Fastening part, article, and method for producing article

Abstract

In the fastening part (1) according to this disclosure, at least one thread passage (P1) extending along a predetermined direction and including a plurality of first grooves (31) is formed between first and second element rows (L1, L2). Each of the plurality of first grooves (31) has a first groove width (W31) defined between first and second element parts (11, 12), and is recessed toward a first surface (13m) of a support material (13).

Description

Fastening part, article, and method for manufacturing article

[0001] The present disclosure relates to fastening parts, articles, and methods for manufacturing articles.

[0002] Patent Document 1 (particularly, Figures 5, 6, and 7 of the same document) discloses that an element member is directly sewn to the fabric of an article such as clothing with a sewing thread. One advantage of the technology disclosed in the same document is that the fastener tape of a normal fastener stringer is omitted, and the element member can be sewn to the fabric within a narrow width range of the fastener element, which promotes weight reduction of the article (for example, clothing) and achieves design effects (for example, elimination of color differences between the fastener tape and the fabric, improvement of the unity between the fastener element and the fabric, etc.).

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a dual-edge fastener element zipper in which element rows are provided on both side edges of the fastener tape. It is explained that the dual-edge fastener element zipper can be well adapted to the design of a reversible down jacket in which the front and back are different colors.

[0004] International Publication No. 2018 / 142548 Chinese Utility Model No. 205006103

[0005] A modified or dedicated sewing machine is required to sew the element member of Patent Document 1 to the fabric, but the provision of such a sewing machine is costly, which is one of the factors preventing its widespread use.

[0006] In relation to the above-mentioned non-limiting problems, the inventors of the present application have discovered a new problem of providing a fastening part that can be sewn directly to an attachment point of an article in a manner that is easier and / or has lower implementation costs.

[0007] A fastening part according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a fastening part that can be sewn directly to an attachment location of an article, and includes: a first element row including at least a plurality of first element portions; a second element row including at least a plurality of second element portions; and a support material that is elongated in a predetermined direction and has a width defined by first and second side edges and a thickness defined by first and second surfaces, with each of the plurality of first element portions fixed to the first side edge and each of the plurality of second element portions fixed to the second side edge. Each of the plurality of first element portions includes at least a first base portion fixed to the first side edge and a first engagement portion that is located farther from the first surface than the first base portion in the thickness direction of the support material. Each of the plurality of second element portions includes at least a second base portion fixed to the second side edge. At least one thread passage extending in the predetermined direction and including a plurality of first grooves is formed between the first and second element rows. Each of the plurality of first grooves has a first groove width defined between first and second element portions and is recessed toward the first surface of the support. The second element portions can be either engagement element portions or design element portions.

[0008] The design element portions and the engaging element portions may be arranged regularly or randomly in the first element row, and the design element portions and the engaging element portions may be arranged regularly or randomly in the second element row.

[0009] A method for manufacturing an article having fastening parts sewn to it according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes: overlapping the fastening part and the attachment point of the article on a sewing machine with the first surface facing away from the attachment point; and sewing the fastening part and the attachment point of the article together on the sewing machine with one or more sewing threads. At least one sewing thread of the one or more sewing threads is sequentially introduced into the multiple first grooves. The fastening part may be as described above. This specification also discloses an article having fastening parts sewn to it.

[0010] The individual features recited in the individual dependent claims are applicable to the above aspects alone or in any combination.

[0011] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a fastening part that can be sewn directly to an attachment point of an article in a manner that is easier and / or has lower implementation costs.

[0012] 1 is a surface view of an article (particularly an opening thereof) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which left and right fastening parts are sewn to the opposing folded edges of the left and right fabrics with a sewing thread (not shown). FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an article according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, in which a slider is shown in dotted lines for reference. FIG. 3 is a schematic partial perspective view of a fastening part, in which a thread path including a number of first grooves is shown. FIG. 4 is a schematic surface view of a fastening part, in which the engagement portion of the left-end fastener element in the same view is shown (the neck portion is shown in dotted lines). FIG. 5 is a schematic partial perspective view of a fastening part, in which a receiving path including a number of second grooves is shown. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a fastening part, in which stitches of a sewing thread introduced into the thread path are shown. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fastening part, in which a support material is sewn to the folded edges of the fabric with a sewing thread. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a fastening device in which the left and right fastening parts are joined. 12 is a schematic side view of a fastening part according to a second embodiment, in which the first and second element portions on both the front and back sides are arranged in a zigzag pattern along the longitudinal direction of the fastening part. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fastening part according to a third embodiment, in which the intermediate portion of the support material is sandwiched between the first and second bottom plates. FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a fastening part according to the third embodiment. FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the dashed dotted line X12-X12 of FIG. 11. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing variations in the bottom plate. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing variations in the thickness of the bottom plate. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing variations in the fixing of element portions to the support material. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a sewing process. FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing another sewing process. FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a form of a fastening part having a first row consisting of an array of engaging elements and a second row consisting of an array of design elements.

[0013] Various embodiments and features will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the terms used in this specification indicating directions will be described. The fastening device has a longitudinal direction D1, a width direction D2, and a thickness direction D3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). For the sake of convenience, it is assumed that, in principle, the front-to-rear direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the fastening device (the direction of movement of a slider, which will be described later), the left-to-right direction coincides with the width direction of the fastening device, and the front-to-back direction coincides with the thickness direction of the fastening device. The fastening device is formed by a single center line C FD and has a center line C in the width direction D2. FD The direction toward the center line C in the width direction D2 is called the inside of the width direction. FD The direction away from the fastening device is sometimes referred to as the widthwise outer side. The fastening part has a longitudinal direction D1', a width direction D2', and a thickness direction D3' (see FIG. 3), which correspond to the longitudinal direction D1, width direction D2, and thickness direction D3 of the fastening device, respectively. The terms indicating directions can be redefined based on the following explanation.

