FASTENER CHAIN

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a fastener chain that couples attached bodies such as cover materials of a seat cover or the like of an automobile, to each other.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known a pair of left and right fastener stringers (included in a fastener chain) that couple cover materials of a seat cover or the like of an automobile, to each other (see Patent Literature 1). The fastener stringers each include a fastener tape, a fastener element array, and a restricting unit, and are each configured to provide a space in which an edge portion of the cover material is to be sandwiched between the restricting unit and the fastener tape. Accordingly, in each of the fastener stringers, it is possible to hold the edge portion of the cover material by sandwiching the edge portion of the cover material between the fastener tape and the restricting unit, and to keep the fastener stringer from being exposed at a front side of the cover material by folding the cover material from the edge portion to cover a front side of the restricting unit.

In addition, in a state where the respective fastener element arrays of the pair of left and right fastener stringers are engaged with each other, the restricting units restrict the cover materials from being separated from each other in a right-left direction even if force is applied to the cover materials to separate them from each other in the right-left direction.

CITATION LIST
Patent Literature(s)

Patent Literature 1: JP 2019-141219 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention

In the fastener stringer described in Patent Literature 1, the restricting unit that is a member separate from the fastener element array restricts the cover materials from being separated from each other in the right-left direction. However, it is desirable to inhibit attached bodies such as cover materials from being separated from each other in the right-left direction without using such a restricting unit.

Further, with an increase in demand for making it look good, it is desirable to further reduce a possibility that a fastener is exposed on a front side as compared with that described in Patent Literature 1.

An object of the invention is to provide a fastener chain capable of inhibiting a fastener from being seen when force that separates attached bodies from each other is applied thereto.

Means for Solving the Problem(s)

A fastener chain according to an aspect of the invention is disposed with a front side being covered with a left attached body and a right attached body, the fastener chain including a pair of a left fastener stringer and a right fastener stringer respectively attached to the left and right attached bodies, in which the pair of left and right fastener stringers each include a fastener tape including a code core, and a fastener element array including a plurality of elements, the elements being fixed to the code core, the elements each comprise an element base and an element head portion, the element base being provided with a tape fixing portion to which the code core is fixed, an engagement portion is provided in a state in which the element head portions are engaged with each other, and a space in which the left and right attached bodies are to be sandwiched is provided between the respective elements of the pair of left and right fastener stringers, on an upper side relative to the engagement portion.

The fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention inhibits, when the opening force of pulling the left and right attached bodies in the right-left direction acts, the fastener chain from being seen from the front side as compared with, for example, a fastener chain in which the above-described space is not provided and the attached bodies are joined to the respective fastener tapes on an upper side relative to the elements.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the element head portion may be configured to protrude toward the elements on a partner side from the element base, and the engagement portion may define a lower portion of the space.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the element head portion may include an engagement protrusion portion and an engagement recess portion, and the engagement recess portion may be configured to protrude toward a corresponding one of the fastener stringers on a partner side in a right-left direction relative to an inner side surface of the element base, the inner side surface defining the space, the right-left direction intersecting an up-down direction of the elements and a longitudinal direction of the fastener tape.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the element head portion may include an engagement protrusion portion and an engagement recess portion, and may further include an extended portion disposed between the engagement recess portion and the space, and the extended portion may define a bottom surface of the space.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, a height difference between an upper surface of the extended portion and an upper surface of the element base may be greater than or equal to 3 mm.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, a connector portion that is continuous with the code core of the fastener tape may be disposed in the space, and a joint position at which the fastener tape and one or more of the elements are or the fastener tape is joined to each of the attached bodies may be set in a region between an upper surface of the extended portion and an upper surface of the element base, the region being where the fastener tape is disposed in the space.

With such a configuration, the joining is performed in the above-described joint position. This makes it possible to improve force of holding the attached bodies by the fastener chain and to more suitably inhibit the opening of the left and right attached bodies as compared with, for example, a case where the joining is performed at a position displaced from the joint position.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the fastener tape and one or more of the elements may be or the fastener tape may be configured to be sewn to each of the attached bodies at the joint position.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the joint position at which the fastener tape and one or more of the elements are or the fastener tape is joined to each of the attached bodies may be set in a region, the region being, in a state before or after opening force is applied to the left and right attached bodies: inside the region; and between a position separated from the upper surface of the element base by one third of a distance between the upper surface and the bottom surface of the space, and a position of the bottom surface of the space, and the fastener tape and one or more of the elements may be or the fastener tape may be configured to be sewn to each of the attached bodies in the region.

