RAIL FASTENER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, AND DOUBLE FASTENER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a rail fastener and a method of producing the same, and a double fastener.

BACKGROUND ART

PTLs 1,2 disclose a rail fastener in which a male mating portion is press-fitted to a female mating portion to form a vacuum seal. Male and female extruded portions are formed through extrusion molding. The female extruded portion has a flat portion with a female mating portion rising thereon. Likewise, the male extruded portion has a flat portion with a male mating portion rising thereon.

PTL3 relates to a surface fastener and discloses a method of producing a surface fastener containing a sheet member in which a course sheet member is fed into an interspace between a die wheel and an outlet of extruder mold for molten resin. The literature lists a woven web, knitted fabric, non-woven fabric, wire mesh, and resin film as an example of sheet member (see paragraph 0024 of PTL 3). PTL 4 also concerns a surface fastener and discloses that a hard resin-made reinforcement layer is provided to ensure engagement force over a wide temperature range. PTLs 5,6 disclose a slider for rail fastener. PTLs 7,8 disclose a double fastener in which a fastener chain with coil-like elements is stacked onto a rail fastener.

CITATION LIST
Patent Literature

- [PTL1] U.S. Pat. No. 8,438,706
- [PTL2] U.S. Pat. No. 8,646,156
- [PTL3] Japanese Patent No. 3505030
- [PTL4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-154016
- [PTL5] Japanese Patent No. 6377641
- [PTL6] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2013-99425
- [PTL7] Chinese Utility-model No. 201557648
- [PTL8] Chinese Utility-model No. 2291813

SUMMARY
Technical Problem

When a resin having a certain degree of softness is used to mold a rail fastener for a purpose of thermocompression bonding of the rail fastener to an attachment object or for a purpose of smooth fitting between mating portions of the rail fastener, it may be not easy to obtain an appropriate hardness of an attachment sheet for attachment of rail fastener while suppressing a thickness of the sheet, and there may also be a possibility of unstable sealing capability (e.g. water-tightness, air-tightness) of the rail fastener. Note that, in a case where the attachment sheet is formed as a resin-made thin layer, the attachment sheet may be too soft and may involve a difficulty for its attachment (e.g., thermocompression bonding and/or sewing). As such, there has been a difficulty in simultaneous achievement of an appropriate hardness of attachment sheet of rail fastener and an improved sealing capability of rail fastener.

Solution to Problem

Rail fastener according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first fastener stringer including a first attachment sheet and a first mating portion; and a second fastener stringer including a second attachment sheet and a second mating portion, the first and second mating portions being mated to form a rail portion. The first attachment sheet includes a flexible first reinforcement sheet and a first skin portion, the first skin portion consisting of a same resin as the first mating portion and extending from the first mating portion so as to cover the first reinforcement sheet at least partially. The second attachment sheet includes a flexible second reinforcement sheet and a second skin portion, the second skin portion consisting of a same resin as the second mating portion and extending from the second mating portion so as to cover the second reinforcement sheet at least partially. One of the following conditions (i) and (ii) is satisfied: (i) The first and second mating portions are configured such that when the first and second mating portions are mated, a first contact surface of the first skin portion and a second contact surface of the second skin portion are brought into a pressure contact with each other at a location between the first and second reinforcement sheets, the first contact surface positioned outwardly of sheet than an inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet, and the second contact surface positioned outwardly of sheet than an inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet; and (ii) the first and second mating portions are configured such that when the first and second mating portions are mated, a first contact surface of the first mating portion and a second contact surface of the second mating portion are brought into a pressure contact with each other at a location between the first and second reinforcement sheets, the first contact surface positioned outwardly of sheet than an inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet, and the second contact surface positioned outwardly of sheet than an inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet.

When the condition (i) is satisfied, the first mating portion may be a male mating portion including at least a male protrusion, and the second mating portion may be a female mating portion having an accommodation space for accommodating the male protrusion and being shaped to hinder removal of the male protrusion from the accommodation space. Further, the female mating portion may be arranged such that the accommodation space is located over the second reinforcement sheet. Still further, the female mating portion may have a locking protrusion provided with a locking surface that hinders removal of the male protrusion from the female mating portion, and the locking surface may be positioned over the second reinforcement sheet.

In some embodiments, the female mating portion includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw which are opposed to define the accommodation space. The lower jaw includes a lower locking protrusion protruding upward so as to have a lower locking surface, and the upper jaw includes an upper locking protrusion protruding downward so as to have an upper locking surface. The male protrusion is an arrow-like protrusion having a neck and a head, and the head has a lower locked portion protruding downward so as to have a lower locked surface and an upper locked portion protruding upward so as to have an upper locked surface. The lower locking surface and the upper locking surface may be positioned over the second reinforcement sheet.

In some embodiments, the lower locking surface is sloped so as to be closer to a connection between the lower jaw and the upper jaw as extending upward, the upper locking surface is sloped so as to be closer to the connection as extending downward, the lower locked surface is sloped for contact with the lower locking surface, and the upper locked surface is sloped for contact with the upper locking surface.

In some embodiments, the first contact surface includes a protruded surface that protrudes outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet and/or the second contact surface includes a protruded surface that protrudes outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet.

In some embodiments, the male mating portion further includes a closure wall to which the male protrusion is connected, and the male mating portion and the female mating portion are configured to have a third contact area when the male mating portion and the female mating portion are mated additionally to one or more first contact areas between the male protrusion and the female mating portion and a second contact area between the first contact surface and the second contact surface, the closure wall and the female mating portion being in pressure contact with each other at the third contact area on an opposite side of the second contact area with respect to the male protrusion. The female mating portion may include a lower jaw and an upper jaw opposed to define the accommodation space, and the upper jaw and the closure wall may be in pressure contact with each other at the third contact area.

In some embodiments, the male protrusion is an arrow-like protrusion having a neck and a head, and the head includes an upper locked portion and a lower locked portion. The lower jaw includes a lower locking protrusion by which the lower locked portion is locked, and the upper jaw includes an upper locking protrusion by which the upper locked portion is locked. Said one or more first contact areas may include a contact area where the upper locked portion and the upper locking protrusion are in pressure contact with each other and a contact area where the lower locked portion and the lower locking protrusion are in pressure contact with each other.

In some embodiments, a length of the neck in an insertion direction of the male protrusion into the accommodation space of the female mating portion is less than a distance between a contact point of the upper locking protrusion with the closure wall and a lowermost point of the upper locking surface in a state where the upper locking protrusion is sandwiched between the closure wall and the upper locked portion, or is less than a minimum value of the distance.

In some embodiments, one of the following conditions (a)-(c) is satisfied: (a) the first and second reinforcement sheets each includes at least one material selected from a group consisting of a paper, a non-woven fabric, a woven fabric and a knitted fabric; (b) the first reinforcement sheet is covered by the first skin portion on both sides thereof, and the second reinforcement sheet is covered by the second skin portion on both sides thereof; and (c) a layer thickness of the first skin portion on at least one side of the first reinforcement sheet is equal to or less than a thickness of the first reinforcement sheet, and a layer thickness of the second skin portion on at least one side of the second reinforcement sheet is equal to or less than a thickness of the second reinforcement sheet.

In some embodiments, the rail fastener further includes a slider.

The slider may include: a first wing; a second wing; a coupling pillar extending in an up-down direction between the first wing and the second wing so as to interconnect the first wing and the second wing; first and second sidewalls extending along the up-down direction toward the second wing from both side edges of the first wing in a width direction of the slider; and first and second inserts, respectively, protruding from the first and second sidewalls at a remote position from the first wing so as to approach one another in the width direction of the slider. The first insert is inserted into a first guide groove of the first fastener stringer, and the second insert is inserted into a second guide groove of the second fastener stringer.

Preferably, based on the insertion of the first insert into the first guide groove and the insertion of the second insert into the second guide groove, (i) the position of the male mating portion and the female mating portion inside the slider is restricted in the up-down direction and/or (ii) a fully mated body of the male and female mating portions inside the slider is spaced from the first wing via an upper space and from the second wing via a lower space. Additionally or alternatively, the first attachment sheet and the second attachment sheet are shifted toward the first wing based on the insertion of the first insert into the first guide groove and the insertion of the second insert into the second guide groove.

In some embodiments, the female mating portion includes a pair of jaws opposed to define the accommodation space. The pair of jaws do not touch the first wing and the second wing in a process of mating of the male mating portion and the female mating portion inside the slider.

In some embodiments, the first insert is arranged to touch the first attachment sheet together with a terminal surface of a distal end of the first sidewall, and the second insert is arranged to touch the second attachment sheet together with a terminal surface of a distal end of the second sidewall.

In some embodiments, the slider further includes third and fourth sidewalls extending in the up-down direction toward the first wing from both side edges of the second wing in the width direction of the slider.

In some embodiments, the male mating portion and the female mating portion are pressed between the first and second sidewalls and are mated inside the slider.

In some embodiments, an interspace between the first insert and the second insert is set such that the male mating portion and the female mating portion are not pressed between the first insert and the second insert when the slider moves.

In some embodiments, the coupling pillar is positioned forward of the first and second sidewalls and offset rearward of respective front ends of the first wing and the second wing.

In some embodiments, a front-end portion of the first wing has a first sloped surface sloped away from the second wing as being away from the coupling pillar, and a front-end portion of the second wing has a second sloped surface sloped away from the first wing as being away from the coupling pillar.

In some embodiments, the female mating portion includes a pair of jaws opposed to define the accommodation space. At least one of the first wing and the second wing has an accommodation groove that accommodates one of the pair of jaws being displaced as the male mating portion and the female mating portion are mated or unmated.

A double fastener according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes any one of the various rail fasteners discussed above; a fastener chain stacked onto the rail fastener; and a slider that has a first wing, a second wing and a coupling pillar extending in an up-down direction between the first wing and the second wing so as to interconnect the first wing and the second wing. The fastener chain includes a third fastener stringer stacked onto the first fastener stringer and a fourth fastener stringer stacked onto the second fastener stringer. The third and fourth fastener stringers include first and second coil-like elements respectively which engage one another in synchronization with mating of the male mating portion and the female mating portion when the slider moves forward.

In some embodiments, the female mating portion includes a lower jaw and an upper jaw opposed to define the accommodation space, and the upper jaw is positioned farther than the lower jaw from the second attachment sheet. The first wing has an accommodation groove that accommodates the upper jaw being displaced as the male mating portion and the female mating portion are mated or unmated. The accommodation groove may linearly extend from a position adjacent to a rear end of the coupling pillar to a rear end surface of the first wing.

In some embodiments, the second wing has a protruded partition extending rearward from the coupling pillar so as to restrict the position in the up-down direction of the first and second coil-like elements which are in an engaged state, and the accommodation groove is formed to have a width wider than or equal to a width of the partition in the width direction of the slider.

In some embodiments, the slider further includes first and second sidewalls extending along the up-down direction toward the second wing from both side edges of the first wing in a width direction of the slider. The slider has a first block protruding from the first sidewall toward the second sidewall, a second block protruding from the second sidewall toward the first sidewall, and the first block and the second block are opposed with an interspace that allows deformation of the upper jaw.

In some embodiments, the slider further includes first and second sidewalls extending along the up-down direction toward the second wing from both side edges of the first wing in a width direction of the slider, and third and fourth sidewalls extending in the up-down direction toward the first wing from both side edges of the second wing in the width direction of the slider. The male mating portion and the female mating portion are pressed between the first and second sidewalls and mated inside the slider. The first and second coil-like elements engage one another and are disengaged between the third and fourth sidewalls without being pressed between the third and fourth sidewalls.

In some embodiments, a maximum interspace between the first and second sidewalls in the width direction of the slider is set greater than a maximum interspace between the third and the fourth sidewalls in the width direction of the slider at every position rearward of the coupling pillar.

In some embodiments, the first and second coil-like elements are thinner than the male and female mating portions respectively.