[0014] 1 and 2 , the article 9 is, for example, clothing, a bag, a backpack, or shoes, and includes left and right fabric portions 91, 92, a fastening device 7 that connects opposing portions of the fabric portions 91, 92 in an openable and closable manner, and a slider 8 that opens and closes the fastening device 7. The fabric portions 91, 92 are made of a flexible material such as woven fabric, knitted fabric, or leather. The fastening device 7 has flexibility that allows it to follow the bending of the fabric portions 91, 92, and therefore high flexibility of the article 9 is ensured despite its attachment.

[0015] The fastening device 7 comprises left and right fastening parts 1, 1' that can be partially or completely separated. The forward movement of the slider 8 forms an opening between fabric portions 91, 92, or completely separates the two. The fabric portions 91, 92 may be, for example, but are not limited to, the left and right front bodice of a garment. The fabric portions 91, 92 include front portions 91a, 92a and back portions 91b, 92b, with attachment points 91c, 92c formed between them. The attachment points 91c, 92c are portions of the article 9 to which the fastening parts 1, 1' are attached; in the illustrated example, they are the folded edges of the fabric. The fastening device 7 is attached to the fabric portions 91, 92 within the narrow range of the fastening parts 1, 1', achieving the same effects (weight reduction, design effects, etc.) as those of Patent Document 1.

[0016] As the slider 8 advances, the left and right fastening parts 1, 1' (the first element portions 11, 11' and the second element portions 12, 12' described below) engage with each other, and the fastening device 7 enters a closed state. As the slider 8 moves backward, the left and right fastening parts 1, 1' (the first element portions 11, 11' and the second element portions 12, 12') disengage from each other, and the fastening device 7 enters an open state. The slider 8 has a front blade 81, a rear blade 82, and a connecting post (not shown) that connects the front blade 81 and the rear blade 82 at their front ends (see FIG. 2). Left and right front openings are provided on both the left and right sides of the connecting post. A single rear opening is provided behind the connecting post.

[0017] The following description will be given with additional reference to Figures 3 to 7. The fastening parts 1, 1' can be sewn directly to attachment points 91c, 92c of the article 9. The fastening parts 1, 1' are structurally identical, and therefore, the following description will mainly focus on the fastening part 1. The fastening part 1 has a first element row L1 in which a plurality of first element portions 11 are arranged, a second element row L2 in which a plurality of second element portions 12 are arranged, and a support member 13 extending longitudinally in the longitudinal direction D1' of the fastening part 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the predetermined direction D1'). Each of the plurality of first element portions 11 is fixed to a first side edge 21, and each of the plurality of second element portions 12 is fixed to a second side edge 22. The first side edge, first element portion, and first element row can be referred to as the front side edge, front side element portion, and first element row, respectively, and the second side edge, second element portion, and second element row can be referred to as the back side edge, back side element portion, and back side element row, respectively.

[0018] The support material 13 is a member that is elongated in a predetermined direction D1' and has a width W13 (or its maximum width) defined by first and second side edges 21, 22 and a thickness TH13 defined by first and second faces 13m, 13n. The first and second side edges 21, 22 typically extend parallel to the predetermined direction D1' and are disposed on both the front and back sides of the fastening part 1 in the thickness direction D3'. The first and second faces 13m, 13n face opposite sides of the fastening part 1 in the width direction D2'. The width direction of the support material 13 coincides with the thickness direction D3' of the fastening part 1. The thickness direction of the support material 13 coincides with the width direction D2' of the fastening part 1. This is in contrast to a typical fastener stringer, in which the width direction of the fastener tape coincides with the width direction of the fastener stringer, and the thickness direction of the fastener tape coincides with the thickness direction of the fastener stringer.

[0019] The support material 13 extends longitudinally in the predetermined direction D1' with a predetermined width W13. In short, it is a strip material whose width is small relative to its length. The length / width ratio can be 5 or more, 10 or more, 15 or more, or 20 or more. The support material 13 can be a highly flexible material such as a woven fabric, a knitted fabric, or a mixed woven and knitted fabric. In this case, the first and second element portions 11, 12 are displaceable relative to each other, and the fastening part 1 can achieve greater flexibility. In applications requiring a stronger engagement between the fastening parts 1, 1', the support material 13 can be made harder, and for example, a laminate of fabric and resin film can be used. As an alternative to the above, the support material 13 can also be made of a resin material or metal material with greater, less, or almost no flexibility.

[0020] The first surface 13m faces away from the attachment point 91c when the fastening part 1 is sewn to the attachment point 91c. The second surface 13n faces toward the attachment point 91c when the fastening part 1 is sewn to the attachment point 91c, or is in direct contact with the attachment point 91c. Just to be clear, in the fastening device 7, the first surface of the fastening part 1 and the first surface of the fastening part 1' face each other at a certain distance when the fastening device 7 is closed, and face each other across the opening of the article when the fastening device 7 is open.

[0021] The first and second surfaces 13m, 13n may be exposed surfaces that are exposed to the outside over the entire length of the fastening part 1. After the fastening part 1 is sewn to the attachment point 91c, the first surface 13m is partially covered with stitches ST of the sewing thread, and the second surface 13n is partially or entirely covered by the attachment point 91c of the fabric portion 91. The first surface 13m is an opening formed between the left and right fastening parts 1, 1', and is visible even after the fastening part 1 is sewn to the attachment point 91c. On the other hand, it is more difficult to see the second surface 13n, or it is practically impossible to see it unless the fabric portion 91 is deformed, cut, or the like.

