents this from happening unless it results in damage to the coiled member 11a.

[0056] The stopper 18 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the first stopper part 18a has a first base 51 and a first insertion part 52 connected to the front of the first base 51. The first insertion part 52 is inserted into the slider 9 through the guide opening 35 between the first guide part 6 and the offset edge 21 of the slider 9. A recess 55 is formed in the first base 51, and an inclined surface 56 is formed on the outer periphery of the recess 55. The inclined surface 56 has a height that gradually changes as it extends along the circumferential direction of an axis parallel to the vertical direction. In the illustrated example, it slopes downward. Optionally, the first stopper part 18a may have a stop wall 57 that determines a stop position for the first insertion part 52 on the slider 9. When the stop wall 57 hits the offset edge 21, the pivoting of the first insertion part 52 stops.

[0057] 10 and 11 , the second fastener component 18b has a second base 91 and a second insertion portion 92 connected to the front of the second base 91. The second insertion portion 92 is inserted into the slider 9 through the rear opening 5r of the slider 9, thereby allowing the slider 9 to be held by the second fastener component 18b. The second insertion portion 92 may be shaped to at least partially receive the first insertion portion 52 inserted into the slider 9 from the side. This allows the first insertion portion 52 and the second insertion portion 92 to more firmly engage with each other, preventing separation of the first and second fastener components 18a, 18b.

[0058] A cylindrical protrusion 95 is formed on the second base 91, and a sliding portion 96 is formed on the outer periphery of the protrusion 95. The sliding portion 96 may be, but is not limited to, a corner or edge between adjacent surfaces formed on the outer periphery of the protrusion 95. The second fastener component 18b may have a first rod portion 97 running parallel to the second insertion portion 92 and forming the insertion groove of the second guide portion 7, and a second rod portion 98 provided on the opposite side of the first rod portion 97 and forming the insertion groove of the third guide portion 8, but both may be omitted.

[0059] Preferably, the first base 51 and the second base 91 are configured to be magnetically attachable. For example, a first magnet is embedded in the first base 51, and a second magnet or magnetic material is embedded in the second base 91. When the first base 51 and the second base 91 are magnetically attached, the first magnetic pole (e.g., north pole) of the first magnet and the second magnetic pole (e.g., south pole) of the second magnet face each other in the vertical direction, and the protrusion 95 is inserted into and received in the recess 55. Furthermore, the first base 51 and the second base 91 are overlapped by the sliding portion 96 sliding on the inclined surface 56. As the sliding portion 96 slides on the inclined surface 56, the first base 51 rotates (about an axis extending in the vertical direction) relative to the second base 91, thereby pivoting the first insertion portion 52 (about its axis) and inserting it into the slider 9 through the above-mentioned inlet 35 (see FIG. 12 ). A sloped surface 29 is formed adjacent to the offset edge 21, thus also facilitating smooth insertion of the first insert 52 into the slider 9 (see FIG. 13). Optionally, the first insert 52 can have a tapered shape in the insertion direction (see FIG. 13).

[0060] The shortest distance D between the inclined surface 29 and the first guide portion 6 35 is the thickness TH of the first insertion portion 52 52 13 . Therefore, the first insertion portion 52 can smoothly enter the slider 9 through the introduction port 35. 35 corresponds to the shortest distance between a plane PL4, which is flush with the inclined surface 29, and a plane PL5, which is parallel to the plane PL4. Here, the plane PL5 is at a position where it first comes into contact with the first guide part 6 (for example, the edge 6m between the inner surface 6b and the end surface 6d) when the plane PL4 is translated toward the first guide part 6. 35For reference, a plane PL6 on which the distance is defined within the plane and a plane PL7 parallel thereto are shown. The distance between the inclined surface 29 and the first guide portion 6 can increase from the plane PL6 toward the plane PL7. This feature contributes to smooth insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the introduction port 35. Typically, the distance between the inclined surface 29 and the edge 6n between the outer surface 6c and the end face 6d is greater than the distance between the inclined surface 29 and the edge 6m between the inner surface 6b and the end face 6d. If the edges 6m and 6n are chamfered, the above-mentioned distance will have a slight width, and the intermediate value between the minimum and maximum values ​​of that width shall be referred to.