A method of producing a rail fastener according to another aspect of the present disclosure may include: supplying a resin material to an extruder to extrude a first fastener stringer through a first mold of the extruder, the first fastener stringer including a first attachment sheet and a first mating portion; supplying a resin material to an extruder to extrude a second fastener stringer through a second mold of the extruder, the second fastener stringer including a second attachment sheet and a second mating portion; supplying a flexible first reinforcement sheet to the first mold such that the first reinforcement sheet is introduced in the first attachment sheet of the first fastener stringer, the first reinforcement sheet being at least partially covered by a first skin portion of the first attachment sheet, the first skin portion extending from the first mating portion and consisting of a same resin as the first mating portion; and supplying a flexible second reinforcement sheet to the second mold such that the second reinforcement sheet is introduced in the second attachment sheet of the second fastener stringer, the second reinforcement sheet being at least partially covered by a second skin portion of the second attachment sheet, the second skin portion extending from the second mating portion and consisting of a same resin as the second mating portion. A position of the first reinforcement sheet in an outlet of the first mold and a position of the second reinforcement sheet in an outlet of the second mold are set such that a predetermined state is caused when the first and second mating portions are mated to form a rail portion. Said predetermined state includes a state where a first contact surface of the first mating portion and/or the first skin portion and a second contact surface of the second mating portion and/or the second skin portion are in a pressure contact with each other at a location between the first and second reinforcement sheets.

In some embodiments, the first mold is configured to mold the first contact surface as a protruded surface protruding outwardly of sheet relative to an inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet, and/or the second mold is configured to mold the second contact surface as a protruded surface protruding outwardly of sheet relative to an inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet.

In some embodiments, the first mating portion is a male mating portion including at least a male protrusion and a closure wall to which the male protrusion is connected, and the second mating portion is a female mating portion having an accommodation space for accommodating the male protrusion and being shaped to hinder removal of the male protrusion from the accommodation space. The position of the second reinforcement sheet in the outlet of the second mold is set such that the accommodation space of the female mating portion is located over the second reinforcement sheet.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an appropriate hardness of attachment sheet of rail fastener and an improved sealing capability of rail fastener may be achieved simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of rail fastener according to an aspect of the present disclosure showing its attached state to a ground fabric of garment through thermocompression bonding and sewing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a rail fastener with a slider attached to a rail portion thereof.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a variation where a reinforcement sheet is exposed at a top surface of attachment sheet.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a variation where a reinforcement sheet is exposed at a bottom surface of attachment sheet.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a variation where a lower jaw of female mating portion is formed thicker.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of an extruder used for a process of production of rail fastener according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a first mold seen from a downstream side of the extruder.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a second mold seen from a downstream side of the extruder.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing schematic cross-sectional configuration of a rail fastener according to another aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 11, showing a mating portion in an enlarged view.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a variation of rail fastener.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a first fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a second fastener stringer of the rail fastener shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of a slider-attached rail fastener, showing a rear mouth of the slider in elevation and a mated state of the male and female mating portions inside the slider in cross section.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram of the slider-attached rail fastener, showing in cross section the male and female mating portions which are in a process of mating inside the slider.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of slider.

FIG. 21 is a front view of slider.

FIG. 22 is a rear view of slider.

FIG. 23 is a side view of slider.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing an interior surface of a second wing of the slider, a coupling pillar shown in cross section.

FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing an interior surface of a first wing of the slider, a coupling pillar shown in cross section.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram of a slider-attached rail fastener in which the male and female mating portions are rearranged at a lower side compared with FIG. 18 and the slider has a modified structure correspondingly.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram of a slider-attached double fastener, showing a rear mouth of the slider in elevation and a mated state of the male and female mating portions inside the slider in cross section.

FIG. 28 is a schematic diagram of the slider-attached double fastener, showing in cross section the male and female mating portions which are in a process of mating inside the slider.

FIG. 29 is a partial bottom view of a fastener chain laminated to a rail fastener.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of slider.

FIG. 31 is a front view of the slider.

FIG. 32 is a rear view of the slider.

FIG. 33 is a side view of the slider.

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram showing an interior surface of a second wing of the slider, showing a width of passage for coil-like elements between third and fourth sidewalls.

FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing an interior surface of a first wing of the slider, showing a width of passage for male and female mating portions between first and second sidewalls.

FIG. 36 is a schematic diagram of a slider-attached double fastener in which the rail fastener and the fastener chain are inverted in position and the slider has a modified structure correspondingly.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, various embodiments and features would be discussed with reference to drawings. A skilled person would be able to combine respective embodiments and/or respective features without requiring excess description, and would appreciate synergistic effects of such combinations. Overlapping description among the embodiments are basically omitted. Referenced drawings aim mainly for describing inventions and are simplified for the sake of convenience of drawing preparation. The respective features should be appreciated as universal features not only effective to rail fastener and method of producing the same presently disclosed but also effective to other various rail fastener and method of producing the same not disclosed in the present specification.

In the present specification, terms such as first and second may be used to distinguish parts or portions to which a same name is designated. For example, fastener stringers 1,2, mating portions 11,12, attachment sheets 21,22, guide grooves G1,G2, and inserts 99a,99b may be named as first and second fastener stringers 1,2, first and second mating portions 11,12, first and second attachment sheets 21,22, first and second guide grooves G1,G2, and first and second inserts 99a,99b respectively. The present specification may omit identifying terms such as first and second for a purpose of concise description.

In the present specification, terms such as front-rear, left-right, and up-down may be used to identify relative positions of parts or portions. The front-rear direction matches an elongation direction of rail fastener (double-headed arrow between F and Re in FIG. 1) or a direction a slider moves; the left-right direction matches a width direction of the rail fastener (double-headed arrow between L and Ri in FIG. 1); and the up-down direction matches a direction of thickness of the rail fastener (double-headed arrow between U and D in FIG. 1). Of course, the up-down direction does not necessarily match a vertical direction (a direction of gravity). That is, terms referred in the present specification should be understood based on a rail fastener not based on the vertical direction (the direction of gravity), and are irrelevant to the vertical direction (the direction of gravity).

The rail fastener 100 is a resin-made molded article (e.g. resin-made extruded article) and an elongated article extending in a predetermined direction with a predetermined width. The rail fastener 100 has a pair of left and right separable first and second fastener stringers 1,2. The first and second fastener stringers 1,2 each is elongated in the same direction as the rail fastener 100 and extends in the same direction with a predetermined width. In cases where the rail fasteners 100 are produced through extrusion, the elongation directions of the rail fastener 100 and the respective fastener stringer 1,2 are identical to the direction of extrusion.

An opening between the first and second fastener stringers 1,2 is closed by coupling the first and second fastener stringers 1,2; and the opening is formed between the first and second fastener stringers 1,2 by decoupling the first and second fastener stringers 1,2. The first and second fastener stringers 1,2 are attached to the ground fabrics 3,4 respectively through thermocompression bonding or sewing or combination thereof. The ground fabrics 3,4 may be different portions (left and right halves of front part) of a garment. An object to which the rail fastener 100 is attached may be a garment, a bag, a pouch and the like, for example. Although not depicted in FIG. 1, the fastener stringers 1,2 may be interconnected by a bridging member (not illustrated) at an end or both ends of the rail fastener 100 along its elongation direction. Of course, the fastener stringers 1,2 may not be interconnected by the bridging member, allowing the fastener stringers 1,2 to be fully separable.

The first fastener stringer 1 has a first mating portion 11 and a first attachment sheet 21. The second fastener stringer 2 has a second mating portion 12 and a second attachment sheet 22. The respective first and second mating portions 11,12 are continuously formed in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100 with a constant predetermined cross-sectional shape. The respective first and second attachment sheets 21,22 are flexible sheets (composite sheets as described in below) having a predetermined thickness defined by a top surface 21m,22m and a bottom surface 21n,22n and are continuously formed in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100 with a predetermined width. The first mating portion 11 is positioned at or in the proximity of an inner edge 21a of the first attachment sheet 21. The second mating portion 12 is positioned at or in the proximity of an inner edge 22a of the second attachment sheet 22. Note that, the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 have the inner edges 21a,22a which abut one another when the sheets are coupled, and may be sewn by sewing threads 8 to the ground fabrics 3,4 at outer edges 21b,22b located at the opposite side of the inner edges 21a,22a. Note that a waterproof tape may be laminated onto the attachment sheet so as to seal stitches of the sewing thread 8 and to improve its waterproofness. Furthermore, a manner of coupling between the attachment sheet and the ground fabric should not be limited to the use of sewing thread 8 but they may be coupled through melting.

The first and second mating portions 11,12 are mated to form a rail portion 10. Likewise, the first and second mating portions 11,12, the rail portion 10 is continuously formed in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100. The first and second mating portions 11,12 are in contact one another in the rail portion 10 such that an interstice between the first and second mating portions 11,12 is closed and in accordance with this degree, the rail fastener 100 would exhibit a desired sealing capability. That is, the fluid (liquid or gas) is impeded or prevented from flowing through the interstice in the rail portion 10.

The first mating portion 11 is a male mating portion 5 (see FIG. 2) and the second mating portion 12 is a female mating portion 6 (see FIG. 3). Mating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 in the width direction of the rail fastener 100 is caused continuously along the longitudinal direction of the rail fastener 100 so that the first and second stringers 1, 2 are coupled; and the unmating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 in the width direction of the rail fastener 100 is caused continuously along the longitudinal direction of the rail fastener 100 so that the first and second stringers 1, 2 are decoupled. A direction of mating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 is identical to the left-right direction but the up-down direction. Note that the width direction of the rail fastener 100 is a direction orthogonal to the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100 and orthogonal to the thickness direction of the attachment sheet 21,22. Specific configuration of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be arbitrarily designed by a skilled person in the art, additionally to those illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The mating portions 11,12 may be configured not only by a combination of a male mating portion and a female mating portion but also by a combination of a male mating portion and a male mating portion.

The male mating portion 5 is a male mating portion that includes a male protrusion 52 and a closure wall 51 to which the male protrusion 52 is connected (e.g. at its base end). The closure wall 51 rises (preferably perpendicularly) from the top surface 21m of the attachment sheet 21. The male protrusion 52 extends from the closure wall 51 outwardly of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 21. The male mating portion 5 may further have a guide protrusion 53 that protrudes from the closure wall 51 to an opposite side of the male protrusion 52 (i.e. inwardly of the sheet). Note that, outwardly of sheet indicates a direction directed from a point on a sheet surface (top or bottom surface) toward a point outside of the sheet surface of a sheet (e.g. attachment sheet or reinforcement sheet described below) with respect to a plane orthogonal to the up-down direction, and inwardly of sheet indicates an opposite direction of the outwardly of sheet. Each of the closure wall 51, the male protrusion 52, and the guide protrusion 53 is formed continuously in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100, and the same applies to its respective surfaces it has. The guide protrusion 53 is provided in relation to the slider 9 and can be omitted.

The closure wall 51 has a wall surface 51f that faces outwardly of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 21 and faces the female mating portion 6, and it is sectioned into an upper wall surface at the upper side of the male protrusion 52 and a lower wall surface at the lower side of the male protrusion 52. These upper and lower wall surfaces are flat perpendicular surface orthogonal to the width direction of the rail fastener 100 (left-right direction), but one or each can be a sloped surface. Recess or protrusion can be arranged at one or each of the upper and lower wall surfaces of the wall surface 51f. Note that the lower wall surface of the wall surface 51f extends downward from the bottom surface of the male protrusion 52. The upper wall surface of the wall surface 51f extends upward from the top surface of the male protrusion 52 to reach to the top surface of the closure wall 51.