[0022] The support member 13 preferably includes a first core portion 13a, a second core portion 13b, and an intermediate portion 13c formed between the first and second core portions 13a and 13b. The first and second core portions 13a and 13b form first and second side edges 21 and 22, respectively. The first and second core portions 13a and 13b form both side edges of the support member 13 in the width direction, thereby strengthening the adhesion of the first and second element portions 11 and 12 thereto. Preferably, (i) the intermediate portion 13c has a width less than twice the sum of the widths of the first core portion 13a and the second core portion 13b, and / or (ii) the intermediate portion 13c is a sheet-like portion having a constant thickness throughout its entire area in the predetermined direction D1′. By narrowing the width as in (i), the flexibility of the support member 13 is effectively reduced, suppressing relative displacement between the first and second element portions 11 and 12. By making the thickness uniform as in (ii), the resistance to the insertion of a sewing needle can be made uniform. The distance between the first and second surfaces 13m, 13n is greatest at the core portion and smallest at the middle portion. As a variant, the middle portion 13c can have a third core portion disposed between the first and second core portions. By passing a needle thread through the third core portion, the sewing strength can be increased.

[0023] The cores, such as the first to third cores, are composed of a hollow weave that is a part of the weave of the support material, and one or more cords (e.g., braided cords) introduced into this hollow weave. The braided cords have bulk, which gives the cores bulk. Resin wire, metal wire, or a combination of these can also be used as an alternative to the cords. Resin and metal wire are relatively less flexible than braided cords, but may improve the bonding strength of the first and second element parts.

[0024] The first and second element portions 11, 12 may be resin portions fixed to the support material 13 by injection molding in the same process or separate processes. The first and second element portions 11, 12 may have the same color and / or be made of the same resin material. By matching the mechanical or appearance characteristics of the first and second element portions 11, 12, the mechanical or appearance characteristics of the fastening part 1 are made uniform in its thickness direction. The first element portions 11 are not continuous in the predetermined direction D1′, and each first element portion 11 is provided independently as an island portion. The same applies to the second element portions 12. The first element portions 11 are arranged at a first pitch in the predetermined direction D1′, and the second element portions 12 are arranged at a second pitch in the same direction. Preferably, the first pitch is equal to the second pitch, which promotes flexibility of the fastening part 1 and makes it easier for it to meander along the front-to-rear direction. A configuration in which the first pitch and the second pitch are different is also conceivable.

[0025] The first and second element portions 11, 12 each hold the first and second core portions 13a, 13b at a position and location away from the center of the thickness direction of the fastening part 1, and have, for example, cavities 15a, 15b for receiving the core portions 13a, 13b. The cavities 15a, 15b are located farther from the center of the thickness direction of the fastening part 1 than the opposing side wall surfaces 31m, 31n described below. The cavity 15a opens at the connection point between the first core portion 13a and the intermediate portion 13c. The cavity 15b opens at the connection point between the second core portion 13b and the intermediate portion 13c. The cavities 15a, 15b refer to hollows in the resin portions of the first and second element portions 11, 12. In fact, the cavities 15a, 15b are embedded in or occupied by the first and second core portions 13a, 13b, respectively.

[0026] The first element row L1 and the second element row L2 may be arranged in mirror symmetry. Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of first element portions 11 and the plurality of second element portions 12 may be arranged in mirror symmetry. Mirror symmetry may contribute to uniform engagement forces on both the front and back sides, or may contribute to simplifying or reducing the cost of an injection molding die. The description regarding the first element portion 11 applies equally to the second element portion 12.

[0027] Each first element portion 11 has a first base portion 11a fixed to the first side edge 21, a first engagement portion 11b positioned farther from the first surface 13m in the thickness direction of the support material 13 than the first base portion 11a, and optionally a first auxiliary engagement portion 11c positioned farther from the first surface 13m in the thickness direction of the support material 13 than the first base portion 11a (see FIG. 3). Typically, the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c is disposed on the front side of the first engagement portion 11b. Similarly, each second element portion 12 has a second base portion 12a fixed to the second side edge 22, and a second engagement portion 12b positioned farther from the first surface 13m in the thickness direction of the support material 13 than the second base portion 12a, and optionally a second auxiliary engagement portion 12c positioned farther from the first surface 13m in the thickness direction of the support material 13 than the second base portion 12a. Typically, the second auxiliary engagement portion 12c is disposed on the rear side of the second engagement portion 12b.

[0028] The first base portion 11a is fixed to the first core portion 13a and completely encompasses a portion of the first core portion 13a in the longitudinal direction of the first core portion 13a. This increases the fixing strength of the first element portion 11 to the first core portion 13a. For example, the entire first core portion 13a is disposed on the front side of the side wall surfaces 31m and 32m (described later) (see FIG. 7). The first engaging portion 11b is shaped to be able to engage with a corresponding first engaging portion of the fastening part 1′. The first auxiliary engaging portion 11c is disposed on the front side of the first engaging portion 11b, thereby enhancing the design when viewed from the front side by a user. The first auxiliary engaging portion 11c is a type of engaging portion involved in the engagement between the fastening parts 1, 1′ and is shaped to have a higher design quality and a lower engaging force than the first engaging portion 11b.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 4, the first engaging portion 11b includes a neck portion 25 connected to the first base portion 11a and a head portion 26 connected to the first base portion 11a via the neck portion 25. The first auxiliary engaging portion 11c is connected to the neck portion 25 and the head portion 26 from the front side, thereby increasing the strength of the first element portion 11. In addition, the first auxiliary engaging portion 11c is connected to the neck portion 25 on both the front and rear sides (of the element center line C EL The gap (recessed toward the front) is covered by the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c, thereby increasing the engagement force between the fastening parts 1, 1' in the front-to-back direction and suppressing the intrusion of foreign matter (for example, into the thread path described below). The head 26 includes a front protrusion 26m that protrudes forward from the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c (for example, its inclined surface 6f) and a rear protrusion 26n that protrudes rearward from the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c (for example, its inclined surface 6g), and these protrude to opposite sides in the predetermined direction D1'. The front protrusion 26m has a surface 6h, and the rear protrusion 26n has a surface 6i, with the surfaces 6h and 6i forming part of the outline of the elliptical head 26.

