Slide Fastener Blade Cutaway for Stringer Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of the double structure in existing slide fasteners increases manufacturing costs and makes it difficult to easily separate fastener stringers from the slider.

Innovation Solution

A slide fastener design with cutaway portions on the upper and lower blades extending outward from the guide post, allowing for easier bending and separation of fastener stringers, featuring shorter flanges and varying distances between the guide post and flanges to reduce rigidity and facilitate separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a double structure consisting of inner plate and outer plate is used in the upper blade, then the fastener stringer can be separated from the slider, but the construction becomes complicated and manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation of fastener stringerVSAvoidconstruction of upper blade
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the separation function from a complex double-plate structure and implements it through a simple cutaway portion in a single upper blade. The cutaway portion allows the upper blade to be easily bent and detached from the slider, achieving the separation function without requiring an inner plate and outer plate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameter of the upper blade by introducing a cutaway portion that reduces material continuity. This parameter change allows the upper blade to transition from a rigid structure to a flexible structure that can be easily bent and separated, simplifying the overall construction while maintaining the separation function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a double structure consisting of inner plate and outer plate is used in the upper blade, then the fastener stringer can be separated from the slider, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation of fastener stringerVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the separation function from a complex double-plate structure and implements it through a simple cutaway portion in a single upper blade. The cutaway portion allows the upper blade to be easily bent and detached from the slider, achieving the separation function without requiring an inner plate and outer plate structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the upper blade into a single integrated structure with a cutaway portion, eliminating the need for separate inner and outer plates. This merging reduces the number of parts, simplifies manufacturing processes, and lowers production costs while maintaining the essential separation functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If cutaway portions are provided on upper and lower blades extending outward from guide post, then fastener stringer can be easily separated from slider, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation of fastener stringerVSAvoidstructure of blades
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the upper and lower blades by providing cutaway portions that create distinct regions. These cutaway portions segment the blade structure to allow controlled bending and separation at specific locations, making the separation operation easier while the overall structural complexity remains minimal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cutaway portions are positioned asymmetrically relative to the guide post, extending outward from one lateral surface. This asymmetric positioning creates a specific bending pattern that facilitates easy separation of the fastener stringer from the slider, achieving functional simplicity through asymmetric design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables easy separation of fastener stringers from the slider with a simple structure, reducing manufacturing costs and improving operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the one side of the upper blade and the lower blade with respect to the guide post can be easily bent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2604138B1Slide fastener
Publication Date: 2017.08.02 YKK CORP
  • EP2604138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2604138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2604138B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a slide fastener in which one of the fastener stringers can be easily separated from a slider with a simple structure. The slide fastener includes a pair of fastener stringers (11L and 11R) provided with fastener element rows (30) having a plurality of fastener elements (31) along opposing tape-side edges (20a) of a pair of fastener tapes (20), and a slider (40) slidably attached to the fastener element rows to engage and disengage the fastener elements (31). One of the fastener stringers (11L) is separated from the slider (40) when a lateral pulling force directed outward in a width direction of the fastener tapes is applied to the pair of fastener stringers (11L and 11R). The upper blade (51) and the lower blade (52) of the slider (40) are provided with cutaway portions (51a and 52a) at portions outward in the width direction from one lateral surface (53a) of the guide post (53).