The male protrusion 52 may be an arrow-like protrusion that protrudes outwardly of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 21 and having a neck 52a and a head 52b. The neck 52a is connected to the closure wall 51, and the head 52b is connected to the neck 52a. The neck 52a has a thickness defined by top and bottom surfaces 52a1 and 52a2, and the head 52b has a thickness defined by top and bottom surfaces 52b1 and 52b2. The head 52b is thicker than the neck 52a. The head 52b includes an upper locked portion 52c and a lower locked portion 52d. The upper locked portion 52c protrudes upward from the top surface 52a1 of the neck 52a, and the lower locked portion 52d protrudes downward from the bottom surface 52a2 of the neck 52a, the respective ones of which provided with upper and lower locked surfaces 52e,52f. The upper and lower locked surfaces 52e,52f are arranged to face the upper and lower wall surfaces of the wall surface 51f of the closure wall 51 respectively, thereby forming upper and lower accommodation channels 52p,52q therebetween which are for accommodating, respectively, upper and lower locking protrusion 64,63 of the female mating portion 6 described below. The upper and lower locked surfaces 52e,52f are flat perpendicular surfaces orthogonal to the width direction (the left-right direction) of the rail fastener 100, but it can be a sloped surface. Note that, the upper accommodation channel 52p is defined by the upper wall surface of the wall surface 51f, the top surface 52a1 of the neck 52a and the upper locked surface 52e. The lower accommodation channel 52q is defined by the lower wall surface of the wall surface 51f, the bottom surface 52a2 of the neck 52a and the lower locked surface 52f.

The head 52b is tapered toward its end and in detail has an upper sloped surface 52r that slants downward toward an end portion (an end surface 52t in the illustrated example) and a lower sloped surface 52s that slants upward toward the end portion (the end surface 52t in the illustrated example). Such a shape of the head 52b allows easier press-fitting of the male mating portion 5 into the female mating portion 6 (a space between lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 described below). Note that both the neck 52a and the head 52b are continuously formed along the longitudinal direction of the rail fastener 100.

The guide protrusion 53 is arranged on the opposite side of the male protrusion 52 with respect to the closure wall 51. The guide protrusion 53 is remote from the top surface 21m of the attachment sheet 21, and is spaced from the attachment sheet 21 via a guide groove G1 therebetween. The guide protrusion 53 should not be limited to have a rectangular shape in cross section but may have other shapes such as triangular or semicircular shapes in cross section.

The female mating portion 6 has an accommodation space 65 that accommodates the male protrusion 52, and is shaped to hinder removal of the male protrusion 52 from the accommodation space 65. In some cases, the female mating portion 6 has lower jaw 61 and upper jaw 62, defining the accommodation space 65 therebetween. The female mating portion 6 has a C-like shape in cross section with the lower jaw 61 and the upper jaw 62 connected at a connection 68, but it should not be limited to this cross-sectional shape. Each of the accommodation space 65, the lower jaw 61 and the upper jaw 62 is formed continuously in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100. The lower jaw 61 has a lower locking protrusion 63 that protrudes upward (e.g. from an end portion of the lower jaw 61) to have a lower locking surface 63s, and the upper jaw 62 has an upper locking protrusion 64 that protrudes downward (e.g. from an end portion of the upper jaw 62) to have an upper locking surface 64s. The lower and upper locking protrusions 63 and 64 define an insertion opening 69 for the male protrusion 52. The lower and upper locking surfaces 63s and 64s are oriented orthogonal to or sloped relative to an insertion direction A1 of the male protrusion 52 into the accommodation space 65, thus hindering the removal of the male protrusion 52 from the female mating portion 6. Note that, the insertion direction A1 is equal to the width direction of the rail fastener 100. The lower locked portion 52d is locked by the lower locking protrusion 63, and the upper locked portion 52c is locked by the upper locking protrusion 64.

The lower locking protrusion 63 has a sloped surface 63j that slants downward as being away from an upper end of the lower locking surface 63s outwardly of sheet (of the attachment sheet 22). The sloped surface 63j is sectioned into a moderate sloped surface and an adjacent steep sloped surface on the outward side of sheet. Likewise, the lower locking protrusion 63, the upper locking protrusion 64 has a sloped surface 64j that slants upward as being away outwardly of sheet (of the attachment sheet 22) from a lower end of the upper locking surface 64s. The sloped surface 64j is sectioned into a moderate sloped surface and an adjacent steep sloped surface on the outward side of sheet. Such a taper configuration of the sloped surfaces 63j,64j of the lower and upper locking protrusions 63,64 allows the width of the insertion opening 69 in the up-down direction to decrease gradually along the insertion direction A1, facilitating lured entry and easier press-fitting of the head 52b into a space between the lower jaw 61 and the upper jaw 62. The tapered shape of the head 52d (the sloped surfaces 52s,52r) also contributes to this purpose.

The female mating portion 6 has a guide protrusion 66 that protrudes from the connection 68 inwardly of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 22. The guide protrusion 66 is remote from the top surface 22m of the attachment sheet 22, and is spaced from the attachment sheet 22 via a guide groove G2 therebetween. The guide protrusion 66 should not be limited to have a rectangular shape in cross section but may have other shapes such as triangular or semicircular shapes in cross section.

When the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are to be mated, the head 52b of the male protrusion 52 of the male mating portion 5 is press-fitted between the lower and upper locking protrusions 63,64 of the female mating portion 6 to enlarge the interspace therebetween, and passes there-through. This is followed by the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 moving back and recovering to their original postures, thereby the neck 52a and/or the head 52b are sandwiched between them. Simultaneously, the upper locking protrusion 64 is accommodated in the upper accommodation channel 52p, and is sandwiched and pressed between the wall surface of the closure wall 51 and the upper locked surface 52e. Similarly, the lower locking protrusion 63 is accommodated in the lower accommodation channel 52q, and is sandwiched and pressed between a first contact surface 71 of the first skin portion 41 and the lower locked surface 52f. At this instance, the upper locked portion 52c and the upper locking protrusion 64 are in a pressure contact with each other (particularly in the left-right direction) at a contact area P1a (See FIG. 1), and the lower locked portion 52d and the lower locking protrusion 63 are in a pressure contact with each other (particularly in the left-right direction) at a contact area P1b (See FIG. 1). Accordingly, the sealing capability at each contact area P1a, P1b is improved, simultaneously facilitating formation of a second contact area P2 (optionally a third contact area P3) which will be discussed hereinafter. As the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 consist of a resin (e.g. a soft resin), the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 can be unmated in accordance with application of a large force.

When the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are mated, a space 81 may be formed between the end portion of the male protrusion 52 (e.g. the end surface 52t, the upper sloped surface 52r, and the lower sloped surface 52s) and the connection 68 of the female mating portion 6 (a bottom surface of the accommodation space 65 crossing the insertion direction A1). This situation ensures easier deformation of the female mating portion 6 (particularly the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62), facilitating smoother mating and unmating. In accordance with the space 81 formed, the sealing capability of the rail fastener 100 may be reduced, but this issue may be avoided or suppressed by the pressure contact(s) such as the second contact area P2 and the like discussed below. A width of the space 81 in the left-right direction may be the maximum at the center in the up-down direction, and may be gradually reduced as being away upward or downward from the center. The space 81 is continuously formed in the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100.

The male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be mated or unmated using the slider 9 (See FIG. 4) or alternatively by operation by human fingers. The slider 9 is configured such that: the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are mated in accordance with the forward movement of the slider 9; and the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are unmated in accordance with rearward movement of the slider 9. The front-end portion of the slider 9 is provided with a pillar (not-shown) extending in the up-down direction at the central position in the width direction, and by which a diverging passage for the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 is formed.

The slider 9 has a connection plate 91 and flange walls 92,93 extending downward from the left and right side-edges of the connection plate 91, each flange wall 92, 93 provided with a recess 92a,93a that accommodates the guide protrusion 53,66. The interspace between the flange walls 92,93 is set like a taper so as to be wider at the front end portion of the slider 9 and narrower at the rear end portion of the slider 9, thereby a passage for mating and unmating the first and second mating portions 11,12 is well defined together with the above-indicated pillar. Note that, the flange walls 92,93 are provided with inserts 99a,99b which are inserted into the above-noted guide grooves G1,G2.

When the rail fastener 100 is operated to be open and closed by human fingers, the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be nipped between thumb and forefinger so that they are mated. For unmating the male and female mating portions 5 and 6, one fastener stringer may be forcibly pulled and separated from the other. As one fastener stringer is forcibly pulled and separated from the other, unmating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 would be continuously caused along the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100.

The first attachment sheet 21 is a composite sheet 31 as described above, and includes a flexible first reinforcement sheet 31 and a first skin portion 41. The second attachment sheet 22 is a composite sheet 31 as described above, and includes a flexible second reinforcement sheet 32 and a second skin portion 42. The first skin portion 41 consists of a same resin as the first mating portion 11, and extends from the first mating portion 11 to cover the first reinforcement sheet 31 at least partially. The second skin portion 42 consists of a same resin as the second mating portion 12, and extends from the second mating portion 12 to cover the second reinforcement sheet 32 at least partially. The first mating portion 11 and the first skin portion 41 are formed together from the same resin, and are different portions of a same resin body. Similarly, the second mating portion 12 and the second skin portion 42 are formed together from the same resin, and are different portions of a same resin body. A feature that the mating portion and the skin portion are different portions of a same resin body originates from production of the fastener stringer 1,2 through an extrusion-molding as discussed below, but other types of molding can be employed.

In the present embodiment, the first and second mating portions 11,12 are configured such that when they are mated, a first contact surface 71 of the first skin portion 41 positioned outwardly of sheet than the inner edge 31a of the first reinforcement sheet 31 and a second contact surface 72 of the second skin portion 42 positioned outwardly of sheet than the inner edge 32a of the second reinforcement sheet 32 are brought into a pressure contact with each other at a location between the first reinforcement sheet 31 and the second reinforcement sheet 32. In such a case, the first and second reinforcement sheets 31,32 are individually introduced in the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 to ensure suitable hardness thereof and simultaneously, the sealing capability of the rail fastener 100 is enhanced as the resin portions are in the pressure contact with each other at a location between the first and second reinforcement sheets 31,32.

As depicted in FIG. 2, a boundary between the first attachment sheet 21 and the first mating portion 11 is set at a position in a plane L1 orthogonal to the up-down direction. In this case, it could be said that the first contact surface 71 is included in a surface of the first skin portion 41. Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a boundary between the second attachment sheet 22 and the second mating portion 12 is set at a position in a plane L2 orthogonal to the up-down direction. In this case, it could be said that the second contact surface 72 is included in a surface of the second skin portion 42. Each plane L1,L2 is set co-planar with the top surface 21m,22m of the attachment sheet 21,22.

Note that, when the first and second mating portions 11,12 are mated, the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 may be arranged in the same plane, and similarly the first and second reinforcement sheet 31,32 may be arranged in the same plane. Note that the arrangement of the sheets in the same plane does not require that the respective sheets are equal in thickness.

The contact between the first and second contact surfaces 71 and 72 may be a local contact. For this purpose or for other purpose, the first contact surface 71 may be a protruded surface that protrudes outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet 31 and/or the second contact surface 72 may be a protruded surface that protrudes outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet 32. As in the illustrated example, one of the first and second contact surfaces 71,72 may be a protruded surface and the other may be a flat surface. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the protruded surface 611 may be formed at the second skin portion 42, and a flat surface may be formed at the first skin portion 41 with which the protruded surface 611 will be in contact. This case does not necessitate an issue of alignment otherwise caused when the both first and second contact surfaces 71,72 are formed as the protruded surfaces.

In some cases, the male mating portion 5 and the female mating portion 6 are configured, when the male mating portion 5 and the female mating portion 6 are mated, to have a third contact area P3 (See FIG. 1) in which the closure wall 51 and the female mating portion 6 (e.g. the upper jaw 62) are in a pressure contact with each other on the opposite (e.g. upper) side of the second contact area P2 with respect to the male protrusion 51, additionally to the above-described one or more first contact areas P1 (e.g. two areas P1a, P1b) between the male protrusion 52 and the female mating portion 6 and the second contact area P2 between the first contact surface 71 and the second contact surface 72. This effectively enhances the sealing capability of the rail fastener 100. Facilitated is an equivalent or higher sealing capability than a waterproof slide fastener at a lower price. Note that, an embodiment is envisioned where one of the above-described contact areas P1a, P1b is omitted.