[0030] As the first engaging portion 11b moves away from the first base portion 11a, the width (in the front-to-rear direction) of the first engaging portion 11b gradually decreases and then gradually increases, thereby forming the contour of the neck portion 25. As the first engaging portion 11b moves further away from the first base portion 11a, the width (in the front-to-rear direction) of the first engaging portion 11b gradually increases and then gradually decreases, thereby forming the contour of the head portion 26. The shape of the first engaging portion 11b is not limited to this, and it may also have an inverted V shape with the center portion protruding forward.

[0031] The first base portion 11a has a surface 6a that intersects or is perpendicular to the thickness direction D3' of the fastening part 1, and three side surfaces 6b, 6c, and 6d that are connected to the surface 6a (see FIG. 4). The side surfaces 6b and 6d intersect or are perpendicular to the predetermined direction D1', and the side surface 6c intersects or is perpendicular to the width direction D2' of the fastening part 1. The first auxiliary engagement portion 11c has a surface 6e that intersects or is perpendicular to the thickness direction D3' of the fastening part 1, and a pair of inclined surfaces 6f and 6g that approach each other as they move away from the side surfaces 6b and 6d in the direction away from the first base portion 11a in the width direction D2' of the fastening part 1. The surface 6e may be an inclined surface that slopes backward as it moves away from the surface 6a, thereby gradually reducing the thickness of the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c.

[0032] The descriptions of the first base portion 11a, the first engaging portion 11b, and the first auxiliary engaging portion 11c also apply to the second base portion 12a, the second engaging portion 12b, and the second auxiliary engaging portion 12c, and are to be read in reverse. Note that the first base portion 11a and the second base portion 12a have surfaces 61a and 62a facing opposite directions in the front-back direction, which determine the maximum thickness of the fastening part 1. Due to the inclined front and back surfaces of the first and second auxiliary engaging portions 11c and 12c described above, the maximum thickness of the fastening part 1 gradually decreases as it moves away from the plane PL3 (see FIG. 4) on which the support material 13 is located.

[0033] Just to be clear, the specific configuration and / or shape of the first and second element portions 11, 12 are not limited to the above-described combination of the engaging portion and the auxiliary engaging portion. For example, the first auxiliary engaging portion 11c can be omitted from the first element portion 11 to reduce its thickness, and optionally, the first engaging portion 11b (the neck portion 25 and the head portion 26 described below) can be thickened by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the omitted first auxiliary engaging portion 11c. This increases the engaging force of the first engaging portion 11b. Conversely, the first element portion 11 can be omitted to reduce its thickness, and optionally, the first auxiliary engaging portion 11c can be thickened by an amount equivalent to the thickness of the omitted first engaging portion 11b. The same explanation as above also applies to the second element portion 12, and a repeated explanation will be omitted. Note that the engaging portion can have a shape that is bent at at least one or more locations, such as a V-shape or an inverted V-shape, in addition to the connection between the neck portion and the head portion. It should be noted that the auxiliary engagement portion may have other shapes, such as a rectangle or an isosceles triangle, when viewed from the front or back. Different appearances can be achieved on the front and back by providing different shapes of engagement structures for the first and second engagement portions. Additionally or alternatively, different appearances can be achieved on the front and back by providing different shapes of auxiliary engagement structures for the first and second auxiliary engagement portions.

[0034] In this embodiment, at least one thread path P1 is formed between the first and second element rows L1, L2, extending along the predetermined direction D1′ and including a plurality of first grooves 31 (see FIGS. 6 and 7 ). Each of the plurality of first grooves 31 has a first groove width W31 defined between the first and second element portions 11, 12, and is recessed toward the first surface 13m of the support material 13. The feature of forming, constructing, or configuring the thread path P1 from the plurality of first grooves 31 allows a sewing thread to be threaded between the first and second element rows L1, L2, enabling straighter sewing (compared to the fastening part of Patent Document 1) and improving sewing efficiency. In this way, a fastening part 1 that can be sewn directly to an attachment point of an article can be provided in a manner that is easier and / or has lower implementation costs. Typically, a general sewing machine or a sewing machine with only minor modifications can be used to sew the fastening part 1 to the attachment point 91c with sewing thread, promoting widespread use of the fastening part 1. As a secondary benefit, the cost of the fastening part 1 can be reduced by reducing the amount of sewing thread used. Naturally, the use of a sewing machine is not essential, and hand sewing using a single sewing thread is also envisioned.

