Concealed Slider Guide Grooves Prevent Element Nipping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional concealed type slide fasteners experience issues with smooth sliding operations when subjected to strong lateral pulling forces, often resulting in element nipping between flanges and damage to the fastener tape due to inadequate tilting of coupling elements.
Innovation Solution
The slider design features a lower plate with inverted L-shaped flanges and diamond-shaped elements, where the upper plate portions extend forward to guide elements into a proper tilting posture, ensuring they are not caught by flanges, and element guide portions are expanded symmetrically to facilitate smooth sliding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional concealed type slide fasteners are used, then the slider structure is simple, but element nipping occurs between flanges under lateral pulling force
Solution Approach 1:
The flange is divided into multiple functional sections: a guide portion with guide grooves for element guidance, and a clamping portion for securing elements. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally, preventing element nipping while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Guide grooves are introduced as intermediary structures within the flange to mediate the interaction between the element and flange. These grooves guide the element through the lateral pulling force zone, preventing direct contact and nipping between element and flange surfaces
2Force
If the slider engages elements under strong lateral pulling force, then the fastener remains closed, but coupling elements are not properly tilted and get caught by flanges
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portion with guide grooves is positioned to act on the element before it enters the clamping portion. This preliminary guidance action properly orients the coupling element, ensuring it is tilted at the correct angle before engagement, preventing it from getting caught by the flange
Solution Approach 2:
The guide grooves feature curved surfaces that gradually redirect the element into the proper tilted position. This curved geometry smoothly transitions the element orientation under lateral pulling force, avoiding abrupt changes that would cause the element to catch on the flange
3Reliability
If the flange structure is extended to prevent element nipping, then element guidance improves, but the slider width increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange structure is optimized with local quality variations: the guide portion has specific groove geometries concentrated where elements need guidance, while other areas maintain minimal dimensions. This localized structuring provides effective element guidance without unnecessarily increasing overall slider width
Data Source
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AI summary
A slider for a concealed type slide fastener for securing a smooth sliding operation even if a strong laterally pulling force is applied when the slide fastener is closed. The slider (1) includes: a lower plate (2) having a pair of flanges (3, 4) each having an inverted L shaped section, the flanges erected along right and left side edges perpendicular to a sliding direction of the slider (1); a diamond (5) erected toward a gap between upper plate portions (3b, 4b) of the pair of flanges (3, 4) from a central portion of the lower plate (2); and element guide portions (6) expanded outwardly toward inside end faces (10) of the upper plate portions (3b, 4b) from an outer periphery of the diamond (5), wherein the front ends of the upper plate portion (3b, 4b) in an engagement direction of the fastener elements (33) are extended forward compared with front end of the element guide portion (6).