In order to promote the pressure contact at the above-described three or more contact areas (total 4 areas P1a, P1b,P2, P3 as in the example of FIG. 1 in some cases), a length D1 of the neck 52a (See FIG. 2) in the width direction of the rail fastener 100 is set less than a distance D2 (See FIG. 3) in the same direction. The distance D2 indicates a distance in the width direction of the rail fastener 100 between a lowermost point N1 of the locking surface 64s of the upper jaw 62 and a contact point N2 of the upper jaw 62 against the closure wall 51 when the male protrusion 52 and the female mating portion 6 are mated. This promotes the pressure contact between the surfaces of the contact areas P1a, P3. Note that, when the male protrusion 52 and the female mating portion 6 are mated and the closure wall 51 and the upper jaw 62 are in contact in a given range in the up-down direction, the contact point N2 may indicate a point closest to the connection 68 along the insertion direction A1 (i.e. the lowermost point in the range in the up-down direction). In particular, when the distance D2 covers a certain range, a minimum of the distance D2 would be used for a purpose of comparison with D1. Note that the contact point N2 may be positioned slightly below the distalmost point of the upper jaw 62. It is envisaged that a length D1 of the neck 52a is equal to an interspace (or a maximum value thereof) between the wall surface 51f of the closure wall 51 and the upper locked surface 52e of the head 52b, or an interspace (or a maximum value thereof) between the wall surface 51f of the closure wall 51 and the lower locked surface 52f of the head 52b.

Increase in the length D1 would allow easier mating between the first and second mating portions 11,12 but the degree of pressure contact would be reduced. Decrease in the length D1 would necessities a larger force for mating the first and second mating portions 11,12, but the degree of pressure contact would be increased. Note that the relationship between the length D1 and the distance D2 described above is equally applicable to a relationship between the length D1 and the distance D2′ shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and thus overlapping descriptions is omitted. In this regards, the contact point N2 of the upper jaw 62 against the closure wall 51 is replaced with a contact point of the lower jaw 61 against an inner side surface of the first skin portion 41 (or the first contact surface 71). Furthermore, in a case where the lower jaw 61 is in contact with the inner side surface of the first skin portion 41 (or the first contact surface 71) in a certain range in up-down direction when the male protrusion 52 and the female mating portion 6 are mated, a contact point of the lower jaw 61 indicates a point at a position closest to the connection 68 along the insertion direction A1 (namely, the uppermost point in the range in up-down direction). In a case where the length D1 is less than the distance D2′, the pressure contact may be promoted between surfaces of the contact areas P1b,P2. The distal points 61e,62e of the lower and upper jaws 61,62 are positioned outwardmost of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 22.

Likewise, the contact between the first and second contact surfaces 71 and 72, the contact between the closure wall 51 and the female mating portion 6 (e.g. the upper jaw 62) may be a local contact. For this or other purpose, the closure wall 51 may have a protruded surface protruding outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge 31a of the reinforcement sheet 31. Similarly, the female mating portion 6 (e.g. the upper jaw 62) may have a protruded surface (see reference number 621 in FIG. 3) protruding outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge 32a of the reinforcement sheet 32. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper jaw 62 has the protruding surface 621, and the wall surface of the closure wall 51 with which the protruding surface 621 would be in contact is formed as a flat surface. In this case, an issue of alignment would not be caused similar to the above.

The reinforcement sheet 31,32 may be made of a material different from the resin of the mating portion 11,12 and the skin portion 41,42, in particular may be made of one or combination of a paper, a non-woven fabric, a woven fabric and a knitted fabric. The resin of the mating portion 11,12 and the skin portion 41,42 is a thermoplastic polymer, more preferably a thermoplastic elastomers, examples of which are thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester elastomer, olefin-based elastomer, polyvinyl chloride and the like. As the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is introduced into the attachment sheet 21,22, the hardness of the attachment sheet 21,22 is increased and its stability of shape is also enhanced. Simultaneously, an amount of resin may be reduced. Note that the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is flexible and thus ensuring the flexibility of the attachment sheet 21,22. In a case where the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is a woven fabric or knitted fabric or a mixture of the two, both surfaces thereof would be finely uneven (in accordance with the weaving or knitting), thereby enhancing adhesion to the resin of the skin portion 41,42.

The first reinforcement sheet 31 may be arranged to support the male mating portion 5. This allows increased stability of the shape of male mating portion 5. The second reinforcement sheet 32 may be arranged to support the female mating portion 6. This allows increased stability of the shape of female mating portion 6. In a case where a soft resin (e.g. thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester elastomer, olefin-based elastomer, polyvinyl chloride or the like) is used for production of the rail fastener 100, the male mating portion 5 and the female mating portion 6 may be deformed easily during a period of curing thereof, but the deformation is suppressed owing to the reinforcement sheet 31,32.

The male mating portion 5 may be arranged such that at least a part of it is located over the first reinforcement sheet 31. The guide protrusion 53 may be located over the first reinforcement sheet 31. Additionally or alternatively, the wall surface 51z of the closure wall 51 on which the guide protrusion 53 is arranged may be located over the first reinforcement sheet 31 at least partially (preferably entirely). This allows more stable support of the closure wall 51 by the first reinforcement sheet 31. The inner edge 31a of the first reinforcement sheet 31 is positioned outwardly of sheet regarding the first attachment sheet 21 than the guide protrusion 53 or the wall surface 51z of the closure wall 51 and in some cases, may be positioned directly below a top surface 51g of the closure wall 51. Note that, in the illustrated example, the wall surface 51z of the closure wall 51 includes a sloped surface positioned above the guide protrusion 53 and a perpendicular surface positioned below the guide protrusion 53, which are both positioned over the first reinforcement sheet 31.

The female mating portion 6 may be arranged such that the accommodation space 65 for accommodating the male mating portion 5 is located over the second reinforcement sheet 32. Preferably, a portion of the second reinforcement sheet 32 is embedded directly below the lower jaw 61. As apparent from FIG. 3, the lower and upper locking protrusions 63,64 (also the lower and upper locking surfaces 63s,64s) are positioned over the second reinforcement sheet 32 (on the top surface thereof). It is assumed that the reinforcement sheet 32 decreases the softness of the lower locking protrusion 63 and enhances its locking force. The inner edge 32a of the second reinforcement sheet 32 may be positioned closer to the second contact surface 72 than the lower locking surface 63s of the lower locking protrusion 63. Additionally or alternatively, the inner edge 32a of the second reinforcement sheet 32 may be positioned directly below the sloped surface 63j described above (directly below a boundary between the moderate slope region and the steep slope region of the sloped surface 63j).

For the rail fastener 100 to have increased waterproofness, both surfaces of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 may preferably be covered by the skin portion 41,42. Of course, the top surface of the reinforcement sheet 32 may be exposed (see FIG. 5) or the bottom surface of the reinforcement sheet 32 may be exposed (see FIG. 6). Furthermore, embodiments are envisioned where the lower jaw 61 is formed thicker as depicted in FIG. 7, a thickness of and an amount of resin used for the rail fastener 100 may be increased though.

The reinforcement sheet 31,32 has an appropriate degree of strength, allowing the attachment sheet 21,22 to be sewn to an attachment object by a sewing thread 8. Even if a needle penetrates through the reinforcement sheet 31,32, the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is suppressed from having a tear running from the point of penetration. Sewing would be an approach that could not be adoptable when the attachment sheet 21,22 is a single layer of resin.

To ensure equal softness of the attachment sheet 21,22 or for the sewing with the above-described thread 8, the outer side edge of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 may be positioned adjacent to the outer side edge 21b,22b of the attachment sheet 21,22. That is, the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is introduced in the attachment sheet 21,22 to effect such a relationship therebetween in position.

Introduction of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 into the attachment sheet 21,22 allows the thickness of the skin portion 41,42 (the upper layer of the skin portion covering the top surface of the attachment sheet 21,22 or a lower layer of the skin portion covering the bottom surface of the attachment sheet 21,22) to be sufficiently thinner. In some cases, the layer thickness TH41,TH42 of each skin portion 41,42 (See FIGS. 2 and 3) is less than the thickness of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 and preferably, is 0.3 mm or less or 0.2 mm or less. That is, the reinforcement sheet 31,32 mainly ensures the strength or softness of the attachment sheet 21,22, and the skin portion 41,42 mainly ensures the waterproofness of the attachment sheet 21,22. Note that the skin portion 41,42 may have different thicknesses in its upper and lower layers interposing the reinforcement sheet 31,32. The reinforcement sheet 31,32 may be covered by the skin portion 41,42 except for its front-end face and rear end face.

In order to enhance the adhesion between the reinforcement sheet 31,32 and the skin portion 41,42, plural through-holes may be formed through the reinforcement sheet 31,32. The upper layer of the skin portion 41,42 on the top surface of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 and the lower layer of the skin portion 41,42 below the bottom surface of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 are interconnected by resins filling the through-holes of the reinforcement sheet 31,32.

Each fastener stringer 1,2 may be produced through extrusion molding. As shown in FIG. 8, an extruder 200 has a rotating machine 210, a screw 220 rotated by the rotating machine 210, a tubular housing 230 housing the screw 220, a mold 240, a hopper 250 for resin material, and a spool 260 about which the reinforcement sheet 31 is wound. Note that in cases where solid resin is introduced into the tubular housing 230, the tubular housing 230 may be provided with a heater for melting it. Various configurations can be employed for the extruder 200, and the configuration shown in FIG. 8 is just an example.

Appropriate mold 240 is employed in accordance with a cross-sectional shape of the fastener stringer 1,2. FIG. 9 shows a mold 240a for the fastener stringer 1. FIG. 10 shows a mold 240b for the fastener stringer 2. A position of the reinforcement sheet 31 in an outlet 240m of the mold 240a and a position of the reinforcement sheet 32 in an outlet 240n of the mold 240b are set such that the first and second contact surfaces 71,72 are brought into a pressure contact when the first and second mating portions 11,12 are mated as discussed above. In other words, passages for the reinforcement sheets 31,32 through the molds 240a,240b are set such that the first and second contact surfaces 71,72 are brought into a pressure contact when the first and second mating portions 11,12 are mated as discussed above. This configuration achieves similar effects as those discussed above.

For producing the fastener stringers 1,2, the following steps are performed: (a) supplying resin material to the extruder 200 and extruding a fastener stringer 1 through a mold 240a; (b) supplying resin material to the extruder 200 and extruding a fastener stringer 2 through a mold 240b; (c) supplying a flexible reinforcement sheet 31 through the mold 240a to introduce the reinforcement sheet 31 in the attachment sheet 21 of the fastener stringer 1; and (d) supplying a flexible reinforcement sheet 32 through the mold 240b to introduce the reinforcement sheet 32 in the attachment sheet 22 of the fastener stringer 2.

Regarding the steps (a) and (c), the operation of the extruder 200 (e.g. rotation of the screw 220) and supply of the reinforcement sheet 31,32 (e.g. feeding of the reinforcement sheet 31 from the spool 260) progress simultaneously. As the screw 220 rotates, the resin flows through the tubular housing 230, reaches the mold 240a and is extruded from the outlet 240m. The reinforcement sheet 31 fed from the spool 260 runs in a predetermined passage through the mold 240a, and is released from the outlet 240m of the mold 240a while being embedded in the resin (in the attachment sheet 21). The same description equally applies to the steps (b) and (d). As the screw 220 rotates, the resin flows through the tubular housing 230, reaches the mold 240b and is extruded from the outlet 240n. The reinforcement sheet 32 fed from the spool 260 runs in a predetermined passage through the mold 240b, and is released from the outlet 240n of the mold 240b while being embedded in the resin (in the attachment sheet 22). Note that the fastener stringer 1,2 released from the mold 240a,240b which has been not hardened may be supplied to a cooling machine and be cooled by water or air compulsively. Bearer for bearing the fastener stringer 1,2 or winder may be deployed at a downstream site of the extruder and the cooling machine.