With such a configuration, the fastener tape and one or more of the elements are sewn to the attached bodies, or the fastener tape is sewn to the attached bodies, in the region between the position separated from the upper surface of the element base by the above-described distance and the position of the bottom surface of the above-described space. This makes it possible to place a sewing thread used for the sewing at a position at which it is difficult to see the sewing thread from the front side.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the element base may be provided with a stepped portion on an upper side of the element base.

In such a configuration, the clearance between parts on the upper side of the element bases adjacent to each other in the fastener element array is large, making it possible to reduce a possibility that the protrusions may hit each other even if the fastener chain is bent. The flexibility of the fastener chain is thus maintained even if the above-described space is formed to be large.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, an area of an upper surface of the element base may be smaller than an area corresponding to a bottom surface of the stepped portion.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the fastener tape may be provided in the space with a connector portion continuous with the code core being bent upward, and a vertical position of the bottom surface of the stepped portion may be a position that is the same as a bent position at which the connector portion is bent, or is a position closer to the bent position than to an upper surface of the element base.

With such a configuration, it is possible to increase the vertical dimension from the upper surface of the element base to the bottom surface of the stepped portion as much as possible, and to reduce materials included in the element. Further, when sewing is performed in the above-described region, a sewing thread is easily applied to a region in which the stepped portion of the element base is provided, which makes it possible to improve a degree of freedom in terms of a sewing position at which it is possible to perform sewing easily.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, a joint position at which the fastener tape and one or more of the elements are or the fastener tape is joined to each of the attached bodies may be set in a region, the region being, in a state before or after opening force is applied to the left and right attached bodies, between a position separated from an upper surface of the element base by one third of a distance between the upper surface and a bottom surface of the space, and a position of a bottom surface of the stepped portion, and the fastener tape and one or more of the elements may be or the fastener tape may be configured to be sewn to each of the attached bodies in the region.

With such a configuration, it is possible to place a sewing thread used for the sewing of the attached bodies at a position at which it is difficult to see the sewing thread from the front side. It is also possible to stably apply the sewing thread and to perform sewing in the region in which the stepped portion of the element base is provided, as compared with a case where, for example, the sewing is performed at a position lower than the bottom surface of the stepped portion.

In the fastener chain according to the aspect of the invention, the stepped portion may be disposed on an upper surface of the element base at a position on an opposite side to the space.

With such a configuration, it is possible to suitably sandwich the attached bodies between the respective element bases of the left and right fastener stringers, as compared with a case where, for example, the stepped portion is disposed at a position closer to the space.

According to the aspects of the invention, there can be provided a fastener chain capable of inhibiting attached bodies from being separated from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a car seat including a fastener chain according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fastener chain according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of an element of the fastener chain according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the element of the fastener chain according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the fastener chain according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram related to sewing of the fastener chain according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fastener chain according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fastener chain according to a third exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
First Exemplary Embodiment

Referring to the drawings, a first exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described below.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, a fastener chain 10 according to the exemplary embodiment couples cover materials 2A and 2B to each other while a front side (an upper side in each of FIGS. 2 and 5) of the fastener chain 10 being covered with the cover materials (2A and 2B). The cover materials (2A and 2B) serve as left and right attached bodies included in a seat cover of a car seat 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. The fastener chain 10 includes a pair of left and right fastener stringers 20A and 20B to be attached to the cover materials 2A and 2B. The fastener stringers 20A and 20B are configured to be separated from each other and coupled to each other by a fastener slider 60 illustrated in FIG. 1 traveling in a length direction of the fastener chain 10.

In the following description, for convenience, an X direction represents the length direction of the fastener chain 10, a Y direction orthogonal to the X direction represents a right-left direction of the fastener chain 10 in an engaged state, and a Z direction orthogonal to the X and Y directions represents an up-down direction of the fastener chain 10 in the engaged state.