[0061] It is not necessary to magnetically attach the first base 51 and the second base 91. The first insertion portion 52 can be pivoted in the same manner as described above by stacking the first base 51 and the second base 91 vertically and holding them between the thumb and index finger. The specific configuration of the separable fastener 18 is not limited to that described above. The magnetic attachment direction of the first base 51 and the second base 91 is not limited to the vertical direction, but may also be the horizontal direction. Referring to FIG. 14 , the first base 51 includes a cylindrical portion with a pair of receiving grooves formed on the periphery. The second base 91 includes a disk portion with a pair of connected legs that are individually inserted into the pair of receiving grooves. The first base 51 and the second base 91 can be magnetically attached in the horizontal direction, and the legs are inserted into and engaged with the receiving grooves during the magnetic attachment process. Furthermore, during this process, the first insertion portion 52 is inserted into the slider 9 through the inlet 35. Other engagement structures for the first and second bases 51 and 91 are also possible.

[0062] Further explanation will be given with reference to Figures 15 to 26. The slider 9 shown in Figure 15 is shaped so that the coiled member 11a can escape from the slider 9 through the guide opening 35 between the offset edge 21 and the first guide portion 6. This simultaneously promotes different advantages (i) facilitating the insertion of the first insertion portion 52 into the slider 9, and (ii) allowing the coiled member 11a to escape from the slider 9) using the common element of the guide opening 35 of the slider 9. When the slider 9 shown in Figure 15 is incorporated into the slide fastener 150 shown in Figure 1, the slider 9 is attached so as not to come off from the second coiled member 12a, while the coiled member 11a can escape from the slider 9.

[0063] The following description will focus on the differences. The outer surface of the first vane 41 includes an inclined surface 45 that gradually reduces the thickness of the first vane 41 as it extends away from the center line CL. This facilitates the first vane 41's flexure and promotes the easy escape of the coiled member 12a from within the slider 9. The inclined surface 45 approaches the inner surface of the first vane 41 as it moves away from the center line CL. Preferably, the inclined surface 45 is selectively provided only on one side of the center line CL, i.e., the same side as the first guide portion 6. This makes it difficult for the first vane 41 to flex on the same side as the second guide portion 7. Typically, the first vane 41 has a constant thickness on the same side as the second guide portion 7.

[0064] The axis extending in the front-to-rear direction at the widthwise center of the pull tab attachment portion 19 is offset from the center line CL in the width direction of the slider 9. This promotes selective engagement of the locking claw with the fastener element of the coiled member 12a rather than the coiled member 11a. The slot SL1 can also be positioned offset from the center line CL in the same direction as the above-mentioned axis. Just to be clear, the slider 9 may be a free slider that does not have a locking claw.

[0065] The first guide portion 6 can have a thickness (height) that gradually decreases as it extends forward at least at its front portion 61 (see FIG. 17). The end face 6d approaches the first blade 41 as it extends forward, thereby reducing the thickness (height) of the first guide portion 6. As shown in FIG. 17, the end face 6d can have a flat surface 6d1 disposed on a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction and an inclined surface 6d2 located in front of it. The (acute) angle that the inclined surface 6d2 makes with respect to the plane on which the flat surface 6d1 exists is within the range of 20° to 60°, which allows for a good balance between the lateral pull strength of the slide fastener 150 and the ease of release of the coiled member 12a from within the slider 9.

[0066] The first guide portion 6 may have a width that gradually decreases as it extends forward at least at its front portion 61 (e.g., as a result of or independently of a relief surface 66 described below). At least one of the inner surface 6 b and the outer surface 6 c approaches the other as it extends forward, thereby reducing the width of the first guide portion 6.