The mold 240a,240b may be designed such that a passage dedicated for the reinforcement sheet 31,32 alone (before embedded in the resin) in the mold 240a,240b terminates at a position immediately upstream of the outlet 240m,240n of the mold 240a,240b. A distance between the terminal point of the passage for the reinforcement sheet 31,32 alone and the outlet 240m,240n of the mold 240a,240b may be appropriately set, allowing the reinforcement sheet 31,32 to be stably embedded in the resin (in the attachment sheet 21,22).

The molds 240a,240b are configured to realize one or more features described for the rail fastener 100. For example, the mold 240a is configured to shape the first contact surface 71 into the protruding surface protruding outwardly of sheet relative to the inner edge of the reinforcement sheet 31. The mold 240b can be similarly configured. Moreover, a position of the reinforcement sheet 32 in the outlet 240n of the mold 240b may be set such that the accommodation space 65 of the female mating portion 6 is located over the reinforcement sheet 32. Still further, the mold 240b may be configured such that a portion of the reinforcement sheet 32 is embedded directly below the lower jaw 61. As such, the molds 240a,240b may be configured to impart various features to the rail fastener 100.

As would be understood from FIGS. 11-14, the lower and upper locking protrusions 63,64 of the female mating portion 6 each may be a barb structure and similarly, the lower and upper locked portion 52d,52c of the male protrusion 52 each may be a barb structure (which can be mated with the barb structure of the locking protrusion). In such a case, a retaining capability of the female mating portion 6 for the male protrusion 52 is effectively enhanced. Furthermore, the contact area between the female mating portion 6 and the male protrusion 52 is increased, and the sealing capability of the rail fastener 100 is increased. It should be noted, however, that a larger deformation may be required for the female mating portion 6 when the rail fastener 100 is operated to be open and shut. As described above, if the female mating portion 6 is supported by the second reinforcement sheet 32, a sufficient mechanical strength for enduring the deformation is imparted to the female mating portion 6.

In more particular, the lower locking surface 63s is sloped so as to be closer to the connection 68 between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 as extending upward, and the upper locking surface 64s is sloped so as to be closer to the connection 68 as extending downward. The lower locked surface 52f is sloped for contact with the lower locking surface 63s and in particular, extends downward so as to be closer to the closure wall 51 or the first attachment sheet 21. The upper locked surface 52e is sloped for contact with the upper locking surface 64s and in particular, extends upward so as to be closer to the closure wall 51 or the first attachment sheet 21.

The lower locking surface 63s, the upper locking surface 64s, the lower locked surface 52f, and the upper locked surface 52e each may be formed so as to cross a plane PL1,PL2 at a same angleθ1 which is parallel to the insertion direction A1 of the male protrusion 52 into the accommodation space 65 of the female mating portion 6. This facilitates that sufficient contact area is ensured. Note that an angle between the top surface 52b1 of the head 52b and the upper locked surface 52e may be equal to the angle θ1 described above. The same applies to an angle between the bottom surface 52b2 of the head 52b and the lower locked surface 52f. The upper locking protrusion 64 may include a flat surface 64k included in the plane PL1, and the sloped surface 64j is formed adjacent to the surface. Similarly, the lower locking protrusion 63 may include a flat surface 63k included in the plane PL2, and the sloped surface 63j is formed adjacent to the surface.

Similar to the above description, a length D1 of the neck 52a in the insertion direction A1 of the male protrusion 52 into the accommodation space 65 of the female mating portion 6 may be less than a minimum value of the distance D2 between the lowermost point N1 of the upper locking surface 64s and the contact point N2 of the upper locking protrusion 64 with the closure wall 51. This allows facilitated pressure contact between surfaces of the contact areas P1a, P3. The relationship between D1′ and D2′ would be applicable equally.

As shown in FIG. 14, the closure wall 51 may be lower in height than the female mating portion 6. In more detail, the top surface 51g of the closure wall 51 is lower than the top surface of the upper jaw 62, and a step is formed therebetween when the female mating portion 6 and male protrusion 52 are mated. Owing to this, the rail portion 10 of the rail fastener 100 appears narrower in its width. Preferably, the closure wall 51 is set at a height between the top surface of the upper jaw 62 and the lower end of the upper locking protrusion 64 for a purpose of ensuring the contact area P3.

In FIGS. 15-17, unlike the above-described embodiments, the first and second mating portions 11,12 are configured such that, when the first and second mating portions 11,12 are mated, the first contact surface 71 of the first mating portion 11 positioned outwardly of sheet than the inner edge of the first reinforcement sheet 31 and the second contact surface 72 of the second mating portion 12 positioned outwardly of sheet than the inner edge of the second reinforcement sheet 32 are brought into pressure contact with each other at a location between the first and second reinforcement sheets 31,32. Similar to the above, in this case either, an appropriate hardness is obtained as the reinforcement sheet 31,32 is introduced in the attachment sheet 21,22 and simultaneously, the sealing capability of the rail fastener 100 is enhanced due to the pressure contact of the resin portions at a location between the reinforcement sheets 31,32.

The first and second mating portions 11,12 may have various shapes. In a case shown in FIGS. 15-17, the first mating portion 11 is a female mating portion 6, and the second mating portion 12 is a male mating portion 5. The male mating portion 5 is a rod having an approximately circular cross section and extending along the elongation direction of the rail fastener 100. The reinforcement sheet 32 is provided with a core cord at its inner edge, and the core cord is embedded in the post. The circumferential surface of the rod is provided with cutouts 901 on the upper and lower sides of the attachment sheet 22, thereby the upper and lower locked surface 52e,52f are formed.

The female mating portion 6 is a C-like portion having a lower jaw 61 and an upper jaw 62 so as to accommodate the rod of the male mating portion 5. The reinforcement sheet 31 is provided with a core cord at its inner edge, and the core cord is embedded in the connection between the lower jaw 61 and the upper jaw 62. A path 302 in spatial communication with the accommodation space 65 is formed between distal ends of the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62. The distal end of the lower jaw 61 is provided with a lower locking protrusion 63 protruding inward of the accommodation space 65 so as to be mated with the cutout 901 of the rod of the male mating portion 5. Similarly, the distal end of the upper jaw 62 is provided with an upper locking protrusion 64 protruding inward of the accommodation space 65 so as to be mated with the cutout 901 of the rod of the male mating portion 5. The lower and upper locking protrusions 63,64 have lower and upper locking surfaces 63s,64s and when the mating portions 11,12 are mated, they are brought in to contact with the lower and upper locked surfaces 52f,52e respectively. In the case shown in FIGS. 15-17, the first contact surface 71 is a surface that define the accommodation space 65 of the female mating portion 6. The second contact surface 72 is a circumferential surface of the rod.

Referring to FIGS. 18-26, further description follows. In the above discussion, FIG. 4 is referred to illustrate that the slider 9 is attached to the rail portion 10 of the rail fastener 100. The slider 9 shown in FIG. 4 has an insert 99a inserted in a guide groove G1 of the first fastener stringer 1 and an insert 99b inserted in a guide groove G2 of the second fastener stringer 2, thereby preventing the removal of the slider 9 off the rail portion 10. The male and female mating portions 5,6 have an appropriate hardness and softness for mating and unmating and therefore, there may be a possibility of falling of the slider 9 off the rail portion 10 due to the softness of the male and female mating portions 5,6. Of course, even if the slider 9 fell off the rail portion 10, it is possible to attach the slider 9 to the rail portion 10 again, but this causes a burden of attachment and causes a risk of loss of the slider 9. Note that in a case where a slider body is formed like a tube as disclosed in PTL 4, it is likely that the sliding of the slider becomes heavier.

In the present embodiment, additionally to the first wing 94, the second wing 95, and the coupling pillar 96, the slider 9 has a first insert 99a inserted into a guide groove G1 of the first fastener stringer 1 and a second insert 99b inserted into a guide groove G2 of the second fastener stringer 2 (See FIGS. 18 and 19). The slider 9 has the first wing 94 and the second wing 95, and the slider 9 is prevented from falling off the rail fastener 100. Furthermore, the position of the male and female mating portions 5,6 inside the slider 9 is restricted in the up-down direction based on the insertion of the first insert 99a into the guide groove G1 and the insertion of the second insert 99b into the guide groove G2. The slider 9 is more securely prevented from falling, simultaneously enhancing the freedom in design of the shape of slider 9 regarding a portion of the slider other than the first and second inserts 99a,99b. For example, facilitated are that an interspace between the first and second wings 94 and 95 is increased in the up-down direction; contact of the male and female mating portions 5,6 with the first wing 94 is avoided or suppressed; and/or contact of the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 with the second wing 95 is avoided or suppressed, these are non-limiting examples though. In some cases, supplying of the sliders with exterior design meeting individual and various user's demands may be facilitated.

The guide groove G1 of the first fastener stringer 1 is not necessarily defined between the guide protrusion 53 and the first attachment sheet 21. Similarly, the guide groove G2 of the second fastener stringer 2 is not necessarily defined between the guide protrusion 66 and the second attachment sheet 22. The guide groove G1 may be recessed at the wall surface 51z of the closure wall 51 of the male mating portion 5. Similarly, the guide groove G2 may be recessed at the connection 68 of the female mating portion 6. In either case, the guide groove G1,G2 is a recessed portion directed toward a central axis of the rail fastener 100 which matches the central line CL of the slider 9. Note that, the deployment of the guide protrusions 53,66 allows facilitated reduction of the contact areas between the slider 9 and the male mating portion 5 and between the slider 9 and the female mating portion 6.

The first and second attachment sheets 21,22 include the first and second reinforcement sheets 31,32 respectively and similar effect would be obtained as those discussed above. However, the first and second reinforcement sheets 31,32 may be omitted and this would be applicable to every embodiment or feature discussed hereinbelow.

The first wing 94 exists in a given plane orthogonal to the up-down direction, and the second wing 95 exists in another plane orthogonal to the up-down direction, both being in opposed arrangement. The first wing 94 has an external surface 94t and an internal surface 94s by which its thickness is defined. The second wing 95 has an external surface 95t and an internal surface 95s by which its thickness is defined. The internal surface 94s of the first wing 94 and the internal surface 95s of the second wing 95 define a height H9 of the passage inside the slider 9 in the up-down direction. The first wing 94 is provided with a pull-attachment column, but the second wing 95 may have it additionally or alternatively.

As shown in FIG. 20, the first and second wings 94 and 95 each has a front portion 941,951 having a relatively wider width, a rear portion 942,952 having a relatively narrower width, and an intermediate portion 943,953 interposed between them and having a gradually increasing width from the rear portion 942,952 toward the front portion 941,951. In the front portion 941,951, the position of the male and female mating portions 5,6 is controlled in the up-down direction. In the intermediate portion 943,953 and the rear portion 942,952, the position of the male and female mating portions 5,6 is controlled in the left-right direction in addition to the up-down direction. Preferably, a length of the front portion 941,951 is greater than a length of the rear portion 942,952 in the front-rear direction. Note that a length of the intermediate portion 943,953 is less than the length of the front portion 941,951 and the length of the rear portion 942,952 in the front-rear direction.

The coupling pillar 96 may be positioned rearward offset away from the front ends of the first and second wings 94 and 95. The front-end portions of the first and second wings 94 and 95 have opposing surfaces opposing with an interspace in the up-down direction. The opposing surface of the first wing 94 may include a first sloped surface 101 sloped away from the second wing 95 as extending away from the coupling pillar 96. Similarly, the opposing surface of the second wing 95 may have a second sloped surface 102 sloped away from the first wing 94 as extending away from the coupling pillar 96. The first and second sloped surfaces 101,102 are opposed to define a taper shape. A flat surface may be formed between the first sloped surface 101 and the coupling pillar 96. A flat surface may be formed between the second sloped surface 102 and the coupling pillar 96. Collision of the male and female mating portions 5,6 with the first or second wing 94,95 and following unintentional stop of the slider 9 would be avoided or suppressed by the deployment of the first and second sloped surfaces 101,102.