The fastener stringers 20A and 20B each include a fastener tape 30 extending in the X direction, and a fastener element array 50 including multiple elements 40 attached along the fastener tape 30.

The fastener tape 30 has flexibility and is configured to undergo bending deformation such as folding. A code core 31 (see FIG. 5) is provided on one edge, of the fastener tape 30, along the X direction. The code core 31 is inserted in the X-axis direction into and fixed to a tape fixing portion 410, which will be described later, of the element 40. The code core 31 thus prevents the fastener tape 30 from coming off the element 40 even if a tensile force in the Y direction is applied to the cover materials 2A and 2B and the fastener tape 30 receives the tensile force. Note that, in the exemplary embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 5, a width dimension, of the fastener tape 30, in a width direction orthogonal to the X direction is a dimension that: makes it possible to cover a range from the code core 31 to a side surface 451 and an upper surface 455 of a protrusion 45, which will be described later; and makes it possible to cause another edge 33, of the fastener tape 30, along the X direction to be disposed at a position substantially the same as a position of an edge 21, of the cover material 2A (2B), along the X direction. In the fastener tape 30, a connector portion 32 continuous with the code core 31 is bent upward at a bent position 35 with element head portions 42, which will be described later, being in an engaged state, and is disposed in a space 46, which will be described later.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the element 40 is made from a synthetic resin, and includes an element base 41 provided with the tape fixing portion 410 to which the code core 31 is fixed, and the element head portion 42 that is continuous with a lower portion of an inner side surface 411 of the element base 41. When the element head portions 42 are engaged with each other in the fastener stringers 20A and 20B, an engagement portion 43 is provided as illustrated in FIG. 5. Further, in the state where the element head portions 42 are engaged with each other in the fastener stringers 20A and 20B, the space 46 in which the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B are to be sandwiched is provided at a part between respective inner side surfaces 411 of the left and right element bases 41 on an upper side relative to the engagement portion 43. Note that the tape fixing portion 410 is opened at a part, of the inner side surface 411, on the upper side relative to the engagement portion 43.

The element base 41 has a block shape including the inner side surface 411 described above, an outer side surface 412, the upper surface 455, a lower surface 414, a front surface 415, and a rear surface 416. The inner side surface 411 and the outer side surface 412 are respectively disposed on an inner side and an outer side in the Y direction in the engaged state in which the element head portions 42 are engaged with each other to provide the engagement portion 43. The upper surface 455 is continuous with the inner side surface 411. The lower surface 414 is opposed to the upper surface 455 in the Z direction. The front surface 415 and the rear surface 416 are opposed to each other in the X direction. The inner side surface 411 is provided in one plane along the Z direction defining the space 46 to be described later. An area of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 is smaller than an area corresponding to a bottom surface 413 of a stepped portion 44 to be described later.

Further, the element base 41 is provided with the stepped portion 44 on an upper side thereof. The stepped portion 44 includes a side surface 452, a rear surface 454, and the bottom surface 413. The side surface 452 and the rear surface 454 are continuous with the upper surface 455 of the element base 41. The bottom surface 413 is continuous with the side surface 452 and the rear surface 454. The bottom surface 413 is continuous with the outer side surface 412, the front surface 415, and the rear surface 416 of the element base 41. The side surface 452 is generally provided along the Z direction and the X direction, the rear surface 454 is generally provided along the Z direction and the Y direction, and the bottom surface 413 is generally provided along the X direction and the Y direction. A vertical position of the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 is, in the exemplary embodiment, a position closer to the above-described bent position 35 than to the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 in the Z direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a maximum dimension L of the stepped portion 44 in the X direction is greater than a dimension L2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 in the X direction. A dimension L1 in the X direction of a part, of the stepped portion 44, where the bottom surface 413 is continuous with the inner side surface 411 is greater than the dimension L2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 in the X direction. Further, the stepped portion 44 has the dimension L1 set to the above-described part of the bottom surface 413, which makes it possible to easily perform positioning of a joint position P by sewing as compared with a case where the dimension L1 is not set.