[0067] The second element guide surface 75 can terminate at a position forward of the first element guide surface 65 (see distance D1 in FIG. 19A ). This facilitates the escape of the coiled member 11 a from within the slider 9, while more firmly holding the coiled member 12 a within the slider 9.

[0068] It is desirable to ensure a balance between the support performance of the second blade 42 for the coiled member 11a and the ease of escape of the coiled member 11a from within the slider 9. When one or more of the above conditions (a) to (d) are satisfied, the offset distance of the offset edge 21 can be said to be relatively small. This ensures the support performance of the second blade 42 for the coiled member 11a and maintains the closing performance of the slide fastener 150 within an acceptable range. On the other hand, there is a risk that the ease of escape of the coiled member 11a from within the slider 9 will not be fully satisfactory. In view of this, it is advantageous to shape the first guide portion 6 (particularly its front portion 61) so as to promote the escape of the fastener elements of the coiled member 11a from within the slider 9.

[0069] In some cases, the first element guide surface 65 has a height range (simply, a vertical range or vertical width) in the height direction of the slider main part 4 that gradually decreases as it extends forward. In other words, the first element guide surface 65 is shaped so that the contact area of ​​the coiled member 11a with the fastener element decreases or gradually decreases as it approaches the front opening 5m. This promotes the ease of escape of the coiled member 11a from within the slider 9.

[0070] Furthermore, the first element guide surface 65 may include (i) an area oriented obliquely so as to face the connecting end of the connecting pillar 43 with the second blade 42; (ii) an area extending along the resultant vector of a first vector extending from the second blade 42 to the first blade 41 in the height direction of the slider main part 4, a second vector extending in a direction away from the connecting pillar 43 in the width direction of the slider main part 4, and a third vector parallel to the front-to-rear direction; and / or (iii) an area oriented obliquely so as to approach the first blade 41 and move away from the connecting pillar 43 as it extends forward.

[0071] In some cases, an end edge 65j (e.g., a lower edge) of the first element guide surface 65 that is farthest from the first blade 41 in the height direction of the slider main portion 4 is inclined toward the first blade 41 as it extends forward (see FIGS. 15 and 16 ). This facilitates the escape of the coiled member 12a from within the slider 9. Typically, as in the illustrated example, the end edge 65j of the first element guide surface 65 is formed on the front portion 61, i.e., is inclined toward the first blade 41 as it extends forward at the front portion 61.

[0072] In some cases, the first guide part 6 has a relief surface 66 formed between its inner surface 6b (in some cases, a first element guide surface 65 included in the inner surface 6b) and the end face 6d, and extending to reach its front surface 6a. By forming the relief surface 66 in this manner, the contact area between the coiled member 12a and the first guide part 6 is reduced, and the coiled member 12a can be more easily released from within the slider 9.

[0073] The relief surface 66 is formed at least on the front portion 61 of the first guide portion 6, and preferably is formed across the front portion 61 and the rear portion 62. Preferably, the relief surface 66 is formed to have a larger area and / or a larger height range in the height direction of the slider 9 on the front portion 61 than on the rear portion 62 of the first guide portion 6. This facilitates the escape of the coiled member 12a from within the slider 9.

[0074] The relief surface 66 may be formed so as not to be visible when the slider 9 is viewed from the side with the first guide portion 6 viewed from the front. The relief surface 66 may be oriented obliquely so as to face the connecting end of the connecting post 43 connected to the second blade 42. The relief surface 66 may extend along a composite vector of a first vector extending from the second blade 42 to the first blade 41 in the height direction of the slider main portion 4, a second vector extending in a direction away from the connecting post 43 in the width direction of the slider main portion 4, and a third vector parallel to the front-to-rear direction. The relief surface 66 may be oriented obliquely so as to approach the first blade 41 and move away from the connecting post 43 as it extends forward. This facilitates the escape of the coiled member 12a from within the slider 9.