The coupling pillar 96 extends between the first and second wings 94 and 95 in the up-down direction so as to interconnect the first and second wings 94 and 95. The coupling pillar 96 preferably interconnects the front portions 941 and 951, more preferably interconnects the front portions 941 and 951 at a position adjacent to the intermediate portion 943,953. The coupling pillar 96 is positioned offset rearward away from the respective front ends of the first and second wings 94 and 95, and thus a space SP5 is formed forward of the coupling pillar 96. The space SP5 is spatially restricted between the first and second wings 94 and 95 but is not restricted by first and second sidewalls 9a,9b described below. This is because the space SP5 is positioned forward of the coupling pillar 96 and the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b described below are positioned rearward of the coupling pillar 96. Collision of the male and female mating portions 5,6 against the coupling pillar 96 and following stop of the slider 9 would be suppressed by the deployment of the space SP5.

On the both sides of the coupling pillar 96, a first front mouth M1 and a second front mouth M2 are arranged. Through the first front mouth M1, the male mating portion 5 moves in and out of the slider 9. Through the second front mouth M2, the female mating portion 6 moves in and out of the slider 9. The slider 9 has one rear mouth M3 additionally to the first and second front mouths M1,M2 (See FIG. 22). Mated male and female mating portions 5 and 6 moves in and out of the slider 9 through the rear mouth M3.

The slider 9 has first and second sidewall 9a,9b (alternatively referred to as left and right sidewalls) each extends in the up-down direction toward the second wing 95 from a respective side edge (left or right-side edge) of the first wing 94 in the width direction of the slider 9. Similarly, the slider 9 has third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d (alternatively referred to as left and right sidewalls) each extends in the up-down direction toward the first wing 94 from a respective side edge of the second wing 95 in the width direction of the slider 9. Preferably, a dimension of the first or second sidewall 9a,9b in the up-down direction is greater than, preferably twice of a dimension of the third or the fourth sidewall 9c,9d in the up-down direction. Note that, embodiments are envisaged where the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d are omitted.

The first and second sidewall 9a,9b are arranged for mating the male and female mating portions 5 and 6. The male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be inserted and pressed between the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b and then be mated inside the slider 9. The guide protrusion 53 is pushed by the first sidewall 9a and the male protrusion 52 is also pushed in the same direction. When the male protrusion 52 enters between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62, the female mating portion 6 is pushed in the entering direction of the male protrusion 52 but this displacement is prevented by the contact between the guide protrusion 66 and the second sidewall 9b. Therefore, the male protrusion 52 pushes the lower jaw 61 to displace downward and the upper jaw 62 to displace upward, allowing the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 to be mated. The third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d are arranged for a purpose other than the mating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 (e.g. supporting of the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 and/or prevention of entry of foreign matter into the slider 9).

The first and second sidewalls 9a,9b are located on the intermediate and rear portions 943 and 942 of the first wing 94 (i.e. not on the front portion 941). The first and second sidewalls 9a,9b have pushing surfaces 27,28 that push the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 respectively. The pushing surfaces 27,28 come closer one another as being away from the coupling pillar 96 in the intermediate portion 943. In the rear portion 942, the pushing surfaces 27,28 extend in parallel along a direction away from the coupling pillar 96. In the rear portion 942, a distance between the pushing surfaces 27,28 is set to be slightly larger than a maximum width of the mated male and female mating portions 5,6. This avoids heavier sliding of the slider 9.

Positions of the front ends of the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b are set on a position P5 of the rear end of the coupling pillar 96 or a position slightly rearward from it (see FIG. 23).

This allows that the first and second front mouths M1 and M2 are formed larger (more open) to facilitate smoother operation for moving the slider 9, while ensuring a suitable guiding capability of the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b. Due to the structural symmetry of the slider 9, the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d may be arranged in a similar position or area.

The first and second sidewalls 9a,9b each has a proximal end connected to the first wing 94 and a distal end located away from the first wing 94. Similarly, the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d each has a proximal end connected to the second wing 95 and a distal end located away from the second wing 95. The distal ends of the first and third sidewalls 9a and 9c are opposed and an insertion slot is defined therebetween for the first attachment sheet 21. The distal ends of the second and fourth sidewalls 9b and 9d are opposed and an insertion slot is defined therebetween for the second attachment sheet 22. Preferably, the distal ends of the respective first and second sidewalls 9a,9b have terminal surfaces 9a1,9b1 which are included in a common plane orthogonal to the up-down direction (see FIG. 21). Preferably, the distal ends of the respective third and the fourth sidewalls 9c,9d have terminal surfaces 9c1,9d1 which are included in a common plane orthogonal to the up-down direction.

The first and second inserts 99a,99b protrude from the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b at a remote position from the first wing 94 respectively so as to approach one another in the width direction of the slider 9. Preferably, the first and second inserts 99a,99b protrude from the distal ends of the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b located away from the first wing 94 respectively to approach one another in the width direction of the slider 9 (i.e. toward the central line CL of the slider 9). The first insert 99a is connected to the distal end of the first sidewall 9a to configure a L-like wall in cross section. Similarly, the second insert 99b is connected to the distal end of the second sidewall 9b to configure a L-like wall in cross section (See FIGS. 21 and 22).

The first insert 99a is arranged to touch the first attachment sheet 21 (e.g. its top surface 21m) together with the terminal surface 9a1 of the distal end of the first sidewall 9a. Similarly, the second insert 99b is arranged to touch the second attachment sheet 22 (e.g. its top surface 22m) together with the terminal surface 9b1 of the distal end of the second sidewall 9b. In the illustrated example, the first insert 99a is arranged to have a coplanar surface with the terminal surface 9a1 of the distal end of the first sidewall 9a. The second insert 99b is arranged to have a coplanar surface with the terminal surface 9b1 of the distal end of the second sidewall 9b. Note that the first insert 99a may be displaced slightly upward relative to the terminal surface 9a1 of the first sidewall 9a so as to reduce the contact area with the first attachment sheet 21. The same applies to the second insert 99b.

In some cases, the first insert 99a is loosely fitted into the guide groove G1 and/or the second insert 99b is loosely fitted into the guide groove G2. That is, a distance in the up-down direction between the first guide protrusion 53 and the first attachment sheet 21 is set to allow the loose fitting of the insert 99a in the guide groove G1, i.e. is set equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the first insert 99a. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are extruded portions, and the shape does not necessarily have a quite high precision. Thus, excess pressure-insertion would be avoided by the above-discussed design. A distance between the second guide protrusion 66 and the second attachment sheet 22 in the up-down direction may be similarly set.

In some cases, the insert 99a is pressed into the guide groove G1 and/or the insert 99b is pressed into the guide groove G2. That is, a distance in the up-down direction between the first guide protrusion 53 and the first attachment sheet 21 is set to allow the pressure-fitting of the insert 99a into the guide groove G1, i.e. is set equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the first insert 99a. Accordingly, more reliable positioning of the male and female mating portions 5,6 at a target position inside the slider 9 in the up-down direction may be allowed, even though sliding of the slider 9 may be heavier. A distance between the second guide protrusion 66 and the second attachment sheet 22 in the up-down direction may be similarly set.

The first and second inserts 99a,99b each has a substantially constant thickness in the up-down direction but should not be limited to this. In some cases, the first and second inserts 99a,99b have a decreasing thickness toward the central line CL of the slider 9. That is, a distance between the insert 99a and the first wing 94 in the up-down direction gradually increases toward the central line CL of the slider 9 and/or a distance between the insert 99a and the second wing 95 in the up-down direction gradually increases toward the central line CL of the slider 9. The same applies to the insert 99b, thus redundant descriptions omitted. A non-limiting exemplary effect may include facilitated insertion of the first insert 99a into the first guide groove G1 and of the second insert 99b into the second guide groove G2.

A fully mated body of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 inside the slider 9 is spaced from the first wing 94 via an upper space PSI and from the second wing 95 via a lower space PS1, based on the insertion of the first insert 99a into the first guide groove G1 and the second insert 99b into the second guide groove G2. In other words, the fully mated body of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 inside the slider 9 and the first and second attachment sheets 21 and 22 are positioned not to touch the internal surface 94s of the first wing 94 and the internal surface 95s of the second wing 95. This allows reduced contact area between the rail fastener 100 and the slider 9 and facilitates smoother operation for moving the slider 9.

The first and second attachment sheets 21 and 22 may be shifted toward the first wing 94 based on the insertion of the first insert 99a into the first guide groove G1 and of the second insert 99b into the second guide groove G2. The first and second attachment sheets 21 and 22 are brought into a state where they are floating over the second wing 95 and over the third and fourth sidewalls 9c and 9d arranged thereon, and the sliding of slider 9 would be lighter compared with a state where they are positioned otherwise. Note that, the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 may be retained such that the terminal surfaces 9a1, 9b1 of the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b (See FIG. 21) are in contact with the top surfaces 21m,22m thereof.

In some cases, the terminal surfaces of the distal ends of the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d located away from the second wing 95 are opposed to the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 respectively with clearance therebetween. Note that the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d are arranged thereby the insertion slots for attachment sheet be narrower accordingly.

Preferably, in a process of mating of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 inside the slider 9, the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 of the jaw pair are not brought into strong contact with or do not touch the first and second wings 94 and 95 at all. In a process in which the male protrusion 52 pressed into between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 during the mating process of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6, the male protrusion 52 pushes the lower jaw 61 downward and the male protrusion 52 pushes the upper jaw 62 upward, and the lower jaw 61 moves closer to the second wing 95 and the upper jaw 62 moves closer to the first wing 94. Before the displacement of the upper jaw 62 toward the first wing 94, there is the above-noted upper space SP1 between the upper jaw 62 and the first wing 94; thus even if they are brought into contact one another, the contact therebetween would be weakened compared with a case where the space is omitted. Before the displacement of the lower jaw 61 toward the second wing 95, there is the above-noted lower space SP2 between the second wing 95 and the lower jaw 61; thus even if they are brought into contact one another, the contact therebetween would be weakened compared with a case where the space is omitted. As such, owing to the upper and lower spaces SP1 and SP2, the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be more smoothly mated, and the sliding of slider 9 may be lighter. Note that, for more reliably ensuring this, the first wing 94 and/or the second wing 95 may have accommodation groove G3 and/or groove G4, as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 19, for accommodating the distal ends of the jaws 61,62 (ends outwardly of sheet regarding the attachment sheet 22) being displaced as the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are mated or unmated. Preferably, the upper space SP1 may be formed across a range equal to or greater than 1/10 of a height H9 of the passage inside the slider 9 in the up-down direction. The range of the lower space SP2 in the up-down direction is greater than the range of the upper space SP1 in the up-down direction.

The interspace W6 between the first and second inserts 99a and 99b may be set such that the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are not compressed therebetween when the slider 9 moves. Accordingly, the sliding of slider 9 may be prevented from being heavier excessively. Typically, a slight space W7 is set between the insert 99a and the male mating portion 5 (e.g. its closure wall) and similarly, a slight space W8 is set between the insert 99b and the female mating portion 6. These spaces W7,W8 are quite small and therefore it is assumed that one of the inserts 99a and 99b may touch the male mating portion 5 or the female mating portion 6 due to shape variation of the rail fastener 100.

Supplementary description follows with additional reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. The first insert 99a is connected to the distal end of the first sidewall 9a, and the second insert 99b is connected to the distal end of the second sidewall 9b. The first and second inserts 99a,99b exist in the same plane, and the width of passage is narrowed in the width direction of slider 9. The first insert 99a is interposed between the first guide protrusion 53 and the first attachment sheet 21. The second insert 99b is interposed between the second guide protrusion 66 and the second attachment sheet 22. The first guide protrusion 53 is arranged in a space between the first insert 99a and the first wing 94, and the second guide protrusion 66 is arranged in a space between the second insert 99b and the first wing 94.

When the slider 9 moves rearward, the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 in mated state linearly enters into the slider 9 through the rear mouth of the slider 9. The first insert 99a is inserted in the guide groove G1, and thus the male mating portion 5 would be positioned at a constant height in the slider 9. The second insert 99b is inserted in the guide groove G2, and thus the female mating portion 6 would be positioned at a constant height in the slider 9.