A maximum dimension W of the stepped portion 44 in the Y direction is greater than a dimension W2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 in the Y direction. A dimension W1 in the Y direction of a part, of the stepped portion 44, where the bottom surface 413 is continuous with the front surface 415 is smaller than the dimension W2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 in the Y direction. Further, the stepped portion 44 has the dimension W1 set to the above-described part of the bottom surface 413, which makes it possible to suitably deal with thread tightening of a sewing thread to be used for sewing and to allow a sewing condition to be more stable as compared with a case where the dimension W1 is not set.

In addition, the element base 41 is provided with the protrusion 45 that is continuous with the bottom surface 413 and protrudes upward. The protrusion 45 includes the upper surface 455, the side surface 452, and the rear surface 454 described above, and also includes a part, of the inner side surface 411 of the element base 41, on an upper side relative to the bottom surface 413 (the part is referred to as the side surface 451 in the exemplary embodiment), and a part, of the front surface 415 of the element base 41, on an upper side relative to the bottom surface 413 (the part is referred to as a front surface 453 in the exemplary embodiment). Note that a lower surface 456 (a virtual lower surface) of the protrusion 45 is a virtual surface along the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44.

In the protrusion 45 of the fastener stringer 20A, as illustrated in FIG. 3: a position of the side surface 451 and a position of the front surface 453 are respectively located at a position along a lower portion of the inner side surface 411 of the element base 41 and a position along a lower portion of the front surface 415 of the element base 41; a position of the side surface 452 is located at a position separated from a position of the outer side surface 412 of the element base 41, on a side of the space 46 in the Y direction; and a position of the rear surface 454 is located at a position separated forward in the X direction from a position of the rear surface 416 of the element base 41. As a result, the protrusion 45 in the fastener stringer 20A is disposed at a position, in the element base 41, close to the front side in the X direction and close to the inner side in the Y direction.

Further, the stepped portion 44 in the fastener stringer 20A is disposed at a position close to the rear side in the X direction with respect to the protrusion 45 and close to the outer side in the Y direction with respect to the protrusion 45 (on an opposite side to the space 46 in the Y direction).

In the protrusion 45 of the fastener stringer 20B, as illustrated in FIG. 2: a position of the side surface 451 and a position of the rear surface 454 are respectively located at a position along a lower portion of the inner side surface 411 of the element base 41 and a position along a lower portion of the rear surface 416 of the element base 41; a position of the side surface 452 is located at a position separated from a position of the outer side surface 412 of the element base 41, on a side of the space 46 in the Y direction; and a position of the front surface 453 is located at a position separated rearward in the X direction from a position of the front surface 415 of the element base 41. As a result, the protrusion 45 in the fastener stringer 20B is disposed at a position, in the element base 41, close to the rear side in the X direction and close to the inner side in the Y direction.

Further, the stepped portion 44 in the fastener stringer 20B is disposed at a position close to the front side in the X direction with respect to the protrusion 45 and close to the outer side in the Y direction with respect to the protrusion 45 (on an opposite side to the space 46 in the Y direction).

Further, in order to provide a clearance 51 (a pitch), which will be described later, between the protrusions 45 adjacent to each other in the X direction, a space between the element bases 41 adjacent to each other in the X direction is not necessarily widened except for a portion of a space between the protrusions 45. Even in such a case, flexibility of the fastener element array 50 is maintained.

The element base 41 in the fastener stringer 20A and the element base 41 in the fastener stringer 20B are configured as described above. Thus, in a state where the element head portions 42 are engaged with each other to form the engagement portion 43 as illustrated in FIG. 5, the left and right element bases 41 are disposed to be opposed to each other in the Y direction, and are disposed at respective positions allowing the space 46 in which the cover materials 2A and 2B are to be sandwiched between the left and right inner side surfaces 411 to be formed. A depth dimension of the space 46 (a dimension in the Z direction from a position of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 to a position of an upper surface 433 of the engagement portion 43 (the same position as a position of a bottom surface 461 of the space)) may be approximately 5 mm, and is 3.6 mm in the exemplary embodiment. This depth direction in the exemplary embodiment, however, is sufficient for allowing the cover materials 2A and 2B to be sandwiched. For example, when the depth dimension of the space 46 is approximately 5 mm, a dimension in the Z direction from a position of the bottom surface 413 to the 5 position of the upper surface 433 is approximately 1.6 mm in the exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the element head portion 42 includes an engagement protrusion portion 431, an engagement recess portion 432, and an extended portion 43B. The extended portion 43B is disposed between the engagement recess portion 432 and the space 46. The element head portion 42 is configured to protrude inward in the Y direction toward the element 40 on a partner side in the engaged state.

