Fastener Stringer Restricting Unit for Cover Material Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing slide fasteners for automobile cover materials fail to prevent separation of cover materials in the right-left direction, leading to exposure of fastener tapes when a force is applied.

Innovation Solution

A fastener stringer configuration that includes a fastener tape, a fastener element array, and a restricting unit along the longitudinal direction of the tape, which forms a space to receive the side periphery of the cover material, preventing displacement and exposure of the fastener tapes by sewing the cover material's periphery to the tape and restricting unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a belt-shaped restricting member is sewed to the fastener tape to prevent separation of the fastener tapes, then the fastener tapes are restricted from being displaced in the right-left direction, but the cover materials can still be separated from each other in the right-left direction, causing gaps to form between the cover materials

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation prevention of fastener tapesVSAvoidseparation prevention of cover materials

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting member is divided into multiple restricting portions (first restricting portion, second restricting portion, third restricting portion) that are spaced along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape. Each restricting portion independently receives and holds the side periphery of the cover material, collectively preventing separation of the cover materials while maintaining the fastener tape structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The restricting member acts as an intermediary component between the fastener tape and the cover material. By receiving the side periphery of the cover material between the restricting unit and the fastener tape, it transfers and distributes the holding force, preventing both the fastener tape and cover material from separating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the restricting member is positioned close to the fastener element array, then the fastener tape structure is compact, but the side periphery of the cover material cannot be effectively received and held

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure compactnessVSAvoidholding strength of cover material

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting member extends in the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, utilizing the length dimension to provide multiple receiving spaces for the side periphery of the cover material. This spatial distribution along the longitudinal axis allows effective holding without increasing the width or height (transverse dimensions) of the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the fastener tape and restricting unit are separate components, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the assembly complexity increases and handling before attachment becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidhandling ease before attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting unit is integrated with the fastener tape to form a unified fastener stringer assembly. The restricting unit is provided along the longitudinal direction of the fastener tape, and together they constitute a single handleable component that can be attached to the cover material as one unit, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10602811B2Fastener stringer, slide fastener, and fastener stringer attachment structure

Publication Date: 2020.03.31 YKK CORP

AI summary

A slide fastener includes a right and left pair of first fastener stringers and second fastener stringer, and a slider. The first fastener stringer and the second fastener stringer each include a fastener tape, a fastener element array, and a restricting unit restricting displacement of right and left cover materials away from each other. The restricting unit is configured to form a space that receives a side periphery of each of the cover materials between the restricting unit and the fastener tape.