Slide Fastener Tape Extension for Bulk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide fasteners used with lightweight materials often result in a bulky appearance and potential detachment issues when sewn into garments, as they require reinforcing materials to prevent fraying, which can compromise the aesthetic and functional quality.
Innovation Solution
A slide fastener chain design featuring tapes with a narrower extension portion that can be folded back upon itself, reducing thickness and bulkiness, while maintaining secure attachment and minimizing fraying, by having a width less than the main tape width and being integral or separate, with optional strengthening materials and arcuate regions to prevent sharp edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforcing material is attached to the cut region of the tape to minimize fraying, then fraying is prevented, but the slide fastener becomes bulky and the aesthetic appearance is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tape is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with full width that provides structural integrity and fraying prevention, and a second region (extension portion) with reduced width that eliminates bulkiness. This segmentation allows the tape to simultaneously achieve reliability against fraying while maintaining aesthetic appearance in the visible region.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tape are given different widths to serve different functions. The first region maintains full width for strength and fraying prevention, while the second region has reduced width specifically where aesthetics are concerned. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between reliability and appearance.
2Reliability
If an elongate region is provided beyond the top stop to securely attach the slide fastener, then attachment security is improved, but the fraying effect is delayed and the overall length increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the tape length in the longitudinal dimension to achieve secure attachment, the invention uses the transverse dimension by creating an extension portion with reduced width. This dimensional shift allows secure attachment without proportionally increasing the overall length, as the attachment security comes from the folded configuration rather than extended length.
3Productivity
If the tape is cut to the desired length during mass production, then productivity is improved, but the tape may fray from the cut
Solution Approach 1:
The tape is prepared in advance with a reduced width extension portion that will later serve as a protective element. This preliminary structural preparation during manufacturing allows the tape to be cut without subsequent fraying issues, as the extension portion is already in place to prevent edge deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The cut edge, which would normally cause fraying, is converted into a benefit by providing the extension portion that folds back to protect the cut edge. The potential harm of cutting is transformed into an opportunity to create a protective structure that actually prevents fraying while enabling mass production.
4Strength
If reinforcing material is used to prevent fraying, then tape strength is improved, but the weight of the slide fastener increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the tape by creating a reduced width extension portion rather than adding reinforcing material. This parameter change maintains the tape's strength through its structural configuration while avoiding the weight increase that would result from adding separate reinforcing materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A slide fastener chain includes a first tape and a second tape. A row of coupling elements is fixed along an inner edge of the first tape. A row of coupling elements is fixed along an inner edge of the second tape. The coupling elements of the first and second tapes being arranged such that the coupling elements of the first tape interdigitate with coupling elements of the second tape so as to secure the first and second tapes together. The chain includes a bottom stop. At least one of the tapes is provided with an extension portion which extends beyond a bottom stop portion of the tape. A width of the extension portion is less than a width of a portion of the tape which does not form part of the extension portion.