The engagement recess portion 432 is continuous with the element base 41 and protrudes inward in the Y direction relative to the inner side surface 411. The engagement protrusion portion 431 protrudes further inward in the Y direction from the engagement recess portion 432.

The extended portion 43B extends inward in the Y direction from the element base 41. Further, the extended portion 43B is provided continuously on an upper side of the engagement recess portion 432, and is configured to define the bottom surface 461 that is the upper surface 433 of the extended portion 43B and a lower portion of the space 46. In the exemplary embodiment, a height difference in the Z direction between the upper surface 433 of the extended portion 43B and the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 is greater than or equal to 3 mm, and may be greater than or equal to 3.6 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the cover materials 2A and 2B are double-folded in the space 46 to form a folded portion 22. The fastener tape 30 in the fastener stringer 20A is sandwiched between the cover material 2A and the element 40 in the space 46, and the fastener tape 30 in the fastener stringer 20A is sandwiched between the cover material 2B and the element 40 in the space 46.

The fastener element array 50 is configured by the multiple elements 40 arranged in the X direction on the fastener tape 30. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the clearance 51 (pitch) in the X direction is provided between the protrusions 45 in the fastener element array 50, and is approximately 3.5 mm in the exemplary embodiment.

The joint position P at which the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B is set in a region described below. The region is, in a state before or after opening force is applied to the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B: inside a region R between the upper surface 433 of the extended portion 43B and the upper surface 455 of the element base 41, the region R being where the fastener tape 30 is to be disposed in the above-described space 46. Within the region R, the region in which the joint position P is set is between: a position A separated from the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 by one third of a distance between the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 and the bottom surface 461 of the space 46; and a position of the bottom surface 461 of the space 46. The fastener tape 30 and one or more the elements 40 are sewn to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B using a sewing thread at the joint position P. The joint position P by sewing in the exemplary embodiment is between the position A and the position of the bottom surface 413. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, the position A is a position spaced downward in the Z direction from the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 by a dimension of 1.2 mm (one third of the depth dimension of the space 46), and spaced upward in the Z direction from the bottom surface 461 of the space 46 by a dimension of 2.4 mm (two thirds of the depth dimension of the space 46).

Sewing Procedure

Hereinafter, a sewing procedure for sewing the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B will be described.

The sewing described above is performed on the fastener chain 10 in a separated state in which the element head portions 42 are separated from each other and no engagement portion 43 is provided. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the separated state, the elements 40 are in a state in which the protrusions 45 are laid down laterally in the Y direction, and face a direction different from that in a state where the protrusions 45 are raised upward in the Z direction as illustrated in FIG. 5.

Next, the cover material 2A (2B) is placed at a predetermined position along the inner side surface 411 of the element base 41 with respect to the fastener chain 10 in the separated state. The cover material 2A (2B) is sewn to the fastener tape 30 at the above-described joint position P, and the sewing thread is wound around the protrusion 45 of one or more of the elements 40. The cover material 2A (2B), the fastener tape 30, and one or more of the elements 40 are thereby joined by sewing.

Thus, the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are sewn to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B at the above-described joint position P, i.e., the position located in the region of two thirds of the depth dimension of the space 46 (the above-described 3.6 mm region in the exemplary embodiment) and in the region between the above-described position A and the bottom surface 461 of the space 46 (the above-described 2.4 mm region in the exemplary embodiment).

The separated state may turn into the engaged state to form the space 46. If, in such a case, the cover materials 2A and 2B located in the space 46 have a thickness dimension substantially equal to a dimension in the Y direction of the space 46 in the engaged state, the cover materials 2A and 2B are each double-folded to form the above-described folded portion 22, and are each compressed to approximately one fourth, which makes it difficult for the cover materials 2A and 2B to easily come out of the space 46.

