Slider Raised Portion for Fastener Stopper Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide fasteners with stopper mechanisms designed for 'front use' are ineffective when used for 'rear use' due to insufficient contact between the locking pawl and the coil-shaped fastener elements, leading to inadequate stopper function and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A slide fastener design featuring a slider body with a raised portion on the lower wing plate that includes a horizontal first upper surface and a lower second upper surface, allowing the locking pawl to engage the coil-shaped fastener elements effectively, even when the fastener tape's surface with the coil-shaped elements is used as the rear surface, ensuring stable engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stopper mechanism is designed for front use, then the locking pawl can effectively engage the coil-shaped fastener elements, but the mechanism becomes ineffective when used for rear use due to insufficient contact between the locking pawl and the fastener elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional design by adding a raised portion to the lower wing plate instead of modifying the upper wing plate. This inversion allows the locking pawl to engage the fastener elements from below, effectively adapting the front-use designed mechanism to rear-use configuration without changing the fundamental stopper mechanism structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a localized raised portion on the inner surface of the lower wing plate, specifically positioned to interact with the coil-shaped fastener elements. This local modification creates a specific engagement surface that ensures reliable contact between the locking pawl and the fastener elements in rear-use configuration.
2Reliability
If stopper mechanisms are produced exclusively for rear use, then the stopper function works effectively, but production costs increase and part management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal slider design that can function effectively in both front-use and rear-use configurations. By adding the raised portion to the lower wing plate, the same stopper mechanism can adapt to different fastener tape configurations, eliminating the need to produce separate mechanisms for different use cases and simplifying part management.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating separate stopper mechanisms for front and rear use, the patent inverts the approach by modifying the existing lower wing plate structure to accommodate rear-use configurations. This single modification enables one mechanism to serve multiple purposes, reducing production complexity and costs.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a slider for a slide fastener, in which a stopper mechanism produced for the front use where the surface of a fastener tape on which the coil-shaped fastener element is attached is used as the front surface can be adopted for the rear use where the surface on which the coil-shaped fastener element is attached is used as the rear surface. The lower wing plate (30, 60) of the lower wing plate (30, 60) of the slider body (21, 51) includes a raised portion (32, 32a, 62) on its inner surface (31, 61), which extends in the front-back direction from the guide post (23, 53) toward the back opening (27, 57). The raised portion (32, 32a, 62) includes: a first upper surface (33, 33a, 63) on the side of the guide post (23, 53), the first upper surface (33, 33a, 63) being horizontal and the highest in the raised portion (32, 32a, 62); and a second upper surface (34, 34a, 64) on the side of the back opening (27, 57), which is lower than the first upper surface (33, 33a, 63). The locking pawl (42, 72) can engage the coil-shaped fastener elements (11a, 11b) on the first upper surface (33, 33a, 63) in a state where the locking pawl (42, 72) protrudes to the element guide groove (28, 58). At least two unit elements (11c) adjacent to each other, in the front-back direction, of the left or right coil-shaped fastener element (11a, 11b) cab be placed on the first upper surface (33, 33a, 63).