The male and female mating portions 5,6 are divided to open at a given position rearward of the coupling pillar 96. The male and female mating portions 5,6 move forward relative to the slider 9 to diverge on both left and right positions of the coupling pillar 96 when the slider 9 moves rearward, as the male and female mating portions 5,6 have been already split to open. In this process, the male protrusion 52 pushes the upper jaw 62 upward and the lower jaw 61 downward and once the displacements become large enough, the male protrusion 52 is removed from the female mating portion 6.

When the slider 9 moves forward, the male mating portion 5 enters into the slider 9 obliquely through the first front mouth M1 of the slider 9. Similarly, the female mating portion 6 enters into the slider 9 obliquely through the second front mouth M2 of the slider 9. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are in unmated and separated state. The positions of the male and female mating portions 5,6 are restricted between the first and second wings 94 and 95. In an extent rearward of the coupling pillar 96, the position of the rail fastener 100 is restricted inside the slider 9 in the height direction as the first and the second inserts 99a and 99b being inserted in the first and second guide grooves G1 and G2 respectively. Therefore, at a location forward of the coupling pillar 96, the respective positions of the male and female mating portions 5,6 not yet mated are restricted in the height direction due to the continuity of respective fastener stringers.

Insertions of the first insert 99a into the first guide groove G1 and of the second insert 99b into the second guide groove G2 allow an increase in the interspace between the first and second wings 94 and 95 in the up-down direction but, a first sloped surface 101 may be formed to facilitate avoidance of collisions of the male mating portion 5 (e.g. the top of the closure wall) against the first wing 94 and of the female mating portion 6 (e.g. upper jaw 62) against the first wing 94. In cases where the rail fastener 100 is attached to the left and right halves of a front portion of garment, there may be a situation where the rail fastener 100 bents largely in an arbitrary direction following the flexibility of the garment. The above-described feature is one remedy for such cases.

The male and female mating portions 5,6 are fully mated at a given position rearward of the coupling pillar 96. The male and female mating portions 5,6 approach one another while mating. In particular, the male protrusion 52 is inserted between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62, pushing the lower jaw 61 downward and pushing the upper jaw 62 upward; and once the displacements become large enough, the male protrusion 52 fully moves into the accommodation space of the female mating portion 6 (simultaneously, the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 recover to the flat posture from the oblique posture). In an extent rearward of the coupling pillar 96, the position of the rail fastener 100 is restricted inside the slider 9 in the height direction based on the insertions of the first and second insert 99a and 99b into the first and second guide grooves G1 and G2. The male protrusion 52 is press-fitted between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 while the male and female mating portions 5,6 are restricted to displace in the up-down direction, thus facilitating smoother mating thereof.

In some cases, front ends of the first and second inserts 99a,99b may be positioned, along the central line CL of the slider 9, forward of an intersection node between a movement trajectory L7 of a distal point of the male mating portion 5 (e.g. a distal point of the male protrusion 52 on the side of the female mating portion 6) and a movement trajectory L8 of a distal point of the female mating portion 6 (e.g. distal points of the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 on the side of the male mating portion 5). This facilitates stable and smooth mating of the male and female mating portions 5,6. Note that the intersection node corresponds to a position where the male and female mating portions 5,6 have not yet mated (before the completion of mating). The dotted line 6 depicts, together with the dotted line L7, a width of the moving male mating portion 5. The dotted line 9 depicts, together with the dotted line L8, a width of the moving female mating portion 6.

FIG. 26 is now referred for further description. The first and second wings 94 and 95 may be turned upside down as shown in FIG. 26. Accordingly, the first to fourth side walls 9a-9b are displaced. Similar effects may be obtained in such case either as those noted above. In a case shown in FIG. 26, the male and female mating portions 5,6 are arranged internal of the garment (e.g. waterproof or windproof jacket) and are not noticeable on the exterior of the garment. Furthermore, the closure line appears on the exterior of the garment which is formed along the contact area P2 between the first and second attachment sheets 21,22 in the closed state of the rail fastener 100. This is particularly preferred in terms of contribution in concealing the existence of the rail fastener 100 on the exterior of garment.

FIGS. 27-36 are now referred for further description. Note that features of the slider described with reference to FIGS. 18-26 are applicable to the following sliders described below to an extent where inconsistencies do not arise (e.g. except for incompatible features), and vice versa. For example, the first and second inserts 99a,99b are compatible with a slider for the double fastener discussed below.

A double fastener 17 has the rail fastener 100 with the above-discussed features alone or in combination, and a fastener chain 7 stacked onto the rail fastener 100. The fastener chain 7 may be secured and stacked onto the rail fastener 100 by adhesive, thermo-compression bonding, or thermo-welding for example. The fastener chain 7 includes a third fastener stringer 13 stacked onto the first fastener stringer 1 and a fourth fastener stringer 14 stacked onto the second fastener stringer 2. The third and fourth fastener stringers 13,14 include first and second coil-like elements 15,16 which engage one another in synchronization with mating between the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 when the slider 9 moves forward. In the rail fastener 100, one of the male and female mating portions 5,6 may be displaced relative to the other along the front-rear direction due to externally applied force even after the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated. In order to remedy this drawback, the fastener chain 7 is employed. The fastener chain 7 includes the first and second coil-like elements 15,16, and the engagement of which solves the above-noted displacement.

The third and fourth fastener stringers 13,14 have first and second fastener tapes 117,118 respectively having opposed side-edge portions on which the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are sewn. The first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are arranged on the opposite side of the male and female mating portions 5,6. That is, when the male and female mating portions 5,6 are arranged on the upper side of the double fastener 17, the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are arranged on the lower side thereof, and vice versa. The first coil-like element 15 and the male mating portion 5 are located on the opposite sides and are laminated in the up-down direction with a laminate of the first attachment sheet 21 and the first fastener tape 117 interposed. The second coil-like element 16 and the female mating portion 6 are located on the opposite sides and are laminated in the up-down direction with a laminate of the second attachment sheet 22 and the second fastener tape 118 interposed.

Typically, the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are made of monofilaments helically shaped such that engagement heads 37 are formed at a constant pitch (See FIGS. 27-29). The helical monofilament includes helical units (i.e. biting units) each having a first leg 35, a second leg 36, an engagement head 37 and a return portion 38, and are formed from a series of the helical units (biting units). The engagement head 37 is a widened portion of the monofilament, and the widened portions are orientated along the elongation direction of the fastener tape.

When the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated and the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are engaged (See FIG. 27), a slight clearance is formed between the first and second fastener tapes 117,118; this clearance is however closed as the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated, particularly by the lower jaw 61 of the female mating portion 6. In more detail, when the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated, the lower jaw 61 is inserted between the male protrusion 52 and the first coil-like element 15 (in more precise, between the male protrusion 52 and the first fastener tape 117). Accordingly, the clearance between the first and second fastener tapes 117,118 is closed and fluid flow through the clearance is prevented by the lower jaw 61.

In some cases, a width W2 of the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 which are in engaged state (in a width direction of the double fastener 17) is less than a maximum width of the male and female mating portions 5,6 which are in mated state (in a width direction of the double fastener 17). The smaller the size of the coil-like element, the lesser the extent of the above-noted displacement. Furthermore, the coil-like element would have a larger number of helical units (biting units) per a given length along the elongation direction of the double fastener 17, facilitating smoother engagement between the first and second coil-like elements 15,16.

One fastener stringer 121 of the double fastener 17 includes a laminate of the first fastener stringer 1 and the third fastener stringer 13, and the other fastener stringer 122 includes a laminate of the second fastener stringer 2 and the fourth fastener stringer. In a case where the first attachment sheet 21 includes the first reinforcement sheet 31, the first attachment sheet 21 may have a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the first fastener tape 117. Similarly, in a case where the second attachment sheet 22 includes the second reinforcement sheet 32, the second attachment sheet 22 may have a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the second fastener tape 118. The first and second fastener tapes 117,118 may be a woven fabric or a knitted fabric or mixture thereof, and more preferably a knitted fabric which is softer than the knitted fabric thereby reducing a decrease in softness due to the lamination of the stringers. Preferably, the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are thinner than the male and female mating portions 5,6 respectively, thereby reducing an increase in thickness due to the stacking of the fastener chain 7 to the rail fastener 100.

The slider 9 is commonly provided for the male and female mating portions 5,6 and the first and second coil-like elements 15,16. There is no difference in a point discussed above, namely the male and female mating portions 5,6 are interposed and pressed between the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b, thus overlapping descriptions omitted. Unlike the first and second coil-like elements 15,16, the upper jaw 62 of the female mating portion 5,6 displaces upward when the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated. The accommodation groove G3 may be formed at the first wing 94 to accommodate the upper jaw 62, and thus avoiding or suppressing interference between the upper jaw 62 and the first wing 94. The accommodation groove G3 may be formed in a limited manner corresponding to position or extent of the upper jaw 62 taking the oblique posture out of the flat posture. It is preferred, however, that the accommodation groove G3 linearly extends from a position adjacent to a rear end of the coupling pillar 96 to a rear end surface of the first wing 94. This allows a simplified structure of a mold used for the slider 9.

The slider 9 has the first wing 94, the second wing 95 and the coupling pillar 96 but, the coupling pillar 96 connects the front-end portion of the first wing 94 and the front-end portion of the second wing 95 without forming the above-noted space SP5 shown in FIG. 20 in front of the coupling pillar 96. The omission is allowed for a reason that, owing to the stacking of the fastener chain 7 onto the rail fastener 100, the first and second fastener stringer 1,2 of the rail fastener 100 would have more appropriately defined trajectories.

The positions of front ends of the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b are set slightly rearward of the position P6 of the rear end of the coupling pillar 96 (See FIG. 33). Similarly, the positions of front ends of the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d are set slightly rearward of the position P6 of the rear end of the coupling pillar 96. The first and second front mouths M1 and M2 are formed larger (more open), facilitating smoother operation for moving the slider 9 while ensuring a suitable guiding capability of the sidewalls.

The slider 9 is not provided with have the first and second inserts 99a,99b discussed above. A laminate of the first attachment sheet 21 and the first fastener tape 117 is loosely inserted between the first and third sidewalls 9a and 9c. Similarly, a laminate of the second attachment sheet 22 and the second fastener tape 118 is loosely inserted between the second and fourth sidewalls 9b and 9d. Omission of the first and second inserts 99a,99b allows simplified structure of mold for the slider 9 but the male and female mating portions 5,6 may move more freely in the up-down direction inside the slider 9.

For addressing the above-noted problem, the first wing 94 may have the accommodation groove G3, allowing relatively smaller interspace between the first and second wings 94 and 95 in the up-down direction while avoiding the interference between the upper jaw 62 and the first wing 94 or while reducing the extent of the interference. Particularly, the upper jaw 62 may be accommodated in the accommodation groove G3 while the male and female mating portions 5,6 are mated, avoiding or suppressing that the sliding of the slider 9 becomes heavier.

The slider 9 has a first block 25 protruding from the first sidewall 9a toward the second sidewall 9b and a second block 26 protruding from the second sidewall 9b toward the first sidewall 9a, and these are opposed with an interspace which allows deformation of the upper jaw 62. These blocks restrict the displacement of the male and female mating portions 5,6 toward the first wing 94 while avoiding or suppressing the interference with the upper jaw 62. Preferably, the first block 25 is spaced directly over the first guide protrusion 53 via a clearance, and is connected to the first wing 94. The second block 26 is spaced directly over the second guide protrusion 66 via a clearance, and is connected to the first wing 94. The rear mouth M3 of the slider 9 is narrowed by the deployment of the first and second blocks 25, 26 and thus for a purpose of reducing this side effect, it may be preferable to form the above-noted clearances.