[0075] The relief surface 66 has a first edge 66a between the relief surface 66 and the end face 6d, a second edge 66b between the relief surface 66 and the inner side surface 6b (or the first element guide surface 65 in some cases), and a third edge 66c between the relief surface 66 and the front surface 6a (see FIGS. 15 and 16 ). As the first edge 66a and the second edge 66b extend forward, they approach the first blade 41 and extend away from the connecting post 43.

[0076] The relief surface 66 may be a flat surface rather than a curved surface like the element guide surface, and may be a chamfered C-surface (cut surface). The relief surface 66 preferably forms an angle (acute angle) within the range of 45° to 80° with respect to a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion 4 (see θ in FIG. 25). This prevents the coiled member 12a from coming into strong contact with the first guide portion 6 when it escapes from the slider 9.

[0077] 20 to 25, a description will be given of a mode in which the fastener stringer 12s (particularly the coiled member 11a) is released from within the slider 9. As in the above description, it is assumed that the first blade 41 is disposed on the upper side and the second blade 42 is disposed on the lower side. First, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 23, the coiled members 11a, 12a are sandwiched on both the left and right sides by the first and second element guide surfaces 65, 75, and their positions are restricted from above. Although the coiled members 11a, 12a are shown not in contact with the inner surface of the first blade 41, it is also possible for them to be in partial or full contact with the inner surface of the first blade 41. However, in this case, the sliding resistance of the slider 9 may increase.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 21 , the offset edge 21 extends so as to intersect with a plurality of elements (five in FIG. 21 ) included in the coiled member 11a, which extends diagonally forward from the joining point behind the connecting post 43. That is, these elements are insufficiently supported by the second blade 42. As described above, the coiled member 11a is held between the first element guide surface 65 and the second blade 42. Therefore, even if the offset edge 21 is formed to extend forward beyond the front end of the first element guide surface 65, the basic performance of the slider 9 (and therefore the basic performance of the slide fastener 150) is not significantly impaired. As an option, the posture of the coiled member 11a can be stabilized by engagement with the coiled member 12a stably supported between the second element guide surface 75 and the second blade 42.

[0079] As shown in Figure 22, the coiled member 11a can be forcibly released from within the slider 9 by strongly pulling the fastener stringer 11s to the right. The fastener elements of the coiled member 11a are disengaged from the fastener elements of the coiled member 12a, and this occurs continuously toward the rear. As a result, the fastener elements of the coiled members 11a and 12a are disengaged from each other over the entire length. During this forcible disengagement operation, it is desirable that the slider 9 be positioned on the coiled member 12a. Therefore, it is optimal that the slider 9 has a locking function (the locking claw described above) that can lock its own position.

[0080] As shown in Figure 24, the inverted portion 2b of the fastener element of the coil-shaped member 11a is contacted or pressed to the right and above by the first element guide surface 65. As described above, the vertical height of the first element guide surface 65 gradually decreases toward the front, thereby facilitating the ease of escape of the coil-shaped member 11a from within the slider 9. The relief surface 66 is formed as described above, facilitating the ease of escape of the coil-shaped member 11a from within the slider 9. Note that in Figure 24, the positions of the first element guide surface, inner surface, relief surface, and end surface in the cross section of Figure 25 are shown by dotted lines. These surfaces shift in a direction away from the connecting post 43 at a more forward position.

[0081] 25, when the fastener stringer 11s is pulled to the right, the coiled member 11a changes from contact with the first element guide surface 65 to contact with the relief surface 66. The coiled member 11a is displaced diagonally downward due to the orientation of the relief surface 66. The second blade 42 is formed with an inclined surface 29, which allows the coiled member 11a to be displaced smoothly in the same direction.