[0035] The thread path P1 extends continuously along the predetermined direction D1'. Typically, the thread path P1 extends parallel to the predetermined direction D1'. However, this is not limited to this. The thread path P1 may extend in a zigzag pattern along the predetermined direction D1'. In this case, the thread path P1 may include an alternating arrangement of inclined grooves that incline toward the front as they extend forward and inclined grooves that incline toward the back as they incline toward the front. Even in this case, the advantage of linear sewing is obtained, albeit to a reduced extent. Optimally, the multiple first grooves 31 are arranged on the same line parallel to the predetermined direction D1' at the center position in the width direction of the support material 13. A space SP1 is formed between adjacent first element portions 11 in the longitudinal direction of the fastening part 1, and a space SP2 is formed between adjacent second element portions 12. Therefore, adjacent first grooves 31 in the same direction are also spatially connected via the space between them.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 7 , the first groove 31 has sidewall surfaces 31m, 31n and a bottom surface 31j extending between the sidewall surfaces 31m, 31n. Advantageously, the first groove 31 is a deep groove in which the first groove depth D31 is greater than the first groove width W31. Preferably, the aspect ratio D31 / W31 is 1.5 or greater, and more preferably, 2 or greater. By increasing the aspect ratio, the mechanical strength of the first and second element portions 11, 12 is maintained while effectively reducing the total length of sewing thread required to sew the fastening part 1 to the attachment location 91c, thereby simultaneously improving sewing efficiency. The aspect ratio is determined by the depth / width ratio.

[0037] The side wall surfaces 31m, 31n of the first groove 31 match the opposing surfaces of the first and second element portions 11, 12, and typically include the opposing surfaces of the first and second engagement portions 11b, 12b, and can optionally partially include the opposing surfaces of the first and second base portions 11a, 12a. The bottom surface 31j of the first groove 31, as shown in FIG. 7, matches the first surface 13m of the support material 13 (e.g., the intermediate portion 13c). That is, the first surface 13m of the support material 13 (e.g., the intermediate portion 13c) is exposed at the bottom side of the first groove 31, which facilitates the simplification of the sewing operation.

[0038] The fastening part 1 may further include at least one receiving channel P2 extending along a predetermined direction D1' between the first and second element rows L1, L2 to at least partially receive the attachment point 91c of the article 9 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). The receiving channel P2 includes a plurality of second grooves 32, each of which defines a second groove width W32 between the first and second element portions 11, 12 and is recessed toward the second surface 13n of the support material 13. The receiving channel P2 being formed, constructed, or configured from a plurality of second grooves 32 allows the attachment point 91c to be inserted between the first and second element rows L1, L2, promoting more stable attachment of the fastening part 1 to the attachment point 91c. Arranging the first and second element rows L1, L2 on both the front and back sides of the attachment point 91c may also improve watertightness. Preferably, the maximum depth of the receiving channel P2 is less than half the maximum depth of the thread passage P1. That is, as is clear from the above description, it is desirable that the yarn passage P1 be formed deeper than the receiving passage P2.

[0039] The receiving path P2 extends continuously along the predetermined direction D1'. Typically, the receiving path P2 extends parallel to the predetermined direction D1', but is not limited to this. The receiving path P2 may extend in a zigzag pattern along the predetermined direction D1', similar to the thread path P1. However, in the latter case, there is a risk that wrinkles may easily occur in the fabric portions 91, 92. Optimally, the multiple second grooves 32 are arranged on the same straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fastening part 1 at the center of the width direction of the support material 13.

[0040] 7, the second groove 32 has side wall surfaces 32m, 32n and a bottom surface 32j extending between the side wall surfaces 32m, 32n. Advantageously, the second groove 32 is a shallow groove that is shallower than the first groove 31 (located on the opposite side of the second groove 32 in the width direction of the fastening part 1), thereby preventing the attachment point 91c from excessively intruding into the second groove 32 of the fastening part 1. The aspect ratio of the second groove 32 is smaller than that of the first groove 31, for example, less than two-thirds or less than one-half of that of the first groove 31.

[0041] The side wall surfaces 32m, 32n of the second groove 32 match the opposing surfaces of the first and second element portions 11, 12, and may typically include the opposing surfaces of the first and second base portions 11a, 12a. In the case shown in Fig. 7, the bottom surface 31j of the first groove 31 matches the second surface 13n of the support material 13 (e.g., the intermediate portion 13c). In other words, the first surface 13m of the support material 13 (e.g., the intermediate portion 13c) is exposed at the bottom side of the second groove 32, which facilitates the simplification of the sewing operation.

[0042] The depth direction of the first groove 31 and the depth direction of the second groove 32 are opposite to each other. The depth direction of the first groove 31 coincides with the direction of advance (in the first groove 31) toward the first surface 13m of the support material 13 in the width direction of the fastening part 1. The depth direction of the second groove 32 coincides with the direction of advance (in the second groove 32) toward the second surface 13n of the support material 13 in the width direction of the fastening part 1.

[0043] The engagement state of the fastening parts 1, 1' will be further explained with reference to Figure 8. The first auxiliary engagement portion 11c of the fastening part 1 and the first auxiliary engagement portion 11c' of the fastening part 1' are alternately engaged. When the fastening parts 1, 1' are engaged, the auxiliary engagement portion of the element portion of one fastening part is stacked on top of the head of the element portion of the other fastening part, which prevents the two from being disengaged by force applied in the front-to-back direction.

[0044] 9, the first and second element portions 11, 12 may be arranged in a zigzag pattern along the predetermined direction D1'. In this configuration, the fastening device 7 has increased resistance to forces applied in the front-to-back direction.

[0045] In the above-described configuration of fastening part 1, both first surface 13m and second surface 13n of support material 13 are exposed without any covering. As a result, the exposed surface of first surface 13m and the exposed surface of second surface 13n overlap over their entire areas when viewed in the thickness direction of support material 13. In this case, the sewing needle of a sewing machine only needs to penetrate support material 13 of fastening part 1, which has the advantage of making the sewing operation relatively easy.

[0046] In contrast, in the second configuration, the first surface 13m and the second surface 13n of the support material 13 are each regularly exposed along the predetermined direction D1'. The exposed surface of the first surface 13m and the exposed surface of the second surface 13n can at least partially overlap when viewed in the thickness direction of the support material 13. In this case, the mechanical strength of the first and / or second element portions 11, 12 is increased, or the fixing strength of the first and / or second element portions 11, 12 to the support material 13 is increased.