Furthermore, the first block 25 protrudes from the pushing surface 27 of the first sidewall 9a toward the second sidewall 9b, i.e. has a non-pushing surface 25a positioned closer to the central line CL of the slider 9 than the pushing surface 27. The second block 26 protrudes from the pushing surface 28 of the second sidewall 9b toward the first sidewall 9a, i.e. has a non-pushing surface 26a positioned closer to the central line CL of the slider 9 than the pushing surface 28. First width W4 is defined between these non-pushing surfaces 25a,26a and is less than a maximum interspace W3 between the first and second sidewalls 9a and 9b. The interspace between the first and second side walls 9a and 9b in the width direction of the slider 9 becomes narrower at a first height which is closer to the first wing 94 than a second height which is farther than the first position from the first wing 94 due to the deployment of the first and second blocks 25,26. Note that the first and second blocks 25,26 may be formed across the entire length of the first and second sidewalls 9a and 9b along the central line CL of the slider 9 respectively. Also, the first and second blocks 25,26 may be formed in mirror symmetry regarding the central line CL of the slider 9 respectively.

Preferably, a maximum interspace W3 between the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b in the width direction of the slider 9 is set to be greater than a maximum interspace W2 between the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d in the width direction of the slider 9 across an extent rearward of the coupling pillar 96. This facilitates the use of smaller coil-like elements in size to achieve the similar effects as those noted above (e.g. reduction in the above-noted displacement).

The second wing 95 may have a protruded partition 131 extending rearward from the coupling pillar 96 so as to restrict the position of the engaged first and second coil-like elements 15,16 in the up-down direction. At a position over the partition 131, the respective engagement heads 37 of the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are engaged and are disengaged. The partition 131 extends intermediately between the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d. The partition 131 is formed lower in height than the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d. As described above, the first wing 94 may have the accommodation groove G3, allowing the interspace between the first and second wings 94 and 95 to be reduced and also allowing the second wing 95 to have the partition 131 within a viable size of the slider 9 in the up-down direction. Note that, the above-noted accommodation groove G3 may be formed to be wider than the partition 131 or to have an equal width as the partition 131 in the width direction of the slider 9, thus effectively avoiding or suppressing interference between the first wing 94 and the upper jaw 62.

The male and female mating portions 5 and 6 are pressed between the first and second sidewalls 9a,9b and mated inside the slider 9. In contrast, the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are engaged without being pressed between the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d and are disengaged therebetween. The first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are engaged and disengaged as moving in predetermined movement trajectories without requiring external force. Therefore, the sliding of the slider 9 would be not excessively heavier due to the addition of the coil-like elements.

The coupling pillar 96 may maintain a substantially constant cross-sectional shape between the first and second wings 94 and 95, allowing simplification of mold for the slider 9. The male and female mating portions 5 and 6 may be fully mated at a position away from the rear end position P6 of the coupling pillar 96 by a first distance. Similarly, the first and second coil-like elements 15,16 may be fully engaged at a position away from the rear end position P6 of the coupling pillar 96 by a second distance that is equal to or different from the first distance.

In a case where the second distance is less than the first distance, it could be said that, in terms of forward movement of the slider 9, the engaging of the coil-like elements 15,16 occurs prior to the mating of the male and female mating portions 5,6. In terms of rearward movement of the slider 9, it could be said that the disengaging of the former ones occurs later than the unmating of the latter ones. The mating of male and female mating portions 5,6 and the engaging of the coil-like elements 15,16 may be performed substantially simultaneously, thereby suppressing that the coil-like elements 15,16 are brought into wrong engagement or into a state not engageable due to influence of mating of the male and female mating portions 5,6. For example, it may be avoided that the engagement heads 37 of the coil-like elements 15 and 16 collide with one another and are prevented from suitable engagement therebetween.

The slider 9 may have an element-guide 45 shaped complementary to the curved surface of the return portion 38 of the first coil-like element 15 and an element-guide 46 shaped complementary to the curved surface of the return portion 38 of the second coil-like element 16. The element guides 45,46 are connected to the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d and are positioned closer to the central line CL of the slider 9 than the side walls 9c,9d, respectively. Each element guide 45,46 has a curved surface having a semi-concave shape. The first and second coil-like elements 15,16 are supported by the element-guides 45,46 disposed on the both sides of the central line CL of the slider 9, and thus the elements are set at an appropriate height inside the slider 9.

Referring to FIGS. 34 and 35, supplementary description follows. When the slider 9 moves rearward, the mated male and female mating portions 5 and 6 linearly enters into the slider 9 through the rear mouth of the slider 9. As the first and second inserts 99a,99b are not inserted into the guide grooves G1,G2 respectively, the position of the male and female mating portions 5 and 6 inside the slider 9 in the up-down direction may slightly change between the first and second wings 94 and 95.

The male and female mating portions 5,6 are divided to open at a predetermined position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are separate on the both sides of coupling pillar 96, and thus the male and female mating portions 5,6 may be divided to open smoothly (at a predetermined position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96) without requiring a larger force applied to the slider 9. When the slider 9 moves rearward, the male and female mating portions 5,6 move to diverge forward obliquely relative to the slider 9. In this process, the male protrusion 52 pushes the upper jaw 62 upward and pushes the lower jaw 61 downward and once the displacements become sufficiently large, the male protrusion 52 is removed from the female mating portion 6.

The coil-like elements 15,16 are disengaged at a given position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96. The coil-like elements 15,16 are separate on the both sides of coupling pillar 96, and thus the coil-like elements 15,16 may be disengaged smoothly (at a predetermined position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96) without requiring a larger force applied to the slider 9.

As the slider 9 moves forward, the male mating portion 5 enters obliquely into the slider 9 through the first front mouth M1 of the slider 9. Similarly, the female mating portion 6 enters obliquely into the slider 9 through the second front mouth M2 of the slider 9. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are in unmated and separated state. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are restricted in position between the first and second wings 94 and 95.

The male and female mating portions 5,6 are inserted and pressed between the first and second side walls 9a,9b before reaching to the predetermined position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96. The male protrusion 52 is inserted between the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62, pushes the lower jaw 61 downward and pushes the upper jaw 62 upward and once the displacements become sufficiently large, the male protrusion 52 fully enters the accommodation space of the female mating portion 6 (simultaneously the lower and upper jaws 61 and 62 recover from an oblique posture to a flat posture). Owing to the accommodation groove G3 formed at the first wing 94, the interference between the upper jaw 62 and the first wing 94 is avoided or the extent thereof is reduced, thus avoiding or suppressing that the sliding of the slider 9 becomes heavier. This is particularly advantageous when the slider 9 moves forward in which the sliding of the slider 9 is heavier than a situation where the slider 9 moves rearward.

The coil-like elements 15,16 are engaged solely based on the movement along the movement trajectory without being pressed between the third and fourth sidewalls 9c,9d before reaching to a predetermined position away from and rearward of the coupling pillar 96.

Referring now to FIG. 36 for further description. In FIG. 36, the rail fastener and the fastener chain are reversed in position and the structure of the slider is modified accordingly. In this case either, similar effects as those noted above are assumed. In the case shown in FIG. 36, the coil-like elements 15,16 are arranged on the exterior side of garment (e.g. waterproof or windproof jacket) and the male and female mating portions 5,6 are arranged on the interior side of the garment. The male and female mating portions 5,6 are not noticeable on the exterior of the garment as being located on the interior side of the garment (e.g. waterproof or windproof jacket). The coil-like elements 15,16 appear on the exterior of the garment in the closed state of the rail fastener 100. This contributes to effect that the appearance of the double fastener 17 on the exterior of garment looks like a common slide fastener product.

The following inventions are also disclosed in the present specification.

- [1] A slider (9) attachable to a first fastener stringer (1), including a male mating portion (5), and a second fastener stringer (2), including a female mating portion (6), so as to allow mating and unmating of the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6), the slider comprising:
- a first wing (94);
- a second wing (95);
- a coupling pillar (96) extending in an up-down direction between the first wing (94) and the second wing (95) so as to interconnect the first wing (94) and the second wing (95);
- first and second sidewalls (9a,9b) extending along the up-down direction toward the second wing (95) from both side edges of the first wing (94) in a width direction of the slider (9); and
- first and second inserts (99a,99b), respectively, protruding from the first and second sidewalls (9a,9b) at a remote position from the first wing (94) so as to approach one another in the width direction of the slider (9), wherein
- the first insert (99a) is inserted into a first guide groove (G1) of the first fastener stringer (1), and the second insert (99b) is inserted into a second guide groove (G2) of the second fastener stringer (2), thereby restricting a position in the up-down direction of the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6) inside the slider (9).
- [2] The slider of [1] wherein based on the insertion of the first insert (99a) into the first guide groove (G1) and the insertion of the second insert (99b) into the second guide groove (G2), a fully mated body of the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6) inside the slider (9) is spaced from the first wing (94) via an upper space (SP1) and from the second wing (95) via a lower space (SP2).
- [3] The slider of [2] wherein a first attachment sheet (21) of the first fastener stringer (1) and a second attachment sheet (22) of the second fastener stringer (2) are shifted toward the first wing (94) based on the insertion of the first insert (99a) into the first guide groove (G1) and the insertion of the second insert (99b) into the second guide groove (G2).
- [4]
  
  The slider of any one of [1]-[3] wherein the female mating portion (6) includes a pair of jaws (61,62), and the pair of jaws (61,62) do not touch the first wing (94) and the second wing (95) in a process of mating of the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6) inside the slider (9).
- [5]
  
  The slider of [4] wherein at least one of the first wing (94) and the second wing (95) has an accommodation groove (G3) that accommodates one of the pair of jaws (61,62) being displaced as the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6) are mated or unmated.
- [6] The slider of any one of [1]-[5] wherein the first insert (99a) is arranged to touch a first attachment sheet (21) of the first fastener stringer (1) together with a terminal surface (9a1) of a distal end of the first sidewall (9a), and the second insert (99b) is arranged to touch a second attachment sheet (22) of the second fastener stringer (2) together with a terminal surface (9b1) of a distal end of the second sidewall (9b).
- [7] The slider of any one of [1]-[6] wherein a third fastener stringer (13) is stacked onto the first fastener stringer (1), a fourth fastener stringer (14) is stacked onto the second fastener stringer (2), and the third and fourth fastener stringers (13,14) include first and second coil-like elements (15,16) respectively which engage one another in synchronization with mating of the male mating portion (5) and the female mating portion (6) when the slider (9) moves forward.
- [8] The slider of any one of [1]-[7] wherein the slider (9) further includes third and fourth sidewalls (9c,9d) extending in the up-down direction toward the first wing (94) from both side edges of the second wing (95) in the width direction of the slider (9).
- [9] The slider of [8] wherein a maximum interspace between the first and second sidewalls (9a,9b) in the width direction of the slider (9) is set greater than a maximum interspace between the third and the fourth sidewalls (9c,9d) in the width direction of the slider (9) at every position rearward of the coupling pillar (96).

Given the above teachings, a skilled person in the art would be able to add various modifications to the respective embodiments and respective features. Various shapes other than ones disclosed herein may be employed for the mating portions 11,12. The reinforcement sheet is not limited to a single layer but may be a multi-layer. For example, the reinforcement is a laminate of woven fabric and a paper. Reference codes in Claims are just for reference and should not be referenced for purposes of narrowly construing the scope of claims.

REFERENCE CODE

- 1: Fastener stringer
- 2: Fastener stringer
- 5: Male mating portion
- 6: Female mating portion
- 10: Rail portion
- 11: Mating portion
- 12: Mating portion
- 21: Attachment sheet
- 21
  a: Inner edge
- 21
  b: Outer side edge
- 22: Attachment sheet
- 22
  a: Inner edge
- 22
  b: Outer side edge
- 31: Reinforcement sheet
- 32: Reinforcement sheet
- 41: Skin portion
- 42: Skin portion
- 100: Rail fastener
- 200: Extruder
- 240: Extruder mold
- 240
  a: Extruder mold
- 240
  b: Extruder mold

RAIL FASTENER AND METHOD OF PRODUCING THE SAME, AND DOUBLE FASTENER

Information

Publication Number

Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

PCT Information