Effects of First Exemplary Embodiment

According to the fastener chain 10 of the exemplary embodiment, the space 46 in which the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B are to be sandwiched is provided on an upper side relative to the engagement portion 43, between the respective elements 40 of the pair of left and right fastener stringers 20A and 20B. This configuration, specifically, the cover materials 2A and 2B sandwiched in the above-described space 46 makes it possible to inhibit opening of the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B, and to reduce, when the opening force of pulling the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B in the right-left direction acts, a possibility that the fastener chain 10 may be seen from the front side, even when the opening force that pulls the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B in the right-left direction (outward in the Y direction) is applied to the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B so that the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B are to be extracted upward from the space 46.

The fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B at the above-described joint position P. It is therefore possible to improve force of holding the cover materials 2A and 2B by the fastener chain 10 as compared with, for example, a case where the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B at a position displaced from the joint position P, and to more suitably inhibit the opening of the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B.

The fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are sewn to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B in the region between the position A separated from the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 by the above-described distance and the position of the bottom surface 413 of the above-described space 46. It is therefore possible place the sewing thread used for the sewing at a position at which it is difficult to see the sewing thread from the front side.

Providing the stepped portion 44 makes it possible to widen the clearance 51 between parts on the upper side of the element bases 41 adjacent to each other in the fastener element array 50. Widening the clearance 51 makes it possible to reduce a possibility that the protrusions 45 may hit each other even if the fastener chain 10 is bent, and to maintain flexibility of the fastener chain 10 even if the above-described space 46 is formed to be large in the Z direction. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, when the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B by sewing, the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 is provided also on one side in the X direction with respect to the protrusion 45, which makes it possible to easily perform the positioning of the joint position P by the sewing.

The vertical position of the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 is set to the position closer to the bent position 35 than to the upper surface 455 of the element base 41. This makes it possible to increase a vertical dimension from the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 to the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 as much as possible, and to reduce materials included in the element 40. Further, the sewing thread is easily applied to a region in which the stepped portion 44 of the element base 41 is provided, which makes it possible to improve a degree of freedom in terms of a sewing position at which it is possible to perform sewing easily.

In the fastener chain according to the invention, the above-described joint position P is set in the region, in the state before or after the opening force is applied to the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B, between the above-described position A and the position of the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44. This makes it possible to place the sewing thread used for sewing of the cover materials 2A and 2B at a position at which it is difficult to see the sewing thread from the front side. Further, it is possible to stably apply the sewing thread and to perform sewing in the region in which the stepped portion 44 of the element base 41 is provided.

The stepped portion 44 is disposed closer to the opposite side to the space 46 (outward in the Y direction). It is therefore possible to suitably sandwich the cover materials 2A and 2B between the element bases 41 of the fastener stringers 20A and 20B, as compared with a case where, for example, the stepped portion is disposed at a position closer to the space 46.

The inner side surface 411 of the element base 41 is provided in one plane along the Z direction. It is therefore possible to smoothly dispose the cover materials 2A and 2B in the space 46 without being hooked over the above-described step-shaped part, as compared with a case where the inner side surface 411 is not provided in one plane, for example, the inner side surface 411 is provided with the step-shaped part.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the fastener chain 10 of a second exemplary embodiment is configured substantially similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment, and differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that no stepped portion 44 is provided. Thus, in the second exemplary embodiment, the outer side surface 412 and the rear surface 416 of the element base 41 are also continuous with the upper surface 455, as with the inner side surface 411 and the front surface 415. Note that, in second exemplary embodiment, a part on the upper side of the element base 41 has a trapezoidal shape; however, the invention is not limited thereto.

According to the second exemplary embodiment, it is possible to configure the fastener chain 10 that makes it possible to exhibit workings and effects similar to those of the first exemplary embodiment except for the above-described workings and effects of the case where the stepped portion 44 is provided.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the fastener chain 10 of a third exemplary embodiment is configured substantially similar to that of the second exemplary embodiment, and differs from the second exemplary embodiment in that a sewing groove 417 is provided in the element base 41. Thus, in the third exemplary embodiment, it is possible to achieve workings and effects similar to those of the second exemplary embodiment, and in addition, it is possible to easily perform sewing and joining of the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B by providing the sewing groove 417.