[0047] 10 , the fastening part 1 can further include a plurality of first bottom plates 51. Each of the plurality of first bottom plates 51 connects the first and second element portions 12 to each other in the width direction of the support material 13, and forms at least a part of the bottom surface of the first groove 31. In this case, the first and second element portions 12 are connected to each other by the first bottom plates 51, which increases their mechanical strength and / or their fixing strength to the support material 13. In addition, it becomes difficult for one of the first element portion 11 and the second element portion 12 to be displaced relative to the other, and the engagement between the fastening parts 1, 1′ is strengthened.

[0048] In addition to or instead of the first bottom plate 51, the fastening part 1 may further include a plurality of second bottom plates 52. Each of the plurality of second bottom plates 52 connects the first and second element parts 11, 12 to each other in the width direction of the support material 13 and forms at least a part of the bottom surface of the second groove 32. In this case, the first and second element parts 12 are connected to each other by the second bottom plate 52, which increases their mechanical strength and / or their fixing strength to the support material 13. Furthermore, it becomes difficult for one of the first element part 11 and the second element part 12 to be displaced relative to the other, strengthening the engagement between the fastening parts 1, 1′.

[0049] First needle holes 61 are formed between adjacent first bottom plates 51 in the predetermined direction D1', through which a portion of the first surface 13m of the support material 13 (particularly the middle portion 13c) is exposed and visible from the outside. The first needle holes 61 are regularly opened in the predetermined direction D1', and a sewing needle of a sewing machine pierces the support material 13 through these holes. It is desirable that the first needle holes 61 are not spatially connected in the predetermined direction D1', and in the illustrated example, the first bottom plates 51 prevent spatial communication between adjacent first needle holes 61. By appropriately setting the feeding cycle of the fabric portions 91, 92 and the stack of fastening parts 1 by the sewing machine, the sewing needle can be pierced accurately through the first needle holes 61.

[0050] In order to increase the opening area of ​​the first pinhole 61, it is further desirable that the first bottom plates 51 have a constricted shape as shown in Fig. 11. It is not essential that all of the first bottom plates 51 have a constricted shape, but it is desirable that two or more first bottom plates 51 have a constricted shape. The first pinhole 61 may be spatially connected to a gap between adjacent first element portions 11 in the longitudinal direction of the fastening part 1 and / or may be spatially connected to a gap between adjacent second element portions 12 in the longitudinal direction of the fastening part 1.

[0051] Second pinholes 62 are formed between adjacent second bottom plates 52 in the predetermined direction D1', through which portions of the second surface 13n are exposed and visible from the outside. The second pinholes 62 are regularly spaced apart in the predetermined direction D1', allowing a sewing needle of a sewing machine to pierce the support material 13. It is desirable that the second pinholes 62 are not spatially connected in the predetermined direction D1'. In the illustrated example, the second bottom plates 52 prevent spatial communication between adjacent second pinholes 62. By appropriately setting the feeding cycle of the fabric portions 91, 92 and the stack of fastening parts 1 by the sewing machine, the sewing needle can be accurately pierced through the second pinholes 62. To increase the opening area of ​​the second pinholes 62, it is further desirable that the second bottom plates 52 have a constricted shape similar to that of the first bottom plate 51. While it is not necessary for all second bottom plates 52 to have a constricted shape, it is desirable that two or more second bottom plates 52 have a constricted shape. 12, the first and second bottom plates 51, 52 may be formed on opposite sides of the support material 13. Similarly, the first and second needle holes 61, 62 may be formed on opposite sides of the support material 13.

[0052] The thickness or maximum thickness of the first bottom plate 51 measured from the first surface 13m is 2 / 3 or less, 1 / 2 or less, or 1 / 3 or less of the maximum height of the first element portion 11 measured from the first surface 13m, and / or 2 / 3 or less, 1 / 2 or less, or 1 / 3 or less of the maximum height of the second element portion 12 measured from the first surface 13m. This ensures a sufficient depth of the first groove 31. The thickness or maximum thickness of the second bottom plate 52 is equal to or greater than the thickness or maximum thickness of the first bottom plate 51, which increases the mechanical strength of the first and second element portions 12 and / or increases the strength of their attachment to the support material 13. Other configurations are also possible.

[0053] Just to be clear, it is also possible to form the first bottom plate 51 over the entire longitudinal length of the fastening part 1. In this case, the first bottom plate 51 can be formed thin enough to allow a sewing needle to pass through the position and / or area corresponding to the first pinhole 61 (for example, a thickness of 2 mm or less). Of course, if a sewing needle were to pass through the first bottom plate 51, which is a resin part, there is a risk of burrs and residue being generated, so it is advantageous to form the first pinhole 61 as a void space where no tangible object exists. The same explanation applies to the second bottom plate 52.

[0054] 13( a), the first bottom plate 51 may be formed obliquely (for example, rectangular or parallelogram-shaped) so as to connect a first element portion 11 to another second element portion 12 adjacent to the opposing second element portion 12, rather than connecting a first element portion 11 and a second element portion 12 facing each other in the thickness direction of the fastening part 1 (as described above). The first pinhole 61 may also be formed obliquely. Other configurations are also possible.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 13( b), the first bottom plate 51 can be formed to connect one second element portion 12 and two first element portions 11 (i.e., a pair of first element portions 11) facing each other in the thickness direction of the fastening part 1. The first element portions 11 are formed at twice the pitch compared to the above-described configuration, and therefore the total number of first element portions 11 is twice the total number of second element portions 12. However, the element dimensions are approximately halved. In such a case, the first bottom plate 51 can be formed in a V-shape or U-shape, and two first element portions 11 can be connected to one second element portion 12 via this. Other configurations are also possible.