[0082] In some cases, the coiled member 11a is press-fit between the first guide portion 6 and the side edge of the second blade 42 (where the offset edge 21 is formed), pushing the first guide portion 6 upward and causing the right half of the first blade 41 to bend upward. Not only the first blade 41 but also the coiled member 11a may be elastically deformed. In other cases, the coiled member 11a is press-fit between the first guide portion 6 and the side edge of the second blade 42 (where the offset edge 21 is formed), but the right half of the first blade 41 does not bend upward; only the coiled member 11a is elastically deformed. In still other cases, the coiled member 11a is inserted between the first guide portion 6 and the side edge of the second blade 42 (where the offset edge 21 is formed) and passes between them without difficulty. That is, the first blade 41 and the coiled member 11a do not elastically deform during the passage. This is a result of the sufficient spacing between the first guide portion 6 and the side edge of the second blade 42 .

[0083] In light of the above teachings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications to each embodiment and each feature. The reference numerals included in the claims are for reference purposes only and should not be used to limit the interpretation of the claims.

[0084] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 4: Slider main portion 5: Element passage 6: First guide portion 7: Second guide portion 9: Slider 11: First side edge 11a: Coil-shaped member 11b: Fastener tape 11f: Farthest position 11s: Fastener stringer 12: Second side edge 12a: Coil-shaped member 12b: Fastener tape 12s: Fastener stringer 13: Front edge 18: Fastener 18a, 18b: First and second fastener parts 21: Offset edge 22: Opposite edge 23: Front edge 24: Rear edge 29: Inclined surface 35: Inlet 41: First blade 42: Second blade 43: Connecting pillar 51: First base 52: First insertion portion 65, 75 : First and second element guide surfaces 91 : Second base portion 92 : Second insertion portion 150 : Slide fastener

Claims

1. A first fastener stringer (11s) including a first coiled member (11a) on which a monofilament is wound spirally and on which engaging heads (2a) are formed at a predetermined pitch, and a first fastener tape (11b) supporting the first coiled member (11a); a second fastener stringer (12s) including a second coiled member (12a) on which a monofilament is wound spirally and on which engaging heads (2a) are formed at a predetermined pitch, and a second fastener tape (12b) supporting the second coiled member (12a); a slider (9) that moves forward to alternately engage fastener elements included in the first coiled member (11a) and fastener elements included in the second coiled member (12a), and moves backward to release the engagement between both fastener elements; A slide fastener (150) comprising: a first fastener component (18a) fixed to the first fastener tape (11b) in a manner adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the first coiled member (11a), the first fastener component (18a) having a first insertion portion (52) inserted into the slider (9) from the side; and a second fastener component (18b) fixed to the second fastener tape (12b) in a manner adjacent to and / or connected to the rear end of the second coiled member (12a) and separably combinable with the first fastener component (18a), the second fastener component (18b) having a second insertion portion (92) inserted into the slider (9) from the rear, wherein the slider (9) is a slider main section (4) including a first blade (41), a second blade (42), and a connecting column (43) connecting the first and second blades (41, 42), wherein an element passage (5) branched by the connecting column (43) is defined in the slider main section (4); and first and second guide sections (6, 7) arranged at an interval in the width direction of the slider main section (4) so ​​that the element passage (5) has a portion whose width gradually decreases toward the rear, wherein the first guide section (6) is connected to the first blade (41) along a first side edge (11) of the first blade (41), and the second guide section (7) is connected to the first blade (41) along a second side edge (12) of the first blade (41).7), the first and second guide portions (6, 7) include first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion (4), the first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) each having a shape suitable for guiding the first and second coil-shaped members (11a, 12a), and the second vane (42) has an offset edge (21) that is offset toward the center line (CL) in the width direction of the slider main portion (4) compared to the farthest position (11f) of the first side edge (11) that is farthest in the width direction of the slider main portion (4) from the center line (CL) that extends linearly in the front-to-rear direction at the center of the width direction of the connecting post (43).

2. A slide fastener as described in claim 1, wherein the second vane (42) has an inner surface on which an inclined surface (29) is formed adjacent to the offset edge (21), and the inclined surface (29) inclines away from the first vane (41) as it extends toward the offset edge (21) in the width direction of the slider main portion (4).