Modifications

In each of the first to third exemplary embodiments, the engagement recess portion 432 is configured to protrude toward the fastener stringer 20B (20A) on the partner side in the engaged state, relative to the inner side surface 411 of the element base 41; however, at least the engagement protrusion portion 431 may be configured to protrude as long as it is possible to form the above-described space 46.

In each of the first to third exemplary embodiments, the element head portion 42 includes the extended portion 43B; however, the element head portion 42 may omit the extended portion 43B as long as it is possible to form the above-described space 46 without the extended portion 43B.

In each of the first to third exemplary embodiments, the height difference between the upper surface 433 of the extended portion 43B and the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 is greater than or equal to 3 mm; however, the dimension may be smaller than 3 mm as long as it is possible to form the space 46 in which the cover materials 2A and 2B are to be sandwiched.

In each of the first to third exemplary embodiments, both the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B; however, the invention is not limited thereto, and only the fastener tape 30 may be joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B. Further, although the above-described joining is performed by sewing, another joining method such as adhesion is usable.

In each of the first to third exemplary embodiments, the element base 41 includes the inner side surface 411 provided in one plane along the Z direction defining the above-described space 46; however, the invention is not limited thereto, and for example, the inner side surface 411 may have a stepped shape.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the joint position P at which the fastener tape 30 and one or more of the elements 40 are joined to each of the cover materials 2A and 2B is set in the region inside the region R and between the above-described position A and the position of the bottom surface 413 of the above-described space 46, in the state before the opening force is applied to the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B; however, the joint position P may be set to the above-described region in the state after the opening force is applied to the left and right cover materials 2A and 2B.

In addition, as long as it is possible to perform the above-described joining in a region displaced from the above-described region, for example, a region on a side of the upper surface 455 relative to the position A or a region on a side of the upper surface 433 relative to the bottom surface 413, the above-described joining may be performed in the displaced region.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the area of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41 is smaller than the area corresponding to the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44; however, the area of the upper surface 455 may be larger than or equal to the area corresponding to the bottom surface 413.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the vertical position of the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 is the position closer to the bent position 35 of the fastener tape 30 than to the upper surface 455 of the element base 41; however, the vertical position of the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 may be the same position as the bent position 35, or may be, on the other way round, a position closer to the upper surface 455 than to the bent position 35.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the stepped portion 44 is disposed at the position on the opposite side to the above-described space 46; however, the stepped portion 44 may be provided on the side of the space 46 as long as it possible to perform sewing.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the bottom surface 413 of the stepped portion 44 has the dimension L1 greater than the dimension L2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41; however, the invention is not limited thereto, and the dimension L1 may be smaller than or equal to the dimension L2 as long as the invention is implementable.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the dimension W1 of the stepped portion 44 is smaller than the dimension W2 of the upper surface 455 of the element base 41; however, the invention is not limited thereto, and the dimension W1 may be larger than or equal to the dimension W2 as long as the invention is implementable.

In each of the exemplary embodiments, the fastener chain 10 is described as a component that couples the cover materials 2A and 2B serving as the left and right attached bodies included in the seat cover of the car seat 1; however, the fastener chain 10 may be used as a component that couples attached bodies such as left and right cover materials to be used for, for example, a bag, clothing, a chair, and furniture such as a sofa.

EXPLANATION OF CODE(S)

1: car seat, 10: fastener chain, 20A, 20B: fastener stringer, 21, 33: edge, 22: folded portion, 2A, 2B: cover material (attached body), 30: fastener tape, 31: code core, 32: connector portion, 35: bent position, 40: element, 41: element base, 410: tape fixing portion, 411: inner side surface, 412: outer side surface, 413, 461: bottom surface, 414, 456: lower surface, 415, 453: front surface, 416, 454: rear surface, 417: sewing groove, 42: element head portion, 43: engagement portion, 431: engagement protrusion portion, 432: engagement recess portion, 433, 455: upper surface, 43B: extended portion, 44: stepped portion, 45: protrusion, 451, 452: side surface, 46: space, 50: fastener element array, 51: clearance (pitch), 60: fastener slider, A: position, L, W: maximum dimension, L1, L2, W1, W2: dimension, P: joint position, R: region.

FASTENER CHAIN

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