[0056] 14(a) shows an example in which the second bottom plate 52 is formed to be thicker than the first bottom plate 51. The receiving path P2 is buried in the second bottom plate 52 and essentially disappears. The second bottom plates 51, 52 can alternatively be named a connecting portion (connecting the first and second element portions 11, 12).

[0057] 14(b) shows an example in which the first bottom plate 51 is formed thicker than that of FIG. 14(a). The depth of the first groove 31 decreases as the thickness of the first bottom plate 51 increases. To ensure a sufficient depth of the first groove 31, the thickness or maximum thickness of the first bottom plate 51 measured from the first surface 13m is set to ⅔ or less of the maximum height of the first element portion 11 measured from the first surface 13m.

[0058] 15(a) shows an example in which through holes H1 and H2 are regularly formed in a support material 13 as a substitute for the first and second core portions, and the first and second element portions 11 and 12 are attached to the through holes by injection molding. Multiple through holes can be assigned to one element portion, which prevents the element portion from rotating. Naturally, the through holes H1 and H2 are filled and closed by the resin portions of the first and second element portions 11 and 12, respectively.

[0059] Fig. 15(b) shows an example in which first and second bottom plates 51, 52 are formed in the example of Fig. 15(a). Fig. 15(c) shows an example in which an intermediate through-hole H3 is further formed in the support material 13 to connect the first bottom plate 51 and the second bottom plate 52 in the example of Fig. 15(b).

[0060] 16 and 17 , the process of sewing the fastening part 1 to the fabric portion 91 will be described. First, the fastening part 1 and the attachment point 91c of the article 9 are overlapped on a sewing machine, with the first surface 13m facing away from the attachment point 91c. Next, the fastening part 1 and the attachment points 91c, 92c of the article 9 are sewn together on the sewing machine with one or more sewing threads. In this process, the sewing threads are introduced sequentially into the multiple first grooves 31.

[0061] 16(a) and 16(b), tension is applied to the sewing thread in accordance with the up and down movement of the sewing needle when sewing the fastening part 1 and the fabric portion 91 together. Therefore, the attachment point 91c, which is to become the folded end, is naturally introduced into the receiving path P2.

[0062] As can be seen from Figures 17(a) and (b), the fastening part 1 and the fabric part 91 may be sewn together with the attachment point 91c, which is to become the folded end, introduced into the receiving path P2.

[0063] The sewing thread may include an upper thread and a lower thread, and the two may intertwine inside the folded edge of the fabric portion 91 between the front portion 91a and the back portion 91b. A typical sewing machine having a linear feed mechanism, an upper needle, a looper, etc. may be used. Optionally, the sewing machine may include a transport guide mechanism for the fastening part 1 and the fabric portion 91. The feed mechanism feeds the polymer of the fastening part 1 and the fabric portion 91 linearly onto the needle plate. On the needle plate, the upper needle penetrates the support material 13 and then the fabric portion 91. When the upper needle reaches the bottom dead center and subsequently displaces upward, the thread threaded through the upper needle is captured by the looper below the fabric portion 91 and entangled with the lower thread. When the upper needle reaches the top dead center, sufficient tension is applied to the upper thread and the lower thread. In this manner, a stitch ST is formed, and the fastening part 1 is sewn to the fabric portion 91. The operating principle of a sewing machine is well known to those skilled in the art, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The method for sewing the fastening part 1 to the article 9 can be understood to be equivalent to the method for manufacturing the article 9 to which the fastening part 1 is sewn, and a redundant description of the method for manufacturing the article 9 will be omitted. The fastening part 1' can also be sewn to the fabric portion 92 in the same manner.

[0064] In the above disclosure, both the first and second element portions have engaging portions. However, the element portions do not necessarily have to be engaging element portions and may be design element portions. That is, the engaging portions can be omitted in various ways, as follows. In some cases, the engaging portion of the first element portion is replaced with a design portion, and the first element portion as an engaging element portion becomes the design element portion. In other cases, the engaging portion of the second element portion is replaced with a design portion, and the second element portion as an engaging element portion becomes the design element portion. The design portion referred to here means a portion that contributes substantially nothing or almost nothing to increasing the engagement strength of the fastening parts 1, 1′ against lateral pulling (in the left-right direction) and / or upward thrust (in the front-back direction), as shown as design portion 12d in Figure 18. For reference, two types of design portion 12d with different shapes are shown in Figure 18. However, the number of types of design portion in the same row is arbitrary, as long as it is one or more. It is also possible to envisage a configuration in which the engaging element portions and the design element portions are arranged in the same row in a regular manner (for example, alternating one by one, alternating multiple by multiple) or randomly.

[0065] A further modification is to omit one of the first and second element rows.

[0066] The fastening part 1 shown in Figure 18 is as follows. Note 1. A fastening part (1) that can be sewn directly to an attachment point (91c, 92c) of an article (9), comprising: a first element row (L1) including at least a plurality of engaging element portions (11); a second element row (L2) including at least a plurality of design element portions (12); and a support material (13) that is elongated in a predetermined direction and has a width (W13) defined by first and second side edges (21, 22) and a thickness (TH13) defined by first and second faces (13m, 13n), wherein each of the plurality of engaging element portions (11) is fixed to the first side edge (21) and each of the plurality of design element portions (12) is fixed to the second side edge (22). Each of the plurality of engaging element portions (11) has at least a first base portion (11a) fixed to the first side edge (21) and an engaging portion (11b) located farther from the first surface (13m) than the first base portion (11a) in the thickness direction of the support material (13), each of the plurality of design element portions (12) has at least a second base portion (12a) fixed to the second side edge (22) and a design portion (12d) located farther from the first surface (13m) than the second base portion (12a) in the thickness direction of the support material (13), and at least one thread passage (P1) extending along the predetermined direction and including a plurality of first grooves (31) is formed between the first and second element rows (L1, L2), A fastening part, wherein each of the plurality of first grooves (31) has a first groove width (W31) defined between the engaging element portion (11) and the design element portion (12), and is recessed toward the first surface (13m) of the support material (13).