3. The shortest distance (D) between the inclined surface (29) and the first guide part (6) 35 ) is the thickness (TH) of the first insertion portion (52) 52 3. The slide fastener according to claim 2, wherein the width of the slide fastener is greater than 1 / 2.

4. A slide fastener according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inclined surface (29) at least partially overlaps the first guide portion (6) when the outer surface of the second blade (42) is viewed from the front.

5. A slide fastener according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the angle formed between a plane perpendicular to the width direction of the slider main portion (4) and the inclined surface is within the range of 40 to 85 degrees.

6. A slide fastener according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein both the offset edge (21) and the inclined surface (29) extend parallel to the center line (CL).

7. A slide fastener as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the inner surface of the second wing (42) has a forward inclined surface (31) which, as it extends forward, moves away from the first wing (41) and reaches the leading edge (23) of the second wing (42), and a rearward inclined surface (32) which, as it extends rearward, moves away from the first wing (41) and reaches the trailing edge (24) of the second wing (42), and the inclined surface (29) is formed over the entire length between the forward inclined surface (31) and the rearward inclined surface (32).

8. A slide fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) are each curved and shaped to fit the contours of the inverted portions (2b) of the first and second coil-shaped members (11a, 12a), and optionally have a height that is approximately half the height of the inverted portions (2b) in a direction parallel to the height direction of the slider main portion (4).

9. A slide fastener as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the slider (9) is shaped so that the first coil-shaped member (11a) can escape from the slider (9) through an introduction port (35) between the offset edge (21) and the first guide portion (6).

10. A slider main section (4) including a first blade (41), a second blade (42), and a connecting column (43) connecting the first and second blades (41, 42), wherein an element passage (5) branched by the connecting column (43) is defined in the slider main section (4); and first and second guide sections (6, 7) arranged at an interval in the width direction of the slider main section (4) so ​​that the element passage (5) has a portion whose width gradually decreases toward the rear, wherein the first guide section (6) is connected to the first blade (41) along a first side edge (11) of the first blade (41), and the second guide section (7) is connected to the first blade (41) along a second side edge (12) of the first blade (41). the first and second guide portions (6, 7) include first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion (4), the first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) having shapes suitable for guiding a monofilament-based fastener element, the second vane (42) has an offset edge (21) offset toward the center line (CL) in the width direction of the slider main portion (4) compared to the farthest position (11f) of the first side edge (11) that is farthest from the center line (CL) extending linearly in the front-to-rear direction at the width center of the connecting post (43), the first and second guide portions (6, 7) including first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) facing each other in the width direction of the slider main portion (4), and an introduction port (35) of a first insertion portion (52) of a first fastener component (18a) included in a separable fastener (18) is defined between the offset edge (21) and the first guide portion (6).

11. A slider as described in claim 10, wherein the second vane (42) has an inner surface on which an inclined surface (29) is formed adjacent to the offset edge (21), and the inclined surface (29) inclines away from the first vane (41) as it extends toward the offset edge (21) in the width direction of the slider main portion (4).

12. A slider according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the inner surface of the second vane (42) has a forward inclined surface (31) that extends forward and away from the first vane (41) to reach the leading edge (23) of the second vane (42), and a rearward inclined surface (32) that extends rearward and away from the first vane (41) to reach the trailing edge (24) of the second vane (42), and the inclined surface (29) is formed over the entire length between the forward inclined surface (31) and the rearward inclined surface (32).

13. A slider according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the offset edge (21) extends linearly between the leading edge (23) of the second vane (42) and the trailing edge (24) of the second vane (42).

14. A slider according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the first and second element guide surfaces (65, 75) are curved and shaped to fit the individual contours of the inversion portions (2b) of multiple fastener elements in the slider (9) among the many fastener elements contained in the coil-shaped member formed by spirally winding the monofilament, and optionally have a height that is approximately half the height of the inversion portions (2b) in a direction parallel to the height direction of the slider main portion (4).

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