[0067] In light of the above disclosure, 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.

[0068] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1': Fastening parts 7: Fastening device 8: Slider 9: Article 11: First element portion 12: Second element portion 13: Support material 13a, 13b: First core portion, second core portion 13c: Intermediate portion 13m, 13n: First surface, second surface 21, 22: First side edge, second side edge 31, 32: First groove, second groove 51, 52: First bottom plate, second bottom plate 61, 62: First needle hole, second needle hole 91a: Front side portion 91b: Back side portion 91c: Mounting location L1, L2: First element row, second element row P1: Thread path P2: Receiving path

Claims

1. A fastening part (1) that can be sewn directly to an attachment point (91c, 92c) of an article (9), comprising: a first element row (L1) including at least a plurality of first element portions (11); a second element row (L2) including at least a plurality of second element portions (12); and a support material (13) that is long in a predetermined direction and has a width (W13) defined by first and second side edges (21, 22) and a thickness (TH13) defined by first and second faces (13m, 13n), wherein each of the plurality of first element portions (11) is fixed to the first side edge (21) and each of the plurality of second element portions (12) is fixed to the second side edge (22). each of the plurality of first element portions (11) includes at least a first base portion (11a) fixed to the first side edge (21) and a first engagement portion (11b) located farther from the first surface (13m) than the first base portion (11a) in the thickness direction of the support material (13); each of the plurality of second element portions (12) includes at least a second base portion (12a) fixed to the second side edge (22); at least one thread passage (P1) extending along the predetermined direction and including a plurality of first grooves (31) is formed between the first and second element rows (L1, L2); each of the plurality of first grooves (31) has a first groove width (W31) defined between the first and second element portions (11, 12) and is recessed toward the first surface (13m) of the support material (13).

2. A fastening part as described in claim 1, wherein the width direction of the support material (13) coincides with the thickness direction (D3') of the fastening part (1), and the thickness direction of the support material (13) coincides with the width direction (D2') of the fastening part (1).

3. A fastening part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first surface (13m) of the support material (13) is exposed regularly along the predetermined direction.

4. A fastening part as described in claim 3, further comprising a plurality of first bottom plates (51), each of which connects the first and second element portions (12) together in the width direction of the support material (13) and forms at least a portion of the bottom surface of the first groove (31).

5. A fastening part according to claim 4, wherein the thickness or maximum thickness of the first bottom plate (51) measured from the first surface (13m) is 2 / 3 or less, or 1 / 2 or less, or 1 / 3 or less of the maximum height of the first element portion (11) measured from the first surface (13m), and / or 2 / 3 or less, or 1 / 2 or less, or 1 / 3 or less of the maximum height of the second element portion (12) measured from the first surface (13m).

6. A fastening part as described in claim 4 or 5, wherein a first pinhole (61) is formed between adjacent first bottom plates (51) in the specified direction, through which the first surface (13m) is exposed and visible from the outside.

7. A fastening part according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the plurality of first bottom plates (51) include two or more first bottom plates (51) having a constricted shape.

8. A fastening part according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein each of the plurality of first grooves (31) has an aspect ratio determined by depth / width, the aspect ratio being 1.5 or more.

9. A fastening part as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising at least one receiving path (P2) extending along the predetermined direction between the first and second element rows (L1, L2) for at least partially receiving an attachment point (91c, 92c) of the article (9), the at least one receiving path (P2) defining a second groove width (W32) between the first and second element portions (11, 12) and including a plurality of second grooves (32) recessed toward the second surface (13n) of the support material (13), and the maximum depth of the at least one receiving path (P2) is less than half the maximum depth of the at least one thread path (P1).

10. A fastening part as described in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of second bottom plates (52), each of which connects the first and second element portions (11, 12) in the width direction of the support material (13) and forms at least a portion of the bottom surface of the second groove (32).

11. A fastening part according to claim 10, wherein a second pinhole (62) is formed between adjacent second bottom plates (52) in the specified direction, through which a portion of the second surface (13n) is exposed.

12. A fastening part according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the support (13) has a first core portion (13a), a second core portion (13b), and an intermediate portion (13c) formed between the first and second core portions (13a, 13b), and the first and second core portions (13a, 13b) form the first and second side edges (21, 22), respectively.

13. A fastening part according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of the plurality of second element portions (12) further includes a second engagement portion (12b) positioned farther from the first surface (13m) in the thickness direction of the support material (13) than the second base portion (12a).

14. A fastening part according to claim 13, wherein each of the first and second engaging portions (11b, 12b) includes a neck portion (25) and a head portion (26).

15. A fastening part according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein each of the plurality of second element portions (12) further includes a design portion (12d) positioned farther from the first surface (13m) in the thickness direction of the support material (13) than the second base portion (12a).

16. An article to which a fastening part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is sewn.

17. A method for manufacturing an article (9) to which a fastening part (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 is sewn, the method comprising: overlapping the fastening part (1) and the attachment points (91c, 92c) of the article (9) on a sewing machine, with the first surface (13m) facing away from the attachment points (91c, 92c); and sewing the fastening part (1) and the attachment points (91c, 92c) of the article (9) together on the sewing machine with one or more sewing threads, wherein at least one of the one or more sewing threads is sequentially introduced into the plurality of first grooves (31).

Images